Thought I was going to miss a week, did you? Nope! A little delayed, but still here.
Last week wasn't very eventful. Brie started rec league soccer practice and this will definitely be a very different soccer experience than her years of travel soccer in Georgia. Hopefully she'll enjoy it and have fun with her friends. The weather went from really cold last week (a couple of days in the low 30s) to really warm this week -- yesterday hit 82 degrees and today and tomorrow will be just as warm! What crazy weather shifts! But the warm weather and sunshine is wonderful for my spirits, and also wonderful for the flowers. Mark and I took the dogs for a walk last night and saw gorgeous cherry blossoms, Japanese magnolias, forsythia, daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths. Absolutely gorgeous. I'll post some pictures of the gorgeous spring flowers soon.
Brie has an 8th grade semi-formal dance coming up in May so on Saturday she and I ventured out to the Tyson's Corner mall to look for a dress. The mall is huge -- really huge! A lot of the stores are so expensive that I wouldn't even think of going in them. I pointed out some examples to Brie of the fact that no amount of money can buy class or dignity. :-) We found one potential dress but it wasn't quite what Brie wanted. I was shocked at how short all of the short dresses were...they didn't look long enough to even be knee length on a child. And so expensive! But, fortunately, I found a dress online that she liked and we ordered that. It arrived yesterday and she likes it. YEA! It needs to be taken in and we'll get that taken care of this weekend. I'm just thrilled that we found something. We also found a couple of swimsuits online that hopefully will work. I know Brie was frustrated with how hard it is to find something modest and acceptable, but I appreciate the fact that both of the girls have never given us a hard time about dressing modestly. We are very blessed.
My friend Paula MacLeod and her husband were up here on a house hunting trip last week and so she and I got together Friday evening to do some shopping to look for work clothes for her. It was nice to spend time with her. She'll be staying with us for a while when she moves, while they wait for their home in Georgia to sell.
General Conference was this weekend and it was wonderful. SO many good talks. I'm still working on making sense of my notes but I will post a few things. I was really struck by the themes that stood out to me -- importance of virtue, faith, strengthening home and family, and having peace in troubled times. A harbinger of things to come, I fear....but it remined me how grateful I am for living prophets and for the gospel.
Alyssa will be home in just about three weeks. YEA! Can't wait!
We bought a gas grill over the weekend since we left our old one in Georgia. Mark grilled chicken for us last night and it was so good...I had forgotten how good grilled food can be! The George Foreman grill is an ok substitute, but definitely not the same.
So what is the title of the post about? I have given up caffeine. When I got sick last weekend I didn't drink any Coke because I just didn't feel well enough to have anything in my stomach. I decided it was a good time to just quit caffeine. I was drinking too much of it. I'm still craving Coke, but not as much as I was last week. It's now been a week and a half without Coke and I'm doing ok. I'm slowly increasing my water intake and have switched over to caffeine free Coke, but I limit how much of that I drink per day. My goal is to cut out caffeine, gradually cut out most sodas, increase my water intake, and lose a few pounds. It's so tempting to grab a Coke when I'm so sleepy and tired during the day, but I'm going to stay strong. I have learned that I have an addictive personality -- I'm an all or nothing kind of girl. I can't do just one Coke per day and be ok -- it seems that when I start drinking it I just can't stop. So I'm quitting cold turkey. I will be successful!!!
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Monday, April 1, 2013
A Day Late, but it's Not My Fault!
I was just too sick to post yesterday!
We got home from our spring break trip yesterday afternoon. We had originally planned to be home late Saturday night but that didn't happen because, as seems to now be the norm on our trips to visit family, I got sick. This time it was my Dad's fault. He came down with a stomach virus Tuesday night and I ended up with it. Truth be told I didn't feel well the entire time we were in Georgia, and I thought it was probably more than just my "usual" stomach trouble. Well, it definitely was. It really hit full force on the drive home Saturday and Mark finally convinced me, in the uppermost part of North Carolina, that there was no way I could handle another five hours on the road. And he was right. So we got a hotel in North Carolina and stayed there for the night, where I was sick, sick, sick. Fortunately I had forewarned a friend in our ward that I might need her to play the piano for the choir so she was prepared and ready to go. We got home yesterday afternoon and I promptly crashed on our big bean bag sofa and slept. And was grateful to be out of the car. As for Easter dinner? I had ginger ale and Mark and Brie had a frozen pizza. Easter dinner will have to wait a few days until I can stomach the thought of cooking and eating again. Right now it's ginger ale and toast for me.
We did have a good time visiting family, though. It was so much fun to see everyone. The babies (Parker and Moriah) are growing so fast and getting so big! It's fun to listen to them laugh, coo, and squeal. Moriah got her first tooth while we were there and went swimming in a big swimming pool for the first time. We got lots of cuddle time in with the babies. I was able to catch up with some friends and did some shopping with my Mom. The best part of all, though, was going to the temple on Saturday as a family and doing some family temple work. That was wonderful.
The weather was less than spring-like during our trip, though. It was cold almost the entire time we were in Georgia! *pout* It finally got nice the last two days of our trip. But today the sun is out in Virginia and I hope spring really is around the bend. I'm SO ready for spring.
Alyssa was able to enjoy Easter festivities with Mark's family in Salt Lake. Mark's parents do a big Easter meal and have a big egg hunt for the grandkids...even though the grandkids are getting to be older now (Brie is the youngest one, and she's almost 14!). It was the first time she was able to spend Easter with Mark's family and we're happy that she was able to do that.
In other news...the furlough is now down to 14 days, scheduled to start in June. We'll see what happens. I'm holding on to faith and hope.
Alyssa will be home from BYU is 26 days...not that I'm counting or anything. Also in 26 days? Her mission papers will be submitted. Wow...big changes and life events ahead for our family.
We got home from our spring break trip yesterday afternoon. We had originally planned to be home late Saturday night but that didn't happen because, as seems to now be the norm on our trips to visit family, I got sick. This time it was my Dad's fault. He came down with a stomach virus Tuesday night and I ended up with it. Truth be told I didn't feel well the entire time we were in Georgia, and I thought it was probably more than just my "usual" stomach trouble. Well, it definitely was. It really hit full force on the drive home Saturday and Mark finally convinced me, in the uppermost part of North Carolina, that there was no way I could handle another five hours on the road. And he was right. So we got a hotel in North Carolina and stayed there for the night, where I was sick, sick, sick. Fortunately I had forewarned a friend in our ward that I might need her to play the piano for the choir so she was prepared and ready to go. We got home yesterday afternoon and I promptly crashed on our big bean bag sofa and slept. And was grateful to be out of the car. As for Easter dinner? I had ginger ale and Mark and Brie had a frozen pizza. Easter dinner will have to wait a few days until I can stomach the thought of cooking and eating again. Right now it's ginger ale and toast for me.
We did have a good time visiting family, though. It was so much fun to see everyone. The babies (Parker and Moriah) are growing so fast and getting so big! It's fun to listen to them laugh, coo, and squeal. Moriah got her first tooth while we were there and went swimming in a big swimming pool for the first time. We got lots of cuddle time in with the babies. I was able to catch up with some friends and did some shopping with my Mom. The best part of all, though, was going to the temple on Saturday as a family and doing some family temple work. That was wonderful.
The weather was less than spring-like during our trip, though. It was cold almost the entire time we were in Georgia! *pout* It finally got nice the last two days of our trip. But today the sun is out in Virginia and I hope spring really is around the bend. I'm SO ready for spring.
Alyssa was able to enjoy Easter festivities with Mark's family in Salt Lake. Mark's parents do a big Easter meal and have a big egg hunt for the grandkids...even though the grandkids are getting to be older now (Brie is the youngest one, and she's almost 14!). It was the first time she was able to spend Easter with Mark's family and we're happy that she was able to do that.
In other news...the furlough is now down to 14 days, scheduled to start in June. We'll see what happens. I'm holding on to faith and hope.
Alyssa will be home from BYU is 26 days...not that I'm counting or anything. Also in 26 days? Her mission papers will be submitted. Wow...big changes and life events ahead for our family.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Spring Break!
Yea!!! Spring Break starts tomorrow! We're heading to Georgia for a few days to visit family. The sad part about these trips is that there is never enough time to see everyone we want to see. And this one will be particularly that way since it isn't spring break down there...and so my sisters' children will still be in school. I'm not sure how we'll fill our days but we'll find something to do. We're excited to be able to go to the Atlanta Temple on Saturday with my Mom and Dad, all of my sisters, and my aunt Becci to do some family temple work. Yea! That will be really neat.
We've decided that the best decision on Mark's car is to replace it, and so now we're looking for a very good, very reliable, VERY reasonably priced used car. I hate the thought of taking on a car payment, even a low one for a used car, right now...but I guess that's what we're going to have to do.
The weather here has been so cold...even though the calendar says it's spring, it definitely doesn't feel like it here. In fact, it's supposed to snow again tomorrow! Good grief! I'm so ready for spring. I'm ready to be able to spend time outside. I need sunshine and warm weather. I did finally see some daffodils around town this week and that was wonderful -- definitely a pick-me-up.
Brie and I had the opportunity to spend some time together shopping yesterday. It was fun. We went to the outlets and two stores were having great sales, plus I had coupons for both. Gotta love it! The entire American Eagle store waS 40% off plus I had a coupon for an extra 20% off...and the Vera Bradley Outlet was 50% off the entire store and I had a $20 coupon. Yea! Gotta love bargain shopping. I was able to get a few birthday gifts taken care of.
Alyssa will be home in just over a month. YEA! Can't wait!!!
As for the furlough, we got news this week that DoD has delayed it two weeks to determine the impact of the budget legislation that is being considered. I'm hoping that the furlough will be cancelled...or at least significantly shortened. Hope, hope, hope...pray, pray, pray...faith, faith, faith.
Monday night we had the opportunity to go to a cast party for the kids from church who were in the school play. Melaney Tagg made up cute little awards for each of them that went along with their roles. It was wonderful. I enjoyed spending time with friends and getting to know them better. I continue to be so impressed by the talent in our ward.
We also got Brie registered for our stake youth conference this summer...I wish we could go. It's going to be wonderful.
Well, if we're going to hit the road tonight after dinner I should probably get back to packing. Georgia, here we come!
We've decided that the best decision on Mark's car is to replace it, and so now we're looking for a very good, very reliable, VERY reasonably priced used car. I hate the thought of taking on a car payment, even a low one for a used car, right now...but I guess that's what we're going to have to do.
The weather here has been so cold...even though the calendar says it's spring, it definitely doesn't feel like it here. In fact, it's supposed to snow again tomorrow! Good grief! I'm so ready for spring. I'm ready to be able to spend time outside. I need sunshine and warm weather. I did finally see some daffodils around town this week and that was wonderful -- definitely a pick-me-up.
Brie and I had the opportunity to spend some time together shopping yesterday. It was fun. We went to the outlets and two stores were having great sales, plus I had coupons for both. Gotta love it! The entire American Eagle store waS 40% off plus I had a coupon for an extra 20% off...and the Vera Bradley Outlet was 50% off the entire store and I had a $20 coupon. Yea! Gotta love bargain shopping. I was able to get a few birthday gifts taken care of.
Alyssa will be home in just over a month. YEA! Can't wait!!!
As for the furlough, we got news this week that DoD has delayed it two weeks to determine the impact of the budget legislation that is being considered. I'm hoping that the furlough will be cancelled...or at least significantly shortened. Hope, hope, hope...pray, pray, pray...faith, faith, faith.
Monday night we had the opportunity to go to a cast party for the kids from church who were in the school play. Melaney Tagg made up cute little awards for each of them that went along with their roles. It was wonderful. I enjoyed spending time with friends and getting to know them better. I continue to be so impressed by the talent in our ward.
We also got Brie registered for our stake youth conference this summer...I wish we could go. It's going to be wonderful.
Well, if we're going to hit the road tonight after dinner I should probably get back to packing. Georgia, here we come!
Thursday, March 21, 2013
A Quote...
"Do not regret too much the choices you have made in the past...Only make the right ones in the future. We are ever capable of change and ever capable of being our better selves." -Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Princess
Remember Me....
It's another one of those days where I find myself trying desperately to cling on to hope...to anything positive. I am surrounded by so much bad news, unhappiness, unpleasantness, etc., at my job...I can't bury my head in the sand and pretend it isn't there. I'm surrounded all day every day by stuff having to do with the furlough and that just makes it SO incredibly depressing. I'm trying so hard to hold on...
This morning as I was getting ready for work, the lyrics of a song I haven't heard in a long time came to mind. I searched online to find the full lyrics but couldn't find them. This song is by a group of three LDS women who put out a CD that I really love. This is one of the songs from that CD that touched me the most, and the one that has been constantly "on play" in my mind this morning...
Remember Me
One day as I sat troubled by the challenges of life
And threatened by demands on every side
Confused at all the thought of all that seemed to be for naught
And realizing that my heart was filled with pride,
As I sat there, self-condemned, unsure that I could ever change
But longing for that peace so hard to find,
I felt His quiet presence and a gentle reprimand.
And as an overwhelming calmness filled my mind
I heard Him say...
Remember me when life gets hard to bear.
Remember me when joy replaces care.
Remember me when worldly wisdom's shallow peace is gone.
Remember I'm the one who shares your burden and your song.
And so remember me.
Remember me.
Remember I am with those who remember me.
Since them I've tried to understand the vow I make each week.
To always keep the Savior in my heart is the answer to each question that arises every day
For through His knowledge and His wisdom I am taught.
My weaknesses of anger, of intolerance and pride
I am overcoming through the Savior's grace.
And when I make mistakes, repentance brings me to His side.
And comforted I feel His warm embrace and hear Him say....
Remember me when life gets hard to bear.
Remember me when joy replaces care.
Remember me when worldly wisdom's shallow peace is gone.
Remember I'm the one who shares your burden and your song.
And so remember me.
Remember me.
Remember I am with those who remember me.
This morning as I was getting ready for work, the lyrics of a song I haven't heard in a long time came to mind. I searched online to find the full lyrics but couldn't find them. This song is by a group of three LDS women who put out a CD that I really love. This is one of the songs from that CD that touched me the most, and the one that has been constantly "on play" in my mind this morning...
Remember Me
One day as I sat troubled by the challenges of life
And threatened by demands on every side
Confused at all the thought of all that seemed to be for naught
And realizing that my heart was filled with pride,
As I sat there, self-condemned, unsure that I could ever change
But longing for that peace so hard to find,
I felt His quiet presence and a gentle reprimand.
And as an overwhelming calmness filled my mind
I heard Him say...
Remember me when life gets hard to bear.
Remember me when joy replaces care.
Remember me when worldly wisdom's shallow peace is gone.
Remember I'm the one who shares your burden and your song.
And so remember me.
Remember me.
Remember I am with those who remember me.
Since them I've tried to understand the vow I make each week.
To always keep the Savior in my heart is the answer to each question that arises every day
For through His knowledge and His wisdom I am taught.
My weaknesses of anger, of intolerance and pride
I am overcoming through the Savior's grace.
And when I make mistakes, repentance brings me to His side.
And comforted I feel His warm embrace and hear Him say....
Remember me when life gets hard to bear.
Remember me when joy replaces care.
Remember me when worldly wisdom's shallow peace is gone.
Remember I'm the one who shares your burden and your song.
And so remember me.
Remember me.
Remember I am with those who remember me.
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Wow...I Really Am On a Roll!!
As you can see from the pictures below, this week was Brie's school play. She was fabulous. We've always felt like she was born with a special flair for drama...she seems to be such a natural on stage and has a presence that just lights things up. It was fun to watch her perform. There was a lot of talent on that stage, and it was fun to see so many kids from our ward on stage.
Mark and I helped with the concession stand for three of the shows. It was crazy busy but we enjoyed it and were happy to help out in some way with the play. With Alyssa's school plays I always helped backstage with hair and makeup but Brie didn't want me to do that, so I was glad we were able to find another way to help out.
Friday evening before the show Mark and I had the opportunity to go out to dinner with two couples from our ward. We went to Lightfoot, a fabulous restaurant in downtown Leesburg. The food was amazing and the service was wonderful. It helps that one of the couples we were with are on a first name basis with the chef and wait staff at the restaurant. It was really good....I would love to go back soon! Then we all went to the show and sat with more people from our ward, and then after the show we met up with three of the families for ice cream at Dairy Queen. It was SO much fun...lots of friends, laughter, chatting, and just enjoying ourselves. :-)
Brie has been on a smoothie making kick for a couple of weeks and so our blender has been put to good use. My favorite was a Samoa cookie milkshake that she made...yum! We're going to have to start eating healthier and exercising more around here...I've put on too much weight since we moved and some of my clothes don't fit anymore. Not good!
I realized today that we only have about 6-7 more weeks until Alyssa comes home from BYU. Yea! I can't wait to have her home. We'll only have her home for a few months before her mission, but still...I can't wait. I hope we're able to do some sightseeing and beach trips this summer. We shall see.
Sequestration and 22 furlough days still loom on the horizon and I'm worried about that but trying to stay positive. We will get through it somehow. Our main immediate concern is what to do about Mark's car...find a way to come up with the money to have it fixed, or get a newer used car. I just don't know what to do. Neither option is appealing, but we can't continue much longer with just one car. As it is, when Alyssa gets home and starts working it will be hard to manage with three drivers all on different schedules going in different directions. But I know that somehow it will work out. It has to, right?
What else is coming up? Spring break! We'll be heading to Georgia for spring break. We're all looking forward to a little down time and maybe, if the weather cooperates, a day or so at the beach. I hope so. We're all ready for spring and summer. I had forgotten how long winter can be...and how cold. I'm ready for it to be over!!!
Tonight we have a kick-off fireside for our stake's youth conference this summer. They're taking the youth (ages 14-18) to Palmyra. What an exciting experience and opportunity! I wish our stake in Georgia had done big youth conferences for the kids. Our stake here has a five year cycle that they do, and it includes Palmyra and Kirtland in two of the five years. I'm glad Brie will be able to participate in that.
Mark and I helped with the concession stand for three of the shows. It was crazy busy but we enjoyed it and were happy to help out in some way with the play. With Alyssa's school plays I always helped backstage with hair and makeup but Brie didn't want me to do that, so I was glad we were able to find another way to help out.
Friday evening before the show Mark and I had the opportunity to go out to dinner with two couples from our ward. We went to Lightfoot, a fabulous restaurant in downtown Leesburg. The food was amazing and the service was wonderful. It helps that one of the couples we were with are on a first name basis with the chef and wait staff at the restaurant. It was really good....I would love to go back soon! Then we all went to the show and sat with more people from our ward, and then after the show we met up with three of the families for ice cream at Dairy Queen. It was SO much fun...lots of friends, laughter, chatting, and just enjoying ourselves. :-)
Brie has been on a smoothie making kick for a couple of weeks and so our blender has been put to good use. My favorite was a Samoa cookie milkshake that she made...yum! We're going to have to start eating healthier and exercising more around here...I've put on too much weight since we moved and some of my clothes don't fit anymore. Not good!
I realized today that we only have about 6-7 more weeks until Alyssa comes home from BYU. Yea! I can't wait to have her home. We'll only have her home for a few months before her mission, but still...I can't wait. I hope we're able to do some sightseeing and beach trips this summer. We shall see.
Sequestration and 22 furlough days still loom on the horizon and I'm worried about that but trying to stay positive. We will get through it somehow. Our main immediate concern is what to do about Mark's car...find a way to come up with the money to have it fixed, or get a newer used car. I just don't know what to do. Neither option is appealing, but we can't continue much longer with just one car. As it is, when Alyssa gets home and starts working it will be hard to manage with three drivers all on different schedules going in different directions. But I know that somehow it will work out. It has to, right?
What else is coming up? Spring break! We'll be heading to Georgia for spring break. We're all looking forward to a little down time and maybe, if the weather cooperates, a day or so at the beach. I hope so. We're all ready for spring and summer. I had forgotten how long winter can be...and how cold. I'm ready for it to be over!!!
Tonight we have a kick-off fireside for our stake's youth conference this summer. They're taking the youth (ages 14-18) to Palmyra. What an exciting experience and opportunity! I wish our stake in Georgia had done big youth conferences for the kids. Our stake here has a five year cycle that they do, and it includes Palmyra and Kirtland in two of the five years. I'm glad Brie will be able to participate in that.
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