I'll Keep Blogging

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

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)

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"

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!

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!

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

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

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!