Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Who Says You Can't Teach Old Dogs New Tricks?!?

God's Gifts

This is probably a bit of an odd addition to my blog. But nature has always moved me. Last night as I was trying to organise some of my photo's, I came across these. I thought about how this is the everyday stuff that God made for us. The stuff we take for granted. The plants are the weeds that we tend to walk over or walk by on our way to the roses. Maybe there's a lesson in life somewhere in there.






Monday, March 30, 2009

Archery Tournament

So proud of my girl. Emily shot in an Archery Tournament on Friday. She shot fabulously. Last year at the Tournament, with over 200 students competing, she came 2nd in the girls - we were thrilled. This year Oliver and I were able to go down and support her and it was such fun watching her whoop any of her previously existing scores. She was so disappointed that she wasn't placed this year - (she is a little more competitive than her mum, and of course she didn't go down there to lose). But this year there were Middle and High schools competing so we know the competition was a lot tougher. But not a bad thing. I look forward to her practicing over the summer and going back to shoot it out again next year.


Be Prepared!

For many years now I have known the importance of food storage and generally getting prepared for whatever life throws at you. But knowing the importance and actually doing anything about it are two very different things. It possibly hasn't helped with us moving countries and having to leave the food that we have built up behind. But when we moved to the states at the end of 2005, I felt a real urge to get my food storage started. Honestly, I felt a little overwhelmed and didn't really know where to begin. That has always been my biggest problem. I see the end result - and know I need to achieve it, but forget that I don't need to do it all in one day.

So I started small. Buying extra stuff each week and if we did get any spare money, Oliver and I decided to put it into buying more for our storage. And I can see that we have been blessed. Our storage is getting bigger slowly but surely.

You don't need to be a Latter Day Saint (Mormon) to believe in getting prepared for the future. It is purely common sense, as our economic times are telling us. But our church has been telling its members and anyone else who is willing to listen to get their lives in order, to get out of debt and get in a 3 months supply of the foods that they normally eat and a years worth of long-term foods such as wheat and rice and beans.

Anyway, the church certainly practices what it preaches as this article shows. If you want more information on our views or help getting started please send me a comment and I'll do my best to get more info. I feel so strongly about this and just want the world to know.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/408/story/629338.html

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Sultan's Ride

Family back home don't get to see my kids progress, and that's one of the main reasons I started this blog. So here is Joseph playing The Sultan's Ride. I am very proud of him.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Tribute to my best friend

This is absolutely my last blog of the day. I DO HAVE A LIFE YA KNOW!!!!

This morning I misplaced $400. Not a sum to be sniffed at. I searched the whole house. Every nook and cranny. It was no-where to be found. Oliver has been telling me for months that he isn't too confident that I have so much cash around. He's concerned that it might get lost or stolen. So with a little trepidation, I went down to the basement (he works from home) and told him of my dilemna.

His reaction was, 'Oh dear'. (very English). But even after saying that, he apologised and said, "sorry, I didn't mean to sound condescending". (which he didn't).

After almost 14 years of marriage - I want to say how I appreciate that I can approach my husband about my mistakes. Of course we've had to work at these things, just like any other couple. But his reaction made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I felt bad enough about what I had done - without someone else bearing down on me.

I love you Oliver and just wanted the world to know that you are a good man and I'm glad you're mine!!!!

As a little addition - I just found the money! PHEW

Thought for the Day

I enjoyed this quote by President Monson.

He counselled:

You be the one to make a stand for right, even if you stand alone. Have the moral courage to be a light for others to follow. There is no friendship more valuable than your own clear conscience, your own moral cleanliness and what a glorious feeling it is to know that you stand in your appointed place clean and with the confidence that you are worthy to do so.

Oh Poop!





I really am embarrassed mum!







It won't happen again, I promise!





Back to being pampered









Monday, March 23, 2009

Homework

How many places can you find to do your homework?

























































With church being in the afternoon, I have been feeling a little dissatisfied with my Sunday mornings. So after reading an article in 'The Friend' about a family doing Sunday Stations, we decided we'd give it a go. So we do 10 minute stations and then rotate. It was great.









Station #1: Write an email or letter to a family member or friend.









Station #2: For Lucy it was drawing something uplifting, this week she drew a picture of the family being together forever. For the the boys they will work on their Religious Knot for scouting, and for Emily she will work on her Personal Progress.










Station #3: Writing in your journal










Station #4: Reading something uplifting with mum, either The Friend or New Era.

Thursday, March 19, 2009



It's taken me a week to figure out how to get pictures onto the left hand side of the page - and now I've started, I just can't stop.

Heck how did that one get there.

Funny, I seem to have figured out how to put them on -
I just can't seem to delete.

But since that picture is up - I hope none of you are laughing at my husband. Because laughing at people is rude, especially when someone is poorly, and my husband was very poorly on that day!

Robin Hood or Maid Marion

Emily and Joseph have been having a verbal competition. Who is fastest; Emily with her bow and arrow, or Joseph with his sword. I told them that there was no use talking about it - we needed to see some action. So here it is:


What an Experience

What a fabulous experience for my kids. My neighbour, pictured there in the top photo, was asked to raise 'Bucky' when he was only 2 days old, after authorities found his mother dead. Bucky ended up living in our garden (yard for you locals), and we got to bottle feed him every day. He has now been returned to the wild and visits on occasion where we can view him at a distance.











Fun in the snow

It does make me laugh that school was cancelled for this amount of snow - but hey, the kids had a blast!



Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Treat yourself

I find that when I look too far ahead - I get discouraged. For example, if I think about jogging every day for the rest of my life, I just want to sleep. So, I am slowly learning to take it one day at a time.

I did jog again this morning - and although I am walking like John Wayne, I'm glad I did it.

I am finding - as I draw nearer to 40 that I need more balance in my life; hence the jogging. Exercise has never really been a part of my life, and not one that comes naturally to me. But another area that I am trying to improve in, is my general health and the way I look.

I don't like spending a lot of money on beauty products - as I don't think they work. But here is a routine I am getting in to and I find that for me, I am seeing the benefits.

So this morning, before getting into the shower, I heated up a 1/4 cup of olive oil and over the sink, I poured it over my dry hair. I massage it into my scalp and hair. Now for a 'deep' moisturising experience, you can wrap a warm towel around your head and keep it on for 20 minutes. I didn't have time this morning. So after massaging it in my hair for a minute I washed it out thoroughly and then conditioned my hair as normal. (I have done this on my girls hair too, with great results.)

Then I use equal portions of olive oil and brown sugar, and in the shower I use it as a facial scrub. I have to be gentle because it is very abrasive - but it is excellent. The dry patches that I used to have on my face (that would show up most when I had put foundation on), are now completely gone.

I didn't do it this morning, but a few times a week, I heat up honey and put it on my face and leave it on for about 1/2 an hour.

I have combination skin and I found that my overall skin condition is a lot more even. But I don't know if it is the scrub or the honey, but I have to presume it is a combination of the two.

For some, this may be nothing new - but to be honest, I wish someone had told me about this years ago!

Monday, March 16, 2009

Sometimes you should just stay in bed!

Just popped into Harris Teeter to grab some fruit and veg. There was another gentleman at the apples along side me. I turned and put my bananas in my trolley and continued choosing some juicy green apples. He said 'excuse me'. Well I could see I wasn't in his way, and he wasn't in mine - so I just said 'no problem'. Then he said 'excuse me', again, 'but your putting your food into my trolley'. We both laughed, and I apologised. I transferred my stuff from his trolley to mine. Then he said 'actually, your taking my food too'.

I knew I shouldn't have exercised this morning!
I've had my very first comments. I can hardly believe it I am so excited. I feel all ....... BLOGGED!!!!!
I abused my body terribly this morning; or so it tells me. 'What did I do to deserve this', I hear it say. I woke up this morning feeling that I needed some exercise. So I went jogging/walking. Isn't it meant to make you feel better? Aren't I meant to come home feeling enthused about life. Isn't my mind supposed to be clearer.

I just want to sleep!!!!

Okay, okay - I had a shower and got ready for the day, and in hindsight, it probably was a good thing to do. But I just think too much of a good thing 'n' all that. Certainly don't want to over do it!!!!!!!!

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Women's gifts

I've been reading a great book called The Incredible Gifts of Women by Barbara Barrington Jones. I liked some of the gems I read and thought I'd share them:

The gift of Happiness:

When you continually look to the future for your happiness, you guarantee you'll never be happy.

Wherever You Are - Be There

Psalm 118:24 This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

This reminds me of the wonderful quote in the all wise film, Kung Fu Panda:

The past is history, the future a mystery, but today is a gift, that is why it is called the present.


Monday's child is fair of face,
Tuesday's child is full of grace,
Wednesday's child is full of woe,
Thursday's child has far to go.
Friday's child is loving and giving,
Saturday's child works hard for a living,
But the child born on the Sabbath Day,
Is fair and wise and good and gay.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

1st attempt

Sat here in my basement with my friend Tiff. Bless her heart, she is patiently teaching me how to set up my blog. I'm actually quite excited. I have so many friends and family that I don't keep up with - that hopefully I can have a central location where all my friends and family can keep up with me!

I'd like to remember this moment. Tiff and I are sat 'blogging' whilst our husbands practice for a 'gig' they will be playing at at the end of March. I have chocolate in front of me, my feet up and life is good.

Wasn't really sure how I'd feel about blogging - but I can see that it could be fairly easy for me to get addicted. Oliver, my husband has been trying to get me to do this for a while. I think he now may regret it. They'll be no house cleaning, no meals cooked!! Just blogging, blogging, blogging. I've just got to figure out how to get some pictures up of my babies! One step at a time.