Temple Trip

Last Friday we took a trip to the Albuquerque Temple with three of the Young Men from our Ward. We left around 6pm and got into Albuquerque around 10pm. We took two 12 year-olds and a 17 year-old. Lets just say it was interesting......... From our little trip I learned the newest farting songs, boys don't leave home with out their Nintendo game players, the newest happenings in the Alamosa High & Middle School, boys like to talk just as much as girls, boys like soft hair, boys are bottomless pits, and finally boys can make strange farting sounds with slim (the sticky toy stuff) for three hours and keep entertained! The older boy, Marcus, was very patient and kind to the two younger boys. He was a fun to have around and helped out a bunch. He kept the younger two in line when they started acting up!

The boys had their own room in the hotel and I was very worried that they would stay up all night and not want to get up in time to go do baptisms. Luckily, they only stayed up until midnight and didn't make TOO much noise. I'm not sure how the parenting thing is going to work out for me because I was very nervous the entire time having to look after three boys. Finally Rob told me to relax. Of course this was after they had split pop in my Jeep, got muffin all over the seats and then spilt candy everywhere. I will admit I am a little bit of a neat freak and did get a little uptight. On top of that you never know how other people's children are going to behave.

Baptisms were great. They had a great attendance between our Ward and 3rd Ward. They had so many leaders that I was able to sneak away and go through a session. It was very nice and I finished right as the youth were getting done. I love being in the Temple and the peace it brings


After the Temple we took the youth from our Ward to Itz, a family fun place. It is an all-you-can-eat pizza, pasta, and dessert place with an arcade gaming card included with your meal. They even had some small rides. It was actually a really fun place. I won the Wheel of Fortune game and won 500 tickets (that's a lot!). Our Bishop was there with his family and it was so cute to see him with his kids. Rob and I donated all of our tickets to Micheal, their two year-old son.

We stayed at Itz for almost three hours. Another thing we learned-you can't drag 12 year-olds away from arcade games. Finally all their points ran out and we were able to head home after they selected some prizes with their tickets. This is where they picked up the slime to make farting noises most of the way home. I was just DELIGHTED! All in all it really was a great trip. We got some much needed time away from work, school, and home. I did learn that when it comes to children the Lord gives us one at a time (in most cases) and doesn't expect us to just automatically raise three teenagers. If he did.... I would be in big trouble.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day started off quiet miserably. I ended up getting bronchitis sometime during the week and had go the doctor on Friday. Luckily I was put on antibiotics. I felt awful! I woke up on Saturday and hardly could talk. I had some great plans for Valentines day but didn't feel like doing a dang thing. Rob went to work so at least it gave me the whole day to do something nice. This was our fifth Valentine's day together and I wanted to make it special. Rob wanted to take me out to dinner but at the rate I was going, and how rotten I was feeling, I definitely knew that wasn't going to happen. On top of that I had to go the cannery with our Ward for from 10am-12pm to can our food storage.

I decided to decorate our bedroom. Since our apartment is so small if I decorated any other room he would see it as soon as he walked in. I got some helium balloons, hung up a Valentine's sign, hung up streamers from the ceiling, and stuck hearts all over the back wall. I even blew up some balloons to put on the bed. I only managed to blow up six of them and that almost took me almost 3o minutes! I would get one done and would either have to rest for 10 minutes or would end up coughing for five minutes. I'm sure I was a sight to see! It took me most of the early afternoon. Had I not been sick it probably would have taken me an hour. I would just get tuckered out and have to sit or lie down. I was even rushed for time because Rob only worked until about 3pm. I even told him to drive slow (I'm sure that gave it away that I was up to something). He actually called when I was going to Safeway to get the helium balloons. I was so mad!

I made it home just in time to set everything up and tidy up the house a bit. Rob came home just as I laid down on the couch, totally exhausted. He was sweet enough to bring me home roses, chocolate, and a very sweet card. I got him some new shoes and a hat. He is definitely my Sweet Heart! He then ordered us Chili's for dinner since I didn't want to go out. We watched movies and he rubbed my back. Even though I was sick it still turned out to be a perfect day and reminded me of all the reasons why I love him. Here are the pictures of our Valentine's Day...

Quilting 101

In my Senior Seminar class, one of my final classes before I graduate in May with my BSN (Bachelor's of Science in Nursing), I had to pick a community service project. It was suppose to be involving a hobby but I really don't have any currently because my life is so hectic with school and work. My instructor asked if I quilted. I told her that I vaguely knew how but hadn't quilted a whole quilt since I was about 12, which was for a Young Women's project. I have helped tie a few but am definitely not a quilter by any means. She assumed that because I was "Mormon" that I quilted all the time.

My instructor is a Certified Nurse Midwife from Boston and is always telling me what us "Mormons" do. This is apparently what she has learned from her OB patients that have been LDS through the years. She always shares these things with our class and keeps me rolling with laughter. Here are a few examples of what us "Mormons" do and don't do: we don't use birth control, we all get married right out of high school, we must have at LEAST 8-10 children, QUILT, and do whatever our husbands tell us-without thinking. She really is a very nice lady but a little mixed up on the LDS religion. When she found out I was LDS the first question she asked was if I was married. The second question she asked was if I had children. When I said "no" she chuckled. She then said I wasn't following my religion and that I should have 1 or 2 kids by now. I looked her straight in the eye and said that God gave us all a brain for a reason and that we weren't baby factories. She got the biggest kick out of that. She asked if it was against my religion not to have a lot of kids. I told her that when it was right for me and Robert we would start our family. We have had many conversations since regarding what "us" Mormons do and don't believe. Hopefully I have put to rest these "Mormon Myths" that she has heard.

Anyway, I did decide to make a quilt for my service project (my instructor just laughed). I will be donating the quilt to the Project Linus. It represents Linus from Charlie Brown, who always carried a blanket around. At Project Linus it is their mission to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer “blanketeers.” I felt that it was a great organization and was happy to make the quilt for them.

I went to one our Enrichment quilting nights and got some tips and help from some of the Relief Society Sisters. We finished tying the quilt in two hours. I also had Candace help me. Okay, so I watched as she sewed and finished the quilt but I was learning right?! Thanks Candace! I love how the quilt turned out. It is bright pink with green frogs and yellow yarn. I am glad that a child in need will benefit from it. I must say that it turned out pretty darn cute!

Happy Birthday Mom!

February 5th is my Mom's birthday and I would just like to take a moment to pay tribute to what a great influence she has been in my life. Naturally, we didn't always see eye to eye (what mother and daughter do?!) but she did have a hand in helping me become who I am today. She is a boarding school teacher. All throughout my childhood she emphasized the importance of getting an education and lifelong learning. She taught me to be a strong and independent woman. I am so grateful to have two parents that are so supportive of my education and have encouraged me to succeed. She is a definite reason why I have succeeded in all my educational endeavors.

Mom also put the Gospel first in her life and led us by example. After my parent's divorce we moved to Crownpoint, New Mexico. Needless to say, when we moved to the Indian Reservation as one of the first white families, it was a struggle at first. I can remember many times catching her kneeling in prayer or reading her scriptures. It was a great strength and example for me. Mom was tough as nails and determined to make it work for her five kids. She more than made it work. She (and we) became part of the community and even part of many of the Navajo families. Other white families were not able to do that. Even though it was always hectic on Sunday mornings with five kids we managed to make it to church-mostly on time, every Sunday. She was the Ward pianist-and still is- and had to play the prelude music. She has been my primary teacher, my Young Women's Leader, and also taught me in Relief Society. There were times she would have 2-3 church callings in our little Branch. She has been a shining example to me of service.

She has a quiet strength and beauty about her. She has the most determination of any woman I know. I hope to be like her and look forward to the day that she can help me raise my children. I hear that grandchildren are easier.....maybe some of her hair will grow back where she pulled it out from raising three girls and two boys (hehehe). I know it wasn't always easy Mom, but if I do say so my self, we all turned out okay for the most part.......Well, you should have traded Chris to the Indians when you had the chance....maybe Matt too!I love you Mom! Happy Birthday-from the best daughter ever!

Just kidding Chris and Matt!.....They wouldn't have wanted you any way!