Houses, Houses and Not a One to Buy

Upon request I will update our house hunting journey. It is in the frustration stage. There are few homes we like in our tiny price range and even worse for me are few homes in terrible areas. Ones where, yes we would have a backyard, but I would never want to send my kids out to play and oh, someone threw a rock in the window and broke the sliding door- nice. So that one was a big no for me. We put an offer on one awesome condo in a great area, but of course since it was the deal of a lifetime, we were seriously outbid. Then we found another one in a city with not the best reputation, but the area was GREAT! New homes, close to Robert's work, TONS of space- in fact the biggest we had seen so far, etc. Of course again, we were outbid. Cry. We get kicked out of here in 2 months and all of these things take time. Closing time, moving time, inspections, yadda, yadda. We know that something will work out and there are a few we like right now that we haven't been able to see because of owner's canceling on us. It will work out, we are confident that something has to, but it is hard not to get discouraged. At this point, even this house would be appealing! Though I don't plan to be the old woman in the nursery rhyme.

Cat Hats

It is time to do something light and funny. I thought this was SO funny! It was a craig's list submission. I love the cat hats!

TAG

My sister-in-law Jill tagged my with 5 Things

5 Things...

5 Shows I watch

1. Jon and Kate plus 8
2. The Office (when I can)
3. Lots of HGTV shows
4. Law and Order SVU (when I catch it)
5. Star Trek re-runs (really, I rarely ever get a chance to watch TV, but on the occasion that I do, those seem to be what I watch)

5 Restaurants
1. Outback Steakhouse (I am listing the ones I CAN eat at)
2. PF Changs
3. Biaggi's
4. Sweet Tomatoes
5. Brazilian places (couldn't think of any others since I never eat out)

5 Thing that happened yesterday
1. Called the mortgage people
2. Called the agent
3. Went outside
4. Forgot to take Lindsey's Elmo movie back to the library
5. Put an offer in on a house

5 Things to look forward to

1. Some day having a house- any house!
2. Robert's graduation and for that matter MINE in the distant future
3. Some day selling my art... somewhere
4. Loving my cute girls every day
5. Another baby in the future

5 Things I love about fall

1. The colors
2. The smell
3. Pumpkins!
4. Emily's and Lindsey's excitement about pumpkins, costumes, watching them lag behind to crunch the leaves, etc.
5. It's closer to the holiday season

5 Thing on my wish list

1. New couch- or just better couch
2. Bigger kitchen or just an actual kitchen instead of a wall of cupboards, sink and Barbie stove pretending to be a kitchen.
3. 72 or more Prismacolor art colored pencils- why is my career so expensive??
4. A New bed
5. Being able to take care of my family and continue filling our home with love.

5 Things important to me

1. My faith
2. My husband and girls
3. My health
4. The safety of my family
5. My freedoms

5 People I tag

1. Rachel
2. Brigitte
3. Chalen
4. Spring
5. Trisha
And anyone else who wants to play!

Pianist??

I didn't mention that last week I was called to be our Primary Pianist for the children. The program is coming up in 2 weeks and I will be playing in sacrament meeting too. I am SO nervous! They called me even though we are moving before the first of the year, they still felt that I needed- or they needed- me to have this calling. I knew before they asked me what it would be. I took lessons when I was 7 and didn't take them for long. Then at the age of 13 I took from a very sweet old lady who had terrible timing. I now do not have very good timing and it is... interesting. I played last week and there were a few times I was REALLY rusty. I hope I don't hyperventilate while I am up there. We have been very busy too while we are house hunting so the practicing isn't as consistent as I would like. Speaking of, I think I should get to it, don't you? Anyway, prayers for my hands to be steady and my heart to stop pounding would be very much appreciated.

Interesting Peach

I tried a new recipe last night. I wanted gluten-free peach muffins. I had 4 of the most delicious peaches in my fridge and muffins sounded great. I found a recipe and started on it. There were no eggs in the recipe, but I thought they would be fine. When they came out of the oven and tasted them, they weren't what I thought. Bland and just not very good. Unfortunately I didn't taste it until the second batch went in. I put extra white sugar in the left over batter and some cinnamon. Those were delicious! It wasn't until I looked at the on-line recipe again, that I realized it was meant to be vegan. If these are vegan muffins then- yuck! I will keep my eggs. I wondered why there were no eggs in the recipe. Oh, well. The tops of the muffins are good where I sprinkled brown sugar on top. So- top of the muffin to ya!

Copy and paste to your blog and bold the ones you have done. (And all of these questions about Italy and art are so sad because I wish I could say I have done them, but someday I will get to live my dream.)

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (fish)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous (Truman Madsen, was friends with his grandkids, Talked with Virginia Pierce, Pres. Hinckley's daughter when I was on Seminary Council, met a few apostles, Elder Ballard, Elder Wirthlin, Sister Okazaki and a few LDS authors and musicians)
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby (Two)
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

General Conference

This last weekend was the 178th semi-annual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I love this time of year, every spring and fall. I love hearing from our leaders about Jesus Christ, about love, hope, family and the many things I need to be doing to improve myself in being a disciple of Christ. It is also a time to be with family. I always try to write notes during each talk, but with kids, I don't always reach that goal. I always feel the love of the Lord when I hear the prophet speak and also to know that none of the speakers are given subjects, but that they pray about what they should say. But the talks given often mirror one another. This one was the same, many talks on being able to handle the trials in life. How the Lord does not leave us in our struggles, but will come to us when we call. I also just adore the music, done by The Mormon Tabernacle Choir I loved when they sang this, one of my favorite hymns, I Know That My Redeemer Lives.

I always find comfort too that the talks are reprinted in the next months Ensign so that what I missed, I can read through. These are the notes I did get to take and some of the important things I remembered:

Elder L. Tom Perry talked about not being able to predict what our struggles will be. And that often living a simpler life of health, eating right, getting enough sleep, can help with managing our stress. And being sure to live within our means. To be sure to be prepared for the hard times with food storage and to save for a rainy day. But also to be prepared spiritually.

Elder Dieter F. Uchdorf spoke about his life as a child living through WWII. His father who was made to fight for the German army and his mother who tried to protect her children. While they were on a train, she left to find food for her 4 hungry kids and when she came back, the train was gone. She was scared, but she acted and prayed and was able to find them safe, even though there was a chance she might never see them again. "We have hard times, but hope is powerful. Overcome the temptation to loose hope. Despair strengthens sickness and deadens the heart... There are things to hope FOR and things to hope IN. The things we hope IN can sustain us in our daily walk. We hope in Jesus Christ. In times of distress we can hope that all things will be for our good... The Lord is the hope of His people."

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin spoke of similar things and said that everyone has heartache and sorrow and the Lord does not shield any of us away from it. "The rain falls on the just and the unjust". Laugh, seek for the eternal. The dial on the wheel of sorrow must eventually point to us and no one is exempt. "Along with every tear today will be answered 100 fold with tears of rejoicing."

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland spoke about angels and how the Lord has sent them through out the scriptures to help his children. And he still sends them today to aide us. They are here to comfort and in the course of life we all have dreary times and these times are very difficult and these angels help us as they helped Jesus Christ. "Be filled with faith as the Lord will fight our battles". Angels can also be one another as we can be the angels in each others lives.

Elder Russel M. Nelson talked about the plan of happiness and the importance of choice. There are "patterns of the shopper", some look for quality, durability, others for bargains and others for price. Others cast aside personal integrity and steal what they want. These patterns can be applied to marriage. Couples choose marriage of high quality or lesser types that won't endure and others steal what they want as "marital shoplifters". Marriage between a man and a woman is sacred. Gender is an essential part of the plan of salvation. A temple marriage is not just between husband and wife, but in partnership with God.


There were many wonderful talks that I remember and loved. I was so grateful to hear from the Prophet Tomas S. Monson as he said how we teach in our meetings by the Spirit of the Lord and I definitely feel that especially during this special time. The Lord is mindful of the challenges we face in the world. And as we obey His commandments, seek Him through prayer we will be blessed. Be good citizens and neighbors, be honest with one another and have integrity. If we work together we can alleviate suffering of others.

There were also 5 new temple buildings announced. Kansas City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Calgary Alberta, Canada, Cordoba, Argentina and Rome, Italy. I love the blessings of the temple and am always so happy to hear of new temples being built for the saints to have those blessings too. Not to mention how much I love Italy and now this is a new incentive for me to visit. *chuckle* I love Conference and am so grateful for it and look forward to the upcoming Ensign.

Sickies- AGAIN- This Time with Spots

Okay so it's not fatal. But I thought that was so cute and funny. We have some weird virus that comes with faint spots. Emily only had some on her bottom, I had a few here and there, but Lindsey has them on her face, arms and legs and bottom. They don't look like any pox- chicken or other- but to be sure I took her to the doctor. It comes with a nice week or longer dose of diarrhea so they said it's a virus with a weird spotted rash. Interesting. Hopefully it will clear up soon. Lindsey has it the worst so far. Any time you see spots though, it gets you thinking. I don't know how every sickness under the sun has decided to find us, but that is what has happened. So far we have had colds, chest colds, barfing and now this weird one. We are off to a great start this year! Maybe I should be grateful and this is as bad as it will get and everyone will be well for the rest of the year. I will stay optimistic.

"No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars or sailed an uncharted land, or opened a new doorway for the human spirit."~Helen Keller