Pangeah

i believe God created our earth

2011-10-23T19:00:00.000-07:00

I love watching science and historical shows on tv. The other night, one was talking about a new telescope that is however-many-times more powerful than Hubble. I found myself glued to the program, especially since there were no commercials, and it got more and more fascinating. Though scientists sometimes feel religion can't possibly account for the evidence they find, I was having a very different experience. "Worlds without number" that God showed Moses, and the promise of becoming gods and goddesses ourselves seemed so positively possible that I got chills.

In searching lds.org for the scriptural reference to "worlds without number," I found this very interesting talk (published in April 1971, relatively soon after man walked on the moon): https://lds.org/new-era/1971/04/people-on-other-worlds?cid=email-shared&lang=eng Yes, I am lame enough that I can't get this to turn into a link, so please paste to a browser for full viewing enjoyment!

Another night, I saw a show w/Mr. Hawking, explaining Quantum Physics, and how they prove there is no God. I may not have the vocabulary to express it adequately, but I belive, deep down in my being, that the ultimate explanation requires God to be in the equation of creation. And yet, I also believe that the Creator works with a set of rules for matter that are His powerful tools, not restrictions on His Almighty-ness. I'm really glad there are some things He has seen fit not to reveal to humans while they are mortal. I can barely handle Calculus with this brain. My ressurected version is very likely to have some upgrades.

i believe God talks to humankind

2011-10-19T21:56:00.000-07:00

Today I was reminded how merciful God is to communicate with each of us individually. There are so many "voices" in the world that seem to either encourage or discourage us along our journey in life. But none of those voices can interfere in the kind of one-to-one communication I enjoy with my Heavenly Father. I believe Joseph Smith did see and talk to God the Father and Jesus Christ. I believe I communicate with them in a less earth-shaking fashion, but equally real. Because I have experienced personal heavenly communication for myself, I would find it very difficult to question whether someone else has experienced something similar, especially Joseph Smith. That is not to say that sometimes what people think is revelation from God is not. I have questioned my own answers to prayers before. But I know when I am keeping the commandments, and seeking to align my will with God's will, the answers come clearly. This is a lifetime experiment for me. I practice over and over and over recognizing how I feel when God speaks to me. To understand that my Heavenly Father finds me important enough to listen to, and to give answers to... is the fiber of which self-worth is made.

i believe

2011-10-14T21:28:00.000-07:00

I have struggled in the past to understand the reason I created a blog. For me, it's not a log of my exciting (I use the term loosely) adventures, it's not where I post the latest pics of my family. I haven't really been sure what to do with it. Tonight, I linked this blog to my Mormon.org profile, and I think I'd like this to be a place I record my "Points of Light." Explanation forthcoming...
Someone who trained as a pilot once told me that they are instructed that if they find themselves flying in a storm, they should NOT keep going and hope they have already passed the worst of it. They are to return to the last "point of light" they saw, and then make a plan for redirection. Sometimes I find myself in the middle of an emotional or spiritual "storm" of sorts. The points of light that I return to are experiences in my past where I knew I was doing the right thing. It works best when I have recorded the points of light, so I can re-read them when I'm working out my own re-direction for my life.
To kick things off, here's a point of light I found in my journal:
January 5, 2003
"Today was not a total loss-I got "the feeling" that tells me I need to bear my testimony (in Relief Society). I needed to share how I don't produce the feeling I get when I "feel the spirit." And it always feels the same when I am learning something true. I am thankful God has given me this testimony. I knelt and told Him so after I read an anonymous note taped to the front door that my testimony helped them."
I knew that truth on that day, but... being mortal, sometimes I slip and forget things. I'm glad I have this point of light recorded to remind me.
To anyone reading this, I'd love your comments to be filled with a "point of light" you have experienced in your life...about a religious situation, or any other decision/re-direction you have experienced!

Coupon-a-rama

2011-08-15T13:13:00.001-07:00

I'm dipping my toes in the jamongous pool of couponing. I've saved $8.50 so far. I signed up for the newspaper and then chickened out. But for now, I am converting to the doctrine of organization for such a venture. I have been trying to keep the coupons I clip in a small photo album, and I'm already hating it. So...I'm going to post about a website I like to use as my guide through the coupon jungle, in hopes that I might win an organizing notebook to help me on my way! :)
http://freebies2deals.com/2011/08/coupon-binder-giveaway-we-did-it.html
I don't think I would attempt to be a couponer without the help I get on the site. And best of all are the daily e-mail updates. When I can see the math done for me, it gives me lots of hope! I drove behind a car the other day whose bumper sticker read, "Math is my best friend." I'm glad there are people out there who are friends with math. I'm not one of them. :)

Betcha

2011-05-29T22:02:00.000-07:00

I betcha no one else in the whole world has done what I just did. I sat in my 62-degree kitchen (at the end of May, and no air conditioning exists in my house) and split a can of olives with my 4-year old. The olives were a bedtime snack. The kitchen was frigid because my husband had his camera pointed out the window for several hours at the hummingbirds. They seem to be very active when it's rainy and almost dark.
I usually pray for rain for my birthday, maybe this year I'll ask for some sun. :)

I'm Losing It!

2011-05-27T23:18:00.000-07:00

Things I’ve lost recently:
Entire collection of ink pads for stamping (I’m still pretty mad about this one)

Small Ginghers (but I still have the leather sheath for them)

Sister Cox’s phone number (found it on the front of the fridge…duh)

Library items (renewed them online to buy myself some time)

All three hairbrushes (temporarily)

Upwards of 10 pacifiers (usually the dogs get them)

But I have NOT lost the car keys!!! (recently)

Rebecca H. Jamison: Finding Clothes for My Super Tall Daughter

2011-05-26T17:31:00.000-07:00

I loved what my friend just posted on her blog! Check it out if you are also interested! :)
Rebecca H. Jamison: Finding Clothes for My Super Tall Daughter

Memories

2011-05-17T20:31:00.000-07:00

Things my mom kept in her purse when I was a kid:
Certs
Chap Stick
Folding scissors
Pocket size tissues
Purple heart keychain
Pen and paper (paper usually had Suzy's Zoo characters on it)
My brother's barf (only on one occasion)

My Dad carried a cool twisty leather coin purse, a felt-tip pen, and a black pocketknife that had a toothpick, tweezers and tiny scissors, which he once used to clip a hangnail for me.

My oldest sister had jelly shoes and jelly bracelets that never lasted long enough to get handed down to me, but I always thought they were extremely cool.

My second oldest sister had a stash of gummy "red hot" flavored lips that she didn't like eating, but she did use them to bribe her siblings into doing things for her. I don't remember what I was ever bribed to do, but I remember the hot lips. She probably got them from a boy.

My younger brother had cap guns that I always thought were cool, and when the guns broke, we hit the cap tape between rocks to make it pop and get that wonderful smell out of them.

Modest is Hottest!

2011-04-20T09:27:00.000-07:00

"Young women, choose your clothing the way you would choose your friends—in both cases choose that which improves you and would give you confidence standing in the presence of God. Good friends would never embarrass you, demean you, or exploit you. Neither should your clothing."-Jeffrey R. Holland

I like making my own clothing so that I can make it as modest as I want! I made this shiny apricot shirt, which I added sleeves to, and raised the neckline. Also, the fabric was on sale, so this whole shirt cost me less than a dollar!!! Leah has a matching dress as soon as I get a zipper and hem in it. :) You might have to make the pic bigger to see the ruffles down the front.

This is a very sweet 18-month old boy showing off his latest trick: Blinking.

This is a 4 year old princess modeling her Little House on the Prarie-style braids.

Stayin' at Home

2011-01-10T17:54:00.000-08:00

These are two magical moments I was lucky enough to capture. I NEED pictures of these moments, because they keep me reminded to stay the course of staying at home. It's too touchy of a subject to touch on in public, even at church. But this is my blog, and I don't feel restrained to say that I'm proud of myself for choosing to stay home with my kids, and for sticking with that decision. I know lots of people who have made different decisions than me. I'm not saying I know what's right for them and their families. I'm saying I know what's right for me and my family. When people tell me I'm "lucky" to get to stay home, I only partly agree. Some of it is luck, I guess, that I'm not single right now and working out of necessity. Some of it, however, is choosing to live with less, so that our one income is sufficient. While I have heard many mothers give many different explanations as to what the effects of their working outside the home were on their children, there is just one I have clung to for my example. One fiercely righteous mother I know has worked all throughout her life, and struggles with more than one of her children's moral decisions in life. What she said to me on this subject is, "I will always wonder if things would have been different had I chosen to stay home with them." I have heard lots of women say they are better mothers because they work. That's entirely possible. But I don't ever want to wonder, so I'm not taking that chance. I've never heard a mother say, "I had a pretty easy time raising my kids, I probably could have taken on a lot more." My kids don't even know yet that this is a sacrifice for me. I guess if I've done my job right, they will never feel like it's a sacrifice for me. I brought them here to this earth to give them every ounce of energy and love I've got, not to focus on making MYSELF the best person I can be.
"In family relationships love is really spelled t-i-m-e, time. Taking time for each other is the key for harmony at home." -President Dieter F. Uchtdorf "Of Things That Matter Most" Ensign magazine, November 2010

2011 Personal Theme

2010-12-31T22:07:00.000-08:00

For the third year in a row, I’ve chosen a theme for myself. I pray over the ideas I have, and choose one that I hope will help me through every season of the year, no matter what I encounter. In 2009, I chose “Do It Now,” because I felt I had a serious problem procrastinating. In 2010, I chose “Keep Moving Forward,” because my Anxiety and sometimes Depression would get the best of me, but I found if I could make myself move at all, on any little task, it helped some. For 2011, I choose…
drumroll…

“Be Who You ARE.” (emphasis intentional)

I suppose its a little cliché to be turning 30 this year and be in the process of “finding myself” and putting far less value on what other people think, but I guess that’s just it. I’m a normal woman having pretty normal experiences for my age and marital status…and I’m happy about that. I am discovering that (despite most advertisements targeted to my demographic) I AM already what I’ve looked forward to being for most of my life previous.

Truly, “enduring to the end” entails more than I can imagine. Especially considering that, for right now, I’m working with all I have to endure the present moments. I believe the details of personal improvement are what really makes up the “endurement to the end-ness.” (yes, that's an Angela-ism)

Some of those improvements are non-voluntary. I fully expect the Lord to provide circumstances for my refinement. However, I find that as I pray for such circumstances, I’m a total coward. I have prayers that might go something like this, “Please remind me to be more grateful for thy blessings to me…but don’t go about it by some personal disaster like our house burning down, or a total government collapse, or anything like that.” Or, “Please help me know how I can relieve others of their burdens…but don’t make me have to give away all our savings money…not because I can’t do it, mostly because I don’t want to explain to my husband why we should do it. Maybe if you choose that trial for me, you could please send an angel to tell him the same thing? I mean, you did it for Joseph and Mary…”

Some self-improvements are voluntary. Using agency in such a way is like steroids for your spiritual strength. I think that’s what most people choose to do by writing resolutions at New Year’s time. It’s important to set specific goals.

I want to note, quite strongly, that a quest for self-improvement is in itself a very selfish activity. If it’s allowed to take priority in our lives, we will find ourselves suffering from the self-inflicted wounds to our spirit of vanity and lack of charity.

With “Be Who You ARE,” I hope to make sure I include plenty of other people in this goal. If I can thoroughly convince myself of what I now believe to be a pure TRUTH: I AM, right now, valuable and worthy of glory; If I can convince myself of that, I believe I will fade into the background in my own life, and have all the energy I ever hoped for left for serving others. Not only that, I’ve noticed that when I am near others who believe this TRUTH about themselves, it liberates me to do the same. I hope to liberate others from the LUDICROUS amount of self-loathing I see in too many (meaning almost all) people.

Some of you might be thinking “Beware of Pride.” I agree that we have to keep ourselves in check, but I also believe that dwelling on the fear of pride is a very degrading tool of the devil, and I intend to find ways to avoid it. The main part of this is to conquer my own thoughts. This seems overwhelming and impossible, to be honest. Mostly because I have allowed for YEARS the flaxen cords that are lies about my self-worth to be wrapped around my brain. It could take YEARS to undo them, but I’m worth the fight. I recognize that giving myself years to correct this gives me a potential excuse for laziness to creep in. I’ll have to fight that, too, but I’m worth it.

I realize that publishing these statements may be seen as a welcome challenge by the adversary of Man (seeming mis-capitalizations are intentional). But I would remind us all that “They that are with us are MORE than they that are against us!” I hereby declare war on self-degrading thoughts! Here is a song that pumps me up for the fight of life:
1. Behold! A royal army,
With banner, sword, and shield,
Is marching forth to conquer
On life’s great battlefield.
Its ranks are filled with soldiers,
United, bold, and strong,
Who follow their Commander
And sing their joyful song:
[Chorus]
Victory, victory,
Thru him that redeemed us!
Victory, victory,
Thru Jesus Christ, our Lord!
Victory, victory, victory,
Thru Jesus Christ, our Lord!
2. And now the foe advancing,
That valiant host assails,
And yet they never falter;
Their courage never fails.
Their Leader calls, “Be faithful!”
They pass the word along;
They see his signal flashing
And shout their joyful song:
3. Oh, when the war is ended,
When strife and conflicts cease,
When all are safely gathered
Within the vale of peace,
Before the King eternal,
That vast and mighty throng
Shall praise his name forever,
And this shall be their song:
Text: Fanny J. Crosby, 1820–1915
Music: Adam Geibel, 1855–1933
LDS Hymnbook #251

“As it has been since the beginning, the adversary [satan] would divide us, break us up, and if he can, destroy us. But the Lord said, ‘Lift up your hearts and rejoice, and ... take upon you my whole armor, that ye may be able to withstand the evil day, ... taking the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” (D&C 27:15, 17)

“We were dressed in our home each morning, not only with hats and raincoats and boots to protect us from physical storm, but even more carefully our parents dressed us each day in the armor of God. As we would kneel in family prayer and listen to our father, a bearer of the priesthood, pour out his soul to the Lord for the protection of his family against the fiery darts of the wicked, one more layer was added to our shield of faith. While our shield was being made strong, theirs was always available, for they were available and we knew it.”
L. Tom Perry, Ensign, May 1974 © 2007 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

Shields protect us from outside danger, I aim to turn my shield 180 degrees, and protect myself from attacking me.

All the water in the world, no matter how it tried,
Could never, never sink a ship---unless it got inside.
All the evil in the world---the blackest kind of sin;
Could never hurt you one least bit---unless you let it in!

I might just end up using some of this post for a future lesson in Relief Society!

My Dress-up Doll

2010-12-17T12:27:00.000-08:00

These are from our photo shoot with my daughter wearing the dress I made her, a necklace of mine she likes, and even some make-up and perfume. :)

Compensating for Something? YOU BETCHA!

2010-12-10T08:49:00.000-08:00

I've had a "moment of clarity" over the last month, and come to the important conclusion that I don't suck. I hardly cook, I barely clean, but I sewed this really cool princess dress in just under a week, so let's call it even! Here are some pics of other things I'm proud of spending my time on this week!
Watching my son try on everyone else's shoes...

Mom's first attempt at a french braid, family dance parties, and my daughter was learning how to sew on buttons while I learned how to teach an independant 4-yr-old how to sew on buttons...

2010-11-29T14:01:00.000-08:00

This is deep snow.

This is a small dog in deep snow.

These are the stairs that I cleared so the small dogs can "do their business" in a place that I don't have to look at it out the window all winter.

This is what I found when I walked back up the stairs after cleaning them. I wish you could see the steam.

Overcoming my hate to blog...

2010-11-24T12:01:00.000-08:00

I have never kept up on my blog, because I honestly believe that no one cares too much what I do or think. I used to use it for sharing pictures, but I haven't even been doing that. So now I'm giving myself permission to blog about the non-important things I think and do. If I assume no one will read it or comment on it, then it won't feel like a waste of time if no one does.

Here's some thoughts I had today that I thought were funny:
I watched a funny home videos show on a Spanish channel the other night. My only comment: I must not have an international sense of humor. But I have a new respect for Mike Wazowski (of Monsters Inc. fame). In his new line of work, he'd have to switch his whole way of thinking with every door that comes his way. One man's humor is another man's lullaby. Those of you who fall asleep by the end of reading this post are a testament to that! zzzzz.....
It's like when my husband tried to get me to watch clips of Dame Edna. He was giggling like a schoolgirl, and looking over at me like he had just offered me a delectable comedy dessert with funny drippings all over it. I just couldn't muster even the fakest of grins. He has spent several years in England, so maybe that's why he thinks it's funny. Poor thing.

Also, I shoveled snow in a BYU cougars sweatshirt and Duke University snow hat. If I didn't live in Utah, do you think people driving by would think I was a Mormon wearing a Duke hat, or a Catholic wearing a BYU shirt? I felt a strange division forming between my forehead and my shoulders. Don't worry, it'll heal.

I helped dig snow out from around a car parked next door for a very petite dark-haired woman who didn't seem to understand what I was saying to her. I don't want to judge her by her ethnicity, but when I saw her drive, it became obvious that she is clearly not from here, and hasn't been driving in cold weather. I can tell because when advised that it would be easier to leave the street facing downhill than her current uphill direction in her 2-wheel drive car, she continued on her course to infinity and beyond. She also had the window rolled down while pushing snow off the roof of her car, but again, if I'm not to judge, I'm left to assume that she has installed after-market seat heaters for fabric seats, and she was taking necessary precautions not to overheat them. And then she made her final peacock-like display of her wintertime maneuvering prowess by laying on the gas pedal the moment she discovered that the car was not moving forward for some reason. Upon advisement to try backing up (again, using the law of gravity on the hill to her advantage), she continued revving it forward up our road-rink. The sad thing is that she will drive wherever she was going disguised as someone who knows what they're doing.
But not to worry, everyone- if she's driving a car, then she must have insurance!

Camping

2010-07-20T22:22:00.000-07:00

I Want to Come Out and Play!

Before the Dirt Picture

"This is how my Mommy's going to look at me when she sees me wearing all this dirt."

The Clean Child

Ahh...cool enough for a sweater and blankie in the middle of July!

Best Wife Ever!

2010-05-24T09:30:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of the best thing I've done for my husband...so far.

I entered him in our city's photo contest...without telling him. The theme was "Out and About in West Jordan." That's why I chose a picture with the hummingbird feeder showing. It makes it have a residential feel. We were on our way to see the exhibit, and he still didn't know he was in it. We grabbed the mail on our way out, and in it there was a check for winning first prize! If the surprise had to get spoiled early, that's definitely the way to do it! Then, when we got to City Hall, we found out that his picture was one of the only ones that sold! I was so thrilled to see how happy he was, and I felt like the best wife ever! It's been two years ago this month, I guess it's about time I think of a way to top this! :)

Not-so SuperMom

2010-05-18T19:02:00.000-07:00

Green. Green shiny. Green shiny dots. Green shiny dots stuck to towels. Green shiny dots stuck to towels, washcloths and blankets. Green shiny dots stuck to towels, washcloths and blankets because I forgot to take the superhero cape out of the laundry before drying it. The inside of the dryer is also covered in green shiny dots. Sometimes the dots come off the laundry and get stuck on the baby in weird places. The only thing that doesn't seem to have many green shiny dots is the superhero cape. I chose not to pick each dot off of each towel. But I smile when I see them. I'm teaching myself that little mistakes are just that. Little. And I don't have to fix every little mistake I make. Just keep moving.

How to ENJOY Shopping at a Thrift Store

2010-01-19T14:49:00.000-08:00

By Angela H.

1. BE CREATIVE…REPURPOSE! Look at the parts that make up a thing. Can it be taken apart, cut up, or customized to suit your needs? When buying clothing, can it be tailored to fit, so you can shop in many size ranges?
2. KNOW WHAT A BARGAIN IS. What is the price when buying it new? What condition is it in? What will be the added cost of fixing an item in need of repair?
3. WHERE WILL I STORE THE ITEM? If you don’t have room to store an item, it should stay at the store, even if it is a great deal. If you must have it, then you must be willing to make the sacrifice to let go of items currently in your space.
4. HOW WILL I GET THE ITEM HOME? If you are shopping for large furniture, you may need to plan ahead to bring a vehicle that can accommodate your purchase. You may also need to plan not to have children and/or carseats with you for such a purchase.
5. CAN THE ITEM BE CLEANED? Is it still a bargain when including the cost of having an item cleaned? (i.e. dry cleaning)
6. BE PATIENT. If you don’t find a specific item this trip, keep trying! You can’t usually thrift shop with a list. Also, don’t give up if you don’t enjoy thrift shopping the first time you try it. Go more than once before giving up on it.
7. TAKE A FRIEND All shopping is more enjoyable with a friend!
8. BRING HANDWASH OR WIPES for when you leave the store. Sometimes you have to touch and move things just to see what treasures may be hidden on the shelves. This is a good habit to have for after shopping in ANY public shopping area.

Merry (late) CHRISTmas!

2010-01-08T14:59:00.000-08:00

Merry CHRISTmas 2009!
These are a few of our favorite moments from this year:
~Welcoming Wesley to our family!
~Family Reunions galore
~Sledding, skiing, boating, swimming, camping, bird shows at the zoo…
~Many photography excursions (Paul)
~Many thrift store excursions (Angela… and Leah, involuntarily)
~Free hand-me-down swingset for the backyard
~Built an awesome vegetable garden
~Bottled 30+ pints of tomatoes from our garden
~Planted the first tree ever to live in our yard
~Getting a new temple dedicated in our area!
~Watching our little dogs wrestle each other
~Leah mastered bathroom duties, dressing herself, and many other “big girl” tasks!
~Learning new callings at Church: we both worked with the Youth this year,
and now both work with the adults- in Elder’s Quorum and Relief Society.

Oh, Brother!

2009-11-07T10:07:00.000-08:00

No kids allowed to visit the hospital, so Big Sister got to wait at Grandma's.

Lotsa Hair!

Born at (almost) 10:30am on 10/30

7 lbs. 10 oz. and 20 inches

WELCOME, WESLEY PAUL!

4 purple toenails

2009-10-22T14:46:00.000-07:00

Right now, I have 4 purple toenails. I'm painting one finger or toe nail everyday to count down until my due date. I learned as a kid from my awesome Mom that there is fun to be had, even when going through something that is hard. When I was 11, my Dad spent nearly all of December and the entire month of January in Germany on business, and my Mom had us make a paper snowflake for each day he would be gone, then we took one down from hanging on the wall each day. I've counted down with a paper chain until the end of college semesters, and stickers on a chart until my bro came home from his mission, I've counted down with rocks in a jar or paper flowers on the wall. But today, I have 4 purple toenails. I hope none of them fall off. :)

2009-08-20T15:53:00.000-07:00

mommy hugger, little bugger, chocolate milk chugger, princess backpack lugger.

Daddy melting, question pelting.

puppy husher, giggly gusher, never a rusher.

worm holder, important paper folder, getting bolder.

long hair, loves a good scare, changes what she wears.

twirly dancy, dressing fancy, rather sassy.

answers with "sure!", her hugs often cure, heart so pure!
(thanks for all the sweet pics, Grandma!)

FamiLee!

2009-07-09T12:56:00.000-07:00

My Mom and Dad are close to the middle, my oldest sis next to them (having her baby 6 weeks before me), my second sis and her hubby hiding behind them, and my "little" bro and his wife are next to me! I purposely wore non-maternity clothes so my belly could be seen! :) Click the pic to make it bigger, then click Back on the browser to come back! (Did anyone spy that my cute niece put her flag in the hole in my shoe?)

He's a BOY!

2009-06-23T10:43:00.000-07:00

He was squirmy and extremely active, but we got great measurements, and everything looks healthy, and we're all really happy! The Big Sister is not entirely aware of the impact of the situation on her own life, but I know she'll be a gem when it comes time to be Mommy's little helper!
The hubby is excited, but wants everyone to know he would not be one stitch less excited to have another girl! He is the sweetest Daddy ever!
We got some boyish fabric on the way home from the ultrasound for a blanket, we already have some construction themed fabric (to honor his Daddy) for making bibs, and I have some boy clothes and books I've been saving "just in case." I'll be able to shop some clearance racks for clothing with trucks and puppies on them from now until Nov. We're "ready enough," although lots will still change before he gets here! :)

Oh yeah... I guess he will need a name! :)

Goings On

2009-06-14T23:37:00.000-07:00

After my daughter's shower (at 2.5 yrs. old, she will only shower, no more baths), she was having a snack, and telling me how yummy it was and thanking me for making it for her. I had one of those moments where I realized she's growing up so fast, and won't always pay so much positive attention to me. It almost won her a late-night showing of Curious George, but instead she ended up crying in her room by herself until she was tired enough to sleep. (After I warned her I wouldn't be putting up with any bedtime shenannigans, and she did it anyway) She knows I love her, and we'll be friends again in the morning. :)

In about a week, we'll know whether we'll be having a boy or girl, assuming the baby cooperates. I got to see my little brother's newborn baby this week, and it made me very excited to have another one at our house! We are so blessed that all has gone well so far, and that we get this blessing in our lives at all! :) Paul just got called to work in the Young Men's Presidency, and I have a new calling in the Relief Society, so that sure helps the time seem to go by quickly! Now if only my belly would get fatter, so I feel like I've really earned the privilege of parking in the Expectant Mother's parking space at the grocery store!

We're thankful for all our friends and family that care to read this and leave notes of love!

Tell Me What YOU Think!

2009-05-19T14:46:00.000-07:00

We hope to find out the gender of our baby at the next appointment (in about a month). What do you think it will be?
Clues:
Baby's heartrate at 12 weeks: 158
Baby's heartrate at 15 weeks: 140
Morning sick: none 1st trimester, a bit the 2nd.
Big sister's pronouncement: Baby Brother
Leave a comment with your guess!
(also whether you think "Wiley" is a boy's name, or a girl's name)

Spring Skiing

2009-03-27T14:49:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Alta's "Ski Free After 3:00," we can afford to enjoy Utah's best snow! We can usually get in 3 or 4 runs in the hour and a half of free-ness, which is about when us two girls get cold and tired, anyway!

We got some kiddie skis that buckle to her snow boots, so they should last a couple of seasons!

She loves hanging by her harness and watching the snow whiz by.

Spring Skiing is our favorite, because no one thinks of skiing in March, so it's less crowded, and we don't have to bundle up so much! But there is sure plenty of snow! They just got three more feet this last week!

Maybe next year, she'll be able to hold herself up!

When she gets too tired, she gets treated to "the Daddy Caddy."

I got sucked in...

2009-02-24T19:28:00.000-08:00

... to Facebook! It's pretty fun, I have to admit. But I really think I'll be neglecting all things computer related soon.... it's almost Spring! I have daffodils and tulips up! Yay! And I really want a healthy vegetable garden this year! So if you don't hear from me for awhile, you can assume I'm wrist deep in some dirt! :)

My Little Do-It-Herselfer

2009-01-23T16:12:00.000-08:00

I decided not to post the picture I took of Leah's amazing accomplishment at Christmas time: She potty trained herself! On Christmas Eve, she told me she wanted to go, and took me to the bathroom, so I humored her without high hopes, and she went, and never looked back! I wasn't even going to TRY with her for six more months! She's my rockstar!

Photo Summary of December

2009-01-23T15:58:00.001-08:00

Were Happy and We Know It!

2008-10-12T20:13:00.000-07:00

I keep trying to convince Paul to hire himself out to take pictures this awesome for other people's families!
I wasn't going to say this, but I'll add it now just to see who's paying attention... If Paul and I's smiles look a little less than genuine, it's because the perfect spot for picture taking happened to be within a few feet and downwind of a dead baby deer. It brought new meaning to a term of endearment my college roommates used to share: "maggot-breath" :) I hope someone who read this just ate. :)

Giant Poodle

2008-09-29T14:30:00.000-07:00

We were trimming the trees when we saw such a sight! It looked like a poodle, but wow! with such height! (click the pic to see it big, then hit Back on your browser to return)

Total Conversion

2008-09-16T14:24:00.001-07:00

After 5 years of being dragged behind the Hunsaker boat with little progress, I can now waterski! Twice I've been up "long enough to earn the merit badge". I have a great fear of water, I get cold very eaily, and I'm not the best swimmer, but my courageous husband put up with me long enough to teach me to ski. And I only cussed half as much as when he made me learn to snow ski! (I'm wearing a "dry-suit" which keeps me warmer and more bouyant...you wear your regular clothes inside it, and you shouldn't pee to warm yourself up like you could in a wet-suit)

Curiouser and Curiouser

2008-09-04T11:50:00.000-07:00

I thought she was fine in the bedroom, because Daddy was there to "watch her." He did... he watched her write all over her legs and feet and face (and the sheets) because he thought it was so adorable, especially when she drew on each of her toes.
She concentrates really hard when she draws and colors. She's into details. She's also into wearing Mommy's jewelry-the mardi gras beads are beneath her sense of style now.
You're not fully clean unless you're Zestfully clean! This is my girl trying out my deodorant.

God Made Rainy Days So Gardeners Would Get the Housework Done

2008-07-21T09:48:00.000-07:00

I've had two full years in this garden, and it's not done, but I'm kinda proud of it, anyway. From left to right, Red Hot Pokers that lived there when I moved in, but are done blooming for this year. Next to that is a magenta Hollyhock that I planted our first Summer, but just appeared this year. Delphinium I planted this year, hoping to get something tall in the middle of the garden, not just either side. Then mint from my mom-and-pops-in-law that smells SOOOO good! They also gave us the tubers for the two dahlias that came up all by themselves (usually they need digging up in the Fall), these set a new family record for earliest blooming! In front of the dahlias is a yellow Evening Primrose whose seeds came from my Grandmother's plant. We watch them every night, and have had a family of three Hummingbird Moths drinking it dry every night! It's hard to see the lavender, but it's near the plastic cardinal. I planted carnation seeds next to that, and finally, the small orange ones are California Poppies. You might notice morning glory and grass sprinkled throughout as garnishing. :)

Good Nasal Hygiene: Removing Obstructions

2008-07-17T13:32:00.000-07:00

Could this be the picture we'll someday put in the back of her yearbook with a message of how proud we are of how far she's come? Secretly, I'm hoping my cousin Melissa will steal this photo on one of her "thievery Thursdays" and make a funny story to go with it! :) The real story is that we asked her where her nose was, so she showed us.

Gouda Old Netherlands

2008-06-23T20:35:00.000-07:00

All of my latest pictures are still on the memory stick in the camera, and Paul's sleeping early tonight, because he had a headache all day. So I went looking in our old photos for something to write about. This is Paul when he was a missionary (before he knew me-doesn't he look sad?) He said the bike ride on the Provo River Parkway (near Bridal Veil Falls) reminds him of his mission a little... I'm guessing he's reminded of places in the Netherlands like the one in this picture. Have you tried Dutch cheese? Mmm... it's gouda!

No pix, just bragging rights

2008-06-12T13:49:00.001-07:00

The surprise photography contest win left me wondering, "How many prizes have I missed out on simply because I didn't try?" So I utilized my retired English Professor Father-in-Law as my editur, and submitted an essay to the Alumni Essay Contest for the Junior College I went to. I won 3rd place! This is a long way to come for the girl who dropped out of races she could have won at high school track meets, solely out of debilitating anxiety about competition. Three cheers for anti-anxiety therapy!!! :)

The day she learned to say, "Again, again!"

2008-06-12T13:22:00.000-07:00

A cousin had a birthday party at a place with lots of inflatables. My little girl had a terrible time, as you can see.

First Paid Photo Gig

2008-06-05T15:40:00.000-07:00

I entered my husband in our city's photo contest without telling him, and he won FIRST PLACE! I haven't been so excited about something in a very long time, if ever! We were both surprised! Then another unexpected blessing... someone bought it!!! And the buyer wasn't one of our mothers, either! :)

Cheese Please!

2008-06-05T15:22:00.000-07:00

This pic speaks for itself! :) It's saying, "What would you look like if you were 18 months old, and had your picture taken too many hundred times?"

Build Fences, Not Bridges

2008-05-22T21:33:00.000-07:00

We have a fence! It's gorgeous! Here's what it keeps in: dogs that like to run when you call their names, and children who also like to run when you call their name. Here's what it keeps out: the neighbor kids when they are bored/off track from school/hungry/want to see my dogs/see me in the yard, the neighbors' dandelion seeds, the neighbors' toys, and the view from people on the other block that I'm sure were always staring into my yard.

Running Ragged

2008-04-11T13:13:00.000-07:00

I make this photo look like it was taken BEFORE Sunday afternoon naps, but it was actually AFTER that. I can count the weeks on less than TWO HANDS until Leah will go to Nursery, and we can stop spending two thirds of Church in the hall with our "Screeching Gremlin." (some of you will no doubt notice Leah's ever-present, ever-sparkling neck gear) [click on the pic to see it big, then click "back" to come back to this page]

Got a Round Tuit

2008-03-17T21:42:00.000-07:00

I finally acquired a "round tuit," which allowed me to catch up on blog-land. I've taken lots of cute pics of Leah lately, but I have to wait for another round tuit to upload them to the computer. :) So, here's a month old picture of Leah and I on our vacation. This is the only time I snorkeled during the trip, hence the wetsuit. Grandma and Grandpa were present to play with Leah on this beach, while Paul and I were briefly both in the drink. The rest of the trip, Leah and I splashed in the water while Daddy made use of his underwater camera gear on the very amiable fish.

Poser Pelican

2008-02-22T15:30:00.000-08:00

Paul's Dad took this picture in Aruba. This patient pelican posed for Paul, while the pirates paused until the plank was positioned for persuing a plummet. Paul worked very hard to make custom underwater camera "housings", and they worked great! He also got some killer pics of fish, but we're saving them for one day when they're worth million$. (or for when I figure out how to format them to use on my blog)

Baby Bling

2008-02-03T18:10:00.000-08:00

Most days, she has at least this many necklaces around her neck. She hardly even plays with them, she just wears them like they are supposed to be part of her. And she won't let her Mommy upstage her. If I wear any necklaces at all, she tugs on them until I take them off, or hand them over to her. The only girls she shares them with are the puppies, which is why some of the necklaces now rest in pieces.

Four Fair Ladies

2008-01-11T09:11:00.000-08:00

If you look closely, you can see the hindquarters of Chimi, making the fourth lady in the shot. Things we love about Winter (to keep from hating it) are: no creepy crawlies co-habitating our home with us, playing in the snow, and a patient husband having taught me to ski in our famous snow. (have you seen the new skier license plates? I think I might hate them, but I'm not sure yet) And if you are jealous of our view of the neighbor's "tarped-in" porch, you should know that they have since enhanced the view by tying their trampoline to one side. They are either protecting some plants from the elements, making a dog run, or inventing a less-than-lethal-but-extremely-uncomfortable time-out room for their children.

Christmas Letter version de blog

2007-12-26T13:29:00.000-08:00

2007-Does anyone else have bad luck on odd years?
Despite gallbladder surgery for Angela (last surgery was in ’05), job changes for Paul (last out of work in ’05-same day as Angela’s surgery), and lots of needles poking Leah (who missed ’05, lucky girl) for shots, we made an excellent year at our house!
At the end of Summer, we got two puppies! They are named Chimi (CHIM-mee, on the left) and Matte (MAH-tay, on the right). They are half Pomeranian, and half Shih-Tzu. We can’t detect much growth in Chimi, but we think Matte grew enough for both of them! We have since learned how to cut their hair, clip their toenails, brush their teeth, and keep them from chewing a variety of pieces of our house. They roam between the kitchen and deck through their mini-doggie door. We’ll give them the whole yard when we get a fence on one side. :)
It’s taken most of the year for Angela to adjust to life without a gallbladder. The fun part was recovering from surgery (Feb), adjusting to a new baby (2 mos. old), and renovating the entire house! I specifically remember carrying a basket of laundry down the hall, trying to avoid tools, molding splinters and exposed carpet tacking with my feet, also avoiding wet paint on the walls, and balancing the basket so as not to disturb my stitches, all while trying my best to hurry to throw the laundry in, so I could get back to the baby and keep listening to her breathe. :)
Paul unexpectedly changed jobs, but is doing the same type of work. He’s now a little closer to home, getting paid a little more, and surrounded by many nice folks! He deserves the most credit for how beautiful our home now looks! We painted every door, ceiling, wall, and cupboard, got new carpet, and also new light fixtures. Paul “bullnosed” several corners, put in new molding in most of the upstairs, did many small repairs, and I made window coverings. I don’t mind that I don’t get out much, because I love it here! Once we got the house fixed up, he spent lots of time fine-tuning his photography skills. His works are our favorite things adorning our freshly painted walls, and this letter.
Leah has been a dream come true. She looks just like her Daddy, and I can honestly say this year didn’t go by too fast, because we enjoyed each day along the way with her. Even the hard days were ones we conquered together! However, she is entering the terrible 1-3’s with a very high-pitched vengeance! Possibly enjoying this most are my parents, who feel like they are getting “revenge” for my screamy youth.
We’ve learned a few new reasons for appreciating the birth of the Savior this year. When He took on mortality, He indicated His “voluntary service,” which was required for our Redemption. We also offer our own voluntary service to God throughout our lives. Thanks to John Milton for that insight! (Paradise Lost, Book 5) We hope you enjoy both the quality and quantity of time spent with loved ones this season!

Buffalo Gals won't you come out tonight...

2007-11-12T21:57:00.000-08:00

She wouldn't wear the cowgirl hat, and her Mommy forgot the red bandana neckerchief, but this is our best picture of her first Halloween costume!

Wee Wee Wee!

2007-10-20T14:30:00.000-07:00

Market, roast beef, yeah yeah... get to the little one!

The Whole Fam Damily on the Alpine Loop, UT 10/07

2007-10-05T12:11:00.000-07:00

[click on the pic to see it big] Check out all the different colors of leaves! Leah had pulled off her headband, and fussed with her clothes, and Chimi and Matte (the dogs, who had been bathed and brushed the night before), decided to romp in the brush and twigs on the way to the picture site. Other than that... it all went perfectly!