The Routine...

I think we have all finally settled down to our new school year routine.

I don't know why I was wasting my time attempting to sleep in during the summer. I love waking up to see the sun peek over the mountains. My house sits facing the East so it is perfect for watching the morning sunrise. At bedtime I watch the sunset from my bedroom window... that is... if I am not outside enjoying the cooler night air.

Thus far, the school year has been a breeze. I was a bit concerned about driving the kids to school every morning but it hasn't been too bad getting the little kidlets up and moving. Then, since we are up, dressed and ready for the day, I follow dropping the boys off by taking a walk around Jensen's Grove. It's really quite lovely.

School has been fantastic and I feel resolved in my decision to not switch schools. The transition has been an easy one for Seth and I am happy to report that Seth has come home with ZERO- 0 bald spots !! He has friends from last year, no reports of being bullied and the IEP was in place and ready to go from day one.

Here's to lengthy strides and phenomenal growth this year!

and the Winner is....

LISA!!!

Congratulations Lisa!!

Send me an e-mail with your address and I will go shopping today :)

It's a bonus for us both really!!

The connection...

My niece is 14 years old now. She was born on my sixteenth birthday. I made my own birthday cake, blew out the candles and excitedly raced to the hospital to meet the newest member of our family.

Since that time, Kendall and I have created a special connection. The kind you find on made for t.v. movies when the crazy aunt lets loose with her niece who comes to live with her for the summer. While Kendall has never stayed the summer, we have shared plenty of fun, let loose, crazy moments. I recall her as a toddler with her wiley curls! I remember when she first learned to say "truck" because that is what I drove... although it did not come out as "truck" and I ended up in a lot of trouble from my Grandma. I remember when I taught her to say "pick-up" instead. I remember when she turned to me for a shoulder to cry on when things were too hard at school and when she was disappointed in the consequences at home.

I hope that she will always be able to turn to me. I hope I can always be the crazy, fun aunt to her. Mostly, I hope that I never disappoint her.

75 cents

Two years ago, I came across a lovely coat for $8 at my favorite shopping center. Target (they have wide spacious isles).

Two days ago, I came across a lovely hat to match my lovely coat for 75 cents at a thrift store (no wide spacious isles).

Cheaper than a glass of lemonade!

Schools in....

Today was the first day of school.

Up at 6:30am. Dressed by 7:00am- Breakfast, socks, shoes- out the door to be in the truck by 7:45am.

We've been rehearsing for the last week so this morning went without any complications YAY! The trick is to lay their clothes out the night before, making sure to include underwear... because if it is not there... they just won't wear any.

Sending Seth off to school always makes me nervous. The first day is hard for him. He gets easily overwhelmed and I am always afraid that the kids won't be nice to him. If he comes home with a bald spot on his head I will know that it was a rough day. (he picks his hair out when he is nervous or stressed).

I am nervous for Isaac too. It is his first day with the big kids. He was at the Kindergarten center last year and only went half day. He's great at making friends so that is not a concern. I just think that first grade hits a little harder than kindergarten... at least for me.

How did I get so old that I have two kids in elementary school!?

Goodness...

Contest!!

......and more old school candy
Originally uploaded by World Have Your Say

Only those who have posted at least once previously are eligible to play. Sorry free floaters but with all due respect, I tried to give you a heads up :)

Here it is... the information I know you have all been dying to find out...

Name three books that I have read this summer... and e-mail me the answer. my8isgr8@gmail.com

Bonus points for my favorite quote (it will be a miracle if you can get it)!

The winner will recieve an array of non-meltable "old school" candies. I found a cute little store just outside of town that has a good variety of candies from the last couple of decades... I've just been looking for an excuse to buy it!!

Have at it and good luck!

Contest will end sometime this week.

First Annual Giveaway!!!

I am thinking about doing a giveaway. I haven't quite decided since there are so few active participants... but I think now that we have more than 2- it should be a go.

To give everyone a shot, all you freefloaters that haven't responded to any of my posts should speak up now or you will not be eligible!!

So far I have
Lisa, Julie, Hailey, Tiffany, and David that are able to play.

Anyone else up for a game? You'll win... something! :)

Moses, Moses, Moses…

In chapter one… I enjoy the part where satan tries to trick Moses into worshipping him. Isn't that just like satan. Tricky little devil!

But Moses was no fool. He could not be so easily persuaded.

Moses, being aware that satan had no glory surrounding him, stated; "Who art thou? For behold, I am a son of God, in the similitude of his Only Begotten; and where is thy glory, that I should worship thee? For behold, I could not look upon God, except his glory should come upon me, and I were transfigured before him. But I can look upon thee in the natural man. Is it not so, surely?"

Moses saw only darkness surrounding Satan.

This is where we need to draw similar conclusions. satan has his utmost intentions of enticing us with guile. The better we know satan and his intentions, the more apt we are to recognize when he is meddling in our lives.

What are your thoughts?

Backyard Camping…

As summer comes to a close, I thought it would be a good time to take the kids camping. While I am not brave enough to head out into the wilderness by myself +4, I am brave enough to head to the backyard.

We managed to do all the "camping" things that go along with camping in the wilderness... Our fire was a bit precarious and had more smoke than flame! We put it out before too long for fear the fire department would come knocking on our door.

All in all…

We made good memories.

Dapper Apples…

It's a novel idea to keep Apples in a bowl to be set out on the table. It looks pretty, it provides an easily accessible healthy snack for the kids, and I just like it.

(Day 1)

However,

(Day 2)

When you can't decide what apple you want to eat…

It could pose a problem.

Wouldn’t it be lovely…

It's the last week of summer. The last week before the kids are wisked away to school and I invariably drive them from point A to point B, B to C, C to A…

School makes the year go by so quickly.

Wouldn't it be splendid if summer could last all year long? If the hours of the day could be used playing in the sprinkler, reading books on the front porch, laying on the cool grass watching the clouds with complete disregard for time.

Ahhhh, summertime… I will miss you. You have gone too quickly for me.

Stone Tables...

Prior to deciding to delve into the Pearl of Great Price, I had read a book from my local library called "Stone Tables" written by Orson Scott Card.

I was able to gain a bit more perspective as to who Moses was before he became a prophet of God. Granted, the author fabricated many things and I do not take every word as truth. It would only make sense that Moses was raised without knowing or realizing that there was only one God as opposed to the Egyptian concept of several Gods over different things. Moses was a convert to the gospel in it's purest form.

With that being said I will get right into this weeks discussion.

As an overview, the Pearl of Great Price was given to Joseph Smith to restore what was lost throughout time in the Bible.

Moses 1:6
“There Is No God beside Me”

The phrase “there is no God beside me” should not be interpreted to mean that mankind does not have the eternal potential to become like God.

In a 1912 discourse on Moses 1:6, the First Presidency gave the historical context to help us understand this phrase:

“Moses was reared in an atmosphere of idolatry. There were numerous deitie [gods] among the Egyptians. In commencing the work which the Lord said he had for Moses to do, it was necessary to center his mind and faith upon God the Eternal Father as the only Being to worship. . . .
“. . . The sole object of worship, God the Eternal Father, stands supreme and alone, and it is in the name of the Only Begotten that we thus approach Him, as Christ taught always” (“Only One God to Worship,” Improvement Era, Apr. 1912, 484–85).

Elder Boyd K. Packer, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, explained: “The Father is the one true God. This thing is certain: no one will ever ascend above Him; no one will ever replace Him. Nor will anything ever change the relationship that we, His literal offspring, have with Him. He is Elohim, the Father. He is God. Of Him there is only one. We revere our Father and our God; we worship Him” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1984, 85; or Ensign, Nov. 1984, 69).

UNBEKNOWNST...

LITTLE KNOWN FACTS... About Me!!

1. My Dad was a pilot. A cropduster to be exact. I love little airplanes but get nervous flying in big ones when I can't see the controls.

2. My Dad died when I was five.

3. I like to be a bit different than everyone else in my family. My sister says I have a "unique" sense of style. I'm not sure that it was a compliment, but I will take it as one!

4. I think my family is overly critical... but I still love them.

5. I have an ex husband.

6. I'm about to have another.

7. My children are amazing. -a commonly known fact but one I must add nonetheless.

8. I will only cook if my counters are all cleaned off and the dishes put away.

9. I like fishing but I don't like to eat fish.

10. I love old things, especially when they have a history.

11. I will eat cereal whenever I want and as much as I want. I strongly disagree with any type of cereal nazi.

12. My Mom lived with a very bad man for three years of our lives. He was a cereal nazi!

13. I have the most amazing step-dad in the world!

14. Volleyball, basketball and softball are my thing.

15. I have asthma. It gets bad when I laugh too much and then I weeze and it makes me laugh harder!

16. My roommates in college were all certifiably crazy and I loved them all the more because of it. *Mid-night band, Titanic obsessions, a fish in the couch, Pictures of cleveland... good times, good times!

17. My favorite color is green because it reminds me of grass and trees.

18. I love a good picnic in an odd spot. My favorite was on a median (island) in between two busy streets.

19. I secretly like politics.

20. I love history. Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong era but I would never be able to pick a favorite anyway, so here I am.

Scripture Goals...

I am just finishing up the B of M. If any of you want to join me, I will be reading from the P of GP next. I will be posting thoughts occasionally and would love some feedback as we go along. Consider it a long distance scripture group. Leave a comment if you are up to joining.

This week: Moses 1 & 2.

I will post some thought provoking questions later.

Road Trip... the planning phase

Slovang Windmill
Originally uploaded by andrew.wallwork

I graduate in October. To celebrate a freind of mine and I are planning a road trip. How is California in October?

The possible places we will be staying are Slovang, Oceanside, or Big Bear? I really wanted to stay in Anneheim but they are all booked. I will have to settle.

Possible events:
Disneyland,
Catalina Island,
The Price is Right

SO EXCITED!!
If anyone has any suggestions for what to do/ where to stay... by all means... suggest away.

Sick Days...

On days like this I wish someone were here to take care of me. My Mom used to bring me jell-o and little cups of juice.

There are good days... and bad days...

Today as my Mom and I were leaving the extended care, from a visit with my Grandma. My mom ran into an old friend from High School. She stuck out like a sore thumb sitting on the chair in the lobby, far to young to fit in with the older women in wheelchairs covered with handcrafted afaghans. Perhaps she was there visiting someone. I sat quietly and watched the intervention between the two... and I learned so much. She remembered my Mom and told her, "I remembered your eyes!" The eyes being the gateway to the soul told me much about the character of this woman named Valerie.

Valerie and my Mom had gone from Kindergarten through to graduation with each other. They both are the same age (55) and both born in the same month (October). There is one major difference. Valerie lives in the extended care facility waiting out her final moments on earth. After being diagnosed with breast cancer, twice, in the early 90's and then having it removed from another part of her body in the late 90's. She has been told that the cancer is back and has spread. My mom sat and listened intently with tears in her eyes when Valerie told her that she has been given just 3 months to live.

I learned more than just that. I learned she was picked on relentlessly in school. She has a passion on the obsessive side for Elvis. She said she still has 44 record albums at home. Her sisters live in Oregon and Utah. Her parents died 7 years ago. She told of how she always longed to get married and have a family, but the time never came. She is alone but she looked beautiful and vibrant albeit tired.

Today, as I sat on the sidelines watching, I learned a little more about life, a little more about death, and a little more about the compassionate side of my Mother. Those few moments gave me more insight than the plethora of books that I have read in my lifetime.

Today, was a good day.

Old Banana's

What do you do when your bananas turn all brown and mushy??

You mush it, mix it...

and eat it... of course!!

SOUR CREAM BANANA BREAD (2 LOAVES)

1 c. butter

1 1/2 c. sugar

3 eggs

1 1/2 c. bananas,mashed

4 c. flour (plus 2 tbsp.)

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1 1/2 c. sour cream

vanilla

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and beat. Add bananas and beat. Mix dry ingredients together (baking powder, baking soda and flour).
Add the well-mixed dry ingredients to the creamed mixture alternately with the sour cream. Beat until smooth. Add vanilla.

Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes at 350 degrees.

It was pretty darn tasty!

One Year Anniversary

As of this month, Sophie has been seizure free and off her meds for one year!

Sophie started having seizures when she was one year old. The first one she had lasted approximately 2.3 minutes. It was so scary. From that point on, until she was put on medications, she would have small seizures lasting from 3 seconds to just under 2 minutes at least 3 times a week, sometimes more. It was awful. It wasn't until 4 months later that the doctors decided to do anything about it, when she had a seizure that lasted 5 minutes! It was horrifying, I thought I was going to lose her. After that we were in for CT scans, monthly blood testing, two sleep tests and multiple meetings with her doctors. After a year and a half on the medication and the seizures continually dropping in frequency... here we are today! Seizure free and medication free!!

Long or Short

I have a decision to make so I turn to my faithful readers for suggestions. I am a fan of short hair... it's easy and it's spunky but I cannot decide. I have not had my hair long for years, since 4th grade to be exact. Maybe it is time for a change. Right now it is down to my shoulders so it would be simple to go either direction. I have provided splendid examples for you to choose from. Don't delay... quick, make haste!

A blissful Sunday Afternoon

After spending the last 9 weeks frantically turning in assignments and taking last minute test with my online schooling... today was heaven sent. I savored every moment of the day from dawn to dusk and a few moments after. Sunday's are meant to be my one and only time to refill my cup for the upcoming week. Since school had started it was as though I would hastily place my cup under the stream but lacked the patience to fill it in its entirety. I am hoping that this pleasantly refreshing cup-full will help me to endure the next and LAST 9 weeks I have.

I love Sundays. Today I managed to visit my grandma in the extended care and curl her hair, I visited with my neighbors, I read about Moses, and I took a nap with Eli. A day well spent. I wish everyday could be like this.

As for my new title, which I am sure you have noted. Today in Sunday School we learned the Hebrew interpretation of Nauvoo. It hit me as appropriate to rename my blog this since the definition is what I strive to create for my family, my self and my home.