I Confess I Watched It

The Bachelor finale. As soon as our phone rang at 10pm and it was Meredith for me, I knew something was up. She is usually long in bed by that time (an hour later than us, so it was 11 for her). She had just finished watching After The Final Rose where Jason breaks up with Melissa on national TV and then goes after Molly, who he let go.

So of course we had to stay up and see what happened. Cripes Mirandy! What a creep!

Shame on Jason. Shame on Molly. Shame on Chris Harrison. Shame on ABC. Melissa is a class act. Hang in there girl. And NEVER again will I get suckered into watching this show.

Water Storage Information

I know this month is dedicated to 72 hour kits, but I just want to put this on since it is fresh in my mind and so in case my emergency preparedness binder gets lost or damaged, I have this information.

Water Storage

• MINIMUM: 1 gallon per person per day is the minimum recommended amount of water to have on hand. The Red Cross urges people to have at the very minimum a 72 hour supply of water stored.
• IDEAL: 2 gallons per person per day is highly recommended to ensure that there is adequate water for first aid and hygiene purposes. A 14 day supply of water is recommended for storage.

To determine the amount of water you need to store, fill in the following blanks:

1 gallon X ___ people X ____ days = ____gallons

2 gallons X ____people X ____ days = ____gallons

WATER BARREL STORAGE FILLING AND CLEANING INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Rinse barrel thoroughly inside and out before filling. Take the barrel to the location you will be storing it. Once the barrel is filled, it is difficult to move by hand.
2. Store barrels in garage if possible or out of direct sunlight. If it is stored outside, place it in the coolest and shadiest part of your home.
3. Place barrels on 2 X 4's before filling to keep off concrete and prevent wearing as concrete expands and contracts slowly eroding the plastic barrel over time. If stored in a garage, try to keep them on the opposite side of your car's exhaust pipe so the fumes do not penetrate into the water.
4. Unscrew one bung on the top of the barrel.
5. Add 1 teaspoon of plain Clorox bleach per 10 gallons of water. (1 1/2 Tablespoons for a 55 gallon drum) Be sure that the label on the bleach states that sodium hypochlorite is the only active ingredient. Bleach containing soap or fragrances is not safe.
6. Fill the barrel with a clean hose (wipe it off first) and hold the hose above the barrel. Do not insert the hose in the barrel unless you are right there watching it to avoid contamination when the water level reaches the hose.
7. Allow the water to flow to the top and out the opening.
8. Replace the bung and tighten with bung wrench. Tighten the 2nd bung.
9. Place a heavy duty plastic bag around the bungs. Secure with a rubber band. This is to prevent dirt from collecting in and around the bung which may contaminate the water when it is opened later on.
10. Mark the date the barrel was filled with a label and a permanent marker. Place it on top.

NOTE: The water must be replaced every 6 months to ensure the quality of the water. Should the water be stored for a longer length of time than the 6 months, it is recommended that the water be boiled before using. This is a good idea even if using within 6 months.

6 MONTH CLEANING AND REFILLING

1. Drain the water from the barrel making sure not to drain into a planted area. The chlorine content may damage growing plants or grass. Recommend using a siphon, or a small garden hose set aside especially for this purpose.
2. Once emptied, place 1 cup of bleach in the barrel and fill 1/4 of the way with water. Close the bung tightly and turn the barrel on it's side. Roll it back and forth.
3. Turn the barrel upside down to allow the solution to clean the top of the inside of the barrel. Let is sit upside down for 10-15 minutes.
4. Drain the barrel making sure not to drain into a planted area. Rinse several times.
5. Refill according to the directions above.
6. Mark new date.
7. Recover bungs with new ziploc bags.

NOTE: If you live in a hard winter area, check with local authorities/officials for the water level as it will freeze solid during the winter and you don't want your barrel to burst.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KATIE

Today's your day, Katie!

You have a birthday
Shout Hurray!
We want to sing to you today.
One year older (and wiser too!)
Happy Birthday,
TO YOU!

We love you and hope you have a fantastic day!

Scratch It Off The List

So today we finally got it done. We used to be regular. Every 6 months, change out the water barrels. Well, it's been almost 2 years. Yikes. Mike came over and he and Duff worked all afternoon and got them done. We just added 2 more 55 gallon barrels, so now we have 6 of those and 2 15 gallon drums. This is the stage after they have been emptied and the bleach water is in them, they have been rolled around and are now upside down for 10 minutes.
Here is our storage area in the side garage. We decided to keep them in this garage because it keeps them out of the elements and this one stays pretty cool all times during the year. We learned that they shouldn't sit directly on the concrete. They need to be able to 'breathe' and if they sit on the concrete they can also pick up any odors, etc.

Nicely stacked on top of the 2 X 4's.

Cleaned, filled, and ready.

Duff was at lunch with a couple of his business partners. They wanted to go see a movie after, and he told them he would have to pass today. They asked why, and when he told them he was rotating our water storage, they laughed at and were teasing him. However, one of them told him that he had been recently at a HOA meeting for where he lives and the fire department was the keynote speakers on emergency preparedness. The first thing out of the speaker's mouth was, "Whenever we have a big emergency; fire, earthquake, etc. Find one of your Mormon neighbors. They've got this thing down. They'll have food, water, and supplies to get you through!" Of course that comment got a round of laughter, but the fireman was serious. Duff looked at John and Mike K. and told them they won't think it's so funny when they are knocking on our door! It's good they all like each other....

Anyway, scratch that one off the list for now.

Sunday Highlights

We had a really nice day today.

Quiet.

Rejuvenating.

The house was quiet in the morning. I watched the Tabernacle Choir broadcast, which might not seem all that exciting to some, but we just don't get saturated with that kind of stuff down here, so every now and then it is a real treat. I put the pot roast in the oven, spiffed up the kitchen, and read for a while.

We fasted for Heather and her family and the doctors today. When we drove into the garage, you could smell the roast in the oven! Get in the house and get those potatoes and other veges on the stove! De-lish!

They changed the Primary Presidency today. It has only been a year. The president has had some very serious health issues going on. After an MRI for some other problems, the doctors discovered a cancerous tumor on one of her kidneys. While the other concerns are still there, this now became the main focus. She just completed a serious surgery to remove the kidney and take care of some other things. I am praying for her. She is a tremendous woman. The children are in good hands with the new presidency.

Our highlight was when Christine bore her testimony. We've had many lessons and discussions on what is a proper testimony vs. a 'thank-a-mony', 'story-a-mony', 'I'm so grateful for my friends/teachers-a-mony', 'I'm living the dream-a-mony', 'prepared message-a-mony'. When Duff was in the stake that was something they encouraged the wards to improve on, so we got it a lot at our house. Anyway...

She bore her testimony of answers to prayers and recognizing when the Holy Ghost speaks to you. Unbeknownst to us, she has been praying about what to do and take in high school next year. At her orchestra concert last Thursday, she had a simple but profound prompting that she was to continue her violin in high school. We got in the car after the performance and she matter-of-factly told us about it. Wow.

Then she bore testimony of families and how she has been effected by Heather's situation. Testimony of the importance of our bodies. Her testimony of the gospel and Heavenly Father's plan for us. She was very emotional, which is a new side to her to show that. On the way home from church she told us she had cried herself to sleep the night before thinking about Heather, Scott and their children. She had such a fun time playing with them on Saturday, and Hannah didn't want her to leave. These are hard times and we are all learning a lot from them.

As a mom, it is the best thing in the world when you see your children interact with the spirit. It is better than dessert or straight A's on a report card. For me, it helps to see them the way God sees them. They are His children first and we are stewards. What a humbling responsibility. Thanks, Christine, for reminding me of that. You are awesome!

Saturday Scene

• Drove the carpool to Road Show practice
• Duff and I walked 2 miles around the lake.
• Grocery shopped.
• Made another banana cream pie. (Since we didn't go to Heather's last night, we ate it.)
• Went to Heather's.

She is doing well, all things considered. All her hair is now gone, but she said it's better that way, because it doesn't itch. The home health nurse was over earlier and removed all of the staples from the incision in the back of her head. Much better with just the stitches and some steri-strips. If she's cold at night, she wears a beanie cap, otherwise she runs hot. She is thrilled to be home, even if it's on the couch. Christine entertained Heather's kids, Scott ran to Costco, and she had a college roommate who flew down for the day from San Francisco to visit with her. Uncle Fred and Aunt Coy were taking a 'break' and Scott was 'holding down the fort' very well with some help from one of his aunts. We didn't go over last night because when I called, they were alone as their own little family. They haven't been able to enjoy that for a while, so since Mike and Adrianne were over, we pulled the pie out and enjoyed it!

• On the way home, we stopped for dinner at Yama Sushi. Nice jazz band going on.
• Warm day today. Looking forward to some rain next week.
• Talked to all of the kids at some point today.
• Natalie and Robert both have jobs for the summer now. He will be working for the Orange County DA's office and she will intern with Eric Luedtke's firm. They are both very happy and excited because most of the 2L's aren't getting any internships this year, and a lot of 3L's aren't leaving law school employed! Tough times.
• Christine is signed up to play spring Lacrosse.
• She is suddenly WAY into the violin. Practicing/playing in her spare time. So we are looking for a private teacher in addition to what she does at school.
• I'm practicing primary songs as I am leading the music 2nd hour. That will be fun!
• Off to bed!

I've Been Thinking About Roles...

"I have a testimony

gained from pondering and studying the scriptures

of a plan of happiness given to us by our

Father in Heaven.

That plan has a part for His daughters.

We have the female half to take care of,

and if we don't do our part,

no one else is going to do it for us.

The half of our Father's plan that creates life,

that nurtures souls, that promotes growth,

that influences everything else was given to US.

We can't delegate it.

We can't pass it off to anyone.

It's ours.

We can refuse it.

We can deny it.

But it's still our part,

and we're accountable for it.

There will come a day

when we will all remember what we knew

before we were born.

We will remember that we fought in a great conflict

for this privilege.

How do we meet this responsibility?

We daily put our energies into the work

that is uniquely ours to do."

--Julie B. Beck

I LOVE this quote. It was part of the visiting teaching message this month. There were several quotes about the divine roles of women, but this was my favorite.

I've been giving this some thought the last couple of weeks. Yesterday when the GE repairman was here, about 1/2 way through his work, he made the comment kind of in the form of a question: "You really do cook, don't you?" Yes, yes I do. I asked him, why? He said that most repairs he does are from faulty parts, abuse, etc. Not that they get 'worn out' from honest cooking. He asked me what that was like to cook almost everyday. It was an interesting conversation. I got to share our views and perspective on family. Why mealtimes are important. He had not given that much thought before.

I've been thinking about when I was growing up. I've been thinking about my own kids. Learning, chores, practicing homemaking skills, housekeepers, take-out food, yard work, gardens, budgeting, needs before wants. Vision. As a mom, I want all my sons to marry women like the quote above. (So far, so good.)I want my daughters to be that woman. I hope for them to be able to balance homemaking skills and nurturing with having fun and being spontaneous. I want to be that woman. Today the world tells women that unless they are out in the world and/or going a million miles an hour that their worth is diminished. Not so.

Men and women's roles are divinely and distinctively different. We contribute differently but equally to the home, family, and society. The YW and YM programs are supposed to be different. Learning different, but equally balancing, perspectives and skills bringing them together during combined activities 'training and practicing' that balance. I'm thankful for the Lord's wisdom.

Appliances--They Work!

Today the parts were finally in and the repairman was here to fix the cooktop and the microwave. We have been limping these appliances along because we keep thinking the kitchen remodel is just around the corner. But with the economy the way it is right now, that is on hold. So instead of the new appliances we thought we were going to put in, we've just fixed the old ones. And they work just like brand new! Woohoo! We don't have to use a lighter or match to turn on the burners and the fan works again now that we can plug the unit in and that 'click, click, click, click' doesn't go 24/7 and drive us all crazy! Old habits die hard, and when I was cooking dinner I kept reaching for the lighter. Oops, don't need that anymore!

Heather is HOME!

Check Cherise's blog for all the detail-details, but Heather came home on Wednesday night! All things considered, she is doing well. I talked to her this morning and she sounds tired, but good, and happy to be out of there! (I don't blame her. It was an okay place, but there's no place like your own home.) She is feeling all right, but still not much appetite. She has to force herself to eat. She loves cream pies, and I asked her if she liked banana cream. She said YES, so I'm making one this afternoon and we will take it up. If it sounds good, then let's get some in her! She needs some strength. The bananas will be good for the potassium she needs.

She couldn't keep anything down for almost 2 weeks, then emergency brain surgery, then in rehab for a week. She needs some calories in her to get her strength back!

One thing I've been so impressed with when I am with Heather--she laughs. She can laugh. Times are tough, but she can balance it with laughter.

Welcome To The World, Little Holly!

I got this from Uncle Joe a few days ago. Kurt and Angie had their baby. They had to take her early because Angie was having some pretty serious complications with a liver disorder brought on by pregnancy. (See Kristin's blog for a full account.) But she is finally here, and they are both finally home, and Angie is on the mend, but it might take her awhile. She could use our prayers. I don't know if Kurt and Angie did this announcement or Uncle Joe, but it's pretty dang clever!

Welcome to the world, little Holly!

H******N PRODUCTION CO.
Announces
MODEL # 4
THE NEW 2009 BABY GIRL
Kurt – Designer and Chief Engineer
Angie – Production Manager
Dr. Kimball Lloyd – Technical Assistant

Model # 4 is 21 ½ inches long
She rolled out of the assembly plant Feb. 21, 2009 at 3:21 A.M.
She will be named Holly Alexa

This Model comes with Double lung power, free squealing,
Streamlined body, new improved knee action,
Throw away seat covers.
Must be seen to be fully appreciated.
Shipping weight 6 lbs. 10 oz.

"Paper" and "Blessings"

On the way home from seeing Heather today, we stopped and picked up Mike and Adrianne's anniversary gift. Traditionally, the first anniversary is about 'paper', so we had their invitation framed for them.

It was really interesting: they prefer more straight lines and we kept trying to add a more simple frame and it was just getting lost. The gal who was helping me thought we should just try something a little more traditional on a lark. Bingo! It worked. Now you notice the invitation and not the frame. Yet it doesn't take away from the style that they like. And for something 'wedding' it adds an 'important' statement. The black is a really nice silk looking mat. It adds a lot.

I learned a lot doing this. I can't wait to see it in their home! I have a stack of our wedding invitations just sitting in a box in the garage. Maybe I should take ours and get it framed too. Hmmm, I'll have to give that some more thought....

Journal: Mike went with us to Heather's care facility while I was getting some training. He was so sweet with her. Her best friend, Carly, was there too and it was nice to get to know her better. We would love to have the same days and work together with Heather. The 3 of us had a pretty fun time doing physical therapy if you can even remotely call physical therapy fun. Well, maybe for us, but not for Heather, although we made her laugh a lot. She worked REALLY hard. Going home is a great motivator! Duff was on 'fanning' and 'towel' duty--keeping her cool and patting her face dry. To see the determination in her is inspiring! Uncle Fred and Hannah, Heather's daughter, were there when we got back to her room. Hannah and Heather were having a 'date' this afternoon. Hannah brought the Kit Kittredge movie. She had a cute bag with some Capri Sun drinks and a ziploc bag full of popcorn they could enjoy, and all her school work to show and tell. How darling is that! It was touching to see the divinity of motherhood in even these less than ideal circumstances. I've thought a lot about the blessing of being an ETERNAL family tonight. What if we didn't have the gospel? What if we didn't have baptism? What if we didn't have the priesthood? What if we didn't have temples? What if we didn't have covenants? An ETERNAL family would not be possible.

OH! How blessed we are!

I borrowed this picture from Cherise's blog. It is of Heather on Sunday doing some of her physical therapy. Yes, she gets her heighth from Uncle Fred's side of the family! And she still has her trademark smile!

I got a call yesterday to be a part of a team to do occupational and physical therapy with her when she comes home. I was honored! I go for training this afternoon up at the care facility. I'm on the hunt for 'all things in any shade of purple', as that is her favorite color. I'm going to go to Target, Wal-mart, and Kohl's and hope to find some warm-up outfits in different shades of purple, preferably with a zipper in the front of the top to make it easier for her to get dressed.

Want to hear something incredibly awesome?

Her ward has come in and done an Extreme Home Makeover on their condo, similar to the tv show! These people are amazing and love them so much! They put in hard wood floors, got them 2 new couches, painted, new cushions for the kitchen chairs, completely redid the master bedroom in all of Heather's favorites. She will be so surprised when she gets home!