HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!

Okay, after some blood, sweat and near tears, sewing machine issues and life's interruptions.......

Pioneer dress, sans bonnet, still a work in progress...I have until June 6th to finish that...



So how does TL look as BY???Pretty cool-I think (I did not make his costume-I have my limits.) (One of my friendly commenters thought the pattern was a little overkill-yep that's me to a T.....a little overkill all the time-that's why I am a madwoman.....it's my own fault)

Project

Taking a short blogging intermission to work on this:

I'm against a deadline.....

chao....

Math Equation

2 + 2 = 4



Can you guess what that means?

Hip hip hooray...the newest temple is just south of us.....(Utah-we're catching up!)

**The word plethora could not be applied to this situation. You can't have too many temples!!

Plethora of Posting

Plethora.....I love that word.....I love the way it rolls over my tongue. I especially love the way "El Guapo" says it with an evil grin and blackened teeth in the movie "The Three Amigos." I don't watch a lot of movies but I will run in JUST to watch that part....it makes me giggle every time.....

Plethora defined means, an overabundance......So hereto follows a plethora of posts............(dontcha love the way it just rolls over your tongue?)

Que hiciste el fin de semana pasado?

This is the topic for my next Spanish test...Monday....translated means "What did you do last weekend?" Well, I told TL we had to "kick it up a notch" this weekend so I could at least be semi-interesting reporting to Senor Budge on Monday. I am doing my best......

Dilemma Part I

Anyone notice the amazing resemblance between these two men? Yes??? No??? Maybe if you squint real hard.....Well...they do have two eyes, a nose and a smiley mouth...

Anyhoo....Good ol' TL has been asked to be the famous good ol' BY.....

For the handcart trek this summer.......

(I told them I would be his 25th wife and be very, very quiet and sit under a tree and read a book.....)

My dilemma: What should TL wear????? He found a costume with a jacket and top hat but I need to come up with something in the next three days before the opening social where he calls the folks to Zion, or he is going to be mighty embarrassed in just a top hat and jacket.....Help.....anyone out there in bloggy land have any ideas????

.

Dilemma Part II Solved

I was going to post about my washing machine dilemma but TL figured it out today. The dilemma was that every time we would wash-this putrid smell would flood through our house-like sewer gas.......Today TL put the water hose down the drain hole and washed it out for about 15 min., then put a 1/2 bottle of Draino, let it sit for about 1 hr, then flushed the drain out again....Ta-da.... no more putrid sewer smell.. Hooray for TL! (I offer this solution to anyone who has a putrid sewer smell in their laundry room-or maybe I am the only one)

Dilemma Part 3-how to convince TL I need a washer like the one in the picture!

HE GOT AN OFFER!!!

HE GOT A CONDITIONAL OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT FROM HIS LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT!!!!!

WHOOO HOOOOO-YEAH FOR MY BOY!!!

(looking forward to THREE graduations this year)

A Favorite Day

Today is a favorite day in the month for me because I get to go to Ms. Angieinpink's awesome "Simplicity" workshop class. She and I think alike in many ways and I look forward to her simple style to adorn my scrapbook pages.....

Something you may not know about Ms. Angie is that she is a published scrapbook artist! She would never toot her own horn but if you are into scrapbooking, this book is hot off the press:

Go buy this now....

I PERSONALLY have an autographed copy of Ms. Angie's book, (first one she signed) and I know I could sell it on E-Bay for probably like $25,000 but of course I would never do that.

Another fact you may not know about Ms. Angie is that she has just started a new blog called angieinshape. She is the real deal here and is offering real life inspiration for us all who want to be in the best shape possible.

Happy Earth Day

The theme for today will be...."Turn It Off."

How is it that every light seems to be on when the whole fam leaves for the day? Or when you come home at night-the house is lit up like a Christmas tree!? So my goal is Turn it Off...We are gradually replacing our incandescent bulbs with these babies.....

With the idea to save energy and $$ but dang, these puppies are expensive! So we are doing it a little at a time...when one blows.....we replace it. We are also excited because these bulbs do not emit any heat-so when it is 110 outside-we don't feel like we are contributing to 110 inside with the lights.

The next goal is to get another garbage can in the office-It seems that every day 95% of the mail that enters the house is JUNK JUNK JUNK--but that's a post for another day. If I have a recycle garbage can in the office, well, shoot, that stuff can be recycled and I can save a tree!

Quote for the Day: From President Spencer W. Kimball, “We recommend to all people that there be no undue pollution, that the land be taken care of and kept clean to be productive and to be beautiful” (Ensign, May 1975).

What I'm Thinkin' About This Monday Morning

I read this awhile back and then heard it again last night. It is a story related by Bonnie D. Parkin, former general Relief Society President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints.

"My daughter-in-law’s mother, Susan, was a wonderful seamstress. President Kimball lived in their ward. One Sunday, Susan noticed that he had a new suit. Her father had recently returned from a trip to New York and had brought her some exquisite silk fabric. Susan thought that fabric would make a handsome tie to go with President Kimball’s new suit. So on Monday she made the tie. She wrapped it in tissue paper and walked up the block to President Kimball’s home.
On her way to the front door, she suddenly stopped and thought, “Who am I to make a tie for the prophet? He probably has plenty of them.” Deciding she had made a mistake, she turned to leave.
Just then Sister Kimball opened the front door and said, “Oh, Susan!”
Stumbling all over herself, Susan said, “I saw President Kimball in his new suit on Sunday. Dad just brought me some silk from New York . . . and so I made him a tie.”
Before Susan could continue, Sister Kimball stopped her, took hold of her shoulders, and said: “Susan, never suppress a generous thought.”
Susan didn’t have an assignment to make that tie. She wasn’t hired to do so. Despite feeling a bit hesitant, she did it because it felt right. Susan had a quiet sense of mission to serve others. I was also the beneficiary of such service. Her service went beyond any calling because it lasted throughout her life. Never suppressing a generous thought became a part of her personal ministry."

"Never suppress a generous thought."

Garden Update

It's been awhile since I've done a garden update.....

What up doc?

Future Grapes of America..

Them thars baby squarshes..(done in a narthern Utah accent)

Beware of men with gas powered tools....

We're mightily enjoying the weather here---waiting for the heat to hit...and watching the garden fry.....

Musical Memories

Yesterday Jessica dropped by to share with me her latest downloads on her cute pink ipod. She said, "I have a song I want you to hear..." I put on the earphones and instantly.......

I was transported back to my sophomore year, trying out for the songleaders...(the high school dance performing group). One of our tryout numbers was to the tune of "Classical Gas." I remember the anticipation and fright of the performance and the elation when they called my name as a new squad member!

Whenever I hear, "Feliz Navidad" I am reminded of this performance the Christmas of 1973....(that's me with the raised up arms-I still remember some of the moves!)

Listening to this song instantly transports me back to the inside of Mike Findeis' car, taking me home after mutual. He was so "hot" and I had a major "crush" on him for most of my high school years. In fact, years later my sister got to go out with him at the Y---I'm still bitter about this....

Hearing Rod Stewart's "Maggie" reminds me of the extreme guilt and discomfort I felt when I was ditching 9th grade one afternoon.....(sorry mom)

Music is incredibly powerful-I mean what can soothe a raging soul, lift up a depressed spirit and cause you to "kick it up a notch" when working out?

So what's your musical memory???

Strolling Down Memory Lane with Bubba D

I have been spending the day today....(in between phone calls, laundry loads, staying with Jen's kids, working, etc.).....perusing my Bubba D's scrapbook albums. I am woefully behind and when my kids turn 18, for some reason, I like to look at them, and try to catch up. (I'm also trying to finish up a Scout album for his Eagle Court of Honor)

When I saw this photo, my heart just melted.....

The First day of Second Grade.

1997 was a hard year for him. He had just been diagnosed with scoliosis. We had gone to a doctor who had prescribed this bulky, awful Milwaukee brace..it extends from neck to hips and he had to wear it for 23 hours a day. His curvature was already 45 degrees and it was devastating for such a little boy to have to suffer like this....at age 6.

A few months later we changed doctors who requested an MRI scan to "check" for some things (why is it they never tell you what "things" they are looking for?) and sure 'nuf, they found a problem. He had an Arnold Chiari I malformation, which is a defect within the brain stem and it was preventing the proper flow of spinal fluid-which in turn caused his scoliosis. We then became acquainted with a brilliant and compassionate pediatric neurosurgeon, Dr. Kim Manwaring. He recommended immediate surgery and in the fall of 1997-at age 7, right after this photo was taken, he underwent major brain surgery. The surgery was a success for the Chiari-but he still had to endure the bracing for the next 4 years-hoping to prevent further curvature of his spine- By age 11 we had pretty much given up hope that it wasn't going to progress-it was at 59 degrees and our wonderful orthpedic surgeon suggested spinal fusionsurgery-sooner than later. We were originally going to wait until about age 18 to do the surgery but in the face of severe damage to his spine, compromised heart and lung function, we had to make the choice to do it now. So Bubba-D had another major surgery-anterior spinal fusion. "Anterior" means approaching from the front, which means they almost had to cut him in half to approach the front of the spine to put in the instrumentation to correct the curvature. (sorry to gross anyone out) Again-he was a trooper and we were really blessed because the dr. was originally going to do anterior and posterior fusion-which means from both sides of the spine, but felt like he could accomplish the goal with just the anterior approach-it cut about 3-4 hours off the surgery time!

I guess I could go on and on about this little boy's adversities-but needless to say-he has angels round about him.....I am happy to be your momma Bubba D!

I Threatened and I Threatened, and I Finally DID IT

Buying birthday presents for a teenage boy is a nightmare. What do you get them? For the last few years I have asked my boys, "What do you want for your birthday?" They reply, "I don't know-money."Sheesh, how fun is that? So I would say, "If you don't tell me what you want, I am going to get you a Barbie!" Well, this year I finally followed through with the threat:

After the laughing was over-I presented a few "theme" gift bags. Theme: Mouth=Chapstick & Gum....Theme: Car-holder for his phone and new steering wheel cover. Theme: Entertainment: New earphone for ipod & ipod gift card. Then the piece o' resistance....

The Card. Now, I must explain. I really don't like the "*art" word-

But it's just so...................him.....

P.S. Yes, he did get his money....

Happy Birthday Bubba-D!

Projected high in Phoenix today: 97
Central air conditioning: 78 = priceless

The Law of Costco

Today I will discuss "The Law of Costco." This law can be applied to many different situations, of which I will explain. First of all, "The Law of Costco" states....."there is a law, irrevocably decreed that thou shalt NOT leave Costco with a receipt for less than $100." It's a given. I mean really, you cannot go into Costco and leave with just a jar of peanut butter and a box of granola bars. As you stroll down the aisles, you are reminded that you are out of toilet paper, shredded cheese, milk, and man, oh man, that sample of chicken fricassee tasted SO good and you have to take some home to your family.....

This law can also apply to husbands. For example, "honey, could you run to the store-we are out of milk." Honey obligingly trots down to local supermarket and when he returns 45 minutes later he brings your requested gallon of milk, plus an additional 3 gallons, which won't fit into your already stuffed fridge. IN addition, he brings home 5 boxes of cereal, 3 of which are on your forbidden foods list....(i.e. Froot loops, Captain Crunch, and Frosted Flakes), a bunch of bananas, a dozen donuts, a bag of fritos, because they are his favorite and they were only $2, and a package of corn tortillas...........Totally random and he is absolutely delighted with his purchases.

What is the point?? This law also applies to this place:

So yesterday, I have a free moment and I am thinking, I just need to run to Ikea and get some glass jars for my scrapbook ribbon.....Now Ikea is a small trek from my house so I don't just "run" down there but of course since I do have some free time yesterday I think this is the perfect moment to get that little postponed errand finally done.......So what do I come home with? This of course:

And this because I hate my current bedside lamp and of course it is cute and cheap:

And this because I need them for my office:

And finally this:

(the dresser, not the boy)

I rest my case. The Law of Costco in action.

One More Thing....

A little known fact about TL & Me.....

We have the perfect Marriage.....

Because we were both raised on this.......

I pity those who were raised in mixed marriages....

Especially my offspring who deal with this conflict daily or even horror of horrors.....

Their spouses despise the white stuff and refuse to eat anything coated with it.

My darlings.....those of you who have a spouse who hate this delectable concoction.....you have a standing invitation to come over and scarf ours....

Let the Macaroni Salad Season begin!

We Interrupt This Digging.......

To rest my aching back and bid a fond farewell to my fall/winter/spring flowers........

Ye have served me well.....made me happy when I drove up to my house....



Purple Lobelia.. "Little Purple Pansies"


Striking Red Geraniums...

For as lucky as we are here because we have a full year growing season....
Alas the temperature is going to rise....
And it will be 100+ soon and my now happy flowers will all look like this......

My summer flowering choices are limited to these:


Vincas, vincas, vincas..

Which I cannot grow anywhere I have planted petunias because apparently they hate each other and vincas shrivel up and die immediately...

Or maybe some zinnias or some of these semi-succulent types which can withstand the withering, blistering, oven-like temps of the summer....



{sigh}.......faretheewell...

Insomnia

This will be me by 10 am today. For the life of me, I could not go to sleep last night. I had Spanish phrases running through my head, the to-do list, the latest worries, yada-yada-yada. Believe me, 5:15 am looks pretty ugly when you've last heard the clock chime in at 3:00 am.....

Hacer una Caminata

Adding to my vast repertoire of Spanish vocabulary words is this enticing little phrase...translated to say.....Take a Hike.....(in the literal sense)

So my dear Jessica kindly indulged her middle-aged mother by volunteering to hike the desert with me, since I was afraid to go alone due to the possibility of getting mugged or some other equally heinous thing.... I've wanted to do this for weeks to photograph and enjoy the desert wildflowers......and we only have a few more weeks before it will be 110 in the shade.....

Essentials of hiking in back pocket....map and water.....(Jess don't hate me for posting this-I think it's cute)

In case you ever fly to Phoenix and you worry that your pilot may get lost-here are directions conveniently posted on the side of a mountain... (isn't that comforting)

The theme of the desert seems to be yellow.....

With an odd pink thrown in here and there.....

Look at our lovely "clean" air here in the desert, yup, that's the big city in the distance.

I am queen of the world!

Last photo of the day.....my photography skills are sorely lacking...but you get the idea...

Thanks Jess for indulging me...I'm looking forward to our next hike... when the palo verdes bloom....

Bloggy Break

Well-just takin' a little bloggy break here......Let's see....what sorts of Adventures has this Madwoman been up to lately????

Eagle Board of Review on Sunday---verdict---The Eagle Has Landed!

New Doctor-AWESOME....He SPELLS everything and talks slow.......

Trying to master the "new" Family Search.......I've ripped out a few hairs lately.....

Just finished up my most FAVORITE weekend of the year---we can just leave the world behind and soak up the inspiration....I love the spirit that fills my home twice a year. (wasn't Pres. Monson awesome)

This awesome guy cooked all the food for our "semi-annual" conference breakfast with the fam..(I vote for breakfast burritos every time from now on!)

I don't know if the subjects of the photo will be thrilled to be on the world-wide-web-but you get the idea.....we gather every conference Sunday for a pre-conference breakfast feast.

This sweet little boy on the left is allergic to every green thing that God has created on this earth! I am now the proud possessor of an Epi-Pen in case of a bad reaction......yikes! (it's an automatic injector of adrenaline in case of anaphylactic shock....)

Welp....there are a few more adventures but my yoga DVD is awaiting and I can't put it off any longer.....................

Happy Hump Day!

Today is my boy's one-year mark. A year ago right now we were at the airport.....sending him off to serve the Lord for two years. I did really good...I wasn't going to cry and embarrass him.

But then as he was walking down to security, I couldn't help it. It was like involuntary tears just started pouring out of my eyes, just flooding my face. It was a very weird experience.My face is totally wet......

Two years seemed like such a long time....But guess what....that year went by so fast, I can't believe it! Although honestly, right now, another year seems like a long time to me. It has been so fun so see him grow and progress....and we get to talk to him on the phone in about a month!

And I've got one more year to get another one ready to leave-right after his brother comes home......

Somehow one year doesn't seem so long after all.........

It's a Fake

Uh, yea, April Fool's. Check out ksl.com

Have You Seen This??

Snoop Dogg converts to Mormonism.....what?????

Gladys Knight invites him to FHE........

Ummm....well....the date on the CNN report was April 1st......

If it's true, I am very happy for him.

Good job bein' a member missionary Gladys.

Anxiety

I'm feeling a tad anxious today.

You see...as mentioned previously...I have my own bizness. In fact for 15 years. What is it, you ask? It's this:

No, I'm not a doctor. I just transcribe the stuff that the doctors say in those funny machines. Done this for 15 years. It's been very good to me. I have done well. I've been able to stay home with my thundering herd and at least be here physically, although maybe not mentally here all the time.

It's nice to know the doctor lingo-it's amazing how much respect you generate when you are at the doctor 's office and you can toss in an "itis" or an "ectomy" now and then. It has been very useful in the past while dealing with some serious and not-so-serious medical issues.

One of my best moments was when the doctor, dressed in his white coat, was begging me, yes, pleading for me to do his dictation. I consider that one of the highlights of my ego-building experiences.

I have done work for doctors from India, Scotland, and various types of accents from the good ol' USA.

I've done dictation on almost every body part, both male & female, except maybe the colon......

I have heard many interesting things in the background during dictation-music, telephones ringing, other people talking, kids playing, dogs barking. I have heard doctors yelling, whispering, laughing, belching, talking about other random subjects and so on. But the kicker was when I heard this:

(No-he's really not doing that in this picture-wait maybe he is!)

Now, I've lived with a man for over 30 years, I have three boys. I know what this sounds like-but believe me, I couldn't believe it when I heard that telltale sound in the background during the discussion of someone's knee exam....

I had to ask a couple of other people to listen to see if they agreed with me.

They agreed.....

I couldn't believe he was actually going to the bathroom during the recording! Maybe he forgot that I can hear everything that is going on in the background...

So... back to the anxiety. I'm going to start a new doctor today. He convinced me to do his work-although I am mostly retired these days. He starts dictating today. So I always have that little bit of anxiety--wondering if he talks fast, will I understand him, will he like my work, how long will it take to do his work...yada yada yada.

In fact, I am so anxious, I really feel the need to eat some chocolate. And pray that all I hear in the background is some nice soft music or telephones ringing.......

Savoring this Moment

As co-CEO of the family and CEO of my own biz....

And it being the first and all....

Bills to pay...

Billings to send out....

Projects with work, kids, church, hobbies, family history.....

The ol' desk really suffers.....

But after some intensive therapy......

{Ahhhhhh}........clean desk

Probably won't look this way by the end of the day...but I can savor this moment!