A few weeks later the Stake Executive Secretary called Blaine to ask how his health was and that was it.
Last Sunday everything became clear.
Blaine was called as the bishop.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Now it all makes sense
Since we have been in our new ward, Blaine and I have both had some very weird things happen. The second week there, the Stake President called me in for an interview. He asked me all about Blaine; what kind of a husband he is, if he likes the YM program, if we have FHE. At the end of it he said he would take all I said into concideration and that was it. No explanation at all. It was very odd. Apparently Blaine had the same sort of interview the same day.
A few weeks later the Stake Executive Secretary called Blaine to ask how his health was and that was it.
Last Sunday everything became clear.
Blaine was called as the bishop.
A few weeks later the Stake Executive Secretary called Blaine to ask how his health was and that was it.
Last Sunday everything became clear.
Blaine was called as the bishop.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Trip to IRTRA
On Thanksgiving day we (and the McGary family) drove to a place called IRTRA and stayed there through Sunday. IRTRA consists of two different amusement parks, one a water park called Xocomil (pronounced Show-Koe-Meal), and the other an amusement park with roller coasters and other rides called Xutulul (pronounced Shew-too-lule). It's about a 4 hour drive from our house and is out in the middle of nowhere. It is an absolutely beautiful place rivaling any amusement park in the United States. We stayed in a gigantic complex of hotels with everything you can imagine. It had 3 large swimming pools with slides and other fun things for the kids. It also had a bowling alley, an athletic club, tennis courts, a spa for the ladies, several restaurants, doctor's office (which of course we had to use), and much, much more. We'll definitely be heading back there again.
On Sunday we found a local church to attend. We did it by simply getting in the car and asking people where the nearest Mormon church was. After talking to a few people we finally got good directions and made it to the church plenty early. The only problem was that when we got there the parking area, which is the outdoor basketball and soccer court, was locked. We parked on the side of the street, a little bit nervous our van would get broken into.
A few minutes into sacrament meeting one of the young men in the ward approached us at our pew and asked me to follow him. He took me out to the basketball court and unlocked the gate for me to drive in and park. I wonder when the last time was that someone actually showed up to that ward with a car?
It was obvious that no one in the ward had a car, so I'm sure it was just on special occasions when someone from the stake presidency visits, etc. Throughout the entire meeting we were stared at constantly. I bet some of these people had never seen a gringo before in their lives. Especially two families of 6 (we did all this with another American family we're friends with). Before sacrament meeting began Michelle went to take our younger kids to the bathroom. After using the bathroom they loaded their hands up with soap only to find out that there was no water working in the bathroom. One of the ladies in the bathroom offered to go fetch some left over water in the baptismal font and bring it to the bathroom so they could rinse their hands. Michelle declined and took the kids out to the car and used some bottled water. When I found out about this I went and looked and the baptismal font, and sure enough there was a couple inches of water left at the bottom of the font. After sacrament meeting we found out that it wasn't just the bathroom that had no water. The water wasn't working in the whole church. That's when it hit us, the water we drank for the sacrament probably came from that same left-over water at the bottom of the baptismal font. Oh well, it was blessed, right?
Thanksgiving Feast
Just like everything else we have done in Guatemala, our Thanksgiving was a little untraditional. Our friends, the McGarys, and us invited almost all of the gringo families we knew and had a huge feast. (Robertson, McCune, Larson, Caudle, McGary, Douglas, Williams, and the sister missionaries)
Thanksgiving was very fun for us this year. The Saturday before Thanksgiving we had a huge Thanksgiving dinner at our house. We invited nearly all the Americans we know and ended up having 32 people over. We started at around 10:00 AM with a Turkey bowl. I was absolutely dominant in the game until I had my annual Thanksgiving hamstring pull about 15 minutes into it. Thanksgiving just wouldn't be Thanksgiving without a pulled hamstring. Michelle did a great job coordinating and planning everything.
(Seriously, the above picture was taken right as he pulled his hamstring.) It has been an annual joke between us that Blaine will get hurt and I tell him every year..."I love to see you play, but I am not taking you to the hospital!"
On a side note: for those of you who have been anxiously awaiting a pie update, I took a picture.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Kierstin's Dreams
Recently, Kierstin's class had to write their "Second Grade Dream" and post it in front of the school. I loved hers. It shows her easy-going personality.
"My second grade dream is to have fun and that I'll be good at hard math"
She brought home her homework folder last night and I also found this writing assignment:
"If I could have three wishes what would they be? Number one, that I could fly. Number 2 My birthday was everyday. Number three I had three more wishes. Number 4 I can turn into anything. 5 I could be in charge of everybody. Number 6 I get 1 more wish. Number 7 I'm so pretty no matter what I am."
So basically she wants what every other little girl wants...to be a beautiful flying princess that gets to tell everyone what to do!
"My second grade dream is to have fun and that I'll be good at hard math"
She brought home her homework folder last night and I also found this writing assignment:
"If I could have three wishes what would they be? Number one, that I could fly. Number 2 My birthday was everyday. Number three I had three more wishes. Number 4 I can turn into anything. 5 I could be in charge of everybody. Number 6 I get 1 more wish. Number 7 I'm so pretty no matter what I am."
So basically she wants what every other little girl wants...to be a beautiful flying princess that gets to tell everyone what to do!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Ward Change
Blaine wrote his monthly "Douglas Family Newsletter" this last week and I thought I could just use what he said, add a couple pictures, and catch everyone up on what we have been doing lately. So for the next few posts his words are italicized.
A couple of months ago Michelle and I felt prompted to change to another ward, so we made the switch to the ward right next to the temple. It's a little further away from our house but primary is all in English and that's where most every other American family attends. Our kids were beginning be discouraged and not wanting to go to church because they couldn't understand anything in our Spanish ward. So far it's been a very good change. We got confirmation that it was the right choice the second week we attended there, when Brinley came up to us after church and very excitedly started telling us about everything she learned in primary. That was something she had done in the 18 months we've been here. Another advantage of being in this ward is that it's the same building that the MTC missionaries attend. So we've been able to see Logan (Blaine's cousin)almost every week since he's been down here in the MTC. Michelle has already received a calling in the new ward as the 2nd counselor in the young women's presidency. She gave her first lesson a couple of weeks ago (in Spanish) and did an excellent job.
It has been great to be back in young womens. I had forgotten how fun it can be and how youthful it makes me feel to be running around with them. They recently returned from girls camp at Las Colinas, the church owned camp ground here. It was for all 5000 girls in the whole country!
I really got to love the kids in the primary while serving as the chorister. One of the girls caught my attention the very first Sunday and we have kind of been kindred spirits. Her name is Mishel Reyes. Blaine always told her that she was his favorite because she had the same name as his wife! We later found out that Mishel is her middle name and her first name is Lini. A lot like mine...Lani is my first name and Michelle my middle name.
It was difficult to leave our old ward, our old callings (Blaine was the first counselor in the bishopric), and the wonderful friends we have made but when your prayers are answered, you follow.
A couple of months ago Michelle and I felt prompted to change to another ward, so we made the switch to the ward right next to the temple. It's a little further away from our house but primary is all in English and that's where most every other American family attends. Our kids were beginning be discouraged and not wanting to go to church because they couldn't understand anything in our Spanish ward. So far it's been a very good change. We got confirmation that it was the right choice the second week we attended there, when Brinley came up to us after church and very excitedly started telling us about everything she learned in primary. That was something she had done in the 18 months we've been here. Another advantage of being in this ward is that it's the same building that the MTC missionaries attend. So we've been able to see Logan (Blaine's cousin)almost every week since he's been down here in the MTC. Michelle has already received a calling in the new ward as the 2nd counselor in the young women's presidency. She gave her first lesson a couple of weeks ago (in Spanish) and did an excellent job.
It has been great to be back in young womens. I had forgotten how fun it can be and how youthful it makes me feel to be running around with them. They recently returned from girls camp at Las Colinas, the church owned camp ground here. It was for all 5000 girls in the whole country!
I really got to love the kids in the primary while serving as the chorister. One of the girls caught my attention the very first Sunday and we have kind of been kindred spirits. Her name is Mishel Reyes. Blaine always told her that she was his favorite because she had the same name as his wife! We later found out that Mishel is her middle name and her first name is Lini. A lot like mine...Lani is my first name and Michelle my middle name.
It was difficult to leave our old ward, our old callings (Blaine was the first counselor in the bishopric), and the wonderful friends we have made but when your prayers are answered, you follow.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
A slice of Humble Pie
I am a good cook. My mom taught me to cook and you know what they say when you learn from the best...actually I don't know what they say but let me assure you, I am pretty darn good.
A lot of my self esteem is wrapped up in this. Sometimes it is hard for me to think I am a good mother or creative or organized; all things I strive for. But I do know that I can feed my family well. I show my family I love them through food. I think that is something else I learned from my mother.
About four years ago we celebrated Thanksgiving with my family and my mom let me make all the pie crusts. It was a right of passage for me. She was letting me take the reigns. No one else has ever been given that much trust.
________________________________________________
A few months ago some friends of ours invited us over for dinner. They served us a wonderful meal and even made homemade apple pie for dessert. Blaine loved the apple pie. He said so. In fact, he said so about five times while he was licking his plate clean. (My plate did not get licked clean, no where near. But Blaine would have offered to lick it clean.) He even comented about how much he liked her pie as we were leaving their house to which she(Mrs. Apple) obliviously, sweetly but obliviously, offered to teach me how to make her apple pie since my husband loved it so much. Deep breath, deep breath.
Does any one else see where this is going?
It quickly became a joking/sore spot with me. I claimed I was never going to make apple pie again if Blaine didn't like mine as much as Mrs. Apple's pie. Then it grew to I was never going to make pie again. The next time Blaine positively commented on something I made for dinner, I didn't believe him. I thought he was just trying to make me feel good.
I started planning my Thanksgiving meal. We are hosting a large group and I was assigning food to everyone. I wanted to make the pies. I wanted to show I could do it. I started planning how I could make different types, use different recipes and then he would have to like one of them better than Mrs. Apple's, right? Then I got a more wicked plan brewing. What if everyone brought a pie, and I could somehow get Mrs. Apple to contribute one (even though she was going to The States for Thanksgiving) and then we could have a blind taste-test. I could come up with a system, rate each aspect of the pie; the crust, tartness, the flavor, the appearance, etc. I could make little score cards for everyone. And in the end, surely everyone would pick mine as the best and all would be right with the world again.
Wow, evil plotting is exhausting.
I calmed down a little and realized I wouldn't make any pies. Let them eat cake! Just kidding. But what is Thanksgiving truly without Blaine straining a hamstring during the turkey bowl and me making apple pie? So I decided I would make one and we would just eat it the day before with our family. I even made the kids stop talking about it and decided I wouldn't bring it up any more and I would forget it ever happened. I could almost see myself laughing at it in 25 years.
Yesterday, I talked to Mrs. Apple and found out their trip had been canceled. I invited her and her husband to our Thanksgiving celebration. She offered to bring an apple pie because she knows how much my husband likes hers.
Oh, It's on sista!
I told Blaine Mr. and Mrs. Fuji Apple were coming, and what she said, and how it made me feel. He said he was sorry. I said, "Sorry for what you said and for liking her pie better than mine?" He replied, "No, sorry you got offended."
I called my mom on the way to the store, armed with my shopping list of tart baking apples. I thought she would laugh at me for the troubles I layed at her feet but she didn't. She sympathized. And then she said, "You know what this feeling is don't you? It's called pride."
I know, I know, I know!!! And I was doing so good until I had it thrown back in my face. Ok not good but I was dealing with it...I had begun to deal with it...I was seeing that I was going to deal with it sometime very soon.
I didn't buy any apples, just sweet potatoes, and butter and pecans, lots and lots of pecans.
Never would I have guessed that I would be doing a lot of praying about pie but I have. And the chip on my shoulder is getting smaller each time.
And this Thanksgiving, I will graciously accept Mrs. Apple's pie into my home, thank her for bringing it, and cut my husband an extra large piece of it because I know it will make him happy.
I, for one, will not be making an apple pie this year.
Blaine's favorite pie is pecan pie anyways!
A lot of my self esteem is wrapped up in this. Sometimes it is hard for me to think I am a good mother or creative or organized; all things I strive for. But I do know that I can feed my family well. I show my family I love them through food. I think that is something else I learned from my mother.
About four years ago we celebrated Thanksgiving with my family and my mom let me make all the pie crusts. It was a right of passage for me. She was letting me take the reigns. No one else has ever been given that much trust.
________________________________________________
A few months ago some friends of ours invited us over for dinner. They served us a wonderful meal and even made homemade apple pie for dessert. Blaine loved the apple pie. He said so. In fact, he said so about five times while he was licking his plate clean. (My plate did not get licked clean, no where near. But Blaine would have offered to lick it clean.) He even comented about how much he liked her pie as we were leaving their house to which she(Mrs. Apple) obliviously, sweetly but obliviously, offered to teach me how to make her apple pie since my husband loved it so much. Deep breath, deep breath.
Does any one else see where this is going?
It quickly became a joking/sore spot with me. I claimed I was never going to make apple pie again if Blaine didn't like mine as much as Mrs. Apple's pie. Then it grew to I was never going to make pie again. The next time Blaine positively commented on something I made for dinner, I didn't believe him. I thought he was just trying to make me feel good.
I started planning my Thanksgiving meal. We are hosting a large group and I was assigning food to everyone. I wanted to make the pies. I wanted to show I could do it. I started planning how I could make different types, use different recipes and then he would have to like one of them better than Mrs. Apple's, right? Then I got a more wicked plan brewing. What if everyone brought a pie, and I could somehow get Mrs. Apple to contribute one (even though she was going to The States for Thanksgiving) and then we could have a blind taste-test. I could come up with a system, rate each aspect of the pie; the crust, tartness, the flavor, the appearance, etc. I could make little score cards for everyone. And in the end, surely everyone would pick mine as the best and all would be right with the world again.
Wow, evil plotting is exhausting.
I calmed down a little and realized I wouldn't make any pies. Let them eat cake! Just kidding. But what is Thanksgiving truly without Blaine straining a hamstring during the turkey bowl and me making apple pie? So I decided I would make one and we would just eat it the day before with our family. I even made the kids stop talking about it and decided I wouldn't bring it up any more and I would forget it ever happened. I could almost see myself laughing at it in 25 years.
Yesterday, I talked to Mrs. Apple and found out their trip had been canceled. I invited her and her husband to our Thanksgiving celebration. She offered to bring an apple pie because she knows how much my husband likes hers.
Oh, It's on sista!
I told Blaine Mr. and Mrs. Fuji Apple were coming, and what she said, and how it made me feel. He said he was sorry. I said, "Sorry for what you said and for liking her pie better than mine?" He replied, "No, sorry you got offended."
I called my mom on the way to the store, armed with my shopping list of tart baking apples. I thought she would laugh at me for the troubles I layed at her feet but she didn't. She sympathized. And then she said, "You know what this feeling is don't you? It's called pride."
I know, I know, I know!!! And I was doing so good until I had it thrown back in my face. Ok not good but I was dealing with it...I had begun to deal with it...I was seeing that I was going to deal with it sometime very soon.
I didn't buy any apples, just sweet potatoes, and butter and pecans, lots and lots of pecans.
Never would I have guessed that I would be doing a lot of praying about pie but I have. And the chip on my shoulder is getting smaller each time.
And this Thanksgiving, I will graciously accept Mrs. Apple's pie into my home, thank her for bringing it, and cut my husband an extra large piece of it because I know it will make him happy.
I, for one, will not be making an apple pie this year.
Blaine's favorite pie is pecan pie anyways!
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Technical Difficulties
In the past two weeks both DVD players have broken, the kids personal DVD player was broken, our digital camera was fixed and then broke again and our laptop decided to call it quits. Until we get the laptop fixed (two more weeks) I will not be making any more posts.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Save The Turtles
Last year my kids came home from school wanting to buy a turtle t-shirt. The school had put on a presentation about turtle hatcheries in the area needing support. Each year they release turtles back into the ocean and if you buy a t-shirt you get to "sponser" a turtle. We didn't buy any last year and the kids were very dissappointed.
This year the assembly was even more impressive. Even my preschooler came home sad that so many turtles needed our help. I made a deal with the kids. If they did some extra chores, I would pay them and they could buy the t-shirt themselves.
Kierstin came home with a "Letter to the Parents" last week. I noticed two things. The first, the price of the t-shirts had gone up. Second, the following: "We...are fundrasing to help support the sea turtle hatcheries on the Pacific coast of Guatemala. The hatcheries obtain a percentage of the eggs from the poachers who take the eggs to sell at various markets."
Did you catch that? The school raises money, gives it to the hatcheries who then buy the eggs from poachers! Don't you think that is facilitating the problem?
Again, we are not buying t-shirts.
This year the assembly was even more impressive. Even my preschooler came home sad that so many turtles needed our help. I made a deal with the kids. If they did some extra chores, I would pay them and they could buy the t-shirt themselves.
Kierstin came home with a "Letter to the Parents" last week. I noticed two things. The first, the price of the t-shirts had gone up. Second, the following: "We...are fundrasing to help support the sea turtle hatcheries on the Pacific coast of Guatemala. The hatcheries obtain a percentage of the eggs from the poachers who take the eggs to sell at various markets."
Did you catch that? The school raises money, gives it to the hatcheries who then buy the eggs from poachers! Don't you think that is facilitating the problem?
Again, we are not buying t-shirts.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Priesthood Party
The boys in my family would always go out for ice cream after attending the Priesthood Session of Conference. My mom started making it a special night for us girls that got to stay at home. Since being married I haven't lived near my mom or any of my sisters so I decided to make my own fun. For several years I have tried to invite someone over while my husband was away and treat myself to a little something special.
This year I hosted a party for 25 of my friends (and 15 of their kids). It was another push-me-out-of-my-comfort-zone-so-I-can-grow moments.
Let me preface this a little.
I called almost each person myself and had to speak in Spanish. I begged Blaine to call but he said I needed the practice. I hid in the closet and had to give myself a pep talk each time before I called someone. You should have seen me acting like a shy boy trying to ask someone on a date. It is hard enough to speak to them at church but to speak over the phone is ten times harder. In Guatemala, people do not just have parties to hang out and have fun. There have been plenty over the top birthday parties with 150 of my closest friends and family to celebrate a 1 year old's birthday party, but nothing like this. After talking to one lady, I told her I was hosting this get-together during the evening when our husbands were going to be gone. She asked me, "why?" I nicely said because it gives me an excuse to make some really good food (and eat it!) Does there have to be more of a reason than that?
For the first forty-five minutes, no one ate anything. I asked one lady why not and she told me everyone is shy to get up and be the first. I announced I was American and not shy about eating at all. Everyone followed suit. There was so much yummy stuff, I went back for fifths! (what? we had small plates!)
We played the Candy Bar Game at the end. (I had bought about 20 candy bars and set them in the middle of the room. You roll two dice. If you get doubles, you get to pick a candy bar. Once they are all gone, you start stealing them from other people.) I couldn't find a Symphony-the usual favorite. Strangely, everyone fought over the Skittles. I thought that was hilarious.
On a side note: When it was Dora's turn to take candy from someone, she felt so awkward that she wouldn't get up and take it from anyone. We had to stop the game and MAKE her pick something. Shortly after that I found her in the kitchen doing the dishes! She didn't not feel comfortable being one of the ladies.
Once again-no pictures. My camera broke that night. I guess you won't be able to see the adorable name tags I made for everyone. I copied the idea from my talented friend Valerie.
This year I hosted a party for 25 of my friends (and 15 of their kids). It was another push-me-out-of-my-comfort-zone-so-I-can-grow moments.
Let me preface this a little.
I called almost each person myself and had to speak in Spanish. I begged Blaine to call but he said I needed the practice. I hid in the closet and had to give myself a pep talk each time before I called someone. You should have seen me acting like a shy boy trying to ask someone on a date. It is hard enough to speak to them at church but to speak over the phone is ten times harder. In Guatemala, people do not just have parties to hang out and have fun. There have been plenty over the top birthday parties with 150 of my closest friends and family to celebrate a 1 year old's birthday party, but nothing like this. After talking to one lady, I told her I was hosting this get-together during the evening when our husbands were going to be gone. She asked me, "why?" I nicely said because it gives me an excuse to make some really good food (and eat it!) Does there have to be more of a reason than that?
For the first forty-five minutes, no one ate anything. I asked one lady why not and she told me everyone is shy to get up and be the first. I announced I was American and not shy about eating at all. Everyone followed suit. There was so much yummy stuff, I went back for fifths! (what? we had small plates!)
We played the Candy Bar Game at the end. (I had bought about 20 candy bars and set them in the middle of the room. You roll two dice. If you get doubles, you get to pick a candy bar. Once they are all gone, you start stealing them from other people.) I couldn't find a Symphony-the usual favorite. Strangely, everyone fought over the Skittles. I thought that was hilarious.
On a side note: When it was Dora's turn to take candy from someone, she felt so awkward that she wouldn't get up and take it from anyone. We had to stop the game and MAKE her pick something. Shortly after that I found her in the kitchen doing the dishes! She didn't not feel comfortable being one of the ladies.
Once again-no pictures. My camera broke that night. I guess you won't be able to see the adorable name tags I made for everyone. I copied the idea from my talented friend Valerie.
We Thank Thee O God For A Prophet
My freshman year at BYU, I found myself rooming with a girl named Stacie from California. She was a stalwart member of the church. One Saturday morning in October she got up, got dressed in a skirt and asked if I was ready to go. I didn't know where we were going but I followed her anyways. We went down stairs, across to the Cannon Center and sat down. I asked her what we were doing there. She replied, "We are going to watch conference."
To which I replied, "Today is Saturday."
"Yes, Michelle. Conference is today and tomorrow."
"Really? I thought Saturday is only for adults," I said completely bewildered.
"No, it is for everyone. And by the way, you are an adult."
Growing up I was only required to sleep, I mean sit, through the Sunday morning session of conference and highly encouraged to watch the afternoon session also. My dad would listen to something while working in the garage on Saturdays but I never knew I could listen to it also. The Priesthood session was always special to see all my brothers and my dad go together.
Thankfully we get to learn and grow up a little, or in my case, a lot. I now look forward to watching and learning from all sessions of conference and this weekend was no different.
It was such an amazing weekend to listen to the prophet and apostles.
Below are ten of my favorite and most memorable moments. As always, I felt like everything I heard was directed specifically to me.
1. President Monson: Announcement of five new temples. It is so interesting to have a temple announced in Rome and I wonder if the new one in the Kansas City Area will be the temple for NW Arkansas. Depending on where it is located, it could be a half hour closer than the OK City Temple. It is so exciting.
2. Elder Perry: Simplify your life. Don't pay interest...Earn it!
3. Neil Anderson: I liked his idea of spiritual food storage. Fear and faith cannot coexist.
4. I loved the Primary children singing. Did anyone else see the boy who was trying to tell his neighbor to take his hands out of his pockets while they were singing? (It was almost as comical as when Sarah Palin's eight year old was holding her baby brother during Palin's first speech and the little girl licked her hand and then smoothed down her brothers hair with it!)
5. Elder Wirthlin-His story about his daughter going on a blind date and getting into the car of the man there to pick up her sister for a babysitting job was hilarious. I also am going to make a stitch for my room with the words from his mother. "Come what may and love it" So perfect for my stage in life right now.
6. Lawrence Corbridge: I was very impressed and touched by his testimony of the Savior.
7. Elder Bednar: I don't know if it is my connection to him or not but I love listening to him speak. He is the man that inspired Blaine to work for Wal-Mart. I guess we owe him for these great experiences we are having right now. He spoke about three things that make our prayers more meaningful. 1. counsel with the Lord in all thy doings 2. express heartfelt gratitude 3. pray for others with real intent and a sincere heart.
8. Elder Hales: The high ground is the first to see the light in the morning.
9. President Monson: Never let a problem to be solved be more important that a person to be loved. I needed to hear that!
10. Elder Nelson: I thought his idea of "marital shoplifting" was ingenious.
To which I replied, "Today is Saturday.""Yes, Michelle. Conference is today and tomorrow."
"Really? I thought Saturday is only for adults," I said completely bewildered.
"No, it is for everyone. And by the way, you are an adult."
Growing up I was only required to sleep, I mean sit, through the Sunday morning session of conference and highly encouraged to watch the afternoon session also. My dad would listen to something while working in the garage on Saturdays but I never knew I could listen to it also. The Priesthood session was always special to see all my brothers and my dad go together.
Thankfully we get to learn and grow up a little, or in my case, a lot. I now look forward to watching and learning from all sessions of conference and this weekend was no different.
It was such an amazing weekend to listen to the prophet and apostles.
Below are ten of my favorite and most memorable moments. As always, I felt like everything I heard was directed specifically to me.
1. President Monson: Announcement of five new temples. It is so interesting to have a temple announced in Rome and I wonder if the new one in the Kansas City Area will be the temple for NW Arkansas. Depending on where it is located, it could be a half hour closer than the OK City Temple. It is so exciting.
2. Elder Perry: Simplify your life. Don't pay interest...Earn it!
3. Neil Anderson: I liked his idea of spiritual food storage. Fear and faith cannot coexist.
4. I loved the Primary children singing. Did anyone else see the boy who was trying to tell his neighbor to take his hands out of his pockets while they were singing? (It was almost as comical as when Sarah Palin's eight year old was holding her baby brother during Palin's first speech and the little girl licked her hand and then smoothed down her brothers hair with it!)
5. Elder Wirthlin-His story about his daughter going on a blind date and getting into the car of the man there to pick up her sister for a babysitting job was hilarious. I also am going to make a stitch for my room with the words from his mother. "Come what may and love it" So perfect for my stage in life right now.
6. Lawrence Corbridge: I was very impressed and touched by his testimony of the Savior.
7. Elder Bednar: I don't know if it is my connection to him or not but I love listening to him speak. He is the man that inspired Blaine to work for Wal-Mart. I guess we owe him for these great experiences we are having right now. He spoke about three things that make our prayers more meaningful. 1. counsel with the Lord in all thy doings 2. express heartfelt gratitude 3. pray for others with real intent and a sincere heart.
8. Elder Hales: The high ground is the first to see the light in the morning.
9. President Monson: Never let a problem to be solved be more important that a person to be loved. I needed to hear that!
10. Elder Nelson: I thought his idea of "marital shoplifting" was ingenious.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Nobody Likes Me, Everybody Hates Me...
When I was in third grade, my brother and I took the bus to school every morning. One morning after a rain storm, the road was covered with worms trying not to drown. Someone dared my younger brother to eat one of the earthworms. Being the six year old boy that he was, (that being reason enough to do almost anything disgusting)he picked one up and licked it. Needless to say, I have had a "bad taste" in my mouth from worms ever since.
A few weeks ago I changed Luke's diaper. (I have changed it since then, multiple times in fact, but this is a specific instance I am talking about.) He had an eight inch worm in his diaper. I screamed. I started wondering how this little worm found it's way from the dirt outside, up my stairs, into his crib and then past the pajamas and diaper. This little guy must be a trooper. He was on a mission. Then I realized that could never happen. It must have been from somewhere else. It must be something else.
I screamed again.
It came from inside of him.
Luke had a parasite.
Aside from the obvious, the grossest thing to me was Luke wanted to play with it. He cried when I took it away. He kept yelling, "bug, Bug, BUG."
Blaine and I took him to the Dr. who confirmed he had a parasite. He tried to convince me you can get this in the US also but we all know he was trying to to make his country look better.
We all know this is due to living in a third world country.
It explains so much. Luke was diagnosed with acid reflux last year. He was on medicine for almost six months, on a special diet for even longer. He never even tasted juice until a month ago. As I read the side effects of having an eight inch long parasitic worm in your stomach and intestines, I realize he probably never had acid reflux. He must have been harvesting little baby worms all along.
I have a picture. I decided to spare all of you. I hope you are grateful.
A few weeks ago I changed Luke's diaper. (I have changed it since then, multiple times in fact, but this is a specific instance I am talking about.) He had an eight inch worm in his diaper. I screamed. I started wondering how this little worm found it's way from the dirt outside, up my stairs, into his crib and then past the pajamas and diaper. This little guy must be a trooper. He was on a mission. Then I realized that could never happen. It must have been from somewhere else. It must be something else.
I screamed again.
It came from inside of him.
Luke had a parasite.
Aside from the obvious, the grossest thing to me was Luke wanted to play with it. He cried when I took it away. He kept yelling, "bug, Bug, BUG."
Blaine and I took him to the Dr. who confirmed he had a parasite. He tried to convince me you can get this in the US also but we all know he was trying to to make his country look better.
We all know this is due to living in a third world country.
It explains so much. Luke was diagnosed with acid reflux last year. He was on medicine for almost six months, on a special diet for even longer. He never even tasted juice until a month ago. As I read the side effects of having an eight inch long parasitic worm in your stomach and intestines, I realize he probably never had acid reflux. He must have been harvesting little baby worms all along.
I have a picture. I decided to spare all of you. I hope you are grateful.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Numero Uno
I have debated whether or not to start myself down the road of blogging. I am a little worried about posting my life for strangers to read all about my kids, and even more scared for people I do know to find out what I am really like! Some people I know don't like to read blogs because it makes them jealous of other people's live. I hope to share with you the good, the bad and the ugly.
The decision has been made and here I am. So many interesting things have happened in our lives lately and I want to keep those recorded. I also want to share them with all of you. I have been reading many of your blogs for a long time and hope to finally be the giver and not just the receiver (read: Creepy Internet Voyeur).
The decision has been made and here I am. So many interesting things have happened in our lives lately and I want to keep those recorded. I also want to share them with all of you. I have been reading many of your blogs for a long time and hope to finally be the giver and not just the receiver (read: Creepy Internet Voyeur).
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