Temple Celebration

For the past three months Zac has had the wonderful opportunity to participate and practice for the temple celebration. He had two options: Choir or Dance. He chose to dance. As the practices started, he found out they needed a few boys to be part of the couple dances and he said yes. He practiced every Wednesday night and several Saturdays. He was out until after 9pm each Wednesday night. Then he had three practices at the Conference Center downtown. They were long practices from 5 - 10pm, 3 - 11p and then the final performance from 3 - 10p. He said he had fun at each practice. He did the Charleston. It was fun to watch him do his dance.

It ended up that I was asked to take him to the stake center before he went downtown and I was so glad. Usually there was a team captain that came to pick him up and take him to the last few practices downtown. Because I got to take him this time, I was able to see him in his "costume" and take a few pictures. There was a lot of excitement there and it was fun.

On Saturday (the performance day) I got two tickets, so Paula and I went. It was exciting to go to the conference center to see him perform. We got there with plenty of time and were able to see their coaches talk to them and give them pep talks and also share their testimonies. What a neat experience it was. It started with a neat video of the practices for all of these youth. There were over 7,000 youth who participated in this event.

We were able to hear from our Prophet. I felt his strong spirit as he spoke to these wonderful youth and thanked them for their hard work. He has such a powerful spirit about him, this spirit touched my heart. There was also such a strong spirit during the whole event, what a powerful experience this was.

I hope Zachary will never forget his experience here, I know I won't. I feel newly inspired that we need to get to the temple again. There is a lot of work to be done.

Memorial Day Weekend

Friday, after work, I was asked to help put up veteran plaques on the flags in the Herriman City Cemetery. It turned out neat.

After I was done, we were invited to stay the night in a cabin in Aspen Acers - just above Oakley (thanks Emalee) The kids had a blast and so did we. We went for a hike and a picnic and then had a yummy dinner - it was a lot of fun.

Then on Monday morning I took the family over to mom & dad's graves in Sandy - wow that place was busy. It gave me a good feeling to remember them and spend some time there with our family.

New Hairdo

Zac needed a hair cut - but he was having a hard time deciding whether or not to grow it out again. So, he asked me for a compromise - part of it long - and part of it short - here's what we came up with.

What Do You Think?

When You Set Your Mind to Something You Can Accomplish Anything!!!

Okay, just so you have a little background, Josh has never been able to ride a two-wheeler bike without training wheels before. He's tried many times and we've tried to encourage him to keep trying, but it just never happened. I personally think it just didn't interest him.

Well, this year Hayden asked me "Mom can you please have Dad fix the bikes so I can ride outside?!" So. . . with that, Jeffrey fixed both bikes. AND that was it - that was all it took. Josh was bound and determined that HE was going to ride bikes this year - nothing like a little brotherly competition - eh?

So. . . Josh hopped on the bike without training wheels

(and I'm a little embarassed to say, I thought - oh boy - here we go

this will be a long day, but he is going to do it.

This year Josh is going to ride a two-wheeler bike
Seriously - it's about time!!)

Well . . . without any hesitation, Josh got on that bike and took off. . .and . . . BAM - just like that! Josh was riding a bike!! He just got on and off he went zippin' around!! Holy Cow!! I couldn't believe it - I was so pleasantly surprised!!

Josh - you are awesome and you taught me a huge lesson today - when you set your mind to something you really CAN accomplish anything!! Way to go!!

So - here's the video to prove it!!

You'd never know he just learned yesterday!!

Wow!! Way to Go Bud!!

We Want to Sell Dutch Oven Gold

So. . .lately we've been creating a product to put in your dutch oven to prevent it from going rancid when you store the dutch oven away.

It works - it's been in the process now for nearly a year and so far - so good. Still no rancid smell. So now the trick will be to advertise it, get it in a store, promote it, get the word out.

How to do that is the BIG question.

Any help?

If you click on the picture it takes you to a blog about the product - but really - I don't love it yet. I need help, suggestions, any thing else you'd like to know about it and ideas to spruce it up.

The plan is to send an email to D.O.G. (dutch oven going) people and ask send them to the blog in the hopes they would like to buy it or put it in their little stores.

HELP - please - (send me an email or comment here) suggest away, please.

Sharing is Great Therapy!

I was a little nervous about making that last post - because really - it wasn't very positive - but it's been great therapy to share. Since that special experience with a sweet friend listening to the promptings of our Heavenly Father, there have been several more like that.

What a beautiful day we had this past weekend! Friday was just that pretty. I got home and it felt so good - I found out that Jeff had been outside working in the yard. He had trimmed up all the trees and our neighbors butterfly bushes (long story) anyway. Zac had power raked the front yard too, and there were piles all over the yard - I love it!!

I know I'm a little nutso about that, but I really do love working in the yard. So I immediately called the kids over to help clean up the piles. I was able to keep a good feeling going despite their sadness from being pulled away from playing.

It wasn't long before some friends from next door came to help. Then all of a sudden it was fun for everyone. Isn't it neat what friends, smiles and work can do for your soul?

Then Zac and I and our friends from next door went for a walk, while Jeffrey cooked up some hamburgers on the grill - yummmmm. What a great day!!! I sure needed that!!

I has a sad :(

So I haven't updated for some time, because there really isn't much in the way of positive to tell you about. Since we got home from Hawaii it seems our whole world has been torn apart.

Oh - we really will be fine - really, it just seems that one thing right after another has gone wrong.

It actually started before we left, we found out that there were two people who wanted to sue us. All because we ended up not qualifying for a house we wanted to try to build. So as it stands now - we paid off one - so that's one down and one to go.

Then when we got back Jeff received reduced work hours and then was let go (fired - canned!!) - so he's out of work. Next thing I know, I got demoted in front of about 9 co-workers at work and just feel ornery, embarassed and just plain sad about it all.

So. . . that's what's been going on with us. We are trying to find a silver lining. Jeff is looking for work or another source of income and I'm looking for a new Mayor.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!!

One more thing to add - I am so grateful for those who listen to the spirit and act upon a prompting. A friend of mine one who I am not really best friends with but we are friends - (I say that only because it makes it that much more interesting) - called me yesterday. See I had been praying to know how to handle it all. I wanted so bad to visit with mom or dad and get a big hug. She called me and said, "Hi Cindy, how are you doing?" I told her the new phrase I tell everyone lately "Fabulous - how are you?" She said oh good because I've been thinking about you all day - I could not get you off my mind. Isn't that weird?! So you are good then?" I went on to tell her the truth because she really wanted to know. She followed the prompting of our Heavenly Father who found a way to send me a big hug!! I am truly grateful she listened to that prompting and acted on it - oh how I needed that hug!!

Everything wasn't magically fixed - we just found out that jeff's unemployment claim was denied - but for that moment - I felt that I mattered - I felt thought of and loved.