Purse Saga...

Since I don't really have a lot to say lately I thought I would continue on my purse saga. Well turns out I just didn't love my purse that I bought while we were in PA. I really liked it but it just seemed too deep to find anything. (But knowing this might be a problem when I bought it, I knew it would be a good Church bag too) Well it has been promoted to Church bad duties.

So while at Target (my most favorite store) last weekend, I found a new cute purse. It is reversible and has easy access to the contents! I am really liking it. And who doesn't like polka-dots.

Cute kids!

CamRee starts Kindergarten tomorrow! Good Luck CamRee!

Can you locate the United States on the Map?

A yummy recipe!

Joel's Jerk Chicken Pineapple Pasta

INGREDIENTS
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cubed
1 (8 ounce) can pineapple tidbits with juice
1/4 cup shredded coconut
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon jerk seasoning mix
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
salt and ground black pepper to taste
4 ounces dry fettuccini noodles
DIRECTIONS
Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir chicken until no longer pink and juices run clear, 7 to 10 minutes. Stir in the pineapple and its juice, coconut, brown sugar, jerk seasoning, cinnamon, chili powder, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Reduce heat to low and simmer 15 minutes.
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, 8 to 10 minutes; drain. Toss chicken mixture with drained pasta.

FYI: I think that I would perfer rice. I am using rice next time I make this dish.

I have bloggers block.

Nothing good to blog about! Blah!

Take a look.

This is so cool!

Start at the top and run your mouse down the picture.

Sub Zero Ice Cream

While we were in Provo/Orem over the weekend we went and got Ice Cream @ Sub Zero Ice Cream. It is so much fun! If you get the chance to go, you should.

You get to chose what kind of Ice Cream base (Premium, Custard, Low Fat, Yogurt, or Soy). Then the flavor(Vanilla, Sweet Chocolate, Fudge Chocolate, Amaretto, Cherry, Strawberry, Raspberry, Black Raspberry, Cheesecake, Coconut, Pineapple, Pina Colada, Watermelon, Mocha, Coffee, Root Beer, Lemonade, Dr. Pepper, Lime, Mint, Butter Scotch, Egg Nog, Pumpkin, Marshmallow cream, Lemon, Apple Pie, Fruit Punch, Caramel, Peanut Butter, Mountain Dew, Pepsi, Bubble Gum, Cake Batter) and mix-ins. Then they freeze it with Liquid Nitrogen. It is really good and fun to watch! Check it out!

What a GREAT day.

Today has been a great day. We went to the Baptism of one of Dustyn's friend (he's over 50). It was great and such a special experience. He was so happy. It was so great to see him so happy and just a different person. It is so great. I love the gospel and the happiness that it brings to the lives of those we love as well as our own! I love feeling the spirit and thinking about those baptisimal covenants that I made so many years ago! The gospel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saints is so true and it changes lives. I am so thankful to be a part of it.

And then.... we got to go to Cafe Rio! Yay!

So the Jury's out.

Everyone who knows me knows that I have to do things my way before I will be happy with it and like it. Well I did my own hair today and it turns out... I LIKE IT! It is so easy and fast! And I LOVE that.

Here are some more pictures even though they more than likely look like yesterdays, but to me... totally different. Today is MUCH better. And believe it or not, I can get a lot of different looks out of this haircut. Who would have known.

New Hair Cut!

I LOVE cutting my hair! I have been waiting since I started growing it out. LOL! But this morning I decided that today was the day. I decided to look at haircuts. This was the first and last one I looked at. Then I did it.

I really like it. I think that once I get to style it myself, I will like it more. People just don't know how to do my hair. It is super frizzy and quite hard to do! So I think I will be loving this haircut!

New Bed! (frame)

Before


After


After looking and looking and looking, we finally found a bed frame that I liked that we could afford. There were plenty I couldn't afford! Ha ha! But I really like it. And we bought a bedspread since we haven't really had one that fit. (The one in the top picture only covered the top of the bed, but showed all the sheets on the sides).

I love Adoption!

I have met so many wonderful people as we have gone though this experience. Sure, some of them are cyber friends, but still great friends and great support! They are always here for me. It's nice to know that they understand and know where we are coming from. I have met so many friends for life!

One of my friends, Heather, just found out they are expecting a girl in December. I am so excited for her!

This is what makes it all worth it! I needed that hope! Thanks for sharing Heather! You guys are great and I am so happy to know you!

I love the Temple.

I love going to the Temple and I am thankful for the opportunity that we had to go tonight.

I know that Families can be eternal. That makes me happy.

Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the families of the trapped miners and all the familes that have been affected in the Crandall Mine cave in. May you find peace. You are truely heros.

75 Bands - Solution

Okay, here are the answers to the 75 Bands.

Woohoo! I figured out how to link. I have to use Firefox browser instead of Safari, but at least it works! :)

75 Band Names

This photo represents 75 rock band names. We have figured out quite a few, but need some help!



Here are some we know.

Blind Melon
Smashing Pumpkins
Matchbox 20
The Eagles
Guns and Roses
Fifty Cent
White Zombie
Rolling Stones
White Snake
Jefferson Plane
Phish
Gorillaz
B-52's
Blurry
Korn
Lemon Heads
Spoon
Pet Shop Boys
Pixies
Nine Inch Nails
Prince
The Cranberries
Green Day
The Carpenters
Tne Cars
The Police
The Killers
Iron Maiden

Good Job Everyone!!

Heather added:
Queen
Blue Brothers
Alice in Chains
Blondie
Beach Boys
Garbage
Led Zeplin
Black Crows
Red Hot Chili Peppers

JaKell added:
The Beatles

Trish added:
U2
Ratt
Twisted Sisters

I will post all the answers in a few days, so keep guessing!

Incase you missed it...

They call me, Master Dustyn.

So Dustyn finally did it! It's been a long tough road, but it's over! Yay! Good Job Dustyn!

Lars and the Real Girl

Ya'll should check out this preview. You can watch it on the Apple website. Here is the web address. Again... Mac, I can't link it. Blah.

http://www.apple.com/trailers/mgm/larsandtherealgirl/

Let us know what you think. Ha ha!

Guess what?

Another FLAT TIRE!!

And it's in the same place... on our new tire (was the spare). Grrr... It would have been okay if it had been one of the three older ones. But no, it had to be the new one. I bet I ran over another nail/screw. I drove past a construction site today. That is the only idea I can come up with. So annoying. Looks like we have to get 4 more tires instead of just three like we were thinking. But the might be able to plus this one. We haven't pulled it off yet to see how bad it is. It's not all the way flat, so maybe it's a pluggable hole. I love tires.

Grrr.... beagles.

So for the past few days there have been these two beagles running around our neighborhood. I have no idea who they belong to, but I wish they'd find their owners with those sniffy noses of theirs. They run around sniffing and howling like they are tracking something. Apparently whatever they are tracking has spent a significant amount of time in our back yard. I know you are thinking, what's the big deal... well their howls sound like a dying ... something. Nothing that would come from a cute little dog. Both of them sound different. Put them together and it's torture. But they just run around sniffing and howling hot on the tracks of something.

This morning they were running around and Dustyn could hear them. Suddenly he heard a bang and the howling stopped. After it was gone for so long he figured someone must have been just as annoyed. But after he went to school, they started up again. They have been running around our yard and the neighbors all morning. I can't shew them away. Dustyn can. They just look at me like I am stupid.

Bruce gets annoyed and wants to bark at them. But he has been pretty good today. He just sits and watches them run around the yard with their noses to the ground. I know he want to bark... but he's a good dog. But the dog next door wants in on the action too. So much barking!

Maybe they will find their owners soon. I sure hope. I have never seen them around before until this last week.

Captain Rick's M&M

My mom picked out an M&M for dad.

Captain Rick...

is thinking about a new toy! :)



We took this boat out to Piute Res and tried it out. It was sweet! So much fun. I haven't been in a boat for years and years (besides the paddle boat, of course). It was nice to sit back and relax in the boat instead of paddling your guts off to make a move.

P.S. The Hat says "Captain" on it. It comes with the boat! Yes!!

11 years ago I was. . .

Come on, it looks fun... leave me a comment where you were 11 years ago.

I was just working at Arby's getting ready to start my Senior Year in High School! YAY!! Hanging out with Nicole and Toni! Woohooo! The good ole' days! Oh yeah, and I had a Blue Ford Escort! Yes!

Poor Dustyn.

The summer has officially come to a close. Dustyn started back to school today. It was a good summer. Not only was this the first year we have ever spent a summer together.... we spent 45 days straight 24/7 together. Man... could there have been a better summer?

Problems Loading . . .

Does anyone else have troubles getting my blog to load? I keep deleting stuff that I think it is, and it's not changing. I don't want to get rid of everything if it works for everyone else! So what does anyone else think?

Sons of Provo

This has got to be one of my FAVORITE movies! I love it! It makes me laugh so hard! We watched it tonight. It never gets old!



Anybody else like it? Or am I just lame? :)

FamilySearch Indexing

I also found the link to index family files in the Ensign. I have been going to set it up for a long time... but just haven't. So finally today I did. I have done a few batches and it is pretty fun. If anyone is interested... here's the link.

http://www.familysearchindexing.org/

Feelings of Inadequacy

Lately I have not been feeling myself. I have just been lost and hiding from everything. Today I was reading the Ensign (Aug 2007) and I read this article that hit so close to home. It was so nice to open up the Ensign and find exactly what I needed. I thought I would share!

Overcoming Feelings of Inadequacy
By Elder David S. Baxter
Of the Seventy

Thirty-one years ago, in what I consider to be a landmark address titled “Notwithstanding My Weakness,” Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926–2004) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke to those who feel a sense of personal inadequacy. He directed his remarks “not to the slackers in the Kingdom, but to those who carry their own load and more; not to those lulled into false security, but to those buffeted by false insecurity, who, though laboring devotedly in the Kingdom, have recurring feelings of falling forever short.”1

Now, more than three decades later, I believe many Church members still feel deeply inadequate at times. Such feelings can come as a result of unfair comparisons with those around us. We “look at others with their lands and gold” and forget that “Christ has promised [us] His wealth untold.”2

Sometimes the unfortunate actions and unkind comments of others can diminish our feelings of self-worth. Young people are often on the receiving end of harsh criticism from peers, teachers, and even parents. Many adults experience the emotional turmoil that follows personal rejection or fractured relationships. Some worry that they are simply “not good enough,” a feeling that may be reinforced by carping comments from unkind and unthinking spouses.

The adversary is also at work. President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994) taught, “As the showdown between good and evil approaches with its accompanying trials and tribulations, Satan is increasingly striving to overcome the Saints with despair, discouragement, despondency, and depression.”3 The adversary knows that if he can prevent us from recognizing our divine potential, he will have scored a major victory.

Whatever the source, such feelings of personal inadequacy can prove debilitating. If we allow them to persist, the weight of the world will press down on us, and we will be held back from achieving our potential. By extension, the lives of those we love will also be affected—lives that otherwise would have been touched for good if we had felt positively about ourselves.

How might we overcome such feelings and rise above our circumstances? Here are some ideas.

You’re Better Than You Think You Are

First, if we have subjected ourselves to a constant barrage of self-criticism, let us recognize that we are better than we think we are! Elder Maxwell counseled, “Some of us stand before no more harsh a judge than ourselves, a judge who stubbornly refuses to admit much happy evidence and who cares nothing for due process.”4

When things go wrong in our lives, it is easy to lose all sense of perspective. We forget our divine inheritance, when we should remember that we come from heavenly parents who love us. We are impatient for instant solutions, when often it is the passage of time that will allow things to work out. We ignore or downplay our strengths and abilities, just at the time we should be recognizing and applying them. In Johnson Oatman Jr.’s hymn, written more than 100 years ago, we are advised, “Count your many blessings; name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.”5

A characteristic of a depressed spirit is an overconcentration on cares and concerns—an unwise wallowing in feelings of foreboding. What a difference it would make if, instead, we took account of our strengths, raised our eyes off the ground, and gave ourselves credit for how far we have already come and how much we have already achieved.

Let us recognize and make use of our talents, abilities, skills, and capacity instead of allowing these traits to be buried through self-criticism, forgetfulness, and disuse. Let us name our blessings one by one.

Serve Others

Second, we can serve others. President Benson taught, “To press on in noble endeavours, even while surrounded by a cloud of depression, will eventually bring you out on top into the sunshine.”6

There is something about service that brings about a marvelous change in how we think and feel about ourselves. As we stretch our souls in service, we begin to forget our own challenges, and we are blessed with good feelings—even joy.

President Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985) taught this concept most powerfully: “The more we serve our fellowmen in appropriate ways, the more substance there is to our souls. We become more significant individuals. … Indeed, it is easier to ‘find’ ourselves because there is so much more of us to find!”7

The experience of Ammon and his missionary brethren is illustrative. While engaged in their missionary labors, they experienced discouragement and despondency; yet they were determined to press on. Ammon records, “Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success” (Alma 26:27).

There follows an inspiring record of their devotion to the cause. They “traveled from house to house” and taught in streets, homes, temples, synagogues—everywhere they went. It was not easy service. It was arduous and beset with difficulties, and it required that they give their very best. Ammon speaks of severe persecution that must have caused them to stretch every sinew (see Alma 26:28–30).

Despite it all, and in sharp contrast to their original feelings of despondency, Ammon concludes his witness with this ringing declaration:

“Now have we not reason to rejoice? Yea, I say unto you, there never were men that had so great reason to rejoice as we, since the world began; yea, and my joy is carried away, even unto boasting in my God; for he has all power, all wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on his name.

“Now if this is boasting, even so will I boast; for this is my life and my light, my joy and my salvation, and my redemption from everlasting wo” (Alma 26:35–36).

Ammon describes in the space of eight verses how they had progressed from despondency to joy. What made the difference? He and his brethren simply went to work. They devoted themselves to the great cause of preaching the gospel and testifying of the redemptive power of the Savior. As a result, they rose above their circumstances; in doing so, they found themselves. They knew the source of light and joy, and their joy was multiplied when they helped so many others to be saved “from everlasting wo.”

So it can be for us as we lose ourselves in the service of others.

Ignore the Devil’s Derision

Third, as Elder Maxwell counseled in his address, we can distinguish “between divine discontent and the devil’s dissonance.”8 The Savior invites improvement to encourage us in reaching our potential. The adversary deploys derision to discourage us with feelings of worthlessness. Satan “seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself” (2 Nephi 2:27). He uses the circumstances of life to drag us down so that we think less of ourselves than we should. He would have us look at how far we have yet to travel and the challenges en route, in the desire that we might give up in a state of discouragement and hopelessness.

The Apostle Peter experienced something of this when he responded to Jesus’s invitation to walk on the waters of Galilee. He began with eagerness and purpose but then noticed how far he had to go, how fierce the wind was blowing, how choppy the sea had become—and he began to sink. Caught by the Savior’s hand, he heard the gentle rebuke, “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” (Matthew 14:31).

There are high expectations for Church members, but the laws, ordinances, and commandments of His gospel are invitations, not indictments.

Replenish Spiritual Reserves

Fourth, we need to regularly replenish our spiritual reserves if we are to avoid feeling empty. We accomplish this when we spend quiet moments in personal reflection and meditation, when our hearts are drawn out in humble prayer, and when we allow ourselves to be exposed to the insight, encouragement, counsel, and answers found in the scriptures and in the teachings of latter-day prophets.

We should also be strengthened as we read Church materials and participate in Sunday meetings. Our Sunday worship and instruction time should not simply leave us with an even longer checklist of things to do. While we know that “faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone” (James 2:17), we should also recognize that works without faith are equally sterile. Perhaps we might do less rushing around on Sundays with bulging briefcases, assignment lists, and schedules. Perhaps we could spend more time just sitting, in a sense of perfect stillness, with open scriptures and open hearts.

As we read Church magazines and manuals, as we attend Church classes, and as we sit in sacrament meetings, let us do so with a willingness to feel and to be strengthened. If we do this, we will be uplifted and encouraged, we will come to recognize how much we are loved, and we will gain a greater vision of the blessings that are ours and the divine opportunities that await us as we “continue in the faith grounded and settled, … not moved away from the hope of the gospel” (Colossians 1:23).

Draw Near to the Savior

As we recognize our strengths, stretch ourselves in service, ignore the devil’s derision, and build our faith, we will overcome feelings of personal inadequacy.

Ultimately, we will feel an ever-increasing sense of value and worth as we draw closer to the Savior. What we must do, through the exercise of faith and obedience, is to avail ourselves of the personal, intimate blessings of the Atonement. As we are able to receive His forgiveness, we are able to put our own feelings of inadequacy in perspective and understand how exaggerating them holds us back. We then are cleansed, refreshed, and strengthened. We feel the Savior’s love, and it is a transforming experience.

When asked how he had produced the magnificent statue of an angel, Michelangelo is reported to have simply replied, “I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.” That is what the Lord will do with each of us if we allow Him to do so. He can carry our burdens and help us overcome our self-doubts and fears. After all, it was He who said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:28–29).

I know from my own experience that this promise is sure.

Graduation

Anyone who wants to sit through a painful graduation is invited. It is a two day event. :( Commencement exercises are on Thursday at 4pm in the Marriot Center and the convocation is Friday at 8am (I think) in the de Jong Concert Hall in the Harris Fine Arts Building.

WOoooHooo Dustyn!

Dustyn passed! His professors liked his Thesis. Now he has one week to make revisions and get it printed and ready for publishing! Yay! I am excited!

GOOD JOB DUSTYN!

The mustache is gone!

Yay! I am happy! Now we just have to wait until graduation so he can grow his goatee back! :)

By the way, Graduation is August 16-17, 2007. I am so excited for Dustyn!

Good Luck Dustyn!

Dustyn has his defense scheduled at 10:00AM on Monday at BYU!

Good Luck!

I know that you will do great!

I love you lots and lots.

Seven Mile

We went up camping last night! It was so nice to just get away and relax. Not think about anything or do anything. Just play games and talk! It was so nice! The weather was nice. Cool! It rained! We took Bruce! He loved it and was excited to go, just not excited to get in and out of the truck when we got home. Dustyn basically had to lift him in, it was funny!

Of course, we didn't take any picutres. We are slackers! We'll work on that!

Home at Last.

Well as many of you know, we are HOME! It is good to be home and not hanging out in a hotel, but I already miss Pennsylvania. Luckily all the rain here has greened things up a little, so at least it isn't as dry as it was when we left Utah!

Well on Thursday morning around 3:30AM, we were still up just hanging out. We suddenly had an idea that we should fly home, take care of Dustyn's Defense and Thesis and a few other things at home, and then when Hilary has the baby, we can go out again. So we booked our flight. We packed and checked out of the hotel at 4:30AM, drove into Pittsburgh. Gased up and returned the rental, checked out baggage, went through security (funny story about that later) and went to the terminal. It wasn't a minute or two later that they boarded the plane. We flew out at 8:00AM to Atlanta, GA. There we had a layover for about an hour or two. I am not really sure. Then we flew into Las Vegas. We arrived there about 12:30 Vegas time. By the time we got our luggage, called Carrie and Rodney and got to our car, it was around 3:30 or 4:00 ish. We got in the car and drove home. We got home about 8:30PM. It was a long day, but it was so nice to walk into our house and remember how much I love it and missed it! I was happy to be home!

Here's the funny story... so we had a car seat and stroller that we had taken out there for when we brought the baby home. On the way home we took it all apart and loaded it onto the conveyor belt to go through the X-ray machine. You have to put the car seat upside down on the belt. So Dustyn and I were randomly selected to have everything we owned searched (could be that we were pushing around an empty stroller, who really knows). So as the lady was searching us she asked what items were mine. I showed her which bins belonged to me. She asked about Dustyn when I pointed at him..

"He's with you?" she said.
"Yes, he is with me?" I said.
"Right there?" she said.
"Yes, right there." I said.
"With the baby stroller?" she said.
"Yep, that's him." I said.
WIth a panic looked on her face, "WHERE'S YOUR BABY!?!?"
"We're adopting"
Relieved she says, "Oh, good. I thought you had sent her through the X-ray Machine".

Ha ha ha! I thought it was quite funny. There is no way I would send my baby strapped in upside down through the X-ray machine. I got a good laugh.

So things are still okay with the adoption, we are just waiting. When Hilary has the baby, we will fly out and pick her up! We are excited!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOBBIE ON THE 2ND! We were kinda busy and exausted that day! Sorry this is late! Love ya!!!

A quick poll ~ Stache or no stache?

Dustyn has to shave his Goatee so that he can do his defense. He could leave his mustache, but what do you think? :)

Ha ha! I think it's so funny! :) I will be glad when he can grow it back!