Youth Conference

This is Kayla's last year of Young  women's (see link).  She is in her final weeks as she finishes summer after her senior year.  The weeks are winding down as she pads through the last days of her youth and moves into being a young adult.

The kids started at Ashland University on Thursday and enjoyed the Rec. Center.  Then we moved them all to the Marriott in Columbus by the temple.  At the Temple the youth got to perform ordinances and learn about their standards and the Savior.

There was a speaker from Efy there and he taught an entertaining lesson on why Mormons are weird, nice and hot based on the top three most googled phrases.  He told them we are weird to the world because of the standards we uphold.  We are nice because we are trying to be like the Saviour.  president Talley cleared up the hot message to the youth at the testimony meeting by saying they are attractive because virtue is appealing to the soul.

I think that these youth are amazing to live such high standards in a world where anything goes.  They believe in Christ and show it by living righteously.  What more could a mother ask for? I'm proud of you Kayla, for living a morally clean life in a sometimes dreary world.

Camp Legume and Topsail Beach NC

I had the opportunity to spend four days with my Mom in NC visiting my step Nephew Josh, who is a

Marine.

We visited the beach by day and Josh and his buddy Mason by night.It is amazing the things you learn while sitting in a chair looking at an ocean.

I got to get past some childhood hurts of divorce when being able to understand from an adult perspective.  Hurt and grudges being dropped with the constant lapping of the waves washing them away.

 

I got to hear stories of a Grandmother I only knew as a child and did know her as an adult.

 

I got grips on the fact I'm teaching again this year.  I was so disappointed I didn't land a principal position and wondered what was wrong with me that I didn't get it.  I found out yesterday when I received a calling at church to be a Ward Missionary that I would not have had  time for it if I was principal.

 

I got to see a sea turtle protected area on base a Camp Legume.  It is interesting being on a base.  It is incredibly huge.  Really it is it's own city.

 

It was an incredible adventure and soul healing time this summer.  It was awesome.

 

 

Thanks Mom for taking me too.

A little Bit Older

I turned 39 on Saturday.  The age some people stay for the rest of their lives.  I'm not sure that is my style, but I'll wait to see next July fourth and decide.

My visiting teacher came last week to deliver me some Americana goodies, I got a hand towel, candle, a cup and some delicious blueberry bread, that was my breakfast, for several days.  Thank you Sandy!

I bought myself an ice cream maker.  I have made two batches, both have been excellent, but a bit soft when done.  Hopefully Yaya will tell me if I'm doing something wrong.

We took these ladies for a romp at Beyers Woods Park.  They can retrieve a frisbee from the pond now and love every minute of it.  They are big dogs now, who still have Puppy Power.  When they come out of their crates they want to run you over and jump like crazy, but in about  ten minutes they are actually fun to be around.  They are protective and cuddly and really make me smile.  It was a good birthday weekend.

The lumber finally came from Home Depot and Kyle got a great start on the porch, I no longer have to walk the planks on the front porch, I believe that is my favorite present.  I love getting home improvements done.

More like Him:Patience

My goal has been to work on perfecting myself into a better person.  One who is not quick to anger and is able to listen and act accordingly.  One who is patient and kind.  I can be this person sometimes, more often than not at work, but at home it is all different. It seems that I need to get results, bills paid, money saved and some for fun...that isn't happening as smoothly as I would like.  Non budgeted bills keep plaguing our house, with it is bringing me stress, which sometimes turns into arguments with children.

Kayla has an August birthday, which makes it hard to get a summer job that she wants.  One where you need to be 18.  She starts dog training in September.  So do you even get a job when you figure in Girls camp, youth conference and family vacation.  Mean time mom and dad are covering insurance and gas money, and sometimes going out with friends money.  I want her to get a job, she wants to wait until she comes home from school in October.

Patients is what I'm learning painfully hard ways this year.  I'm not good at waiting, I want results on something fast.  Other things I can wait for well.

Another personal stress is getting an administration position.  I have had three interviews and
 three no thank yous.  It is really hard on a person, numbered with several letters of rejection in the meanwhile.  I feel like I'm working really hard and have the school loans to prove it, but no payback on my efforts.  It is frustrating to me.  My prayers keeps saying to be patient on His will.  In the mean time the unbundle tend bills keep rolling in and I keep thinking maybe I need to get another job.

I wish patients was my talent, instead it is my trial and I am becoming more like Him each day that I try to wait on His will.  Until then my mantra has to be John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be trouble neither let it be afraid."

What is Your Nemisis?

Do you have a Nemisis?  Like joker to Batman or superman's kryptonite, something that just really, really gets on your last nerve.  I do.  I have been battling it everyday this summer.

 The dog hair around here is driving me crazy.  Tumble weeds gather around everywhere.  Kayla and I vacuum several times a day.

We end up throwing away enough hair to cover a cat daily.  Not just any cat mind you, but a Tina sized cat. Oh well, it could be worse, but it is my battle to fight since I don't have enough sense to not get my children pets.  What was I thinking?

Walking the Plank

Every summer brings projects, you know the kind that you think about all winter when it is freezing cold and all you want to do is get outside.  Our summer projects are to replace the front and back porch and build a fence for the puppies..who are BIG dogs now.

Kyle employed the help of our full time missionaries (who work for food) and stripped down all the old wood.  The roof is gone from both porches.

The floor boards are also gone from both porches.

Hence the walking of the planks to get in and out of both doors.  Sounds like fun being a pirate for a few days right...well a few days has turned into two weeks waiting on supplies to be special ordered from Home Depot.  The don't carry metal roofing we want to match the other.  Then we need to pay for all of our stuff on one bill to get a discount, hence the timeframe.  Arggg, matey, I can't wait to quit walking the plank.

The rainy evenings have been warping our boards and it is a bit scary sometimes.  Can't wait to see the finished product either.  So I guess we will button down the hatches and wait out all the storms.

Family Home Evening with Friends at the Park

This family home evening (info click here), we tried to have twice. Last Monday it rained really hard about 3:30 in the afternoon and the radar showed more so we canceled.  Then it didn't rain until late.

Today it was supposed to be nice... While we were grilling our food this tree limb fell down...should be a sign for the brig thunderstorm that blew in.

So needless to say I didn't get many pictures... We still had fun.  We crowded into Kylie's place of employment to stay safe from the rain and eat our picnics.

A couple of us braved the storm for a bit to finish cooking.

Before the storm the little ones enjoyed bubbles.

...and maybe some of the big ones too.

I forgot to take more pictures while we were in the building.  Oh well, fun story to remember with our home and visiting teaching families.  I had a lot of fun and enjoyed talking to my friends.