Ellen

Well, even though Ellen has done some things that tick me off, I still think she is one of the funniest people around and I love her show. I don't think about watching it and I am trying to not let my afternoon or life become just one TV show after the other. So I accidentally discovered something neat. The other day I sat down for a moment to take a break and Ellen was on. One of the American Idol cast offs (Tim Urban), which I liked a lot was on, but it was the very end, so I went to Ellen's website and lo and behold what was there, the clip of the day-Tim Urban! It was great. I have this yuccky cold still so am not doing much. I thought I would eat some popcorn and take a break and watch a little TV, it was in the middle of Ellen again, and remember I live on the coast, there is a storm outside and so the satellite wasn't working very good. She had this kid imitating a commercial it was so funny, so up I went to the computer and guess what the clip of the day was? You guessed it this kid. You should check it out, it was really funny. Hope all are well! I hope Rebecca posts about her good news, she got test scores back for her girls! They are amazing! Love you All!

Beam me up Scotti!

I know I have no right to feel sorry for myself, but I am having a pity party and that is just the way it is. The other day I was watching a bio of Philo Farnsworth, the creator of the TV. I came upstairs and starting talking to Steve about something I saw once on TV about how many of the things we have in the technology world were first only in the science fiction world. I want a "beam me up Scotti" machine. I want to be able to beam over to my kids, grand kids, parents, siblings, friends, and of course Costco and trader joes. I know it's silly, but I am as I said feeling sorry for myself today. I would tell a friend that we all feel that way some days and it's okay, so I guess it's okay.

So much to post

First boring, I have a cold. Not fun!

I have been reading the Book of Mormon because our Stake Pres. challenged us. I started late so am reading a lot of pages every day. I am reminded how much I love the Book of Mormon. Today the thing that hit me in a new way was how strong traditions are. The Lord excuses the Lamanites a lot because of the traditions of their fathers. Wellll, I got to thinking, what kind of traditions are we creating? If it takes something like the scriptures to break a tradition, then traditions are pretty powerful. So just like a bad one can ruin someones life, a good one could make all the difference. Just a thought!

I spent three days this week working on Jake and Lyndsey's house helping them to clean it so they can move in. Miles and I spent the whole time I was cleaning together. It was so fun, I would hear this sweet little voice say "Ama where are you?" It was so sweet. Once I had to call Steve and all I got was the answering machine. Miles LOVES Steve, so he said "Umpa, I want to talk to Umpa". So I called Steves cell phone and while Steve talked, Miles just smiled and laughed, occasionally pulling the phone away to see if he could see Steve. It was sweet. I was grateful for the energy and ability to help. I don't think I have been on my hands and knees that long in a loooonnnnngggg time. Here are some pics of their new house!I picked my first batch of lettuce yesterday! I haven't made a salad yet because I don't feel good.:-(. But maybe tonight. My carrots are up, they are tiny but you can tell they are carrots! I spent my first day at the greenhouse with people in our old house. It was strange. I had to go to the bathroom and that was uncomfortable. I told Steve that I was going to have to make a port-a-potty for my greenhouse, he said "just go at Weight Watchers before you go." I said "it's hot in there, I get thirsty!!!" Steve, "Oh." I was setting up a new watering system for the umpteenth time. It drives me crazy! I put up a sign Lizzie gave me. She gave it to me for my b-day, and we were getting ready to move. She said she could take it back, but in the back of my mind I wasn't sure if I wanted to give up my greenhouse, so I said I wanted to keep it. I am so glad I did, I love it!!! Lizzie gave me this watering can years ago, I wondered if I would use it much, and it has been worth it's weight in gold. Who would have thought!

I love that the days are longer!!!

Well, I am tired. Hope you enjoyed the pics and info, love you all!! Oh I added the annoying type in thing because I was getting anonymous comments.

Gospel Principles

I love, love, love this manual. The lessons are short, sweet and to the point. I am moved every time I read it! I hope you are all taking advantage of it. No matter how busy your life, the lessons are short enough for anyone to read before they attend their lesson. You will get so much more out of your meeting if you read it ahead of time. If you are in Primary or Young Women's, all the more reason to read it!!! Love you all!!!

Oxy Clean, Book of Mormon, and Hair Dresser, Greenhouse

Well, I have decided if you have a lot of girls try to get one of them to be a hair dresser. Send them to a great school and you will be happy for life. Megan and Greg came this weekend and my hair was long over due. She said, "I was thinking about a few layers", I got very excited, so was I. I have also learned to totally trust her. She has never since she has graduated steered me wrong. If it weren't for Megan, I wonder if I would be gray today! I about died the first time she begged me to add just a few strands red highlights in my hair. I was scared to death. After it was done, I loved it and I was hooked. I wanted more the next time. I had a friend who was so upset, she said, "you ruined your virgin hair!" (Nan Davis) I said "don't you like it," she says "yes, but I loved the color of your hair, now it will never be the same :-(. I tried hard not to laugh, she was so serious. I knew she loved the color of my hair becuase she had told me many times that she wished her hair was the color of mine. Anyway I look all beautified because of my Megan!! Thanks Megan!

Oxy Clean! There is nothing quite like it. I have stories I could tell... but one in particular my girls are sworn to secrecy about. We almost ruined a borrowed item and I saved it with oxy clean! I was a believer after that. We borrowwed an item and Amy left it in her trunk for a long time. One day she opened up her trunk and we all went into shock, it had mildewed. We all about died. I thought, well its ruined now, so why not take a chance. I took the item, soaked it in very hot water and oxy clean for 8 hours. I took it out and voila! it looked like new. One of my daughters figured out that if she soaked her girls laundry in oxy clean for several hours she didn't have to spot them. Sounded good to me, so I put my light colors in the washer with oxy clean let it sit over night w/o spotting them and voila! they come out clean and spotless! Now if you know our family, we can't eat w/o getting food on us, so this is very important! Well, about 6 months or so ago, I got my new front loader. I racked my brain how I was going to do this because it doesn't fill up with water and then start. I thought my oxy days were over, I was a very sad girl. Then I thought, my machine has a soak cycle, so I tried it with oxy, left it over night and voila! It worked. Then I just put my soap in like normal, added a second rinse and I have my heavenly spotless world back!!! :-) Don't you think oxy clean should pay me to do commercials!? :-)

Book of Mormon: Well our Stake Pres. challenged all of us to read the Book of Mormon (last Sept at Stake Conf.) by June like the Seminary kids. I had full intentions of doing it, procrastinated, forgot and then the other day thought, "if our Stake Pres. asked us to do this, then I will be blessed if I do it". So I sat down and did the math, 8 PAGES PER DAY!!!! Well, I was right, I have already been so blessed. I feel like I am truly feasting in the scriptures. I am always amazed how the Book of Mormon brings you closer to Christ than any other book of scripture. I love it!!! I am so grateful to our Stake Pres. for asking us to do this. I hadn't been reading it because I was focusing on reading our Sunday School scripture assignments and the Priesthood, RS lessons. I was reminded of why Pres. Romney (member of first pres. when I was a girl and first married) and Pres. Benson said we should read it every day. Try it you'll like it!

My Greenhouse. I know, I know, how many times can I write about my greenhouse. Well, today is greenhouse day and I had Steve come down to help me put in a new watering timer. After we get it all put together, we try it out to make sure it works. Water started going everywhere. Two of our faucets in the beds were spraying water everywhere. This winter it got colder for a few days than I can ever remember on the coast. Remember the icsicle post? Well, it cracked the pipes on two of my faucets, and two of my hoses. Poor Steve has to go and fix them for me tomorrow. He is such a good husband!!! He was going to work on his boat,but instead is going to fix my watering system! I had teeny tiny carrots coming up! :-)

Well, its late, love you all!!!

Letting Go, Ruby and Miles, Easter and other things

Over the last few weeks I have let go of so many things. It has been hard, but I think I am "rounding the bend" as they say. The first thing I gave up was gum. I know you are all laughing. But, I was chewing 3 pieces at a time about 5 or 6 times a day. I was starting to feel like my body was filling up with chemicals. I also was starting to get my head together in the weight dept. and I felt like the gum was just prolonging me facing why I need sugar after I eat a meal or whenever I am stressed. I realized how much I was chewing and how addicted I was when all I could think about was wanting gum for several weeks.

About a week later I decided it was time I gave up Greys Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, and the Office. I couldn't sleep one night and I was mad that I couldn't sleep. I had just finished an episode of Greys Anatomy, and was tossing and turning in bed. It was about 12:30 am. I decided to turn on the light and read a conference talk since I hadn't read my scriptures that day. As I read I started pondering on the direction my life had been going. I decided it was time to give up the things that were taking up so much of my time and thoughts. I realized, I hadn't done my visiting teaching, hadn't worked on my calling at all, and that I still had lots of things to unpack. On top of that as we all know those aren't the best shows on earth. I turned on the TV and deleted my DVR schedule for those shows, then the next day deleted off of the TV upstairs also. On one hand I felt relieved, on the other hand I could feel the withdrawals big time. It took me probably about 2 weeks to be really glad and not miss them. Today when we were turning on the TV to watch conference Greys was on the channel that the TV was on and I have to tell you it felt like someone had punched me in the stomach it was weird. I felt like I had to hurry and put something else in my mind quickly. I was glad it was conference time.

Then last but not least, I had been pondering seriously the fact that I reached my goal weight 5 and a half years ago, but have never been able to maintain it. I asked myself some serious questions about how I felt about it and really prayed about it. I realized that for me Heavenly Father really cares. I don't know why for sure, I just know I am supposed to be as healthy as I can and weigh 5 pounds below my goal weight and learn to maintain it. I think it is a combination of feeling good about myself emotionally, and being at an optimum healthy weight, and being able to speak from experience to my WW members. The other thing that has become very clear to me recently is that Heavenly Father really wants me to teach WW's. I realized that I am good at being a WW leader and that I help people regain their health back. At Conference today I was greatly impressed by how much Heavenly Father loves ALL of us, therefore if I can help people be healthy and be a light in a very dark place, it is very important.

After I came to this realization I also realized that I could only handle treats twice a week. So that was hard too.

When I got to the point that I was really serious, Lizzie called me up and asked me if I would like to check in with each other every night, I said ABSOLUTELY. It has been an answer to my prayers. I am amazed at how much of a difference it is to check in with Lizzie. We give each other encouragement, ideas and pep talks. We remind each other that we are doing good, and not to beat up on ourselves. I just can't say enough how good it has been for me. Then coincidentally, if you believe in coincidences the topic for this week that I was to use in WW's was on the importance of WW buddies. I was able to really tell them what a difference a buddy can make. It was great.

Well, onto the next subject, I had a meeting in Portland last weekend and Jake and Lyndsey are getting ready to move, so I took Ruby and Miles home with me for 3 nights. We had a good time. We cooked, sewed, and played games. We made pancakes of course, Ruby's favorite food, and bug cupcakes. I wanted to do Bunny cupcakes,but I lost the vote. Ruby's "fuzzy" a blanket that is fuzzy and silky, is getting so small, so I said lets make a new one. She sits on my lap and sews with me. I actually let her do a little on her own. I told her when she turns 6 I will let her sew all by her self, with me at her side of course. I will put the pedal on a box , put the machine on slow speed and let her truly learn to sew. If I know Ruby, when she turns 6 she will be calling me or telling her parents its time to go on a date. A date to Ruby means that she comes to our house or her other grandparents.

The Greenhouse. Every Thursday after WW's, I go to our old house on Idaho Street and work in my greenhouse. It has been a wonderful thing. It is a cell phone free zone. It is me and my music, or a book on tape, and my plants. I have beans coming up, lettuce coming upbefore and after, and garlic. Of course my herbs that are always growing. It really has been a wonderful escape. I am hoping this summer it works to only go out once a week, if not I will just go another day also. I will really miss going out right before dinner and picking fresh produce, but at least I can go once or twice a week.

The Elevator. Welllll.....the carpenters came and ripped up part of Steve's office and the broom closet and framed in a bathroom. The old bathroom is where our elevator is going to go. It will stop on 3 floors, the garage, downstairs, and the top floor. Poor Steve's office got smaller It will be great. They also framed in a spot for my extra fridge where the dumb waiter used to be in my pantry. As soon as the plans come in the carpenters will come back and make the elevator shaft. The plumbers were here for two days making a huge mess plumbing in the new bathroom. Right now we don't have a bathroom upstairs, but hopefully in a month or so we will have an elevator, and new bathroom, my fridge in the pantry and our two freezers in the garage! Yea! Right now my extra fridge and one freezer is in the shop. Remember where we live, it rains, not fun to go get food out in the dark rainy night. But I feel blessed to have them.

This weekend I decided to get flowers for Easter, I have loved them. I also decided to try some new recipes that Lizzie told me about. She found this cool site where a girl that has lost her weight on WW's has posted a ton of recipes with all the points values. I tried 3 of her recipes and they were a huge hit with everyone. Now keep in mind I had Amy and Mike, Megan and Greg, and my husband. These are not dieters, they loved all the food. She uses real food and Steve's reaction was "this is like the salads in restaurants!" Pretty cool! I also made a very tasty low cal potato salad, again with real food. It was so fun. We put the salad plates on top of the regular plates and served the salad and freshly made bread first, then took those plates away and served the rest of the meal. It was delicious and fun. I didn't take pics though, I am kind of sad about that. Oh well, next time.

Here is my wall of pics! The one pic you can't see is Lizzie's Family pic, eventually I will get that cool lens that Lizzie has and hopefully I won't have the flash problem!!Here are a few close upsI will post the visit of Ruby and Miles pics later, I am tired.
Love you all!!!!