Distractions

I've decided I need distractions and so do my kids. I don't know that we did things every day in Sheridan, but looking back it sure feels like we did, even if it was just the occasional trip to Wal-Mart. However I don't want to drive 30 minutes to Wal-Mart just to get out... What is there to do in Nyssa to get out of the house?!?

Lesley shared a bunch of her doubler coupons with me and I'd ordered some coupons our area didn't get off ebay. Yesterday and today I went couponing. There was an awesome sale at Albertson's on DelMonte vegetables. I got a liquid Tide, a big box of pampers diapers, febreeze air freshener, 12 yogurts, fresh express salad kit, and 5 cases of corn, green beans, and diced tomatoes (60 cans) for a total of $33.37. A savings of $128.57. Plus I still have $12 in catalinas to spend as cash. Yippee for good deals!

We went to the library this morning but just missed story time. Sounds like they do a decent one in Nyssa so I'm sure Shalon will look forward to that every week. Shalon asked about her friend Alexa today. I told her Alexa was in Sheridan so she said "well let's go get her and bring her to Oregon." She's also asked about Cora and Ruby. I just have to tell her maybe they can have a playdate when she goes to visit Wes.

My thought for the day is this... "Our responsibility is not trivial; it is not by chance that we are who we are; the keeping of our covenants in these days of destiny will be a badge of honor throughout all the eternities." -Elder Neil L. Andersen

Did you get something out of general conference? I've been reading 2 different picture Book of Mormon's with the kids but after Sis. Wixom's talk I decided we'd really read the Book of Mormon. I read one verse and Shalon repeats a verse. At this rate it's going to take a while but I'm excited to say that we are following the counsel of our church leaders. I hope that it will be a testimony builder to my kids and lay a good foundation of scripture study for us. Start out small and build upon it.

General Conference

I thought General Conference was very insightful. What a testimony that God knows me, he knew what I needed to hear. How wonderful it is to have inspired leaders. It is interesting to me that no subject is assigned for General Conference and how they all related to each other. The common themes of agency, love of God, following the prophet, missionary work, and families. I'm grateful that we can read conference talks in the Ensign for the next 6 months to embrace what was taught and apply it to our lives.

Shalon has started praying completely by herself. She wants to say the prayer at every meal and at family prayer every night. I'm so grateful for the example of my children. How pure and innocent they are, trying to do what I teach them. Cutler is more reverent during prayer. Tonight he said amen for the first time. I appreciated Sister Wixom's talk about how it took a family 3 1/2 years to read the Book of Mormon because they initially only read 3 verses per day. My thought was we can do that...

On a side note Cutler is indicating that maybe he'll potty train earlier than Shalon did. Lately he wants to sit on the toilet. He hasn't gone yet but he sits on it before they take showers every night. Shalon asks to take a shower every day.

Interview and Church

My job interview went well. Basically they are expanding the dietetic dept. at the hospital. They are creating another dietary aide position but as of my interview it was still in management. I have the job if I want it. I think it's going to be mostly weekends which I'm not so excited about that but I believe it could work into more. The dietitian really wants me to take classes online to become a registered dietitian. There are a few different schools that offer the degree online that she is a preceptor for. I believe the hospital would also reimburse me for going to school. The only thing is the program she really wants me to get into at Eastern Michigan University I have to have taken Organic Chemistry and Bio Chemistry prior to applying neither of which I have taken and the application deadline is January. ugh. There is another program at Iowa State but that one you have to physically go to campus once a semester and that just doesn't sound appealing to me. So we'll see. I still am really interested in the radiology route it would just be more intense and difficult to work at the same time and I'd have to pay for school....

I read a quote today by President Monson "Come to the temple and place your burdens before the Lord and you'll be filled with a new spirit and confidence in the future. Trust in the Lord, and if you do He'll hold you and cradle you and lead you step by step along the pathway that leads to the celestial kingdom of God." I think I need to make a greater effort to attend the temple often.

When I was a junior in college I made it a priority to attend the temple once a month. At the time Rexburg didn't have a temple so we'd drive to Idaho Falls and do baptisms at 5 am. Looking back I wish that I would have continued doing that. I firmly believe that it is the little things we do; the decisions we make when nobody is around; the small sacrifice's that will ensure our place in the celestial kingdom. It is adding oil to our lamps drop by drop. We can't gain spirituality in giant doses. It is the daily things, Sunday school answers, that ultimately help us live righteous lives.

I am excited for General Conference. I always feel like it is directed at me. What an opportunity to feel like the Apostles are speaking directly to you. There are so many great messages. Looking forward to this weekend...

So far...

Well I have a job interview tomorrow at 12:45 pm. According to my mom it'll be 2-3 days a week with the possibility of taking online classes and becoming a registered dietitian in a year or so. I guess I'll find out everything when I go in tomorrow.

The kids are behaving ok given the circumstances. Shalon is testing the waters and not being very obedient, partly due to being in a new environment, age, and being tired. Cutler is just Cutler. Likes to play. Wants to be outside constantly. Both kids are enjoying Moki (my parents dog) while I'm busy guarding my stuff so he doesn't mark it. I've already kicked him off my couch twice today. grrrr. Uncle Cameron and Alexis came over yesterday. I mowed my parents lawn for the first time in my life. Uncle Cameron gave the kids rides on the gator.

Never too late...

The kids and I moved to Oregon. We are currently living with my parents, who are being nice and helping us out for the time being. The trip was long but went ok. We drove thru Yellowstone and it was a free park day so that was nice! We saw a lot of buffalo and some elk. Susan (Wes' mom) let us borrow her scripture scouts tapes. We listened to them most of the way. It kept Shalon entertained and kept me from thinking about what was going on and bawling the whole way. We stayed with Laura, Bob, and Ava Saturday night. Laura's in-laws were nice and let us crash there. We watched the Boise State game. I was exhausted though and slept through the 4th quarter.

I saw a quote in Bobby's Mom's kitchen that has had me thinking the last few days. It said: "It's never too late to live Happily Ever After." It reminded me of a talk by Pres. Uchtdorf (I love his talks) Your Happily Ever After. We all have trials. We can't change that but we can control our attitude and reaction to situations. Even in fairy tales they had trials before they lived happily ever after.

I don't know what my happily ever after is. People have the ability to change. I am still hoping for Wes but if not, I can still live happily ever after...

Moving Day...

Moving day fast approaches unless something unforeseen happens (I am praying for a miracle. However, just as in the case of Alma the Younger with his father and the church fasting and praying for him, nowhere does it say how long they waited for that miracle to come to pass. Once again agency comes into play...) Am I ready? No. (Although my house is mostly packed up) I don't want to leave... I feel like Wyoming is home... I don't want to say goodbye to my friends and family... What do I tell my kids?... How do I not breakdown?... Nothing is final, I can change my mind right?... But, do I want things to stay the way they currently are, in limbo?... Grow up, Wendy. Be a big girl and take a step with a giant leap of faith that Heavenly Father will look after you. On the upside I think I have a job when I get to Oregon...

A quote I have been thinking about tonight is this...
"Perhaps the greatest charity comes when we are kind to each other, when we don't judge or categorize someone else, when we simply give each other the benefit of the doubt or remain quiet. Charity is accepting someone's differences, weaknesses, and shortcomings; having patience with someone who has let us down; or resisting the impulse to become offended when someone doesn't handle something the way we might have hoped. Charity is refusing to take advantage of another's weakness and being willing to forgive someone who has hurt us. Charity is expecting the best of each other." -Elder Marvin J. Ashton

P.S. I will probably post things that happened this summer but I will backdate them so that if I ever do get this into a book it'll be in the right order... Another thing my blog is probably going to get personal...

To Blog or Not to Blog

Many of you might wonder... Why haven't you been blogging? Well to be honest it has been a day to day struggle for me to want to get out of bed and take care of my kids let alone keep up on my blog and pretend that everything is good and happy in my life.

Life is interesting... One day you think everything is fine and the next day it completely sucks and you wonder what happened? What happened to the perfect life I thought I should have? What happened to the wonderful summer I had planned? What happened to all my dreams, hopes, and aspirations?

We don't get to choose the trials we go through. Some are caused by our own stupidity and some because of the stupidity aka agency of others. This summer has been a learning experience for me. Definitely not one I would choose or wish upon anyone (well maybe one or two people if I were to be really honest). I am trying to be optimistic but can I just say it's hard and and frustrating not to get what you want? Being given no options but the one you don't want to take?

I have learned how to really pray, to be specific in prayer. I have learned what faith and hope really mean (excellent talk worth reading The Infinite Power of Hope by Pres. Uchtdorf). I have learned what agency really is. I have learned to trust in my Heavenly Father because He won't let me down. I have learned to read my scriptures daily especially with a pen and paper in hand. I have learned to write in a journal to relieve frustration and see how far I've come. I have learned the importance of keeping all the commandments especially the little ones. I am learning patience and that I don't have much.

I love this quote by President Hinckley and feel it is so applicable.
"Faith in something greater than ourselves enables us to do what we have said we'll do, to press forward when we are tired or hurt or afraid, to keep going when the challenge seems overwhelming and the course is entirely uncertain."

So going back to blog or not to blog. I will get there and start up again. How soon remains to be seen...