Kira and KISS Tickets!

Well, Ive been pretty busy lately, and so I'm sorry to those of you who use my blog to keep tabs on us. I guess I will just highlight the two Main events that have happened to us.

Kira is a new dog. We are not her permanent family "yet" but we would love to be. We are actually fostering this dog for the American Black and Tan Coon hound Rescue of America. She is the sweetest dog ever. She is housebroken, and LOVE attention. She just love to follow me around the house, and see exactly what I am doing. She also loves to play with Lilly (our dog that is 1/2 beagle and 1/2 black and tan coon hound) She is the epitome of the old hound dog with the huge ears lying on the porch where you need to hold a mirror in front of their nose to make sure they are still alive. (if you haven't figured it out, the fog on the mirror from the breath is the joke-don't feel too bad it took me a few min to figure that saying out too). She just loves to be loved. However she comes at a hefty price, and that's why we are only fostering her right now. She has super high medical bills. She had such a sad life. Some hunter took her to a state park in St. Louis and just dropped her off there to fend for herself. She had been there alone for a while. About four months back a family went camping with their four dogs in that state park. The family children saw Kira, and felt bad for her. They started feeding her dog food while they were camping for the week. The kids wanted her, and the mom said that if she was still there at the end of their trip they could take her home. Obviously when she is being fed she will stick around so they took her home. However the state that she was in was horrible. She could only walk about ten steps before she totally collapsed and had to lie there for a while to get up enough strength to stand again and walk ten or fewer steps again. All her teeth are broken down to hardly anything due to her pillaging through campfires to eat anything, and trying desperately to eat rocky that were covered in grease, and drippings of marshmallows and such. Because of the lack of protein and good food ALL and I mean ALL her fur fell out. She had scabs and sores all over her body. So the lady took her to the river and washer her up got all the flies and crap off her the best she could till she got home to give her a proper scrubbing. After taking her to the vet, they found that with an ultrasound she had no heart worms which is good, but meant she wasn't around other dogs, but she had bad fleas, and a bad skin infection all over, and and underlying yeast infection all over her skin. For the next four months on a weekly basis this poor dog was subjected to Lime Sulphur baths and antibiotics, and so many other pills and creams. So they decided to move her to another foster home because where she was, the lady's four other dogs would gang up and hurt Kira. So they called and asked if I would like to keep her for a while, and even adopt her. I said yes to the first part, but said maybe to the second part. I wanted to make sure the two dogs would get along. And so far they have. Some of Kira's hair is now growing back now that we have her on a grain free food, so its mostly protein, and she gets a hard boiled egg in the morning and in the evening with her antibiotics hidden in each egg. Lilly loves this, cause with the new dog she is getting more and more treats. We have her "hunter orange" sweater on her all the time to prevent her from scratching open her skin and causing her sores to open and not heal. PLUS its cold and she needs to be kept warm, and with no fur thats hard to do. They also hog the bed at night, and take up more space that we do on our own bed. The kids love her to death. Isaac was playing with her ears, and the next thing i hear is "mom look" I turn around and Isaac had ties Kira's ears together on top of her head. It was so funny, and Kira let him do it. She is the "perfect" dog if ever there was one.

Anyway, my next announcement is I won HUGE the other day. I entered a contest with my favorite radio station for a chance to win concert tickets to my ultimate favorite rock band...KISS. I was so disappointed and upset I couldn't go to see them when they were going to be playing so close to me (5 min away). But I figured I would go when will graduated, IF they would still be doing concerts...Paul Stanley had Knee surgery...you know old man stuff. Anyway, I get this phone call on one of the most horrible days I had been having. I was told that I had just won front row tickets to see KISS live in concert. I said no way this is a joke. Sure enough it was no joke at all. I about DIED. I couldn't figure out how to breath or walk. I about hyperventilated on the phone with the DJ. Anyway here is a pic of the tickets...worth over 600$ but I'm not going to scalp them...I'm going to go on a date with Will and we are going to sing and dance, and have a good old time, and party til the cows come home. I have a sitter lined up and everything. My sweet old neighbor from the town home is going to come over and watch the kids. She is so great to do this for us. I haven't had a date with Will since we moved here, and to go to my ultimate concert with him sitting in the front row seats 1 and 2, and getting KISS sweat on me, and touching the stage will be so very awesome. Since I didn't pay for the tickets I'm going to buy a tshirt and one of those memory programs that are so pretty, and frame it all with the tickets for my memory. Maybe I can get one of them to sign it for me. Anyway, eat your heart out KISS fans, I'm gonna "Rock and Roll all day and Party all Night"!

My Cute Trick -or- Treaters

Here are my kids all ready for Halloween. We went to a Branch activity where we had a chili cook off and Trunk or Treat. We went and had a great time. The kids really enjoyed eating the different kinds of chili, and then going to a church parking lot FULL of cars. They got TONS of candy. Then we took them to our usual street behind this local grocery store. We go every year to this same street where there are retired teachers and dentists, and such, so the kids really make out great with pencils, pens, erasers, chap stick, and toothbrushes. Its a great place to go when you don't want to go too far, but yet let the kids get the old fashioned Halloween trick or treating.

Sabrina was so cute as Cleopatra. She really played the part by dancing around and walking like a queen and such. It was so fun to see her dressed up like that. She was so pretty.

Vanessa was Ariel from the little mermaid. She too pranced around like she owned the place, and was so pretty. She had glitter all over so that it made her look wet, like she just got out of the water. She was such a cutie.

Isaac was Wolverine from the X-men. He totally had that down pat. Running around, and using his claws on everything. But he looked so cute.

And then Will dressed up as a Death guy. His eyes lit up under the mask. It was really creepy and cool.

So here are the pics. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed dressing them up and helping them get ready. Hope you all had a great trick or treating experience.

Christmas Memories (Already???)

Yes you read it correctly...I am making Christmas memories already, and it's only OCTOBER!! How you may ask, it's easy...Sabrina, Vanessa and I have been asked to sing in Sacrament meeting for the Christmas program. It was announced yesterday by our Bishop that they needed people with singing and musical talents to come and volunteer to participate, or else we would be sought out, but they preferred volunteering first, and then he listed off a couple names and mine was the first one, all in front of the entire congregation...well, talk about you can't back out then. I took it as a compliment, so I went home, and was looking at songs. Sabrina came up to me and asked me if she could sing with me for the Christmas program...how could I say no to that, and then Vanessa wanted to as well. So there you have it. My girls asking if they could sing with me for the Christmas program. I didn't even think they were paying attention in Sacrament meeting. Sabrina has taken after me, and really has a great voice, and Vanessa does very well too when she isn't so shy. I think if I am up there with them, they will do ok. They helped me pick out the song and everything. SO here is the song. I will be singing all the verses alone, and then all three of us will be singing the chorus. It should go very well.

It is called Breath of Heaven. It is a song from Mary's perspective on carrying the Christ child. It's a really pretty song, and the piano is absolutely stunning. I'm excited to sing with my girls. Wish us luck.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vrSrEOqLiI

Um...Grandma and Grandpa....any chance of a visit around the second week in December? Just curious if you were planning anything.

Reflection...

After hearing the news about my cousins death, I took a selfish turn. I spent some time doing a lot of reflecting. As most of you know (and if you didn't, you do now) know that I fell away from the church and did a lot of terrible things i should have never done. One of those things was to participate in the illegal use of drugs. I had very little if any self esteem due to my weight issues, and Satan knew that. he knew just what to have my old druggie friends tell me to get me to use the heavy drugs that I am so glad I was able to stop. I thought about all the times I went to work high, or drove a car and put myself and others at risk of dying. At first the drugs were fun, and there were no consequences, but the further along it got, and the more I did the drugs, the harder it became to just up and quit. Most people looking in from the outside say its easy to quit, and you just don't want it bad enough to quit. How wrong you all are. Drugs do something to your free agency, and your choices. It takes that all away, and pretty soon you have no agency at all. You become a slave to the drugs. Unfortunately for my dear cousin she became that slave, and had no way of getting out before it totally overtook her and eventually took her life from her. I am so glad that she is now free from that bond. I can't describe the feeling you get when you are able to break free from that hard taskmaster, and finally see with your own eyes what you have become, and finally break free from the downward spiral. It was so hard to stop. I relapsed a few times, but was finally able to stop. Six years later I was able to fully repent of everything, and attend the temple to receive my endowments. Those six years were some of the most difficult in my life. Using drugs and drinking and sex were easy, those took no brains and no moral fortitude. Those took no courage to do. It was easy. The following six years were the roughest years of my life. Unfortunately because of those choices people have expressed very harsh and mis-concepted thoughts about those of us who used drugs or who were adopted. Being adopted didn't make me use drugs, being a fat person didn't make me use drugs. No one made me do anything. i chose to do it by using my free agency, and as one of the consequences that same free agency was taken away. You now may ask how I became selfish the other night after hearing such horrible and sad news. It was very easy. I was able to free myself before it was too late. I was able to learn from my mistakes, and was able to catch myself just in time to be able to continue my journey here on earth. I am so fortunate I was able to do so. Otherwise I wouldn't have my precious children or my wonderful husband. I am so thankful I was able to gather just enough strength to pick myself up and stop the cycle before it was too late. Unfortunately my cousin was not as lucky to do that here in this life, however she is now fully aware of herself, and is in a position where she can now learn and move on, and become the young lady she knew she should and could be. One day we will all get to see that beautiful young lady, and get to know her. She is now able to feel the "bands loosed" and know what it is like to be free. What a marvelous feeling it was to feel that, and how relieved I felt. I'm sure Becky is feeling that now. The relief and the happiness of having those chains loosened. May she know that she will always have a special place in my heart. From one former drug addict to another How wonderful it is now that we are able to see where we are going and where and who we want to be. Isn't it glorious to see the love that the Savior has for all his children. We are now both free from the harsh taskmaster, and both have the eternities to enjoy our family and our Savior. May you enjoy your Peace Becky and know that we had never stopped loving you and neither did your Heavenly Father. God be with you till we meet again.........

I'm now officially OLD and Breaking Down!!!

Oh my gosh, can we say OLD FOGEY! I mean I don't have a foot in the grave yet, and I stress the word YET, but Im getting there. I picked up my Orthopedic Shoes today, and had to switch from oil of olay to something stronger for my sagging and wrinkling skin. Man, when I was little I thought I'd never end up old like this...but here we are age 34 and really in bad shape.

I had to go into the DR. to have my back pains and numb feet looked at. Basically when I would exercise the entire front half of my foot goes completely numb, and no matter how I try to rotate my foot or reposition it, it still goes totally numb. So the Orthopedic Dr. looked at it and come to find out I walk on the outside of my feet, my knees are rotated funny, and my toes are starting to curl up, plus since my weight loss, my once crushing arch has now been able to go back to a high arch...so NO MORE cheap Payless Shoes, well sorta. So I have to have some Metatarsal Bars put on my shoes, and specially made and formed inserts. I feel like a freak with these. But hopefully when I go to test out my tennis shoes tonight at the gym, that I wont be scary on my feet with numb footsies.

Then as I was looking at my face, I realized that I can no longer wear liquid foundation. It melts into all my ever growing creases, and looks so bad. So I changed to powder foundation, and to a new neutrogena hydration and plumping skin rejuvenating crap. And I say Crap, because I'm sure that it wont work. But for a free trial, I am willing to try anything. I have used oil of olay for years now every morning on my clean face, and it just isn't keeping to stinking wrinkles at bay any longer.

May I really feel so old. Ive got old granny shoes, and old granny face lotions. man, when did I get so old...It just snuck up on me and bit me right on the face..feet, and all over!!!

Well here's to trying to fight old age, and slowing it down. It's not going to get me without a HUGE FIGHT!!!!

Whats been going on...

Sorry guys about it being so long in between posts. I've been incredibly busy rearranging my life and my priorities. Lets go over what my schedule was like.... I was working at Walmart. It was supposed to only be part time 15 hours a week, however they were so short handed that I was working 40 hours a week. Then I am going to school part time in the evenings Mon-thru-Thurs from 6pm to 9pm to help get more loans to help our family live and to pay for Wills Tuition. This last year where all my refund goes to pay the balance owed on his tuition is so tough. We have 40$ every two weeks from my Work study job to help pay for gas to Lincoln and back on a daily basis (basically like driving from North Bountiful Utah to South Provo Utah) and gas in the van for taking the kids to school, and then trying to get cloths for the kids. I so wish that we had DI's here. They had better selections of kids clothing. Here I can't find hardly anything. But anyway, I am working at Creighton for two days a week for my student loan called Work Study. Plus trying to be a mom, and filling my calling as the YW 1st counselor, and all of that, I just had no time to sleep. I would get maybe 5 hours. I was so exhausted, and things just weren't working out. So I decided to quit Walmart not knowing how or when I would get another job to help pay for our utilities and clothing and everything that are the basic of basic needs. I told myself that I was going to focus strictly on my kids and family, and whatever happened happened. Well one of the gals in my branch, who I have her daughter in my YW class, fired her babysitter on Friday, and called me to see if I was willing to babysit for pay. OF COURSE!! She has the sweetest kids, they are so cute, and they are my kids' age. She is a home health nurse, and works overnight, so I will be watching the three kids from 6:30 pm to 8am and then take her 10 year old to school as I drop of my kids to school as well. It works out perfectly. I can be home and be a mom, and it takes not much more effort on my part to watch them sleep. SO I am so blessed and thankful for this blessing. So now I have more time to spend with my kids. They are WAY excited to have their friends from church be on permanent sleepover status, and the older girls will move upstairs with my friends oldest daughter, and the two little ones who are 4 and 5 will be downstairs with Isaac and us...so they don't fall down the stairs. I am really glad that this Sister thought about me to watch her kids. She is so very thankful for me helping her out and tells me I am an answer to her prayers, when in fact SHE is the blessing in disguise to our family. I wont get rich doing this, but it will be enuf to help with gas in the cars to get the kids to school and get Will to his rotations, but we will still end up relying on the Lord for assistance with our utilities and such once in a while. So now, I am not as busy, but my priority are the kids ...and their friends...and I can act more like a mother that I want to be. SO that's how we have been doing.

As a side note...if you know of anyone who has some gently used Twin Size blankets that they are willing to part with and send to me, I would be most grateful. We have a few spares, but not many. I have some other feelers out there for some twin beds...right now they are using air mattresses, but that should only be temporary. So if you know of anyone or anything willing to help, I would be most grateful.

Well thanks for all your love and thoughts and prayers. They are greatly appreciated.

Shots, Apples and Raspberries...Oh My!!

Well, we were naughty but nice parents this last Friday. Will had gotten his Flu shot for free at Creighton last Wed. and then I got my Flu shot on Thursday. Well all three kids got their Flu shots on Friday morning. We decided that by the time we were all done fussing with them, and settling them down from the shot, it wouldn't be worth putting them back in classes, so we kept them out for the rest of the day to play hooky. SO we decided it was a great time to make our annual trek to the Apple Orchard. So we did. The kids had tons of fun, and enjoyed eating their Carmel apples, and raspberries. We had picked 3lbs of raspberries, but I think the kids ate about a pound in the field. They totally enjoyed themselves. We also picked 15lbs of apples. We got gala apples and melrose apples. Both very sweet apples and great for applesauce and cooking. Also eating fresh. I will be making applesauce here soon with our haul of apples. I will also be making quite a few of my famous apple tarts. I have eight requests already lined up. Hopefully next fruit season I will be back in Utah picking peaches as well as apples, and pears, and then making my famous tart with those fruits as well. With our raspberries, I made 5 pints of raspberry sauce. No sugar added, so we can pour it over our ice cream or waffles or cheesecake desserts. It is really good. In fact the kids had some chocolate cookies that they dipped in the remaining little bit of raspberry sauce, and they really loved it. So we will definitely be doing that again. Enjoy our pics. We all had a great time.