LEARNING LESSONS THE HARD WAY

Well this has been an interesting couple of days. I have learned two valuable lessons the hard way. Sunday night after returning from a fireside, I was getting out of my car and had the thought come into my head that I should take my purse in. I just decided to tuck my purse under the seat and locked the car. The next morning Dave came home after his night shift and asked if I had my purse in the car. I said yes and he said well you don't now. Sometime between 10:30 p.m. and 6 a.m. someone smashed my drivers side door and grabbed my purse. Dave called the Navajo County Sheriff, after Dave told them what happened they asked if we had reported it yet!DUH, that's why we are calling you. We had the sheriffs come out and filed a report. My cousin, Sarah, called to warn me about the break ins, I told her to late and she said she had also been robbed. They only stole her church bag that had a few diapers in it. We found out that there were 4 houses hit in my neighborhood. My credit cards can't be used (all maxed out) and they can't use my debit card or checks! So there's one up for the poor man!!
My two lessons I have learned is 1. ALWAYS listen to the promtings of the Spirit and 2. NEVER leave your purse in the car or at least leave the door unlocked to save on the window repair.

I could survive for 1 minute, 6 seconds chained to a bunk bed with a velociraptor

RANDOMNESS

Not a whole lot has been going on here but I haven't posted since last month. Yes, I am still here, thank goodness! My dad went to the doctors and found out that he has probably had this cancer for quite awhile. The calcium has not gone into the blood stream yet which is really good. They consider him at a level one. Which means they will monitor him for now. We are so grateful for this news.
Dad and Kristal just celebrated their birthdays yesterday. Hope they were good ones for both of them. Love you both tons.
Kids are doing well in school. Hunter brought the stomach flue home, Skyler got it the worst. He probably lost 10 pounds which is not good for him. He doesn't really have any room to lose weight.
Spring break is in a week so Autumn is going to the valley to stay with Dave's cousin Gina. She is so excited. Gina is one crazy girl and we love her!
Summer is just about finished with her Phelbotomy class. She is looking into hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes to work. We are very proud of her for finishing this, we know she truely loves it.

Special Valentines Weekend

I have an amazing hubby! Last week we had to go pick up Autumn from my mom and dad's house in Heber because she had gone to a friends farewell in the valley and they were able to bring her home. Anyways, they were talking about the concert they were going to in St. George. Mom and dad had asked Summer if she would like to go too. My brother and 2 sisters were also going, so I was feeling abit left out, but not knowing, Dave had been talking to my mom to see if I could go. She called me late Wednesday and asked me if I wanted to go. I did but didn't want to leave Dave on Valentines weekend. He insisted that I go and spend sometime with Summer. I left with my parents, Kandra and her baby Gavin. We had a nice trip up. Summer had no idea that I was coming, and boy did I surprise the heck out of her!!!
We went to Marvin Goldstein's concert, how AMAZING! He is a pianist and can play thousands of songs by memory. He played different melodies of Sound of Music, Phantom of the Opera, and one other, he can transition into different songs and you can't even tell when one song ends and the other begins. I had so much fun and could have listened to him all night. He asked for requests of different songs, he wrote down about 15 and started playing them. He didn't have the sheet music for any of them, I have never seen such talent in my life. He has been performing for 50 years and is celebrating with a concert in Provo UT. on June 6, 2009. If any of you can go you will not be disappointed.
I was able to sleep over at Summer's apartment because they have a spare room. It was so fun to be there with her. She is doing really well in her Phlebotomy class. She loves it so much and is excited to get her career going.
We did have some shocking news about my dad last week also. He has Multiple Myeloma. It is a rare blood cancer that isn't really curable yet. His white cell count has been low for quite awhile now and the new doctor he just got ran some tests and had dad go in for a bone marrow biopsy. They believe they caught it early so they are hopeful that the procedures they do will give him more time. It will eventually take over his bones and his kidneys. He and mom go in next Monday to talk to the doctor about their treatment options. I love you dad and will be here anytime you need me!!!!
Also want to put a get well wish out for Kandra's father-in-law, Roger Owens, he had an accident recently and is in a back brace for awhile. We wish you all the best!
Hope everyone had a special Valentines Weekend.

Young Womens Program

Just letting you know how New Beginnings went. I talked to one of my friends before the evening started and made arrangements for her to call and text me through out the evening. She did exactly that, I was getting so many dirty looks! Even Autumn, who was conducting, kept telling me to turn it off. My part wasn't until about the end of the program. I got up and started explaining what we do on Wednesday nights, when my friend called me. I got the phone out and pretended to talk to someone telling them that I was right in the middle of an important meeting. Everyone was like what the heck is she doing? After a few more rules, I brought the phone out again and explained how disrespectful it is to be texting during a lesson that the advisor had been trying to teach. I explained that I have a phone basket that has a suckers in it. If they give me the phone before the lesson starts they get the candy. It has been working out pretty well. I give them the phone back after class. Even the Stake President liked the idea when I told him about it!
After the program was over, the adults were quite impressed with how I presented my talk. So I guess it went really well. I stressed out for nothing!

YOUNG WOMEN-- NEW BEGINNINGS

I need help! I am in charge of giving a talk at New Beginnings about the young women's program. I am supposed to talk about some of the "rules" that the girls need to be aware of. My problem is I don't want to come off as an ogre, or too soft that they don't get what I'm trying to accomplish. Any ideas out there? I have to give the talk this coming Wednesday!
I was thinking of having someone call and text me right in the middle of my talk and then say how hard it is for our teachers to teach when the girls are texting. I want it to be kind of a fun talk.

HOW MANY OF YOU ARE THERE OUT THERE?

HowManyOfMe.com

There is 1 person with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

Rusty's Funeral

First I want to thank everyone for their prayers and thoughtfulness. We as a family have truly been blessed by friends, church members, and those who knew Rusty but we didn't know. There has been so much service received to my parent-in-laws, we are so grateful and blessed!
The funeral was held this past Saturday, at our ward building. What a beautiful service, Dave's mom gave the life sketch and did such a wonderful job explaining some of the trials that Rusty had his whole life. She talked of how he loved going into the woods and just roaming. He loved to collect arrowheads, and just being in nature was such a joy to him.
Dave, Darren, DeeDee and our niece Charlotte sang Amazing Grace. I have never heard it sung the way they did. It sounded like the angels were there. I know I can be biased because they are my relatives but if you could hear it I think you would all agree!
Rusty's 3 kids talked and shared their memories with us. They did such an awesome job. They are doing as well as can be expected. I know they don't read my blog but just in case, I want them to know how much Dave and I love them. They are great kids. Dustin and Cassie have married really neat people that have carried them through this. Little Dave has great friends that we are also grateful for.
We had the burial in Alpine, it was such a beautiful day there, just like Rusty would have loved to be at.
We know that he is at peace, we have read many articles concerning suicide, and we know that our Heavenly Father is so merciful and loving. He is the only one who can do any judging. We are so blessed to have the gospel in our lives. Thank you again for all of your comments, I am so blessed to have all of you in our lives.

IN LOVING MEMORY

This past Saturday afternoon Dave's older brother, Rusty, took his own life. He has been depressed but we had no idea how bad it had gotten. He was holding down a job and had an apartment. He had gone into work last week sick and decided to go home at half shift. When he went back the next day he was fired. I guess they were laying people off anyways and this was their way of doing it to Rusty. Then when he got to his apartment there was an eviction notice on the door. Dave and I didn't know any of this till we got to the hospital. He has had a pretty hard life and though a lot of it was caused by the decisions he made, he was still a big part of our family.
He was a really good uncle to our kids, and tried to be a good brother. I hope that he is finding peace now.
I hope that people will not judge his actions to take his life. He had to be feeling pretty desolate and alone to do something so drastic. He is a child of God and God is the only one who can know what was in his heart.
I feel so bad that I was critical of him at times, but Dave stood by him every step of the way. We loaned him money when we could and got him groceries if he needed it.
He will be greatly missed, and I hope that my family can take this and learn from it. I want us to be a more caring, thoughtful, service minded, and closer family.
Those who have shared their condolences already we so appreciate it. We love you all!
I hope this didn't sound to rambled but you know me and my thoughts!!?!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVE

TODAY IS DAVE'S 47TH BIRTHDAY AND SINCE I DID THE 21 TRIBUTE FOR OUR ANNIVERSARY I THOUGHT I WOULD DO AN A-Z TRIBUTE.

1.AMAZING
2.AWESOME
3.BRAVE
4.BRILLIANT
5.CARING
6.COURAGEOUS
7.DEPENDABLE
8.DARING
9.EXCITING
10.ENTHUSIASTIC
11.FUN
12.FANTASTIC
13.GORGEOUS
14.GREAT
15.HANDSOME
16.HANDYMAN
17.INCREDIBLE
18.IMITATOR
19.JOKER
20.JOYFUL
21.KIND
22.KID
23.LISTENER
24.LIKABLE
25.MASCULINE
26.MACHO
27.NICE
28.NOBLE
29.OBEDIENT
30.OVERSEER
31.PRIESTHOOD
32.PATRIARCH
33.QUIET
34.QUACKY
35.REVERENT
36.RESPONSIBLE
37.SEXY
38.SIBLING
39.TERRIFIC
40.TEACHER
41.UNDERSTANDING
42.UNCLE
43.VENTUROUS
44.WITTY
45.X-TRODINARY
46.YOUTHFUL
47.ZESTY

MY EYES R GREEEEAAAAAAAT

As I am writing this I am not wearing my glasses!!! My prescription is way to strong now!!! I am now legal to drive without the aid of glasses. I think I will still need to have glasses but they won't be near as strong. My old glasses are so blurry now, I can't believe the difference! I am so excited for this new change! You all have been so supportive, thank you so much!
I hope everyone of you has a wonderful and exciting New Year. I hope that it brings joy and much happiness to you and your families. Love ya all!!

21 AWESOME WEDDED YEARS!!!

Tomorrow is our 21st anniversary and I just want everyone to know how much I LOVE this AWESOME guy!!!!! Here are my 21 tributes to Dave:

1. Who else could put up with the "Queen of Blondes"?!
2. He is an AWESOME dad and husband!
3. He is so spiritual and holds his priesthood responsibilities sacred!
4. He treats me like a Queen and shows me that everyday!
5. He is a good provider for our family!
6. He is the biggest 46 year old kid I know!
7. He is so DANG handsome!!!!!!!
8. He is my safe haven and protector!
9. He is my best friend that I can tell things to no matter what it is!
10. He makes my heart jump a beat whenever I see him!
11. He cooks dinner often, and makes incredible meals!
12. He encourages me to be the best I can be!
13. He gives me massages and foot rubs!
14. He helps with the housework whenever he can!
15. He is the most kind hearted and sensitive person!
16. He really listens to me when I talk to him!
17. He gave me 5 awesome kids!
18. He is the funniest person and does great imitations of people!
19. He takes me out on date nights!
20. He is so Freakin handsome--did I already mention that?!
And last but not least
21. I LOVE YOU DAVID SKOUSEN, you are my world!! I am so blessed to have you in
my life!