President Gordon B. Hinckley, Beloved Prophet

My brother called just a short time ago and told us the news from Utah. President Hinckley, at age 97, has passed away at home with his family near by.

I love President Hinckley. He was such a great and marvelous man of the church and man in this world. Every time he spoke, I wanted to do better. I wanted to be a better member of the church, mother, neighbor, child of God. He was such a great example, motivator and teacher. I will miss him and his wonderful sense of humor.

But on the other hand, I am so glad that he will be able to join his lovely wife now. I am sure that he has missed his "second half" the second she left. The reunion that he is having with his wife and parents must be indescribable. Not to mention having our Father greet him with, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."

He will be missed terribly, but our joy is that much more because of his efforts here on earth on our behalf.

I have no doubt that the Church will continue to flourish under acting President Packer's loving watch. Then in a few days President Monson will be sustained. I love the way that Christ set up our Church.

No School Mondays are rivaled by No Church Sunday

Today was a day that went down in history for Mike and I. It was the first time that we have ever had church canceled. Our Home Teacher called this morning to make sure we had the news. That is how bad the weather was today.

It started yesterday with the freezing rain. The rain coming down froze so quickly that Mike had to scrape the car windows each time we came out of a store. That would make 4 times. (Yes, Mike and I had many errands to do yesterday and he was a good little shopper though all of them. All you women would be so proud of him.)

This morning the snow started somewhere between 5-7 am and didn't stop until at least 12 hours later. I bet their is about 9 inches out there. I just feel fortunate that we have our electricity.

The day was a memorable one as we decided to have our own Sacrament Meeting complete with the Sacrament and Testimonies. It was kind of cool to have Mike preside, Tyler bless the Sacrament and Jeremy pass it. Then everyone actually bore their testimonies. It was neat because Brigam had never tried baring his testimony and it had been since Primary I had heard Tyler's or Jeremy's (not counting Sacrament talks they have given in the past.)

It was a super neat experience to know that the very same Priesthood that presides, blesses and passes the sacrament at church is the same that my "boys" hold. Makes me a very grateful member of our church.

Teenagers are good for a few laughs

I just have to share the "teenager funny of the week" with you all. You'll get a kick out of this one.

Tyler had a job interview with the Kid's Activity Director at the Tri-City Court Club this past week. Things were going well in his interview. Roberta was telling Tyler about how the kids play soccer and dodge ball, etc. Then she asked, "So do you come to the Club a lot?" I'm not sure if it is the fact that we have been out of Q-tips for a while and cleaning of the ears hadn't been done or simply his brain was working faster than his ears, but he misunderstood the question. He paused for a minute, unsure how to answer and then said, "I'm sorry, what did you say?" Roberta repeated herself and then Tyler laughed a bit and said, "Oh, I thought you said, 'Do you wear a CUP a lot?' " Roberta got a good laugh with that one.

When Tyler was telling us about it he said, "Well, she was telling me about the dodge ball and soccer and I guess that I thought she thought it might be a good idea to wear one." Is that the funniest?

The next day I went into Roberta and asked her if she did a cup-check on all her applicants. She laughed and told me that THAT interview would go down in her interview history.

The greatest thing about this whole story is the fact that Tyler wasn't embarrassed at all. He repeated what he thought she said and then he shared the funny with us. He is such a good sport! What a great example with being comfortable with yourself!

PS By the way, Roberta isn't hiring until next month - he's supposed to call back then. He thinks that is a good sign.

Take it to the Mat

Yesterday was Jeremy's first 7th grade wrestling meet. Highlands vs Desert Hills. Jeremy has been practicing for a while now and has had some experience in the past from being a member of the Mat Rattler's wrestling team. He was quite excited about this meet. His practices leading up to this meet were somewhate schizophrenic. Sometimes he'd come home knowing his potential to be Washington's State Champion in 2013. Other practices were "stupid" and completely frustrating for Jeremy. Somedays I live in an amusement park with a roller coster that goes up and down, but I never know when the dips or climbs are coming!

Anyway, Briggie and I show up about 3:55, Tyler at 4:10 and Mike at 4:15 all there to support our little State Champ who is all decked out in red and black and looking very much like a wrestler. He was there to support his team, cheering from the sidelines, but as I continue to see the wrestlers come out on the mat, I turn to Mike and ask, "Jeremy weighs more than those kids?" For those of you who don't know how a meet works - the little guys go first then up to the heavy weights. Jeremy is really one of the little guys at 85 lbs, so I keep seeing these boys come out on the mat - but they are starting to look a little bigger than our Bear. Mike goes down to check out the situation and finds out that Jeremy will not be wrestling today. The other team didn't have enough boys in his weight range to wrestle, so Jeremy will be there to cheer on his team today.

Jeremy did a great job in cheering on his team and supporting them. I was proud of him.

After it was over, I kind of felt bad because he came over to me and said, "I'm sorry for wasting your time." Sad to think that he has to perform for my time to not be wasted. I wonder where I gave him that impression in the past? Must have been a "Bad Mommy Moment". I told him it wasn't a waste. We were happy to be there to support him and his team. Everyone needs cheerleaders and that's what we were doing.

Hopefully, he'll get to wrestle next time, but seriously, I just enjoy the fact that I get to be there to watch him. He's so dang cute in his little wrestling uniform!

What day is it?

I have a confession to make. I hate NO SCHOOL MONDAY(s). Monday is really the day that I use to get everything done (house clean, organize, things on the to do list crossed off, fixing everyone's weekend problems (like Jeremy's confusing, or as he calls it STUPID, mp3 player. Uhm, did we try to read the directions?) - you get the idea). After one of these Mondays and by the time Tuesday comes, I have missed a whole day of accomplishment in that department. Why can't they always have NO SCHOOL FRIDAYs. Oh wait, they are having no school this Friday.

I think it bothers me so much because I am a scheduled person. I think in time of minutes ticking off and how much time I have to get a project done. I think when I am doing projects and the kids are here they somehow get put on the backburner. This tends to show up in bad behavior from said children. Then bad behavior shows up from said mom.

My to do list is about 1 mile long. On that list is to order new birth certificates for all of us. I can't order all 6 on line because each state LOVES to be unique! Utah was fine (those Mormons know how to use the internet), but CO, CA and WA are a trip. I have to mail out those requests and for the last one - I can certainly walk into their office to get one. Not so bad, but the 3 in UT cost $30.00 total. CO is $17, CA is $14 and WA is a whopping $20 and as I remember WA birth certificates really aren't special looking in any way. They look kind of lame. Why do I need this, besides the fact that being alive does not mean that you have been officially born? Appearantly, you need a piece of paper to tell others that.

To order new SS cards I have to have new birth certificates for everyone. Crazy. I am still waiting for the Titles to all our vehicles that we paid for since the burglary.

Good news, I do get to meet a friend for an early lunch today and workout with (I guess that would be for, not with) Lori - my earns-every-penny personal trainer.

I really need a girl's night out. Is anyone game?

Happy Birthday (oh, now there are two teens in the house!)

Today is my wonderful Jeremy's 13th birthday! Yes, for all you past Primary workers out there - he is actually 13.

I think that he is a wonderful boy with such a great future ahead of him. He's known what he wants his future job to be since he was 8 (pilot), he's planned his schooling and in his present schooling works hard in math, science - well, everything - so that he will be prepared for his future. He really impresses me with his organizational skills and his time management skills.

He is also impressing me with his self-mastry. He really is getting in control of his emotions and is able to think about others better than he ever has before. This year has been a year of greatness for Jeremy. The older he gets, the more I like him! Just imagine how much I'll like him when he's as old as me (for all of you that forgot, :) I'm 28)!

Well, he and Tyler are off to pick up his friends for some BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION! And I have some candles to locate.

Happy Birthday Jeremy!

The RING with the BLING is back on the FING(er)

Happy days! I have a ring on my finger again. It is quite nice. I was kind of feeling like an amputee - the ring felt like it was there, but it was not. It's nice to have something back.

As for the rest of the stuff that is gone - we're still working on that. As for the one's responsible - the Police are still working on that. I am not sure what takes so long, but then I am not a policeman.

Anywho - I have a ring back on the finger. Now all those boys can QUIT flirting with me! I AM A MARRIED WOMAN! :)

My Sharp Dressed Man

Jeremy got a new suit for Christmas. Many of you might think that this is some sneaky way for parents to get their kid to look right on Sunday without all the hassle of arguing about it. IE "But honey, you look sooooo nice and Santa did go through all that trouble...." But I tell you it's not true! Jeremy has been asking for a suit for about a year now. We bought Tyler his first suit when he was 14 and thought it would be a great tradition to buy each remaining boy his first suit at the same age. Jeremy messed that up by wanting to look sharp for church a year ago. Doesn't he look so handsome? I really can't believe that he his going to be 13 on Friday. He's grown so much socially this year, I am so proud with who he is becoming. He's going to go to become a great man. I am so impressed with him.
I couldn't leave my girl out in the "sharp dressed" catagory. She also looks great sporting her Christmas gift. When did they get so old? They both look pretty serious about the whole thing, but at least they still are kids. Take a look at the bunny ears in the next picture:

Fun Lovin' Mykie is what we call her! They are great kids and I'm glad they're mine!

HeMan is a GIRL!

I just have to tell you that I found out the deep dark secret about HeMan - He is a SHE and her name is MYKALYN. When we were in Utah (about day 9 of our trip) they boys and Aunt Amber went snowboarding and the girls (and Brigam) were going shopping and to meet Aunt Camie to "paper with a purpose". We got to borrow Aunt Amber's car. Unfortunately her car had been parked in the lot since December 19th and was covered with ice and snow. Also the snowplows had been through the lot and slight piles of snow were bunched up behind those left behind cars. I started the car and Mykie and I started working on getting the snow off the car. We couldn't find a scraper or a brush, so we had to make due with an old CD case. We finally got it all cleaned up and the snow cleared off and we were ready to back out. The car didn't want to back out. It had front wheel drive, but the back wheels were blocked by snow and the front wheels were on ice. I put stuff under the tires to help with traction and tried a couple of times, but the car was going nowhere. I told Mykie about the problem. I said, "Girlfriend (sometimes I really use that word!), the car is stuck. You aren't strong enough to push it out and there is no one to help push it out (there was, but apparently they aren't gentlemen who help women in distress - WHATEVER!) We can't go anywhere." Mykie's response was simple - she'd back it up while I pushed. After I got finished laughing about that one I tried to explain that she didn't have the experience to push the gas then the brake in time before hitting another parked car. I got back in the car to try it once more and Mykie actually leaned against the car hood and pushed. Low and behold - she pushed us out! Now I don't know if was because she is extra strong or because she knew without a car there would be NO shopping - but her muscles pushed it out of the parking stall. HeWoman Mykie!

Depression, Discouragement and other "D" words

Saturday was another day spent dealing with the aftermath of being buglarized.

I did get to start the day with a quick workout at TCCC on one of their new Expresso Bikes. They are pretty awesome. They are kind of like a video game in that you are biking through the different scene selections trying to beat your pacer guy that is on his own bike. If you and a couple of friends start biking at the same time you will each be on each other's screens and you can race each other. They even have a game where you run over a coin and then chase a dragon that was the same color as the coin. It is a fun workout.

It is sad when about the funnest part of your day is your workout. After that I spent literally HOURS calling numbers of companies that were listed on our credit reports trying to close all revolving accounts due to theft. In the middle of my calling out, my back called to tell me that 3 checks had been written on my account. This means that I have to go to the bank and sign an affidavit for each and every check they write for THE REST OF MY NATURAL LIFE! At this point, they are only writing checks and signing them with my name. The signature doesn't even look like mine. Dumb Doo-Heads ("D" words) I am sure that I will never be able to write another check at Winco again. And can someone tell me why those stupid check cashing places take checks without ID? I just don't understand it!

The credit card companies are a different story. They will be happy to cancel your account, but they want to open you a new one and send you cards right away. Trying to explain that you want NO NEW CARDS OR ACCOUNTS seems like a foriegn language to them. Speaking of foriegn languages, do you think that the college teaches a course on "learning to speak and understand English when spoken with a thick accent"? I appearently need to take the course now that I will be conversing with those with accents for the next year.

Needless to say, I was frazzeled by the time 5PM rolled around (I keep bankers hours only at my new job. That would be 9-5 Mon-Sat). On my way home from signing affidavits, I just had to make me feel better and try on my ring again at Fred Meyer. The girl that was there to help me was also there the other night and was happy to have me "visit" my ring. It made me feel just a teeny weeny bit better (it is STILL very beautiful, by the way).

After by workday was done and my fix at Fred Meyer was satisfied, Mike and the kids and I went to dinner at Red Robin (ha, I just spelled Robin with a "g" on the end. Freudian slip?) to have a great meal to start our fast with. It was fun laughing with the kids and enjoying our meals.

Unfortuantely, Jeremy and Brigam are both sick with major coughing and goopy eye. I guess I'll have to take some time off work from my new job on Monday to take two sick boys to the Doctor. Now can Santa see why he should have brought me that gift of an extra 2 hours in each of my days for Christmas? I really need it! Once again Santa fell short in the gift department. Maybe next year.

I think the most discouraging part of my day was when I was falling asleep and reviewing the day. I thought about my brother and realized that he (at this point and time) is not going to make it back to the Celestial Kingdom. I was feeling heartbroken. The thought of not being with your family forever is heartbreaking. I cried. I can't imagine what our Father feels watchin his children on a daily basis. But I also felt the Holy Ghost - I think he was literally holding my heart together so I wouldn't loose all the pieces while it was breaking. I hope He keeps holding on to it.

Honey, We've Been Robbed!

There are not another 4 words said all at the same time after a super long trip to Arizona and back that would bring such a flood of emotions in such a short amount of time. Laughter as in "Ha, ha very funny. Now help me get the rest of this stuff in the house" or instant sadness and tears realizing that you will never again see your wedding ring. This was the emotional rollercoaster that I was on when we came home after our 12 day WONDERFUL Christmas vacation. Mike said it, I saw it and it happened.

My jewelry boxes were broken on the floor in the front room, my drawers were all dumped out, all my craft drawers were open (nothing was taken so the police know they don't have to stalk the scrapbooking stores), Mike's dresser drawers were ajar; in short, our room was a mess.

The big screen TV, dvd player and cable box were gone (along with the controller to the TV - I guess they weren't that stupid). All the boy's XBox games were gone, but the XBox was left alone in my closet (fortunately for the boys, the XBox had been taken away for disipinary tactics before we left).

There were many, many, many things that they didn't take including a printer that they had unhooked and just left on the floor. But the thing that they did take that causes us the most headaches and problems in the future is our safe. Our safe held everything important "paperwise" that we had. Besides those great "emergency credit cards" it had all 3 checkbooks and extras, all SS numbers for everyone in the family, immunization records (the kids are really crying over that news), keys, titles to all our vehicles ETC. That is going to be a headache to fix. Mike and I started out the door about 9:30 am to "get our fix on" and after 4 visits to the bank, 2 to the DOL, 2 to Pasco High, stops to do our own police work, countless calls to any and everyone about it all, we got home about 5:30 or so. It's appearently our new full time job. I am so excited. The benefits at our new job are amazing. The knowledge that we gain from our experiences will either depress us completely or make us stronger. I am not sure which yet. Only time will tell.

I do have to say that we are all safe. We are so glad that we don't need to replace any of our scriptures or our baptism books, church DVD and videos or church books. For some reason, the true value of these things were hidden from the eyes of the robbers and they are ours to utilize and better ourselves with. We are so fortunate.

The only thing I really had to do at about 4:00 pm yesturday is go try on wedding rings. Now, we don't have the settlement from the insurance company for the ring yet or anything, but as I explained to Mike, I needed to do this to feel better. He totally didn't understand why you'd want to go look at something you couldn't buy right now, but I DO (and I am willing to bet all you girls out there agree with me). I needed to be able to know that I would soon be having a ring back on my finger and it would be beautiful. I went into Fred Meyer Jewelers and found the most beautiful ring. I am hoping Mike's brother Nate (though his connections) can help me get the ring with 1 middle diamond (instead of 4) in beautiful clarity for the same replacement cost. I am hoping all goes well in this section of our sadness, but know that

LIFE IS GOOD AND OUR HEAVENLY FATHER WATCHES OVER ALL.

Mykie had to circle the ring in the brochure and nicknamed the ring the "a lot" ring because we both like it A LOT! (thus all the "a lot"s circling the ring)