Random Thoughts

We always hear, "Diamonds are forever"... well so are the scars they leave.This is usually happens to Alex but I actually scratched myself this week. I guess I finally know how he feels. It hurts REAL bad.

Can someone please tell me how Alex managed to do this with his toothbrush. Yeah I can't figure it out.

Life without a job

For the last week I have been at home because I was laid off at work. I was looking for a job at first but was offered one the first interview I had which is such a blessing. I don't start until May 10th so knowing I didn't have to worry about finding a job anymore, I wondered what I would do with 9 extra hours a day. I don't have pictures documenting what I have been up to but here are a few things I have gotten done.

1.Cleaned out my closet, Alex now has his whole side to himself. I have 2 trash bags full for DI, and a couple of bags that don't fit at the moment but will again. I now have an organized closet where everything fits... it was a long process but it is done and it makes me happy every time I walk in there.

2.I tackled the filing pile in our computer room. That isn't really the first thing on the to do list when dinner, helping the husband study and other tasks move it down the list, that is why it was a big accomplishment... because there was a big pile of stuff. We now have our big comfy chair back to sit in.

3. I cleaned out the garage. We had a leaning pile of boxes that had been sitting in a pile as tall as the garage from when we moved in. They are gone and the garage is swept out and a little more organized! I also cleaned the inside of my car, which needed it badly. Now it is all shiny and clean.

4. Cleaned out the office/computer room, I organized the many Primary lesson helps that I have made and put them away, cleaned off my desk so I can actually use it more effectively. It's so nice to be organized.

5. I went to DI and picked up some great more professional pieces for my wardrobe. We don't have the funds to just go out to any store and get new clothes. My previous job didn't really have a dress code so as long as I looked ok it would go. This new one requires professional casual. I got some great stuff for such a great deal. I really recommend it, once again you need time to look at all the racks to pick out the good stuff.

6. I truly believe I have caught up on my sleep. It's taken a while but I feel rested for the first time... in a long time.

I've pretty much gotten everything cleaned and done that I looked at so many times but never had time to do. Now I have another week off and I have no idea what to do with myself. I guess my want to read list might get started. Who knows.

A New Pet

Those of you who know us well know that we have two rather random pets, a bird that can't stay quiet, and gets rather annoying at times and a tarantula. Both of these pets were handed down to us, and we love them... most days.

Well now that I have been home for the last week I actually see the back "yard" in the day time. I was looking out there one day and thought I saw a leaf. Now that I look back on this thought, we don't have any trees near our back yard, so good one Chelsie. As I looked a little harder out the back door I noticed that this leaf had two stems. Reality struck and I went outside to look at was was really laying on our patio, and from the looks of it, it seems to have been there all winter. Yep it is what you think it is. Alex went and got a little garden shovel and had to walk all the way around our building to throw it out because there is now way I was letting him walk through the house with that thing. So we had a third pet in a way for the winter, and now we are back down to two.

Uncle Mel

One of the kindest most generous, loving, charitable men I have ever known passed away the end of March, my Uncle Mel. Even though I didn't see him all that often he was always there for me when I needed him. He was the person that introduced me to one of my great loves, Lake Powell. He was one to stop by the house on his way to or from California to catch up. He was one of the people that dropped me off at the MTC. Visited me on my mission the transfer I started getting sick (shhh don't tell). And was in California to pick me up at the end of my mission. He even drove some of my things back to Utah for me when we didn't have enough room in my luggage. He was a great man and will be greatly missed.

He told me that everything would be alright and that he was proud of me for going on a mission.

In LA, he had just gotten done with a week of Temple service and decided to search the patrion apartments where I lived to find me. One of the sisters told me that a man was looking for me and he told her that he was my uncle. She told me that he seemed too old to be my uncle. It was so fun to see him. He was the first to know in my entire family that I cut had all of my hair off, I had done it earlier that day.

At the end of my mission he came to the Temple with my parents and all of the missionaries going home. He spent the last hours that I had in LA with us. This is what we found after the missionary testimony meeting that only parents were allowed at.

Whenever he would stop by in Hurricane, he would ask Dad if he needed help with anything. Dad always seemed to need help, and Uncle Mel never hesitated to help where he could.

On my way home to Hurricane to get surgery in 2008, I hit something in the road and got two flat tires (along with two bent rims). This was at 5am in the morning might I add. Uncle Mel came to help me right away. We went back north to Nephi, and when we couldn't get new rims, he drove me all the way down to St. George for my pre opp checkup. After my appointment was over, he drove me mom and my rims to Richfield to get new ones, then back up to Nephi to put the new ones on my car for me. He then followed me for about 10 miles making sure that everything was alright with my car before he returning home. He taught me one of the most important lessons in life, to put others before you. He was always so happy and I know it is because of the way he lived.

Back up north after a whole day helping me.

Mom and Uncle Mel in the front, me the tires and the Rims in the back. It was a really long day for all of us.

He refused to let me help so I took pictures of the process.

All I have is good memories of Uncle Mel. He was constantly teaching me and I am so grateful that I got the opportunity to spend some time with him in this life. The world isn't the same without him but I know that he is in a better place now.... with his sweethearts.

Finished Frames

The last couple of weeks I have been in the JUST GET IT DONE mode. Here are three of the things I finally got done! They are out of the guest room and onto the walls.

It took me a while to get pictures of all of my sisters... but we all fit perfectly.

Hilarye, Sunshine, April, Me, Emilee, Malina, & Desi

It took me a while to get a matt made for this frame.

This frame many have already seen, but I jazzed it up a little.

Shelf Reliance

I am so excited to show you what we got for food storage. Alex and I decided that we would do something useful with part of our tax return this year. I have wanted something like this since we moved into our home. All of our food storage has been in our little cupboards in the kitchen or on the cement floor in the basement. Now I have something to actually put it on. With our luck, as usual we were given some wrong parts. (It always seems to happen when we purchase put together yourself items) So we couldn't put it together the day we got it. I just get so excited when we get something new, and I want it put up right away. We had to wait and go back to the store and get the right parts after the weekend but it is all put together now.

Actually filling the shelf up is another matter but at least we are getting started.

I am happy to say there are a few more items on the shelf now. I was excited to start filling it up the last time I went to the store. We still have a long way to go.

Welcome Violette Mae

We welcomed a beautiful little niece to the world on April 2nd, 2010. She weighed 5 lbs. 8 oz. and is 19" long.

She is her father's daughter. SuAnn brought a picture of Scott the day he was born and they look exactly alike.

She is a tiny little thing as you can see.