Time Flies!!

I have noticed that I haven't posted in almost 2 weeks. Where does the time go? Today I was trying to get on this website, and it wouldn't let me, it appears my cookie setting was too strong! :-) So I moved it to a lower setting , and here I am!! :-)

Anyhow, we are settling back into school from our 4 day weekend (Pres. Day), and life is busy as usual.

Jeff is busy with his schooling and has a project due coming up about Bi-Polar Disorder. It is a very interesting subject. I helped him research some information, and we found a list of famous people with the disease. Such as Kurt Cobain (musician), Carrie Fisher (actress) and more. There is a doctor Kay R. Jamison, who as a book about her own struggle with it, called "A quiet mind". I read some excerpts from the book, very interesting.


Jolyn is doing well in the 7th grade. We made it through the 2nd quarter with A's & B's. She is doing good.
She finished up her basketball season, the team improved a lot during the season.

Jalani is also doing good. She is learning a lot of geography this year, with a passport program they started up in our school this year. She can tell you where places are on a map that I have never heard of. It is great!! She is starting another session of ice skating lessons this week. She has moved up a level.

I am busy with taking care of family and home. Laundry today. woohoo!! Starting this Friday Feb. 22nd-March 27th, I will be substituting at Orchard Middle school for a lady, while she recovers from a surgery. I have subbed for her before and enjoy her schedule. It should be fun, and bring in some needed income.
Well I need to sign off for now.

Sickness, and more!!

I have been pretty ill the last couple of days, but today I am doing better. :-) I still am coughing, which I am sure will last forever, as coughs go!!

I am thankful for being able to stay home and rest and get better. I am grateful my children are old enough to get ready for school by themselves, and are helpful when they want to be!! :-)
I hope this finds all of you well, and without sickness!!

I was excited on Monday night to get on to lds.org and see who was in the newly formed 1st Presidency. I was thrilled to see Dieter F. Uchtdorf put in as a counselor. I love the German people!!
Having lived among them for 3 years in the lovely village of Baalborn. How I miss the forest that surrounded our village, the wonderful neighbors we had, the great food we ate at the "Haus Haumann". It was a wonderful experience in our lives and how grateful I am for those of you who were able to come and see it with us.

I am thankful for many things this week, most being the ability to breathe. What a thing I take for granted each day. I am grateful for the lung capacity to take big deep breaths, and to take in the clean air around me. I know it sounds silly to some, but having this cough, as made my chest feel heavier and a small bit hard in breathing. So I am thankful for breathing.

Jolyn is almost done with basketball, only 2 more games. They are doing well. Yesterday they played a team from Foothills Middle school, who they had played before and got slammed (30-2) and this time we only lost (19-14) it was awesome. The girls are doing well. Too bad their season is so short, they could really improve.
Lani is ready for spring and soccer to be here, and so am I. (At least the spring part ;-)
I guess that is all I have for now.
TTFN

No School !!

Today there is no school, due to something they call "Records Day". I am not sure what that means exactly, but the kids don't have school. I was grateful for the opportunity to sleep a little while later, although, I was awake and up by 8 am. The girls didn't get up till after 8:30. That is amazing for Lani, she is usually awake anywhere between 6-7am.
We are going to have lunch with Jeff later today, and I thought maybe we would try and go bowling.

I am looking forward to being able to watch Pres. Hinckley's funeral tomorrow. What a blessing technology can be, as we live many miles from SLC, but will seem like we are there in person.

We are using "Preach My Gospel" in helping us with our scripture study this year. It is great! We are also still reading "Way to Be", last night we read "Be Smart" and as we read, Jeff commented to me that if he was to start complaining about his schooling, to have him read that chapter. :-) I used to have a desire to go back to school and get some kind of degree, but I don't feel now that I have the ability to do that.
(It frightens me, the thought of going back to school.)

We found out this week that a very good friend, Greg Franz, (the girls adopted grandpa here in Wenatchee), has Bell's Palsy. I did not know exactly what this was, so I read up on it. It is a temporary paralysis of the face, it is not supposed to last a long time, but can. We are praying for him and his wife Janet. We saw Janet last night, at Jolyn's basketball game, and she told us Greg was in good spirits and was doing well. He went back to teaching at the college this week. We are grateful to know them, Janet was our realtor, and so we got to know them both through that. They are wonderful people, and always try and come support the girls in their activities.

Jolyn's team did really well last night, the team they played were matched up pretty good to us. We lost in the last 2 minutes, by one basket. It was 16 to 14, final score. :-) The girls played hard and are improving each game. Jolyn made the first basket for her team, last night. Go JO!!!!!

Mammogram

Today I had my 2nd ever Mammogram. For those who have experienced them, you know how they are. :-) If not, well they are not so bad. A small pinch and your done.
I have decided to do them regularly, because of family history of Breast Cancer. I am grateful for technology which is able to help with the process of early detection.
Yesterday, Jolyn's basketball team lost their game, but it was closer than we had been in the past. They did an excellent job of defense. Jolyn seems to be enjoying it, I hope she stays with it.
Jolyn has decided to drop out of band, at the end of this semester. (Jan.31st), and was going to TA (teacher assist) but then was told she would have to do PE instead, and she said OK. She said she was getting bored with band, the teacher is an interesting fellow. She said he would talk more than they would play.
Jalani will be in a 3rd grade program about Outer Space coming up in Feb., she will play the part of Galileo. She was upset at having to be an old man, but I know she will do a great job.
Jalani is loving her ice skating lessons she received as part of her Christmas present, along with her skates. She wants to do another session of lessons.
Jeff is staying busy with work, school, and life. I think some days he feels pretty overwhelmed, but is doing a great job.
I am going to go to Playgroup here in a few minutes. I enjoy visiting with the moms and playing with the kids. I have fun.
I guess that is it for now.

The Friend

We received the February issue of 'The Friend' the other day. I read the whole magazine in one setting, and there was alot of great articles in it. One in particular stood out to me, and I would like to share it here.
It is entitled "Patriarchal Blessings", and interview with Elder Don R. Clarke of the Seventy.
He is talking about his grandfather, who is blind, living with his family. The 3rd paragraph seemed to jump out at me, it says,
"As you associate with people who are close to Heavenly Father, you can feel and know by the Spirit that our loving Heavenly Father watches over us. He gave us the plan of salvation to bring us back to Him. He taught us how to be worthy to live with Him again."
Associate with people close to Heavenly Father, I love that statement. It made me look at who I know, and who I would like to be.
I pray that I can become who my Heavenly Father wants me to be and to do what he asks me to do.


I recently was released as Primary President after 2 years, and I thought that it would make me happy. I instead experienced what I like to refer to as a "HOLE". For a few Sundays after my release I couldn't think of anything but being back in the Primary room with all those wonderful, beautiful children. I had such an empty feeling inside that I wasn't sure if I could ever refill it. I am working slowly on making the hole full again. I was called to be a Nursery Leader shortly after my release. I thought I would enjoy that, as I love little people. It has taken some time but now I am feeling a bit more comfortable with the calling I am in. I love to watch the children in Nursery, as they explore the world around them. It is an awesome responsibility that I hope I can do my best at.
If anyone has thoughts and knowledge about being in the nursery and any ideas, I would really appreciate them. :-)

My feelings of President Hinckley's Passing and more

As I reflect on the news I received this past Sunday evening, about the passing of our beloved Prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley. I first and formost thought of his reunion with his cute wife, Marjorie. I am sure that was a grand reunion. Then I thought of his family and the loss that they were experiencing, and hopes that they can find the peace they need.

I am thankful for his messages of love and hope and peace.

We are reading his book "Way to Be!" as a family. I am thankful to have these words of inspiration from him.

He was/is a man of integrity and honor. I am grateful to have been alive during his days here on the earth. To be taught by such a great example.

I remember when his wife passed away, and how sad I was that he would not have her for companionship here on this earth. I cannot express the joy I feel in KNOWING that they are together again.

May the Lord bless his family and each of us as we move forward at this time.

My life today

I have been reading the blogs for my sister, Lynette and also for my brother-in-law Hank. They have inspired me to try and write one of my own. I hope it turns out ok.