Stimpsons In Utah

Living with being different

2011-08-07T19:36:00.004-06:00

I was thinking a great deal of my experience in this life being different. Ever since I was a child, I always knew that I was very different. I have experienced that feeling of being an outsider. When I was admitted into deaf school, I thought that the feeling of being different is resolved when I am among my peers. I found myself to be wrong once again . . . I found the difference as soon as when I entered pre-teens. I found my friends doing things that I wasn't allowed to do like watching R-rated movies or wearing immodest clothes. It was when I realize what it means to be a Latter-day Saint.

I talked about that sense of normalcy with my husband . . . A word used frequently in psychology studies. When they try to make the sense with people who weren't getting along well in their life. I also have seen how our perception of reality becomes distorted when our brains aren't working too well. It was very unsteady field, the psychological studies . . . Just like Alice in the Wonderland. Things always look pretty crazy and logic becomes a bit skewered. We also noted that people with similar issues tend to feel more comfortable with others that share those with them. Like mothers enjoying time with other mothers or computer programmer appreciating a long conversation time with another computer programmers.

Today in Relief Society, we talked about the Living Water . . . The story of clean water project was mentioned. Church frequently goes to third world country to build wells for the villages. Before Church built wells . . . women frequently had to set aside a large part of day to walk nine miles to get clean water for her family. After the new well being established, she just has to walk a mile to get it. I thought it was very important to clarify and make a point. I talked about in many parts of the country, they weren't lacking in water but rather lacking in CLEAN WATER. They have a quite bit of water but much of it is infested with parasites and typhus. You will become sick if you drank them. I thought a great deal of the importance of having clean water and how it contributes to our well being. While dirty water makes us sick. What we put into ourselves really make what we are. Sick or healthy. Also, we discussed about how gospel, living water, made our lives very different from the others . . . Gospel really sets us aside!

While we are capable of identifying what is wrong with our physical body, we are not able to identify our spiritual needs outright. As we were born, we came down with veil clouding our spiritual eyes. We are unable to see the other side and we forgot everything as in whole sense. So we are left with what we could experience with our human senses. So it really leaves us with too little to grapple on. We then develop that sense of normalcy within our perception of what is real and what is not.

We want to feel like we belong to something. We crave for love. We once lived in the light of love that belongs to our Heavenly Father. We miss it dreadfully so we work so hard to belong to something. Within our current existence, we seek for what is normal and what is not then we work so hard to belong so we can get what we crave for which is love and acceptance.

I suppose that Heavenly Father knew that so well and gave us that difficult challenge . . He said, "Be my peculiar people". He is asking us to be different. He is asking us to become HIS people and be similar to Him.

As I was growing up, I had to make many difficult choices that would set me apart from the others and give myself a lonelier life. It is even lonelier because I am deaf . . . Not too many of those are both deaf and Latter-day Saint. It did give me a will and strength to make better choice when I became an adult.

Hectic moments with a dash of wicked humor

2011-06-20T13:17:00.002-06:00

There's a couple of funny stories . . .

Timothy saw Clinton's grandma and boy did he stared!

Clint's grandma asked him gravely, "Do I look very old?" figuring that seeing old person as her is a rare occurrence for Timothy.

Timothy answered, "Yes, you look old."

After some talking, Timothy asked her, "Did you already die before?"

Well, last week is all done! Bridal shower, Father's Day, Sealing, and Christina's first endownment. Two Sundays ago, I could not sleep because of feeling of being stressed out already was sinking in. I am very relieved now with how they all are over with. They are a lot of work plus with managing children at same time. I always was feeling pretty exhausted and just fell onto the bed and slept like dead.

With a good cause for celebration, I posted on facebook wickedly . . . "We added a new family member last Friday" and added as if afterthought "But it is not something that drools and wears diapers. I got a new brother in law." I got some funny comments afterwards.

Yesterday, we had a father's day celebration with my step father over Susan's house. Susan is a such kind hearted sister who is willing to put up with us and the rowdy combination of cousins.

We had BBQ food and happy time together. Today, dad is on his way home . . .

Christina and her Dan are in Northwestern doing their honeymoon. Clint and I missed our wedding anniversary yesterday. But we fully intend to celebrate it sometime this week.

Forever Family

2011-06-05T21:10:00.002-06:00

While I was looking into Foster program for option of adoption, I was amazed to see that the phrase, "Forever family", often came up in every background of every child that is waiting for adoption. I truly can feel that yearning every child has for a permanent family and permanent stability. It is truly amazing thing and a miracle when they have found their "forever family".

Christina is getting married in two weeks. It has been a quite spiritual journey she made until this wedding that she will have in Bountiful Temple. I think we all have our own journey till we got there and by the time when we are in sealing room, . . . being sealed to our husband for all eternity. I honestly felt so overjoyed when I have that man kneeling across from me, eager to stay with me for forever and working with me to have a family that have that bond with us forever.

On the day when my sister gets sealed forever, it will be eleven months from the death of mother. I still remember my sister tearing up and saying that her mother won't be physically present for her wedding and baby. It made me very sad. I know it is very important to our mother. She IS happy for each of her daughter! I knew that my mom would dote on Christina, her baby . . . and be with Christina, planning everything down to details. Well, I know with absoluteness that our parents will be present at the sealing. Temple draws family together, veil that separates us become meaningless. I really take a great deal of comfort in that sense.

Forever family . . . is our ultimate goal. It is enough for mother put in as her last words to me- which was very important to my mother. I was thinking on how when we are given the chance to tell our children some last words before we depart into next life . . . What would we say? What type of things that are we especially want our children to remember? What is our biggest desire? I know one . . . It is being able to meet again in the end. To achieve that, we need to remember always the commandments of God and working towards the ultimate goal which is making our families bond to out last everything. I suppose that mom had that sense that she was having this last conversation with me, so she want to give me that feeling that she is very anxious to have that togetherness after our period of trial.

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-08T20:38:00.002-06:00

Normally when I am putting up a post, I usually know what I am going to say and make a point out of. But today, I am feeling a little lost.

I must confess that I did take a time in trying to decide what I am getting Clint's mother and my mother for their special day. I really have had hard time trying to decide for my mother's. One-she is not around to appreciate books that I normally send and father doesn't appreciate books like my mother does. Finally, I settled on flowers for her grave. Flowers are more expensive when you do mail order. Ugh. I did it anyways. It really is a self conflicted thing. The dead doesn't care much about materials and appreciate thoughts/remembrance more. I think it was more of missing her a great deal because I used to be so excited in choosing a book for mother to enjoy every year.

I think the best gift I can give to her is to memorialize her which I did after her death. I will just drop a few that I know about her . . .

My mother was born on June 15 . . . Year of 1955. She was 5 lbs, few oz and very small baby. I am not certain why she was born so small. Grandpa said it is thought that her mother had rubella while my mother was in-womb. Her parents did not find out how my mother was deaf until when she ran off and her mother called for her. I think she was approximately two years old.

Mother was a beautiful little blonde girl. My mother often wore short hair as she was growing up. Even though, she is pretty, she told me her wish while she was growing up was having longer hair. Meanwhile, while her parents still were together- grandma would be making her lots of nice handmade dresses. My mother would remicise how she loved going over her own grandma's house. Grandma would teach her to crotchet. And while grandma is busy with gardening or in kitchen, mother would wander around in the house, seeing all of those interesting fun things like indian corns hanging on line in garage, rows of beautiful green vegetables, and watching grandma working. I think my mother honestly felt that grandma is the one she relates the best with and with this grandma my mother genuinely felt loved.

My mother had difficult childhood so her times with grandma is one of the most treasured moments in her life. My mother had oral education ever since she entered school. My mother is very smart, self sufficient, and hard worker. All the same, she came in last with many things. She struggled to understand teachers, peers and others. I think my mother spent most of her life trying to act that she understands and avoiding situations that may poise her awkwardly. I recall some stories told to me how she sat back in the classroom because she hoped that teachers won't put her on spot and ask some questions. My mother was so scared to death of that!

When my mother got out of high school, she took a semester or two at college to learn data entry skill. She married my father at age of nineteen and had me at age of twenty. She told me how she managed to persuade my dad into having children just because she wanted so badly to have that joy of having a family of her own. At age of twenty-two, she had Susan and at age of thirty, she had Christina. At age of thirty-four, she lost her husband to cancer. For five years, she was a widow, student, full time income earner, and mother. I know it was difficult for her. She fell short very often. But she came around to help us sometimes when we need it. She has hard time expressing her emotions back then but she told me often later on- how much she loved us. How much she felt proud of us.

At age of thirty-nine, she married my step father. They were deliriously happy! My step-father is around her age and have a lot of active interests like my mother. In beginning of their marriage, they went hiking a lot. My step-father always was encouraging my mother to do fun things like sewing - purchased my mother lots of nice stuff so that she can enjoy it.

At age of fifty, my mother began having health problems. She got a lot of strange diseases that we never ever heard of. They are so much unrelated with family history, genetics, and all. Susan and I felt very frightened about it ever since the death of our mother.

Our step-father . . he is so lonely! We felt so sad! We saw this loneliness our mother had to endure and it broke our hearts knowing that our step father is going through the same thing.

Mother, it almost is a year ever since we lost you. I don't think we are able to stop counting the time we have to be separated. We love you and Happy Mother's Day.

Kindness Goes Long Way

2011-04-17T17:13:00.002-06:00

The gentle influence of love called "kindness" that motivate people to look out for the others nearby. I have thought long and hard about the meaning of those such things.

First of all, that gentle, warm, and connected feeling we have is called "love" . . . I have discovered many times in this life that I am more likely to feel love are for those who I share much of needs, dreams, and life with. How do I feel love and kindly towards strangers? Jesus Christ have taught us may times that we need to be kind and loving towards those we don't know. It is truly challenging because it is our nature to be scared of the unknown. What is this stranger's intentions? Would he/she wish us harm? What will they look to us as? For some, we are scared of being looked at as "money tree" to fuel their bad habits?

How can we reach across the bridge of our fears and anxieties? We just need to think . . . how those people want to be loved like we want to be loved. How those people have struggles, doubts and insecurities like us. God gave us scriptures that are over 1,000 years old . . . Because those people have similar circumstances - regardless of their time period- and what they have to share still is applicable to our time. Our prophets have mentioned that there's no such thing as new sin, new temptations, or new issue. It is just same old thing with different face. Why? We all are children of God. We are like Him in many ways. The path we walked was walked before by our ancestors in this life. In different epoch, different place, and even different universe? There were many beings that faced the same thing we faced.

As long as we are children of God, we instantly have something in common.

As for the "kindness goes long way" theme I began out . . . I remember when I was alone, sad, and struggling . There were some people who bothered to reach out, made friend with me, and listened to me. I was so overwhelmed and incredulous . . . Those people had no reason to be kind because they are stranger in the beginning. They cared enough to risk their heart for my own sake.

As we reach out our own sphere knowing that we want to do to those like we want them to do to us . . . We step closer to God. Kindness goes long way . . . It leaves print on our heart, warms us when we are lonely, and inspire us to do the same to the others. Kindness is like a chain of reaction in humanity- like negative emotion can.

18There is no ^afear in ^blove; but perfect ^clove casteth out fear: because fear hath ^dtorment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

1 John 4

As long as we feel love, we no longer feel fear. Isn't love a such beautiful thing?

Living as Zion's people

2011-03-20T20:35:00.004-06:00

I have seen many times how far we are from those characteristics of people in the Zion.

I loved how Neal A. Maxwell put this as "When people govern themselves, there's no law necessary to govern them." *(Not exactly put as this but conceptually same).

When we choose to work toward the same goal . . . We understand that we must ignore our frailities or others' frailities . . . Picking up after each other ungrudgingly.

One sightful lesson Clint and I learned from our children was last Friday.

Clint instructed children to clean their rooms then as soon as when everyone got their rooms clean, we all can go swimming. Well, girls cleaned their room without any frictions. However, it is different for boys. Ian and Timmy bickered over whose doing what, what belongs to whoever, or whatsoever . . . Clint told Ian, "What is wrong with doing extra work just that we all can go swimming?" Ian was stubbornly resolute . . . Timmy HAS to clean his stuff up! In the end, nobody went swimming. Suzy was so sad! Girls both achieved the end but boys didn't. But all paid the price just because few won't do their part.

That is pretty sightful for Clint and me! We came to an understanding that to become truly Zion's people, we need to be unitified in all things. We must accept that we may come short because of few.

That message reasonated with Clinton's mother and she also added how we are put into family unit for that purpose. We need to learn how to work together. Through our families are we able to become Zion's people.

Two weeks, no post

2011-03-14T16:17:00.003-06:00

What is three weeks compared to the recent thing I did- 1 1/2 years ago? Ha.

Actually, I was out to South Dakota for a week to help dad with some of mom's and his personal stuff. We have had nice five days with him. We had the opportunity of cooking him meals, cleaning some parts of his house, and all. We just wanted to do that because we love him as our dad and remembering our promise to mother that we will take care of dad when mom passes away.

Today, I want to concentrate on a topic . . . Celebrating the meaning of change.

I truly believe that "change" is a word that only exists in this mortal life. In this existence, we witness change in action daily. Seasons, earth shifting into different landscape, cycle of caterpillar into moth, things in entropy state, growing old. We instinctively are fascinated. Why? The state we came from is very much unfamiliar with this concept, "change".

We knew forgiveness exists because things always change . . . Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow . . . Things always are different. With that entropy state we are in, we also forget things constantly.

Also, there's a miracle of repentance that only exists in this life. As Alma has mentioned,, "And thus we see, that there was a ^atime granted unto man to repent, yea, a ^bprobationary time, a time to repent and serve God." Alma 42:4

This probationary time as was mentioned earlier is only made possible because of this state we are living in. We are capable of repentance. Alma has warned that "And if their works are evil they shall be ^arestored unto them for evil. Therefore, all things shall be ^brestored to their proper order, every thing to its natural frame—^cmortality raised to^dimmortality, ^ecorruption to incorruption—raised to ^fendlesshappiness to ^ginherit the kingdom of God, or to endless misery to inherit the kingdom of the devil, the one on one hand, the other on the other—" Alma 41:4

If we choose to continue what we want to do . . . We hardly will change in the day of resurrection. However, if we decide to improve ourselves, change the way we think, and have desire to do right thing . . . That's the state we will be resurrecting into. We don't change when we become resurrected. As Alma said, we are just "restored" to our former state. Alma also taught that once when we become resurrected, we won't be able to change ourselves because we are moving back into a state that we once were in premortal state.

When we are in "perfect" state, we become incapable of change.

As we consider the steps of repentance, we usually read those steps as:

1. faith in God

2. confess

3. feel sorrow

4. abandonment of sin

5. restitute

6. righteous living

I didn't realize until recently that we also need to recognize the most important step (like 12 steps) . . . We need to understand that we have to admit/accept that we have the problem the foremost. We need to recognize that prior behavior/habit we have been having is destructive to ourselves and the others.

We all must come to that realization that we are human and we need to change . . INEVITABLY. Changes as many have said are always very good. Change motivates us to be better.

How much often do people rejoice with changes? VERY often! They are happy when leaves fall, they are happy when snowflakes come out, and they are happy when snow is melting and flowers are peeking out.

We must concentrate on rejoicing how we are capable of changing. Instead of letting go of our bad habits and thinking of how people criticizing us because we did something wrong . . . We must concentrate on the opportunity of changing ourselves. We must let go of worrying so much about others hurting us and celebrate for the opportunity of trusting in the Lord and letting Him to teach us.

I was asked to speak last Sunday and here is the copy

2011-03-14T16:13:00.000-06:00

Bearing Testimony

What an interesting topic! How often do you hear that sort of topic being shared. It led me to wonder why this topic was chosen. What is needed to be said about it . . .

Our Stake President always is inspired. There's a good cause in why this topic was chosen. In Zion, we know how dangerous it is to declare that all is well.

2 Nephi 28:21

And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.

The reason we are discussing this topic is because we MUST always be on constant watch on the subject of self-improvement.

Testimonies we hear are done once a month and bore so frequently that they are staples of being member of Jesus Christ's Church. We are beginning to take it for granted. It shouldn't be! Testimonies are part of miracles we have the privilege of witnessing.

The miracle of bearing testimony is not well-understood of many. Many don't know how it blesses other's lives. To fully understand why it is miracle we witness daily while we hear the others bearing the testimony.

Gifts of the Spirit . . .

13To some it is given by the ^aHoly Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that he was crucified for the sins of the world.

14To others it is given to ^abelieve on their words, that they also might have eternal life if they continue faithful.

Doctrine and Covenants 46:13-14

As those scriptures, we are taught that there are two gifts involved- To know by the Holy Ghost and to believe on their words. Those are two gifts among many and those are gifts especially related to bearing the testimony.

We are given the gifts as soon as we become members of His Church for one major reason:

21Therefore, why is it that ye cannot understand and know, that he that receiveth the word by the ^aSpirit of truth receiveth it as it is preached by the Spirit of truth?

22Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are ^aedified and ^brejoice together.

Doctrine and Covenants 50:21-22

Those gifts are designed to help us to grow in this great endeavor of God's work. We need those miracles to know that Heavenly Father has His Hand in our lives.

To show our true appreciation for those gifts, we need to strive for better ways to bear our testimonies. We need to always remember that they are miracles given to us by Heavenly Father who loves us very much.

Elder Packer have stated one way to improve ourselves as this:

Elder Packer shared a story of his experience with the missionaries . . .

“After hearing 206 missionaries stand up and make an expression, I finally came to the realization that we had heard 205 talks and only one testimony. The responses went something like this: 'I'm grateful to be a missionary. I'm glad to be on a mission. I have a great companion. I love my companion. I've had good companions all the time. We had a great experience last week. We were tracting (and so on), . . . and so you see how grateful I am to be on a mission. I have a testimony of this gospel. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.”

“These missionaries had talked about testimony, but they had talked around and through it, underneath it and over it, but never to it. It was marvelous what happened when we were able to show them how one bears testimony.

There are two ways to spell bear. Bear means to carry . . . Bare means to expose or reveal or make known.”

We carry testimony everywhere with us.
We need to bear direct witness.
Bearing the testimony is something of an experiment: It is an act of faith.
A testimony is found in the bearing of it.

As parents, we know how important it is to be a good example. As we bear our testimonies to our children, our children will learn how to bear their testimonies. As they grow into adults, they will know how to bear their testimonies.

I remember when I was growing up, I never felt certain about how I should bear my testimony. I often have asked myself . . . “How do I know it is true?” I was not certain about those experiences I have had that truly are my testimony. How can I know for sure?

Elder Packer addressed that as “Young people, do not apologize or be ashamed because you cannot frame into words that you know in your heart to be true. Do not repudiate your testimony merely because you have no marvelous manifestations to discuss . . . We sympathize with you and know how difficult it is to hold to the truth, particularly when professors of worldly knowledge-some of them counterfeit Christians-debunk and scoff. We know from personal experience that you may have some doubts. You may wonder at times, 'Can I ever really know for sure?' You may even wonder, 'Does anyone really know for sure?' . . . In answer to your question, 'Can I ever really know for sure?' we answer, 'Just as certainly as you fill the requirements, that testimony will come.' The Lord never said, nor was it ever pretended, that this testimony yields itself to scientific investigation, to mere curiosity, or to academic inquiry.” (Bear the testimony)

-How I “KNEW”

-All I have come into contact with God . . . All always have been deeply printed on my soul

-There are some I am willing to share and there's some that are too sacred to share.

-When I stand up in the testimony, I strive as much as I can in sharing how I learn from the gospel through life issues I am working on. As I am honest with myself, I am not afraid of sharing the truth with the others.

Living by the Gospel everyday

2011-02-20T23:23:00.002-07:00

I did ask myself many times- How am I living the Gospel today? I always feel like I fall short. I think because it was feeling like omission. I felt vaguely some where there that I missed something very important- or I have failed to grab that chance and act as the Lord's agent. Don't you sometimes feel like that?

I did give it some thought. I already have known that the purpose of Atonement is to fill what we fall short at that day. We just need to simply fulfill what God asks of us.

It does seem pretty simple. But we are back to the same thing- much is given, much is required concept . . . The Lord expects so much of us. Thus coined a phrase like that. Because we are blessed people. We are given so much. Of knowledge, of light and many great things. We are expected to act upon that.

I suppose that we are expected to struggle, aching of our imperfections ... Praying for divine guidance. We strive stumblingly to live by the Gospel. Like a child trying to ride bicycle for first time. We have to push pedals and learn how to balance ourselves. Heavenly Father expects us to hold onto the bicycle, work on the pedals, and even though that we fall . . . Everything is all right. Because we have that desire. We want to do the right. We try and work within our limitations.

Love makes world go round.

2011-02-13T20:27:00.002-07:00

I wanted to set aside the time to celebrate love. Tomorrow's Valentine Day. So many people have been concentrating on materialistic part like roses, chocolate, cards and cookies.

Love is a wonderful, glorious thing. It makes people feel less lonely. Babies and children thrive the best in this condition. It is a magnet for many people in relationships and families. It helps to resolve misunderstandings and offers way for people to make peace. It is all pervasive. It motivated people to do many more kind things to many others. To be honest with you, Hippie's way of defining love never sat very well on me. Why? Well, they were DOING sexual stuff without boundaries and called it "love".

As many are aware, Jesus Christ was a person who was way beyond of his time. In fact, the world is the way as it is . . . Simply because of the era of Jesus Christ and His brief life span (33 years on the earth). In fact, this is God who walked on the earth, showing us way to greater existence and life. Shaker? Yes! He shook the earth and moved it in a way where nobody is able to think the same. He provided the way so that there may be other extraordinary shakers to change the population in different parts of world to change. Why am I talking about Jesus Christ when I was beginning out with "love" topic? Well, I felt that He is the very first person to teach about love especially with the population so focused on the basis of its survival.

I felt that because of Jesus Christ, our conception of love is like that. He taught how he is no respector of persons. He taught us how to love our neighbors as ourselves.

Book of Mormon only furthered His teachings talking about the meaning of Charity as a Pure Love of Christ. "Pure Love"! A conception we wonder if we are able to fully achieve.

I loved the stories of how people with a such simple lifestyles who still found ways to serve each other. Wow. It made us to wonder and question how we are living and why we defer the opportunity of helping the others.

We have had many great representatives who showed us the meaning of love. Pure Love is truly tested when we face trials. How we act in those difficult times. How we are able to forgive afterwards. Every representatives showed us how it worked out.

I am so glad we are celebrating love on Valentine's day. I am glad it meant more than only chocolates, roses, and cards. I love romances! I love love stories. I love hearing how people showed love for each other beyond relationships and reaching out to each other when the others are troubled. I loved how neighbors are able to look over the fence and wonder how they could help their neighbors. Love, YAHOO! You are my ultimate goal.

Well, if you want to know the reason why I am too romantic those days . . . Blame it on my husband and chick flicks.

The work of the Lord transcends all

2011-02-07T10:09:00.003-07:00

My friend and I had an in-depth discussion about God's role in our lives. I came to this conclusion that God have greater perspective to everything. I have observed so many miracles that come with birth, death, life, and healing.

An inevitable question pops, "Why?" as in "Why do I live while other die of the same thing?" "Why can't I just have baby like my friends do?" "Why did he have to die?" . . . All are heart-rending mortal cry of grief. More recent for me, "Why did He have to take my mother too?"

At the time when my mother just died, my husband came next day with children to help out with funeral and just participate. He came to me gravely and told me that he felt the angels around us, comforting us.

It recalled me to the time when Jesus Christ was in the Garden of Gesthame when an angel came to comfort He struggled under the burden of the world. Jesus Christ, at the time of darkest period of His life, wasn't alone. Neither should we be. It is choice of ours to take the helping Hand or not.

Nonetheless, the work of God is greater of all . . . Moses 1:39 "For behold, this is my work and my glory- to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."

So this is the "why" answer. It is the reason why people had to die. It is the reason why people had to live and had to be healed. God have said that there's not a sparrow that fell to ground that He didn't know about. He is omnipotent and omniscient (all powerful and all seeing). Meaning that there's not a situation in our lives is a coincidence or accidental. If necessary, He will have His angels to step in to act in an event that may interfere with His work.

The work of our God transcends all.

Parenting is an adventure

2011-02-05T11:32:00.002-07:00

We enjoyed the film titled "Spy Kids" and one phrase struck me the most- how spies married and left this lifestyle for another great adventure- the most incredibly difficult and challenging adventure . . . Parenting.

I have wondered why parenting is a such challenging experience . . .

Kids push us to extreme point . . . You are to listen to constant whining from different sources with problems you can't fix . . . Misbehaviors you have to work on constantly everyday- even having to say things like broken record . . . Hoping one day, that concept will get to kids' head. You sometimes feel overstimulated one day or other and kids still won't stop. You have mental and physical exhaustion socking you into stomach- I say stomach because we never are prepared for it.

Adventure is defined in dictionary.com as
"1. an exciting or very unusual experience.

2. participation in exciting undertakings or enterprises: the spirit of adventure.

3. a bold, usually risky undertaking; hazardous action of uncertain outcome."

We never have experienced parenting before when we became pregnant. We have to stumble on our own. As many have said, there's no instruction manual coming with every child. Every child is different, his/her reaction to certain situation is totally different. We never will know the outcome of our parenting because- even with the best parents in the world, you may end up with a rebellious child who is very much determined to go opposite way when he/she becomes an adult. Parenting is very exciting, unpredictable, and a BOLD AND RISKY UNDERTAKING.

I have experienced sadness, heartbreak, joy incandescent . . . I have stumbled so many times and made mistakes. I looked like a fool at sometimes- just to play with my children or with making some rash decisions when I am blinded by my emotions.

Will I repeat it? Gladly! This experience is bittersweet, you can't understand bitter without sweet. Children are a such forgiving creatures who loves you unconditionally.

End of an epoch and start of another

2011-01-16T21:22:00.004-07:00

Somber notice here:

My mother passed away exactly seven months ago today.

Recalling my last conversation with my mother- things were in chaotic state in the house as we were preparing for camping next day. Living space was all heaped up with camping equipment. I felt the prompting to call my mother on videophone. My mother answered my VP call immediately, much to my pleasant surprise. We talked and I told of my situation and I felt the prompting to call her. I did it despite the fact how stressed out I felt about preparation for camping and how I needed to get ready for our departure next day. We talked. Mother, all the sudden, told me to pay close attention- she then reminded me of my charge in this earthly life which is being wife and mother. How I have to focus my life in raising my children righteously and don't forget our major focus- which is bringing around the ultimate goal of Heavenly Father- eternal life and eternal family. I was surprised by this. I guess because she knows how capable I am and how focused I can be. I love my children dearly and want the best for them. I chose to stay home to do that. I decided to choose that day not to be offended (I never really had issue of being offended to begin with) and listen to my mother. I told her frankly that I knew that and I appreciated the truth of it. I told her that I love her so much (kissing ILY hand blowing it down to her directly).

In a week and half, mother was conferred into hospital and wheeled into surgery room. Within matter of three days, she died. We, the sisters, brought airfares on Thursday and flew out- arrived late night. We listened to dismal predictions from doctors and realize the severity of situation. We cried. Next day, we were told that mother is brain dead and realized that the situation is final. We pulled life support machine off and watched her die.

To understand how difficult it is for people to unplug life support machine on loved ones, you have to experience it yourself. It is the most incredibly difficult thing you would ever have to do . . .

I came out of this, realizing that there's an ending of an epoch in my life . . . My mother have lived for only twenty years after death of my father- and I, along with my sisters, will have to go on and carry this ultimate focus as my mother have charged me with. I did come to an understanding of how spiritually significant that last conversation I had with my mother was now. It recalled me to the story of Lehi on his deathbed giving his sons charges . . . And Israel giving his sons blessings. As how spiritual we all are- we are motivated to give our next generations that major charge in carrying on the work of God as we depart into next life. Our earthly task ends as our life ends here.

An new epoch begins . . . We will have to learn how to live in different sort of life without parents. We will have to learn how to carry on and focus on our next generation . . . bittersweetly.

The Spiritual Touch

2011-01-16T20:58:00.008-07:00

A spiritual flash of insight here:

I was listening to lesson given in Relief Society on topic, "Sacrament" from Gospel Principle.

Teacher gave a loaded question: "How is Sacrament necessary for our Spiritual Growth?"

I did think about about it and realized the connection of my learning experience on the importance of touch. In intimate conversation between my sister, me, and my close friend, we talked about it and Susan mentioned to us that she learned from her mother in law about how humans need a minimum of eight touches per day. I recall how I read some concepts from "And They Were Not Ashamed" book talking about importance of being touched through a story of "Cipher in Snow" - a boy who died because of lack of touches/communication. The author pointed the comparison of touches in different cultures. I did think of stories how preemies thrived the best and left ICU soonest if the parents participated in technique known as "kangaroo Hold": holding small babies, using skin to skin contact. Another instance was how children in orphanages usually face late milestone development due to minimum amount of attention/touches compared to children being raised in loving environment. Therefore, we need to have physical touch (loving type) to survive.
I did think of how we need our spiritual touches with Heavenly Father in order to thrive.
Heavenly Father always is available but we need to be the ones to make that move. That is what faith means. And as we reach out, we make the connection. Through connection, are our spirits able to grow.
I came to understanding that through sacrament, we obtain the opportunity to do that. We need scripture studies, prayers, and may great other things that pull us toward to the Heavenly Father and move our spirits to reach out and touch. Without that would our spirits wither and die.

What happened to US???

2009-09-22T10:49:00.004-06:00

It has been so long ever since I last posted something. Like usual!
I am down with cold. I just beat sinus infection. Believe me- it is not something you want to have. Well, there are all host of body frailties people don't care to have anyhow.

We had a wedding, Grand Canyon visit, visit from Grandma, etc in a such short period of time! When I try to recover from one thing, I am assaulted by another exciting event. Ha ha. Too bad I am not able to keep up with many of those things going on.

Things are pretty good. It was a little crazy since I still had church responsibilities and a sick baby. I had no sleep for past month due to cranky Julianna who had to bear with her ear aches. I took her to doctor four times this month and finally got her onto second antibiotics - a stronger type called omnicef. It seemed to be working so much better now. Julianna is having the same tendency toward fluid sitting in her ear tubes as Suzy did while Suzy was growing up. It is something I will have to be watchful for the first five years of her life. Julianna wasn't able to sleep through the night and had sporadic nap schedule. Yesterday, she finally had a decent nap! It was so incredible. I will go back to working on getting her back to sleeping through the night. Then I will feel like my old self. I was off my exercising routine and still am stuck to the same amount of lbs I gained during the pregnancy. Augh. I felt a bit shattered about that.

Oh yeah, a laugh-invoking story here to tell:

While Julianna's doctor was writing down the prescription for omnicef for Julianna . . . I was warned that omnicef won't cause diaherria like amxollicin did for Julianna. But it does cause her poop to look red. I figured that i would catch it before Clint does and I usually am the one who changes kids' stinky diaper about 85 percent of the time. I neglected in mentioning this little fact to Clint. Well, last Sunday, I was busy preparing meal when Julianna (unawares to me) filled her diaper up. So Clint scooped her up and carried her to the bedroom to change. After the diaper change, he walked to me with Julianna with scared look in his eyes- saying that Julianna BLED in her poop. I laughed and told him a calming bit of information that doctor told me. It took him about five to ten minutes to wind down from that panicked state he was in. It was funny, wasn't it?

We were kept busy because of some things our friends asked us to do. Clint repaired a quite few computers for friends this month. Rescuing the computer from "black screen of death" and all. While in between all of those, I cleaned the house, did some scout stuff, etc. Caring for sick baby did take so much of my time as well. I spent most of my time holding her . . . Sometimes it did comfort her, and sometimes it didn't. Poor little thing!

OH yeah, there was something exciting happening last Saturday to me. There were some stories of old man going around in the stores passing out 100 dollars to people. I thought it is some sort of urban legend. Many times did people say they just saw that old man in his baseball cap and later on, the store worker was sent to them with one hundred bill and told them that it was from that old man. They couldn't even remember what he looked like! Isn't it so kind? Well, I just joined into that crowd last Saturday at Walgreen. Ha. I saw him and smiled . . . And worked through coupon with two kids at my side. Clint told me that working through coupons made me to look poor. I disagreed passionately! Ha.

Speaking of coupons, his month I set the goal of saving some money on grocery bills. Average budget was 800 to 1,000 dollars per month. It was driving me nuts because I knew I could save something there and there. So I subscribed to newspapers and printed some coupons off the internet. I am impressed! I just spent 250 dollars past two weeks and already stocked my shelves up. I did some calculations- I saved over 50 percent . . . That usually goes for 500 or 600 dollars. And as for extra coupons- If I had some extras, I can sell them off someplace to ladies who live oversea where coupons past expiration dates still can be used. They have up to six months to use them.

I have been using websites like:

www.pinchingyourpennies.com
www.thekrazycouponlady.com (t will give you precise instructions in how to use coupons/instore savings appropriately)
www.discountqueens.blogspot.com
http://www.utahdealdiva.com
http://www.gurusdeals.com/

Internet coupons I got off online ... Just type in "Red Plum" or "Smartsource" on google search engine and those will show up. Secondly, I also like to use coupon.com website. They will only allow you to print once and you will need to install "coupon printer". My friend found a way to bypass it by using two to three computers that she already has in her home and saved an incredible amount of money. Her website is www.crave2save.blogspot.com . . She goes to stores like Riteaid, walgreen, Supertarget . . . and only spent less than 15 dollars per week. She is so GOOD!

It is just a good thought to do . . . Especially with thanksgiving coming up. We probably want to stock up our shelves at low price instead of splurging on last minute shopping.

This week, I learned that you can spent just 6 dollars on turkey you purchase, download some free books, and just spend some dollars on so much clothes. Isn't it so fun! I just find it more challenging to drag my children to stores. What is supposed to be an hour of shopping turns into two hours of shopping with kids. Anna has been a bit dreadful those days and I don't know why she is acting out. I have choice of leaving kids at home or keeping my shopping simple. I am working on that! Ha.

Other exciting thing Clint and I have been doing is to refinance our house. We found out that interest has went down to 4.875 one day so we are going to refinance our mortgage and I am so excited about it! It is going to save us thousands of money in the entire time we are paying our mortgage.

My friend shared me that delicious pumpkin cranberry bread. IT is so SO good! I have been making things from pumpkins we had last Halloween and it is fun. I just wish that I wasn't so tied up! I can't just wander around and enjoy flowers. I just have been doing: 1. doing things at dead run 2. BURN out and try to use a day or two to recover from sheer exhaustion. I hate that sort of imbalance!

Stephanie, I am sorry for lack of response I have been doing last few weeks. Just let me know what I owe you for everything.

Pictures I owe you guys!

2009-07-18T19:28:00.002-06:00

It has been two months ever since I last posted photographs of Julianna. Here she is, all grown up from a tiny newborn!

Past two weeks, we have been thinking and breathing swimming! Kids did very well in the end, even Timmy!

We went to several activities that was set up by our city. They call it "Steel Days" and celebrated it in many different ways. We had so much fun! To see the schedule of activities, check out www.afcity.com

Swimming Lessons

2009-07-07T16:38:00.003-06:00

It has been nearly A MONTH ever since I posted the news the last. Isn't it so crazy??

Ever since Clint was done with upstairs, I still am organizing, moving, and shifting through boxes frantically. I finally won the battle with cleaning those areas that needed to be cleaned for ages. I still am working on organizing, of course. I moved several boxes to downstairs from upstairs. I never realized how hard it is to go up, down, up, down from the attic area to basement with heavy boxes so I broke the tasks up into small sections.

I am done with painting rooms I hoped to. I did upstairs room in two toned purple colors. I also did nursery in soft yellow. It really is amazing experience in playing with different kind of color. It is true when they talk about how your mood can be brought on by certain color. Nursery's color is yellow and I was under mistaken impression that it is "exciting" color but when I selected a hue on purpose (soft) and felt amazed how that can bring relaxation to anybody that enters the room.

I already moved all of my hobby related things into purple room. I promised my oldest girl that she has dibs on it when she grows up and when Julia is old enough to move upstairs. Hopefully, by then, we will be able to use basement for our office/hobby space. I spent an hour working through the stuff and organizing them in the closet space. What a fun it is! By the way, I am an organizing freak and I DELIGHT in being able to compartalize, sectionalize, and prop into different labelled boxes.

This week is the start of swimming lessons for four of my children. Timmy is not taking to this very well. He is a type of child that warms up to something VERY SLOWLY. He flees the pool, screeching, every time when this "stranger" approaches him. In the eyes of his loving parents, this stranger is merely a swimming teacher who is eager to get acquainted with him. No. Timmy just don't want to take this. I am thinking of taking him to swimming pool on one off hour and see if I can get him accustomed to the pool at general and hope for the best that he will warm up to teacher. The entire experience is simply too overwhelming for my little guy.

This upcoming Friday, Clint is going to speak at Deaf Symposium about "Abiding Faith" topic. I am delighted to participate with him that day since that sweet hearted Sandra is willing to watch our children except Julia all day long! I will need to make arrangements for Saturday evening when we are going up to SLC for banquet activity.

On our schedule, next week, we still have swimming lessons and we will be participating in Steel Days for American Fork. I bought a long strip of tickets for Carnival thing. I hope to go to Picnic in Park, Quilt Show, Art show, and all. They are loads of fun and I look forward to it!

Clint's parents just succeeded in selling their house recently. They will be moving out on July 31st. Even though that Clint didn't say so much about it, I try so hard to visualize how people can feel about it at general. Clint grew up in his ward with same group of people who were his scoutmaster, teachers, etc. He had elementary school, middle school and high school less than 1/2 mile from his home. He can just come home for lunch when he feels like it. All of his brothers and sisters have been through all of those schools, knew same teachers, and graduated from same High School. I guess even that changes are good many times, we do feel sad when we aren't going to frequent same places that brought us so many great memories. My mother also moved out of the house I grew up when I got married and I felt sad about it too. I can't just tread on the same floor I ran on, trotted, and walked in different sort of moods while I was growing up. I can't sleep in that same room I loved so much. I remember loving so much sleeping by that window that I can open and sleep in cool and watery scented air of sorts overnight. It brings that feel of comfort while I remember that. I can spend paragraphs and paragraphs on how much I loved that home. It really was home to me, regardless of its flaws.

Clint's parents are looking forward to making a new life in the area of Denver. The house they are purchasing is closer to Temple compared to their old home. They also are buying a "grandparent" friendly house. I heard that they have some fun stuff in the basement where little grandkids can hang out and have fun. Clint's parents kept toys that Clint and his siblings grew up and from the daycare business so that grandkids can enjoy the visit at their house (not worrying about no touching that, no touching this) . . . I know that my kids will be delighted to visit their grandparents once when they are moved in.

I haven't gotten to my hobbies for a while. Clint told me bluntly that I have to put those aside to take care of the house. I had to agree with him. And when the summer hit, it is very hard for me to sit down for more than an hour with free hands. Kids are demanding and always wait to pounce upon me once when baby is done with me. Ha ha. I am glad to have a bit of time to BLOG and check emails!

I want bloody nose!

2009-06-15T11:28:00.003-06:00

Trust a preschooler to make a comical highlight to every situation you are in! When Ian and Suzy were having a fight in the back seat. We had to shove older kids back there due to adding a new family member to our minivan seats. Well, Suzy and Ian are the greatest kids in the world. They have their unique temperament and personalities. BOY- they do CLASH each other. I often have to referee the disagreements between them.

Ian was threatening Suzy that he will give her a bloody nose. Of course, daddy caught that conversation and disciplined him promptly. Timothy, overhearing that conversation, cried- "I want bloody nose!" We all HAD to laugh.

Well, just last weekend, we have been doing a great deal of moving in and cleaning up. We still are long way from being completely settled in. Our kids finally are able to move into their new bedrooms. Clint and I used my old daybed and its trundle bed as a temporary arrangement till we are able to afford some nice twin beds frame for girls. We fixed some stuff in the third bathroom, cleaned out kids' bedroom and fixed some ding and scratches. I will be painting that room pale yellow and turn it into a nursery room for younger kids. We are going to keep toddler bed and crib till all of our kids are old enough to be staying upstairs. We haven't quite cleaned other room upstairs out yet. I think we just are trying to do one thing at a time. We also hope to organize our storage as well. One great news to consider: the drain installed by our city is really doing its job. I mean with all of those raining, we are supposed to get a so much wet basement . . . But we aren't, much to our gratitude.

We celebrated Suzy's birthday yesterday. It was a whole family participation in preparing it to make Suzy to feel special. Anna and Ian made cupcakes, I frosted them. Timmy, Anna and Ian colored the happy birthday poster. I made her favorite dishes. Suzy got alarm clock/cd player/radio for her birthday with her new Fancy Nancy sticker book. It was lots of fun.

I will be sure to post some pictures online as I am able to download.

The school is over!

2009-05-30T17:54:00.003-06:00

I am not sure if I am thrilled about school being over. I told Clint that I would have to establish a some kind of routine to retain my sanity. My kids are fairly high maintenance sometimes and I sometimes can't just get a moment alone. Today, it was insane!! I finally am getting a quiet and peace this evening because my three kids are gone off to Sandra's and my other two are napping. Ha.

Few weeks ago, we had a teacher appreciation week. I had so much fun preparing things to send off. Here's the letter I sent to each teacher.

To all Special People in kids' life
You probably are wondering why you have been getting some peculiar items from Stimpson's household for Teacher's Appreciation. Let me explain what each of those items given represents what teachers meant to us:

Monday

Water bottle/snack bar which usually are used in Marathons- Teaching is like a marathon- it gets exciting in beginning, tiring in middle, and deciding that it is all worthwhile in the end.

Tuesday

Magnetized writing pad- There are so much details to remember all day long everyday . . . A ability to focus on good priorities is a main trait in good teachers . . . They work so hard to make sure that lessons, classroom experience, and disciplining goes off working like clock.

Wednesday

Pin cushion- represent how many hearts you have mended, uplifted, and much more. Sometimes, teachers are like parents- they comfort, help, and bring happiness in the little hearts of children they are entrusted the care of.

Thursday

Hot pads- Sometimes, teachers have to deal with sensitive situation with delicate handling. They sometimes are in precarious situation and took courage in doing what they know to be right. Hot pads are gumption, wisdom, and discretion - all important traits in good teachers.

Friday

Candy and bag- Represent the return of rewarding experience in teaching. All of those time given in teaching and sacrificing . . . Here's a sweet return of our appreciation in making the difference in our children's lives.

Candy bag is the most fun item I ever made! I also made hot pads, pin cushions as gift from my sewing machine and from ideas list I gained from my friend, Cathy.

Here's the pic of candy bag I made but with candy kisses themed Moda product.
If any of you guys are interested in learning how to make- just ask me for the direct link. I found all varied form of fabulous ideas on www.modabakeshop.com . . . They all are so wonderful!

As for the summer, I have no big plans ahead other than soccer and swimming lessons. I am thinking of setting up some kind of rules. Like no friends on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Going to library in morning and getting kids in with story times. Visiting fun places like zoo, museums, etc each other Friday. I hope the kids still will find it to be a memorable summer though that we aren't going to far off places or going camping in cool places. I don't want to do anything with a new baby.

A fun comparison

2009-05-15T21:06:00.006-06:00

I got Clint to scan a couple of pictures. The ultrasound specialist was kind enough to take 3-D scans for us for free. I couldn't believe it and was deeply touched by her kind gesture.

Here's the fun comparison you can make from ultrasound pictures to "I am out" pictures.

Julianna Trudy is HERE!

2009-05-03T17:15:00.004-06:00

It has been a week and half ever since Julianna was born. I thought I could do a lot of things immediately after when she was born but I found out that it is even harder to do some things with four kids and a newborn. So I have been sticking to basics- keeping the house clean, take meals out (even though they aren't "home cooked" as I wished to), and caring for newborn. Clint has been nothing but wonderful in helping around the house. He even cooked the dinner for three days in row!!!
Here's the hard core details you guys want to know!!
Julianna is born on April 24- on the day of her great, great, great and great grandma's birthday. She weighed in being 7 lbs, 7 oz and 18.5 inches. She has brown hair - a trait that will make her to stand out among her blond haired sisters. All the same, she is a beautiful little girl.
Clint and I were at Kimberly's house when the labor started. Earlier in the day, I went to midwife and had my membranes stripped (very uncomfortable and a bit painful).
Labor with her was very interesting- I didn't dilate very rapidly with her as I did with some other kids. Contractions were coming in ten minutes apart and were very painful. Midwife decided to keep me at the hospital even though that I was ten minutes apart because of my risk factor in rapid labor in the end. I endured the evening in hospital for three hours before I finally got to seven cm and asked my midwife to break the bag. When bag was broken, the contractions intensified and I decided that I wasn't going to dilate any further unless I start pushing softly. I don't highly recommend it to all ladies because of its pain factor. Well, I pushed anyways and succeeded. In 1/2 hour, Julianna came into the world and Clint got the fun of delivering her.
Our kids were at Kim's house- having sleepover with their cousins. Clint's parents were town for John and Brittany's graduation. So it all worked out very well. Our kids had their grandparents caring for them while we were at the hospital.
Hospital's 2nd floor WAS PACKED that weekend. Clint and I were stuck in delivery/labor room overnight till some women left in the morning. Bed definitely wasn't made for sleeping on. Ha. The nursery that night was filled with 38 babies. I felt amazed when I went into the nursery to watch Julianna being cleaned up and receiving her treatments.
I signed out of the hospital on Sunday and am glad to be home. I never was overly fond of hospital- the food, the sterileness, no privacy . . . I am glad to be over with the labor and hospital.
Julianna is struggling with jaundice still. She had bilibed which lasted her for about four days. Today, I took her to hospital lab after a day and half of having no bilibed and her bilirubin count went back up to 13.4 after being 11.4 for a day. It was a bit depressing to know that we have been working so hard to keep her in the bilibed and trying to make the difference. Not to mention the constant and painful visitations to the hospital with heels being prickled and collected. Well, pediatrician we have is wonderful. We can see how caring and geninue he is about his patients. He gave me some guidelines to follow- if yellowness goes past her knees- I can send him emails about it. He always respond so quickly which I really appreciate.
Our kids adore Julianna so much. Suzy and Ian keep on asking to hold Julianna about two to five times a day. I became a bit afraid that Julianna will start to expect to be held 24/7 after being held so much! Ha. In between those times when kids aren't holding her, Clint grabs his chance up and hold her too.

Blessing dress done!

2009-04-18T18:53:00.008-06:00

Wow! I can't believe it- I actually am able to do it in two days total! Here's the pictures!

Yeah, I could not believe it. Well, satin was very difficult to work with. The edges often fray. So I solved the problem by using good zig zag feature by the sewn lines to prevent any further fraying. They definitely worked. I added roses to the ribbon as you can see up above and loved the look! I literally put blood and sweat in that work. I was leaving some blood stains on it when I accidentally pricked my fingers while sewing roses and others. HA! Last Thursday, I bought most of the materials from Joann's. There were a BIG sale including the fabric that I purchased. If I have paid the entire price, it could have been 140 dollars in total but I saved myself 75 dollars. It did take me a while to find a right type of fabric I wanted- satin and washable. I was able to re-use that pattern I used for Annalise's blessing dress a while before. This time, I learned my lesson- no georgette fabric!!

We went to R C Willey to purchase carpeting. Of course, carpet is NOT in stock and we will have to wait for two weeks before the carpet can come in. That's okay. Clint has plenty things to do before carpet come in- like closet shelves, touches up, baseboards, etc. Carpet is just a final touch to the space. Then kids will be able to move in!

Yesterday, I went to midwife appointment and had my cervix checked. I am only 2 1/2 dilated and 50 percent effaced. It means that I am not going to have Julianna out soon. I guess I can go to the church tomorrow.

Upstairs and baby being on way

2009-04-15T16:22:00.005-06:00

As you can see the slideshow up above . . . My friends came over and helped me with color painting and sticking some stickers onto the wall from uppercase living. It took us all total of four days or so to complete. I am so excited about the results and Clint is adding the baseboards now. I have been smelling fresh painting constantly. It is a nice smell because you know how brand new things are. I have been cleaning the house on side too. I wanted it to be nice and neat when Julianna comes. There were some white dust there and there from upstairs when Clint swept the stuff off areas where he have been mudding and sanding.

I will be hitting 38 weeks mark tomorrow. I have been getting some usual symptoms that comes very close to birth. But I know that the timetable may be so much different from what I have been expecting. I am still looking forward to meeting little Julianna. I talked with the pediatrician that have been caring for my other four children about her kidney situation. He assured me that many of that situation have been resolved with birth.

I haven't been doing quilting or scrapbooking lately. Clint asked me to put that aside in order to get ready for baby. I had to admit that he is right. I was putting that off because I hoped that he will be done with upstairs in time so that I can organize the entire house and have it easier in finding the baby stuff. I guess that baby will come inevitably and Clint won't be done in due time- inevitably too. I just hate knowing that my house is in disorganized state. I was very crabby when I had to go everywhere- trying to find that missing piece that belonged to carrier or playpen.

Now, my house is becoming more and more cluttered when we are adding some stuff like painting cans or putting baby stuff in. I really can't wait before the upstairs is done!! I really look forward to having the space to work in and enjoy. I know we will be getting there, eventually. It is just that I have to remind myself constantly that patience is a virtue that we all have to work on constantly. I am grateful that Clint is willing to work on upstairs and concentrate all of his energy on it so that we can cut the costs of remodelling. We are doing just that now.

I forgot to mention further what have been going on with our life. Last two weekends ago, we had General conference and a fun family activity. We held an egg hunt in our basement and had lunch with the family. Kids had fun looking for eggs while it was too muddy and wet outside to romp around and look for eggs. We enjoyed watching general conference sessions. Speakers are amazing as ever. I spent most of my time getting ready for baby like washing laundry, setting the playpen up, cleaning the carseat up and much more. It was very exhausting and I was working in overdrive mode because due date was too close for our comfort. Just yesterday, I just did most of my hospital bag packing. Today, I took our kids out to Walmart to select some fun baby toys and clothes for their baby sister. They were a such enthusaistic participants!

Suzy and Anna are at Kim's house right now, playing with their cousins and having a sleepover. It really is a wonderful thing to live so close by your family and being in same area so that kids can share same school holidays/vacations. Ian was sad because there's no boy his age around that he can sleep over. We are pretty strict about sleepovers and we feel more comfortable doing sleepovers with our family members. We are going to take Ian and Timmy out for our "son's time" special night. We are thinking of doing Mayan restaurant tonite.

After reading up and discussing with some of my friends, I did realize that it is becoming necessary to protect our family and setting up privacy so that some wrong people won't be able to gain access to our kids. I will be changing the settings of this blog and making it accessible to those who are our friends.

IT is SNOWING in April. Augh. Just imagine our frustration! We are so ready for spring and the flowers are budding on the trees. We already ordered the grass seeds and are all set to prepare our yard for the beautiful season. Oh well, snow means water. I don't want Utah to see another drought.

I was sorry to disappoint our children . . . Normally, every spring vacation they have had, I always was taking them on outing . . . But with upstairs, baby coming, and so many things to do- I had to sit tight at the home. The weather isn't helping us either. I am so glad about Kim helping us out with making spring vacation more exciting for our girls and we hope to do something special before the week is out- to make their vacation memorable.

Pregnancy really can sap!

2009-04-01T10:58:00.005-06:00

Battling exhaustion. It has been a long week/weekend. I think with the pregnancy that is coming into the last month really can deprive one of energy, sleep, and all. I really wish my little ones will allow me to sleep a little today. They really are terrible at that part.
Clint is done with mudding/sanding which I am so glad to say. He just borrowed the tools from our friend, Bobby yesterday and got started on eggshell texturing. He had to post up a lot of coverings for windows, outlets, etc. He had to put the project on hold today. There's lots of things he needed to do today. Including working in the temple.
I am done with cutting all of the old jeans into five inch squares. Here's the picture.

I am debating with myself whether I should be getting airplane fabric to match up with those . . . Will that be too tacky? Will my boys like it still, even after ten years? I really like airplane theme so much. I saw few fabric being on sale which I am convinced that will go great in the room. I still wonder if I am making the wise decision. Well, it is decision I will HAVE to make before 6th of this month.
April's Fool day definitely kicked in. We are getting snow! Spring is looking at us and laughing, "Happy Fool's Day!" My poor bulbs- they are supposed to be blooming but all I get are stunted green stalks. I wonder how they will turn out.
I practically kicked my kids out to the school . . . They were complaining about different sort of ailments so that they can stay home from the school. I had to deal with either one of them for two days. I had my dose and am so glad to discipline them accordingly. I felt justified in it because I did take one of them to the doctor to check for strep throat and it came out being negative.
Ian's thing with hospital in SLC is done- his doctor diagnosed it as being possible development toward kidney stones. He said he won't dismiss the possibility of kidney complications so he prescribed 1 1/2 quart of water for six months and asked us to see him again in six months with list of symptoms to watch for if he had complications. I am glad that thing is over with for now. It has been a long drive to University of Utah Hospital.
I am looking forward to General Conference weekend. I am expecting the visit from Susan and her family on Saturday with a fun egg hunt activity . . . I already invited Kim and her family to participate. Of course, I wanted to invite Brittany/John and Curtis for fun.

Mentionworthy items

2009-03-24T11:51:00.010-06:00

I enjoyed the weekend, working on a baby sized or lap sized quilt . . . I decided to use the leftovers from layer cake and invented my own pattern. Of course, it was a process of experimenting, correcting, and all. I also used that opportunity to develop my skill in making squares to line up well. I still am still far from it because I am learning. Here's the result of three days worth of work with a good working sewing machine.

A few cute pictures to laugh at . . . As some of you may be aware- Timmy always hates sleeping alone. I usually was finding him cuddling up on someone. Here's a few of his pictures with somebody else.

We had a lot of wonderful moments- bowling, celebrating Anakin's birthday, hanging out with family, and seeing little Abby's baby blessing. However, Clint and I were getting worried- all of those filled up weekend with family activities have been making it harder on Clint to finish upstairs. He is in mudding/sanding stage right now and I have just a month or so left before little Julianna is coming. So last weekend, I gave the quilting class up so that I can watch the kids while Clint can put his full focus to the project. It is okay because it was nice being with my family anyhow.

I used my time last week cutting fabrics, cooking, and doing house chores. I also typed down over 50 recipes for the family cookbook project. I still have a few more to look for and add. I am pretty content with my life and feeling fulfilled which is a great blessing. Of course, I still feel anxious about upstairs being done in time. That's the same feeling I had for a year. One nice thing about upstairs not being done too quickly- an assessor came by our home one day during the week, asking me if we are done with upstairs. I said no. He told me that we won't have to pay additional taxes for the extra space for the rest of year. Isn't it so nice? A small something to count blessing on.

Quilt finale!

2009-03-12T15:59:00.003-06:00

I am so happy to say that I am DONE with Anna's quilt. It is a quite project . . Took me forever- thanks to the uncooperative sewing machine I have. I took it in for service but the thread from the bottom won't go up into the sewing thread. It was very frustrating. I finally sent the machine back to the repair shop and the man was able to repair it and don't charge us for it.

Quilt looked pretty good for a beginner like me as long as you don't inspect the backing. The adhensive spray were fading away while I was in middle of the project. So the backing is a little wrinkled. I will use both spray and safety pins next time to perfect my skill. I hope to make a baby blanket next time.

News and some thoughts.

2009-03-02T12:34:00.003-07:00

I have been enjoying listening to what is going on with everyone else. For some reason, I have thought that other people's news always have been interesting than mine. Ha. But I know that it is not always true meaning that everyone's news being interesting in their special ways. We have been doing some things that we have been enjoying. As I have said in the past, I am fascinated with the world of quilting . . . I am nearly done with the book, "The Quilter's Catalog: A Comprehensive Resource Guide" . . . It is full of fascinating details and facts about the world of fabrics. I enjoyed it immensely! I learned from the book how to do quilting precisely-
1. Don't IRON the seams . . PRESS. Don't use steam but keep it at med. or low heat. It causes stretching of the fabric.
2. When you want perfect corners- you need to make sure that seams go in opposing direction . . . so you can flush the lines in front.
3. There's a such thing as sewing with your machine and making embroidery. You just need free motion foot for that. You also need to lower the feed dog.
4. While you do free motion sewing, use rubber gloves that you won't have to press down too firmly.
5. As you purchase fabrics, there are high ends and low ends . . . Low ends will bleed, have the feeling of dyes on top instead of within the fabric . . . I learned about the brands that only will sell to small scale shops - like Moda, Michael Miller, or Heather Bailey. They also are very expensive. 8.99 to 10.99 per yard. In long run, it will be worth it. You get what you pay for. I have been going to clearance racks and getting them for half or more the price.
6. I learned the names of certain cuts- Some fabrics come in certain precut shapes . . . Jellyrolls are 2.5 X 44 inches fabrics bundled in big roll. Fat quarter is 1/4 cut of a yard, charms are 5X5 squares, and layer cakes are 10X10 squares. Don't buy jelly roll or layer cakes if they are at 30 or above price. Go for 20 or less dollars. Charm squares are best sold at 5 dollars or less. There's an advantage of purchasing those- they save you cutting time.
7. There are rules concerning rotary cutter . . a- never cut towards yourself, b- keep it closed when you put it aside, and c-dull blades will slip and cut you. Keep them sharp.

There are loads much more! I am still working on sudoku quilt. I am nearly done with it. Now, I need to use temporary spraying adhesive to attach the batting, front and back together. I then need to sew them together as I am able to get the package that has free motion foot, presser foot, etc.

A couple of days ago, we went to Fun Family Classic Center to participate in our kids' cousin's birthday party. Kids bounced, ate junk food and played for three hours in row. It is not something that you have very often because of its expensive price tag. They charge 15 dollars each kid and it doesn't include meals. I sort of think it is a bit overrated. I prefer to do it cheaper way like always.

I urged Clint to help me to decide what is going to our little girl's name. I really am the one who take a bit assertive move in this decision. I settled on the name, Julianna Trudy. I liked how it sounded out and it is not used too frequently. It continues our family's tradition in naming our girls with something that has Ann in it. I also am able to use something from our family to carry something on. Julianna means "youthful" so it doesn't have a bad meaning. Ha ha.

I am done with wet cannery shifts now. I am grateful to Kim for her willingness to help in watching the kids. I hope that her kitchen is restored to her daily uses.

Last thing I would like to post for just fun . . I sometimes like to read some useful tips in anything and I found something on how to be economical. Here's the link:
http://www.drphil.com/articles/article/596
I have read some and am very happy to say that we have been doing some of those. There are some areas we can use some improvements. Ha. Don't we all?

There's no particular plans this week excepting some medical appointments. Anna will need some of her school forms completed at doctor's and Timmy is going in for his free child eye evaluation. Even though that Timmy's eye doesn't wander badly like mine did but I always thought it is a bit off center. I wanted to double check and make sure that he doesn't have the condition and it always is best to have it corrected ASAP.

Spring approaching

2009-02-20T15:20:00.004-07:00

The snow is going away very slowly. We did get some snow from time to time but they didn't stay long. It has been so long ever since I posted something. I was struggling with flu for two weeks. It began out with sore throat, achey neck and headaches. Then I found myself coughing constantly. I couldn't sleep with having to cough. It was terrible. Ironic thing is that I am the only person that ever got sick in this family. Normally, everyone already has been sick BEFORE me. While I was sick, I barely was keeping up with chores. Dishes, laundry, and all were kept up with. I was meaning to do house cleaning . . . But it came into last on my priority list. No regrets.
I got better around Thursday and was able to get back to normal things. The first thing I did was to clean kids' bathroom! Ha ha. This week, I did the remainder. I am telling you one thing: I can't wait till Clint is done with upstairs. I will be able to organize things and there will be so much less clutter around the house.
Last Monday, I took kids out to visit their cousins in Syracuse. They played all day long together till after dinnertime. I took them back home and arrived at 7:00 p.m. It was very hard for them to get back to the routine next day. Some grumblings and disciplining before we settled into the routine. On Tuesday, I went to Lindon Bishop Warehouse to do some wet cannery shift. It was so different from dry cannery. I just stood there, watching the rows of cans going pass by me with that overpowering scent of tomato soup. It just took me an hour. Ha. It is very interesting! Next Tuesday's shift- I won't be using nice clothes that can get stained very easily. I will be doing diced tomatoes. I talked with my sister in law about it and she told me that doing jams are the best- the scent is sweet and pleasant. Ha.
On Wednesday, I took Anna and Timmy with me to midwife appointment. I had to go in for ultrasound first. They were checking my little girl's kidneys because some time ago- they were swollen with fluid. I was happy to have good news- they checked it this time and found them to be smaller- like slits. That's improvement. There's still some fluid there so they will check me again during 36 weeks. That will be six weeks from now.
My sister in law just had a little guy two nights ago. His first name and middle name is Parker Clay. I heard that he is so BIG. (9lbs and 7oz). Chris is very proud and happy. I am happy for their sake. They have been through so much and childbearing is not an easy thing. As it sounded like, it was a good birth. It took Tracy two days to get in hospital though. She had to wait since that she needed to be induced. The women who are in labor usually get priority over her.
Other days, have been spending purely on cleaning and doing laundry. LOL. Laundry piled up so badly that I had to spend an hour and half folding the clothes on Wednesday. I am washing other load today now to keep up with piles of dirty clothes.
Tomorrow, I am going to learn how to do a pattern at quilting class which I am looking forward to! I went to JoAnn yesterday night to purchase some stuff on sale and am very excited about it. I am disappointed about the price of batting. I will have to wait till I get 50 percent off coupon before I can get that.
Clint's scar is healing nicely. However, there's small part of it that won't go away. I think he is developing infection in that section. I have been worrying about it. Good news is that Clint is done with physical therapy sessions and is able to bend his leg completely. He is able to return to the work upstairs. He has been mudding and is done with the first coat. He will be working on second coat this weekend.
I hope to concentrate on some of my projects next week- scrapbooking and quilting. I am done with Annalise's book and will work on Suzy's. Anna will be excited to know that I am planning to register her in this Monday for school kindergarten next fall.

Sewing, Tree cutting, and Christmas photographs

2009-01-26T11:24:00.002-07:00

I just completed my sewing project that I started at Deaf Center in Salt Lake City. I went to Deaf Quilter's Club on third Saturday and learned how to do appliqué style with a heart shape. It was so fun doing all of those varieties.

This is tree cutting activity which resulted in Clinton getting injured. This tree is so BIG and I felt so amazed that just four men could take care of it in a day!

During the Christmas week, we hung out with cousins at museum in Denver, had a wonderful Christmas family home evening where we made gingerbread house. We also had lots of fun on Christmas morning.

A bit of time for myself now

2009-01-14T10:52:00.002-07:00

I am feeling a bit selfish now. I want to do my fun stuff now. I can't wait to learn how to quilt this Saturday, doing that heart appliance type. I can't wait to get started on the project I wanted for boys' room- denim out of old jeans with red planes theme on them.
Tonite, I will go to a lady's house to make five cards. I enjoy that sort of thing.

Update on Clint:
On ninth day of taking his antibiotic doses- he develop allergic reaction! Rash was horrible. It got to the point where rashes were joining each other and turning into the appearance of welts. LOL. Clint opted to take last three doses and allergy medicine to manage the reaction. Well, I am so happy to say that it is all over. Unfortunately, that medicine that Clint developed allergy to is sulfa- famous for its "half-life". It takes some time to leave his system. Clint's welts are gone but rashes still are there, fading very slowly. I told him he is forbidden to give me any more worries . . . I already have enough of it (lightly).

I am so glad to say that there's no more cadence of accidents . . . Things seem to be returning to routine. I got back to cleaning the house and doing chores like usual. Kids are very happy to fuss over Shadow, our black dog.

Just put up with my previous blog- I was a bit cranky and needed an outlet. I am glad I have a such sympathetic friends. I really feel blessed!

The latest discipline issue I am facing right now is how kids always
are calling each other names. It is deplorable and chases the spirit away. I felt sad one day when I saw Clint off to the work after some negativity influencing our mornings. I finally decided to have a discussion with my family . . For I felt that my kids can't really understand how negative consequences that cam come out of name calling. I put up printed out fake dollars on the refrigerator. I tell kids that they earn a dollar from us every week but with every name calling they do, they lose five cents off their dollar. We are putting this into practice this week and see how our kids do it. It is very hard on them in controlling themselves. Ian is having it even harder. So far, he just has about 25 cent to spare. But I am happy that we don't have to scold them constantly. It is just going to ref. silently and put on tallies.

The end of holidays

2009-01-05T10:56:00.003-07:00

And trying to recover from it!

It has been an incredibly nutty holiday. Partially wonderful and partially horrible.

I decided to make holiday treats last minute so I spent an entire afternoon and evening cooking those treats. I enlisted a help from my kids- much to their delight . . . So that they can be the first ones to sample those sweet treats.

On Thursday, I spent most of the day finishing off holiday card/newsletters. It was a lot of work and I forget that every time every year. I guess that I can't let myself to back up and go on lack. I mean, I have been getting letters from my friends and I think they deserve something in return.

On Friday, I made some food for church party held at a house. I had to do some washing and packing to do since that we were leaving on Saturday. We spent a lovely evening at Holland's. When we returned, we had to finish off the packing. We went to bed very late.

We got up very early- 6:30 a.m. and finished off what we needed to do in the morning. We were barely able to leave at 8:30 a.m. Clint was so cranky that we have been getting so much delays. He wanted to get past bad weather in between now and Rock Springs as soon as possible. When we were ready to leave- the battery in our van is D-E-A-D . . . IT made Clint even more cranky. He borrowed my keys and used his car to jumpstart our van's battery. Well, guess what? While I was busy feeding our kids breakfast, I didn't realize that Clint DID not even take my keys out of his car. Yes- he left it RUNNING all day long. When I was looking for my keys next day- I could not find my keys and - boy- did I chew him out for it. Well, when I calmed down considerably, I realized how blessed we were . . . Nobody was around to take advantage of the situation and broke in our house or stole our car. Sandra was able to come around and took the keys out for us. She is our real lifesaver!

Well, our trip was uneventful too. Weather was so horrible that Clint had to focus all of his attention on the road. I spent most of the time trying to referee disagreements or needs of my children in the backseat. I paid the price for it . . . I had muscle spasms in my left arm for stretching and overusing all of the trip- nine hours of it. I had to put up with muscle spasms all night long and on Sunday. Well, we were able to arrive and hearing the parents exclaiming how closely we were able to bypass two closed gates on the Wyoming highway. We realized that the gates closed immediately when two huge accidents occurred on different places. All we knew was that we had to wait long time in long lines of cars.

The week at Dad and Mom's was pretty good. We had a wonderful Christmas Eve and Christmas day with the family. On Friday, we had a family gathering to cut that dead tree down in the backyard. Dad and mom were concerned that it will die and branches will fall down and injury somebody. So they decided to enlist the help of family members to cut it down in orderly fashion. They started in the morning- cutting branches down- and pull it toward certain site where they want it to fall with mountain climbing ropes. Clint was up in tree most of the day, holding chainsaw for his dad while his dad did the risky stuff- climbing and cutting. It was a little after noon when dad cut the trunk down. It made a great noise! We ate lunch before the men returned to the job which was chopping the trunk down. After chopping them down- Clint and dad decided to cut the stump off down to the ground so that dad can clobber the roots with other machine other time. Dad was going to do horizontal and Clint was doing vertical. Dad did 1/2 part then Clint completed the vertical. Dad went off to other part of yard doing something. Clint grew a bit impatient and proceeded to do his dad's another half. Guess what? The chainsaw jumped and jerked back while Clint was kneeling on the ground . . . It cut part of Clint's right leg. Clint didn't feel the pain at first. Probably because of the shock and body not realizing that it was injured. Clint limped to the back porch and told me directly that he hurt himself. EVERYONE came out and was shoving each other to see if they could help him! Clint nearly passed out on picnic table. We ran off to the den where Clint's mom was in- talking on her cell phone. She came out and grabbed a pair of latex gloves . . . I was scrambling in the closet door- for first aid kit. I brought them in. Mom examined it and said we are going to ER. The cut was deep. Curtis, Clint's brother, volunteered to drive while I insisted in joining them. Clint's mom followed us in her car. We drove to ER . . . We waited there for three hours and half before Clint was able to return home all stitched up. We counted our blessings . . . Chainsaw could have grazed his muscles and it could have required the major surgery but it didn't. We stayed for three more days. And during those days, Clint's mom cared for him- changing bandages and such. On the second day, Clint developed an infection and his mom was able to identify it and took him to ER again. Clint got a whole host of fat antibiotic pills to swallow. I had to drive all of the way all myself for nine hours from Colorado to home.

Clint just had his stitches out today. He will need some physical therapy since that he has trouble bending his leg now. I have been taking a bit of household responsibility more than normal to care for the needs of my family while that Clint has to keep his leg up for a while. I end up being so mentally and physically exhausted sometimes.

Ha- I have heaps of laundry to do today. My kids, for some reason, had to keep up the cadence of accidents- bed wetting twice with different child and spilling something. I used up so much towels soaking up those kitchen messes. I am praying that there won't be any more of it. I am tired of it!!

Suzy and Ian are back in the school. I am a bit tired of their sibling rivalry and am grateful that they are back in the school with something to keep their busy little souls occupied. Anna is having a bit of trouble trying to get used to routine right now. I am praying that we will have a bit of time between now and in the future that we can work out those trials out of our life.

Halloween/Pittsburgh

2008-12-14T21:19:00.005-07:00

I still am learning but I am doing something very exciting- an official collection of slideshow to share with you guys!

The Ultrasound Appointment

2008-12-11T12:34:00.003-07:00

It is amazing to realize how quickly the time goes by. I am almost twenty weeks along and just have been in for ultrasound appointment. I just was told that it will be just two appointments in two months then after that, it will be biweekly. I never knew that it will go down to this very rapidly. I am not very fond of going to doctor appointments and enduring the poking. I wish I could keep it to minimum!
Ultrasound appointment was so nice! They had up to date machine so they were able to identify a lot of things that they didn't have the ability to in four years. I am thrilled to see my baby's kidneys, four chambered hearts and all. They did tell me that veins to kidneys were enlarged so they will check on that soon to make sure they would go away. I hope so! I don't know what sort of complications that can come from that!
Well, I am sure you are perched on anxiously to find out what I am going to have- a boy or a girl? Here's the hint- my girls are celebrating while Ian is sulking. Isn't that so easy to guess now? Ha ha.
Ian said something to ultrasound specialist which I found to be particularly amusing . . . He asked if the baby had ability in disconnecting itself. I thought it to be very funny because it DOES look like that way on the machine. With the echoing, machine was able to pick up only so much. Ha ha ha. There's stomach, there's lips, there's nose, profile, and thus. You know how that goes.

Three Levels of Christmas

2008-12-10T12:59:00.000-07:00

I loved this article and wanted to share it with my dear friends.

The Three Levels of Christmas
As Quoted By Daryl Hoole

Years ago a friend enclosed an unsigned editorial with her Christmas card. We found it to be insightful and inspirational, so much so, in fact, that I it comes to mind along with Christmas every year. This year I am sharing it with you, my Meridian readers, with the desire that you, too, will appreciate its message.

Editors' Note: Since we published this piece we heard from one of our loyal readers who identified the source of The Three Levels of Christmas: The article was written as a Church News editorial by William B. Smart, and appears in his book, Messages for a Happier Life (Deseret Book, 1989), pp. 33-34.

According to the author of this editorial, there are three levels on which we can celebrate Christmas. He writes, “Let's call the first of these levels The Santa Claus Level. It's the level of Christmas trees and holly, of whispered secrets and colorful packages, of candlelight and rich food and warm open houses. It's carolers in the shopping malls, excited children and weary but loving parents. It's a lovely time of special warmth and caring and giving. It's the level at which we eat too much and spend too much and do too much—and enjoy every minute of it. We love the Santa Claus level of Christmas.

“But there's a higher, more beautiful level. Let's call the second level The Silent Night Level. It's the level of our glorious Christmas carols, of that beloved, familiar story, ‘Now in those days there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus. . .' It's the level of the crowded inn and the silent, holy moment in a dark stable when the Son of Man came to earth. It's shepherds on steep, bare hills near Bethlehem , angels with their glad tidings, a new star in the East, wise men traveling far in search of the Holy One. How beautiful and meaningful it is; how infinitely poorer we would be without this sacred second level of Christmas.

“The trouble is, these two levels don't last. They can't.

“Twelve days of Christmas, at the first level, is about all we can stand. It's too intense, too extravagant. The tree dries out and the needles fall. The candles burn down. The beautiful wrappings go out with the trash, the carolers are skating on the ice, and the toys break. The feast is over and the dieting begins. But the lonely and the hungry are with us still, perhaps lonelier and hungrier than before.

“Lovely and joyous as the first level of Christmas is, there will come a day, very soon, when Mother will put away the decorations and vacuum the living room and think, ‘Thank goodness that's over for another year.'

“Even the second level, the level of the Baby Jesus, can't last. How many times this season can you sing ‘Silent Night?' The angels and the star and the shepherds, even the silent, sacred mystery of that holy night itself, can't long satisfy humanity's basic need. The man who keeps Christ in the manger will, in the end, be disappointed and empty.

“No, for Christmas to last all year long, for it to grow in beauty and meaning and purpose, for it to have the power to change lives, we must celebrate it on the third level, that of The Adult Christ . It is at this level—not as an infant—that our Savior brings His gifts of lasting joy, lasting peace, lasting hope. It was the adult Christ who reached out and touched the untouchable, who loved the unlovable, who so loved us all that even in His agony on the cross He prayed forgiveness for His enemies.

“This is the Christ, creator of worlds without number, who wept, Enoch tells us, because so many of us lack affection and hate each other—and then who willingly gave His life for ALL of us, including those for whom He wept.

“He is the Christ of whom the prophets had foretold for centuries would come. Even before the world was created we learned of the key role the Savior would perform in the Plan of Salvation. He accepted the Father's Plan of Redemption and submitted himself to the will of the Father. We read in Moses 4:2:

Behold, my Beloved Son, which was my Beloved and Chosen from the beginning, said unto me—Father; thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever.

“We also read in the scriptures from Isaiah 7:14:

Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

“In 2 Nephi 17:14 it is repeated.

In Isaiah 9:6 we read:

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

“We read in 1 Corinthians 15:22:

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. How great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah.

“Yes, He was and is wonderful, the Great Counsellor, the mighty God, willing to sacrifice His life that we might live if we are but willing to accept Him as our Savior. He is the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

“This is the Christ, the adult Christ, who gave us the perfect example, and asked us to follow Him.

“It was this Jesus Christ whose birth we are celebrating that asked us:

If ye love me, keep my commandments. (John 14:15)

A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another, as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. (John 13:14)

“Accepting that invitation—to keep His commandments and to love one another—is the way— THE ONLY WAY —to celebrate Christmas all year and all life long.”

Christmas Shopping

2008-12-03T15:10:00.003-07:00

Believe it or not, I managed to go to FIVE stores in two hours period! There was a huge sale at American Fork's Old Navy. They wanted to get rid of clothes on clearance so they are giving 75 percent off the original price. I got pregnant outfits for just 3 to 4 dollars each.

I exchanged Annalise's pair of shoes. She hated the original one so much so I just took her back and pick different pair. The original ones had some sort of pucker in side of heel part. It really is abrasive and annoying. At Target's I grabbed two set of waterproof twin mattress pad off before the others get it. I just have one left to go. It is very hard to get that version in a family oriented town like mine. I liked that type because it lasts longer and is more pleasant to lay on. I also picked up some of gifts for our assigned family on Clint's side. I then went to Recreational Outlet to pick a Christmas gift (very good item to have) for my side. I then got Clint to come with me to eat lunch at Olive Garden. After all of those adventures, we went back home to have Timmy to take a nap. That kid is worn out and cranky!

Clint has been putting up dry walls lately. He still is working on first room. But it is almost done. Next day, he can get started on new room! Clint said that he is learning by trial and error like everyone else. Ian is a such good helper! He holds something for his daddy, gets something for his daddy, and cleans something up for his daddy. Just imagine what that kid can do when he grows up!

I got my first Christmas cards. This time, people beat me to it. Ha ha. I will have to get started on my usual Christmas newsletter and I need to be creative still. For some reason, I felt like I couldn't trump the previous one. But I felt obligated to!

I have been working on new blog. It is called tried and true recipes blog. However, somebody else already have taken that website address so I used triedandtrueyummies.blogspot.com . . . I already put four recipes down. I also made my sister, Susan, an administrator of this blog so that she can add several of her delicious recipes.

Yesterday, two of people I know spent their time in hospital. Both had significantly different experiences! One had relatively good experience and is able to find the entire procedure endurable while another one had a misery filled experience. This one I mentioned is my sister . . She went in for colonscopy and "Look-In-Your-Stomach"procedure. I have no idea what it is called. Well, she got a nurse that botched inserting IV needle into her arm so bad that she wiggled around. Gabe passed out! They had to put him into "feet up" position to get him out of it. Nurse apologized and said that it is bad morning for her. Well, my sister found out on later that a husband and a wife had that nurse and the similar incident occurred (Husband passing out after watching nurse wiggling the needle into his wife's arm). Susan said that she glared at the nurse while she tried to find veins on her another arm! It did get me to think about how hospital experience can be significantly different. If the staff doesn't regard you as piece of flesh, of course.

Thanksgiving Approaching

2008-11-25T16:24:00.002-07:00

I am about eighteen weeks along and Thanksgiving holiday is just around the corner. Both sets of parents are coming to the town and it is exciting. We are grateful that due to flexibility of one family, we are able to get together twice to celebrate Thanksgiving on different days. I look forward to having mine. It is the first one in twelve years.
My kids had their last day of school today and are home now. They are very excited- no homework and plenty of time to play. They are excited about hanging out with their cousins and friends. Clint and I have been going solo for many holidays lately. It sometimes go so bad that I don't know what is going on with Clint's family. Ha. My family is pretty small and very close knit. We call each other weekly on VP. We love it! Susan and I hang out on monthly basis. We do fun stuff like celebrating holidays, doing scrapbooking, and much more.
Morning sickness is OVER. I still feel unsettled occasionally after some meals but it isn't too bad. But after doing my daily duty facing down the toilet bowl, I found being able to be somewhere in the house doing something something to be extra grateful about.
I just did my house chores and feel a great deal more satisfied. I will have to go grocery shopping to get ready for Thanksgiving dinner. I am not expected to make major dishes but I got some dishes I will need to cook. It is what makes thanksgiving so special . . . traditional dishes!
Clint is all done with insulation! It just took him two weeks! We just had the inspector over and got a quick approval. We can't wait to get started on drywall! We may start this Saturday. We aren't sure. We didn't fix a date. Clint wanted to get his family's help in bringing in dry walls to upstairs and getting started. Clint and I agreed that there will be some huge change in appearance after having drywall up and screwed in.
I did some early Christmas shopping and am pleased to get some good stuff together. Now, it remains to us in doing family present assignments (we all draw lots on each other and give gifts to different but ONE family on yearly basis. It is good news bec we could be broke every Christmas if we had to do EVERY family).
Suzy had a cute Thanksgiving play where the kids are dressed up in handmade clothes (Indians or Pilgrims) and sang some songs last Friday. It was very short and we had pumpkin pies afterwards.
I guess that we are going to have pizza tonite. Annalise asked for it. If we left choice of dinner to kids everyday, it will be just: nuggets/French fries, pizza, and spaghetti on the menu on daily basis. Ha ha.
I updated the blog for fun. Made it more holiday themed. I guess I will need to update it with pictures as well. I ought to take pictures of upstairs . . . Show some changes!
Love ya all.

Two months no posts!

2008-11-03T11:22:00.002-07:00

I know, I know. I have been going like that. I can't believe that. Ugh. I will explain why. I accidentally got pregnant . . . The very first unplanned one . . . back in August. I didn't find out till in end of August. WHEN the morning sickness wave HIT. It was horrible. It began five weeks (too early for me) then I had to put up with all kit and nothing ever worked. But when it tapered off at 13 weeks, I was grateful . . . Normally, it ends at around 14 to 15 weeks. I am 14 weeks along and feeling pretty decent. I can't eat certain items like salsa, spaghetti sauce or pizza for a little while. My stomach feels a bit delicate. I do run out of energy very quickly as well. As soon when I got better, I got sick with COLD! It took me two weeks to completely recover. When I am pregnant, it always take me forever to recover completely.
Today, I dropped Ian off at his school because he was stalling at everything. That kid is so whimsy. I am sure if I try to find out why he took that approach, I will find out that he isn't in mood for school. I went to store to get some food and picked some internet ordered items up. I then went to my friend to drop some catalog off. I loved talking with her because of her no nonsense approach to the life and helps me to put some things in perspective. After an hour at her house, I wrapped my tent up and left for home. My kids were hungry so I gave them snacks to eat. Annalise sometimes ask for the funniest thing. This morning, she asked for pickles.
Soccer season was over around October. Halloween was last weekend. I must admit that I faced those with very small amount of enthusiasm. Ha. I didn't hold a house party for friends like I normally do. Ha. I guess it was because of lack of energy, my house being disorganized, and all . . . I will love to do a belated housewarming party when we are done with upstairs, I guess.
Clint is doing pretty well with the bedrooms projects so far. We still are in HVAC/framing stage. Clint is done with electricity for real. Clint just have to do a bit of framing. I can't wait for the inspector to come in and approve so that we can proceed with next thing.
Clint has been spending some weekends doing either upstairs or helping Ian with his cub scout stuff. Ian loves spending his time with his dad! Two Saturdays ago, Ian helped his dad digging the carrots out, mowing lawn, cleaning garage out . .. Then last Saturday, Clint took Ian to hardware store and both discussed the use of tools there. Ian always wears a huge smile on his face when he completed something with his dad. It really is wonderful.
My girls are in so love with Tinkerbell movie, I guess it is their fourth time watching this movie already. Tinkerbell movie is a sweet story about Tinkerbell character and why she became who she is.
Timmy . . . Poor little Timmy. He had bad month in October. He split his chin and had to get four stitches, scratched his eye (and cried for a week because of the pain), bumped his head, got his two major toes stubbed that he got purply line on each. He is recovering slowly from each of those. Scratch in eye is all gone. But the cut on his chin still is bright red and knotted . . . Purple lines are taking forever to grow out. I think it will encourage him to be a bit more careful sometime in the future. He learns very quickly and remembers all of his lessons.
Back in October, Clint and I went to Pittsburgh in PA and stayed there for five days. Clint had a conference there and I still had morning sickness so I was able to just relax. It is so nice. Susan took Annalise and Timmy while Sandra took Suzy and Ian. They were so helpful, bless their hearts. I owe them something that I will never able to completely repay. Visit to Pittsburgh really was interesting. Just a different environment and different sort of people. There are lots of hills and rivers. Plus, it was dewy there. I didn't need to use lotion as much as I needed to in Utah.
There's two months worth of news to say. Yet, I need to take a bit there and there of my time to add few. I said plenty for now. ha.

Another Monday

2008-08-25T10:04:00.003-06:00

Basically, we all have been doing nothing but sleeping, eating, school/work and soccer. Our kids go to their practices on Tuesday and their games on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturdays. I was being optimistic. I thought it wasn't too bad and it only lasts for a month and half. September 16 is the day of kids' last games.
One really insightful hit I got was last Wednesday. We were at Suzy's soccer game and there's a girl who have brother who is on Ian's soccer team. That boy was coupled with other boy, hanging out together. Ian saw them and saw how they got a garden snake. Ian became excited and wanted to hang out with them. I remember watching how he went and talked with them. They trotted to one part of field and sat there. Two boys got up and left Ian sitting there and left off. I remember seeing how Ian looked downcast. I waited until he came back to us. I asked him who the boys are. If he knows them. I then asked him how old they are. Then I asked him what they said to him. Ian became a bit distant and said, "I do not care what they say." I asked him same question again. He replied the same.
I said, "Of course, we NEED to care. The Lord want us to keep on caring and wants us to always have feelings. When we stop feeling, it is when we are in trouble." I then told Ian gently that it is good thing for him to feel something. It was when Ian wept into my shoulder. I told him that it is very good to cry. We then talked. Ian told me that two boys threatened him that they will kill him if he keeps on following him. (That threat is a turn off for me, to be honest with you . . . It really tells you what type of shows they watch or games they play with) ... Ian had his feelings hurt. He really wanted to see that garden snake.
I comforted him with a story of mine. I told him that there were some girls who were very rude to me and hurt my feelings. I told him that I forgave them and we became friends years later. I told him that we all need growing up and realize how insensitive we were. That girl was shocked when I told her what she did to me. She didn't remember it but realized how rude she was.
Ian seemed to be comforted with that information. There's so little comfort we can find in the ways of world.
I learned inadvertently from the words I spoke. As President Marion G. Romney echoed the following: "I always know when I am speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost because I always learn something from what I've said." Well, I learned at this very spot how diverged the roads world's and God's are. World teaches that we shouldn't feel so much. We should be harder and thick-skinned. Meanwhile, God teaches that we need to be more compassionate, loving, full of charity. It really hit me so hard and I realized all the more how I need to teach my children how to be God-like in that direction instead of telling, "steel yourself up. More hurt is coming." or "Ignore that boy. He just is a jerk." It misdirects my children and will only give them wrong strategies they need in overcoming the world. I do not want them to be too hardened that they cannot listen to the spirit. I wanted them to be always considerate, loving and tender-hearted. Those are what take them to the kingdom of God.
That is my insight for the week.

The First Day of School

2008-08-18T11:21:00.003-06:00

Ian and Suzy just went off . . . Ian skipped the breakfast just because he can be at the bus stop early and play with other kids. However, because of us not going to the opening school night and introducing our children to their teachers ... I asked Clint to take kids directly to their classrooms. Ian is very put out with me for that. Today is school early out so they will be back home, full of news and full backpack of introductory stuff.
I satisfied my urges in cleaning some of the house. Floor were sticky and spotty. None bugs me more than walking upon sticky spots. Carpet is clean too. I shampooed spots out of it too. I also cleaned the sink put things away. I feel a bit more decent now. Now, I am starving!!!
Annalise is upset that she is not going to the school this year. She saw her siblings totting their backpacks and going off. She rushed around, got dressed up, ate her breakfast and packed her backpack and tossed an apple into it for her lunch. I asked her what she was doing. She said that she is going to the school this year because she is five years old. I corrected her gently about her age. She won't accept it. My little girl! She is a sweet little thing. I will have hard time letting her go when her turn comes.
I have been entertaining the notion in getting a cell phone/pager but I haven't decided. It is a commitment I am not sure I should be making yet. I have seen many opportunities where it could helped me out. But people 100 years ago did make it. I figured that I made it so far and I could in the future. It does sort of bug other people knowing that I am a bit more difficult to contact, though. Ha ha. I sympathize with them!
A couple of thoughts here . . .
I have been reading a couple of chapters about building the foundation upon the rock of Christ and how Captain Moroni bewildered the hosts of Lamanites by putting up the fortress around many cities and the land. I discussed with Clint yesterday night about what they actually mean to us in our life. I asked him about his experience in teaching the youth. I pointed out that we can typically answer the stuff youth answer . . . Fortress may represent studying the scriptures, going to the temple, praying, and family home evening. I think there's more to it than just those. I told Clint that those activities are merely heap of dirt or one brick. Those things just make one ultimate thing which Heavenly Father really wanted us to understand. It is the state of mind we put ourselves into. When we are focused on the right things and have the desire in living righteously, Satan has no way of tempting us or no method of attacking us. It is what an eye single the the glory of God really means.
Other thing I have been thinking was the importance of recognizing the hand of the Lord in our lives. The instant moment when we cease to recognize His hand in our lives, we are not able to understand our personal relationship with Him. We need interaction to truly understand and identify our position. When a person is sunk into the sin, it is difficult for this person to feel that he/she is of worth . . . Because they don't understand or know the Lord personally. Through the filter of their filth, they aren't able to identify the influence of Holy Ghost. It really is so tragic. They stop believing in themselves. They stop believing in the gospel and no longer feel like God truly exists. Repentance truly is a necessary tool in restoring this person in his standing with God. How the atonement is important tool in helping this person to return to the divine communication with God. I think I understand it better and more when I grow older. With divine insights I am able to gain and I am ever thankful for that. It helps me to be a bit more compassionate towards my fellow beings.

Vacation/school

2008-08-13T15:22:00.004-06:00

I'm trying my best to recover from the long vacation. I usually do not react to changes very well and I usually settle in very slowly. It is same with warming up to people, trying to get used to the bed, try to feel comfortable in new environment and understanding it.
I always have had hard time sleeping first nights at different places. In a week and half alone, I had to sleep in four different places. And every night, I am always worried about something- will Timmy sleep okay or won't he fall off that new bed? Will we be able to make it in our schedule? Will we have lots of fun? What should I be taking to prepare for this activity?
I have been sleep-deprived for a while. Ha. I'm pretty happy to be back home and realize all the more how a homebody I am!
We had fabulous time nonetheless. Pioneer trek was pretty difficult, I will admit. Timmy and Annalise had their schedule at home and didn't react very well to different situation. Timmy was crying half of the time because he needed nap so badly and only will sleep in our arms. We walked 9 miles with Timmy in our arms. It was very exhausting. Clint and I took turns with Timmy and pushed the handcart other time. I have a complete sympathy for pioneers who had to deal with their own cranky STARVING children in the winter time. I heard some stories while we did the walking activities. I heard how parents had to endure hearing their own little children crying themselves to sleep because they are so hungry. It pretty much broke my own heart. Basically, if people just went there just for sighteeing . . . There will be nothing to see. The main reason people went there is to EXPERIENCE, walk in the footsteps, and develop better empathy/understanding of the depth of sacrifice the pioneers made. People basically told some pioneer's stories while we made stop there and there. I know that I said that I walked nine miles. It was supposed to be 12 miles in total. But due to many having health problems and others having little children, our bishop announced that teen boys and fathers take handcarts back while mothers and others drive back to the meeting place to clean the handcarts down. SO I took our kids back in the van while Ian and Clint walked back. We ONLY HAD to wait for 45 minutes! I saw Clint pushing the handcart being red faced and out of breath. I asked him why. He said in between hard breaths that those teen boys in the lead practically were RUNNING back with handcart and all for three miles in straight! I had a good laugh! They must have been very anxious to be home. It took us two and half hours to the camp for three miles due to frequent stops but it just took forty-five minutes for teen boys to get back to the meeting place!
After pioneer trek, we went straight to mom's place in Rapid City. We were so happy to be back into cleaner place (it was very dusty and hot at Martin's Cove. We had to push handcarts in 102 degrees). I washed so many clothes. I was so glad to just be sleeping in a decent bed- and not worrying about rattlesnakes!
Then on Sunday, we went to the church with my parents and had fun meeting some people. We then got to return back home and celebrated Annalise's belated birthday. Mom made her cake and we had ice cream to go with it. On Monday, we went to Mt. Rushmore. On Tuesday, we went to Jewel cave. On Wednesday, we helped out at CSD serving food items to motorcyclists for Sturgis Rally. On Thursday, we went water sliding at a waterslide resort attached to two hotels. Then on Friday, we left for North Fork camping. Clint's family was having camping activity in North Fork. It is wonderful seeing our children getting together with their cousins and did a lot of fun stuff. My brother in law got a new kayak so he was teaching everyone else how to ride in it on Saturday. Ian and his new friend, Jesse, got into mud fight so they had to get their "CHILL" dip in Libby Lake. On the afternoon of Saturday, it poured so hard. Clint put our tent on higher ground so our stuff remained dry. I counted my good fortune in being married to a clever man like Clint. We managed to get our tent down on Sunday before it poured again.
We got home in the evening of Sunday and I was so glad to be sleeping on my own bed!
I will put up some pictures for you guys to see- in slide fashion!
Yesterday, I took Ian and Suzy to store to get some school supplies. The school is starting on 18th of August. Ugh. Too soon! I just was getting used to them! Ha. They really love playing with their friends and they aren't too much of a hassle like they used to be on the first week of summer. Ian, Suzy and Annalise all have soccer this year. I feel awfully torn. Everyone is having games, practices around same time and I guess Clint and I will be spending most of our time for a month and half splitting up and taking kids there and there!
Basically, it is our August. What a hectic month it is!

Bustling around for vacation

2008-07-22T10:05:00.002-06:00

Our vacation will be coming up next week. I have a long list of "TO DO" before we go. I already reserved a room in a motel in Rawlins, Wyoming. Clint preferred that we are to go there on Wednesday and stay a night before we have to be at Martin's Cove at 11 a.m. all ready and dressed up in pioneer clothes. We will have to pack up with tent and stuff. We will be camping out at Martin's Cove, stay with mom and dad for six days in Rapid City then go down to Medicine Bow National Park to camp out with Clint's family. It will be a week and half vacation and I am glad we are able to do all at once in one time so we can save the money from being spent on gas.
I will have to make sure that we are all packed up, pioneer clothes being all done, bills being paid, Shadow being taken care before we go. I am going to borrow canopy from my sister so we can stock camping stuff into there.
I am not done with food storage but I understood that it is a project in process here. I can put it on hold for a little while.
I hope to finish bonnets for girls today. I am done with aprons and bloomers. I'm glad. Tomorrow, I will have to get started on vests for Timmy and Clint.
Fun fact here . . . There are many UPS stores that will do same day MTC delivery for just two dollars to four dollars. I sent a huge 16 lbs box yesterday and just paid 4 dollars for it.
Last weekend was crazy! We managed to survive through it! We had fun carnival, visit to cousins in Syracuse, house chores, and helping my sister out. It was so hectic that I felt so worn by Sunday!

On Friday, I took them over to my sister's house and they played with their cousins. I had lots of fun watching Sebastian and Timmy hanging out together. They both are just a month apart. They keep on following each other, imitating each other and playing games with each other. They talked with each other but I don't know what they told each other. Probably holding conversation about how they don't want to go in for naptime. Ha ha. The other older kids enjoyed jumping on the trampoline and swinging. Girls have had their princess tea parties and the boys played Wii games. In between those times, they played with water balloons. For some reason, girls decided that the water balloons are eggs and they keep on moving their hoard over this spot and that spot. Sometimes, on cruel mean streak, boys decide to smash their eggs just to watch girls' reactions. We ended putting some of them in time-out- especially Ian!

On Saturday, I took Ian with me and drove up to Salt Lake City to help my sister with her move. The rent went up so my sister wasn't able to afford living there. She found a two bedrooms apartment and got a roommate. So we all painted the wall of her old apartment that had green paint on, shampooed the carpet and helped with some there and there. I left at noon and came back home to do some chores. At 4:30 p.m., Clint and I took kids to fun carnival and Winger's. Suzy loved ferris wheel the best. We all shared two chairs and were able to go up very high. It was always wonderful every time! Then in the evening, Clint had work he had to do so he went over his work and worked there for three hours. There was a project that had bug in it and he had to get it done before the people in Saudi Arabia get up and start working at their computer. Clint explained to me that people over in Saudi Arabia's weekend is on Friday and Saturday. Their Sabbath is on Saturday. Isn't it so interesting?!

Well, swimming lessons were over by last week. I'm so glad we can sleep in those days. I will have to do visit teaching before this month is up. My companion is making appointments for tomorrow. I better go . . There's projects lying in wait for me to do.

Love you all!

"Love and Hate relationship"

2008-07-14T14:55:00.002-06:00

I don't know how I should be giving it that title or not. I just said it because I found myself doing something like crazy then leaving it sitting there cold for weeks and weeks. For an instance - a project like food storage ... The last time I did it was four months ago. Now I am back to the project and working like crazy.
What I did do related to food storage:
1. Cleaned out the basement which took me total of 8 hours. There was mud everywhere due to flood problems in the past. We hosed down the mud, scrubbed the mud off the floor with water and large broom, and sucked them up into wet/dry vac machine. We poured them back into the floor where they all came from. Ha. That's the area that was supposed to be tub and pipe. Clint smashed some of the floor out and put down 3 foot barrel down there and installed a temporary sump pump to pump the water out while we had flooding problems.
2. Went shopping at Costco and Walmart. I purchased some cans, large bags and white buckets. I was meaning to store some wheat into white buckets. In dry good condition, they can last up to thirty years. Isn't it so amazing?! Walmart had hard wheat bags for sale . . . 11 dollars per 25 lbs which is a very good price considering the current state of our market on food. I got heaps of them. Tomorrow, I will be going to Dry Cannery in Lindon that belongs to the Church. I will be sure to ask for more of beans, rice, dehydrated milk. I am running out of dehydrated milk very quickly. I usually like to use them for baking purposes. I have been focusing on getting long pantry life type of food now. Then I can focus on shorter types. I am terrible at rotating them. ha.
3. I already am beginning to transport the food down to the storage space downstairs. I already strained some leg muscles. I was out of breath for a short while but I am feeling better. I will have to put that on hold for today. I already am planning on baking and all today. I have some stuff in my freezer that need using up.
4. I will be getting a humongous nice freezer. I hope to fill it up with freezer jams and such. A friend of mine told me about a place where you can get meat at cheaper price. I definitely am interested!
So that's my plan for food storage so far. I have been at like a crazy lady now! Ha. I am afraid that if I don't get it done, I will NEVER get it done at all!

My other project is making pioneer clothes still. I am working on girls now. I had my friend enlisted in doing that. She is so quick!! Those dresses do look so big but that's only size available. I am working on aprons, bonnets and bloomers. They should be quicker than dresses. My dress took me days to complete.

I love www.dearelder.com!!! I just started using it as per my brother in law's request. It was appalling so easy and user friendly. ALSO the letters sent to MTC are FREE! I was able to write him many small things during I am at the computer. I hope that he can get those letters on daily basis from Monday to Friday. Clint accused me for doing too much of it. I think he said it because I am making him guilty for not doing it enough. I threw back at him reminding how much missionaries like him love getting letters! Ha.

This week and last week, we are having swimming lessons. It usually takes me about an hour and half. first 1/2 hour to get ready for swimming (lotion, showering, and going to bathroom) then swim for 1/2 hour then lastly 1/2 hour to change clothes and load up in the van. I like doing it in the mornings. It makes less clothes to wash. Kids usually go directly from pajamas to swimsuits. Then after swimsuits, they just have to wear clothes for remainder of the day. There won't be any library activity or park day this week. My friend, Nancy, is going to Disneyland this week so moms don't get together this week for park day. As for library activity . . . Our library is doing an inventory week. There's American Fork Steel Days to enjoy. We will be doing city of carnival fun, picnic day, and probably bbq dinner. I am excited about that. I hope to visit Susan this Friday.

Have a great and fantastic week, my dearest friends and family!

A bit here and there

2008-06-25T12:27:00.004-06:00

Some insights I gained lately:

1. How kids get along actually reflects how I deal with them. I usually don't like summer for a reason . . . My children always were bickering over every little thing and needed me to referee every discussions/agreements. Sometimes, I just get tired of it, I just say, "Go away and solve it yourselves".

Insight: I realized that kids keep on bickering because of my bad attitude. Children aren't born automatically knowing how resolve things. I caught myself at it one time and said, "Suzy, you bring Ian here and we will discuss it calmly." After having two kids in room, I asked them, "What is our problem here? We only have one water gun. It won't be fair to other if you keep water gun all of the time." We then discussed the options: 1. Buy other one (which is not possible), 2. take turns with it, 3. put it away for another time ... My children are astonishingly reasonable and offered me some other options which they could agree. You know what? I didn't even hear their complaints for two hours in row! What a nice peaceful hours I had! It was really when it hits me- I need inspiration from God to help my children many times. I believe that I just am harried and busy that I don't listen to the spirit like I should. I need HELP with my children and I NEED to be a bit more positive in disciplining my children.

2. I learned that it is a daily task to remind myself that patience should be in my vocabulary. I always run short of it when I think about my dreams. I think that selfishness usually takes patience away. I should become a bit more selfless and loving. When I do that, it becomes easier to be patient too.

3. There are so many lovely things that I failed to appreciate like shining kitchen floor after cleaning, a delicious ice cream out of Coldstone Creamery, a fun date with my Clint and all. I always am so quick to move onto other things and forget.

I had a perfectly lovely weekend with Clint. I loved being able to try new things like four stars hotel suite, ride on ski lift, hike down a mountain in Park City, and all. Clint and I went out to four star restaurant at night and it was dreadfully expensive! But I told Clint that the dishes we had really are well worth it. The taste is amazing! Clint had filet miginon and I could not believe that a such thing could exist! As a hippie will say, "FAR OUT!"

We had a breakfast in suite. I brought in different fun food to eat and Clint cooked them for me. After that, I am glad we got together. I never got away from my children that long. I am too fond of them that I never wanted to spend my time away from them. We then rode on ski lift for twenty minutes to the end and hiked back for 1 and half hour. It is fun. Clint and I came home being happily dusty, sweaty and dirty. It really is so fun getaway. We liked it the best of all that we celebrated for our anniversaries.

We are back to our routine. Park, library, and gymnastics. I am glad that we managed to have some time in between- for dentist visits, vet for Shadow, and others. I will have to call the doctor office about getting Tetanus shot. I DEFINITELY am not looking forward to that. It always smarts so badly after having one.

I am glad I had time last Sunday to write a long good letter to my grandparents and uncle. They are so old that they don't totally understand what emails and thus can do for them. Ha. I haven't written them ANYTHING and I felt awfully guilty about that!

OH well, my household chores are riding on me now. I have to go now. Hugs to all.

1,000 reasons to be happy

2008-06-10T15:44:00.005-06:00

Reason no. 1- My friend and I are able to resolve our misunderstandings. I am so happy she is willing to believe me and trust me when I explained myself to her. I treasure our friendship so dearly!
Reason no. 2-Ian got baptized two weekends ago.
Reason no. 3-May and June are the best months there are: birthdays, wedding anniversary, mother's day and father's day!!
Reason no. 4-I had visits from Clint's family and got to celebrate occasions with them. How I love them!!
Reason no. 5-June is the coolest month ever and we are able to save bucks on electricity bill.
Reason no. 6-Clint finally is done with framing and is doing electricity part upstairs.
Reason no. 7-Our basement is dry this year . . . Even though that we are having the wettest year there is. It looks like drainpipe that our city installed is working.
Reason no. 8-I am able to find different ways to keep things fun and exciting for kids. We are able to go to the park and hang out with friends, have library, fitness center and all.
Reason no. 9-I am nearly done with the pioneer dress project I set out to do. I hoped it wasn't difficult and it wasn't!
Reason no. 10-Being able to go to the temple two Fridays ago.

I can go on forever and list many good things I have. I just am counting my blessings. God truly always have been there for me and picked me up when I needed Him to. I love it how silent and still voice always come when I listen to guide me.

I loved watching Ian participating in his gynmatics class. That kid never ceases to amaze me! He did a lot of fun stuff that he never did before in the past. If he didn't succeed first, second and third time, he is not afraid to try fourth time. And he did succeed! I am so proud of him. I can't wait to take my kids to the classes this Thursday and watch them having fun all over again! Ian said he prefers that sport over soccer any time. I said that he has to do it one more time this fall before we make the decision for real. Suzy and Annalise are so excited about using the equipments in gynmatics class and I was able to observe for real how significant development milestones can be in children's physical ability.

I am sewing the pioneer dresses for myself and my girls. After that women's project, I will move onto boys'. I will cut out used church shirts collars out and resew. Then I will see if I can make them simple vests. I will be done with my pioneer dress very soon. I just have hemming at the bottom to do plus tucking some parts there and there in. I will be able to take a snapshot of myself in the pioneer dress as soon as I am able to get bloomer and bonnet done. In the case, I am sure you are wondering why I am doing this. There's pioneer trek which my ward is planning for this year. It will be three day long thing between July 31 and Aug 2. After the pioneer trek, Clint and I will be going up to South Dakota to visit my parents.

I'm putting my scrapbooking project on hold due to dresses. Then I will be back to it happily! I really had so much fun playing with photo program and matching them up to theme, pages, etc.

I got Ensign for May's and I am spending nights reading the talks from General Conference. I love them all! One night in particular which I never will forget. Ian heard about Bloody Mary story on playground at the school. One of the boys told Ian that if he said the name three times, Mary will come and kill him. Ian got very scared about it one night. He could not sleep. I got him to lay down in my bed and read with him the topic from General Conference on Personal Witness of Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and Holy Ghost. The spirit was so strong and its peace was all pervading. Ian calmed down very quickly and was asleep by the end of talk. What a wonderful thing we have. It really calms the storms of soul and brings happiness to our hearts in the troubled times!

Two weeks' worth of news

2008-05-07T12:20:00.012-06:00

Wow! Two weeks have passed ever since I last posted the blog. When something like that happens, it has strong tendency of falling down to nothing. I won't let it to happen hopefully!!

Lacey Mae Gibbs finally is here! My sister in law had her on April 28 11 p.m. She is no. four and Gibbs now has four little princesses in their family. She has so much hair and is so adorable. Ian looked at me and asked me when I am having more babies after having held her.

I stopped my exercising routine. My hay fever is ongoing and it is very hard to breathe when mucus keeps on getting into the way. I am enduring it out like many things. The fundraising 5K thing will be next week and I hope I can run 3 miles without running out of breath.

Last weekend, there was a close to my heart warehouse sale. I had to wait 1 1/2 hour to 2 hours in line. It required so much patience! But it is well worth the wait. Every paper packet is one dollar each and many other things are just at price of two dollars, four dollars. I got so many things for low price. Many ladies are so happy with the deal and sent me an email to make comments about it. Close to my Heart does it every two years. So it really is fun doing it once in a while.

My house is so chilly. Outside, it rained a little. I will have to check the basement and make sure that there's no water down there. It has been a wet year in the mountains and water will be certain to flow down and flood in the marshes. Our home is in marshes (formerly).

I can't wait to get started on garden but weeding isn't my favorite thing to do. I sometimes really miss Washington just thinking about that dark peat dirt and easiness of growing things in there. I just can think how hard it was for Adam and Eve having to recall their former days in Eden while they are digging and sweating over the crusty dry dirt like what we are doing right now. I can't wait to plant some beautiful colorful flowers and see if I can add some ground plants. I love ivy and it is growing very well in one of my flower bed.

Last Saturday, we got to get together at Thanksgiving Point Gardens. Nancy Macedone is kind enough to come and use her pass so that we can get in for half price. It really is wonderful! I owe you, Nancy, big time! Any time you need a favor . . . Just give me a call!! Here are some awesome snapshots I took of Thanksgiving gardens.
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Timmy's curls RETURNED!! Especially with a bath. I am so thrilled!!

I got to have the fun of visiting my old mission companion (Jordans). They are fantastic family and it really is amazing when we all are calling our family as is. Once did we know each other, we just had ourselves to worry about. We discussed from the change of relationship in marriages to the life in deaf community. It really is amazing to see how much we have grown in understanding. I think we didn't totally understand things when we were age of 21, 18, etc equally as we do right now at age of 32. I just can see how we will understand better twenty years from now. Just imagine this ... as grandma, I can chuckle when I reflect how I struggled and felt baffled as a mother to four children and trying to analyze why things aren't happening perfectly as I wished them to. And be able to smile understandingly when I observe another young mother trying to figure how she can convince her young child how to go to potty.

Christina came down here on Monday while Clint took our kids to Brittany's. Clint was helping Brittany and John to fix their car. Christina needed my help with cleaning the car's interior before she can sell the car to other person. I enjoyed catching up with Christina's life and such.

I'm going to make something for teachers, assistants and principals for teacher's appreciation week. I saw something really cute on Close to My heart magazine so I am going to make dozens of them. It will be so FUN!

Oh well, my kids has reached their awake quota and I will have to put them down for their naps.

Hugs to all! And have a fantastic week.

Taking a break

2008-04-23T10:14:00.003-06:00

I pretty much overstretched myself past the limit. I got sick with cold and exhaustion. I am going to rest this week to beat the cold. It is taking me a little longer to recover much to my disappointment. Suzy and Ian are at the school now (much to my relief). They were fighting nonstop over the weekend. I know it is part of the life- learning how to get along. It hardly is good for a peace of mind. You should be seeing those kids tattling on each other, wailing, and wearing my shoulder down to a big dent. Ha. I was sick on Sunday with cold so I did not go to the church. I felt strange missing the church. I love going so much and always feel out of sort all of the week long when I don't go.
Last Saturday, I manage to accomplish some stuff I have been putting off for long time. My car's interior is so clean and my refrigerator is full of food. It is easy to make decisions with meals when your refrigerator is stocked! I also got to cut my men's hair. Chores come on again this week . . . Cleaning the house inside and getting to the garden. I was putting garden off for some time due to Clinton not starting the sprinkler system yet. He hasn't ever since some sprinkle heads broke in the drain pipes installation process.
I am having a new battle with Annalise this week. She all the sudden decided that it is no longer fun going to bathroom and washing her hands. She was wetting her pants regularly everyday. I am soo frustrated with her and Clint helped me out by printing the chart out so I can write stars on it every time she goes to the bathroom. I guess we are back to scratch with her. I wish it was easier. But potty training and my kids never are easy.
Today is a glum-gloomy day. No sun is out and it isn't breezy . . . It is windy! So my kids are staying inside, mostly. I am just am doing errands in betweens and trying to catch up on internet stuff. The information on FLDS raid is so thought-provoking and there are so many issues that went being misaddressed in Texan court. The judge refusing the nursing mothers to remain with their infants really appalled me so badly. I am very attached to my babies especially when they are nursing . . . They are my third arm, emotionally speaking so I am pretty upset at the thought of the nursing mother group being separated from their nursing infants. I think it would be handled better in more family friendly state like Utah, Colorado, or even Vermont. I think if public opinion will state itself in more empathical fashion may help??
I have a little visitor with us right now. She is visiting us while her mother takes her little brother to doctor. She is occupying herself by riding on smart cycle. Ha ha.

Whirlwind ahead

2008-04-14T20:17:00.003-06:00

It was fairly peaceable week. I was able to return to my exercising routine and doing 4.5 miles every day. This week, I wasn't able to. Daycare is closed for the week due to spring vacation and my kids keep me busy. Today, I took them out to library to borrow some books and movies. We then went to park and played there for an hour and 15 minutes. We then picked Clint up and we all ate at Winger's for lunch together.

I spent the afternoon doing some projects for Jean Massieu School's PTA fundraising project. My friend came and visited me for two hours. After that, I finished off some of my project and cooked the dinner. The strain of day is wearing on my kids and they become easily irritated. I am going to make sure that they are going to bed early tonite.

Tomorrow, I will be taking them to dinosaur museum at Thanksgiving's Point. About three hours there, I will take kids back and have them to eat lunch at home. Then afterwards, it is naptime. This Wednesday, I am going to help my friend making her quilt. Then on Thursday, I am taking kids up to zoo. On Friday, I am taking kids to my sister's house to play all day long.

That's my plan for the week. I hope to keep my kids so busy that they won't be fighting with each other as much. This weekend, I will do the usual stuff. We are going to have to prepare our yard, garden and flower beds for the spring. Spring is so late this year!

I will be posting some of my scrapbooking works. I love to scrapbook so much. I have been obsessing over it lately. Ha ha. Yesterday, I scrapped and today I scrapped and tomorrow, I will scrap!

General conference weekend

2008-04-07T17:20:00.003-06:00

Bi-yearly, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints which I am member of- holds a world-wide meeting. I LOVE those world-wide meetings. I love being able to listen to those wise men sharing great plan of happiness. My biggest regret is that I didn't have the same opportunity being able to listen to those men since that demands of my children and household sometimes just overwhelm me. On Sunday, I was able to cook meals, make four pages of scrapbook for Timmy, take care of my kids and keep my house in spin and spac order. I am grateful for the time I got with my family!

I was able make many things that pleased my family. Oatmeal cookies, Chicken Divan, marinated steak/shrimps, twice baked chicken, waffles, blueberry pancakes, crackers/dip, popcorns, sliced apples. My kids did make some scene when they saw Chicken Divan. They never saw it before. I haven't made it for long time since that the recipe required me to use cream of chicken soup. I could not use it due to fats percentage. Now that I discovered lower fat type, I was able to return to making it. My husband missed it a great deal. So I just made it on occasion to make him happy.

I also used some of my time doing "Course trainings" for new consultants. I loved their course on accessories. I was able to learn how to utilize their accessories more effectively. I love being able to decorate the page and give it my personal touch. So far, I am not doing so much related to the business. I am firmly determined that my friendships come before business. So I am just doing it to share the interest with my friends and avoid being pushy. I just wanted to make it more fun and enjoyable for us all.

It snowed once again this morning. Snowflakes were about 1 inch thick and won't melt once when they hit our hair. Timmy and Annalise were so fascinated!! I returned to my exercising routine. I haven't exercised for a while due to sickness that kept on going around for a month and half. I have motivation for exercising now that I wanted to participate in the fund raising event for deaf children . . . Run 5K! After exercising, I went down to Orem to go to Michael's craft store. I heard there was a HUGE sale. And sure enough, there is!! I was able to take 60 percent off custom-made framing order, got some discounts on craft products. I love getting good deals!!!

Snowy weekend

2008-03-30T16:54:00.005-06:00

Susan reminded me how it WILL snow in March even though that we just celebrated the first spring day. She has lived here for three years and it came without fail. I forgot all about it after living in Utah for nearly ten years. Years just were flying and so many things have happened. I just lost sight of simple things that come from living in Utah in particular. It will be melting in a blink of eye and sun will come out finally.

Yesterday (Saturday) was wonderful. Actually, it was hectic but I am so glad we made it through. I was asked to make a dinner for a family who had their newborn in the hospital, have a brother in law who is going to open his mission call letter at 2 p.m., a birthday party for three people in family and having some food to bring to this party. I was on my feet most of the day trying to get so many things done. Our kids felt the excitement and played along. I am sorry to say that Annalise was getting too soaked in that. She got so cranky that she bit, push, hit Suzy at the store. That girl! I was thinking at everyone, "Trust me, Annalise is not like that monster with me right now." Annalise is really the sweetest little girl and I adored her when she was a baby. She really is a cuddly-wuddly. I just wanted to call her "Cuddles".

Clint's brother opened his mission call and celebrated his nineteen birthday yesterday . . . as I said up above. He is called to Germany Frankfurt mission . . . It came as a surprise to everyone. I know it would delight Clint's grandma whose parents were born there. I told Clint's mom that it is so neat to think how he will speak German fluently when he is back home. I felt sad that he had to go away so far . . . But it is a "good thing" as Clint's mom said. He will be entering MTC May 28 . . . Thus missing Ian's baptism. I still am so glad for his sake. He is doing something very important for the Lord.

My sister, Christina, is going to graduate this spring (I THINK). I have been a little behind in news with her. It was nice having her and her boyfriend visiting us occasionally on the weekends while she was making a film on "Blue Box" as its actress. I must admit that after watching trailer that it is very hard for me to be objective. I mean, it is my sister in there! Here's the link for you guys to watch . . .

http://lancepickett.blogspot.com/2008/03/movie-trailer-blue-box.html

If you guys don't know . . . There suddenly is loads of filmmakers in deaf community up and around making many films based on deaf culture and viewpoints. Like Bobby Giles on VPMan. I haven't seen that. But I know there are some reactions in Deaf Community in Utah. I can just say that it is lots of fun! Hee hee.

Well, back to my sister, Christina . . . She is a student at University of Utah now and majoring in theatre arts and film something. I am proud that she is working so hard and doing well in the school. I remember how it was rough for her in the beginning but she pulled it through and managed it. I just wish sometimes that she is not so busy that we can see her a bit more often. But I think it is the way things always will be until we all die and go to the Heaven.

Susan and I keep in touch fairly often. She is dancing with joy right now because two of her kids just got accepted into Syracuse Art Academy and we are very curious about how it will turn out. Susan and Gabe are just doing great. Susan is looking forward to Gabe graduating with bachelor degree this May. Gabe also just got done with making a new bedroom for the boys down in basement. Every time when I see him, he is always up to something . . . Doing homework, doing a home project, and all. That guy is so busy! I truly am looking forward to him being able to just loaf around and spend time with his kids.

Easter weekend

2008-03-24T09:08:00.002-06:00

We had a wonderful time celebrating easter last weekend. My kids had fun going on egg hunting with Trinity, Emma, and Anne Marie. I thought the story of 8-10 yrs old kids going off before the sound of horn was particularly funny. Not to mention how 6 to 7 years old kids saw them going and went themselves!

Timmy is so in love with playgrounds now. He gets excited at sight of slides now.

I have been struggling with miragrine headaches past week now . . . I have been feeling woozy and having regular headaches everyday. I always feel so exhausted by the end of day. Clint has been wonderful, helping out with kids during bedtimes. I have to drink more water since that I wasn't taking good care of myself two weeks ago. I think it was what brought headaches on. I still am glad I was able to manage some things like making some dinner, keeping the house clean, and fulfill my calling in nursery.

We had a lot of fun in nursery. All of kids came in being nicely dressed. A lot of girls are dressed in long flowing pink dresses with beautiful hair. I enjoyed most of that. I spent a lot of time having to help the nursery leader to clean up the closet. Somebody got into there during the week, ate all of the little kids' snacks, scrawled crayons onto the doors, and mixed the toys all over into stake's closet. Our dear nursery leader was furious but there aren't so much we can do about it since that closet's lock is broken. She is trying to find the special kind of lock where you won't need keys and has long locking part. I was glad I decided to make some snacks for kids the night before, though. Ha.

After the church, we drove up to Syracuse and visited Susan and her family. My other sister brought her boyfriend to celebrate the easter with us. We had lamb and barley, fish, flat bread, haroset, and others. It was fun. Our kids had a blast with their cousins. Unfortunately, they were so overstimulated with no naps in pocket . . . Clint and I had our hands full with them. Ha ha. They were hard asleep when we got home and dressed them up in pajamas.

I am so glad it is turning into spring too. I love it how the days become longer. I love it how the green things are beginning to bloom. I am looking forward to picnics with families, summer BBQ, July 4th and all of the fun.

The City is done with installing the drain. We are waiting to see if it would help our basement to stay dry this year, It should be known for real by this April. I am wringing my hands in anxiety!!!

Clint is working on upstairs still. He is done with rooms. Now, he is working on hallway and fire blocks. He will be going to the store to get more wood today.

I got a week long to do my stuff. Along with usual chores and all. I hope that you guys will have a wonderful week too!

The ramble

2008-03-20T10:21:00.003-06:00

Da da da. Yeah, yeah. I sometimes think that my days are a bit boring but to others, I guess aren't. I have been spending my time trying to think up something different for dinner. I hate trying to figure what we are going to eat for dinner. But Clint never complains. When I cook, I usually make something really good. Ha. I guess I am going to make lasagna dinner tonite. I will need to see how I can make girls' dish differently because of their milk allergies. Soy cheese never went well with lasagna.
I have been keeping up with my goal: making two pages to add to my children's scrapbook pages everyday. So far, I am working on Timothy's. I enjoyed having some helps in layout ideas. I usually am less creative when I am tired and I always am tired half of the time. I have about two whole boxes to work through so I got my job all cut out for me.
Do you guys know anything about limited edition print of art work? I just purchased a print titled "Sacred Grove", signed in gold by Greg Olsen. Right now, there's a small dent/puncture on it which I would like to be repaired. My friend who works for framing shop told me that it is part of the standard for a licensed professional to call for new print and tear the old one up based on serial number. I wonder if they would do that?
Timothy really is a sweetheart. He is extra cuddly and wants attention from his mom. I usually spent most of my time cuddling up with him. It is fun to see how he talks more now. He is beginning to string two to three words together.
I haven't been shopping so much lately. I really hate going shopping for one and only ONE reason. My kids love playing hide and seek on me. I just have total meltdown when I find out that one of my kids are missing. I really want to shop more for food storage stuff. My family still is about less than 3/4 way from a year worth that we need. I really like shopping at Macey's. They have all of the stuff I need. My major problem right now is where to put our food storage. We were planning to put them in the basement but due to regular water problem that come every summer, I had to put them into garage for temporary purposes until we are able to completely solve that problem. Oh well. I prayed about it and the answer came that it will be solved.
Tomorrow is the closing date for CTMH thing. I guess it will just take me less than an hour to do the procedure. I think I have to do it individual orders since that I don't get enough orders to make it an official gathering. I, at least, am still at consultant status anyhow.

My first Open House as a consultant

2008-03-15T21:11:00.002-06:00

I made a such scary step in my commitment toward doing some stuff related to Close to My Heart company. I have been purchasing its products and loved them so much. I just decided to become a consultant. Today was my first open house and I will hold workshops in future. Whew!

I had so much fun with my kind friends who just made time to come out. We all made bookmarks. My sister even drove out from Syracuse to make this event special for me. I wish more could make it. I know they would love it too.

I asked some people about workshops. They expressed interest. I guess I can hold some card making/scrapbooking workshops.

I committed to it for up to a year to see how I can do it without affecting my family and my other responsibilities. If I see how it works out with me then I will keep on doing it.

I am so sick of being sick

2008-03-12T10:29:00.003-06:00

Three weeks in the row would I find one of our kids being sick! Two weeks ago, it was flu. A week ago, it was strep throat which EVERYONE in the family got. Today, Timmy has fever of 101.4 and Suzy is throwing up. She began throwing up on her blanket and she had to walk to our bed and threw up on it. Ha. I told her mildly, "Do you know that you can go to toilet and throw up in it?" She wailed, "I cannot." I guess she could not with the sleepy confusion and darkness. We got up 5:30 a.m. to clean the mess up and Clint just started working ever since that time. I went back to sleep. Clint woke me up at 8:30 a.m. telling me that he is going to the work. Bless his heart, I found the kids all fed and dressed. Ian's lunch was packed. It is very nice of my husband to take care of that!
Suzy still is sick this morning. But she was able to eat toast and drink juice. That girl needs something in her. She is terribly so pale. I guess I am going to focus my day totally on taking care of kids and doing a bit of scrapbooking. I also am washing the laundry due to the mess made this early morning.
I hope so much that this sickness won't last this time around and that we won't get sick ever again.

Daylight's Saving Time Mishap

2008-03-10T11:56:00.002-06:00

Yes, it is a mishap. I didn't know when it began until when I set my eyes on the time of my computer. At first, I was baffled with the difference of time on the computer and the time on our oven. It was when it hit me- Daylight's Saving Time! I exclaimed that to Clint who was standing in the kitchen. But it was too late. We were just ten minutes from church's starting hour. It takes fifteen minutes to drive down to Utah Valley Deaf Ward and even longer just to drag our kids out of their beds, get them dressed, fed, and all. Our kids were so cranky. I have no idea!! I made sure that they went to bed early the previous night. Well, what a fix we were in! We were at the church at 10 a.m. and Annalise had her first talk in the primary. She was so cute! She went as "When I do something wrong, I feel sad. I feel sorry, pray and ask Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father to forgive me. Jesus Christ makes me clean and helps me to go back to Heaven and live with Him again." I made some pictures for Suzy to hold while Annalise speaks to the primary. She was so adorable! Ian still was surly so I took him into nursery with me. He made everyone to laugh when he answered questions while the teacher was more used to more silent audience. He helped me cleaning the toys up, giving children snacks and all. He was munching on the food happily, I will daresay.
Back to Annalise's talk . . . . Annalise acted naughtily by sneaking into my scrapbooking stuff and took out ink pen and drew on all stairs in the hall. I scolded her and she drew her lower lip out and say, "I feel sad. I feel sorry." echoing her talk just making me to laugh.
Annalise is every inch of three years old, I will say. But she is adorable all the same. From the day one until now, I love cuddling with her and playing with her. She is a such good natured child!
I felt a great deal of relief when I sent my kids off the school today. It is nice having them home and all but sometimes it is a bit wearisome having to discipline them constantly. Ian is a such restless little boy in many regards. But he already is making a good explorer. He spent a lot of times in garden last year just to find bugs in there. Timmy already is following in his footsteps. For an instance, when I was walking out of a buffet restaurant, Timmy pulled fire alarm switch. It took me back to the time when Ian pulled one when he was three years old, thus interrupting the sacrament meeting of another ward and everyone had to walk out of the church building and wait for it to stop. Talk about your embarrassing moments. MY boys are very good at embarrassing me! Ha.

Cutting Timmy's curls

2008-03-07T11:34:00.002-07:00

Timmy had the most adorable collection of CURLS! I LOVE every strand of them. I felt so sad when it was time for me to cut them. They were beginning to droop and Timmy was beginning to make everyone to think he is a girl instead of a boy. In the bath, his hair went past his shoulder! Ohhh . . .

Two weeks, I clipped them away. I don't know which is more tragic . . . Cutting his curls or realizing that he is growing up too fast.

Done with CERT Class!

2008-03-07T10:39:00.002-07:00

Last Wednesday, I was able to complete the last course of CERT. CERT stands for Community Emergency Response Team. All firemen have been training people everywhere to prepare them to come in the assistance in the case of massive disaster that goes beyond the ability and resources of our professionals.

I must confess that it is very difficult for me to come to the class every time I take a course. Sometimes, knowledge can be a bit frightening. I had to endure some gruesome piece of information and learn how to manage with that. There are just some nights where I can't simply sleep or go back to sleep because of the bad dream that come from what I heard in CERT class or just knowing too much that leads me to feel stressed easily. I figured that I HAD to know how to manage it than to know nothing- which is the worst thing I can do if anything terrible happens.

The last course was the worst of them all. We had to do a stimulated disaster and show to firemen how we can do it and get some counsel. Firemen told us that there's no pass and fail in this course. We just need to wing it like we do in the real life. When I saw the stimulated scene, I told an interpreter dryly that we will profit more out of it by selling tickets so people can get scared like they do in the haunted houses.

I woke up in the middle of night because I had a dream where I was called to assist an injured victim, I was standing hip deep water and I was scrambling for anything that can help me with victim. I felt awfully helpless in the dream so I woke up with my heart beating so hard. I wondered about that . . . I didn't see anything gruesome in the dream but I believe that I am the most scared of feeling helpless and having no idea of what I should be doing.

I am so glad it is all over. I still am glad that I took the class. Because of the class, I feel a bit more prepared not only with knowledge. I was able to identify exactly what my family needed . . . fire extinguisher, first aid, and all AND BE able to use them all. I am glad I can add some stuff to our storage and help with family emergency preparation.

The quickest and surest way to keep everyone appraised

2008-02-25T10:44:00.000-07:00

I came to realization: DUH ME! I have been doing everything hard way!!!

I have made several repeated replies through emails to everyone. I could have made a blog and made it available for everyone to read on what is going on in my life. I have confessed many times how bad I am with emails. But I hope so much that it won't be same with my blog.