Halls Family

The Game

2009-06-05T11:40:00.002-07:00

A friend of mine, Ashlee Miller, had this story on her blog and I thought it was worth sharing:

"I've felt impressed to write about something we discussed in Relief Society yesterday. The question was posed, 'Why do we need adversity in our lives?' I started thinking about basketball. (I know, sports analogies are usually left to the Elder's Quorum, but stay with me.) I think life is a little like basketball. We practice dribbling, shooting, passing, running plays, and defensive strategies so that we can become better at each skill, and develop into a better player in general. If all we ever did was practice, what good would that do? We need to actually come against an opponent to test our skills and know what we need to work on in order to advance, and therefore be in a better position to win the next game.

In life, we spend each day 'practicing' such skills as obedience, communication, compassion, faith, etc. But in order for us to progress, we need to come against an opponent to test our skills so that we know where we are and what we need to work on. The trials that come into our lives are just such an opponent, and by evaluating our performance within and at the outcome of each trial, we can know on what skills or characteristics our time should be spent 'practicing'.

For anyone who has played basketball before, you know that emotions can run high, effecting performances and ultimately the outcome of a game. Same thing in life! If we allow them, our emotions can hinder our ability to see clearly the big picture and stop working in areas that need the most attention, or cause us to give up altogether.

I guess my point is that we can be in control of our 'game' as long as we take the time to put the right kind of practice in beforehand."

I know there has been much adversity in our family recently and I truly hope this story will help us as we face this adversity in each of our lives. We can and we will get through it, with the Lord's help. I want all of you to know you are in my thoughts and prayers always. I love you!

Video of Chickens and Turkeys

2009-05-22T14:03:00.004-07:00

Ryan helped me convert the dvd from my camera so that I could post it here. Enjoy!!

Our Chickens and Turkeys are Here!

2009-05-21T16:08:00.005-07:00

These are just the chickens - they arrived yesterday and the turkeys arrived this morning. We have 15 hens, 5 roosters and 14 turkeys (we won't know how many males and females we have until they grow a little more). We have lost one chicken (the littlest) and one turkey, who drowned in the water dish. My dad used to raise turkeys when I was growing up and sometimes they would try to drink the rain water when it rained and they would drown in the rain. They are pretty dumb and you have to watch them carefully. They also liked to chase the cars on the road - and they would usually get run over.

The chickens with the blue spot on their heads are the roosters. The chicks with the unusual brown markings are Americanas and will actually lay multi-colored eggs - blue, green and lavendar.

I tried to do a video that shows the chicken coop Tara designed and everyone (except me) helped to build, but I can't figure out how to download it. We have a fenced area for them when they get a little older and we will actually let them out for awhile in the mornings and evenings so they can eat the bugs and scratch around for food. That is actually very good for them. But, when it's time, they will go back into the fenced area or the coop all by themselves. They like to feel safe. We'll keep more pictures coming as they grow so you can share in this adventure with us!

Puppy Party

2009-03-07T10:38:00.012-07:00

Yesterday our puppies turned 1 year old, so we decided to have a birthday party for them. Kayla and I made cupcakes and then Kayla and Arleen made birthday hats. Kayla could hardly wait until her brothers got home from school! It was very windy outside and we knew their hats would just blow off, so we invited Apollo, Bailey and Zar into the house for the "party". It took a few minutes to get them calmed down because they were so excited to be in the house; we finally got hats on Bailey and Zar, but the yarn on Apollo's hat broke off. Apollo was mostly interested in Mollie (you can hear her barking), who was in the bedroom because she is at the end of her heat, but apparently still somewhat desirable. He was very conflicted all the time he was in the house. Mollie...cupcake...Mollie...bologna...Mollie...you get the idea. Here are a few pictures of the festivities! In the first photo, it's Zar (who has one ear that has never stood up straight - we think it was because he was so sick with parvo as a puppy), Apollo (the biggest) and Bailey (the smallest) . Below is a short video of the fun event. Those cupcakes went down really fast!! It's hard to believe that they looked like this one year ago!

25 Random Things About Me

2009-03-05T14:39:00.012-07:00

1. I LOVE to travel...as long as I have enough money in my pocket so that I don't have to worry about expenses. If I start running out of money, I panic.

2. I really love thunderstorms and I have been known to be a "storm chaser". I like to get as close as I possibly can. There is something relaxing and comforting about the rolling thunder.

3. My family means more to me than anything else in this world. There is nothing that relieves stress more for me than spending time with them.

4. One of my favorite places to go is Hawaii. I've been twice (but without Michael). I enjoy walking on the beach, the gorgeous sunsets, the weather, the palm trees. The next time Michael and I will probably go with Jerry and Kaye.

5. I'd rather be hot than cold.

6. I've always loved being tan. My neighbor all through Jr. and Sr. High School and I had a contest every summer to see who could get the tannest the fastest. I would even go up on the roof of my house to tan because it was closer to the sun and I thought I'd tan faster.

7. I hate aging. If I had the money, I'd have plastic surgery - especially on my eyes - as long as it doesn't look like I've had plastic surgery!! I always tell Michael that I feel like my face is falling. (Maybe I shouldn't have spent all those years in the sun.)

8. I have 4 dogs. I would have more if I could. Mollie is our Queensland Heeler, and we have 3 German Shepherds: Mieke, Apollo and Zar. I especially love it when one of them sleeps on my bed right near my feet.

9. I don't like the wind. A cool breeze is nice, but I hate the cold wind (like today). It feels like it's biting you in the face.

10. I love to watch it snow. I don't like being outside in it, but give me a cup of hot chocolate and a roaring fire and I love to sit by the window and watch big, huge flakes of snow fall.

11. My best friend in the world is my sister-in-law, Kaye. We have been friends for over 35 years and there is hardly a day that we don't talk to each other. We can talk to each other about anything and everything. I totally trust and love her.

12. Don't send me to a pet store. I'd want to buy everything in there...except for the snakes...they can keep their snakes!! (If my brother, Jerry hadn't chased me with snakes while we were growing up, I might feel differently.)

13. I idolize my Mom. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't wish I could talk to her.

14. I have always loved to read. Most of my weekends were spent in my room reading mysteries when I was growing up.

15. I absolutely LOVE a clean house. If Febreeze really worked, I'd totally spray everything in my house with it so it would smell good.

16. Now that my children are grown, I love having them as my friends. It's awesome when this happens and it's great to have fun together. Of course, I still love being a mom and having them ask me for help and advice.

17. One thing I work on every day is trying not to be judgmental of other people. I always try to see the good in everyone and see their potential. My Mom taught this at a very early age and I hope I honor her in treating people the way they want to be treated. I hope my grandchildren always remember this about me.

18. I love to dance. I used to do Ballroom Dancing - my favorites are the Latin Dances and the Waltz. While in High School, I did Polynesian Dancing with some other friends. A good friend that I babysat for that was born in Hawaii and she taught me the Hula and other Tahitian dances. I loved it so much and we actually performed around Tacoma all year round, but especially during the summer months.

19. When I graduated from High School, I was accepted to BYU Hawaii. Sometimes I could kick myself for getting married and not going, but I know I wouldn't have the children I do today if I had. You know, it's always "what if...". I have visited the campus, though! Oh, and there's that thing about the education I could have had...

20. I recently attended an energy healing seminar and became certified to do energy healing. I believe this is something I can do to help others. It's called Calyco Healing and it's not as weird and crazy as it sounds. I have already been able use it on several occasions.

21. One of my favorite things to do is bake. I love to make bread, cinnamon rolls, pies, cookies and healthy meals for my family. The greatest compliment is when my kids tell me I should open a bakery.

22. I used to have to take a lot of flack for having 7 children and 3 step children. I wouldn't change a thing. Now I have 5 daughters-in-law and 2 sons-in-law that I really love. I can't imagine our family without them.

23. I've never thought of myself as a country girl, but I am now! We are going to have chickens, turkeys, a cow, horses, and pigs. We have our garden planned and will be ready to plant as soon as it's warm enough! The chicken coop is almost finished (thanks to Tara, Scott, Jared, Arleen and all the kids.)

24. My biggest fault is that I love Diet Pepsi. I know...I know...I've heard all the bad things, but I really enjoy it.

25. Going to a good movie is a favorite hobby and if it's REALLY good, I'll go more than once.

Hey, Jeff! Are Your Fish Hungry??

2009-03-03T21:32:00.004-07:00

OK - Can I just say how much I absolutely LOVE my Bosch Mixer? I just made 4 dozen cinnamon rolls and 7 loaves of bread. The mixer makes everything so easy and making bread is no longer a chore. Homemade rolls...no problem! Whole wheat bread...no problem! We even made homemade pizzas last night for dinner. Homemade pizza dough...NO PROBLEM! My house smells soooo delicious! My only wish is that all of my family could be here to share it all with us. Tara helped me finish because I tried to do so much too late in the day. I got everything in pans, but had to lay down for awhile. Tara finished baking and frosting everything for me. I don't think she minded very much - she had her eyes on the cinnamon rolls (or at least one anyway). She and Arleen have been walking every day and we are trying to watch what we eat. (Well, at least we will walk off what we eat.)

I only have one question...DO YOU MISS ME YET???? ;-) And BTW...my door is always open!

Patience is a Virtue

2009-02-28T11:23:00.003-07:00

My patience is paying off with regard to the repairs that need to be done in the house. (At least I've been TRYING to be patient.) Because of the water leak, insurance is going to pay for us to install a whole new kitchen! They are going to replace all the cabinets, the floor - even some of the sub-floor, baseboards, and island. The water got into the laundry room also, so the floor will be replaced in there as well. The floor looked good, but did not match the kitchen floor. Michael is going to lay all the flooring to save some money and that will hopefully give us enough extra money to purchase a new dishwasher. Michael also has to get the house leveled right away (see pictures of the settling) so these other repairs can be completed. It will take 2 weeks before they can begin work in the kitchen because everything has to be ordered and we calculate that the work being done will coincide with Spring Break!! I know Arleen and the kids were planning to go to the valley at that time, and possibly Tara and Dean. I may also be coming down just so I won't have to deal with all the construction mess. I'll keep everyone informed and post pictures once I have my brand new kitchen! Woohoo!!

Leak Under the Sink

2009-02-25T19:46:00.003-07:00

Last Sunday, I went into the kitchen to make some rolls for dinner (using my new Bosch...) and I noticed that my socks kept getting wet. I also noticed that water was squishing up between nearly all the wood planks on the floor. At first, I thought that my dishwasher was leaking, but upon further investigation, we discovered that there was a leak in a pipe under the sink. Luckily, Jared was still here and was able to take care of the leak right away. There was water under the wood on the floor from one end of my kitchen to the other. We put towels down all over the kitchen to try to soak up the moisture.

Monday morning, Tara and I noticed a horrible moldy smell and just looked at each other knowing without a doubt that the entire floor had to come up. That meant that EVERYTHING had to come out of the kitchen. We have 2 food storage shelves loaded full, a microwave stand full of stuff, an island loaded full of stuff (one that Jared and Arleen brought with them) and the little buffet table that Mom Halls gave me. Plus, we also had to clean out the food on the floor in the pantry. We were exhausted just thinking about all the stuff we had to move out.

Once we had everything out, then Michael began pulling up all the wood. Luckily, there was linoleum under the wood - ugly, ugly and full of staples because of the plastic that was installed under the wood - but better than particleboard. Michael swept the floor and wiped down the linoleum to get the worst of the dirt. Then Tara took a scrub brush and scrubbed every inch of the floor. We had to wear masks because of the mold and smell. I have had laryngitis all day today and congestion in my chest. I'm hoping no one else gets sick.

The good news is that our insurance is going to cover it! We will probably have to get a new island and replace some of the wood underneath the linoleum. We have a $500 deductible, but that is much cheaper than what we thought we were looking at if we hadn't had the insurance. I'm posting pictures of what it looks like now and then I'll post pics when it's done.

Awesome Birthday Presents!!

2009-02-20T21:19:00.006-07:00

For my birthday this year, Michael and my kids bought me a Bosch mixer that also has a blender attachment and special cookie dough beaters. I was also lucky enough to get a new wheat grinder because my other one quit working. I used them the other day for the first time to make whole wheat bread. The bread turned out great and it was fun to have new "toys" to use!! I had Annette come over to show me how to use both of them. It's so much easier to make bread now - and we eat a lot of bread around here! Thanks to everyone who helped make it possible.

Changes

2009-01-19T22:57:00.005-07:00

This is Dean bringing wood in - can you tell it's cold outside? (Oh - and BTW, Happy 15th Birthday, Dean!)

I have finally been shamed into another blog entry. I was checking other family blogs and...sure enough...they have my blog listed and now it has the date and title of the last entry for my blog as 7 months ago. I'm totally embarrassed and decided I better get back in the swing of blogging again. Coming to my own defense, we have had a few changes in the past few months. Our empty nest has become full again. At the beginning of October, Tara, Scott and Dean moved in with us and 2 weeks later, Jared, Arleen, Treven, Skylar, Noah, and Kayla moved in as well. It really is fun having them here. We're a bit short on living space, but we have been drawing up plans to add on to the house in the spring. I had forgotten about work charts and chores - Tara and I got that done right away for all the kids with rewards for when jobs get done quickly and with good attitudes. Every day the boys have to bring in kindling and wood for the fire (we don't use propane for heating because it is too expensive), they feed the 7 dogs, pick up dog poop (they like to do that in the early morning because it's frozen), help with dishes and help with other household duties. Tara, Arleen, and I make menus every two weeks, make a grocery list, and do the shopping. Things are actually working out very well. Our only complaint is that sometimes it just gets crowded, we'd like more space, and we all miss our family in the valley soooo much.

The kids like their new schools and are doing very well. Dean was "Student of the Week" last week and currently has straight A's!! He's really trying hard. Tara is the Ward Music Specialist and Choir Director, Arleen has been called as Cubmaster. Because Scott and Jared are only here on the weekends, it's been hard for the bishopric to give them callings or even get them to talk in church. The kids are really liking "snow days" (they have had 2 so far since they moved up here) and are hoping for another one later this week! We all hate the mud that inevitably comes after the snow melts, but we are even learning to deal with that. Whoever said that the only sure thing in life is change was sure right. But we have chosen to find all the wonderful things about the recent changes. Nothing is ever easy, but we all choose to be happy way up here in the White Mountains! I promise to post more regularly and will get some pictures up soon!

A Wicked Day!!

2008-05-19T09:46:00.013-07:00

Tara, Ami and I had so much fun Saturday! A huge THANK YOU to all who made it possible for us to go. Our day started out unusual because as we neared the airport, I thought I had left my pain medication back at Tara's. Tara turned the car around and headed back to Queen Creek. At about Dobson St., I found my pills in another pocket of my purse. So, speedy turn around again and headed back to the airport at a speed we were hoping wouldn't get caught by radar. Needless to say, we were rushing through security to get to the gate. And, we got stopped to have our bags checked because we forgot to put our liquids in baggies (yes, all of us). After we got through security, we ran to our gate (having to abandon the idea for Einstein bagels we were so hungry for) just in time for boarding.

Once in LA, we got the rental car and were on our way to the Santa Moncia pier - which was so beautiful. (We all decided that the traffic was so not worth living in CA.) The day was perfect, but more humidity than we get in AZ, and our hair got frizzy because we were so close to the water. We walked along the pier and took pictures and Ami and Tara rode the roller coaster. Oh! And we saw a family of sharks swimming alarming close to a family playing in the water near the shore (can you say, "scaaaarrrry"?) (Ami has a picture on her blog.)

We left to go to downtown LA in search of a nice bathroom to get ready for "Wicked". I was praying the whole way that we'd find a bathroom with electrical outlets... We parked near the Kodak Theatre and went inside on our quest to find a nice, unoccupied, clean bathroom with electrical outlets. The Renissance Hotel connects with the Theatre, so we went inside and found just what we were looking for! We got ready as quickly as we could, given the fact that we had to steam clothes and re-straighten our hair. Then we were on our way to the play! WOOHOO!

Most everyone was dressed in jeans and capris - but, hey - we looked GREAT! We absolutely loved the play and didn't want it to end. The music was amazing, the sets incredible, the costumes unbelievable, the acting better than anything you can imagine. What can I say - IT WAS AWESOME!!

After the play, we went to dinner, then changed our clothes and walked along the street with the "stars" of the stars, did some shopping and people watching. We got back to the car and Tara asked me for the keys, which I had put in my purse earlier. You guessed it - no keys. I remembered taking my phone out of my purse at American Eagle, so Ami jogged back to the store (only 5 long blocks - each way...) and luckily found the keys right where I thought they would be. Good thing she can run marathons...

When we returned the car, the place was packed with a lot of other people doing the same. It took nearly 40 minutes (not planned in our schedule) and we were stressing about catching our flight home. I paid the shuttle car driver to take us directly to our SW terminal and we actually got through security pretty fast (we already had our liquids in plastic bags). Thank goodness airports are fairly quiet on Saturday nights. Ami got through security first and went to check which gate we needed to go to. When Tara and I got to Ami, she was jumping up and down saying, "They're paging us for our flight!" We still actually had 30 minutes until it was supposed to leave, but we ran to the gate as fast as we could yelling and trying to keep up with each other. Ok - I was trying to keep up with Tara and Ami... When we got to the gate, Ami asked why they were leaving so early and was told that everyone else was on the plane and "they like to leave as early as possible". How nice...

We got to our seats and were exhausted and extremely thirsty. Tara had a headache, so I gave her 2 Aleve tablets to take as soon as we could get our water. When the flight attendant took our order we asked for water and ice - and lots of it. He brought us our drinks and when he handed me my glass of ice, I didn't really have it in my hand and the ice fell all over Tara. We were all hot, but she really didn't want to cool off that way. We were brushing ice off of her and when she opened her hand, she only had 1 Aleve left. So, we started looking for that and couldn't find it, so I just gave her another one from my purse. A few minutes later, the flight attendant came back and asked us if we could possibly have lost an Aleve. We responded that we had. He said that after he had served us, he went back to get a glass of water for himself. He poured water into a cup of ice he had had on the cart and sure enough - a blue Aleve tablet floated to the top of his glass. (We felt WICKED for giving him drugs...but at least it was an OTC drug and not my Rx.) He simply stated that he was going to have to keep an eye on the three of us. We laughed so hard tears were running down our cheeks - for 30 minutes. Later, when I was telling Michael the story, we were laughing so hard again, Tara almost had to pull the car over to the side of the road because she couldn't see to drive.

After we landed, to add to our day, we couldn't find the car. We walked from the east end of the airport to the west end and back. We were all so tired, that was the last thing we really wanted to do. But in the end, Tara had been right all along and she found the car.

Bed and sleep never felt sooooo good!! I left the next morning, making every attempt to make it to my church meetings. And, you guessed it again - I got a speeding ticket. Can I help it if the cop car was disguising himself between 6 other cars on THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD????

We decided we'd like to make this an annual tradition, but that next year, I'll be in better shape physically and we will take TWO days instead of just one! (And they might want to leave me at home.)

Check out Ami's version of our day at http://thebetheas.blogspot.com/

Unbelievable!

2008-05-02T17:03:00.003-07:00

We took the puppies in to the vet this morning and they all weigh between 15-16 pounds already! It's hard to believe that at 8 weeks they can weigh that much. Michael finished the dog run at the back of the house today (wohoo!!). I was getting exhausted cleaning up after them all day and now they can be outside all day and only have to come in at night. They absolutely love being outside, but now they get very dusty and dirty. We're still getting calls on them, so hopefully we can get them all sold in the next week or so - they're eating us out of house and home!! We're thinking of getting a horse trough just to keep enough water outside for all of the dogs. I'll post some pictures of the dog run when we get them. In the meantime, pray that we will get them all sold. They're cute, but getting expensive with the vet visits ($161 for shots) and dog food ($46 a bag - and between all the dogs, we go through a bag a week now) - but the fun of having them around and watching them play is priceless!

New Home

2008-04-27T09:38:00.004-07:00

Well, we sold one of our sweet puppies on Friday. They named her Alexandra and call her Alex for short. They have 2 other dogs, a Rotweiller and and a Heeler, like Mollie. You'll see how much their dog looks like Mollie. Christine said that the puppy sleeps with her new sisters and doesn't even cry. It is rewarding and exciting to see the puppies go to homes when you know that they are going to be very loved and well taken care of...maybe even spoiled! (We wouldn't spoil our dogs, though.)

Snuggling with My Sista

2008-04-25T07:23:00.002-07:00

These puppies get cuter and cuter every day. They are going to miss each other when they go to their new homes. We have already sold a male and a female and are still getting calls. WE are going to miss them when they go to new homes!!

Stephanie's Graduation

2008-04-22T23:09:00.004-07:00

Michael went to Stephanie's graduation from Dental Hygienist College last Friday. Stephanie was chosen to speak to her graduating class and gave an amazing speech and had everyone laughing. She and Brooke will be moving to Queen Creek to join Jason in the next two weeks. She can't get a job in AZ until she passes her state boards here, but she is excited about her new career opportunity. We're excited that they will be moving home!!

Way Too Smart!

2008-04-22T22:47:00.003-07:00

Tonight I heard a lot of commotion in the kitchen. When I went to check it out, two of the puppies had pulled up the vent in the floor (don't even ask me how...) and were attempting to put a toy down inside. Mind you these puppies aren't even 7 weeks old yet. They really do keep me hopping - it is like having 3 sets of twins! Where do they get all this energy? We are starting to get some calls now, so maybe we'll sell some this weekend. And yet, we're not sure how we can say goodbye to any of them...

I'm Still Hungry!

2008-04-02T16:42:00.001-07:00

Mama, Mama, Can I Get Out and Explore?

2008-04-02T16:40:00.001-07:00

The Most Adventurous

2008-04-01T22:21:00.005-07:00

This is the first puppy to crawl out of the box! I went into the bedroom to fold a load of clothes on the bed and felt something furry at my feet. When I looked down, expecting to see Mollie, I saw this little puppy licking my feet. This one LOVES to explore around the house! I wish I could just let her roam, but she also loves to do other puppy stuff - like poop and pee. She looks sleepy because we just fed them some oatmeal baby cereal and warm milk, so she's ready to snooze for the night! I guess Michael is going to have to put another board up sooner than he thought - like tomorrow morning...

Puppies at 3-1/2 Weeks

2008-04-01T00:51:00.002-07:00

These puppies are growing so fast! You can almost watch them grow as they sleep. They are getting so playful now! They will play with toys now, too. Their teeth are coming in, so they love to chew on just about anything - but especially love to chew on a sibling. Their legs are getting stronger and are even running now if we take them out of their box - we can hardly keep up with them. They love to snuggle and cuddle with us when we pick them up. They even recognize us when we go to their box and come to see us and want to be picked up. I try to groom them every day now - brushing them and checking their teeth and give them some individual attention. They growl and bark and play, but they still sleep a lot. They are beginning to eat some baby cereal with milk so we can give Mieke a break from nursing. I wish all of you could see them!

Puppies, Puppies EVERYWHERE!

2008-03-21T17:31:00.004-07:00

I decided that the puppies need to get out of their box so their little legs can get stronger and to be in the part of the house that has more sunlight. They absolutely love it! The crawl around and get in some of the most unusual places! It's working because we see them trying to get up on all fours - especially the littlest ones who seem to be able to get up a little easier than the chubby pups. Now that their eyes are open, they are starting to get playful with each other. I am trying to get a short video of them playing and walking. It just seems that by the time the camera starts to record, they lay down.

They also have TWO moms now - Mollie takes care of all of the pups by cleaning them, too. She will wait for Mieke to go outside so she can have her turn at cleaning the puppies. Normally, she would be the first one out of the door. When we went to the vet the other day, I stayed in the car with the puppies and Mollie. One of the vet assistants came out to the car because she wanted to see the puppies. Mollie was extremely protective of them and I had to hold the puppy out of the car window so she could see it. The puppies even try to snuggle up to her if they don't find Mieke. Surprisingly, we haven't had any accidents so far because Mieke and Mollie still clean them up. (Thank goodness!) I will be very watchful in the coming days, though!

Wiggly Puppies Don't Make Good Photo Subjects

2008-03-20T16:53:00.003-07:00

I have been trying all day to get photos of these puppies with their eyes open! They are so wiggly and I finally decided that I couldn't accomplish the feat by myself. So, when Michael got home, we tried to get pics again - still not much success. The plan was to get a photo of each puppy, but even though I put different colored thread on their feet (came off because they will not be still) and tried different colored markers on their toenails (somehow disappears after a few minutes). It's not easy to tell them apart. Anyway, I have posted a few pictures that did turn out fairly good. I'll keep trying!

We'll Have to Go to Plan B...

2008-03-18T11:20:00.006-07:00

These puppies have grown so much that they don't fit into the basket anymore! (Compare the pictures at the bottom of the blog when I put them in the basket as they were being born...) I always change the sheet on the bed everyday and put the puppies into the basket while I make the change. They barely fit now and we're going to have to think of someplace else to put them! They love to be in there and rarely make even a sound while they are in the basket together. They are 12 days old today and should be opening their eyes anytime now.

Growing So Fast!

2008-03-17T17:58:00.007-07:00

I can't believe it's been a week since I posted any pictures of the puppies. I had to go to the valley on Tuesday to buy food at Costco for the RS Dinner and I brought Dean and Treven back with me. Then we had our RS Dinner and the Ten Virgins program on Thursday and Friday morning, Jared and Arleen and the rest of the family came up. On Sunday, Jeff and Heather, BJ and Brooklyn came up and went back home today. We had so much fun and everyone loved holding and snuggling with the puppies. At one point, I went into the bedroom and both Noah and Kayla were in the box with Mieke and the puppies. Michael had the camera, so I couldn't take a picture. (I'll try to get the pictures Arleen took of her kids with the puppies.) The puppies are growing so fast and getting so fat!! Mieke eats nearly a dozen eggs every morning, so I guess she's feeding them well. Their little legs are getting stronger and stronger, too. One puppy likes to climb to the highest point in the bed and lay there - we call him "King" (for "King of the Mountain). They should be opening their eyes in 2 or 3 days, and I'll post more pictures then.

I'm OK With Dirty Diapers!

2008-03-09T00:01:00.007-07:00

These puppies have doubled in size in just 3 days! They are so cute and you can tell that they already have their own personalities. But, I think I'm OK with dirty diapers after all these years! I'll never complain again... Mieke has to lick her babies' bottoms to stimulate them to go to the bathroom because they can't do it on their own yet. (Needless to say...) They hate to be cleaned and squeal the entire time. Kinda reminds me of when I used to wash faces and hands when my children were small. Sometimes it even sounds like they are trying to bark. I put a picture of one puppy so you can see how much they are growing and also a picture of Mieke cleaning a reluctant pup. Poor thing - she nearly had him turned upside down and backwards to clean it! She usually takes the opportunity to clean them while they are eating, and that makes them even madder.

Oh, by the way - if someone you know wants to buy a puppy, we'll sell it to them for $1200 and give you a $50 referral fee if they buy it. Not a bad deal!

Mommy Mieke

2008-03-07T16:09:00.003-07:00

We just took these pictures of Mieke and the babies. They are all eating so well (even "little runt") and seem to be gaining weight. I have to take food and water to her while she is in bed because she won't leave her puppies and we have to make her go outside to go to the bathroom. Mollie is loving going everywhere with Michael, but can't seem to understand what is going on with Mieke and why she growls at her every time she comes into the room. We'll keep posting some fun pictures!

Ahhh - Sleep!!

2008-03-07T07:33:00.003-07:00

Well, after the 8th puppy was born, we thought Mieke was going to have one more, so we were up until after 5:00 a.m. Finally, we were so tired that we decided to go to bed anyway. I'm glad we did because she was done at last. She is such a good mother! About 7:30 a.m. we let her outside to go to the bathroom and I don't think I have ever seen her move so fast. She did her "thing" and was back at the door in less than 5 minutes. I think we'll be moving her bed into another room, though. 7 puppies are never quiet - even if they do make the cutest sounds, it's hard to sleep in the same room.

Just Kidding!

2008-03-07T02:49:00.005-07:00

We finally went to bed about 1:30 a.m. and about an hour later I heard Mieke having another puppy - surprise - another girl!! I guess she decided to even up the litter! We will be watching her to see if she has any more. It's nearly 3 a.m. now. I think I have used up every old sheet in the house trying to keep her bed clean.

The Puppies Have Arrived!

2008-03-06T23:34:00.005-07:00

Mieke had her first puppy at 9:00 p.m. She is a very good momma and really knows how to take care of her puppies. She actually had twins - a boy and a girl, but the girl was stillborn. I worked and worked with her, but to no avail. So far, she has 2 girls and 2 boys. The littlest is a boy and he is quite a bit smaller than the others. We really have to work with him to make sure he gets his fair share of milk. He has a hard time staying on. In between the birth of each puppy, I put the puppies in a laundry basket that has a heating pad in it to keep them warm. We think she is still going to have one more, so we put all 4 pups in with Mieke so they can nurse...and all 4 of them pooped all over me! Guess everything is working fine! She actually had two more puppies - both males. We think she is finally done. Final count is 4 boys and 2 girls (plus the one that was stillborn).

Mollie just sat on the bed wondering what was going on, but stayed her distance. I am amazed at how good she was, too! (Scroll down to see puppy pictures - I couldn't get them to move anywhere else...)

Keep watching my blog and we'll post a video of the puppies and more pictures as the puppies grow.

She's in Labor!

2008-03-06T18:57:00.001-07:00

Hopefully we can post puppy pictures in the morning! She is certainly taking her sweet time - but then it's her first litter and we all know how first babies go! We'll keep you posted on the latest news!

Not Yet!

2008-03-04T16:31:00.002-07:00

Just a quick note that Mieke has not had her puppies yet. She didn't eat for two days over the weekend, which made us think she would have the puppies any time. Guess you can't second guess these things! Her actual due date is today, so keep watching and we'll post pictures when they get here!

No Excuses...It's Just a Fact, Jack!

2008-03-01T00:26:00.004-07:00

I know, I know - it's nearly been three months since I've posted on my blog. I promise to get back to posting regularly. We spent a lot of time in the valley and since I've been home, all I've done is Relief Society stuff. (You know I love it, right???) I have been putting together The Ten Virgins musical parable which our ward is doing for the RS Birthday dinner. It will be on March 13th, so I have really had to hustle to get the cast together, the food, decoration and clean-up committees, get music and scripts copied and order oil lamps that we plan to give to the sisters. On top of that, we have had 10 hours of visiting teaching interviews and I have been working on the lesson I have to teach in RS this Sunday.

We also expect Mieke to have her puppies this weekend. She refused to eat all day today, which is a really good sign that whelping is imminent. Her temperature has also dropped, which usually means puppies within 24 hours. We'll post pictures when they come. We have already sold one! (For $1800.00...) We expect her to deliver 4-6 puppies. Keep watching this blog for puppy pictures!!

Winter Wonderland

2007-12-11T19:22:00.000-07:00

When we woke up this morning, we had 8" of snow. When Michael opened the door, Mieke and Mollie ran outside and were prancing around through the snow like little lambs. They were rolling around in it and eating it and having so much fun! Michael took lots of pictures, which I will post here. A little later in the day, the sun came out, so Michael and I made a snowman. I can't even remember the last time I made a snowman! Then, we had a good, old-fashioned snowball fight! It was a lot of fun. Cade called me later and when I told him about the snow, he said he wanted to play in the snow, too. We are supposed to get more snow tonight. Then the temperatures are predicted to drop into the 20's and maybe even the teens. Enough of the snow melted today to make the ground really soggy, so if we get a good freeze, we'll have icy conditions on the roads. NOT looking forward to that!

We had our Elder's Quorum President come over last night and gave us both blessings. He also offered the use of his suburban for a couple of weeks. It's a 4x4, so at least Michael can get to work. Jared has been doing some research for us to help get the transmission fixed in Michael's truck. So, hopefully we can get that done soon. We will also have to start looking for a new vehicle for me before Christmas. We had been talking about getting a heavier vehicle with 4x4 anyway, so now I guess it will be sooner rather than later. It's hard to think about having a car payment again. Keep us in your prayers! With this weather, Michael's work tends to slow way down. We have been so blessed and I know the Lord will open the doors we need so things can happen.

Thank you so much for your love an prayers following the accident. It's nice to know family will rally around and be there, especially when things get tough. We love you all!!

Travelling with "Children"

2007-10-28T21:33:00.000-07:00

We brought Mieke and Mollie with us when we came down for the family pictures. BIG mistake! We are going to have to figure something out for future trips. Mieke is so big that she takes up the entire back seat, which leaves Mollie on my lap in the front seat. All went well on the trip down, but coming back, Mieke got very jealous of the attention that Mollie was getting in the front seat. (They even fight over toys in the toy box at home...) Mollie would lay with her bottom in my lap and her head on Michael's arm or shoulder. Before we got to Payson, Mieke forced (I do mean forced - she is so strong!) her way into the front seat, pushing Mollie into the back seat. She ended up with her bottom in my lap and her head on Michael's arm. Nothing like 80 pounds of dog in the front seat! She was not about to be outdone by the younger, smaller dog! We had to stop the car and make her get back into the back seat. Do they have car seats for dogs??? I guess we're just going to get this divider to put in the back of the car to keep them contained in the back. I was totally exhausted by the time we got home because the "girls" fought all the way home!

Firehouse Dog!

2007-10-25T09:56:00.000-07:00

I think the question of who Mieke likes best has now been answered! This morning when Michael left for work and didn't take Mieke with him, she was so upset! She knows that when she and Mollie get too roudy, I let them go outside to play. So, she immediately started fighting with Mo llie right after Michael drove out of the driveway. I waited a few minutes (enduring the rough playing) then let them outside. Mieke immediately ran down the driveway with Mollie not far behind. I grabbed a sweater (it was 37 degrees outside), my shoes, and the leash. I called for them both and Mollie came back right away, so the two of us went on a search for Mieke. We saw cows, so I thought for sure she would be nearby herding them along. No Mieke. I called and walked for an hour, then decided that she might be at home waiting for us and headed back that direction. No Mieke. I called Michael and told him he had to come back home so we could go look for her. The transmission in his truck is out, so he has been using my car for work. I sat down in the chair by my computer and saw an email entitiled, "Mieke is found on Highway 260". Reading the email, Mieke was found by two Linden Fire Dept. firefighters. She had crossed the road and was running down the highway to find Michael! A truck had stopped and the driver was trying to get her into his truck...she was headed toward him. Luckily, the firefighters were able to coax her to them. When Michael picked her up, they had a little plastic fire hat on her and were taking pictures of her! They actually backed out the fire truck so Michael could get pictures of Mieke in the truck! They were hoping no one showed up for her because they had already fallen in love with her. I don't think Michael will be leaving for work without her again. Sadly, I'm thinking about all the dog hair in my car!!

Ami Inspired Me...

2007-10-06T21:45:00.000-07:00

Which Twilight novel character are you?

You're Esme Cullen - Your maternal instinct to take care of people and be kind draw people towards you. You're compassionate and loving, yet firm when you need to be. You appreciate hard work and value the beautiful results of your dedication to any project.
Take this quiz!

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Invisible Women: A Tribute to My Daughters and Daughters-in-Law

2007-09-18T07:08:00.000-07:00

I’m invisible. It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I’m on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I’m thinking, “Can’t you see I’m on the phone?” Obviously not. No one can see if I’m on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I’m invisible.

Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more. Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I’m not a pair of hands; I’m not even a human being. I’m a clock to ask, “What time is it?” I’m a satellite guide to answer, “What number is the Disney Channel?” I’m a car to order, “Right around 5:30, please.” I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude – but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She’s going…she’s going…she’s gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a banana clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, “I bought you this.” It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn’t exactly sure why she’d given it to me until I read her inscription: “To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.”

In the days ahead I would read – no, devour – the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work. No one can say who built the great cathedrals – we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, “Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.” And the workman replied, “Because God sees.” I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, “I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you’ve done, no sequin you’ve sewn on, no cupcake you’ve baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can’t see right now what it will become.”

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don’t want my son to tell the friend he’s bringing home to Thanksgiving, “My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.” I just want him to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, “You’re gonna love it there.”

As mothers, and volunteers we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we’re doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women. (Author Unknown)

Thank you for all you do every day as wives and mothers! You're the BEST and I'm proud of each one of you.

I'll Keep Blogging

2007-09-16T16:14:00.001-07:00

I enjoy blogging, so I'll keep posting. I especially enjoy everyone else's blogs, so I hope you will all keep posting, too. This is how I feel close to all of you and can keep up with what is happening in your family. I love all the pictures you post and the adorable videos of the kids.

It's beginning to cool off up here already. Our EQ Pres. said we have less than two weeks before it begins to freeze, so Michael is working hard to get things done outside - like putting the skirting up around the house. I think we're going to have to teach Mieke and Mollie how to use the treadmill so they can get some exercise during the winter because I don't like going out in the cold. I promise to get pics of that if it ever happens! Now I just have to figure out how to throw the stick for Mieke and the frisbee for Mollie without going out into the cold!

Michael's work is slowing down up here and so you may see more of us if he has to start working in the valley again. Annette and Werner said they have houses to paint, so if that's where the work is, we'll be down. We'll keep everyone posted - especially Tara, Scott and Dean!

Last night there was a ward dinner and auction for the YM/YW and they were able to raise over $4k for girls camp and scout camp for next year. It's the only annual fund raiser they have and I was surprised that our small ward did so well. I made homemade cinnamon rolls that sold for $35 a dozen. Michael donated some of his work and with all that, we were able to contribute almost $500. It was a fun evening. My RS calling keeps me busy. We had an older sister in our ward pass away last week, and I will get my first experience in helping to plan a funeral next Saturday. She had a huge posterity (she was related to the Ellsworth's), so they are expecting at least 150 family members; it should be interesting to serve a luncheon for that many people. I also started working in the Snowflake Temple on Friday mornings, and I love it! It is wonderful to spend an entire morning there helping patrons. All that I had to memorize came back quickly, so I had only one week of study and I am back doing everything an ordinance worker does in the temple. I have also been able to get the temple work done for many more of our family names. The next time I come down, I'll leave some family names with Ryan and Ann and Jeff and Heather, so please plan to pick up some names from them when you go to the temple - it is such a sweet experience!

I'll post some pictures soon of all the progress we're making on the house. At least as soon as something gets FINISHED! Michael has started so many projects, and I have yet to see something get completely done before he starts on something else. That's the problem with so much construction and too little money. Now he has to get the outside done pronto! We thought we had more time before the cold weather. Anyway, check back for photos!

Mollie's New Toy

2007-09-08T09:27:00.001-07:00

Mollie has found a toy that she loves just as much as Mieke loves her sticks. Michael threw a frisbee for her and she went wild! Mieke has never much liked frisbees - we tried, but I guess she didn't like the feel of the plastic in her mouth. (Yeah - splinters are so much better...) But Mollie is craaaazzzy for the frisbee. We have to throw it upside down for her so she can pick it up, but I'm sure as she gets bigger, we'll be able to throw it and she'll catch it before it hits the ground. Don't get me wrong, she'll still chase Mieke and her stick, but throw a frisbee and she will forget all about the stick and Mieke. At least this was a fun diversion from all the problems with the house!

Pollyanna Syndrome (Otherwise known as The Glad Game)

2007-09-07T19:42:00.000-07:00

I was so excited today because Navopache Electric was FINALLY coming to hook up the meter box to our electric pole. FINALLY electricity throughout the house. FINALLY being able to use more than one appliance at a time. FINALLY a porch light and hall light and electricity to the back bedrooms. FINALLY no more extension cords. The meter box was FINALLY installed and Michael was FINALLY able to throw the main breaker. Luckily I was in the house when he was outside throwing the breaker...because our two TVs inside the house blew up and started smoking. I pulled the plug on both of them and yelled for Michael to get in the house to get the TVs outside because I was afraid they would start a fire. All the power had been off all day, so the food in my fridge and freezer was beginning to thaw or come to room temperature and now it looked like we might have to get everything out and take to neighbors so we wouldn't lose all our food. Every light bulb throughout the house was blown and had to be replaced and the circuit board on my relatively new dishwasher is fried. The electrician did admit to hooking a wire up incorrectly - the ground wire.

OK - now for the Glad Game. I'm so glad my computer (which was plugged in and turned on) didn't fry like the TVs, the dishwasher and all the lightbulbs. I'm glad the electrician was able to come out and trouble shoot and get all the electricity on throughout the house. I'm glad I was in the house when Michael threw the breaker switch. I'm glad I have a porch light, entry light, hall light and lights in all the bedrooms. I'm glad my house didn't burn down. I'm glad I had the presence of mind to unplug the TVs immediately. And we plugged in both of the TVs and I'm glad one actually still works - the other is definitely fried and won't power on. The one that works is the smallest and newest one and has some lines through the picture, but I'm glad we can still watch a DVD if we want to. I'm glad I didn't have to take all the food out of the fridge and freezer - everything is ok all the way down to the Schwann's Rocky Road Ice Cream. If you look hard enough, you can find a lot of reasons to be glad and count your blessings!! And now for a gigantic bowl of Rocky Road ice cream...

The Four "M's"

2007-09-03T21:08:00.000-07:00

That would be Mom, Michael, Mieke, and Mollie! Everyone has been asking for pictures of our puppies, Mieke and Mollie. (We affectionately call them Princess Mieke and Miss Mollie.) Mieke will be a year old on Sept. 6th - it's hard to believe we have had her for almost a year (we got her when she was 7 weeks old). I think she is finally full-grown! She has stopped growing tall and has really filled out and has so much muscle strength. Mollie is almost 4 months old and really has a fun personality. This weekend we had Tara's dogs, Shadow and Ritz and Jared's dog, Kanal here. Whenever Michael would throw the stick for Mieke (her most favorite thing in the world, besides Michael), Mollie would herd the other dogs away from Mieke so she could get her stick without interference. Mieke and Mollie play well together - sometimes it's like having a 4 yr. old and 2 yr. old in the house again. If Mollie gets a ball or toy, Mieke takes it away from her. They fight over bones, toys, and get jealous if one gets more attention than the other. They chase each other around the chairs, down the hall and into the bedroom to jump on the bed and start all over again. They absolutely love being outside and even play "King of the Hill" on the dirt piles. We believe they will protect each other from the coyotes that seem so close sometimes here. And, of course, we hope they will protect us. Most of all, we appreciate their company and unconditional love.

Ami Tagged Me!

2007-08-26T19:56:00.000-07:00

4 jobs I've had:
1. Lansinoh Labs - Office/HR Manager
2. ALG Law Firm - HR Manager
3. Walgreens Healthcare Plus - 5 yrs and 4 positions
4. Chase Bankcard Services - Asst. to VP
4 movies I can watch over and over:
1. Sahara
2. 13 going on 30
3. National Treasure
4. Pirates of the Carribean
4 places I've lived:
1. Linden, AZ
2. Mesa, AZ (sorry about all the houses...)
3. Gilbert, AZ
4. Tacoma, WA
4 guilty pleasures:
1. Chocolate anything (almost)
2. Playing with my Grandchildren
3. Traveling
4. Spending time with my family
4 places I've been on vacation:
1. Maui, Hawaii
2. Banff, Canada
3. Bermuda
4. Oahu, Hawaii
4 favorite foods:
1. Fettucchini Alfredo
2. Really good Mexican food
3. Ice Cream
4. Pie
4 websites I visit:
1. Everyone's Blogs
2. Reliv
3. Bank of America
4. Another Voice of Warning
4 places I'd rather be right now:
1. Maui, Hawaii
2. Sea World or Disneyland with all the kids and grandkids
3. Listening to a thunderstorm - anywhere
4. On a Reliv trip because they pay for everything!
4 books I love:
1. Stephenie Meyers' books (I'm hooked now! When does the next book come out?)
2. Roger K. Young's books on Second Coming
3. Harry Potter books
4. Mary Higgins Clark mysteries
4 things I would like to know how to do:
1. Water ski - I know how - I just want to be better than Jerry!
2. Sail on a boat
3. I've always wanted to chase storms
4. Home decorating - like everyone else
4 neglected body parts:
1. My feet are probably the only body part that isn't neglected...love those pedicures!
4 things I worry about:
1. My children and grandchildren
2. Food/Water storage
3. Wishing I was a better Mom
4. Michael climbing on ladders and roofs without anyone there to call me if he falls
4 happy moments:
1. Any time with my husband and family
2. The birth of each of my children - I always felt like I had a new toy!
3. Dating Michael
4. Buying our home and land in Linden - finally something my own and a place to put down roots!
4 things I want to do this year or in the future:
1. Finish food storage
2. Get my home completely done and looking awesome!
3. Getting the outside of our home done so we don't freeze this winter
4. Go back to Hawaii - (Yeah, right - like I'll have the money if I get the other three done...)
4 people I am tagging:
1. Kaye Coatney
2. Tara Anderson
3. Stephanie Cook
4. Haley Cook
5. Heather Cook
6. Arleen Cook
7. Ann Cook
(If Ami can do it, so can I!)

OK - So I'm Not Bored Anymore!

2007-08-25T09:28:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was called to meet with the President of the Snowflake Temple. I have been called and set apart to be a Temple worker again - and I am so excited! It shouldn't take me long to get back up to speed with all that I have to memorize. I will work on Friday mornings. Clark and Susan Halls also work on that shift, so I will at least know someone when I go - and I guess I know who submitted my name, too.

The temple is so small! The Mesa Temple has 4 Initiatory booths - the Snowflake Temple has one. The Mesa Temple has 4 sets of Ordinance Rooms, The Snowflake Temple has one set. You have to make appointments to attend the Snowflake Temple most of the time, although a few sessions don't require an appointment. It is going to be very different, but I can't wait to get started again. When I was set apart, I was told that my family would be greatly blessed and my health would be better because of my service in the Temple. I have such a strong testimony of temple work and attendance and have had some of my most spiritual experiences while there. I know how busy all of you are, but try to take one day a month to go with your spouse. I know it is a sacrifice because you are all so busy, but you have been promised that angels will attend and guard your family if you go. I still have tons of family names that need endowment work done. Maybe I can leave some names with one member of the family and you can get a family name when you go to the temple. It's always so much more meaningful to me to take a family name through. Any volunteers to be the "keeper of the names"?

Importance of Attending the Temple in the Last Days

2007-08-21T15:35:00.001-07:00

I found this quote and want to share it with everyone:

One of the best explanations about the importance of temples in the last days was given by Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone, of the first Quorum of Seventy, when he was Pres. of the Utah, South Area, April 1987:

“The season of the world before us will be like no other in the history of mankind. Satan has unleashed every evil, every scheme, every blatant vile perversion ever known to man in any generation… We and our wives and husbands, our children and our members must find safety.

As the evil night darkens upon this generation, we must come to the temple for light and safety. In our temples we find quiet, sacred havens where the storm cannot penetrate to us. There are hosts of unseen sentinels watching over and guarding our temples. Angels attend every door.

Before the Savior comes the world will darken. There will come a period of time where even the elect will lose hope if they do not come to the temples. The world will be so filled with evil that the righteous will only feel secure within these walls. The saints will come here not only to do vicarious work, but to find a haven of peace. They will long to bring their children for safety sake.

There will be greater hosts of unseen beings in the temple. Prophets of old as well as those in this dispensation will visit the temples. Those who attend will feel their strength and feel their companionship. We will not be alone in our temples.

Our garments worn as instructed will clothe us in a manner as protective as temple walls. The covenants and ordinances will fill us with faith as a living fire. In a day of desolating sickness, scorched earth, barren wastes, sickening plagues, disease, destruction and death, we as a people will rest in the shade of the trees, we will drink from the cooling fountains. We will abide in places of refuge from the storm, we will mount up as on eagles wings, we will be lifted out of an insane and evil world.

The Savior will come and honor His people, those who are spared and prepared will be a temple-loving people. Our children will bow down at His feet and worship Him as the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings. They will bathe His feet with their tears and He will weep and bless them for having suffered through the greatest trials ever known to man. His bowels will be filled with compassion and His heart will swell wide as Eternity and He will love them. He will bring peace that will last a thousand years and they will receive their reward to dwell with Him.

Let us prepare them with the faith to surmount every trial and every condition. We will do it in these holy, sacred temples. Come, come, oh come to the temples of the Lord and abide in His presence.”

Second Coming

2007-08-20T08:58:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry...again...that I haven't posted more often. I am so stressed!! I am working on an Enrichment night lesson for the entire ward - the Bishop decided he wanted husbands there, too - on the Second Coming. It has been so much harder than I thought because there is so much information available and I only have 40 minutes. There is so much I want to say and yet I don't want this to be an "alarmist" type of talk. Please keep me in your prayers! This will happen Thursday night and I do need the Spirit with me. I'll let you know how it goes!

New Family Bloggers

2007-08-14T10:36:00.000-07:00

OK - I know it's been awhile since I've even posted, but I kinda felt like no one really cared if I did or not. So, now that we all have blogs, I'll get back to it on a regular basis. Ami has really been so good about her blog and it looks so great! I have visited all the kids' blogs and they look awesome, too! It will be a fun way to keep everyone up to date. I am doing another Halls Family blog - not sure what I'll call it yet, but it will be for Lisa, Stephanie, and Mark and anyone else in our family who may want to contribute or put their family blog on it so they can access it. It's your choice.

A New Calling

2007-05-03T20:10:00.000-07:00

I've just returned from talking with our Bishop and I have a new calling: Enrichment Counselor in Relief Society. When I was told yesterday that I had an appointment to meet with him, I felt that my calling would be in Relief Society, but I thought maybe Visiting Teaching Supervisor or teacher. Never in my wildest imagination did I think I'd get called to be a counselor. Now I know why the Lord has been making my back better. I guess we won't be spending as many weekends in the valley now, we'll just have to cut it short and come home on Saturday night or early Sunday morning. Our ward doesn't meet until 11:00, so that would be possible. I told all of you that I was getting bored up here - I think all that is about to change! Wish me luck and PLEASE pray for me!

I'm Losing It!

2007-04-30T07:57:00.000-07:00

I can't tell you how excited I am! I started a new diet, along with my Reliv, and I have lost 9 pounds this past week. I am never hungry and definitely don't feel deprived. It's called "eating for your body type" or the six week body makeover. You actually take a test to determine your body type. The questions are not to determine the shape of your body, but what your body has been like throughout your life. There is an infomercial about it on TV, but if anyone is interested, I have the website and phone number.
What I have changed is substantial. I haven't had a soda in over 2 weeks now and I'm trying not to eat much white sugar. I have really been watching what I eat by reading labels. I am avoiding "hydrogenated fats". I didn't realize how bad they are for you. Hydrogenated fats are any oils that have been heated. Once heated, they are one molecule away from plastic and when consumed, your body doesn't know what to do with it, so it stores it - usually right around the mid section. It also coats every cell with this "plastic", thus making it very difficult for your cells to absorb nutrients. Good fats, like Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) and naturally occurring fats in avacados, etc. do not coat the cells. Make sense? It did to me. And I have been feeling so much better! When I was at the grocery store buying veggies, fruits, and good meats, it just felt right. An interesting fact here - one that you may have heard before. Did you know that you should shop the perimeter of the grocery store? The outside aisles have all the good stuff - veggies, fruits, etc. The inside aisles have all the sugar and hydrogenated fats. Check it out - you'll be amazed! When I shopped on Saturday, I only went to the inside aisles for tomato sauce, chicken broth, and brown rice. We ate so good all weekend and I even had a piece of pie (yeah, some hydrogenated fat in the crust), and I still lost 3 pounds. But I am not eating nearly the fats and sugars that I was before. Proof that just changing some eating habits can really help.
I am still taking my Reliv, but I don't have to take as much because my body is absorbing more than I was before. I am doing the Reliv Slimplicty plan which I am sure is helping, too. The accelerator tablets have some incredible herbs in them that help keep blood sugars where they should be and reduce the bad cholesterol plus help with the weight loss process as well. I am eating every 2 hours (6 meals or snacks a day) and I am not hungry at all. One thing I have found is that eating too much white sugar makes the pain in my back and joints worse.
So, the next time we are down in the valley - you'll see the "skinny me"! (Or at least a skinnier me!) WOOHOO!

Traditions

2007-04-22T16:33:00.000-07:00

What can we do to create more family traditions? Ten, twenty, thirty years from now, all that remains are the memories we have created for our families. It seems that the in-law side of the family have great traditions that no one ever wants to miss. Does anyone have any ideas about what we can do - fun things no one wants to miss? I wish we had more "toys" up here on our property so it would be more enticing to come up for family visits. What about trips to other places, if planned well in advance? Places like Nauvoo or Salt Lake City, San Diego (Sea World and the beach), or Disneyland. I'm open to suggestions. Does anyone else think this is important? Jerry and Kaye are in Hawaii with some of their kids right now. Is there any interest in something like that? Please let me know what you think.

Footprints

2007-04-17T20:39:00.000-07:00

So much has happened in the last few days. I suppose when life takes one of it's tragic turns, it makes you realize just how grateful you are. I know life can be taken away in an instant and I want my family to know just how much I love and appreciate them. I am grateful for my Mom and I think about her every single day. We were so close and she was called home at such an early age - 61. I'm only now 4 years away from that time line and I realize just how young she was. I guess she was needed far greater in her heavenly home than I needed her here. I'm grateful that I still have my Dad here and want him to know how much I love him. He still walks a few miles every day and has pretty good health. My Dad has always said "send flowers to me while I'm alive, because I won't even see them if I'm gone." I have really tried to live that principle and express my love to my family at every opportunity.
I am so blessed with wonderful children and grandchildren who make me prouder every day. I want you all to know that when I say "children" - that includes all their spouses - I have always considered them to be totally and completely part of this family and I love as much as my own.
My Mom's favorite poem said:
"Some people come into our lives, stay for awhile, and leave footprints on our hearts,
and we are never the same."
You have all left footprints on my heart and changed my life in such a positive way. I feel so sorry for those people who choose not to have a family because they will never know the happiness and joy that comes with sharing your life with children and grandchildren. I love you all! Thank you for being such a vital part of my life!

The Country Life

2007-04-12T08:12:00.000-07:00

The Country Life

It's quiet, no sounds of traffic - only the wind in the trees, the dogs barking, a little rain - it's driving me CRAZY! I miss the sounds of my grandchildren playing and singing and going to the park with them to play. Don't get me wrong, I do love it up here, but it's been two weeks without my family and I don't like that much. We'll be coming down on Saturday and leaving Monday morning, so I am looking forward to seeing as much of my family as I can.
I've gotten a lot of unpacking done, even though I don't have as much space to put things away in this house. I can't put up pictures until Michael does all the taping, texturing, and painting of each and every room. He's so busy with work that he doesn't have much time to work on our house. He is doing much better at coming home at a decent time, though. He's been home by 6-6:30 most evenings. We'll get it done, eventually.
We have no TV shows up here, yet, so if I want to know what's going on with American Idol, I have to read Ami's blog! I keep up with my Suns by watching a live scoreboard on the computer, so at least I know who won - not many good highlights of the game, though. Guess I need to hear more about what happens from my boys (hint, hint).
Hope to see you all this weekend! Happy Birthday to Stephanie (Friday), Kaleb (this Sunday), Kyle (next Friday), Jerry (24th), and Jared and Ann (26th)!

Hey everyone!

2007-04-01T20:51:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Michael & Judi Halls' blog! We will post our many adventures and pictures of our relaxing life on our property in Linden, AZ. Hope you enjoy it!