I met a woman at the store today that taught me something about blessings. She was sitting with her two boys crying, so I asked if there was something I could do. She told me she didn't have any money and she was hoping someone could help her out with buying some groceries and diapers. She'd been walking around the store for two hours looking for someone to help her. I helped her with her things and as we stood in line she told me how her boys hadn't eaten yet today and they still had to wait to take the bus home so I offered her a ride. She told me about the last few years of her life and how she'd gotten here. She'd had a good job, but after having her first son she was able to quit and stay home, her boyfriend worked. Her boyfriend also drank and one day tried to kill her, now he's in jail and she's penniless. She told me how much money she gets from the state, it's barely enough for groceries, let alone diapers and wipes. She told me how she's been putting in applications and trying to find work along a bus line since she doesn't have a car. She kept crying and talking, she told me how humiliated she felt asking for food from strangers. All I could think of was my home, my husbands job, my family, our two cars, our pantry full of food, and wondering what else I could do for her. I may never see her again, but I know I'll never forget her.
Count your many blessings, name them one by one. Our lives often seem hard, or complicated. We cry about our money woes and the times when things are tight, but I've never really NEEDED or wanted for anything, ever. My life is full, after meeting her, I have nothing to complain about.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Friday, December 24, 2010
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
See the lights!
Monday night we went to this amazing house to see their Christmas lights. This guy puts a LOT of thought into this. We had a really fun time and we're definitely going back before the season's over!
Damen wasn't quite sure about the snow, he only wanted to watch.
Damen wasn't quite sure about the snow, he only wanted to watch.
Legoland
We went last weekend with my friend Aeranee and her BF. We got one picture before my camera died, we had fun, you just can't see it!
Thanks Giving
We got to see and do a lot the week of Thanksgiving! The weekend before Thanksgiving our friends Brian and Corinne came to visit from UT. We went to Balboa Park to see the miniature trains and walk in the rain, had dinner and lots of laughs. The next day we got in the car to drive to UT for the big Turkey day. First we saw some friends, the Websters, Heiners and Christi. We stayed with Dustins sister Sari and her family, along with a few other sibs, they had a full house! The cousins had a great time even though it was snowey and cold outside. It's such a blessing to be able to spend time with loved ones.
Oh Olivia!!
Eating at Wingers of course!!
Family:
Damen's favorite part of the trip, he conned THREE of his uncles into swinging him. This is Evan.
Oh Olivia!!
Eating at Wingers of course!!
Family:
Damen's favorite part of the trip, he conned THREE of his uncles into swinging him. This is Evan.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Riley's (not APPLE) Farm
So, this past saturday we were supposed to meet up with a few other families at Riley's Apple Farm and spend the afternoon doing appley things. Instead we went to Riley's Farm, which is literally a few feet away, and spent the afternoon there. We had a nice picnic lunch and the kids dipped candles, and ran around. After about three hours we realized we were at the wrong place. It was fun, but we missed the rest of our friends, hope they had fun!
Dustin tried his hand at throwing hatchets, he got three out of six, not bad.
Damen, Chelsea and her Grandma teasing the goats.
Cute and tired kids, Chelsea, Kyle and Damen.
Dustin tried his hand at throwing hatchets, he got three out of six, not bad.
Damen, Chelsea and her Grandma teasing the goats.
Cute and tired kids, Chelsea, Kyle and Damen.
OH yeah, Halloween!
Oops, my bad, it's been a few weeks since Halloween, and pumpkin patch adventures, but we can still all enjoy the pictures right?
At the Pumpkin Patch we did the usual, took fun pictures, pet the animals, watched the pigs race, went through the corn maze, and picked out pumpkins!
Some other activities: Playgroup Halloween party, the kids were NOT interested in looking up, but there they are.
Carved pumpkins.
And of course Trick(trunk) or Treating! Damen was a bat again this year because it still fit, so why not? This is him in flight.
At the Pumpkin Patch we did the usual, took fun pictures, pet the animals, watched the pigs race, went through the corn maze, and picked out pumpkins!
Some other activities: Playgroup Halloween party, the kids were NOT interested in looking up, but there they are.
Carved pumpkins.
And of course Trick(trunk) or Treating! Damen was a bat again this year because it still fit, so why not? This is him in flight.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Last month
Here's what we've been up to in the last month:
Doing the dishes. Damen's new chore, he unloads them with me, with or without the helmet.
Finding rainbows, they've been PLENTIFUL!
Climbing walls, not too scary.
Saying goodbye to Disneyland, so sad. . . This picture was taken at the entrance to Splash Mountain, which Damen requested to go on, twice! Love that kid:)
Running in the sprinkler, it was a rare hot day.
Played at the beach on a not so rare cold day, but we were determined! The water wasn't that cold and we left when it started to rain.
Baking this super delicious flourless cake. So good I basically ate the half of it, why not, it's chocolate!
Doing the dishes. Damen's new chore, he unloads them with me, with or without the helmet.
Finding rainbows, they've been PLENTIFUL!
Climbing walls, not too scary.
Saying goodbye to Disneyland, so sad. . . This picture was taken at the entrance to Splash Mountain, which Damen requested to go on, twice! Love that kid:)
Running in the sprinkler, it was a rare hot day.
Played at the beach on a not so rare cold day, but we were determined! The water wasn't that cold and we left when it started to rain.
Baking this super delicious flourless cake. So good I basically ate the half of it, why not, it's chocolate!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Mostly done
So some time ago I decided we needed a hutch, then a few months ago I decided we really needed it! I began looking around and finally one day at Salvation Army, on 50% off Friday, I found this one!
The back was a little beat up and there weren't any shelves, but it was doable and for $50. worth it.
We got it home and it sat in the garage for a few more months until last week when I decided it was time to paint!!
First I dismantled it, cleaned and cleaned and then sanded it a little. I couldn't decide on a color so I did the easiest thing and picked a can of paint from our everlasting supply that came with the house and started painting.
I wanted some contrast on the hardware so I sprayed it white with the Walmart cheapo spray paint. It worked fine except on the hinges, any ideas on how to keep the paint from scraping off would be much appreciated.
The bottom all put back together, halfway there!
I also replaced the hardware on the inside because the cupboards were almost impossible to open, I got the magnetic kind.
I decided the interior needed some contrast too and painted that white. My first plan to "fix" the back was to cover some foamcore board with material, and place that over the existing back in three seperate panels. The idea being that I could change them out whenever. That plan was taking more time and money than I wanted to spend so yesterday I headed to Home Depot for some beadboard instead. The back had to come off and 30 or so staples/nails had to come out!
I slapped two coats of paint on the beadboard(in the rain) and with the help of a fan in the garage it eventually dried and into place it went! Lastly I washed the glass panels and put them all back in.
TA DA!! This project was the largest I've taken on and had a lot more to it than I originally thought it would. Dismantling is a chore!! Dustin's going to make me some shelves very very quickly so it can be finished and I can use it to beautify our dining room, yay!!
I'm linking up:
The back was a little beat up and there weren't any shelves, but it was doable and for $50. worth it.
We got it home and it sat in the garage for a few more months until last week when I decided it was time to paint!!
First I dismantled it, cleaned and cleaned and then sanded it a little. I couldn't decide on a color so I did the easiest thing and picked a can of paint from our everlasting supply that came with the house and started painting.
I wanted some contrast on the hardware so I sprayed it white with the Walmart cheapo spray paint. It worked fine except on the hinges, any ideas on how to keep the paint from scraping off would be much appreciated.
The bottom all put back together, halfway there!
I also replaced the hardware on the inside because the cupboards were almost impossible to open, I got the magnetic kind.
I decided the interior needed some contrast too and painted that white. My first plan to "fix" the back was to cover some foamcore board with material, and place that over the existing back in three seperate panels. The idea being that I could change them out whenever. That plan was taking more time and money than I wanted to spend so yesterday I headed to Home Depot for some beadboard instead. The back had to come off and 30 or so staples/nails had to come out!
I slapped two coats of paint on the beadboard(in the rain) and with the help of a fan in the garage it eventually dried and into place it went! Lastly I washed the glass panels and put them all back in.
TA DA!! This project was the largest I've taken on and had a lot more to it than I originally thought it would. Dismantling is a chore!! Dustin's going to make me some shelves very very quickly so it can be finished and I can use it to beautify our dining room, yay!!
I'm linking up:
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
WITCH
In light of certain fascinations Damen has lately, and the fact that it's almost Halloween, and because I'm reading the Bible, a scripture that made me laugh:
Exodus 22:18 Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.
Exodus 22:18 Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Let's pretend
While Damen and I were pretending to drive race cars we stopped for ice cream. I "gave" him his cone and pretended to get mine. He "licked" his and turned to the side to spit it out!
"EWWW This is disgusting!"
Quickly I replied, "Oh no, here have mine, it's chocolate." He took mine, "licked" it and said,
"Yuck, this one has peanuts mom, I have to spit it," He turned his head and spit it out again.
Both times he actually spit it out, on my leg. Thanks Damen for the fun times in pretend land!
"EWWW This is disgusting!"
Quickly I replied, "Oh no, here have mine, it's chocolate." He took mine, "licked" it and said,
"Yuck, this one has peanuts mom, I have to spit it," He turned his head and spit it out again.
Both times he actually spit it out, on my leg. Thanks Damen for the fun times in pretend land!
Monday, October 4, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
Things I learned. . .
While visiting family last week: Old men(my dad aka Grandpa) of 62 can learn new tricks
!
and new babies(Samantha) of 8 weeks old can too!
!
and new babies(Samantha) of 8 weeks old can too!
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
cows and cats
Damen asked me, "Is that the seed?" I said, upon close inspection, "It kinda looks like a cat liver." Damen, "YEAH we're gonna throw it at the cows!!"
Some back story:
The other day we were eating plums and I told Damen how as kids we used to throw plums at the cows in our pasture. Although I'm sure it didn't sound so cruel like that. Anyway, I took out the pit of his plum and stuck it on my plate and Damen asked me, "Is that the seed?" I said, upon close inspection, "Yup, it kinda looks like a cat liver." Damen, "YEAH we're gonna throw it at the cows!!"
What was even funnier, really, is that Dustin only caught the end there and almost fell out if his seat laughing at the prospect of Damen becoming very excited to throw a cat liver at a cow.
Why did I say it looked like a cat liver? That's another story. . .
Some back story:
The other day we were eating plums and I told Damen how as kids we used to throw plums at the cows in our pasture. Although I'm sure it didn't sound so cruel like that. Anyway, I took out the pit of his plum and stuck it on my plate and Damen asked me, "Is that the seed?" I said, upon close inspection, "Yup, it kinda looks like a cat liver." Damen, "YEAH we're gonna throw it at the cows!!"
What was even funnier, really, is that Dustin only caught the end there and almost fell out if his seat laughing at the prospect of Damen becoming very excited to throw a cat liver at a cow.
Why did I say it looked like a cat liver? That's another story. . .
Saturday, September 11, 2010
It ain't easy. . .
Being a parent.
To give birth, make a child, relatively simple(for most). It's what comes next that's HARD.
It's hard to say NO, over and over and over again.
It's hard to discipline.
It's hard to teach and be patient.
It's hard to stand your ground and be mean.
Life's lessons start at home, with us, parents. If we give in, or give up, what are we teaching then?
This is not a job for pushovers or the lazy. It ain't easy being a parent.
To give birth, make a child, relatively simple(for most). It's what comes next that's HARD.
It's hard to say NO, over and over and over again.
It's hard to discipline.
It's hard to teach and be patient.
It's hard to stand your ground and be mean.
Life's lessons start at home, with us, parents. If we give in, or give up, what are we teaching then?
This is not a job for pushovers or the lazy. It ain't easy being a parent.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Words
While watching a movie the other night I noticed a 1 minute snippet of something that got me thinking. (Oh yeah, this post may be a wee bit deeper than usual)
I like literature. To say that I LOVE to read would be the ultimate understatement, it's more of an obsession really. And what is reading, but learning new concepts, and ideas through words, in my case lots and lots of words. I also like to talk, on the phone, in person, wherever.
Someone in the movie was talking about how our vocabulary is 1/3 of what the average persons was 100 years age. Now, this movie came out a few years ago and was set in the early '90s so it's safe to say that this comment was intended to be made before the loathsome arts of IMing, Texting and Tweeting took over the conversation. I say loathsome mainly because it is practically impossible to get a meaningful point across while _____ing. I can understand a few quick notes: Sorry I'm late, Where are you? Pick me up. That sort of quick info that doesn't require a phone call, but entire conversations of back and forth, braking up, and making dates is just plain lazy!
So many things can go wrong, especially if the texter is someone like me and does not fully understand the art of shorthand. Se wht i man, jst ty 2 deper tis 1! R U oly sppsd 2 shrtn th lng wrds or tke t ll th vwls? I have no idea. And why do I have to? Can't I just call you to set up a good time to come over, plan the baby shower, or get that recipe? Are you too busy for all of those words to answer the phone, write a letter, or even respond to an email? (I don't consider email the same thing as the other forms of electronic correspondence that are stupid, because I like it and I don't have to shorten any words)
So if our vocabulary really is shrinking does that mean we're becoming dumber because of it? It certainly doesn't take a lot of thought to send a text. Are we leaving out so many words that were necessary? Shakespeare has Romeo use about 10 lines to say basically, "Juliet is HOT and I really want to meet her!" If you cut out all the other words you get right to the point sure, but you don't get a feeling for the passion and the desire that he holds for her. AND you don't have to think about what's happening. That's what I think is missing, the thinking, pondering, about what's being said/written.
Maybe it is just lazy, or thrilling to have instant gratification with a few words, or maybe it's literary ignorance. Whatever the case may be, I miss all the words! I like the conversations. And lets be honest folks, laughter is much better heard than spelled.
LOL.
I like literature. To say that I LOVE to read would be the ultimate understatement, it's more of an obsession really. And what is reading, but learning new concepts, and ideas through words, in my case lots and lots of words. I also like to talk, on the phone, in person, wherever.
Someone in the movie was talking about how our vocabulary is 1/3 of what the average persons was 100 years age. Now, this movie came out a few years ago and was set in the early '90s so it's safe to say that this comment was intended to be made before the loathsome arts of IMing, Texting and Tweeting took over the conversation. I say loathsome mainly because it is practically impossible to get a meaningful point across while _____ing. I can understand a few quick notes: Sorry I'm late, Where are you? Pick me up. That sort of quick info that doesn't require a phone call, but entire conversations of back and forth, braking up, and making dates is just plain lazy!
So many things can go wrong, especially if the texter is someone like me and does not fully understand the art of shorthand. Se wht i man, jst ty 2 deper tis 1! R U oly sppsd 2 shrtn th lng wrds or tke t ll th vwls? I have no idea. And why do I have to? Can't I just call you to set up a good time to come over, plan the baby shower, or get that recipe? Are you too busy for all of those words to answer the phone, write a letter, or even respond to an email? (I don't consider email the same thing as the other forms of electronic correspondence that are stupid, because I like it and I don't have to shorten any words)
So if our vocabulary really is shrinking does that mean we're becoming dumber because of it? It certainly doesn't take a lot of thought to send a text. Are we leaving out so many words that were necessary? Shakespeare has Romeo use about 10 lines to say basically, "Juliet is HOT and I really want to meet her!" If you cut out all the other words you get right to the point sure, but you don't get a feeling for the passion and the desire that he holds for her. AND you don't have to think about what's happening. That's what I think is missing, the thinking, pondering, about what's being said/written.
Maybe it is just lazy, or thrilling to have instant gratification with a few words, or maybe it's literary ignorance. Whatever the case may be, I miss all the words! I like the conversations. And lets be honest folks, laughter is much better heard than spelled.
LOL.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Scripture Power?
Damen likes to "read" to us his own scriptures after Dustin and I read to him. He opens up his scriptures and usually says stuff like "And it came to pass, and behold." Until tonight. This is what he "read":
"And the witch came to the Nephi and turned him into a frog. Then the good Knight came. He turned the witch into a Nephi."
Dustin and I were snickering up a storm!
"And the witch came to the Nephi and turned him into a frog. Then the good Knight came. He turned the witch into a Nephi."
Dustin and I were snickering up a storm!
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Play group!
Last Wednesday our playgroup headed up to the mountains for some hiking, picnicking, and relief from the heat! Two out of three's not bad, it was still pretty warm. The kids had a good time and enjoyed the nature hike we went on. I can't remember the name of the place, there was a lot to see (bears, snakes, lizards, etc.) and do, we'll be back for sure!
Photo opp on top of a 100 year old stump!
Climbing the boulders.
Sniffing the trees.
Yes, really! They smelled like vanilla, delicious and strange. The kids couldn't stop, they sniffed every other tree we came to!
You get in the hole, no you, no you. . . Ok, Jamie will do it!
Ribbon tree, the bark speaks for itself.
Ooooooo, sticks! Lots and lots of sticks, nope they can't come home with us, sorry boys:)
Photo opp on top of a 100 year old stump!
Climbing the boulders.
Sniffing the trees.
Yes, really! They smelled like vanilla, delicious and strange. The kids couldn't stop, they sniffed every other tree we came to!
You get in the hole, no you, no you. . . Ok, Jamie will do it!
Ribbon tree, the bark speaks for itself.
Ooooooo, sticks! Lots and lots of sticks, nope they can't come home with us, sorry boys:)
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