Swagbucks

Search & Win

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Crazy Saturday!

Yesterday was a busy day for us. We can go weeks with blank squares on the calender and then we get a day like yesterday, when everything lands on the VERY SAME DAY!
I had originally planned to go to Preston - it was the weekend of the annual Franklin County Medical Center Health and Wellness Expo. That was to be held from 8am to Noon. Then there was a Vintage Fashion Show at the Worm Creek Opera House at 3:00, the proceeds of which went to remodeling the Oneida Stake Academy
(one of my pet projects)
That's not all! - In the evening was the Preston High School Ballroom Dance Concert (I thought it would be fun to go, since I was once on that team.)

BUT as more and more things crowded my schedule here in Pocatello - my plan of heading south quickly changed.
So here is what we did yesterday - in our CRAZY BUSY day!


I attended a couponing class at the Chubbuck Public Library from 10 - 11. I was surprised at how many people were there - about 60. This lady, a young mother on a tight budget, started using the website pinchingyourpennies.com only 3 months ago, in January, and has since mastered the system and has been saving hundreds of dollars on her grocery bill every month since. She's so excited about it that she's been holding these free classes teaching others to do the same.
It was AMAZING - I'm super impressed and am going to try... If any one is interested her next class will be May 23 @10am @ the Chubbuck Public Library.
Ryan had to work Saturday morning so a lady in our ward agreed to watch the boys while I went to the class. So I took them there around 9:30 - they played outside until I got there around 11:30 to get them.

We then dashed home so everyone could use the potty before dashing off again.
Our next adventure of the day was a birthday party of a little girl in Canton's preschool class. The party was at "Randy's Tumbling and Extreme Fun" in Chubbuck, across from Geraldine's Bake Shoppe and Deli, from 12- 2pm. [I took these pictures on my cell phone so they are not so awesome -it's not good at action shots at all!]
It was a really fun party and I had a blast, as well as the kids. It was fun to have so much room to run and jump and play. I think Canton would really like being in gymnastics. He had fun jumping on the trampoline, diving into the pit with the spongy blocks, and doing somersaults one after another until he was too dizzy to stand.
I was involved in gymnastics when I was younger. So I played on the blue springy floor. I did lots of cart wheels, round offs, back hand springs, and hand stands while all the little kids "Ooed" and "Ahhed." It was fun for me - but my arms are a little sore today...We had pizza and cake after we were done playing.


We then hurried home to squeeze in a nap before we had to dash off again. Once my exhausted kids were sleeping I hurried around the house clean it as quickly as possible (I was quite impressed - I guess I can get a lot done if I really put my mind to it.) I started vacuuming at 3:30 which, as I had hoped, woke my sleeping children and we got ready to leave AGAIN!

Our next engagement was yet ANOTHER birthday party. This one for a little boy who's the same age as Tate. Their family used to live in an apartment in our ward. They have
since bought a house across town, but we've kept in touch.

His party was a bowling party at "Pine Bowl" from 4-6pm. It was all kinds of craziness - and I now have the opinion that bowling parties should be for no one under 8 years old! It was dark, there was a black light, but it was far too difficult to keep track of small children in the dim lighting.
Then there were a bunch of 3, 4, and 5 year olds trying to bowl! We had pinched fingers, smashed toes, and Canton kept stepping over the line as he attempted to send his ball down the alley - this causing him to slip and fall down. He was rubbing his bottom and with a pouty face said, "Kiss my bum, Mom, it weally hurtz!" I didn't do it.


The music was REALLY loud, we all had to shout just to hear each other and be heard, and the music wasn't very wholesome. So I was in a dim lit, smelly bowling alley, blaring swear words and alternative life styles, trying to keep track of my kids. I was not having so much fun. Another mother there went to ask if they could change the station or at least turn it down, they were very rude to her and refused to change the music in any way.


Things got a little better when we all sat down to eat. We had yet another meal of pizza and birthday cake. My children weren't so excited about that, but I didn't care if they didn't eat it. Ryan met us there after he got off of work. He helped Tate bowl a couple more times and then we went home.

We had 20 minutes to change before even more excitement. I was sure g
lad I cleaned up earlier. My Aunt had some extra tickets for "Power in His Touch" at the Steven's Performing Arts Center. Ryan went to get her son so he could watch our kids while we went.
It was my favorite part of the day! It was a musical performance about repentance and the healing power of the atonement. It was very well done and gave me a different perspective than I had seen before.

Ryan and I both really enjoyed the music so we bought the sound track after the show - he figured we could buy the CD when we hadn't had to pay for the tickets (Thanks Bonnie!) The writer was there so we had her sign it.
So we ended on a good note. It had been far too long since our last date night.

My cousin took such good care of our kids!
This morning the boys were telling me all about it! "Kyle fought the monsters in the dark and defeated them!" "Kyle said if we sleep all night our muscles will get big and strong like his," "Look, my muscles are already BIGGER!!!" I think Kyle's pretty awesome :)

We got home around 10:00 last night - then I prepared a Primary lesson, for today, before heading to bed. It was a VERY long day!

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Easter Reflection


I love this time of year. The grass is turning green, flowers are pushing their way through the ground and the trees are budding. It's a time of new beginning; everything is so fresh and new, but my favorite part about spring is celebrating Easter.
I try to maintain a Christ centered life, but will admit that I get side tracked occasionally. I love how at this time of year we have some extra time to reflect on our Savior: His life, ministry, the atonement and resurrection.


I love all the feelings and emotions that come with such reflection. We are all so blessed! We have been given an AMAZING gift! Hope - if nothing else. The hope that it gives each of us; that this life is not all there is, that Jesus Christ, our older brother, our Savior and Redeemer, has atoned for our sins. He has over come death and because of that we will ALL be resurrected.
Not only will our body be reunited with our spirit, but that body will be made whole and perfect! No more handicaps, disabilities or pain! What an amazing thing we have been promised!

Today in church Joyce and Jeff Underwood were our speakers. I don't know how many of you know the Underwoods or their story - but it was a very special meeting. In the summer of 1993 Joyce and Jeff's 11-year-old daughter was abducted, raped and murdered - it's a very sad story and I can't imagine what it would be like to endure such a horrific ordeal.
Sister Underwood began by asking "How many of you have ever lost a child?" My first thought, knowing their back ground, was 'No - not like you have.' But then she clarified "...even if only for a few minutes..." which I have done. It's frightening not to know where your children are, what they are doing or if they're OK.
I always have to chuckle a bit when I hear the story of the 12 year old Jesus being left in Jerusalem after the feast of the pass-over. 'Where's Jesus?' 'You don't have him?' 'I thought he was with you.' But I'm sure that Mary and Joseph felt awful! They, of course, were able to find their son, whole and unharmed, and even conversing with doctors and scholars at the temple. Jeff and Joyce were not so lucky. But because of the atonement they will be with their daughter again.
Joyce shared the experience she had in the temple while doing Jeralee's work; '... that she is busy with a great work on the other side; that she is well and happy...'
What a great thing the gospel is! In a situation like theirs it would be hard for anyone not to become hardened and bitter. But because of their faith this amazing family has pulled together and moved past this awful experience, and can look forward to the day when they will all be together again.

I am so thankful for my Savior. I know that he suffered and atoned for my sins - and that only through him can I repent and be made whole.
I am so thankful to be living on the Earth today and am so glad that I have the gospel in my life.
I am thankful for loving parents who taught me the truths of the gospel, have answered my questions, and given me the opportunity to learn, to grow, and to decide for myself if these things are true.
I love my Savior - and am eternally grateful for his sacrifice and for the merciful plan of happiness.
I know I am a daughter of God. I have divine potential and my Heavenly Father loves me!

I hope each of you are able to enjoy this Easter holiday and this beautiful time of year!!

Monday, April 6, 2009

The Funny of the day

I plan to come back and write some more: but there is much to be done!
So here is a clip to make you all laugh -
This is just how I feel most days! Hillary Weeks hit it right on ;) here is:

"To Do List"