Jammin With My Girlfriend

Every woman needs a girlfriend who is younger, cuter and skinnier than

she is.

"Why?" You ask? Because there is NEVER a dull moment!I have a girlfriend like that. Her name is Heidi. I fondly refer to her as my "Diva" friend.
I invited her over to help me put up some strawberry jam. Why was I surprised when she came to my house with WHITE capri's, platform sandals and looking like, well, a DIVA? Still, I had to chuckle. Then I went into my pantry and found her an apron that matched her DIVA outfit. Anyone who knows me knows that I am all about COMFORTABLE AND PRACTICAL. So, I obviously dressed that way.
OOPS! Honestly-I threw---I mean dropped the spoon on accident!
Oh no! Did I get RED jam on your WHITE capri's???

I can't blame Heidi for burning the bottom of the pan. It's really difficult to concentrate on stirring when your wearing platforms, white capri's and look like you just stepped out of the Hair Dresser's chair.
Well, here is the end result! Lots of yummy jam!
I have more strawberries in the fridge.
I think I'll call Heidi and see if she wants to come over this afternoon.
Maybe she will wear a WHITE sundress this time!!!

MISSIONARY MOMS DINNER

May 21, 2009 Missionary Mom's Dinner

I feel so blessed. Not only is my wonderful son serving an honorable mission, but I am fortunate to be friends with the mothers of his good friends who are out serving missions at the same time. All these boys have grown up together since childhood. They have gone to High School and Seminary together. They have been on the same sports teams or opposing teams. They passed and blessed the Sacrament together. They were Eagle Scouts together. They double dated together. And sometimes they got into trouble together. I think of this scripture when I think of them all out on their missions and then returning home together.

"...therefore Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren n the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God. But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God." Alma 17:2-3

Each month we moms all get together and have dinner. We spend the entire time (about 3 hours) bragging and sharing stories about our Missionary sons (and now, one daughter!)

Chris will be home in just less than 2 weeks! Amazing. He has been serving in Texas and has been such a stellar Missionary. His sister, Amanda, just left in April for Rexburg, Idaho. We tease Linda that she will be in our "Missionary Mom's" group for 6 years! After Chris gets home, Amanda will be home about 1 1/2 years later and while she is out, her younger brother, Michael, will leave!

Missionary Mom's Dinner Dec 2008

Paul comes home in August! Again-WOW! Amazing Missionary! He has been serving in Paris. Paris is a very difficult mission, but Paul has had great success. He will be going to BYU Idaho in the fall when he returns. For Wendy, that's 2 down, 1 to go!

Next home is Jeff. He will be home November 3rd. Jeff is the third son of Dave & Diane to serve in Brazil! That's amazing. Each of them have served in a different area in Brazil. He is having such great experiences! He loves his mission.

Missionary Mom's Dinner June 2008

In December Steffen comes home. Seems like he just left. He is in Virgina and again, such a great Missionary! He has had some amazing conversions and great stories of his experiences. He had had the opportunity to use his musical talents on his mission, too!

Well, then my FAVORITE Missionary comes home around February. But now he is talking about extending...we miss him..

Missionary Mom's Dinner April 2008

Christian will be home in March. He has been serving in Cincinnati. Christian has been serving as a Zone Leader and loves the people he works and serves with. They have had LOTS of baptisms. He attributes this to the Stake members. Everyone there is VERY missionary minded. They have a lot of Member Referrals. He is such a great Elder.

Brett comes home just a week or so after Christian. He is serving in Minnesota. It's a BIT cold there. He has had great success in spite of the strong influence of some of the local religions. He loves the people and always is positive. He and his companion had a "Car Appreciation" week where they did not have the use of their car. That was interesting!

Kyle comes home in May just days before he is to start college again. He is in Venezuela and loves his mission. He has had some really great companions. He has been fortunate to stay in the same area for a long time. He has only had 1 transfer in a year.

We are so proud of our wonderful sons serving the Lord.

..."yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them. And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it." Alma 56:47-48

MOTHER'S DAY-MISSIONARY PHONE CALL!!!!!!

The phone call we waited 5 months for!!! It was so great to hear Brandon's voice. I am embarassed to admit it, but I honestly didn't recognize his voice when he called. I said, "Who is this?" He started laughing and said, "Mom! You don't recognize your OWN son?!" He sounded like a grown man, not my little boy! Brandon asked Jade to buy this book for me called,

"Mommy, Do I Have To Serve A Mission?"

I read it out loud to the family just before Brandon's phone call. This probably wasn't the best idea as I cried as I read it and I was still a mess when he called!

Zachary is very artistic and made a beautiful card for me.

He worked on this for a long time. It was perfect!
Little Brie made me a beautiful heart paper mache jewelry box.
I look like I'm still crying in this photo! It was a great day!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUNT TARALYN!!!

We had a fun FHE and celebrated Jade's sister, Taralyn's, birthday.

Easton, Landen, Taralyn, Hazelyn and Brie
She just turned 29, again!!!

Nothing could be better than an American Bandstand musical greeting card, Extra Bubble Gum and a gift card for dinner at Bucca's!HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Little Love Notes

On Mother's Day evening I was trying to put my kids to bed. The next morning was the beginning of the State Standardized Testing (STAR), so it was important that they be rested. After an exciting weekend of spending time with cousins, eating lots of yummy food and the best of all, talking to Brandon on the phone, it was difficult to get them to settle down. Unfortunately, things progressed to the point where I had to be stern and although this doesn't phase the boys in the least, Brie is more sensitive. I knew she wasn't very happy with me when she finally put her head down on her pillow and turned off the light. But, I didn't know just how upset she was until the next morning when I found a note she had carefully placed on the top of my jewelry box:

I couldn't help but smile as I read it and chuckled a little, too. I brought the note into the bathroom where Jade was shaving. He looked surprised. I then explained the events from the previous evening. He said to me, "Save that!" I agreed and laughed. Then Brie came into the room and gave me a big hug and kiss. "Good Morning, Mommy!" "Good Morning, Sweetheart! How did you sleep?" I said. Then, I showed her what I had found. At first she looked at the note as if she didn't remember. Then a coy little smile came to her face and she blushed! She took the note and tried to rip it. "No, no, no! I'm saving this!" I said.

Later that morning after everyone left for school and the house was quiet, I remembered a story my mom told me from when I was little. She says that when I was 8 years old she found a note I had left for her on her pillow. It said something to the effect, "I don't love you!" I always felt bad about that story, even had a difficult time believing that I would actually do that. Now I know that not only did I do that, but that it probably made my mom chuckle and smile, just like Brie's note did for me!

Can I Pay To Have You Give My Sacrament Talk For Me???

It must be really awful being a Bishop. No one wants to talk to you.

If you see your Bishop coming at you in the hall you avoid eye contact for fear that he is going to ask to see you for an appointment. Of course we all know what happens in these appointments; he asks you to do something that you have no idea how to do (like teach children-lots of children- how to sing) and of course you know that you will agree to do it (I don't even know how to lead music) and then you're in that FIRE-Refiners Fire. OR-WORSE-if you make eye contact you may have to speak to him. If you start speaking to him he might remember that it's been awhile since you spoke in Sacrament Meeting!!!!! ARGH!!!! So I avoid eye contact with my Bishop at all costs.

Now if your phone rings you have caller ID, thank heaven. So if I see that it's the Bishop, I ask Jade or the kids to get the phone. That way, if it is for me I can have one of the kids give him some lame excuse-like I'm cooking dinner or running the vacuum.

Well, I let my guard down and I returned the phone call that I missed from my Bishop. I thought he probably called for Jade, but NO! He asked me to give a talk in Sacrament this Sunday. ARGH!!! See, no one wants to talk to the Bishop-how sad is that???

Good news is that I found someone who will give my talk for me Sunday and it's only going to cost me $27.77 for him to write it and another $55.55 for him to give the talk. Now if you want to hear a FUNNY/INTERESTING talk you might want to cough up $5.56 because he charges $33.33 to write a FUNNY/INTERESTING talk. It's up to you!

Want a laugh??? Check this out: http://www.myregisblog.com/

Another funny I found on this blog:

Because there's nothing more annoying than when your wife uses your hymn book.

THIS IS A STICK-UP...OH, WAIT, MY CELL PHONE IS RINGING

Fayetteville police released this surveillance photo of a pregnant woman who tried to rob a Carter Bank & Trust branch on Tuesday.

As I ate my low-cal breakfast of Rice Pudding this morning, I read the on-line news as reported by MSNBC. I am kinda weird (for those of you who didn't already know) so I always gravitate to the "unusual" reports. I found a doosey this morning. A morsel so delicious I couldn't keep it to myself. So I am sharing it with all my readers-yes, all 3 of you!

The police in Fayetteville, N.C. are on the look out for a pregnant woman (no, not Angelia Jolie) who tried to rob a bank at gunpoint. However, she was unable to complete her attempt because her cell phone rang and instead of ignoring it, she took the call, got distracted and left the bank WITHOUT TAKING ANY MONEY! Police are on the look-out for a woman in her late 20's-early 30's, pregnant and on her cell phone.

PLEASE-if you have ANY leads contact the N.C. police at once. Help them get one more cell phone IDIOT off the streets!