Friday, September 30, 2011

Women's Fitness Celebration

Kim and I use to participate in the Women's Fitness Celebration every year.  And then my feet and knees went bad from all the extra weight I had put on over the years.  Well, my feet and knees are better.  So thanks to the encouragement from friends, Erica and I joined in this year.  Kim and Allie were there walking with all of the Mrs. Idaho title holders.  We had a great time.  I hope we go again next year.

A Visitor

We got to spend the day with Allie while her mom and dad were volunteering at the Women's Show.  And I just can't seem to put my camera away whenever she is around.  I just want to remember every moment with her.





Friday, September 23, 2011

A Visitor

Look who showed up unexpected at midnight, last night.  Oh, my!  What a welcome surprise!  His roommate had received his mission call yesterday, so they hopped in the car and came home so he could open the call with his family.  I fixed him a hot meal and then Todd and I visited with him until about 1:00 am, before we all decided we should get some rest.  Thomas was only home for a few short hours.  They left by 6:30 this morning to get back to classes.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

The Tractor Arrives

It's a happy day at our house.  Todd and 2 friends spent 7 hours last evening loading and driving our new/old tractor home.


Fall

It's that time of year again, fall.  Time for cool crisp mornings and warm sunny afternoons.  Time to change the wreath on the front door.  I love this time of year.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

A Sister

Sorry this is bit more long winded than my usual blog posts, but read it.  It's worth it.


Erica has been struggling with this jump into high school.  Besides the fact that she’s in a new and very big school, she’s a little on the shy side.  We have been praying very earnestly for Erica to find some good friends she could connect with in high school.  As she started to make friends, a girl in her choir class seemed to be a favorite.  Luckily, they where given seats right next to each other in class.  Yesterday, the girl said, “You look a lot like me.  Were you adopted?”  Erica told her she was.  The girl was also adopted and she told Erica what her biological mother’s first name was.  She also knew the first letter of the mother's last name.

When Erica got home from school, she told me about the conversation.  She asked me if I would tell her the first name of her birth mother.  I did.  And it was the same.  She asked if the last name started with a certain letter.  And it did.  By now we are both getting a little freaked out. 

Erica had 2 older biological sisters that were adopted about the same time she was.  Our families had met, and us parents, knew each other’s names.  But that was over 13 years ago.  And neither of us lived anywhere near each other or anywhere near here.

The friend called Erica on the phone.  They only talked for a couple of minutes because her mom needed to use the phone.  But she said she would call back in a few minutes.  I looked at the caller ID and realized it had the last name of Erica’s adopted sisters.  After about a half an hour, I called the number back.  The friend answered and said, “Sorry Erica I didn’t call back yet.”  Then I said, “This is actually Erica’s mom.  Is your mom’s name  *****  and your dad’s name  ****.”  She said, “Yes.  I’m kind of freaking out right now.  You should probably talk to my mom.”  I said, “That a good idea.  Why don’t you let me talk to your mom.”  I told the mom who I was and asked her if she remembered me, of which she did.  I asked her if her daughter had been sharing the same information with her, of which she did.  And then I said, “I guess the girls have found each other.”  We talked for a while and decided to let this all sink in for a few days with our families and then decide what to do.  But the girls are already fast friends.

And there is another sister too.  So there you have it . . . three sisters, ages 14, 16, and 18, that have just found each other.  Amazing.  An answer to prayers.

Here’s a picture of the 2 of them.  Do you see the same similarities they saw in each other?
I see the same eyes, nose, lips, and hair.  Erica even has the same cheekbones when she smiles a little bigger.  Even the fingers look the same.

Canning

I haven't canned in years.  But when you are offered free peaches, how can one resist?
I peeled and cut some up to freeze for smoothies.  I bottled a few.  And then used up most of the rest to make a batch of peach jam, of which I cannot even taste until I am done with this round of HCG.


I started to catch the canning bug a little . . .


The next day I made Zucchini Relish.  And the day after that I made Apple and Raisin Marmalade.  Both of which I can't taste yet either.
Today I picked a gallon bag full of Jalapenos from Atwood's garden to make pepper jelly tomorrow.

Friday, September 9, 2011

Off to College

I think I am still in a little bit of denial.  Thomas and Parker drove themselves off to college, packed to the roof.  I thought the second child would be easier.  But, no.
They drove off smiling.  I cried all the way home.
They drove up on Tuesday.  Todd, I, and 3 kids followed behind on Thursday with the rest of Thomas' stuff.  Todd and I dropped the 3 kids off with Kim for the day and then finished our trip.  We carried Tom's stuff into his apartment, visited with him for a while, went to the Temple, and then spent the evening with a couple of my college roommates eating, visiting, and taking pictures. 


It took us a few minutes to get serious.
 I'm sure we look just the same as we did 20 years ago.
Here we are with our spouses, of which we all met at Ricks College.
It was so fun to catch up with them.  The time was too short.


We drove back to Kim and Travis' that night to sleep.  I arose early to the first sounds of my garanddaughter so we could play before everyone else woke up.

Friday, September 2, 2011

Farmer Todd

My husband, a budding farmer, has bought a tractor.  We'll be picking it up in a few weeks.  Pictures to come . . . 

HCG

I have started my 3rd round of HCG.  Todd has joined me this time.  It is so much easier having someone doing it right along with me.

I have been a little obsessed in the past with feeling deprived.  I haven't been hungry on the diet.  But when I see or smell something that I really want, I feel deprived.  I say obsessed because all I could concentrate on was that I was missing out on something I wanted and everybody could have it except for me.  Then I realized each time that I was obsessing, I was totally forgetting that I had a goal.  The reason I was going without the thing I wanted was to reach my goal.  Once I realized that, a whole new world opened up to me.  And the diet became easy.  Does that make sense? 

So I made this little reminder to wear on my wrist everyday . . . Do I want to be THIN or do I want to BINGE?  I know it is a little thing.  But it makes all the difference.
On a little side note . . . I know my bracelet is a little primitive.  If you like the idea of hand stamped and personal jewelry, this is the place to get it . . . 
Vintage Heart Designs by Barbara Wiser.