FAMILY FUN

YEP!! we forgot all about the time change last night. We went to bed around 10:30 and knowing the kids were thinking about being here at noon, I slept in till 8am. I got up and looked at my texts and found out Chris and Norma were on the road and thought they'd be at our house at 9am!  WHAT!!  lol  time to hustle!

He said they were going to stop by BSU so he could show the family but wouldn't be there long.

A little while later we got a text from Chris saying he had to pull over and take a power nap and the arrival time was now 10:30 or 10:45.

Later,  we got this picture and Chris saying they were passing by Meridian. I was on pins and needles. So excited to see them all. I was standing by the window and as soon as they pulled in, I ran out to greet them. HUG'S ALL AROUND!

Soon after they arrived, Scott pulls up, then Traci and Andrew. Then Jill and Scotlyn. We had a great visit and a lot of laughs! Tony came home between choir practice and Sacrament meeting and was able to say hi and give some hugs before he went back to church. Around noon, we ate chicken salad sandwiches, pasta salad and chips and continued to visit. It was WONDERFUL! I'm excited about Chris and Norma being closer. It will be so awesome. Not sure when they'll get moved, but at least it's in the works. 

I got a picture of all the kids as they were getting ready to leave. I had to laugh at Mau. It is such a beautiful day but he was wrapped up in a coat and a hat like it was freezing outside. 

Jill took one of me with the family. I was going to stand by Scotlyn but they told me to get in the middle. So I squatted so as not to block Norma. It's been over two years since we've seen them and I can't believe how tall the kids have gotten. I'm anxious to see pictures from Heather, as they stayed with her last night. 

Hated to see them drive off, but am looking forward to them coming back on Wednesday when they travel back to Texas. It was around 1:30 when all of them took off. 

Traci and Andrew were the last to leave and I'd never seen Andrew's vehicle so I told him I was going to take a picture of him when he drove off. It was such a wonderful day and I am so grateful for the time spent with my kids. I love them ALL so much.

GOD IS GOOD!~

EXCITING WEEKEND

I had a horrible sleep last night. Tony too for that matter. He ate fried rice and spring rolls and I ate spring rolls. That was the only thing we ate that was in common. Anyway, we both had bubbly stomachs and horrible gas. (I know TMI !!) But, it was a bad night to sleep nonetheless. It makes it difficult when we get up at 4:30 am for our temple shift. It was a regular day but we were officiators for the 10 am session. I had to concentrate really hard to stay alert but we both managed. Being the officiators in the 10am shift puts us out later than usual. We got out around 11:30. The lady that gave me the chair and ottoman last week said that the sister that was going to take the desk, decided she didn't have room for it. SO, guess who got it!! YEAH, Nancy said I could have it.  I was so excited! I'd seen a picture of it and it was gorgeous! After we got to the car, we drove back to Nancy's house and picked it up. 

I got a different view of the temple when we drove back from Nancy's house. 

It looked like it was about to rain and was pretty overcast but by the time we got back to Nampa, the sun was out and it was 65 degrees outside. We changed our clothes and then moved the dest into the house. 

Isn't it gorgeous!!  I absolutely love it. I really don't have a good spot for it but I did put it in the back room. 

I also got a new ottoman at Costco yesterday. The green one was broken for the 2nd time and Tony suggested we get this one. I wish it were green or at least a darker color, but it's not so it will have to do. 

It opens up for storage and can also be used as trays on the top when they are turned over.  I like it!  After getting things situated ,Tony went to his mother's to help her with some things she was having trouble with. 

I got busy making  chicken salad for croissant sandwiches. and a macaroni salad. I have chips and croissants as well.  Chris, Norma, Tristan, Ari and Mau will be here tomorrow. I'm hoping they'll be able to stay long enough to eat a quick bite and a short visit.  I've invited Scott & family and Traci and family as well. We all want to see Chris & family!!  They are headed to Bellingham to check it out and then will be back through on Wednesday on their way home. They should be at Heather's soon. They were in Moab when we were on our way home from the temple. I am so excited to see them all.  

IT'S BEEN A GREAT DAY! 

GOD IS GOOD!~

YAY, WE'RE GETTING RAIN & I'M GETTING CAUGHT UP!

Tony and I went to the gym early this morning. We stopped at Lynn's to put out her trash 1st. Met with Pat at 6:45am. Pat brought us a couple of pears and some cream cheese crackers. I swear, the girl can't help herself. She is so giving. We came home and the weather was starting to change. Started clouding up and getting windy.  I made us a waffle but When the 1st one got done, Tony got a call from Nyle, who is doing Lynn's bathroom floor. He said the floor under the hardwood, was wet and going to have to be replaced. He wanted Tony to go over and take a look. So, I ate without him and then cooked him one when he got home. I love this sourdough batter, I make it, keep it in the fridge and whip up a waffle when I need one. Mmmmm, good!

A little peanut butter along with some syrup, and it's a good source of protein. Well, maybe not the syrup, but have to sweeten it up a bit. lol Tony, came home, I made him one and then cleaned up the kitchen and got back to finishing up some cards I was working on.

I had to cut out some more steering helms for the 8th one because I'd run out, but that was no problem, I got it done and went on to some more dies that I had. 

I had a  few camera's so I glued them all together to give some dimension to the one, and put it on a gate fold type of card.  I need to find a sentiment for the small side of the card.

 Then I had a few pumpkins and one card base that was already cut. I just stuck them together. Not very cool but I'm just wanting to use up pre-cut things so I can really do some planning on a good one.

I noticed it started raining, and gave a quick thank you prayer.

I am so grateful for the moisture and will take all we can get!

It was a nice slow steady rain and I sure hope it continues for a while. We can sure use it. 

I made 6 gatefold birthday cards with the hat dies I had.

I'm done for a while. Gotta make lunch and get ready for a RS Presidency meeting tonight. 

GOD IS GOOD!~

MONDAY, TUESDAY, GO, GO, GO.....

We went to the gym at 8am Monday morning. I had a great nights sleep and was ready to go! I had a wonderful visit with Pat as we walked our 4 miles. She is such a sweet friend. She brought us a couple of cutie oranges and she gave me a bottle of Tic Tac's,

 DR. PEPPER flavor! She's so funny!!

When we got home, I took a picture of my daffodils! I can't believe how tall they are getting !! The buds are forming already!!

I've got five batches of them and some are budding more than others but I'm still happy with the bunch of them!!  I do need to get out and get my beds cleaned out. They are a mess!  We came in and ate breakfast and then I started on laundry while Tony went to Lynn's and painted her bathroom baseboards with Kilz.  

I got a load of laundry going and then got my card material out and finished up with my movie ticket cards.

I found more popcorn dies so had to use them up! lol When I got them done, I started gluing other dies together to give them dimension and it's a good way to use up some dies by doubling them up (actually I quaded them up)  I got a call from Robin around 4:45 saying she needed some company and could I come over. I told her I would once I had the remainder of the dies glued together. I didn't have many more to go so I finished up and then went over to her house for an hour and a half. Tony went to his mom's while I was gone and helped her with some things. When we both got back, we were going to watch THE VOICE but Tony decided to watch HUDSON & REX so we could record The Voice and watch it on Tuesday without commercials. Oh Yeah!

We got up this morning and got ready to go to the temple. We picked up Lynn and then picked up Diana. It was a beautiful day! We each did an endowment and then 2 hours of sealings. We got 106 sealings and 35 were my family names. 36 with the endowment I did. It was a fantastic day in the temple. We sure appreciate Diana going with us. After taking her home, we went to Mongolian BBQ to have lunch. UNFORTUNATELY, it was closed on Monday & Tuesday. I really had my tastebuds set on it, but it wasn't to be. Lynn wanted to go to Taco John's. Tony would have preferred ,  yeah, you guessed it! Chick Fil A.  We went with Taco Johns because seriously, Tony win's out 90% of the time. lol We were all hungry and it did taste good. After we ate, we drove across the street to 

COLD STONE CREAMERY !  Tony and Lynn got ice-cream and I got a strawberry mango slushie.  After dropping Mom off at home we came home, changed our clothes and Tony got busy printing up more names for the temple. I got out some more dies and got busy making cards again. 

I am whittling down my die cuts and getting several cards finished. 

So far, I only have three of the lighthouse cards done but I have more to make. I need to stamp a sentiment on the scroll but for now, I am kicking back and watching THE VOICE! 

It's been a great couple of days and I'm looking forward to getting back to the gym in the morning and visiting with Pat!

GOD IS GOOD!~

TENDER MERCIES

Tony and I were to have a normal day at the temple this morning. You know, the usual posts. However, I was asked to be the Main Foyer Sister. That post is where I greet the bride & groom and their escorts and direct the wedding guests to the 3rd floor. I was handed my schedule and noticed the bride was named "Nicole Likes".....Hmmmmm, I wondered if it was the Nicole I knew!

Sure enough!!  In comes Sherryl, and her daughter in law, Allison, and her daughter Nicole!!  Sherryl was so surprised to see me and she and Nicole gave me the best hugs! What a tender mercy! It's been so long since I've seen them and it was so special to be able to. 

I didn't get to go to Nicole's sealing, but after my shift was over, I went out back and got to see Nicole and her new husband, Dan, come out of the temple. Mr. & Mrs. Dan Smith.

They were so cute together!  

I felt so blessed to be there! I was even in the group picture! lol I felt like I was photo bombing the wedding pictures!

I took a picture of Rod and Sherryl and I am so disappointed that my lense was dirty. Or maybe, I just moved! None the less, it's blurry. Such a bummer!  The kids with them are their youngest son's children. (Cam)  It was so great to see Jeff, and Cam, Sherry's boys, and Darlene, her sister. It really made my day. 

When I got down to the dressing room after my shift, one of my co-workers asked me if I was interested in a chair and an ottoman. Her neighbor was doing some downsizing and she was going to give it to Deseret Industry. Nancy asked if I wanted it. She said what great shape it was in and that it was small. I've always wanted a chair to place in front of my bedroom window so I could sit and read there. I told Tony about it and so he said we could get it in the car. So after my visit with the Likes family, Tony and I drove to Nancy's home and she directed us to her friends house.   

We were able to get it in the back of the car. It's a little bigger than I'd imagined but we put it up in the bedroom. It's very comfortable and is in EXCELLENT condition.  After we ate a quick bite, Tony went to his mother's to take out the baseboard in her bathroom. The tile is getting put in next week and Yeti & Drue took out her washer & dryer this morning.  Anyway, it's a bit crowded but I'll enjoy reading upstairs when Tony's watching something I don't want to .....Sometimes, we don't have the same taste. lol It was a great day! 

GOD IS GOOD!

INFUSION DAY

We went to the gym early this morning because Pat had a dermatology appointment at 8:45 so we met at 6:45am. We got done shortly after 8 and were on our way home.  Tony and I ate waffles for breakfast and then he went to his mom's to help her go and pick out tile for her bathroom downstairs.  I went up to my craft room and worked on getting some of the die cuts placed on cards.

I made a couple of Spiderman birthday cards, a card for someone who is sick and a generic pig card. lol   

Then I made some "gift card holders and will put movie ticket in them. I need to make a sentiment for them but time was up and I had to get to the hospital for my infusion.

I got there at 1:30 and it takes them a good 30 minutes to get the IV started, give me my meds, do the saline flush and then the steroid drip while the Rituxan was being ordered from the pharmacy. 

Then it begins. I brought a book for next months book club. It's a fairly small one and I had read some already and finished it while getting the infusion.  Once the drip was done, they give me another saline rince and send me on my way. I left the hospital at 4:50.  I was hungry so when I got home, I warmed up the remainder of the chicken and noodles.

The soup holder's I got from Pat's Aunt, Erlene,  sure comes in handy when ya wanna sit in front of the TV with a hot bowl.

AND , that's where I'm staying the rest of the evening. lol

Watching The 1st episode of THE VOICE!

God is GOOD!

LUNCHEON, DONE!

I got up when Tony got up to go to the gym. I had some cooking to do so had to pass on the gym today. 

I started by finishing up the waffle batter. Breakfast for a few days and one of the best ways to use up my sour dough starter. Then I started sauteing the onions and celery. Once I had the onions clear and the celery tender, I added the noodles (I'd already cooked) and the chicken broth, shredded chicken and spices. 

Let it  simmer and I was ready to go. Tony got home, I had the brownies and breads boxed up. Then it took the both of us, to carry out the roaster. IT WAS SO HEAVY!!

Tony took me to the shelter and helped me get all the food inside. Then he left for his physical therapy appointment.  I got busy putting the trays in place for lunch and cutting breads etc. 

My helpers showed up and we started to serve at about 11:15. There were around 55 to 60 there for lunch.

Me, Duane and Debbie Edge and Tresha Peterson. I wasn't expecting Duane but we sure appreciated his help.  We fed them rolls, peaches, a choice of banana, zucchini or pumpkin breads OR brownies.

It was a very successful lunch. The people there were so kind and appreciative. It was a good day at the shelter.

Tony got our new flag hung and NO MORE TREE  to catch on and get ratty. 

Went to my RS activity planning meeting at 7 till 8. Now I'm home and ready to go to bed. It was a Big Day!

BUT, a good day! 

GOD IS GOOD!