Here I am!

Well, it's been far too long. I have some pics to post too. Just wanted to check in and say I'm having the BEST time off work ever! Had a big birthday and was well taken care of :) I love my friends and family!!

Will post more in a few days... stayed tuned!

I didn't fall off the edge of the earth

It just seems like I have. Been a bit busy, but mainly mentally spent when I'm at home. So I will write more soon. :)

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh :)

...just what I needed. What a wonderful spring break.

I got to sleep enough, but didn't waste the days away. That felt good. I decided one morning as I was lying lazily in the warmth of the covers that I am going to be the STAR of my own life story instead of a supporting character. So many times I am just trying to keep up with all that is going on around me. But how much better to be the one in control of all the happenings, right?!

This week I got many things done that have been waiting... took my car in for the two recall notices and found out another one is coming. Went for a much needed and deserved walk on the most beautiful day of the week. I organized my dvd's, cd's and got rid of most of my videos. Gave my old cd player-boom box style stereo to the universe (put it out by the trash along with the booklet and remote and it disappeared in less than 30 minutes---someone out there is happy). Took many cluttering items to the DI bin... my home feels better already. And I went through and organized a stack of boxes of scrapbook stuff from one corner of my room. Ahhhhh. That feels so good. And I called my landlords to fix the faucet and garbage disposal in the kitchen. Ended up getting a new disposal, new sink hardware and new pipes under the sink! It is all so wonderful and the water pressure is now increased by about ten times. How wonderful is that.

Due to some very generous people in my life who have given me gift cards, I was able to treat Scott and Diane to dinner twice this week!! They are always so kind and ultra generous with me. I'm glad I could provide for them too.

One day I took Bowman to the park for some alone time fun with him. What a sweetheart he is! We took lot's of pictures. He has the best smile, but he is FAST so it isn't easy to catch him. We also stopped by to visit Didi and Scottie too. I know he liked being able to "go with Beep Beep" while his other siblings stayed at home. He likes being a "big boy" too!

I took Luke to see "How to train your dragon" and to get lunch. Then went to Melissa's to work on some cards while laughing and talking with some more friends. What a TREAT that was. It was so totally relaxing and enjoyable. And they provided some very yummy pizza. Before I knew it, it was 9pm!

Saturday, I had to improvise at a rehearsal that I had not planned on, and got through three songs successfully! Even though I was worried about not being properly prepared, it was quite satisfying to make progress and suprise myself at how well I could think on my feet. Later that day I went to a 50th Anniversary party of Keith and Geri Edwards. I can't believe I have known them for 25 years and even though I don't see them that often it was great to give them a hug and share in their happy day. Also that day I did FOUR loads of laundry and washed my car. It felt great to get into bed before 10 pm.

Today I gave the RS lesson and thankfully got through it. I always read and read the lesson over and over but, I never really know how the lesson is going to go and if people are going to respond or what tangent they will get off on, but everytime it seems to go pretty well and always the time is gone before I know it. I'm always surprised at how much anxiety I feel right before the lesson starts. I know I should feel confident, but usually I do not. Today one person made a comment about Adam and Eve and that they probably had quite a discussion on wheather or not to eat the forbidden fruit... now I know that that probably didn't happen and I know they were completely innocent (as someone thankfully pointed out), but I was unable to knock her opinion down - more because I don't want to discourage people from participating. I think many had so many wonderful things to share and I was glad when the other sister was able to get it right. I always hope that I can share the lessons in a way that they are not boring, but more importantly so that the sisters at least feel like it wasn't a waste of their time. I am always to grateful that the spirit is there. I live in a great ward of many wise and kind people.

I feel ready to jump back into real life and plan on keeping up with all the good cleaning and organizing that I have done! And I plan on hanging onto the ahhhhhhhhh feeling this last week has been for me. AND I am going to try to be a better photographer of my life story... so many fun opportunities lost! But I'll do better, I promise.

So looking forward...

... to a minute when I won't have to be worried about anything... Well, this is the week before my show opens... tons to accomplish, feeling very overwhelmed and wondering how in the world it will all come together. Can't wait to find out!!!

Spring break is coming, but not I'm a little worried that I am putting way too much pressure on those five little days off. But I really am excited... only two more weeks :)

Choices, choices, choices

That seems to be right in my face the last couple of days. EVERYTHING is a choice. Getting out of bed, what to wear, what to eat, which earrings. By the time I go out of the door I'm on choice overload!!! Even when I think I have a plan, someone calls and presents another choice and then I have to re-decide all over again! My RS lesson in a couple of weeks is titled "Freedom to Choose". It is a big responsibility. I have really been so aware of this gift we have been given. We use this gift everyday and it really matters what we choose. That is why I have only one perfume on my counter. The only choice is "to spray or not to spray". At least something is easy.

Random thoughts... no pics.

Well, I have been repremanded at least three times for not posting lately so here it is:

Work is going great. The things that are routine are with all the different little events that working with 3000 students can bring. Age 14-18 is an amazing age. I don't remember being all THAT confident. Whew, amazing. Amongst all the entitled, over indulged, don't have a clue students that pass by my desk, there are the few diamonds in the rough that really make it all worth it.

There is one girl who moved here last year and enrolled mid-year. She didn't know a soul and was apprehensive and worried about making friends. I suggested she audtion for the show last year... oops, she didn't pass the audition. I felt terrible. Well, guess who showed up again this year? Yep it was her again. I was so nervous for her. But what do you know she improved!! She was not amazing or even very good. But she was giving it her all and I just had to cast her. She is doing just fine, even great in so many ways. She is so happy and has all kinds of friends. I moved to a new high school the end of my sophomore year and I know how hard it is to be new in a strange place. It is so fun to see her self esteem soar at each rehearsal. I am so excited for her to have her first performance under her belt. She is going to love it. Theater can be a weird place to be, but if you can get past the strange freak shows backstage; what it can do for people can be amazing. Hooray!

Today I tackled a project I've been avoiding far to long and got it DONE! One small step in the right direction. I still have mountains of doing and fixing to do, but for the moment I'm resting on that small laurel. :)

AND I'm sticking to my budget I set two weeks ago... Ugh! Why is this so hard for me? I was meant to have exactly what I want when I want it, right? Why do I hear my mom's voice gently telling me to be patient? Ok, I hear you! Thanks.

Well that's about it for now, or I should say that's enough for now. Maybe I need to take a picture of me at work so I'll have something to post along with all the words... Till next time---this is it!

Rehearsing

I'm directing the show "The Pajama Game" at MHS this year. Here are a few pics of a rehearsal. They are a good bunch of kids. Hopefully all their hard work will pay off and we will have a good show.

Go Broncos!

Luke is playing flag football this year. His team is the Broncos. Last night they had a game and they won 42 to 7 AND Luke got a touchdown. Can't wait for tomorrow's game... unless it gets rained out.

Cookies!!

Last Sunday afternoon I made cookies!! Cowboy cookies to be precise. I got the recipe out of a ward cookbook and this one seemed like the best one to use the chocolate and butterscotch chips I had on the counter. It called for rolled oats, so I knew they would be yummy. I used all butter (thanks Julia!) instead of margarine and shortening. Maybe that made them a little more flimsy, but definitely yummier! The picture does not do them justice. Too bad that's all that's left of the Cowboy Cookies.

What is going on...

Still haven't taken a minute to download pictures yet, but I will soon :) I have been asked to be one of the RS teachers in my ward. I hope I can do a good job. I sure will try. Currently I am directing the show "The Pajama Game" at Marina High School. We are in the beginning rehearsal stage... it performs at the Rose Center Theater March 25, 26, 27. The songs are starting to grow on me. Probably not my favorite choice of a show, but so far we are having fun.

Yesterday I pulled my keys out of my purse and noticed that my house key was broken clean off. The rest of it was jammed in the door knob. Ugh. Luckily my apartment maintenance guy was right by my door when I was there and he was able to change the knob and key it to match my other keys that I have stashed at friends homes (I tend to lose my keys). So happy ending to what may have been a tradgedy.

Love Fridays!

Tonight I went to Disneyland with my good friend Tammy Struhs and her family. In the picture are Tammy, Vaughn, Sara, Maggie and Bill. It was a perfect night... no wind, crystal clear skies and a full moon. We had a good time!

Still Navigating

So now that I've learned how to make a cute background and add other blogs to my list and a few other things, I still need to learn how to get the background to not be so big on my page. I can't see the cute things on the side on my screen at home, but I got it to work at my work... go figure. One day I will be a master of all of this and laugh--- ha-ha at how silly I was in the beginning. Can't wait.

my first blog

Not really sure what I'm going to do with this, but maybe it will kind of be like keeping a journal which I think about, but never do anymore. AND I just got a digital camera for the first time and would like to use it :) Here we go!!!