Christmas 2013

Our Christmas this year was very low key and quiet. I worked on Christmas Eve, but my amazing boss made me go home early. Kyle and I got ready and headed to Hooper for the Maughan/Wright Christmas Eve party. Niki and Greg's home is gorgeous. I have to confess I did some major coveting. We had a delicious dinner and enjoyed the nativity. I realized when we got home that for the first time in my memory we didn't sing the 12 Days of Christmas. We failed Grandma and Aunt Venice miserably.

Kyle and I opened our Christmas pajamas when we got home and went to bed. Kyle's parents got up and went to see the grandkids open their gifts the next morning, while Kyle and I slept in until 11:00. There are benefits to not having children. We just did stocking gifts for each other, so we got up and opened them. Kyle's siblings and their families came over around 1:00 and we had dinner and opened gifts from his parents. Kids make Christmas so much more fun. When those 7 boys get a few years older the house isn't going to be big enough to hold them.

We gathered up our stuff and went to Newton and met up with my family and the Petersen's for a delicious dinner. We watched the kids open more gifts and it was a lot of fun. Ella is old enough to get into Christmas this year and it was fun to watch her open her gifts. We gave Garrett a little sticky octopus I found at the dollar store. I bought it for him because I remember having one when I was a kid. You throw it against the wall and it crawls down it. Garrett quickly informed us all it was a squid, and created a game which involved taping a container to the side of refrigerator and enticing the kids to come and take turns trying to throw the "squid" into the container. He later decided he was the mayor and was very busy. Too busy to come open presents.

We got back to Wellsville really late. We had Marijka's name for Christmas. She didn't know what she wanted so I got her gift cards to Hastings. I split the amount among 6 gift cards. I took a bag of taffy and wrapped it in packing tape. I kept going and added in cards and candy as I rolled the tape. So when she opened the box there was a big ball (2 rolls worth) of packing tape she had to unroll to collect her gift. I figured we needed a little entertainment. It took her a while, but she was faster than I thought she would be.

It was a quiet, but nice Christmas.

My Memories Software Giveaway

You may recall I gave away a copy of this cool digital scrapbook software last month ago on a website called www.MyMemories.com. It is extremely easy to use. It comes with lots of album templates. You can just choose your pictures and the software will add them to the albums they already have created. Or you can do what I did in the Wedding Album I created and loaded below and start with one of their templates changed the colors, and added a few embelishments. What in the past would have usually taken me several hours to complete took me just over an hour and most of that time was spent choosing what pictures to use.

You can also purchase additional scrapbook kits to use with the software if they don't have what you are looking for, but I found plenty of options for what I needed.

They have generously offered to let me give away another free copy of their software to 1 of my readers. Just visit www.mymemories.com and browse around. Then come back to my comments and tell me your favorite digital paper pack or layout by December 31, 2012.  I will assign each comment a number and will randomly draw a number.  The person who made that comment will receive a code to download the software totally free.

If you aren't lucky enough to win the contest you can use my code to receive $10 off of your purchase of the My Memories Suite V4. The code is: STMMMS70839

The winner is: Marlee Anderson

Merry Christmas!!!

The Teaching Spirit

In light of the tragedy in NewTown, CT on Friday I've been giving a lot of thought to the women who gave their lives to protect their students.  For those who may not know I come from a family of educators. My Grandma taught 3rd Grade at Wellsville Elementary forever, her daughter Susan continued that tradition just retiring 1 1/2 years ago, followed by my sister Janalee who teaches there now.  Susan's daughter Natalie is a secondary teacher.  My Great Aunt Venice taught in Tremonton. Her daughter Kathy and son Scott following behind her to teach as well. Venice's grandson Rick, granddaughter Whitney, and great-granddaughter Brooke all following in their footsteps. My sister Marlee is currently in the Special Education program at USU.

When I imagine what went on in that school on Friday I think of my sister Janalee.  She is an amazing teacher, will be a great principal when she decides to make that change.  Someday she will be a wonderful mother.  I envy her patience and skills she has in dealing with the kids. When they tell the story of the teacher who hid her students and told the gunman they weren't there and lost her life for it, or the principal who tried to stop the gunman, I know that is something she would do without hesitation. She is just that caliber of person.  It takes a special type of person to be a teacher.  I'm proud that there are so many in my family who have the teaching spirit. The true love of watching a child learn.

Thank you to all educators for the sacrifices you make to provide a good learning environment for the nation's children. For practicing lockdowns, duck and cover, and other safety practices.

 

My Memories Software Giveaway

 

You may recall I gave away a copy of this cool digital scrapbook software a few months ago on a website called www.MyMemories.com. It is extremely easy to use. It comes with lots of album templates. You can just choose your pictures and the software will add them to the albums they already have created. Or you can do what I did in the Wedding Album I created and loaded below and start with one of their templates changed the colors, and added a few embelishments. What in the past would have usually taken me several hours to complete took me just over an hour and most of that time was spent choosing what pictures to use.

You can also purchase additional scrapbook kits to use with the software if they don't have what you are looking for, but I found plenty of options for what I needed.

They have generously offered to let me give away a free copy of their software to 1 of my readers. Just visit www.mymemories.com and browse around. Then come back to my comments and tell me your favorite digital paper pack or layout.  I will assign each comment a number and will randomly draw a number.  The person who made that comment will receive a code to download the software totally free.

If you aren't lucky enough to win the contest you can use my code to receive $10 off of your purchase of the My Memories Suite V3. The code is: STMMMS70839

UPDATE: The winner of the free My Memories software is Paula Anderson.

Thanksgiving = Family

I feel like there is something I need to say today, but I'm having a hard time getting my thoughts together well enough to express it.  Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. My mind runs like a movie reel back over all the Thanksgivings I have had. The recent ones don't even really play out, it's the ones of years gone by that I have the most vivid memories of. I remember the year Grandma was in the hospital and I spent the night before Thanksgiving sleeping in her room and got to bring her home on Thanksgiving in time to have our usual dinner at her house. I remember when she use to do all the work and prepare a huge meal. My family would go over to her house on Wednesday night and carry the tables in from the garage and set the tables. I remember how happy I was the year we finally convinced her we could use plastic plates and still have a nice meal. Therefore shortening the time us kids would have to stand around in the sweltering kitchen cleaning up from dinner, taking turns washing the dishes and rearranging the fridge 5 times to try and fit more food inside it. I remember when Grandma got too frail to do it anymore, but still wanted to so badly. How we divided up the meal and still had the same dinner at her place each year until she was gone. Getting up early and going over and helping her with the rolls because she was determined she could still do them. It meant so much to her to fix a nice dinner for her family to enjoy.

By the time dinner was ready her house would be so hot. The front kitchen window would be steamed over with water droplets running down it. Sometimes even the big front room windows would have condensation on them. She never thought it was too warm. When Grandma wasn't looking we would turn the thermostat way down, open the doors, and crack the windows in a desperate attempt to get some cool air circulating. There were years we fit 40 people in that small space and everyone had a place to sit. After living there I don't know how we ever accomplished that.

After dinner the men would take over the TV Room and "watch football" which meant have a nap. The ladies would gather in the front room and go through the newspaper and chat for hours. Ideas would be thrown out of things we could go and do, yet we rarely ever got up the gumption to actually go and do anything. Thanksgiving means family to me. Time spent together with family we didn't often see. It was the one holiday of the year when we would see my uncle and other family that we rarely ever spent time with.

Marlee and Marijka don't have these memories, they don't remember the things I do about Thanksgiving and that makes me a little sad.

We were to spend the holiday with Kyle's family in Mesa, Arizona this year. I was looking forward to the opportunity to get to know them better, see their home, and spend some time with my nieces and nephews. At the last minute the trip was cancelled and we are disappointed. But we still have family and thanksgiving dinner here to enjoy so we'll be okay.

This post didn't even end up going the direction my thought were, so apparently I had something different to say than what is on my mind. I hope you all have a wonderful thanksgiving and get to spend it with friends and family you love.

I Still Believe!

I recently read Lisa Wingate’s new book, “Larkspur Cove.” I love her writing and eagerly await my turn on the library hold list to read her latest novel. I always take away something from what she has written.

In this last book she talks about how, “Building a life is a little like planning a road trip. You travel mile by mile, each depending on the last. It’s hard to end up where you planned to be if there are flaws in the map, and the more you look, the more you realize there have been gaps all along, and at this point you are hopelessly off the course you wanted/planned to be on.”

It’s logical at this point to ask now what? To throw your hands up into the air and yell, “Could this day get any worse! Could this week, this year, this…anything possibly get any worse?”

In my case the answer is YES! Yes it can and is probably going to, sooner rather than later so you may as well just expect it.

So the lesson I am taking from this book is that I have got to take my chances as they are. God gives what he gives, and only he knows why. If I am smart, and I believe I am relatively intelligent I will open the gift while it is on the table. Enjoy it. Be thankful for it. Live every minute of it while it’s happening. Even if it’s not the gift I want or expect. Stop looking ahead. Stop looking back. Stop. Look around.

I didn’t just end up here. I’ve been brought here. Even my, what feels like weary, tattered faith knows we are never given a challenge without also being given the means to conquer it. I still believe that.

I still believe!

It’s too easy to focus on all the things that have and are going wrong in my life, that sometimes I don’t see how truly blessed I am in my life. I feel I often miss the tender mercies.

Even when I’ve been in the deepest despair, when I thought I was lost in the darkness, I’ve never been alone. God is here, even when I can’t see Him, can’t hear His call, or feel his presence I know He is always by my side.

That is what gives me the strength to get up every morning and start a new day. I won’t lie, some days it is much easier than others. And some days I don’t make it up when I should, but I’m still trying and for me that is what counts. How well will I do with the lesson taught in this book only time will tell.

Christmas is Coming!

Let Me Take The Stress

out of Your

Holiday Shopping This Year

Purchase a package shown below of place an order of $20 or more and I will have your gift delivered to a location of your choice, beautifully wrapped, at no additional cost to you. Just go online and pick your warmer, scents, chocolate flavors, etc. and get with me to place your order. Orders must be placed through me in order to receive free shipping, wrapping, and delivery.

Kami's Scentsy Site

Kami's Velta Site

Contact Kami



Happy Halloween 2012

This year we celebrated Halloween the Saturday before with my family up in Cache Valley. My parents serve chili and cinnamon rolls every Halloween. Since Kyle and I would be in Salt Lake on Halloween we made them Saturday night.

Emily was out of town with her friends so her girls spent the night with us at Mom and Dad's Friday night. Saturday was the Newton Library witches storytime thing so we got the girls in their costumes and went out there.  At the last minute I decided to dress up with them and the kids all loved it. We met up with Kyle in Newton where he was helping put things away from deer camp. We brought Garrett and Abby home with us so Nat could clean up from the activity and then she came later. I sure love those 5 kids. They were so funny. Ella was cracking me up wearing my Dad's hat around.

It was a lot of fun and the kids had a blast. There are better pictures somewhere, but I don't have them right now.
 



"Filling Free"

You may or may not know that 8 years ago I had a weight loss surgery know as "LapBand." This is where they place a band around the top part of your stomach. The result is that you get full after eating only a small amount of food. The tightness of the band can be adjusted by "filling" it with saline (or removing saline) through a port that is under the skin in my abdomen.

To date I have lost 120 pounds. Half of that in just the last 18 months. There are certain foods that I have learned to avoid because they get "stuck" easily. This is very uncomfortable until it digests. Bread, beef, and lettuce are 3 of the main things I eat rarely.

So the reason for this story is that I haven't had a good hamburger in 8 years. I have dreamed of the Banzai burger at Red Robin that whole time.

For a few different reasons I had all of the saline from my band removed on Tuesday. So last night for Kyle and my anniversary we headed to Red Robin where I enjoyed every bite of a Banzai burger. It was just as good and just as messy as I remember. Is it weird that I could get so much enjoyment out of a hamburger?

Finally Feeling Fall

I have been sick of summer for a couple of months now. Today I finally felt that chill in the air that I know means fall is just around the corner. I am so excited.

Sardine Canyon

Sardine Canyon

I am just not one of those people who enjoy the heat and it is definitely about 10 degrees hotter here in Salt Lake than it is in Cache Valley during the summer. Even with living in a basement where it is cooler, without having AC it has been a long hot summer. I'm getting a ceiling fan if we are still here next summer.

The fall season is my favorite time of year. I love the temperature, I love the beautiful leaves and I love the feeling in the air.

The weather men/women have been telling us we wouldn't see the oranges and reds in the leaves this year because of the drought, but it sure doesn't look like they are missing to me. I would even say there are more than usual. The leaves on the mountains above the house started changing weeks ago, but with the temperature still in the 90's it was just weird. I have to have the whole package in order to really feel the season. Today with the temperature in the 70's it seemed they were brighter and more vibrant than they have been so far. It finally feels like fall.

Raptors Baseball Game

Dad's company had a Century Link night at the Raptor's baseball game. The rest of the family was out of town so Me, Dad, Kyle, and Don (Kyle's Dad) went to the game. It was a beautiful night and we had a fun time. The Raptor's even won the game. It was a fun way to the spend the night with my favorite guys.

How Do You Treat Others?

There are two people I work with who have vastly different personalities and ways of going about things. It seems they are currently not seeing eye to eye on anything and things are fraught with tension. They have met to work things out, but it has only seemed to brew more dissension. I hate to see someone who I see as a really nice person be hurt by another person's sense of self importance. I'm hoping is doesn't do lasting damage or cause them to leave their position here because I think they do a lot of good here.

I am currently reading the book "Time Untime" by Sherrilyn Kenyon. As I've mentioned before she is one of my favorite authors and I've quoted from her in the past. So far found I have found this book to be somewhat hard to follow. I rarely if ever don't finish a book I start, but I have been known to move into a mode where I read, but somewhat dissengage from the book. A lot like I did back in the day when I would be required to read something really boring in college. Despite being in that mode the following passages reached out and grabbed me the other night. Maybe because I have been hurt and betrayed by someone I totally trusted and felt was my friend. It is a hard thing to get over. Also, because there are things I have done that I have later regretted or felt I could have handled better. I guess it all comes down to the way we treat others and my desire for us to be aware of how our actions affect the world around us.

Maybe this doesn't make sense to anyone else, but I thought I would share this in case it strikes a cord with anyone besides me. If not, that's okay because I keep this blog mostly for myself anyway.

"Life is messy. It's not easy and it's definitely not for the timid. Everyone has a past. Regrets... Betrayals... Life isn't about learning to forgive those who have hurt you or forgetting your past. It's about learning to forgive yourself for being human and making mistakes. Yes, people disappoint us all the time. But the harshest lessons come when we disappoint ourselves. When we put our trust and our hearts into the hands of the wrong person and they do us wrong. And while we may hate them what they did, the one we hate the most is ourself for allowing them into our private circle. How could I have been so stupid? How could I have let them deceive me? We all go through that."

"If we're lucky, we find the one person who will hold our trust and keep it sacred and safe against all attackers. That one soul who will restore our belief that people are decent and kind, and that life, while messy, is still the most wonderful gift anyone can know. But until that day comes, we have to try and remember that (our faith) is something we carry inside ourselves. That touch of the divine that lights a fire inside us that burns out the past and consumes the pain until nothing is left but a warmth that allows us to love others more than ourselves. A warmth that only grows when we do right even while others seek to do us wrong. Peace is knowing that one life, no matter how trivial it seems, touches thousands of others, and learning to respect that about all people. While you may not mean much to the world, to those who really know and love you, you are their entire world. And is the knowledge that no one can hurt you unless you allow them to. The only power they have isn't something they've taken or demanded. It's what we give them by choice. And while it is imperative that we value the lives of others, it is equally important to value our own.

"The truth is always simple, but the path to it is overgrown with thorns and lined with traps. Our fears and our emotions cloud even the brightest day and the clearest truth. You can't replant the garden until you've overturned the soil. And nothing new can grow until the old dies. We can't change what we've done, but we can always change what we're going to do."   -Sherrilyn Kenyon

Relay For Life

The Relay for Life was quite eventful this year. We started off with a major wind and rain storm. We were able to get the canopies lowered fast enough to escape major damage. We all huddled down and held them from blowing away.

Later that night Dad and I were pulling Gracie and Ella back to the trailer in the dark and the path dropped off and the wagon tipped over sending them both flying. They were covered in dirt and both obviously very upset. I couldn't tell how badly they were injured in the dark so we just scooped them up and headed for the trailer. I called Kyle and told him to get Emily over to the trailer ASAP. Once we got all the dirt off it turns out they were more scared than injured. Of course by that time the trailer was full of pretty much our whole team. I think Dad and I were as traumatized as they were. It was awful.

 

Despite all the drama we had a fun time raising money for the American Cancer Society. It is such a good cause and one that is close to my heart.

 

Today I found out my cousin Shane has stage 4 cancer in his stomach, appendix, and colon. It was so devestating to hear this. He is only in his early 40's and has so much to live for. It is such a helpless feeling to know you can't do anything about it other than pray.

 

Each of us has our own reasons for caring about the fight against cancer, but it seems that we all know someone who has personally battled this disease. In the last few months Tish Reynolds, Janet Hawkes, and Patty Jones have all lost their battle with this disease.

 

My family originally started participating after the Petersen's lost Vone and then Claude to cancer. Since that time my sister Janalee and best friend Britney have both become survivors of thyroid cancer and my Grandpa Farrell suffered from prostate cancer which contributed to his death. My friend Karen is a survivor and my friend Alayna is currently battling brain cancer and just had a 2nd tumor removed. Kyle's aunt Peggy and Grandma Willis were also victims of this horrible disease. Craig's brother Bruce is currently fighting against cancer. Unfortunately these are just a few of our friends and family who are winning or have lost the fight to this disease.



Miss Cache Valley pulled the girls around the track
and then let them all try on her crown.

 

Our team name stands for Anderson, Bunn, Comish, and Petersen.
The last names of our cancer survivors.



Dad relaxing while holding down the canopy.

The girls with Miss Cache Valley

Everyone got quite involved with the chicken dance.

Dad modeling the baby towel

Staying out of the rain.

Gracie with her treasures.

24th of July

Kyle's sisters, Kat and Kari, pulled together a last minute BBQ on the 24th of July. We had a delicious dinner and  Darren and the boys let off some fireworks. The boys had fun playing with sparklers and smoke bombs. When it got dark the neighborhood was full of people letting off the big fireworks in the sky. The neighbors across the street put on a nice show for us. It was so amazing to have them going off right above our heads. We were completely surrounded by fireworks. It was a neat way to celebrate our pioneer heritage, even if I did have to work all day. When I think of the struggles they went through I know I don't have things too bad. I will take my life over their struggles any day. Back in their time if Kyle had the health problems he has now, he would have died long ago. Thank goodness for modern medicine and the progress it has made in the last 100 or so years. I am so grateful for my ancestors and the sacrifices they made to come to Utah so I could be raised with the gospel in my life.

I Love this picture of Weston!

The boys begging for more.

Setting up a smoke bomb display

The boys each got to a take a turn lighting a tower.

Kari enjoying her burger. It
was so tall she had to eat
it in pieces.

The boys love the fireworks, but not so much the noise.

This is what you call
sharing the swing.

The captive audience.

My Memories Software

You may recall I gave away a copy of this cool digital scrapbook software a few months ago on a website called www.MyMemories.com. It is extremely easy to use. It comes with lots of album templates.  You can just choose your pictures and the software will add them to the albums they already have created. Or you can do what I did in the Wedding Album I created and loaded below and start with one of their templates changed the colors, and added a few embelishments. What in the past would have usually taken me several hours to complete took me just over an hour and most of that time was spent choosing what pictures to use.

You can also purchase additional scrapbook kits to use with the software if they don't have what you are looking for, but I found plenty of options for what I needed. 

They have generously offered to let me give away a free copy of their software to 1 of my readers.  Just visit www.mymemories.com and browse around.  Then come back to my comments and tell me your favorite digital paper pack or layout.  On the 22nd I will randomly draw a number and the person who made that comment will receive a code to download the software totally free.

If you aren't lucky enough to win the contest you can use my code to receive $10 off of your purchase of the My Memories Suite V3.  The code is: STMMMS70839

When I Grow Up...

There is a woman I work with that I find fascinating. To begin with she is just so darn cute. Her hair cut is darling, she is beautiful, has a fun sense of humor, and a great sense of style. The most amazing thing about her is that I don't think I have ever seen her when she doesn't seem genuinely happy, even when totally stressed. She just has one of those personalities that radiates kindness. She is incredibly intelligent and amazing at her job. I am sure she has her struggles just like everyone else, but even when she is upset or not feeling well she is still so nice. I don't think my description has come close to doing her justice. I think if you met her you would understand what I am trying to say.

Then there is another woman whom I have known her whole life. She is amazing. She has always gone out of her way to make other people happy, often at the expense of her own happiness. She is very Intelligent and an amazing mother. I so admire the way she is raising her kids. They are darling, but can be a challenge and she has sooo much patience. You would have to ask her husband's opinion, but I think he would agree with my assessment that she is a wonderful wife and homemaker. She like the other has cute hair, is beautiful, and has a great sense of style. I've been with her through some of life's major hardships and she always has a positive attitude and looks at the good side of things. Once again my description doesn't come close to doing her justice.

They are both younger than I am, but when I grow up I want to be just like Kelly and Natalie.

July 4th Fun

 

We spent the 4th of July in Bear Lake with my family and The Petersen's. We took Kyle's parents Sea Doo's. We were only able to get one of them to run but we had a great time. We went down to the beach and spent 2 afternoons having fun. It was kind of a bummer there were no fireworks because of the high fire risk. It was a nice break from work and I always enjoy getting to spend time with Nat and Em's kids. They are a lot of fun (and work).

The kids created a ship out of a big box Jan brought up.

The kids loved their whale.

Kyle getting ready to launch the Sea Doo.

Fun at the beach.

The kids loved going for rides.

Gracie seemed to enjoy naping on my lap.

Garrett helped me take the Sea Doo from the dock over
to the beach to meet the others. By the time
they showed up he was ready to get off.
He wanted me to find him a babysitter on the beach.