Yesterday was our stake's Humanitarian Day. Wards put together projects to help out people in need. Most of the projects involved sewing and stuff I didn't have a talent for, but one ward had enough people sign up to bring the Memorial Blood Mobile. This bus was much smaller than the one they brought to the Anoka Stake Center when I was in charge of the drive, but it looks like they had a good sign up. I was first for the day as well.
The girl who was drawing blood first asked me what arm I wanted them to use, I told her, "The good one". I told her whatever one she thought was best. So she first had me sit on one chair and tested my left arm. I told her, "You only get one shot, so make it good." To which got a couple of people agreeing with me saying that's all they got too, and chuckling from the blood drawing people. Then she asked me my blood type, and when I told her it was O- the other blood drawing people told her she better not mess up, they needed it. She decided to try my other arm. So I moved chairs. She decided to stick with my right arm. She told me I have good veins, they are just deep, good to know I guess, if it ever came up. It wasn't so bad getting hooked up, similar to getting an IV when you go in to have a baby at the hospital. They gave me a pipe to hold and squeeze, which got me teased by the guy who donated in the chair across from me. "Is that real comforting?".
He and his wife came into the room to fill out questionnaires before boarding the bus and I KNEW right away they were from Utah by their accent. It was so fun to hear. Gina hasn't gotten the accent down right, so she can't give me my fill of it when I want to hear it. He was very talkative to everyone. His wife was done in 8 minutes 37 seconds, so he told his nurse they had to beat that time, making it a race. When she was checking his veins he asked her, "how do you like that one?" She said, "It's O.K." "O.K.!? That's an earthworm!" He exclaimed. Funny.
It came up in the conversations with the nurse lady that he and his wife had recently moved here from Utah, so he could go to school for an Hospital Administration degree at the U. I said, "I was wondering how long you'd been here! I can tell you are from Utah. I grew up in Sandy." And they said, "Sandy is where we are from!"
Small world :)
Monday Joel is going to some sort of job fair by the IRS, for government and military positions for accountants and financing. They said to bring about 25 resumes. Wish him luck!
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Who Knew?
And if you did, why didn't you tell me?
I just learned last night that it is now common to only put one space after a . at the end of a sentence.
I learned to type 22 years ago on a typewriter, well, because computers were just barely making their way into homes, and we didn't have the Internet then. When I learned to type, I had to get into the habit of putting two spaces after a period, to begin the next sentence.
However, since I have been voted to be the new secretary for our neighborhood association, one of my new duties is to put together the neighborhood newsletter. The President of the association is apparently very into grammar, punctuation, page layouts and desktop publishing.
So after reading my latest article I have been preparing for the newsletter, she informed me that I overly use the word "neighborhood" and rewrote the paragraph for me, exchanging the word "neighborhood" for "park". In my article I used the word "neighborhood" three times. She has used the word "park" four times in her rewrite. I don't get it... but ok.
And then she informed me that it is no longer necessary to use two spaces after a period, and apparently this is something that bugs her to look at because she wanted me to change it in all of my articles.
"Also, I notice that you are leaving 2 spaces between sentences. That was an old practice back in the era of the typewriter with monospaced type, but for modern use on the computer with the advent of proportional fonts, and page layout, there should always only be 1 space after periods, before you start a new sentence. Sorry, but my years of experience doing page layout has made me rather picky and sensitive about certain issues. If you already have several things typed up, I would suggest doing a search & replace, changing all instances of 2 spaces to 1 space. It's quick and easy."
So, I apologize to any readers of my blogs if my double spacing after a period bugs you. If you don't like it, either ignore it, or find another blog to read because this chickie finds it hard to stop the spazmatic thumping of my thumb on the space bar after each period. Period.
P.S. I made "spazmatic" up, but it should be a real word. Chickie too. True story.
P.S.S. Anyone know if the spacing between paragraphs has changed?
P.S.S. OH MY GOSH! I guess Blogger already knew I had a spazzy thumb and completely went through my post and fixed my double spacing.... isn't that a form of censorship???? What if I WANT my double spaces? What if I DID THEM ON PURPOSE? I find it very offensive that they would fix it, without my permission or knowledge. rude.
I just learned last night that it is now common to only put one space after a . at the end of a sentence.
I learned to type 22 years ago on a typewriter, well, because computers were just barely making their way into homes, and we didn't have the Internet then. When I learned to type, I had to get into the habit of putting two spaces after a period, to begin the next sentence.
However, since I have been voted to be the new secretary for our neighborhood association, one of my new duties is to put together the neighborhood newsletter. The President of the association is apparently very into grammar, punctuation, page layouts and desktop publishing.
So after reading my latest article I have been preparing for the newsletter, she informed me that I overly use the word "neighborhood" and rewrote the paragraph for me, exchanging the word "neighborhood" for "park". In my article I used the word "neighborhood" three times. She has used the word "park" four times in her rewrite. I don't get it... but ok.
And then she informed me that it is no longer necessary to use two spaces after a period, and apparently this is something that bugs her to look at because she wanted me to change it in all of my articles.
"Also, I notice that you are leaving 2 spaces between sentences. That was an old practice back in the era of the typewriter with monospaced type, but for modern use on the computer with the advent of proportional fonts, and page layout, there should always only be 1 space after periods, before you start a new sentence. Sorry, but my years of experience doing page layout has made me rather picky and sensitive about certain issues. If you already have several things typed up, I would suggest doing a search & replace, changing all instances of 2 spaces to 1 space. It's quick and easy."
So, I apologize to any readers of my blogs if my double spacing after a period bugs you. If you don't like it, either ignore it, or find another blog to read because this chickie finds it hard to stop the spazmatic thumping of my thumb on the space bar after each period. Period.
P.S. I made "spazmatic" up, but it should be a real word. Chickie too. True story.
P.S.S. Anyone know if the spacing between paragraphs has changed?
P.S.S. OH MY GOSH! I guess Blogger already knew I had a spazzy thumb and completely went through my post and fixed my double spacing.... isn't that a form of censorship???? What if I WANT my double spaces? What if I DID THEM ON PURPOSE? I find it very offensive that they would fix it, without my permission or knowledge. rude.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Too Soon
Some of my long term readers, and my family know that one of my children is adopted. Two years ago her birth parents had another baby girl that they hid the pregnancy from us, then adopted the baby out to another family. This has been a very painful thing for me to deal with. I felt like my daughter deserved to have her sister be a part of her family. I felt like we should have had "dibs" on the baby, or at least have been asked. Instead it was decided FOR us that we couldn't afford more children and therefore the decision was made to adopt out the baby to someone else. At least this is the ridiculous reason given to us when we asked.
In the meantime I have tried really hard to forgive my sister-in-law. To me, this has been a horrible betrayal and still brings me enormous amounts of pain when I think about it. But I have not frozen her out, and have done what I can to keep a sense of normalcy in our relationship.
The adoptive family has kept in touch with my s-i-l. I've known this. I've also expected that someday they would initiate contact with us. I thought I had a few years before that would happen. However, last night we went to my in-laws for dinner, and as we left my s-i-l asked for my email. The other family had asked for it, wanting to exchange pictures and whatever with us.
I'm not ready for this. I still haven't finished dealing with the pain of rejection. I've stuffed it in a desk drawer for another day.
I don't feel the need to talk to these people. I don't feel the need to know what's going on with, or compare the girls with each other.
My daughter knows she has a sister, that her birth-mother chose not to let us adopt. She doesn't ask questions about her, like she asks about her adoption. I don't think that there is any benefit to us keeping in contact with these people. I know that the birth-mom is, and just assumed that she could be the one to keep track of them. But my husband doesn't agree. He thinks it should be our (read:my) job to do that because we are her parents (read: I am her mom).
I am really fighting this because it's too painful to think of talking to people that have a child I feel should have been ours. I don't want to do it. My husband thinks I should. I told him to do it, he said fine... but then I worry that if I let him take over it, he will go too far, and take us to places I don't want to go... like play dates, or visiting.
I've shed a lot of tears over this in the last 24 hours. My eyes are burning. My heart is aching. And I am feeling like I am being pushed into a corner I don't want to be in, therefore creating a "fight or flight" sensation in me.
In the meantime I have tried really hard to forgive my sister-in-law. To me, this has been a horrible betrayal and still brings me enormous amounts of pain when I think about it. But I have not frozen her out, and have done what I can to keep a sense of normalcy in our relationship.
The adoptive family has kept in touch with my s-i-l. I've known this. I've also expected that someday they would initiate contact with us. I thought I had a few years before that would happen. However, last night we went to my in-laws for dinner, and as we left my s-i-l asked for my email. The other family had asked for it, wanting to exchange pictures and whatever with us.
I'm not ready for this. I still haven't finished dealing with the pain of rejection. I've stuffed it in a desk drawer for another day.
I don't feel the need to talk to these people. I don't feel the need to know what's going on with, or compare the girls with each other.
My daughter knows she has a sister, that her birth-mother chose not to let us adopt. She doesn't ask questions about her, like she asks about her adoption. I don't think that there is any benefit to us keeping in contact with these people. I know that the birth-mom is, and just assumed that she could be the one to keep track of them. But my husband doesn't agree. He thinks it should be our (read:my) job to do that because we are her parents (read: I am her mom).
I am really fighting this because it's too painful to think of talking to people that have a child I feel should have been ours. I don't want to do it. My husband thinks I should. I told him to do it, he said fine... but then I worry that if I let him take over it, he will go too far, and take us to places I don't want to go... like play dates, or visiting.
I've shed a lot of tears over this in the last 24 hours. My eyes are burning. My heart is aching. And I am feeling like I am being pushed into a corner I don't want to be in, therefore creating a "fight or flight" sensation in me.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Pictures to come later...
Jake's hogging my computer so I can't put any pictures up yet, but wanted to write about our trip to the State Capitol. Jacob and I started in the morning by picking up another scout who is working on his Citizenship in the Community badge. We went to a local church to meet up with a bus that took us and another neighborhood down to the Capitol. On the bus there was just Jake, me and our friend and then another family from our neighborhood. The other neighborhood had about 30-45 senior citizens. I heard that they have had three rent raises in the last year.
This is my report I gave the President of our Association:
On Friday March 6 there was a rally at the State Capitol for resident’s rights, that was sponsored by All Parks Alliance for Change.
We began the day by being picked up at the North Heights Lutheran Church parking lot by a bus and a van for overflow. The bus then picked up residents from another manufactured home park . The bus was nearly full when we reached the Capitol.
The first meeting was in an upstairs room where we received instruction on how to speak to legislators. Spokespeople from different groups were selected and taken to another area for more formal training. In the first group we also were taught a few rally chants, “Move roads, not homes!” and similar messages.
The second part of our day was a rally in the Rotunda. Here we heard from different leaders in communities who’d been chosen as our spokespeople and Kate Knuth as well. There were a lot of chants yelled and speakers to get the residents fired up to share their messages. At this point I estimated maybe 150 people from two different buses and several neighborhoods, both north and south of the Twin Cities, had showed up for this event, which is a great number considering it was a workday for most people. I heard conversations about people making sacrifices to make it to this meeting, such as taking the day off of work, despite their boss’ wishes.
After the short rally and speakers we divided into our groups and walked over to the office building to search for the different representatives and officials that we’d been assigned to share our messages with and asked them for their support on the issues.
The three topics addressed with them were:
1. The One for One Replacement Plan.
2. Alternative Dispute Resolution
3. Relocation Trust Fund
Then we met up for a meeting at Kate Knuth’s office. We were a little early, but she came soon and graciously invited us into her office where we were able to talk a bit with her about the issues we’d come to the Capitol to speak about. We all had a chance to introduce ourselves to her, and she also took this time to make us aware of a bill she was authoring for the cleanup of TCAAP and asked our opinion on the matter, which was very nice of her to do. We all appreciated the information and common respect she showed us in the matter.
We ended the day with a pizza lunch in the basement cafeteria provided by APAC, which was also much appreciated! We then took the bus provided by APAC back to our communities.
This is my report I gave the President of our Association:
On Friday March 6 there was a rally at the State Capitol for resident’s rights, that was sponsored by All Parks Alliance for Change.
We began the day by being picked up at the North Heights Lutheran Church parking lot by a bus and a van for overflow. The bus then picked up residents from another manufactured home park . The bus was nearly full when we reached the Capitol.
The first meeting was in an upstairs room where we received instruction on how to speak to legislators. Spokespeople from different groups were selected and taken to another area for more formal training. In the first group we also were taught a few rally chants, “Move roads, not homes!” and similar messages.
The second part of our day was a rally in the Rotunda. Here we heard from different leaders in communities who’d been chosen as our spokespeople and Kate Knuth as well. There were a lot of chants yelled and speakers to get the residents fired up to share their messages. At this point I estimated maybe 150 people from two different buses and several neighborhoods, both north and south of the Twin Cities, had showed up for this event, which is a great number considering it was a workday for most people. I heard conversations about people making sacrifices to make it to this meeting, such as taking the day off of work, despite their boss’ wishes.
After the short rally and speakers we divided into our groups and walked over to the office building to search for the different representatives and officials that we’d been assigned to share our messages with and asked them for their support on the issues.
The three topics addressed with them were:
1. The One for One Replacement Plan.
2. Alternative Dispute Resolution
3. Relocation Trust Fund
Then we met up for a meeting at Kate Knuth’s office. We were a little early, but she came soon and graciously invited us into her office where we were able to talk a bit with her about the issues we’d come to the Capitol to speak about. We all had a chance to introduce ourselves to her, and she also took this time to make us aware of a bill she was authoring for the cleanup of TCAAP and asked our opinion on the matter, which was very nice of her to do. We all appreciated the information and common respect she showed us in the matter.
We ended the day with a pizza lunch in the basement cafeteria provided by APAC, which was also much appreciated! We then took the bus provided by APAC back to our communities.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Change of Plans
Today I wanted to blog about these commercials for your gold, but then when I was about to start typing I heard my husband's computer playing a video and a little old lady's voice. I asked him what he was watching and he send me this link click here.
Oh my gosh, is she not the cutest little lady you ever did see?
These videos are treasures!
We've just started using some things from our food storage. I've bought a lot of the church's standard food storage stuff, but we haven't had much use for it before, and I haven't been very good about rotating it.
I went to a friend's house yesterday and had two cans of wheat ground up. This morning I made wheat pancakes:
2 C. Whole wheat flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 eggs
2 C. milk
2 T. vegetable oil
Let it sit for a few minutes before you make pancakes. I dropped them 2T. at a time, to make small pancakes.
Most of my kids loved them! (The syrup could have helped with that.) I was really surprised and thought they'd give me a fight. Thank heaven's for small blessings :)
Anyway, so food storage, and also the Great Depression have been on our minds a lot lately, of course especially in light of the current economy problems and watching the Dow drop every day is not very encouraging.
So Clara's videos are really interesting to me, and I can't help but want to hug her and her grandson for making these videos, to not only share beautiful Clara with us, but also to share her memories and the knowledge she has from those times. She has some endearing and funny stories to share. I hope you enjoy her as much as I do.
Oh my gosh, is she not the cutest little lady you ever did see?
These videos are treasures!
We've just started using some things from our food storage. I've bought a lot of the church's standard food storage stuff, but we haven't had much use for it before, and I haven't been very good about rotating it.
I went to a friend's house yesterday and had two cans of wheat ground up. This morning I made wheat pancakes:
2 C. Whole wheat flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 eggs
2 C. milk
2 T. vegetable oil
Let it sit for a few minutes before you make pancakes. I dropped them 2T. at a time, to make small pancakes.
Most of my kids loved them! (The syrup could have helped with that.) I was really surprised and thought they'd give me a fight. Thank heaven's for small blessings :)
Anyway, so food storage, and also the Great Depression have been on our minds a lot lately, of course especially in light of the current economy problems and watching the Dow drop every day is not very encouraging.
So Clara's videos are really interesting to me, and I can't help but want to hug her and her grandson for making these videos, to not only share beautiful Clara with us, but also to share her memories and the knowledge she has from those times. She has some endearing and funny stories to share. I hope you enjoy her as much as I do.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Please, don't anything break down!
Ok, so we finally got our taxes back and are trying to get our selves situated for how ever long we can. Joel's unemployment deposits have started coming in. They deposit it directly to our checking account, which is nice. We were able to put down a years rent on our lot, and also pay a years rent for our storage locker (one of the perks of living in a mobile home is no storage space for all that food storage and such) and are looking at paying a year on our home and car insurance. I feel much better knowing the important things are taken care of and we'll figure out the rest as it comes. I just pray that nothing breaks down or needs repairs in the meantime!
Don't breathe too hard.
Since Joel was laid off I am on my third round with colds. It's crazy! I don't usually get so sick, but almost every week I've come down with another round of sore throat, stuffy nose, aches and pains. I guess stress really can affect the body and the immune system.
I have too much to get done to let it keep me down for long. Too bad the Dow doesn't feel the same way, hahaha. Ouch, it hurts when I laugh, or look at the Wall Street ticker.
Interesting tid-bit. I booked a wedding last week, for May. They had booked my friend photographer Dominique, but when they had to change their plans, she couldn't cover their wedding on their new date, so she referred them to me. Turns out the groom is cousins with a good friend from our old ward, and most likely nephew to her dad, who is in our new ward. Small world!
I am really looking forward to their wedding, it is in an awesomely colorful venue. The Loring Pasta Bar is where it's at. Amazing colors, and scenery, architecture and decor. It's a dream come true for me :) I'm going to have so much fun!
Don't breathe too hard.
Since Joel was laid off I am on my third round with colds. It's crazy! I don't usually get so sick, but almost every week I've come down with another round of sore throat, stuffy nose, aches and pains. I guess stress really can affect the body and the immune system.
I have too much to get done to let it keep me down for long. Too bad the Dow doesn't feel the same way, hahaha. Ouch, it hurts when I laugh, or look at the Wall Street ticker.
Interesting tid-bit. I booked a wedding last week, for May. They had booked my friend photographer Dominique, but when they had to change their plans, she couldn't cover their wedding on their new date, so she referred them to me. Turns out the groom is cousins with a good friend from our old ward, and most likely nephew to her dad, who is in our new ward. Small world!
I am really looking forward to their wedding, it is in an awesomely colorful venue. The Loring Pasta Bar is where it's at. Amazing colors, and scenery, architecture and decor. It's a dream come true for me :) I'm going to have so much fun!
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friend Wanted: Must be loyal, stable, and fat
I used to have a friend, we were pretty good friends for a while, it was an online thing. We had a lot of laughs and good times together. Then a lot of things happened that made me distance myself from her. She would play what I consider to be "head games" with people. Suddenly people would be locked out of her blog, or she'd delete her blog with no warning. Or she'd watch her visitor counter and call people out who were visiting and not leaving comments. She couldn't stand the thought of anyone not liking her... "how is it possible that anyone could have issues with little sweet me?" She would be posessive of certain friends (ie. me), not allowing room for other friends in that friend's life. She would push me away, hide online, not be around to talk, but then blame me for the distance between us.
I finally had to walk away. I can't have friends like that. I need friends who don't play head games. Who always welcome you in their life and their blog, sweetly and gently. Who don't shove you away and then get mad when you leave. I've found a few good friends like that, and I'll keep them.
Once, she'd asked me what had happened to me, to our friendship. I didn't have the heart to tell her. How do you find the words to say that? I see someone else did recently, aparently they were frustrated by the same things I was (I didn't see how they told her, or if it was put nicely or meanly, I only saw her reaction) and boy did they get a very public reaming from her on her blog. She removed it later. I don't know if she felt embarassed by chewing them out so publicly, or if she decided that she was done being mad. I was a little shocked at the angry lashing.
The old friend has found other friends who put up with her "quirky ways" and love her anyway. I'm glad for that. Everyone needs friends. Just sometimes it doesn't work out the way we'd like it to. I'd like all of mine to be fatter than me, but so far I'm the fat girl in the bunch.
I finally had to walk away. I can't have friends like that. I need friends who don't play head games. Who always welcome you in their life and their blog, sweetly and gently. Who don't shove you away and then get mad when you leave. I've found a few good friends like that, and I'll keep them.
Once, she'd asked me what had happened to me, to our friendship. I didn't have the heart to tell her. How do you find the words to say that? I see someone else did recently, aparently they were frustrated by the same things I was (I didn't see how they told her, or if it was put nicely or meanly, I only saw her reaction) and boy did they get a very public reaming from her on her blog. She removed it later. I don't know if she felt embarassed by chewing them out so publicly, or if she decided that she was done being mad. I was a little shocked at the angry lashing.
The old friend has found other friends who put up with her "quirky ways" and love her anyway. I'm glad for that. Everyone needs friends. Just sometimes it doesn't work out the way we'd like it to. I'd like all of mine to be fatter than me, but so far I'm the fat girl in the bunch.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Bummed out
I have been staying with a group of Minnesota photographers for a couple of years. We started on one board, but then when one of our members broke away from that board, we followed him over to his new board, but now he's finding it hard to maintain the board (not judging) and has decided to close it down.
I'm feeling a bit displaced. I guess I have to evaluate what I was really getting out of the board and how I can get that somewhere else.
It was the only group I've been a part of where I felt ok sharing my stuff and that I would learn how to do better, in a constructive way. I considered all of the people there to be friends. We are connected on Facebook, but it's not the same.
Can't make posts for help, or for feedback on images, or see their posts on their projects or deep thoughts.... I'm hoping he will hand the board over to someone else that's willing to keep it going.
I'm feeling a bit displaced. I guess I have to evaluate what I was really getting out of the board and how I can get that somewhere else.
It was the only group I've been a part of where I felt ok sharing my stuff and that I would learn how to do better, in a constructive way. I considered all of the people there to be friends. We are connected on Facebook, but it's not the same.
Can't make posts for help, or for feedback on images, or see their posts on their projects or deep thoughts.... I'm hoping he will hand the board over to someone else that's willing to keep it going.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Jaeden's Hair
I did her hair again today, so here's a picture of that.
She looks so cute in it! I'm so happy at least one of my girls will let me play.
She looks so cute in it! I'm so happy at least one of my girls will let me play.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
A New Week!
I picked up another newborn session this week. I can't say enough how much I love doing newborn sessions.
I have so many ideas I want to try, but people seem to be too conservative to want to try them, so I might have to advertise some free sessions to get the images I am wanting.
Today I learned how to do a fun rope braid on Jaeden's hair, but forgot to take a picture. She said I could do it tomorrow for school, so I will remember to take a picture then. I was surprised at how easy it ended up being! I wish Joy would let me try too.
Jacob blessed the sacrament at church for the first time today. He did really well and remembered all of the prayer, or at least read it right... who can tell when they are kneeling behind the altar? hahaha. The kids were busy and when they heard his voice they stopped immediately to listen to him. Kind of a cool moment for our family.
He also had to give a talk today about how he's preparing for a mission, which ended up being a "how to" talk. He did well this time, we could hear him and understand every word he said. Now if we can just get him to look up once in a while next time, he'll be a pro!
Since Joel's been laid off we've been taking turns taking Jake to early morning seminary... boy is it hard to get up at 5 in the morning! I miss Joel working nights and doing that for me.
I miss sleeping in. I had it good.
I have so many ideas I want to try, but people seem to be too conservative to want to try them, so I might have to advertise some free sessions to get the images I am wanting.
Today I learned how to do a fun rope braid on Jaeden's hair, but forgot to take a picture. She said I could do it tomorrow for school, so I will remember to take a picture then. I was surprised at how easy it ended up being! I wish Joy would let me try too.
Jacob blessed the sacrament at church for the first time today. He did really well and remembered all of the prayer, or at least read it right... who can tell when they are kneeling behind the altar? hahaha. The kids were busy and when they heard his voice they stopped immediately to listen to him. Kind of a cool moment for our family.
He also had to give a talk today about how he's preparing for a mission, which ended up being a "how to" talk. He did well this time, we could hear him and understand every word he said. Now if we can just get him to look up once in a while next time, he'll be a pro!
Since Joel's been laid off we've been taking turns taking Jake to early morning seminary... boy is it hard to get up at 5 in the morning! I miss Joel working nights and doing that for me.
I miss sleeping in. I had it good.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Sundays are crazy
I thought Sunday was supposed to be a day of rest.
Well, apparently they weren't talking about the Primary Presidency when they said that.
It was my turn for sharing time yesterday. The theme for the week was "The Priesthood Blesses Families". Normally I love teaching the senior primary kids and freeze up when I have to teach the jr. primary. There's such a variety in age and abilities in the jr. primary. Some can read, most can't. So it makes it harder to find activities that can be suitable for all. I also relate better to older kids who get my quirky remarks, lol. But yesterday it was the jr. primary that was my favorite.
I ok'd it with Jaeden first. We first talked about the Priesthood and what kind of blessings come from it. We talked about getting blessings when we are sick, about the blessing of the sacrament, and also blessings before starting school. I then shared the story with them about our family and how we wanted to add more children to it, but it just wasn't happening (I didn't share with them about having a miscarriage). But then a wonderful thing happened and we heard about a baby that was being put up for adoption (I also didn't mention how it was my sister-in-law's and how she didn't want the baby). I told them about us asking to be able to adopt her and how they said yes, they would love for us to adopt her because they knew we would give her a wonderful home with brothers and sisters and that we would love her very much.
I then told them about us taking Jaeden to the Salt Lake City Temple to have her sealed to us.
I asked them if they knew was being sealed meant and nobody had a comment. So I showed them two bags of raisins, one was opened and one was sealed and I asked them what would happen if I tipped them each upside down. Then explained that was like sealing our family, so that when we get to heaven Jaeden won't fall out of our family.
They then colored a picture of their Forever Family.
For the senior primary I started with an electric pencil sharpener, and tried to sharpen a pencil without it being plugged in. The kids pointed out what was wrong. Then we talked about the Priesthood and how it has to come from the proper power and authority.
Joel helped me with the next part. We went through his lineage of Priesthood, having a child come up to represent each person ordained back to Christ, so the kids see how it came directly from Christ, and the proper authority.
Then we played a tic-tac-toe game where they were divided into two groups and had to throw a bean bag at the tic-tac-toe game and pull off a paper with a scripture on it. They had to read the scripture and decide on what it says has to happen for a man to be worthy of the Priesthood. If they get it right they get to keep that square, if they get it wrong the other side gets to guess and try to win that square.
I left them with the Primary President at the start of the game to go see Jacob set apart as a Priest. It will be so awesome to see him bless the sacrament next week. :)
After that we had inservice that lasted until around 6:30. By the end of the day I was exhausted!
Saturday I had a newborn session for a baby born in our ward, she is so, so, so super sweet. I have to finish up a wedding before I can load her session into my program. So I need to work on that today.
Well, apparently they weren't talking about the Primary Presidency when they said that.
It was my turn for sharing time yesterday. The theme for the week was "The Priesthood Blesses Families". Normally I love teaching the senior primary kids and freeze up when I have to teach the jr. primary. There's such a variety in age and abilities in the jr. primary. Some can read, most can't. So it makes it harder to find activities that can be suitable for all. I also relate better to older kids who get my quirky remarks, lol. But yesterday it was the jr. primary that was my favorite.
I ok'd it with Jaeden first. We first talked about the Priesthood and what kind of blessings come from it. We talked about getting blessings when we are sick, about the blessing of the sacrament, and also blessings before starting school. I then shared the story with them about our family and how we wanted to add more children to it, but it just wasn't happening (I didn't share with them about having a miscarriage). But then a wonderful thing happened and we heard about a baby that was being put up for adoption (I also didn't mention how it was my sister-in-law's and how she didn't want the baby). I told them about us asking to be able to adopt her and how they said yes, they would love for us to adopt her because they knew we would give her a wonderful home with brothers and sisters and that we would love her very much.
I then told them about us taking Jaeden to the Salt Lake City Temple to have her sealed to us.
I asked them if they knew was being sealed meant and nobody had a comment. So I showed them two bags of raisins, one was opened and one was sealed and I asked them what would happen if I tipped them each upside down. Then explained that was like sealing our family, so that when we get to heaven Jaeden won't fall out of our family.
They then colored a picture of their Forever Family.
For the senior primary I started with an electric pencil sharpener, and tried to sharpen a pencil without it being plugged in. The kids pointed out what was wrong. Then we talked about the Priesthood and how it has to come from the proper power and authority.
Joel helped me with the next part. We went through his lineage of Priesthood, having a child come up to represent each person ordained back to Christ, so the kids see how it came directly from Christ, and the proper authority.
Then we played a tic-tac-toe game where they were divided into two groups and had to throw a bean bag at the tic-tac-toe game and pull off a paper with a scripture on it. They had to read the scripture and decide on what it says has to happen for a man to be worthy of the Priesthood. If they get it right they get to keep that square, if they get it wrong the other side gets to guess and try to win that square.
I left them with the Primary President at the start of the game to go see Jacob set apart as a Priest. It will be so awesome to see him bless the sacrament next week. :)
After that we had inservice that lasted until around 6:30. By the end of the day I was exhausted!
Saturday I had a newborn session for a baby born in our ward, she is so, so, so super sweet. I have to finish up a wedding before I can load her session into my program. So I need to work on that today.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Argh!
So I'm having an issue with my computer, I'm not sure what the issue is, however I cannot mix Facebook and Hotmail or my computer freezes up. It's the craziest thing. I can go all over the Internet, so long as I don't go from facebook to hotmail, or hotmail to facebook.
Joel is out tonight at some seminar. He keeps getting calls from one company (from his resume last year too) that he thought was a sales type job, but today they said there were teaching positions too. He's taught as a flight instructor, and also trained in employees, also he's taught Sunday school and the deacons for several years. So he's out tonight to see what it's all about.
My family are just the sweetest bunch of people I know... I love them so much!
My parents outfitted Joel with a new suit, shoes, belt, shirt and tie so he could look sleek for his interviews. That was so super thoughtful of them!
I've also gotten phone calls and emails asking for updates and telling us how they are thinking of us and praying for us.
And then today I got a surprise gift in the mail from one of my sisters. She sent along a note telling me she had been thinking of us and praying for us. Thank you Banana!
I can't tell you how amazing it is just to know how much my family loves us and is thinking of us and wanting to help us in any way they can. We don't hear from the other side quite as much, and even though they live closer to us, they just aren't that way. We've been through other things before, like Joel losing his kidney, and they didn't call or come around or offer help on their own. I'm not trying to slam them, I'm just stating facts and how blessed I feel when my family is not like that.
I'm trying to let my kids know what blessings we have in our lives. Although this may be a tough road, and we will try to shelter the children as much as we can so they do not feel the effects of this storm, I don't want to shelter them from knowing the blessings we receive. I don't want them to go through this not knowing how much their Father in Heaven has provided for our needs. I treasure the biographies that my father has given me of my ancestors. I know they have been through worse stuff than I have yet to experience, but I love the testimonies left behind and the records of their faith and the blessings that come from that faith. It sustains me and gives me strength to face my own challenges. I want my children to have that handed down to them as well. Our lives are rich from our heritage.
Enough mumblings for now.
Photography is dead slow right now. I'm working on a wedding I shot last month, and I have a session in a week for a newborn... .ohhhh I love newborns! But that is about all. I may have a couple of weddings come my way, a couple of people have written inquiring for other people, but nothing solid yet. And ohhhhh I love weddings!
I'm also hoping the winter is shorter than last year... I remember waiting until June before I could get a bride in the water for an extreme bridal. I'm wanting to work with some off camera flash (flashes on stands with umbrellas) at sunset and have a couple of models lined up as soon as it's warm enough. I'm super looking forward to honing my skills on that.
I've had inquiries for family portraits, but have put them off. I should have taken them up on it, but family photography is my worst subject. Everyone wants traditional stuff and I want to take them out to the train tracks, and old barns, or drag a couch out into a field... stuff like that. But they want the stuff they see at Sears and that's just not me and I don't want to do that stuff anymore. So do I do what they want and get paid, or do I do what I want and not get clients?
Joel is out tonight at some seminar. He keeps getting calls from one company (from his resume last year too) that he thought was a sales type job, but today they said there were teaching positions too. He's taught as a flight instructor, and also trained in employees, also he's taught Sunday school and the deacons for several years. So he's out tonight to see what it's all about.
My family are just the sweetest bunch of people I know... I love them so much!
My parents outfitted Joel with a new suit, shoes, belt, shirt and tie so he could look sleek for his interviews. That was so super thoughtful of them!
I've also gotten phone calls and emails asking for updates and telling us how they are thinking of us and praying for us.
And then today I got a surprise gift in the mail from one of my sisters. She sent along a note telling me she had been thinking of us and praying for us. Thank you Banana!
I can't tell you how amazing it is just to know how much my family loves us and is thinking of us and wanting to help us in any way they can. We don't hear from the other side quite as much, and even though they live closer to us, they just aren't that way. We've been through other things before, like Joel losing his kidney, and they didn't call or come around or offer help on their own. I'm not trying to slam them, I'm just stating facts and how blessed I feel when my family is not like that.
I'm trying to let my kids know what blessings we have in our lives. Although this may be a tough road, and we will try to shelter the children as much as we can so they do not feel the effects of this storm, I don't want to shelter them from knowing the blessings we receive. I don't want them to go through this not knowing how much their Father in Heaven has provided for our needs. I treasure the biographies that my father has given me of my ancestors. I know they have been through worse stuff than I have yet to experience, but I love the testimonies left behind and the records of their faith and the blessings that come from that faith. It sustains me and gives me strength to face my own challenges. I want my children to have that handed down to them as well. Our lives are rich from our heritage.
Enough mumblings for now.
Photography is dead slow right now. I'm working on a wedding I shot last month, and I have a session in a week for a newborn... .ohhhh I love newborns! But that is about all. I may have a couple of weddings come my way, a couple of people have written inquiring for other people, but nothing solid yet. And ohhhhh I love weddings!
I'm also hoping the winter is shorter than last year... I remember waiting until June before I could get a bride in the water for an extreme bridal. I'm wanting to work with some off camera flash (flashes on stands with umbrellas) at sunset and have a couple of models lined up as soon as it's warm enough. I'm super looking forward to honing my skills on that.
I've had inquiries for family portraits, but have put them off. I should have taken them up on it, but family photography is my worst subject. Everyone wants traditional stuff and I want to take them out to the train tracks, and old barns, or drag a couch out into a field... stuff like that. But they want the stuff they see at Sears and that's just not me and I don't want to do that stuff anymore. So do I do what they want and get paid, or do I do what I want and not get clients?
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
No Good and a Very Bad Day
Joel went to his interview on Tuesday. It was a good experience for him, but not the job for him. They wanted him to work for commission and sell insurances and try to get people to invest in the stock market. Joel is not a sales person and is not comfortable in pressuring people to make decisions. But it was good for him to get out there and mingle and have an interview, so it wasn't a total loss.
He also talked to his old boss on Monday and found out that there will be pretty much no pension or any extra money to help us out because last year (after their butts were barely saved from Zeiss canning them) he decided that would be a great time to put all his extra money into a restaurant and hotel. So there is no money at all left to help his employees out. That really bites. 18 years at the same company and nothing but a fistfull of bills.
But we will be ok, I know we will. God has always provided for us and I know He always will. I know that when one door closes, He always has opened a window for us. In the mean time the kids are loving having Joel around to play with them. They haven't been able to bond with him like Jake did because Joel pretty much started college when Josh was 2, and it's taken up all his free time for the last 5 years. So it's not all bad :)
He also talked to his old boss on Monday and found out that there will be pretty much no pension or any extra money to help us out because last year (after their butts were barely saved from Zeiss canning them) he decided that would be a great time to put all his extra money into a restaurant and hotel. So there is no money at all left to help his employees out. That really bites. 18 years at the same company and nothing but a fistfull of bills.
But we will be ok, I know we will. God has always provided for us and I know He always will. I know that when one door closes, He always has opened a window for us. In the mean time the kids are loving having Joel around to play with them. They haven't been able to bond with him like Jake did because Joel pretty much started college when Josh was 2, and it's taken up all his free time for the last 5 years. So it's not all bad :)
Monday, February 9, 2009
The Sweetest 16 year old boy
He'd blush if he heard me call him that.
On Monday, my little groundhog Jake, turned 16. We had cheesecake that night, then on Friday took just him out to dinner at The Outback where we gorged ourselves.
Last night we had family over for a Dairy Queen, Reese's Peanut Butter Blizzard, cake to celebrate.
It's hard for me to believe it's been 16 years since he was born... I used to think people were nuts who would say, "It seems like just the other day he was just a toddler"... but now I understand. It makes me want to cuddle up with my other little ones while I still can fit them on my lap!
Jake has been a huge blessing to our family. He (almost) always has a wonderful disposition. He is the jungle gym for the little kids, always letting them crawl all over him. Even last night at the ward's linger-longer, he was sitting at the table his friends were at, but his little brother and sisters wouldn't leave him alone over there. Often I would look up to see one of the little ones going over his shoulder, or being tickled by him. What a wonderful big brother.
He also helps me out around the house so much, babysitting so I can shop without wild little ones. He regularly helps me with making dinner, making some or all of it.
He has a great personality, I love how he's learned to think for himself and not regurgitate what society and public school would have him think. I love that he looks at issues himself, studies them out and sees what he wants his own opinion to be. He's going to make a great politician some day :)
He also developed his own personal testimony at a very young age, calling upon the powers of his Father in Heaven and receiving direct answers to his prayers. I know he's going to be an awesome missionary.
He's patient, kind, thoughtful, considerate, patient,... oh wait, did I say that twice? Well, that's because it can't be said enough.
I am going to be so sad when he leaves our home for a mission, or college. I'd like to keep this kid around forever.
On Monday, my little groundhog Jake, turned 16. We had cheesecake that night, then on Friday took just him out to dinner at The Outback where we gorged ourselves.
Last night we had family over for a Dairy Queen, Reese's Peanut Butter Blizzard, cake to celebrate.
It's hard for me to believe it's been 16 years since he was born... I used to think people were nuts who would say, "It seems like just the other day he was just a toddler"... but now I understand. It makes me want to cuddle up with my other little ones while I still can fit them on my lap!
Jake has been a huge blessing to our family. He (almost) always has a wonderful disposition. He is the jungle gym for the little kids, always letting them crawl all over him. Even last night at the ward's linger-longer, he was sitting at the table his friends were at, but his little brother and sisters wouldn't leave him alone over there. Often I would look up to see one of the little ones going over his shoulder, or being tickled by him. What a wonderful big brother.
He also helps me out around the house so much, babysitting so I can shop without wild little ones. He regularly helps me with making dinner, making some or all of it.
He has a great personality, I love how he's learned to think for himself and not regurgitate what society and public school would have him think. I love that he looks at issues himself, studies them out and sees what he wants his own opinion to be. He's going to make a great politician some day :)
He also developed his own personal testimony at a very young age, calling upon the powers of his Father in Heaven and receiving direct answers to his prayers. I know he's going to be an awesome missionary.
He's patient, kind, thoughtful, considerate, patient,... oh wait, did I say that twice? Well, that's because it can't be said enough.
I am going to be so sad when he leaves our home for a mission, or college. I'd like to keep this kid around forever.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Short update
Just a short update for those who don't face book with me, Joel was laid off on Tuesday from his job he's been at for 20 years. We've spent the week getting resumes out and fitting him for a new suit, and taking care of finance stuff.
He has an interview on Tuesday which is really neat that he has one so soon, but it has been the only bite he's gotten so far.
Jake should have been ordained today but someone is behind and he hasn't had a bishop's interview yet, so he might be ordained to a Priest next Sunday.
He has an interview on Tuesday which is really neat that he has one so soon, but it has been the only bite he's gotten so far.
Jake should have been ordained today but someone is behind and he hasn't had a bishop's interview yet, so he might be ordained to a Priest next Sunday.
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