Count Down Tag

10 years ago: I had just put all of my children back into public school after homeschooling for almost five years. I had been teaching pre-school ( a class of 18), teaching 12 piano students, and teaching early morning seminary. So this was the year I put all who were old enough back into school.

9 things I use daily: toothbrush, cell phone, computer, my car, lotion, a pen or pencil, a glass, radio, and my debit card.

8 things on my "to do" list: buy a pot hanger for over my counter in the kitchen, always to finish a scrapbook page in the making, fold and put away laundry, make dinner, mop the kitchen floor, do more landscaping in the backyard, clean out garage, and of course lose 20 pounds!

7 places I have lived: Boulder City , Nev., Escondido, Calif., San Marcos, Calif., Roseburg, Or., Portland, Or., La Grande, Or., Greeley, Co. ( and there are lots more)

6 things I enjoy: Hot Chocolate!, Reading by a fire, a warm bubble bath while reading the latest "Paper Craft" magazine, HGTV, weekly dates with my husband, and lazy summer days with my children.

5 facts you don't know about me: I restored a '48 Ford pick-up with my dad while I was in high school, I have at one time or another played 8 different instruments, I played a recital in the Tabernacle in St. George, I met my husband at "Piggy's Pizza", and I have been pregnant 13 times.

4 jobs I have had: I worked at the first "Wendy's" in Roseburg, I worked in a trailer supply store, at a hospital in billing, as a maid for several hotels in La Grande (hey, a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do, I didn't know I would be a maid for the next 30 years!) I have had a lot more different jobs over the years.

3 bad habits: I play way too much solitaire on the computer, I do what ever it takes to get out of cooking dinner, I buy things and put it away and forget where I put it ( I think I inherited that from my mom:))

2 books I last finished: The Maltese Falcon, The Wednesday Letters

1 favorite thing: PAPER! I know it is crazy but I love, love, love patterned paper.

Now I tag anyone with the letter K in their name!

Beach Get-Away

David and I got to go away this weekend all by ourselves. We went to our favorite place the coast. It seems we always go there as a family to get away because we have a place there but with just the two of us we got to do some things we haven't done in a while. We hiked, walked on the beach, ate out every meal (this is the first time I have not brought or bought food to cook ever!), and slept in!! (Sleeping in for us is 7:30 or 8:00) The weather was beautiful and we needed the time alone together to just "hang out". I was so disappointed though because my camera broke and so I have no pictures. We went to go and buy one but the one I want is $200.00 and so I guess I have to wait a few more weeks. Our walk on the beach took us four hours! I kept saying you know we are going to have to turn around and walk back, and as we were walking back David said he did not realize how far we had actually gone. The beach front changes with all the different seasons and at this time of year a lot of rocks are exposed. We did our "little" walk at high tide so we got caught up on the rocks a couple of times. We did not find a lot of shells this trip but had fun looking. I love my husband so much and I am so greatful for all that he does for us. He works so hard and our time together sometimes is limited with all of our commitments. It was wonderful to come home and find everything fine and the kids did an amazing job of taking care of each other. Well, except for the little list Taylor made of all the things her brothers said that were mean to her - She wanted to make sure that they got punished for it so by making a record of it they could not deny it - so she thought:) Anyway, I am so greatful for such a beautiful beach and that we get to go away and enjoy the beauty and reconnect. What a lucky girl I am!!!!

Heavenly Mother in Training

This picture was taken almost three years ago on Mother's Day. We were living at a rental home while our home in St. Helens was being built. I love this picture! Not because it is the best picture my family has taken but because it hit me at the time what a miracle it was to have had all these kids. Today at women's conference I was asked to speak on Sis. Beck's talk "Mothers Who Know". It was such a humbling experience to get to talk about something that is so close to my heart. I have struggled so much to know if I had and am doing the kind of job my Heavenly Father wants me to be doing. The whole conference today was such an amazing experience for me. I felt the spirit testify to me once more that I am His daughter. I am so glad that I partook of His "living water" today. My heart is so full of my testimony of womanhood. What was amazing to me was some of the comments that I received after the classes. I do believe that I was able to speak to some who needed to hear what the spirit had directed me to teach. I really was feeling inadequate to be teaching this because not all of my children are active in church. I am not alone in this situation. But what I really was taught this week as I was putting the finishing touches on my talk was that a "mother who knows" continues on in unwavering faith. A "mother who knows" gives guilt and disappointment away to the Lord. As I listened to the other sisters that spoke today again the spirit testified this principle to me. I am so glad I choose the "better" part today and was where the Lord could speak to my spirit. To know I am doing my part. I love these amazing children who have been sent to my home. Despite the heartache and disappointment I have felt, there have been many more moments of love and joy and laughter spent with each of them. I thank the Lord for my "trials" as I know that I am only a heavenly mother in training.

I have been tagged

I have not been at my computer for a few days and Toshia called and said I had been tagged. I did not know what this meant so today I had a few minutes and started searching for who tagged me. It was Aundrea -
First, I was to get a book that was sitting near to me and look at page 123 and read the fifth sentence. Then write the next three sentences.
Second, What is in my purse right at this moment?

Well, the book was easy. I am reading The Maltese Falcon right now and it is constantly by me. So page 123 - 5th sentence reads:
"Let's. He took a sip from the glass in his hand. This is going to be the most astounding thing you've ever heard of, sir and I say that knowing that a man of your caliber in your profession must have known some astounding things in his time."
(Great book by the way - I am reading it for the "Big Read" this month at the library and we are discussing it at book club on the 28th if anyone wants to join in!)

Second tag, I wanted to be cute and post a picture like Aundrea but wouldn't you know that my batteries were dead in my camera so you are just going to have to trust me. First there is my checkbook, wallet, make-up bag, change bag, small notebook, address book, calender, pen, pencil, keys and a couple of buisness cards. You got me on a good day, I just changed purses and so it was cleaned out and so kind of boring. I really wanted to post a picture of my bag though because it is so cute and Ashleigh got it for me for Christmas and it is not what I ever would have bought for myself (money wise - I am cheap) so you lovely ladies will just have to keep your eye out for my "Burberry".

I guess I am now supposed to tag five people (do I know five people that have not been tagged?) So tag your it: Toshia, Jenn, Kelly, Sarah, and Susan

Knock, knock - Who's there?

I have been thinking a lot today about the funny things our kids say. I have heard some adorable stories from my friends today and these little kids have been on my mind. They are so innocent and not afraid to speak their minds. They are unassuming and love to try and make us laugh. Sometimes they are quite serious and can not understand why we are trying our hardest not to laugh out loud (lol) or why we are laughing so hard tears are streaming down our faces. You can imagine over the years all of the funny things I have heard from my eleven children. They have mispronounced words, spoken the truth at the most inconvenient times, and tried to tell jokes that have absolutely no punch line but leave themselves laughing! It really has been the joy of my life to have had the opportunity to hear these funny things from so many children. Case in point, lately Autumn has decided that knock knock jokes are just the funniest thing. But they make absolutely no sense. "Knock, knock. Who's there? Mirror. Mirror who? Isn't it cool to be a car!" Followed by loud laughter. "Want to hear another one mommy? Sure." Well, this can go on for at least twenty minutes. Until she finally says, " I just don't think there is anyone knocking on my door anymore". {I don't have the heart to tell her no one has been knocking on her door for a while;)} I can remember back when Ashleigh used tell me the same kind of jokes followed by Toshia, Chelsea, Seth, Paige, Chloe, Chad, Noah, Taylor, and Hayden. All of them at this age thought they were the funniest joke tellers around. I so wish I could bottle up this innocence and have time freeze so they could always be this happy. It is sad to watch as they get older and life becomes more serious and they have a hard time finding the "funny" in anything. Don't get me wrong growing up is so important and I would not want them to not go through all the wonderful and hard things life has to offer. But how can we get them to still see the lighter things of life and that it is OK to tell a knock knock joke once in awhile? I think that is why God blessed us with little ones so we could see how to laugh again after going through those teenage years with all the drama. We would do well to learn from these wise little ones!

My lazy Saturday?

Another snow day yesterday. Can you believe it? I was so excited at the prospects of spending the time indoors and working on a few projects. Everyone was gone except the little girls so we had a lazy morning and I made french toast for breakfast. Soon it was time to get Chloe and Paige had come home from Toshia's. Then it was off to take Paige to get her hair done. While I was there I heard that a lot of her appointments had been canceled so I made one for myself when I was going to be bringing Chloe back to work. (Chloe works at Salon Allure where Paige was getting her hair done) I made a quick trip to Walmart to get a couple of supplies for my project waiting for me on my desk. I got home when Paige called to say she was done and Chloe could come to work when I came in. Took her home to babysit the little girls then back to the salon. A few hours later {with beautiful looking hair} I was off to take Paige to work. While almost to Scappose David called and said they were back from Mt. Hood. (The boys had gone on a scout snow camping trip - they could have stayed home and camped in the back yard :) I picked them up on my way back. What happened to my lazy day at home just working on a few projects? Before I knew it I had spent the whole day taking children places, picking children up from places or sitting getting my hair done. I never did finish my project or start any of the new ones I have planned. Oh well, at least I got to enjoy the snow while driving all around and I finally got my hair done - it was long over due!