Ward Scripture 2011

Here in Gillette, our ward memorizes a scripture every year. I think this is a great idea- and so I have decided to post the scripture somewhere in my house where I can see it every day and maybe it will help me to memorize it. Please excuse my messy handwriting. Once I have memorized it, maybe I will swap it out for a new one. :)

New Place- New Year

We're here in our new town and I would post pictures of our new apartment, but... it's still full of boxes. I find that we're so worn out from just getting here that I haven't been terribly motivated to unpack. Also- I threw out my back and lifting boxes really hurts- heck- lifting Lincoln hurts. So I have just been taking it easy for the last few days.

I like our new Ward. I have already been asked to speak in Sacrament meeting on the 23rd.

I LOVE being a stay at home mom- but I didn't remember it being this LONELY. I think part of the problem is that Jason has been working CRAZY LONG hours. He leaves at 4:30 am and gets back at 8:00 or so. Last night he didn't get back until 9:30. The overtime money won't be so bad, but I do miss him and it's been hard for Hudson to only get a few minutes here and there with him. We can't even call because out at the mine there is no cell phone reception. The other thing that makes it difficult is that we are using only one car at the moment as Jason's corolla isn't starting. (TOO cold!) and so we've been confined to the apartment grounds for the most part. Jason will probably buy a truck or something soon, as he's made more in the last week than the both of us combined made in the last few months... We'll be paying off student loans and stuff too.

But I am eager to get the house put in place and start to decorate using the cute ideas I see online- and I excited to start posting more often too. :) Since I have ALL day long- I am hoping to make this blog what I pictured it being when I started it. :)

Get along Little Dogies

You know that Wyoming will be your new home!

Well, it'll be ours anyway. Jason has accepted a job offer in Gillette, Wy- and we are in the process of moving.

I despise moving. I really do. I hate the hassle, the packing, the cleaning, the mess, the stress, the fact that the children are underfoot 24/7... it's really a pain.

I also am bummed to leave behind all the terrific friends I have made here, and I will miss that fact that we've been so close to Grandma and Grandpa Moore that they could stop by for a day without major travel plans.

So far I have "most" of the bathroom packed
"most" of the boys' room packed
"most" of my craft items packed...
"most" of the dvds/ tv stuff packed...
see a trend here? The "most"s are not alls and are making me really antsy. I hope I can get this all done in time.

Pre-Winter Blues

It's not officially winter yet, I guess. But The view from my window would suggest otherwise. I have not posted in a while because I was ill for a time- and just didn't feel like it- now that I am feeling at least 97% I decided I'd update.

Update #1: On October 21st Hudson turned 5!

Update #2: We're MOVING!!! Yes- I am afraid it's true. Jason is graduating in less than a month and we are packing up our things- and going to......
well, we don't know where exactly yet, but we know we're moving.
The thing I dread most is our awful landlord who is (and I know it sounds trite, but there is no other way to describe her) mean. She is just mean. She has no reason to be cruel she just is- and that is what makes her so bad. So we are probably not going to get our desposit back even though I have lived for 2 1/2 years without putting up a single picture on the walls. (and before you ask, yes I tried those 3M sticky things.... don't work for anything that weighs more than a piece of paper and I have several broken frames to testify of that....)

Also I know my procrastinating ways- and I am combatting them even as I write this. It is my goal to have everything packed up and boxed away before Christmas EVE... And I don't fancy the idea of having to carry boxes out to the truck (which hopefully some company will PAY for) in -45 degree weather... today it is 8 degrees, but it might as well be 45 below... brrrr.

Update #3: I sold my red car to my friend Paula at work. This way we don't have to trailer 4 cars or make two or three trips. We've had our ups and downs in that red car, but it is reliable, and should work well for her. :) Plus this way we no longer have that specific monthly payment and it will help to pay down our debt.

Update #4: I have really come to enjoy taking portraits and think that if I get enough practice, I might be able to do some freelance photography in the future. I'd like to be able to save enough money to buy a "real" camera- a digital SLR and some nice lenses. I could then make some money doing something really fun and creative. (obviously not make ALOT, but just as a hobby)

Well, that's about it for now. We're going to G-ma Griffin's place for Thanksgiving, then possibly to Colorado but for sure up to Wyoming which may be our new home in 2011- if Jason likes what he sees...

Fulfillment

Is there anything more satisfying than meeting the needs of your children? I would argue no, there isn't.

Teen Suicides

I think that the recent increase in teen suicide due to bullying is very very sad. But wonders what kind of message we are sending to kids by martyring the teens all over the news so much? Yes- it is a call to action- something must be done. But if I were a teen with suicidal thoughts (and you don't know if I wasn't so don't judge) I think knowing my image would be on tv- publicily humiliating my tormenters, and the candles and the teddy bears and all the people who would gather together in my name- might just be making suicide look that much more appealing. I'm just saying- No excuse for bullies- very sad about the suicides, but instead of letting the media tell the story, shouldn't we sit down with our kids and TALK about it?

Mysterious Ways

I know that most people would say that Heavenly Father isn't interested in the trivial things of my day, like what shirt I choose, or what I eat for breakfast- but I know that he is aware of me- and that he blesses me in Mysterious Ways.

You know that Psych season 4 DVD that I was loathe to return, but put on my frugal big girl panties so that I could get my son a much needed coat? (small sacrafice, I know, but it was still hard for me)
well.... It's on netflix streaming! YAY! I can still watch it! :)

Ok- Netflix has become our entertainment budget. For 8.99 a month we get unlimited movies streamed to our computer and our tv with the wii- and one dvd at a time. This is what we do instead of renting videos and going out to movies. It works pretty well, actually. :) And I have sworn off buying movies for a long time- I don't really need to buy movies. I will watch it how many times after purchasing it? And I have to store the darn things and that just adds to the "stuff" that I am hoping to rid myself of soon.

Ok- I know- it may not be an earth-moving miracle- but it's a miracle to me. And I am thankful for the blessing. :)