Young Women

Yesterday, I was released from my responsibilities as Young Women's President at church.  After four years working with the youth, one would think, I was ready for the release, but actually, that is far from the truth!  I have absolutely loved every minute with the girls.  What a great group of girls.  They have helped me to grow so much, and I hope I have done the same for them.

When I look back on all the things we did, I realize, wow! We did a lot!  Everything from teaching Sunday lessons, going to camp with them, hiking the bayou, traveling to Baton Rouge on several occasions to the temple, going to New Orleans and Slidell to visit the Bishop's storehouse, a variety of service projects, including the zoo clean up, numerous food bank can sorting (I'm really going to miss this activity in a couple of months).  We also worked on Personal Progress together, and I was able to earn my medallion (just about earned my bee--just half way through Alma now).  Yes, it was a lot of work, but so well worth every minute. I hope someday, I will be back serving the Young Women.  That is truly the place to be!

Life Is Good

We made it safe and sound to Baton Rouge. I'm sitting in my daughter's living room listening to the rain from Tropical Storm Lee fall.  It's not going to be bad. Tonight, only about 35 mph winds with gusts up to 50. Just hope it is out of here and long down the road before we have to leave to go back to Monroe tomorrow afternoon, I sure would hate to drive in that.

The kids have made a nice little place for themselves here in Baton Rouge. Their home is very pleasant.  They have decorated it very nicely with all their new stuff and also some of the hand me downs they have accumulated. It sure is a nice feeling to see your children happy and doing well.

Busy Little Bees

I thought I'd take a little break and blog.  I am pooped!  We have been trying to get our house ready to put on the market.  I like my house the way it was, but for some, it may be a little over the top.  You see, four years ago, we moved to a much smaller home.  I knew that we would not always be in this house, so I kept a lot of stuff.  Our old house was your typical home with separate dining room, living room, eat in kitchen, family room, etc.  Our house now is a very open floor plan. Our dining, living, and eat in kitchen is all open.  Because of this, we have no walls, and with no walls it is very difficult to hang pictures.  We purchased quite a few nice pictures for our old home, and when we moved into this home, I wanted my pictures on the wall; and so we put them up...all of them.

For some, this might be over the top, so we are "staging" our house so to speak. Down come the pictures, in the boxes all my books go and into storage they all go, including a lot of furniture.  Food storage is another thing I need to probably store. You see, our church is big on food storage. There is a really good article about it, "If Ye Are Prepared Ye Shall Not Fear."  

Well, I guess I better get back to work. We have realtors coming in Wednesday.  That only gives me Monday and Tuesday to finish up the house, as we are heading down to Baton Rouge this weekend to take more stuff to Ashley and Jeremy.  We are suppose to be getting a lot of wind and rain too on Monday and Tuesday due to what is to be Tropical Storm or Hurricane Lee.  We really need the rain, but I am hoping it will wait til we can get everything into storage. :P

Again?!

This has been such a summer! In May, Scott graduated from high school, in June, Ashley graduated from BYU AND got married, in July we had two wedding receptions, and Scott started college, and in August we find out we are moving...to Kentucky!

Just before the wedding, Bill got a call from a head hunter about two jobs. One in Dallas and one in Madisonville, KY. We quickly brushed both off because we did not feel it was the right time.  Dallas was a for sure NO, because it is further from family, and we don't want to live in a humongous city.  Kentucky...maybe someday.  Benjamin still has two years of school left, Scott is just down the road at college, and Ashley and Jeremy are just a short days drive away...near a temple!  Surely we will be seeing them at least once a month.  Funny, how the Lord has other things in store for you.

As the summer progressed with all the activities, the job in Madisonville kept coming up. So we started entertaining the thought.  As we look on the map, we see that it is just 2 1/2 hrs from Bill's mom and dad and just 1 1/2 hrs from Nashville, TN where he grew up and the rest of his family are.  Granted, we always prayed that we would be able to retire closer to home.  For me....that would be Florida.  Even Georgia would do; that could be halfway between.  But Kentucky?!

Last week, Bill received the formal job offer.  We sat down and put it all on paper.  Hmmmmm....looked good.  But what about our kids?  Especially Benjamin.  I NEVER wanted to pull one of my kids out of the middle of high school.  I know, people do it all the time, and kids adjust wonderfully.  But I like it here!  I have made some really nice friends.  We have grown close to the people at church, and I have a group of neighborhood ladies that I have grown close to also.  We walk everyday, occasionally we have lunch together, about once a month we have classes at the local library, etc.  Crum!

After looking at it, my husband could not make the decision without me seeing the place. So, we took a quick trip to KY.  We drove up, did some house hunting, spent the night and went to church.  We both had a really good feeling about it. So it was back home we went to break the news to our kids.  We had already mentioned to them, what was going on, but I'm sure in the back of their minds, nothing would come of it...surprise!  We are going....

So, yes, Benjamin will change schools, and we will be leaving Scott and Ashley behind.  uggg!  I just hate it.  But you know, it is only a temporary thing.  Scott will not always be here in college, and neither will Ashley and Jeremy.  Before we know it, they will be moving out of Louisiana too...maybe they will find their way up to Madisonville too, or maybe not.  All I do know is that the Lord wants us in Madisonville, and so that is where we are going.  In all the moving around we have done, I have learned that it is all attitude.  What attitude we take with us to our new home, is how we are going to like it..or not.  So, it is with a positive attitude that I leave Monroe, Louisiana.  I am thankful for all the memories I will be keeping and the good times I have had.

Fun Beads

So, this week I received my beads from my Bead Soup Partner. Now I am very sad, as I cannot share the gorgeous beads with you all. I just love them. They remind me of the evening Caribbean. The colors are really pretty....dark greenish blue freshwater pearls, turquoise and blue sea glass ebeads, silver flower spacers, some other blue beads, silver flower spacers, and a really pretty clasp and big center bead. You must be wondering why I cannot share my pretty stash....well, my computer is not working. I am actually borrowing someone else's computer.

I've been doing a lot of playing around with my beads, and have had all kinds of ideas. I sure hope to be able to put up some pix.

Busy Summer 2011

I cannot believe how fast the summer went. I remember back in May thinking of all the stuff I had to do, and now, it is all done. In May, our third child graduated from high school. In June,our daughter graduated from BYU, and then we all went to Washington DC for our her wedding, and then to Muncie, IN for their reception. On our way back to Monroe, we visited with family in TN. When we returned home it was time to take our son to college. Got him all settled and then it was time for the Monroe, LA wedding reception. Two days later, I was off to Colorado with my mom and dad to visit with relatives for two weeks. My husband and youngest son went back up to TN on a fishing trip. Now we are all back home and our youngest has started his jr year in high school. I have a mess to clean up and organize, and need to make another trip down to Baton Rouge (already been there several times this summer). That is where our daughter and her husband are living. While in Colorado, I was able to acquire some much needed stuff for them...kitchen table, pots and pans, etc.

Wow, just looking over all the stuff we have done, makes me tired. Anyway, now that we are back home, I am having internet problems. Hopefully they will be taken care of by the end of this weekend. I have had to make trips to the library and borrow neighbors internet service to get some computer stuff done. Sad we have become a society that relies on technology to survive.

Well, I better get back to work on my house. Laundry, vacuuming, dusting, etc, will not do it themselves...

Bead Soup Blog Party

Wow! What a summer! Our family has been soooooo busy!!!! I have so much to blog about, but right now, I want to tell you all about the Bead Soup Blog Party!

The Bead Soup Blog Party is an online party. Lori Anderson is the one that is hosting this fun activity. She assigns you a partner and you both exchange beads. After taking a picture of what you receive, you then start creating. After you finish your creation, you then take pictures of your finished product and post and blog about it. Then everyone involved in the Bead Soup Blog Party comes to visit your blog. There are so many talented artists! I love seeing what people come up with. Last year I created several nice pieces with beads sent by Stacy of Park Avenue. You can read about it on my blog by clicking here.

This time my partner is Heather Marley. You can check out her blog by clicking on her name. As those of you who have been reading my blog know, this has been quite the summer, with two graduations, one of our children entering college, and one getting married, I have been extremely busy. After the wedding, I decided to take a trip with my mom and dad to visit with family in Colorado. When I got back, our internet was not working ( and still is not---I am at the library blogging :P) Anyway, I was excited to hear about who my Bead Soup partner was going to be, so I had my daughter get into my email to check it out. I was so excited to hear that she is a member of the same church I go to. It seems too that she is a photographer too, just like me! It seems like we have A LOT in common. What fun!

Well, today, I have sent off her beads. I hope she likes them as much as I do. I had to buy some for me too, and have already made up a piece with some of the same beads I sent her. It will be fun to see what she does with them, hehe!

Well, better get back to my gazillion and one emails....