HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHAUN-STER!

Happy Birthday Shaun! I'm missing you today while I'm on the road. You were in such a hurry to get 'here'! You were my quickest and easiest labor and delivery! 90 minutes!You were so sweet. You were such a cuddler. You LOVED to be held and rocked, especially at night. Those darn ears sure gave you problems for your first two years. You would get the 'all clear' at 3pm and by 10am the next morning you'd have 2 raging infections all over again! After that you were one of my healthiest children--hardly EVER sick. You were so loved by your siblings. They would fight to hold you and rock you in the little rocking chair while I tried to get dinner ready. Natalie was a bit young, but Mike and Josh did a really good job of it!

I remember when you were about 6 weeks old: I had a deeply spiritual experience with you. I can see it in my mind vividly still today. The time of day, the colors, the light coming in the window. You were in your crib and I was looking at you. You looked up at me and our eyes connected--spirit to spirit. In a split second it was conveyed to me that I had promised to be your mother and you were purposely sent to our family. It was very strong. It was one of those experiences that when you have it you know it is not of this earth but from God.

I've often pondered over that. Why would it be that important for me to know that in that way?. As I reflect back on all you've had to endure these last 3 years it has been a testimony to me that God loves His children and He has sent us to be in families to get through this earth life.

I Love You!

Music In The Parks Festival

Christine's orchestra from school was invited to compete in the Music in the Parks festival in Santa Clara, CA. I agreed to go as a chaperone. We left bright and early on Friday morning from the school.

We traveled on school busses. OH MY! It took us 11 hours to get there. No a/c, no seat belts. But we made it, a little rushed for time, but we made it.

We stayed at the Marriott Hotel in Santa Clara. It was really nice. I actually had my own room and it was heaven during the down time. Fluffy bed and pillows, ihome, etc. Below: Alex, Maddie, Christine, and Meena. Good friends.

Christine, Alex, Maddie, and Meena giving the #1 sign after the awards ceremony. There was a lot of jumping up and down and screaming going on. That's okay--they deserved it. They performed so well.

Here are a couple of the trophies. They won, 1st, 2nd, and Espirit de Corps (best spirit). They have prepared all year for this festival and did a GREAT job. We arrived so late on Friday and had to compete/perform at 9:30 and 9:50pm. That is really late after you've been on a bus for 11 hours!

We spent the day at Great America, which is like a Magic Mountain roller coaster park. I went on two rides and decided this was out of my league! I found a great park bench and read the book I brought and had the kids check in with me every couple of hours. I had a group of 20 kids and they were awesome! Really good kids--no problems at all, unlike some others. In the background is a double decker carousel. It is pretty cool. I've never seen anything like it.

This is called Invertigo. Yes, you are in 'vertigo' while you are on it. Christine LOVED it! Too much for me.

Here is another one. This ride is CRAZY! Some of them you are standing up. Some your feet are hanging out. I did take a Dramamine, but still got kind of woozy. Am I getting 'old'??? Sheesh.

This is the view as you go down the old wooden roller coaster. I did NOT go on this. Christine loved it. I got the picture off the internet.

The orchestra at the end of the day when the park closed. The carousel is in the background. We are tired, sunburned, and hot, but had a marvelous time. Everyone slept really good this night! No hotel hall problems.

Oh, the view of the bus before we left. What you don't see is all the cellos and basses each with their own seat at the front of the bus. On the one hand, we had less students and each chaperone had their own row. Once the 3rd bus broke down from over-heating in Bakersfield, we had to transfer all the instruments to it and all the students to our bus and we were 2 and 3 to a bench. That made for a long ride home in over 100* weather.
We finally arrived at the school and were glad to be home. It took 13 hours to get home. Those awards and trophies made up for the crummy ride!

CONGRATULATIONS orchestra! Good Job!

We're Home!

Oh My! We are finally home after a 13 hour trip today in 100*+ weather on school busses with no air conditioning. Bus #3 broke down in Bakersfield! We ended up taking on all their students so we had mostly 3 to a seat on our bus for the last 3-4 hours.

The trip itself was great once we got there, but the going and coming was like a trip from h@**.

The kids did great at the festival and took 1st, 2nd, and the Espirit de Corps trophies! Great sportmanship and showmanship.

More tomorrow....it's 10pm and I've been on the bus since 8am.......tired, sweaty, and headed for a shower!

I Need Your Opinions and Perspectives Quick!

Okay--Christine's orchestra has been planning a festival trip to northern California for months. It was presented to us parents, and we paid for, that we would be going on chartered, safe busses for the 8-10 hour trip. I am going as a chaperone. I got a call from her orchestra teacher last night during dinner that for a variety of reasons the students will now be going on school busses.

The only reason I got a call was because I am a chaperone. There has been no communication, email, letter, flyer, phone, etc. about this. These issues presented themselves 2 weeks ago. He told the students during their 6th period class yesterday and we are supposed to leave on Friday morning. Now, what 12 and 13 year old goes home and gives complete information to their parents like that?

There are no seat belts, no neck protection, not enough cargo space for luggage and instruments. The kids were told they would probably have to keep their duffle bag with them on the bus.

I think they should cancel the trip. Or I should drive? Hopefully nothing would happen, but you never know. I am frustrated and disappointed that the school and program has made no communication with the parents. The kids may be their students, but they are our CHILDREN!

What do you think?????

Wednesday

walking
temple
regroup
quilt
dinner
sheets
water
bed

Bad News For Grandpa!

Grandpa just called and let me know that he has Stage 3 kidney disease. Last week he and Grandma had their annual physicals and ironically all Grandma's 'levels' came back in the stable range for her cancer, but Grandpa had some suspicious things going on with his blood and urine.

They ran further tests and discovered this kidney disease. What we know right now is that it is not reversible or curable. A year ago he had no sign of any of it and it is already a stage 3. Their next step is to determine how progressive it is. He is too old for a transplant. If it is aggressive he will need dialysis. They've told him it isn't hereditary, but who knows. He also learned that kidney disease is related to hypertension and he has had high blood pressure for many years.

He did tell me that when he was having his prostate troubles, he was determined to cure it holistically and procrastinated having the necessary surgery for years (pride and male stubborness by his own admission). This played a part in an unempty bladder backing up into the kidneys causing scarring. Also, come to find out, any form of ibuprofen, excedrin, advil, aleeve, etc. also scars the kidneys. He used to take some of that with a diet coke for a 'pick me up' in the afternoons as he got older to give him some added energy. I've heard it called 'devil juice' before. This kind of gives another perspective of that.

Anyway-- this is what we know for now. He will have some follow up testing done the middle of May now that they have a baseline so they can monitor the progression. He wanted all of us to know so we can take good care of ourselves. It takes a lot of courage to share about personal quirks, but he did because he loves us all so much and wants us to learn from his experience. THANK YOU GRANDPA! These are not the whole cause for this kidney disease, but obviously contributed in combination.

Keep Grandpa in your prayers and I'll keep you posted with updates!

Love, Mom

Wet Asphalt

Close your eyes.....Breathe in deeply.......Ahhhhhhhh!

This morning when I was walking, the landscape sprinklers came on on the hill across the street. It was a gorgeous day--not too hot, but not chilly either. The smell of the overspray on the warm asphalt was immediately intoxicating.

I was taken back in a micro-second. It was warm summer days, spraying down the driveway, early morning dew beaded up as the sun rises, hot afternoons with the sprinkler watering the grass and ivy. It was a summer cloudburst dropping on the hot black pebbles and watching, feeling, and smelling it evaporate right before your eyes. Coming home from the beach with a crust of salt and sand and hosing down before going into the house.

Happy. Safe. Relaxing. Ahhhh.....

Earth Day

Today is Earth Day. I really never pay much attention to it. But I've been thinking about it yesterday and this morning because all of my rose bushes are beginning to burst with color and I'm really enjoying them.

I've been feeling grateful for our beautiful earth--in all it's areas. High desert, low desert, mountains, ocean, valleys, plains, plateaus, colors, and concrete. Yes, even 'concrete'. I've been feeling reverent about the fact that God knew all His children were different and rejoiced in those differences by providing such a diverse planet. We truly are blessed. There is something for each of us.

I know some people who could never live in wide open spaces. I know some people who could not live in a big city. How wise He is!

We are getting ready to plant our vegetable garden. It is just a small plot, but we love it none the less. I think I'm going to try my hand at composting. I've always wanted to but lately I cringe every time I throw that good stuff in the trash or down the disposal. Any pointers?

Here are a few facts I've learned about Earth Day:

• Each year, Earth Day is celebrated on April 22 by more than 500 million people in 175 countries. But where did the idea come from?


• It is believed that Senator Gaylord Nelson, a U.S. senator from Wisconsin, had the idea for Earth Day after visiting Santa Barbara, California, to view the aftermath of a terrible oil spill in 1969. He was devastated by what he saw and quickly passed a bill designating April 22 as a national day to honor the earth and push for environmental reform.


• The first Earth Day observance took place in the U.S. in 1970 with 20 million people participating. Today, it is the largest secular holiday in the world.

"I have looked at majestic mountains rising high against the blue sky and thought of Jesus, the Creator of heaven and earth. I have stood on the sand of an island in the Pacific and watched the dawn rise like thunder-a ball of gold surrounded by clouds of pink and white and purple-and thought of Jesus, the Word by whom all things were made and without whom was not anything made that was made. I have seen a beautiful child-bright-eyed, innocent, loving and trusting-and marveled at the maje sty and miracle of creation. . . . This earth is His creation. When we make it ugly, we offend Him" (Gordon B. Hinckley. Ensign, December 1983, p. 4).

l love this! I've always been a recycler and love working in my yard, but I think I'm going to try a little harder to make my alloted corner of the earth a little better!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CRAIG!

We're glad it's your birthday, dear Craig--
"Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday To You"--
We'll sing you a song for your birthday:
"Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday To YOU"!

Wow, one more year before the BIG one. Have a great day and enjoy yourself. We love you!

A New 'Tag', and I'm It!

Well, Well, Well. A new 'tag' is going around and I am now IT. My fabuloso cousin, Roberta, tagged me and I'm happy to oblige! Here are the rules:

1. Link the person who tagged you.
2. Mention the rules in your blog.
3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours.
4. Tag 6 following bloggers by linking them.
5. Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger's blogs letting them know they've been tagged.

So here goes with 6 unspectacular quirks of mine:

1. I have to alphabetize my spices! I keep them on double turntables and they MUST be in alphabetical order. It just makes 'sense' to me. That's how you find them in the grocery store, right? If someone uses them and doesn't put them back in the right order, I can't handle it and have to fix it immediately. And they all have to be facing out.

2. I am a night person. I'd rather stay up late with the quiet of the house and sleep in a bit later in the morning, than the other way around. I've always been this way. Not really a morning person.

3. I LOVE bubblebaths! Especially with candles.

4. I am not very impulsive. I am methodical. I have to pause and think something out. My sisters all laugh at me about it. I am more like my mom this way. I am organized. I have to have things in their place. That is not to say though that I don't have some unorganized piles and places. My craft, working, scrapbooking table is proof of that (and other areas). But like when I get out of my car, I look around for any trash and pick it up right then.

5. I am not reptile, rodent, or feline friendly. Sorry, no offense, but I am a dog person.

6. I do not like the hymn, O Ye Mountains High. If they want to use it for celebrating Pioneer Day in Utah only or for a special presentation about the pioneers great. Otherwise please write new verses for it for all parts of the globe because 'zion' is all of those places too. ie: O Ye palm trees that sway by the cool ocean breeze, or, O Siberian plain with your whiteness so grand... I don't usually sing it. Sometimes I will, but most of the time no. My family all looks down the row at me, laughs and then sings all the more loudly!

Boy--this is sure a self-evaluating exercise! I found soooo many more quirks. These are just the ones I am willing to share! haha

So now I tag: Jennifer, Kristin, Meredith, Adrianne, Natalie, Angie, Jodi, and Shaun, Okay so it's more than six....Well, actually anybody who reads this!

How do you 'link' ?

I've been tagged by my cuz, Berta, but I don't know how to 'link'. Like where you just put their name and when you highlight it it takes you there. I only see where you put in the url address. Help someone!!!

Caldo de Pollo

We have enjoyed a great friendship over the last 14 years with our gardener, Miguel, and his family. We have always been fans of good Mexican food, but since Josh spent 2 years in southern Texas he has introduced us to many more dishes that have expanded our palate. One of them is Caldo de Pollo. Translated it means mexican chicken soup. Now this is NOT tortilla soup or enchilada soup. It is different than those.

I'm a pretty good cook and I've tried making it several times, but for some reason it just doesn't taste like it does when Maria (Miguel's wife) makes it! Whenever Josh comes in to town, Maria makes a HUGE pot of it with homemade salsa (that will scald your insides forever) and homemade corn tortillas and mexican rice. OHHHH--it is to die for.

Saturday Miguel was over checking on a broken sprinkler for me and asked when Josh would be coming next. (They like to speak in spanish together) I told him, to which he promptly said he would be bringing the caldo. Christine was standing there and said rather matter-of-factly, "Well Miguel, WE like it too you know." It registered with him quickly and then he asked when we would be done with our church meetings on Sunday and they would have a pot ready and waiting for us. They live by the church so we were supposed to swing by and pick it up, hot and ready to go.

We did and the whole car was in Caldo heaven with the aroma. You take the rice and put some in the bottom of your bowl. Add the Caldo, then as much salsa as you can take. You roll up the tortillas and dip them in the broth and eat them as you would bread. If you want you can put the chicken and vegetables in the tortilla. You pick the bones out as you eat. I know that might sound inconvenient, but it adds to the experience. We sat at the table and savored every bite!

Here is the recipe, but like I said, it never turns out like Maria's! She has the knack! I think one of the things to love about it besides the taste is the texture. All the veges are left in big pieces so you can break/cut them yourself. It has such a rustic feel to it all and is healthy! Maria's rice is loaded with peas and carrots and corn. So yummy.

• 1 medium head cabbage, cut into wedges


• 1 1/2 lbs. chicken (you can use breasts only or a cut up fryer. Just be sure you use parts with the 'bones'. They add a lot of flavor.)


• water to cook chicken. Enough to cover.


• 4 potatoes peeled and cut into quarters


• 4 carrots, peeled and cut into 3rds or quarters


• 1 onion, cut into quarters


• 3-4 zuchinni, washed, stemmed, and cut into quarters


• 1 14 1/2 oz. can stewed tomatoes, undrained


• salt and pepper to taste


• fresh cilantro to taste

Cook the chicken over medium heat in a large dutch oven until it is tender. Add water as needed to keep the chicken covered. When the chicken will come apart with a fork, add the carrots to the chicken and broth. Bring to a boil; cover, and simmer 15 minutes, then add the rest of the vegetables and simmer until the potatoes are tender.

Add cilantro about the last 10 minutes.

Serve with salsa and tortillas. (Some people in Texas also add corn on the cobb broken into small ears in the broth)

We have leftovers and guess what dinner will be tonight? Yep.

HaPpY bIrThDaY Gwen-do-lynn!

(a day late...)

Happy Birthday to You
Happy Birthday to You
Happy Birthday Dear Gwen
Happy Birthday to YOU!

The big 5-0! You've joined the ranks with the rest of us. It's not so bad now, is it!?!? Glad you had a fun dinner at Lisa's with everyone.

Love You--

Womens/Visiting Teaching Conference

The conference turned out GREAT. Teri scheduled it for two hours and the priesthood took over the primary and SS and youth classes. I didn't know if we could fill two hours and if the sisters could sit that long, but before you knew it, we were closing and it had flown by.

My talk/testimony went well and so did the musical number that I felt so out of my element doing. It was simple, but nice. I'm so relieved it is done!

We used yellow and lemons as our 'motif' representing cheerfullness, spring, fresh. We served lemon squares and lemon blossoms and had lemonheads in candy dishes. We had bowls of lemons, daffodils, yellow mums. It was HAPPY! I brought fresh mint from my yard to garnish.

The theme was I Am Encircled About In The Arms of His Love. The messages were inspiring. I came home very uplifted.

The ox was in the mire for a family in our ward. They are in the middle of a whole house re-do and the husband just had a heart attack on Friday! The painters come tomorrow and the carpet is being laid on Tuesday morning. Life just stopped for them on Friday. So the bishop asked the RS President to put a crew together to go over after church and clean up. There were 8 of us women who went. I observed something new: it did not feel like Sabbath breaking. There was a legitimate need (additional circumstances than the above mentioned), and we went to 'rescue'

one of our sisters. We shared some tender moments working together to help one of our own. We were all uplifted and she was not quite so overwhelmed as she left for the hospital.

My own family was wonderful. While I was gone, Duff also had a meeting to go to, and when I got home, the rice was done for dinner (the rest was in the crock pot), the dishes were done, kitchen cleaned, table set. I was really touched.

SHAUN AND CHRISTINE--YOU'VE BEEN CAUGHT BEING/DOING GOOD! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Dum, Dum, Da Dum

Tonight we went to Fernando Mladineo's wedding reception. Little Fernando--married! Well, he's not so little anymore. All grown up. Darling girl. Cute couple. It was at Tijeras Creek. The Mladineos were in our ward once upon a time. Neither of us have moved but with all the boundary changes over the years we've been in different wards for 11 years now. It was so good to see them and lots of people we only see occasionally now and have a good visit.

Carlos and his wife and little boy, Gloria, Carolina, Mike and his family, Brent Crandall and his wife. Gosh--these 'kids' all slept on my floor and raided my refrigerator and pantry so many times I can't even count them. I've been thinking about how interesting that is: it's easy to see my own family grow up. But in my mind I still see their friends as they were when we left off. It was wonderful to catch up.

We sat with the Fullers and Shermans for dinner. We talked and LAUGHED so much. I appreciate having such a wide circle of friends in the stake. Our callings have been a true blessing that way to know so many good people.

The veges were AMAZING. I snuck over on our way out to ask how the caterers did them. (Of course I did!)

• Zuchinni
• Yellow squash
• Red and yellow peppers
• Sliced onions
• Fresh small button mushrooms

Veges chopped or sliced how you want them. Sauted. Season to taste with: Lawry's Seasoned Salt, Granulated Garlic, and Tradewind Italian Seasoning (Tradwind is a Smart and Final brand spice). Good stuff!

We have had a good day. It has been pretty uneventful for the most part except that a 'ghost' came and ate 20 of the lemon blossoms for the refreshments for the Visiting Teaching/Womens Conference tomorrow. I was NOT happy about that when Duff and I got home from the wedding reception! I went to glaze them and realized that the kids had enjoyed them while we were gone......

Friday Stuff

My house is driving me crazy. In my mind, I should be in the middle of a remodel. But we've put that off now until Natalie and Robert get married. I would be 'cuckoo' if I was doing both! So I decided that we need to 'take care of' a few' things around here that we have let go thinking it wouldn't matter.

So today the Coit man came and took down all the kitchen valances, loaded them up in his truck, and off they go to be cleaned. The dust and spiderwebs were abundant! It's pretty cool how he does that with boarded valances. They all kind of nest together and he puts these long drawstring bags over the ends so nothing gets ripped or frayed.

Then I arranged for a new blind on the kitchen/family room slider. It's not my first choice, but we've got to have something on there for the summer since it is completely west facing and is murder in the afternoon/evening! A white vinyl vertical with fabric inserts in the front to keep it quiet. It was the most economical since I will be getting rid of it by the end of the year.

The carpets and tile grout are getting cleaned. They have had it! It's sooo time for new carpet.

I have various window treatments in the house: shutters, 2 inch blinds, duets. The blinds are getting cleaned next week. At $10 a blind it is well worth it. He takes them down, cleans, does any needed repairs, dries, and puts them back up. It beats bending over them in the bathtub for the smaller ones and on the driveway for the larger ones. OH, I did that a lot before. With the old-fashioned wooden garage doors that had no panels and were all one piece I got pretty creative in hanging up the large blinds with coat hangers on the metal wire across the bottom of the door so they could dry!

Made haircut appointments for all 3 of us girls so we will be ready for the 3 generation picture next week with my mom.

Leftovers for dinner.

Nic came and got Christine for the evening. That was so nice of her to spend her time with a teenager. They went back to her place and watched She's The Man. Christine loved it.

Duff and I headed over to Lowes. We picked up the rototiller (!) and got a new metal stand for the hammock. The brusies on my right leg have healed nicely, but the left one is still pretty gross from where it broke and landed right on me as I fell to the ground.

It was freezing today. I just had the air on yesterday. Amazing.

A Lady In Waiting

Each year Christine's school has a Medieval Faire. Each student gets an assignment to be a certain person of that time period. She is a Lady In Waiting. We went today after school to the theatre costume store and picked out her costume. She will be gorgeous! We had a good time going together. There were SO many to pick from. I think she tried on 8 different dresses and headpieces. She finally settled on a fuschia with black and gold. She just beamed when she came out of the dressing room. There were a few twirls and sways in the mirror. Just practicing, you know!

Walked, laundry, dinner. I talked to Ann today. She came home from the hospital today. She is doing very well. She sounded strong and good. She said she's not in too much pain and is hoping for an easy recovery. Let's keep her in our prayers. Grandma too. I talked to her tonight. Her fybromyalgia is giving her a lot of pain in her hips today.

Nighty, night!

One Man's TRASH Is Another Man's TREASURE!

Today was a glorious day. We got a dishwasher!

We have been planning a kitchen remodel for 2 years now, and each time we get ready to do it, one of the kids gets engaged. I know me, and if my house is ripped up while I'm getting ready for a wedding, the men in the little white coats will have to come and get me! The appliances are starting to 'go'. The dishwasher pooped out 2 years ago this summer. So we have been washing dishes by hand everyday for that whole time. But we just kept thinking the remodel was just around the corner.

We finally decided it is at least another 6 months off now, so when my friend and neighbor called me earlier in the week to say I could buy her 2 year old GE Profile dishwasher that she just took out of her kitchen for her remodel to have until we redo ours I jumped at the offer! She sold it for a steal of a price and her contractor came and put it in today. He even hauled our old broken down one away. I sprayed and wiped it down and it is amazing. Every time someone from the family called I would put the phone up to it and say, "Can you hear that?" They all said no. I answered, "Of course you can't! It's the 'new' dishwasher and it's sooooo quiet!"

Of course, it prompted more 'clean and purging'. Everything came out from under the kitchen sink. I threw out, consolidated, wiped, dried, rearranged, and put it back under. Boy it looks good.

It has been sitting in their garage for 6 months and so now the old adage has come true once again--that one man's trash is another man's treasure!

Taxes on Tuesday

It went together. What can I say! But today is Tuesday, April 15th and it is the day taxes are due. You can count on it every year. I've never had to worry about them. Since I'm married to an accountant, he has always just taken care of them and I sign on the hightlighted spaces. No biggee for me. But I know it is a huge undertaking for so many other people.

Bronson came over this morning and I completed what we ordered for some more food storage. Click on this link and you can find out more about it. It is amazingly very good. I won't use it for all our storage, but definitely to supplement. It takes up very little space and has a 25+ year shelf life. http://www.dailybreadfoodstorage.com/ It is a good feeling. My friend, Nancee, is getting some buckets of wheat from Lehi Roller Mill. She is going to get some for me too.

It is Duff's brother's birthday today, and Aunt Ann went in the hospital today for a hysterectomy. I will update tomorrow on how she is doing. So remember her in your prayers.

It has been an incredibly cool and BEAUTIFUL spring day today.

Happy Birthday Michael Wade

Hi Mike--

Congratulations on birthday #48!

Happy Birthday to you--

Happy Birthday to you--

Happy Birthday Dear Michael Wade,

Happy Birthday to YOU.

We love you. Just pretend Gramma Duff called and sang that to you today. Kind of weird not having her here to do it.

Monday Memos

Check out the time. I got it in just under the wire...

Do you sing? That seems to be the question I keep asking people lately. I was asked to put together a musical number for the women's conference coming up on Sunday. This is sooooo out of my element. I enjoy music. I sang in the Concert Choir in high school. I have an okay voice. I can lead basic music, and I can play very basic piano. But a musical number????? Puh-leeze!

It has truly been a stress to me over the last couple of weeks. I've never done this before and it gets kind of paralyzing after a fashion. Finally after a bunch of avenues came to dead ends, I decided on the women's arrangement of The Lord is My Shepherd in the hymn book, #316. The text goes along with the theme. I've gathered women for a triple trio (?)--3 for each part. On the advice of a friend who is musical, we are only having 2 practices, one tomorrow and one Sunday morning. I hope it's enough. Can you tell I'm still anxious about it?

• House cleaned


• Pots watered


• Laundry DONE!


• FHE


• Dinner (scrambled eggs, potato pancakes from the left over mashed potatoes, and cantalope and watermelon. Good.)


• Dancing With The Stars [1/2 way through the season. I'm rooting for Kristi Yamaguchi (with Mark) and Jason Taylor (with Edyta)]. I totally know how much work it takes from when I danced. All of the couples are amazing actually.

Sunday...

Duff had early morning meetings

• Had a quiet morning to myself while the kids slept in
  
• Got dinner in the crock-pot


• Watched Music and the Spoken Word while doing dinner


• Subbed in Primary--Be still my heart! Love the children. Had so much fun with those CTR 5's! Lesson on the Holy Ghost.


• Home to set out the rolls, change clothes, and RELAX.


• Mike and Adrianne over.


• Yummy dinner.


• Brett and Kim K. over to visit. Brett's dad just passed away and the funeral was Saturday. Great man, and difficult passing. Kennedy just got engaged! Yay! She is getting married the week before Nats. On your mark, get set, GO KIM. Lots to plan in a very short amount of time...


• Talked to Nats and Josh. Law finals for both coming up. Stressful time.


• Christine in bed earlier. Back to school tomorrow. I'll miss her. Even though we did absolutely nothing exciting for spring break we enjoyed each other and the down time. I think sometimes we forget how important down time is. We try and fill every minute with 'something' when the real rejuvenating comes from quiet, introspective time. We read books, slept in, watched movies, etc. Ahhh, nice.
  

Is It Spring or Summer?

It has been dang hot today! 100* on our thermometer. The a/c is going. Tomorrow is supposed to be a lot like today and then they say it will start to cool down next week. I'm loving spring, but am NOT ready for summer yet!

Crazy day. Busy, busy. I was asked to speak on the Gift of the Holy Ghost this afternoon at a baptism. It was a beautiful baptism. They sure make you think back on your own. The details, how you felt. I walked in, and the very first thing that was said to me after 'hi' was could I play the piano. The pianist was late. I'm happy to do that, but I am NOT an accompianist. Those are two completely different things. So I plunked out prelude music for about 20 minutes. Thankfully, the pianist got there as they were starting the baptism. This happened last fall as well to me. Talk about heart palpitations!!! Maybe I should just start practicing more....

I got home, changed into some comfy clothes and wished I could take a nap...but got some leftovers warmed up for dinner and then headed for the grocery store. Got the marketing done for the week and put away. They had some good specials that I picked up some extra for for the food storage.

Then at 8pm I got the bug to make a Joanne's run to get some more crochet thread and yarn. I've been taking a bag with me in the car lately when I have to run Christine around and it's surprising what I can get done in small increments of time working on the tropical bandages for the Humanitarian Center. I'm almost done with my last spool of crochet thread and needed some more. I've been doing this for several years, but have stepped it up a notch in recent weeks. My mom has been inspiring me to knit hats on the round looms lately too. She has been going crazy doing them. I think she has done over 100 now. I like crocheting. I learned when I was a Merrihand in primary many, many moons ago. Interesting how over time that has stayed with me.

On my way home I picked up Christine from a friend's where a bunch of them got together and had dinner and went swimming.

The house is quiet and I'm enjoying the stillness.

One Ringy Dingy, Two Ringy Dingies...

The phone has just rung/rang off the hook today. All kinds of calls. I just kept transitioning from one subject to the other!

Highlight calls:

• My hubby
• Mike
• Adrianne
• Natalie
• Lisa
• Josh
• Invitation to speak at baptism tomorrow
• To sub in Primary

What a great and yet bothersome invention. This dates me, but I remember party-lines on my phone when I was a little girl. We've come a long way! I have learned to love the computer for communication too, but lament that sometimes we rely on it too much. The sound of a voice from one person to another conveys things and is powerful in the personal touch. Christ was all about that, the personal touch.

Gorgeous day today. In fact almost too summery. We had to turn on the upstairs air this afternoon. I'm looking forward to the weekend!

Yesterday's Blah, Blah, Blah...

Yesterday was such a BLAH day for me! I really can't tell you what I got accomplished. Every time I got going, I got interrupted and derailed and it was hard to get back on track. Some days are just like that I guess! I finally just sat down and crocheted bandages for the Humanitarian Center and watched Dancing With The Stars that we tivoed and sang along to Sheryl Crow! Random, I know!

At 9pm, the day got very interesting though. Christine had been at an activity swimming and got home and ate a late dinner. She came and layed down on the couch opposite me and told me about some things she is learning about friends and life. Making choices. We were able to have a long, deep conversation. She ended up climbing in bed with Duff and I and cuddled close. I just want to be able to shield her and protect her from these hard things in life. In my 'mother-tiger-protective' mode, (totally unrealistic!), I just want her to live in a rose-colored world! But that is not the Father's plan. We must learn wisdom and grow. I'm so grateful she felt she could confide.

The Last Lecture

I watched this on Oprah when it aired. I'm not a big Oprah watcher, but just happened to be scrolling through the channels the day it was on. I was very touched by it.

Then Tuesday Primetime, on ABC, had a special interview by Diane Sawyer with Randy Pausch about his 'Last Lecture'. I'm really glad I watched it. Randy admits that he does have his moments in the shower, all alone, when he cries and is scared about dying from this pancreatic cancer. But he has met this challenge with honesty, acceptance, and grace. He and his lecture are very inspiring to me. I hope this 'lecture' is in the book. I'm going to go and get it.

Click on the arrow and watch it. It is about 10 minutes.

Dad's Birthday

We had a fun time for Duff's birthday tonight. I made a simplified version of Sunday Gravy (linguine and red sauce) with a salad. Favorite cake: Angel Food with Creamy Glaze (Auntie Coy's glaze recipe always!) We ate, quickly sang Happy Birthday, he blew out the candles and then Christine was off for YW. Adrianne and I cleaned up the kitchen in record time and when he got back from the church we had cake and ice cream and opened cards.
Adrianne was off in the downstairs bedroom for a while before dinner. She set the table and then disappeared. I thought she might be laying down on the bed and reading Eclipse (she's almost done...) after a long day at work. But when I checked on her, she was making this Sass-O-Meter for dad! His 'wit' can at times be somewhat on the 'sassy' side, and he is always checking with her to 'rate' it. It has become a joke between them. Now he has his own meter to 'gauge' it! Very cute and clever, Adrianne!

The small rototiller he has been wanting FOREVER for the garden will hopefully come today! We are planting a garden this year. Last year was the first year in 30 years that we haven't had some kind of a garden. We missed it. So here come the tomatoes, zuchinni, beans, peppers, and cucumbers...

Another Bite

Here is the result of what I did all yesterday afternoon. I emptied our garage 'pantry/food storage' cupboard, cleaned it, and reorganized it all. This is our 'working' food cupboard. Meaning we rotate out of this one and it is the 'extra' stuff' that we keep on hand for inside the house. Our other storage, wheat, milk, rice, etc. is in the other garage in cupboards as well. I will go through that hopefully next week. I need to check the new expiration dates against them and see what else we need. Boy, it feels good to get this done. I just need to do the bottom shelf. It is the cleaning/toiletries supplies shelf. I ran out of 'steam' by 5:30pm! But I've taken another 'bite' of that elephant now!

Meet Me At Grandma's

Grandma's back to posting. Check it out. And she was really cute this morning wanting to personalize her blog to reflect her. So it has some color now and some picture changes. Isn't it just totally her??? The soft flower colors and she wants to write italicized. It is romantic and soft.....

If you have things you want to learn/know about her let me or her know and she will start to post them.

Way to go grams! Now we have to get grandpa up and going!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DUFF!

• Today is my sweetheart's birthday! He is 54. He is such a great man. Here are some of his qualities and why I love him so much:
• He honors the priesthood
• He has a great sense of humor!
• He is loving and kind.
• He is a wonderful father
• He works hard.
• He is really helpful to me around the house.
• He is romantic!
• He has a firm and strong testimony of the gospel.
• He is a softie, but likes to pretend that he's tough...
• He has the most beautiful green eyes!
• He likes choirs and has always had a secret desire to direct one.
• He loves Christmas. The decorations, the food, the traditions...
• He's a good cook, and we always work in the kitchen together.
• His family comes first.
• He doesn't like to be the center of attention.
• He is a reader! Loves books.
• He is an Eagle Scout.
• He is slow to anger. Hardly ever upset.
• Sports, sports, sports. More of a spectator, but he LOVES them.
• BYU. BYU. BYU I don't need to say anything else!
• He likes musicals.
• He is awesome in everyway.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! I love you!

DUFFY DOINGS

I was working on printing out my blog and getting it into a binder for March and thought that I would pause and reflect on just what I've done. This is the first time in my life that I have EVER kept a consistent journal of any kind. That is quite an accomplishment for me. This has always been one of my weaknesses.

I must stop and give a big THANK YOU to my cousin, Roberta, who got me started and encouraged me and inspired me to do it. As you can see above, I now have three 4" binders with journal entries starting from September of 2007 thru March 2008. That is 7 months! My computer skills have improved as well as my camera abilities!

I have always felt guilty not keeping some kind of a journal. But it just took so much time to write by hand. This is neat and orderly and even has pictures! I have always had a love for history and unfortunately don't have much from my ancestors. I'm hoping to change that with my generation, and leave something for my posterity to know me and my life. Hopefully they might even learn some life lessons! I know I have.

America's Funniest Home Videos

....and the grand prize goes to: Mother Falls In Broken Hammock!

Well, this afternoon I had just switched over a load of laundry from the washer to the dryer and looked around and was satisfied that everything was pretty well in order. So I decided that I would take my book and go outside for some reading time in the hammock. I was soooo close to finishing Mistaken Identity.

Last October when we had the Santa Ana winds and subsequently the fires, our rope hammock was destroyed. Last month I found this one at Lowe's and Adrianne and I put it on the frame. What we didn't count on was that the frame was old and rusted underneath.

I've been on it many times since. So imagine my utter surprise when today as I layed down on it and had the dog on my lap and my book in my hand it fell to the ground! Darla went flying up in the air to the right, the book to the left--just missed the dirt-- and I went straight on to the ground landing on the under bar and the side pole came crashing down across my shins!!! Yes, if there had been a camera around it would have been quite the scene!!!

I layed there for a minute and decided nothing was broken, I just kind of hurt all over. Then I started laughing, rolled over and got up. My legs were throbbing. I came in the house and grabbed two bags of frozen vegetables from the freezer, sat down on the couch, and iced them. I got some more reading done in spite of it all or actually because of it all. I couldn't get up for a while as new aches and pains came to light and the bruises were already starting to color.

My current best friend! (and now it's off to Lowe's for a new frame!)

Love Me Tender, Love Me True

I forgot I took this picture of Natalie and Robert when they were down for Easter. It's a cute one of the two of them. Natalie and Robert

July 25, 2008

Newport Beach Temple

(She is standing on her tippee toes. He is 6'3" and she is 5'3"!)

General Conference Sunday

I already posted yesterday about the solemn assembly, but I really liked this picture in the Deseret News on-line. So I thought I'd put it in today for posterity. Also, this is the day, 178 years ago that the church was formally organized: April 6, 1830. It was a Tuesday that year.


None of us woke up very early today. In fact, when conference started this morning, Duff and I had just gotten up and for some reason Duff reverted back to his Utah timing and thought conference started at 10am! When I turned on the TV to watch Music and The Spoken Word, he wondered why it was on so early! I reminded him conference starts at 9am for us. I grabbed the cinnamon rolls I made last night out of the refrigerator and popped them in the microwave to take the chill off and finish raising and put them in the oven. Shaun and Christine finally came walking in wrapped in quilts--standard fashion for General Conference Sunday.

The talks were very good. After this session, we got the turkey in the oven. We always have a turkey dinner on conference. I don't know how that got started. I think one year I had a lot of them in the freezer because every time I went to the grocery store and spent $25 you would get a free turkey, and I needed to use them up. Anyway--

As President Monson was closing the conference this afternoon, I had a sweet experience with knowing he was God's prophet. I hadn't been searching for it or asking for it -- I have long understood how succession in the presidency works-- but it just came to me very randomly. A testimony that he is the Prophet today. My own personal witness from the spirit.

Mike and Adrianne came over for dinner. We had a nice time and then Adrianne and Christine went back to their place to watch a movie together while Adrianne worked on some graphic designs for her brother. Mike and Shaun watched the Laker game and then Duff drove Mike home and picked up Christine. She is totally into volume 2 of TWandTGlory since she stayed up until 1am reading volume 1 and finished it this afternoon! I tried staying up with her and finally we decided 1am was late enough!

Josh and Mere went to Auntie's and Grandma and Grandpa came and they had quiche today, and Grandma made cranberry muffins from Lehi Mill mix. Yum! They all enjoyed the talks and even got a nap in. Josh is busy with school and Meredith will be finishing up her job and getting ready for a new one that will allow her to take some more classes toward her degree.

Robert and Natalie watched it together and then went for a drive up the canyon. It promptly started snowing so they headed back after a while. They are gearing up for finals and moving. Next semester they will have their OWN place together!

Girl's Night Out...or G.N.O. as Miley Cyrus would say!

Today has been the first day of General Conference. Mike and Adrianne came over for the morning session and to have the traditional conference breakfast. We took the solemn assembly to sustain the new prophet and his presidency and the new apostle very seriously. We all stood when we were asked. This was the first time Christine could participate since President Hinckley was the prophet when she was born. It was the first time Shaun remembered being a part of it since he was 9 when President Hinckley was sustained.

President Uchtdorf seems very comfortable and a 'natural' at the pulpit. He does have such a presence about him. I remember when he married Britta and Jeff in 2006 in the SL Temple. There was just something about his demeanor, posture, spirit. Duff and I were talking about it earlier and he wondered what it was. I answered that it is because he is a German! We both had a good laugh. (My mom's family is all from Germany. Britta is my cousin and President Uchtdorf is friends with her parents in Germany. He gave some counsel in German to them so her parents could understand, and then did the ceremony in English.) Boy, he is really good at pronouncing names!

Darla went to the groomer right at 11:15 after conference. Christine and I got our Saturday chores done and showered. Then it was the afternoon session. After, I went to the market to get the weekly shopping done. I really don't care for grocery shopping, so I make out a weekly menu and only go once a week. I keep a paper taped to the inside of one of the kitchen cupboards and add things to it as they come up during the week. My family knows if they run out of something, it needs to get on that list.

The guys were already gone for Priesthood meeting when I got back. Christine unloaded the groceries and I quickly put them all away, and then we headed for the mall for some girl's time out. We didn't have much time because we didn't realize that the mall closes at 7pm. The department store anchors stay open until 9pm, but all the other stores in the mall close! See, I'm really not a very big shopper. You'd think I should know that, huh. We did get our facial cleansing products and made it to the MAC store to check out new make-up stuff. We ended by getting a Jamba Juice with an immunity add-in for our dinner.

Then we stopped to see Adrianne since we haven't been over there for a while and it was on the way home. She was finishing up her Saturday cleaning and the apartment looks great. It is homey and comfortable. A good feeling there. We were going to help her take some storage containers out to their garage, but Mike had the clicker with him in his car and his car was at our house since he was at Priesthood with Duff and Shaun. The 'boys' went out to dinner after the meeting.

Josh and Grandpa went together in AZ to Priesthood, and then went to get an ice-cream at Baskin Robbins 31 Flavors. I'm glad they could go together. Then back to Auntie's for dinner.

The house is quiet and Christine is totally engrossed in her book. She is reading the Work and the Glory, volume 1. She has turned into an avid reader this school year. Usually I would have to go lay down with her at night and take my own book into her room to get her to read her required reading for school. Now I can hardly get her to get other things done. She is reading all the time. I love it. Probably because I am a reader and I want her to develop a love of books and reading. When I was a little girl I would read at night after lights out with a flashlight under the covers. Boy was I busted when I got caught! But I just couldn't put books down!

So I'm going to go brush my teeth and wash my face, get on my jammies and climb into bed with my own book. I'm reading Mistaken Identity and it is good.

I enjoyed the messages today. I needed them. They were so uplifting and inspired me to write things down and think them through. I always look forward to conference weekend. Oh, and I did see my friend from our high school years, Wayne Van Tassell in the choir! That was really fun!

Conference Quiche

This has been a Conference morning tradition for our family for 25 years! And yes, we just had it this morning! Serve with fruit and your favorite juice with lots of ice.

HASH BROWN POTATO AND HAM QUICHE

24 oz. frozen shredded hash browns

1/2 cup margarine or butter, melted

1 cup shredded swiss cheese

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup diced ham

1/2 cup cream

3 eggs, beaten

1/8-1/4 tsp. seasoned salt

Completely thaw potatoes and mix thoroughly with melted butter. Fit into a 9-10 inch pie plate, on bottom and up the sides. Bake at 425* for 20-25 minutes. Fill baked crust layering 1/2 the ham, 1/2 the cheddar cheese, and 1/2 the swiss cheese. Repeat with another layer. Combine eggs, cream, and salt. Pour over the layers. Bake 25-30 minutes or until a knife comes out clean.

Serves 6-8

***You can substitute diced, cooked bacon or browned ground sausage or link sausage, or sliced sauteed mushrooms in place of the ham. We've never garnished with sour cream--we are more ketchup folks--but it really doesn't need one!

A Voice From The Past

Yesterday I got a comment on my flashlight post from someone I didn't quite remember from their blog title. They made a reference to my 9/19/07 post and that they had left a comment there as well that I hadn't responded to. (I don't generally make it a habit to go to months past and check for comments.)

I went back to the entry and it came to me as clear as a bell as soon as I read that post and comment! It was Wayne Van Tassell! We had gone to West Torrance High School together with several other friends in common. Wayne was not a member of the church at the time and a friend of mine, Sandy Robbins, spoke to him about the gospel and the church. Wayne began searching and was baptized! He knew my parents well also.

I went off to college in Provo, and he and Sandy were a year behind me and finished up their senior year. I lost contact with Wayne, and Sandy came to the Y and we were roommates. What I learned yesterday, is that he also went to BYU, joined the Navy and was a nuclear reactor operator on a submarine for 6 years. Went back to the Y, grauduated in engineering, has lived in several places in the country. He married in the Los Angeles Temple, has 5 children, 3 grandchildren and lives in Ogden and works now in Salt Lake City!

He threw out a 'tease' that I had his picture on my blog! I thought, no--I don't. Then Shaun said maybe he was a photographer and I had a picture that he might have taken that I got off a search site. No, again. He is a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in the bass section! and I have a picture of the Choir representing General Conference on my blog. He told me where he was and I will look for him tomorrow morning and all through conference.

We've exchanged emails. What I want to post so that I can remember is this: The joy and peace and excitement that I have felt today is PROFOUND. That after 30+ years to be reconnected however briefly with Wayne and hear his testimony and about his life and family strongly rooted in the gospel is beyond a mortal feeling. The scripture in Alma 17:2 has been playing over and over again in my mind and heart: "...Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God."

This is when Alma the younger and the sons of Mosiah met up after years of separation and were so happy to see each other again, especially that they had remained steadfast. It is the same feeling that I experienced in the temple with Patti and Richard when Meredith received her endowment. And the feeling I felt as Mike and Adrianne and Josh and Meredith were married--that we were being 'reunited' on earth after our 'separation' from the pre-mortal world.

I'm grateful for this glimpse of eternity.

Another One, Clint!

Happy Birthday to You, Clint!

Happy Birthday to You,

Happy Birthday Dear Clint---

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

And many more.....

We hope you have a great day. What is your favorite cake? Happy celebrating!

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR-------

It is that time of year to change the batteries in your flashlights and smoke detectors! For a long time dad and I couldn't figure out how to get on a good system for remembering to do this, and finally a friend shared this tip:

The weekend of General Conference is a great time to do that. We all have it on our calendars and it's easy to remember. It is a 6 month time frame (twice a year).

This is also a great time schedule to rotate your water storage. Empty barrels, drums, clean, and refill. Or if you are doing smaller storage, like the 2 1/2 gallon jugs from Costco, get some more and rotate those on to your counter or refrigerator.

Good Luck and GET IT DONE!

THE BEST! On A Chilly Day

I had some leftover ham bone and decided to make some split pea soup for dinner. Boy was it ever delicious! It sure hits the spot on a chilly/gray day!


As we were sitting there eating it with our french bread, it brought back lots of memories of growing up in the Torrance kitchen. The front window would be steamy because it was so cold outside (I lived really close to the beach), and there was just something about sitting down to the table with that soup. The meal was inexpensive, healthy (legumes and veges) and tasty. Growing up it was one of my favorite soups.

Here is the recipe:

1 16oz. bag split peas, washed and drained
8 cups water
1 meaty ham bone
1 onion diced
1 tsp. salt
pepper to taste
1/4 tsp. marjoram
pinch of thyme
1 bay leaf
2 whole allspice
3 carrots sliced

Combine split peas, water, ham bone, onion, and seasonings. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for about 1 1/2 - 2 hours, stirring every so often. Remove hambone and pull or cut meat off. Add carrots, cover again, and simmer until tender, about 20-30 minutes. Add ham and correct seasonings. If you want it a little thicker, just add some instant mashed potato flakes.

(This morning I had a demonstration on some freeze dried food storage meals. I kind of just had the guy over as a favor, but was so impressed with the product that I am going to buy some. They are breakfast, dinner, vegetables, and fruits that are freeze dried and you add a cup of water to them and let them rehydrate for 8 minutes. It was really good and I think reasonable for what you get. I won't use them as my total food storage, but will get some to augment the other basics for some variety and convenience and also a way to add some fat to a food storage diet. I was talking with my friend who is a nutritionist about it and she was telling me that that is a concern--how to add appropriate fat to the food storage diet. The biggest plus I saw in this was that the products have a 25+ year shelf life and take up very little space.

I went and visited with a new sister who moved in the ward with the RS presidency. What a great lady. It was fun and good to get to know her better.

On to laundry and the visiting teaching report. But it is the 3rd and it is done! Yeah! Talked to my sis, Lisa, and got caught up. Shaun went out with some friends and then they came back here for awhile. Got my March blog printed out. Hopefully I'll get it into the binder tomorrow. I'm preparing for conference. I am hoping to get all my errands done tomorrow so I don't have to rush around on Saturday. We will empty, clean, and refill our water barrels.)

April Showers Bring May Flowers

Yesterday was a GORGEOUS sunny day. It started with going to the Book of Mormon study class for RS enrichment at Jamie's (which I was teaching btw--yikes!) It meets twice a month and the lesson material is from the Preach My Gospel book.

I left from there and went to the church to begin the March visiting teaching report. I was the ONLY one there. I had to use codes and keys to get into the building and clerks offices. A little spooky/creepy being there all alone. I had the hardest time logging on to the computer. I finally had to call the ward clerk at work for help. Such a simple fix--use the keypad to the right not the numbers at the top. Duh--of course! I was there for about 90 minutes. I'm glad the walls and I have a pact to remain silent. I talked outloud to myself through every step! The MLS computer programs are VERY different than using a home computer.

I got home and had a hard time getting motivated to do the 'daily' stuff. When I leave first thing in the morning it's just harder for me to come home and get going again. I seem to lose my momentum. Anyway--finally got it together.

Christine had a TON of homework last night. And it was mutual night. So she was up until 11pm, poor girl. It was really hard for her to wake up this morning. We had dinner and then she was off for the activity and I left to train a new vt supervisor at 7:30. I made a couple of stops on the way home and ended up visiting way longer than I had planned, but it was so much fun to connect with people I love and haven't visited with in a while. So I got home around 9:45. I helped Christine with homework and then plopped into bed when she did.

At my first stop, it was totally dry when I knocked on the door. When I came out an hour later, it was pouring down rain! And it didn't stop. As I look out the window it is still drizzling here and I LOVE it. Everything is so green and beautiful. The timeless adage is true: April Showers Bring May Flowers. The rose bushes are busting with new growth and little buds are forming. The Calla Lilies are starting to bloom. The beginnings of purple flowers on the wisteria are coming. I am watching some blue birds playing in the misting. They are singing and happy.

Oh, but darn the snails! I have baited 3 times already and still they come! Time to bait again.

New Month for PROVIDENT LIVING---

Hi F-A-M-I-L-Y,

Check the side bar for this months new goals for food storage. It is broken down by weeks. If you can't get both items, just choose one. But just START! That is the goal. Find a cool place under your bed or in a corner of a closet and get a storage container with a lid for your items. This is especially good for you in apartments right now.

Good Luck!

April Fools!

What a good day! No pranks at all!

I was invited to the RS Presidency meeting this morning to help plan the ward women's/visiting teaching conference. It is going to be very nice and I love the theme. Then Duff and Shaun were off to some consultation appointments up in LA for Shaun. We have another one next week at UCLA Medical Center. This one was good, but some of the techniques they use are not in keeping with gospel principles, so we will most likely nix that treatment. But things are looking promising at UCLA.

Piano for Christine. Homework, vt report, Dancing With The Stars. Phone calls galore. Where does the time go in a day????? Errands, lesson prep for tomorrow. Enchiladas for dinner. Yum--haven't made those in a while! Trying to find flower girl dresses online.

The day is gone and I'm off to bed.