Happy Anniversary!

Happy Anniversary to two of my most favorite people!

Ray and Mary Anderson

43 Years of Marital Bliss!

These two people are some of the hardest working and giving people that you will ever meet. I often refer to my mother as one of the elves from "The Elves and The Shoemaker" story. She is the one that makes everything perfect during the dark of night while everyone else gets their 40 winks. When you wake in the morning she has made whatever it is PERFECT! She never wants credit for this extra, extra, extraordinary effort. She just loves to see you smile and know she had something to do with that smile. She is truly humble and I love her for her wonderful traits.

My dad is quite the extrovert. He knows many people and not only by name, but by their needs and accomplishments as well. He is just like his mom in his friendliness and knowing the worth of each person he meets. He has always been supportive and encouraging to me and I love him for it!

These two are also something extra in that they truly love our Heavenly Father and our Savior. Right now they are on (quite literally) the other side of the world sharing their wonderful influence and their love and knowledge of the Gospel with those in Mongolia. The Mongolians are lucky to have them for the time they get them. Soon they will be back with us. Love them while you can!

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad! Thanks for everything you do for me, have done for me and for all the future support that I know will come my way from you both! I love you!!!!!!!

And the Calling is.......

A week ago Saturday, Mike and I had an appointment with the Bishop. I had a suspicion that it wasn't for Mike because he is the ward scoutmaster and once you have been called into that position, you either move or die so the appointment must have been strictly for me.

After the niceties were exchanged, the Bishop said that they were changing out the Relief Society Presidency (heart stops for a minute) then he said that he already had a new president (heart starts beating again) and that she had requested me to be one of her counselors. I think I was so relieved that the president was NOT me that I would have said yes to anything - even nursery - at that point! OK, maybe not nursery. I still had some wits about me.

Anyhow, I accepted the call to serve as the Homemaking Counselor. I feel a bit overwhelmed at the thought of enriching anyone.

I find it ironic that the Church is so skilled at teaching new things, but in an unorthodox way. For example, you get called to a position and after a bit you kind of get the hang of it. You understand the people you are serving, what's expected of you and you've got things pretty well organized and BAM; you are called to serve somewhere else. On the outside, and to someone who doesn't understand the callings we receive in the Church, it looks a bit inefficient. Someone gets good at something and, just when things are comfy, they have to go on to something new.

But in our Heavenly Father's plan it is efficiency at it's finest. Learn something - and learn it well. Then go on to learn something else to make you a better person. Not only by the skills you learn while serving, but from those you get to serve with.

I am excited to learn new things. I know a few things, but to have the opportunity to become more enriched with the sisterhood we share - I just feel very grateful.

P.S. By the way, I think that saying, "Congratulations on your new calling" seems a bit off since in our church we don't vote or aspire to have any calling. I think it is better said, "Congratulations on your opportunity to grow!" At least that lets everyone know what your purpose in serving is!

Exploding Boxes Class

Would you love an evening "out with the girls" and have something (besides your restored sanity) to show for it? Come make

EXPLODING BOXES

with us!

Open Invite to All Our Friends

When: Thursday,

March 13th

Where: Kristen Hatch's House in Pasco (Thank you Kristen - You're SO nice!)

Time: 7:00 PM - ???

Please bring (otherwise known as: "your supply list"):

*5 12X12 pieces of two-sided coordinating cardstock

(This can be either plain or printed, just make sure that it is cardstock in 12X12. If you want them to be different from each other that will be fine. Just remember the first (or bottom) layer will take two of the five pieces of cardstock. So if you want all of those sides and bottoms to match - you know what you have to do! You can get great paper at Craft Warehouse or (in support of "the little guy") there is a great little shop in Kennewick across from the HAPO on Union called Scrap Happens. She's got some cute stuff in there and she's very nice. Maybe you know of some other places as well. Maybe you should let me know of them, huh?)

*Stuff to Embellish your Box such as:

Extra matching paper, coordinating ribbon, buttons, brads, tags, flowers or whatever your heart desires.

*Pictures to put in your box

*$1.50 to cover glue and stamp ink to "dirty" the boxes (ink only if you want to! It's fun to dirty!)

INFO ABOUT THE GLUE: If you already have scrapbooking glue and a convientient "cat's eye" ink pad, you don't need to bring the money to cover those items. The glue that I use that doesn't leave any "tale-tale" signs of gluing is

Scotch brand Quick-Dry Adhesive.

You can get it at Target or Walmart. It is a white bottle with red/purple/black coloring. If you are going to bring money, let me know so that I can have enough glue bottles and ink purchased to make the craft go a bit faster.

Other things to bring to make the craft go faster (but not the "girl" time):

*Sissors

*Paper Cutter (if you have one)

*Paper Scorer (if you have it)

If you want to come or you have any questions - email me and I will give you Kristin's Address and/or answer questions.

See you there!

Renew my "Mommy" contract, please!

Day after day we tend to do the daily grind of being a Mommy. We wash, we clean, we cook, we kiss, we tuck-in, encourage, etc, etc, ETC. Sometimes we get not much for the efforts except rolled eyes and the stomp of the feet. Sometimes we get a hug and a kiss from those that have gotten plenty of "lovin" over the years from us. But sometimes you have a moment that makes your heart melt and gives you the pat on the back that you so surely need about all your efforts. I had a moment like that yesturday. I'll share the conversation with you. Let me set it up:

I am in the bathroom doing my hair and Brigam is talking up a storm to me about what? I really don't know. I am just hoping there isn't a test on the subject matter later. Out of the blue -

Brigam says: "Mom, did you go to school to learn how to be a Mom?"

Me: "No."

Dramatic pause while I roll that around in my head.

Me: "Do you think I need to go to school to learn how to be better a Mom?"

Brigam: "No, I just think you're a great Mom and I wondered how you learned how to do that."

Give me lips, boy! That totally made my day and I had to kiss him right then and there!

What a sweetie! I'd like to renew my Mommy contract for another eternity, please!

I have been TAGGED!

Rules of this game.

1.Each player answers the questions about themselves.

2.At the end of the post, the player then tags 5 people and posts thier names and then goes to their blogs and leaves a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and that they should read your blog. Got it? Good!

10 years ago.....

Mike and I were in Sandy, Utah living in the house I grew up in. I was working as a real estate agent and an assistant someone who has become a great friend (Austin Heywood) at Coldwell Banker. Mike was working at OSHA as a safety compliance officer (many employers where NOT happy to see him) and (on weekends and when not working or going to school) at Lewis Brothers Stages as a tour bus driver while he was finishing up his master's degree at University of Utah. I was playing the role of a working, church attending, calling fulfilling, single mother of 3 with an occasional dinner guest (Mike).

Tyler got baptized that same year (on his birthday) and started on his first football team, Jeremy was 4 and Mykie turned 2 that year and learned how to say "butterfly" and "helicopter", but they came out as "flutter-dye" and "talk-a-talker".

We sold our Sandy home in Jan 2000 to move to Washington (OK, I just realized that I updated you all about stuff that happened 9 years ago, not ten. That could be because I have seen being 28 years old 1 too many times!)

5 things on my list to do today......

1. Sleep in! My word, it's almost 1:00 am!

2. Work to relieve my boss at 11:30 - 12:00

Workout at 12:00 and play Squish with my boss at 1:00 (she's such a patient teacher!)

3. Take a nap! (You think that will really happen on a NO SCHOOL MONDAY? Wishful thinking!)

4. Update my blog with something from my life!

5. Do Taxes and Budget (unless something way funner comes my way like doing laundry or scrubbing the bathroom) :)

Snacks I enjoy....

I am a Carb junkie. Cookies are something that I love! Homemade are best (with no wrinkled-up, dated, OLD raisins in them). I went for 4 weeks without making homemade cookies, now I need to go 4 more weeks.

I also LOVE water. Can't go without it. Is that considared a snack? My stomach doesn't think so.

What I would do if I were suddenly a millionaire....

One thing I would love to do is travel and take my kids with me (in an adjoining hotel room you know). I'd love to have my extended family with me. How fun would Hawiaii be with everyone? I'd also love to be able to say, "Yes, make that the whole meal deal for everyone!" at the fast food joints rather than having to say, "Only 2 things off the dollar menu kids!"

Three bad habits.....

1. Watching too much TV

2. Biting off more than I can chew (not literally, do you think I want to choke?) Sometimes I say, "yes" too much and then the stuff that really needs to get done (like taxes and budget) get put way up on the high shelf. I don't have time to reach it!

3. Having a short fuse about stupid things that don't matter - especially with my kids!

Five Places I have lived....

1. Sandy, Utah

2. Logan, Utah

3. Ephraim, Utah

4. Denver, Colorado

5. Pasco, Washington

5 jobs I have had....

1. Little Caesar's Pizza (but not as little Caesar!)

2. Winchells Donuts (introduction to my love of sweet carbs - need I say more?)

3. Teacher's Aide for 2 teachers at Snow College

4. Harold Dance Brokerage in Logan, Utah

5. Real estate agent for Coldwell Banker - and there's more! So many more!

Five things people don't know about me.....

1. I am adopted - one of the three adopted kid's in my family (You probably ALL know this by now, but what can I say - my life is an open book. What you see is what you get. There are no secrets.)

2. I apologize to my kids almost on a daily basis for some rude behavior I have exibited. I am trying to act like an adult, but they are pretty good at apologies as well.

3. I started Kindergarten when I was 4 and graduated High School when I was 17

4. When I was about 17, I was dating a boy named David while my brother, David was dating (his now wife,) Terilyn. My parents said there can not be David and Terilyn and Terilyn and David. One has to go. My David was the one to go - Geez, parents always know best!

5. I am REALLY 38 years old turning 39 in October. (Wow, that was enlightening!)

I am tagging Taunya, Amy, Catherine, Lee and Kristin A!

I really did this Monday even though the date stamp says Sunday.

Papering with a Purpose

(My mom will love that I took 10 million photos of these projects. I told her about them, but couldn't describe them!)

The following is my new obsession. My addiction started in December of 2007 while I was innocently visiting family in Arizona. It started with a little cookie book and took off from there. Who was responsible for my introduction to my addiction? Mike's mom, Carla and his sisters Dawn, Camie and (even though she was not physically there - she had a part in it) Susie.

Now I have Mykie in on the fun. The following are a few projects I made - either in Arizonia under the careful tutoring of these papering women or here at home. I think we'll be seeing a few papering projects at my next craft show along with the vinyl lettering.

These are some projects done in AZ.

This next one is the Christmas book (upper left corner) and the cookie recipe book open on a random page. We filled the cookie book with recipes unique to the Nelson family.

This is the great little Christmas book open to a random page. I still have Christmas photos that I need to get in there.

This little paper bag purse is a great picture holder as well. Camie showed me how to do this when we got back to Utah.

Purse opened up.

The next one I did when we got home. Grand Canyon 2007. It was so fun to do!

This one actually got pictures in it! Points for me for finishing the project!

I love this GIRLFRIEND book. I saw it at Dawn's house. She showed me how to make it and then she took me to get the paper. So cute!

Random GIRLFRIEND page!

These next ones are my latest. They are called Exploding Boxes. As you can see, the photo holder starts out looking like a gift box, but when you take off the lid - BAM! - levels upon levels of photo viewing possibilities!

The brown Exploding Box I made for someone that wanted one in earth tone colors (not crazy pinks and reds). Anyway, I don't really know what to charge for this. The paper alone was about $8.00. They are about 5 inches square on the outside. Any suggestions?

BAM!

About Matrimony

I found this questionnaire on Kristin's blog and decided to answer it myself. How fun!

About my "tru wuv"

What is his name? Michael Ray Nelson

How long have you been together? We have been married for almost (in June) 19 years.

How long did you date? We met in August of '88 and married in June of '89. What can I say? Once he found me he couldn't dare let me go! I actually roomed with his sister at Snow College the year before so I already had an "in" with the family.

How old is he? He is the BIG 4-0! As everyone knows - I am 28 FOREVER!

Who eats more? OREOS - me, of course. They are splended little hunks of high fat heaven. Protein including gross stuff like fish - Mike.

Who said I love you first? I am sure that I did, but maybe not to his face. I remember being an RA at the dorms and as I would go around and do the "guys out" check - I'd tell the girls that he was the father of my future children. He just didn't realize it yet. Sometimes they are slower at things aren't they?

Who is taller? He is, but only by inches (like two). High heels aren't necessarily something we agree on.

Who can sing better? Me, definately. I love to hear him try to sing acapela. He finds a note, hums it and then starts singing on a totally different note! I love that he is willing to sing though. He does entertain us with HIS version of verses from the 80's songs. He complains about them changing the words on him.

Who is smarter? I'd definately say HIM with no hesitation. It may take him a while to come up with the answer (because he's got a lot of brain to go through to find the deeply hidden answer), but he's always right - about factual stuff - not important stuff! :)

Who does the laundry? I do most of it, but he does pitch in on the weekends.

Who pays the bills? I do. I also spend the money. With great power comes great responsibility (and other perks). teh

Who sleeps in the right side? He does, but the kids always know to walk clear arount the be and whisper, "Mom!" I asked them why they whisper if their intent is to wake me up - they tell me it's because they don't want to wake dad us. Aren't they thoughtful?

Who mows the lawn? Mike. I don't care if the grass is up to my knees - that is a job I will never do! But I do install ceiling fans and other light fixtures, clean out the p-traps under the sink when they get clogged and change out doorknobs, etc.

Who cooks dinner? I do, but he's able. He is very appreciative and thanks me every time I do it.

Who drives? He does, especially on those long trips to Utah and the like. He's such a gentleman! He also still opens the door for me to get in and gives me a kiss.

Who is more stubborn? Depends on what's important. He is when it is about something dumb, I am when it's important.

Who kissed who first? It was mutual.

Who asked who out first? He would say he did, but that's exactly what I wanted him to think. I'm so tricky!

Who proposed? He did. February 10, 1989 at the Valentine's Dance at the Institute Building. He hung a big banner over the band that said, "Terilyn, I love you! Will you marry me? Love, Mike
(like I needed to know who THAT was from!)

Who has more friends? I do, but he seems to know more people when we go out. Why don't you girls go out more so I look more popular!?

Who is more sensitive? Hands down that would be me. That's one reason why "I complete him".

Who has more siblings? He does, comes from a family of 9 children. My first reaction coming from a family of 3 children was, "Does it ever get quiet here?" Yes, between 1-4 am.

Who wears the pants? We both do. But sometimes I do use the old standby on the kids of, "Because that's what your dad wants!"

Mike is a super guy that I love deeply. He puts up with me and I thank him for it. My journey though life would not be sweet if it wasn't for him.