Wednesday, April 30, 2008

and Doug was...







Which Twilight novel character are you?




You're Jasper Hale - You have a calming personality and a simplistic way of looking at life. People like to be around you because you can help keep peace and are friendly to everyone. Although you do have a quiet side, you would be well balanced with a bubbly, spunky mate.
Take this quiz!



Hmmmmmmmmmm.....

Sunday, April 27, 2008

remembering when

Today, Brianna gave her first talk in Sacrament Meeting. She did such a nice job. She wrote the talk herself last Sunday, so that she could look it over during the week. I helped her find some useful links on lds.org on her computer and Doug printed a couple of talks that she asked him for so that she could use them as a reference.

That got me to thinking about the first talk that she ever gave in church. That was in junior primary in the Coral Springs Ward and the Pompano Beach Stake in south Florida. She had only been living with us a few months and was still having a hard time sitting quietly in Sacrament meeting. She was three, and she was a Sunbeam. She said the words to a little known primary song called God's Love. I had printed pictures from the internet to show the children and remind Brianna of the various parts of her talk. She had memorized it. It was wonderful.

Her testimony has grown and it is a blessing to see her in YW striving to do her best and continuing to broaden her knowledge of the Gospel. It is wonderful!

Saturday, April 26, 2008

is this me?


Which Twilight novel character are you?


You're Carlisle Cullen - You are very intelligent and have high moral standards. You truly care about people and helping them. Your knack for solving problems and pleasing two warring sides makes you unique and a desirable friend to have, even if sometimes you have to tell people what they might not like hearing.
Take this quiz!








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Friday, April 25, 2008

the jewelery store

I needed a new battery for my watch. I went to see Mr. Merry at Merry Jewelers downtown who advertises that we should "make every occasion a Merry occasion"...lol

Mr. Merry is 92 years old. He works Monday through Friday until noon, except on Wednesday, when he goes golfing. He told me all about the new house that he is building on Lake Gertrude which is "awesome", (his word!)

He said that you get old really fast and that he is "super old". He said he doesn't expect to live a long time but plenty of years to enjoy his new house. I asked him if he knew my neighbor, Mr. Gatch. Oh yes, he answered, I have lived here since 1925. Sure, I know his whole family. (I think that would be since he was 9 and Mr. Gatch was 13.)

I really enjoyed our visit. Why, oh why, didn't I have my camera with me today so that I could have had a picture with him.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

to celebrate

our 32nd anniversary today, we went to see...which (pun,haha) we thought was wonderful!

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

earth day


I was a junior in high school when the first Earth Day was celebrated.
Today, Earth Day is the only event celebrated simultaneously around the globe by people of all backgrounds, faiths and nationalities.













More than a half billion people participate in Earth Day Network campaigns every year.













Happy Earth Day from the spot of the world that I enjoy!

Saturday, April 19, 2008

LDS Prom

I had a great date for LDS prom! It was at the DeBary Country Club this year. Dinner was good and it was fun visiting with friends from our stake and the one the we were split off from.






Three of my four Laurels were at the dance tonight. Jordan, Melissa and Tori. They looked especially beautiful. I had to say it like that because I always think they are beautiful.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

shopping buddies

I just love Tricia's double stroller. She gave it to Cherylyn...which made it possible for me to check out Tysons Corner and Tysons Galleria on Monday and Tuesday this week. These are my two shopping buddies. They were awesome. We also went to the park and after about an hour of fun for Clark on the equipment, they got to go on a stoller hike...where I did all the work and they enjoyed the scenery in style!

Sunday, April 13, 2008

cherry blossoms and bluebells

Our Sunday walk at Riverbend Park.






Saturday, April 12, 2008

washington, dc

Weather.com
The great temperature divide
It is cool East and Northwest, but very warm northern Rockies to Southwest. Changes are coming to all areas.

My flight hit the front.
It was scary.
I am glad to be safely here.

Friday, April 11, 2008

friday more fun at the lake




We invited the Boone's over for more fun at the lake. It was Wyatt's birthday! Kasey skied with us. Tricia had an amazing run, and I was glad that I MADE her ski. I am pretty sure she loved it. Doug, Brianna and I also had our first run of the season. Loads of tubing was done by all.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

sea world

I had never taken advantage of my status as a teacher as Sea World until now. Teachers get in free! It was wonderful and I can't wait to go back. First, we went to the dolphin show. I didn't want to get wet, and so I sat well away from the "soak zone" with Bella and JB. Later in the day we went to see Shamu.



Based on our experience at the dolphin show, I didn't think that much "soaking" went on. Of course...Shamu soaked us!


Tuesday, April 08, 2008

shopping on tuesday


After work Tricia and I headed to Orlando for shopping. We decided to check out the Prime Outlet.


I noticed while uploading the link that the webpage says:

The following stores will open later in the month of April (stay tuned for exact dates!): BCBGMAXAZRIA Factory Store

Let me tell...it is open! And we had a good time shopping there.

Monday, April 07, 2008

waiting for monday

We had all been anxiously waiting for Monday afternoon. It was our first opportunity to head for the lake. Everybody was having fun.

Bella was particulary funny riding on the tube with her hands over her eyes to protect herself from spray.

As usual, Jonah wanted more and more and faster and faster.

Carter wanted less and less and slower and slower. He was quite the helper on the dock pushing us out and pulling us in and he had lots of good ideas for dumping the passengers on the tubes!

Courtney even went for a ride with Brianna on the Airhead.

Sunday, April 06, 2008

conference

My favorite visual memory of conference weekend was looking into the faces of Jonah, Carter, Courtney and Brianna as they were sitting on the family room floor eating cinnamon rolls and watching the broadcast.

On Saturday morning when Elder Scott announced that he was going to talk about abuse, I thought that I did not want to listen to that talk. Then I chided myself and decided to pay attention. Can I just say that I thought it was remarkable. Most things he had to say are true about any kind of sin. I've pondered about what he had to say since then and I am glad that his talk is now available online. I also think he is amazing for taking on such an incredibly difficult subject in general conference.

Last Saturday night was the YW portion of General Conference. I thought the talk that Elder Eyring gave that night was beautiful and inspiring for all women in the church. He said,

"That enemy of your soul knows you and your goodness. He knows that if he can turn you away from walking in the light, he can both capture you and stop you from helping others along the journey. He knows how good you are and your power to teach and influence hundreds of Heavenly Father's children in this life—and thousands over the generations that will follow your path. If he can get you to wander away from the light on your journey, he can do harm and bring misery to many.

"The fact that you are listening now is evidence that God recognizes your great importance and that you have chosen to walk in the light He offers you. Such choices are not always easy to see clearly. You make choices every day and almost every hour that keep you walking in the light or moving away toward darkness. Some of the most important choices are about what you set your heart upon...

"It is by faith that you can lay hold upon every good thing. I pray with all my heart that your faith will be increased that you are a daughter of a loving God. I testify to you that you have been one of the valiant ones to reach the point where you now are in this journey of life. Just as you are marked as a target by the enemy of righteousness, you have been protected and watched over by your Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. They know you. They know all of the forces and individuals around you. They know what is ahead of you. And so They know which of the choices you make, which of the desires you decide to satisfy, and which of the circumstances around you will make the most difference in keeping you walking in the light. I testify that by the Spirit of Christ and by the Holy Ghost, you may walk confidently in whatever difficulties will come. Because you are so valuable, some of your trials may be severe. You need never be discouraged or afraid. The way through difficulties has always been prepared for you, and you will find it if you exercise faith.

"You must have faith to pray. You must have faith to ponder the word of God. You must have faith to do those things and go to those places which invite the Spirit of Christ and the Holy Ghost.

"I promise you that within the next few days you will feel the illumination of the Spirit of Christ and the Holy Ghost in your everyday life. When you walk in the light, you will feel at that moment some of the warmth and the happiness that will finally be yours when you are welcomed home again with the hundreds and perhaps thousands of others whom you will bring with you, who have walked in the light because you did...

"...there are both true servants and angels to help you along the lighted path. I so testify in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen."

Saturday, April 05, 2008

where has all the money gone?

Doug recently did a consulting job for the company that he works for now. He was paid the consulting fee all in one check and he gave that check and his first paycheck as a regular employee to me at the same time. I took the checks to the bank and they told me it would be a few days before I could access the money, which was fine. A few days later, I was cashing a different check at the bank and asked about the deposit that I had made. The teller told me that it was in the account. But when I went online a couple of days later...it was not there!
The next day I went to the bank as it was already after hours.

First, I went through the drive up window because it was Saturday and I didn't think the bank was open. The teller was having trouble and asked me to come inside. Once inside...well, first my stomach started hurting and then my face. (Those are my favorite stress points.) I am standing there thinking relax...relax. Finally the teller says that she can tell that I made a deposit, but she is having trouble locating it.

At l-o-n-g last she says, "Who is Brianna?"

Friday, April 04, 2008

the jet skis

It's a blog-able event every year now. Because our jet skis are about 12 years old and in human years that is about 112. Doug and I have gone down to the lake almost every morning this week with a specific task in mind. And today...it happened. They were ready to go! So Brianna called all the YW. Not all of them could enjoy the day with us. But these beauties did.

Thursday, April 03, 2008

shopping adventure

Brianna and Nellie had lunch with me and then they went shopping and I went shopping at Millenia Mall. We even managed to run into each other. And once we were in the same store and the same time and didn't even know it. I noticed lots of !bright colors! for summer.

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

cheers for B

Brianna just finished her first year of Florida Virtual School Advanced Math. She finished with 99.04% in the class. Her teacher called me yesterday to say that she thought Brianna ought to skip Math II and go straight to Math III. I told her that Brianna had to work very hard to keep her math grade and she does every extra credit assignment as well. It has been a lot of hard work and tears at times but she has done very, very well. Following is the note she received from her teacher today on the final exam:

Brianna~

WOW! You need to give yourself a pat on the back! You just finished a very challenging task. The exam consisted of concepts from 4 modules and you were able to successfully answers questions on all those wonderful concepts=)

You should be so proud of yourself!

Mrs. Dahlquist



glitter - http://www.sparklee.com


Tuesday, April 01, 2008

truman's birdhouse


When I was organizing some files today, I found Truman's picture of the Birdhouse that he painted in preschool last year. I just love it!