We hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

It sure has been a wonderful Holiday season! 

More than anything, I have LOVED not having to go to work

 and knowing that Brett didn't have to be at school or study.

 It has been wonderful relaxing and spending time together.

 Here are some our favorite highlights from our Christmas...

We were blessed to be able to spend time 

with the Aitken and Cosgrove family this Christmas. 

We spent Christmas Eve and morning with the Aitkens. 

We loved being able to spend time with them, especially 

Gary and Michelle. They are such good examples to us 

and we enjoy any opportunity we get to be with them.

It was really fun for Brett to be home for Christmas eve for

the first time in three years!

 I also made my first pair of Christmas Pajama to wear

 Christmas eve and morning (a tradition I hope to do each 

year for our family). 

. 

We then spent Christmas day with the Cosgroves.

 It was especially wonderful to be able to go to church 

as a family. It was really heart warming to look at my

 Dad all teary eyed as he looked down the bench and

 saw all of his family there. He is so sweet and loves us 

all so much. Watching my Dad's reaction was 

sweet reminder to me of the spirit of Christmas. 

After church we went home and opened presents.

One of our favorite traditions is opening 'sibling' gifts. 

I think we were all very touched when we opened Caitlyn

and Cade's gifts. Each year they both save up their money 

to buy us each presents (this year, Cade even saved some of his

 birthday money to buy us gifts.... I don't know how

 much more selfless a 13 year old could get) 

We always try to do the "draw name" thing in our family, but they 

always insist they want to get everyone a present. 

For me, it is a reminder of the importance 

of the spirit of giving. I am always so touched by their 

selflessness and thoughtfulness. 

All in all it was a wonderful Christmas. 

Some of our other favorite highlights from the holiday season include...

Sleeping late in the morning and knowing that we have

 no responsibilities but to RELAX!

Looking and ranking lights with Cade 

(we found 3 houses that we ranked a 10,

 and even one that Cade found that was a 20!)

Going to the new Mission Impossible....saweeet!

Brett has a friend from France visiting so we took him 

to see temple square and to do a session! It was a 

really neat experience and really fun to watch his 

friend light up at the sight of the temple.

Playing games and eating a lot of great food!

Starting to think and set new goals for the new year.






We hope that everyone has been enjoying their holiday season
so far! We love you all and hope you also have a
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Nepotism

My dad was a farmer/rancher his whole life. He could grow anything, anywhere. He started his ranching career on little ranches near a small town in Arizona named Eloy. My first memory of my dad is his leaving or coming back from work in a white company truck, wearing his cowboy boots and straw cowboy hat. That was his work uniform.

Whenever he got together with my uncles I remember the conversation always revolved around what they were farming and how good the crops were this year, or how bad, just depending on the weather, plague, wind, freeze...all those variables that farmers had to deal with for each season.

When we were in Eloy, Arizona, my dad grew cotton. Beautiful, white, fluffy cotton. We moved around alot and my dad was always learning and growing in his knowledge of products to plant and grow. I remember him planting tomatoes, potatoes, bell peppers and lettuce  They called him "King of the Row Crop". Anything that grew in rows my dad became an expert at growing.

When I was a junior in high school, my dad decided that he wanted my sister and me to work in the fields so we would get a taste for hard work, hoping that we would decide it didn't taste that good and we would instead study hard, get a good education and not work as hard as he and my mother had always done. He and my mother met while both picking cotton in Eloy, Arizona.

I remember the day before our first day of work, my dad sat us down and told us that once we were out there, we were representing him, we were reflections of the type of worker he was and that he expected us to work harder, longer and more diligently than anyone else out there. Out there in the fields we were expected to make him proud.

That next morning, we arose before the sun, we put on the clothes my mom had set aside for us as work clothes. Jeans, a t-shirt, a long sleeved cotton shirt to protect us from the sun, a bandanna around our neck and a big straw hat. My mom also went to work with us and she got up earlier than all of us and made burritos that we would eat in the field for breakfast, breaks and lunch. My dad fit us all into his truck and off we went into the fields to pick tomatoes.

In the field, the sun was just barely starting to rise and we went to the crew pusher and got two buckets each and a card that looked like a standard time card but instead had little numbered circles. We wrote our names at the top then headed out into the fields. Our job was to fill each of our two buckets with green tomatoes, we picked them before they ripened on the vine. Once our two buckets were filled we lifted them up, one bucket in each hand and walked out of the row we were in towards a waiting tractor where a man would grab our buckets, empty them into bins on a trailer being pulled by a tractor and then he would pull a little hole punch out of his pocket and punch out two of the holes...and back into the fields we went. This wasn't as easy as it sounds, the rows with the tomatoes were uneven and filled with dirt clods and the vines would trip you, plus it was hot and humid and dirt and flies were everywhere!

We found out right away that I was not good at picking tomatoes. I was too slow. My  mom and sister on the other hand were super fast. Luckily what I was good at was lifting those buckets and hauling them out of the fields to the guy on the tractor and coming back and hauling more buckets to the guy on the tractor, and c'mon...I was in high school, I was cute, I had a beautiful smile so the guys on the tractors would more often than not jump off the tractors and meet me halfway down the rows and carry the buckets for me...it didn't hurt that I was the bosses daughter either.

But in my mind I kept hearing my dads words, I was a reflection on him and I worked my buns off! My mom and my sister worked their buns off! We did this for most of the summer. It was hot, dirty, sweaty work. Sometimes I liked it, sometimes I didn't, but I made my dad proud!

When tomato picking season was over my dad asked me if I wanted to try working on the tomato harvesting machines. These machines ran at night and they harvested the ripened tomatoes. I would have to go to work without my mom and my sister, but my dad would be there all night supervising the whole operation. Of course I said yes, I wanted my dad to be proud of me and I found out early on that I really liked getting a paycheck!

Here's an excellent video showing the process, it even shows a lady on the machine which would have been me.



Now that doesn't look so bad in the daytime, but remember, I was working at night with big flood lights so I could see what I was doing. It was hot and humid, at times cold and wet. The machines felt like you were on a huge boat, they rocked back and forth in the uneven rows, some of the tomatoes were over ripe and squishy and rotten and smelly!



I can remember working until my stomach couldn't take anymore and then I would turn around and vomit into the field. Then I would go back to working and continue until I had to turn around and vomit again. I did this for two nights. On the third night someone told my dad that I shouldn't be there, that I was sick too much and I wasn't eating and that even though I was doing a good job he felt sorry for me. My dad came and rode on the machine with me for a while. I tried to suck it up and not get sick but finally I couldn't take it and I had to turn around and puke over the side of the rail. That was it, my dad said I had to quit, he couldn't allow me to continue. I begged and begged him, telling him I was ok, I could do it. He finally took me in his arms and said, "You proved that you're my daughter and that you work as hard as anyone, I don't want you to do this anymore, you can try again next year, go to my truck and go to sleep." So I did, but I made my dad proud and even better I was a good reflection of the hard-working man he was.

So to make a long story even longer, my purpose for this post is because throughout the years I have worked with people that have hired their kids to work for them. A few I have admired, they had the same work ethic as my dad and their kids were outside washing cars and cleaning gum off the sidewalks, just like everyone else.

But I've worked with the opposite as well. Those bosses that hire their kids and let them get away with murder but turn a blind eye to it. At times it seems to me that they can't even see that their kids are slacking and making their parent look bad. I wonder at times if that isn't part of what's wrong with kids today, their parents want to make everything easy for them, they don't want their kids to struggle or suffer. I wonder at times if those parents don't worry about what will happen if tomorrow they are hit by a bus and their child has to go out into the real world and work for a real boss who will expect real productivity and isn't just going to pat them on the back for doing nothing.

I'm glad that I had the parents that I had. I know that I was truly blessed in life to have them. They have made me who I am today. Anything that is bad in me cannot be blamed on them because they were excellent leaders. I always say "lead by example" and my favorite quote is "integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is looking". Am I always perfect? Oh gosh no...far, far, far from it! But all that is good in me is due to my parents who didn't worry about being my friends.


I HAVE TO ADD A "P.S". TO THIS POST. MY POSTS AUTOMATICALLY POST TO MY FACEBOOK PAGE. ONE OF MY FRIENDS ON FACEBOOK ACTUALLY WORKED WITH ME THOSE SUMMERS THAT I DESCRIBE IN THIS POST, BOBBY IS HIS NAME. HE WAS A COUPLE YEARS AHEAD OF ME IN HIGH SCHOOL AND HIS DAD "MAS"  WAS MY DAD'S BOSS.
BOBBY MESSAGED ME THIS ON FACEBOOK "Perfect description of those early mornings....I still can smell the fragrance of tomatoes lol.....I drove one of those tractors....liked the article.."

I ASKED BOBBY HOW THE MACHINES REMOVED THE TOMATOES FROM THE VINES SINCE SEXTANT ASKED THAT QUESTION AND BOBBY WAS WONDERFUL ENOUGH TO PROVIDE THE VIDEO BELOW THAT IS PERFECT! THANK YOU BOBBY!

Twas the Night Before Christmas - Mexican Style

A MEXICAN NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the casa,
Not a creature ws stirring -- Caramba! Que pasa?
Los ninos were tucked away in their camas,
Some in long underwear, some in pyjamas,

While hanging the stockings with mucho cuidado
In hopes that old Santa would feel obligado
To bring all children, both buenos and malos,
A nice batch of dulces and other regalos.

Outside in the yard there arose such a grito
That I jumped to my feet like a fightened cabrito.
I ran to the window and looked out afuera,
And who in the world do you think that it era?

Saint Nick in a sleigh and a big red sombrero
Came dashing along like a crazy bombero.
And pulling his sleigh instead of venados
Were eight little burros approaching volados.

I watched as they came and this quaint little hombre
Was shouting and whistling and calling by nombre:
"Ay Pancho, ay Pepe, ay Cuco, ay Berto,
Ay Chato, ay Chopo, Macuco, y Nieto!"

Then standing erect with his hands on his pecho
He flew to the top of our very own techo.
With his round little belly like a bowl of jalea,
He struggled to squeeze down our old chiminea,

Then huffing and puffing at last in our sala,
With soot smeared all over his red suit de gala,
He filled all the stockings with lovely regalos --
For none of the ninos had been very malos.

Then chuckling aloud, seeming very contento,
He turned like a flash and was gone like the viento.
And I heard him exclaim, and this is verdad,
Merry Christmas to all, and Feliz Navidad!

Slava vo visnjim Bogu

Slava na visini Bogu!
Zapevajte ljudi.
Danas se Hristos rađa,
u pelene se povija.
Bog naš pravedni
jagnje nezlobivo.
Carevi putujte danas,
Hristu darujte darove.
Pastiri svirajte,
pesmu Bogu zapevajte,
sa Anđelima i sa Arhanđelima.
I vi gore i brežuljci
zapevajte sa nama,
doline i kedri,
sa preslavne gore Livanske,
uzvisite se i veselite se.

Traditional Serbian Carol.

A Year in Review

This past week Brett and I were out to dinner. We started
 reminiscing about things that have happened to us in the
past year. There seemed to be a lot of things we listed off.

 With that being said my friends, here are our
  highlights from the year 2011...

FIRST YEAR ANNIVERSARY

We are by no means perfect, but Brett and I have definitely

 grown closer together this year than we ever thought possible.

We have encountered circumstances where we had to depend 

completely on our Savior and trust in our Heavenly Father's plan.

 It has defined our marriage. 

We have found true joy as we have learned to serve and support

 each other.  I think we would both agree that there is no 

way we would take back our first year of marriage for anything.

 It has been a blessing and growing experience for us both. 

To celebrate our first year anniversary, Brett and I 

went to Phoenix, AZ. It was a wonderful time to be able to

 get away and spend time together. For our anniversary Brett took 

us out to a pretty sweet Italian restaurant, and following our meal, 

we took a moonlight ride in a gandala. It was a perfect 

getaway to celebrate our first year of marriage together. 

Quand tu arrives a Paris tu ne veux pas partir

We both agreed, that by far, one of our fondest memories of the

 year was when we went to Paris together. What a spectacular

 experience that was. We had such a blast spending time with

 Brett's parents and Marie. We often talk about the magical

 things we saw, and can't wait for the next opportunity

 we will get to go back.

For me personally, the most wonderful thing about going

 to Paris, was seeing the people that Brett loved while

 serving his mission. While the Eiffel tower was immaculate

 and Normandy was inspiring, nothing beat watching Brett's 

emotions as he reunited with some of his converts.

 It showed me what a good man I had  married.

 Someone who shows his love for the Lord, by

 serving others with his whole heart. 

That was an experience that I will forever cherish

NEW BEGINNINGS

In April, we were contacted by a couple in Brett's home ward

who were leaving to serve a mission in the Nauvoo temple. They 

wanted to know if we would be willing to "house-sit" while they were

away. Brett and I were VERY excited about the opportunity to move

to Orem and be in a safer neighborhood and closer to family. It was truly

an answer to our prayers. We moved in April, and have just 

 loved living in the Mountain Rose area. 

We will be staying until next Sept.

We actually moved back into Brett's homeward. It is so fun to see

how many people know and love Brett. So many people come up to

me and tell me how lucky I am to have such a wonderful husband (and 

I must admit they are right!). Right when we moved in to the ward,

 Brettand I received callings. We were thrilled to serve. I have been

 serving in the Primary, teaching the sunbeams, and Brett has

 been serving as theDeacons Quorum adviser. 

Both of our classes are LARGE and BUSY (for 

lack of a better word). We have both grown a ton in our callings, 

and have loved the opportunity to serve the ward members. 

The MACC

Last year, Brett worked hard to get through the Junior Core 

program of accountancy at BYU. At the beginning of the year he applied

for the masters program. It is a REALLY competitive program, and we 

both prayed that he would get in. In May we found out that Brett was 

accepted. He has just finished up his first semester in the masters

 program (only 3 more to go!!!). I am so proud of Brett and the 

hard worker he is. Brett is so humble when it comes to school.

 He is a team player and wants to see all those around him succeed. 

I think that is what makes him

such a great student. 

Also, some other exciting news... As a part of the accounting program,

many students apply for working/paid internships to provide them with

actual job experience. Again, this is HIGHLY competitive... especially 

among the top accounting firms. Basically, if you score yourself an

 internship,you are ensured a job at the end of graduation.

 In October, Brett was offered a winter internship with a

 major accounting firm (Deloitte).We are both really excited 

about this opportunity. He leaves at the

beginning of January and will get back in April.

 COSGROVE CONNECTION

We both agreed that one of our favorite memories of the year

was spent at Glacier Park with the Cosgrove side of the family.

My Nana and Pumpa had put a lot of time and effort into 

planning our family reunion. We both had a blast playing cribbage....

(which might I add, Brett is now a HUGE fan of. We truly are soul mate)s.

We also still laugh about our time going white water rafting and playing

pool volleyball in the rain. More than anything, I think we enjoyed

not only the time we got to spend together, but with family. 

It is rare occasion that we get to spend time with my family,

because they live so far away (Alberta). We loved being able

to sit down and chat with different family members and create some

wonderful memories. It was a great vacation and a time I think 

we will both forever cherish.

"HOLINESS TO THE LORD"

By far one of the best things we we were able to do this

year was work in the temple. That blessed our lives in ways

we can't even begin to describe. It was incredible to be able 

to serve in the Lord's house. We both learned so many things. 

The temple is truly a house of learning and refuge. During this time

we gained a new love and appreciation for the temple and our 

covenants. We are planning on continuing our service when Brett 

gets back in April.

An ATTITUDE of GRATITUDE

The biggest lesson we have learned during the year 2011, 

is to be constantly grateful for the things we have in our

lives. When you look at the big picture, it is easy to see

how blessed you have been in your life. It's when we

start to focus on the little things and get lost in the chaos

of the worlds views, that we loose sight of all the tender mercies

and things the Lord has blessed us with. This is principle

that Brett and I have been constantly trying to focus on 

throughout this year. We have been SO blessed. We love

each other. We have grown together. We try not to take

for granted any time we get to spend together. As we have 

focused on the many good things we have been blessed with in 

our lives, we have found sincere joy. 

Iwanna Wednesday - Just a few Items Iwanna!

Last week for Iwanna Wednesday I shared a video showing you 25 ways to wear a scarf in 4.5 minutes. So this week I'm going to show you some cool things that Iwanna ask Santa for this year.

First off, I'm wondering if this little gadget would be acceptable here in California while you are driving since we are a "hands-free" state and we can't hold the cell phone itself up to our ear.  If I were to place it on my shoulder and tilt my head to hold it in place would that constitute "hands-free"? I think it's so cool and it's a bit cheaper than a blue-tooth. Iwanna one of these, they are so cute! You can find this little toy in blue as shown and also available in yellow at http://www.modcloth.com/.

While you're over there at http://www.modcloth.com/, take a look at these adorable tea cups. Now I'm not a tea fan, but I think you could drink coffee out of these. Maybe warm milk? Even some hot chocolate? And how cute would they look on my kitchen counter? Iwanna these, they are just too adorable!

And speaking of tea, earlier this week one of my facebook buddies posted this Christmas Tree made out of books. It's just amazing! Iwanna collect enough books in this coming year to be able to make a Christmas Tree of Books for myself next year. The original site for this photo is HERE.

What does this photo have to do with Tea? Do you see the teapot lamp on the dresser? Iwanna one of those and I found quite a few beautiful ones online. This one is my favorite! It's from mumsaid.co.uk and they have several other ones, but I'm pretty sure I love this one best because for one thing green is my favorite color and I love butterflies!

One thing that I know Santa is bringing me this year is a brand, spanking new LAPTOP!!! How do I know Santa is bringing me one? Well cause I'm my own Santa and I think I've been a very good girl this year so I bought myself one! Yay!

And since I'm getting one Iwanna one of these so I can blog in bed! I love that it has a built-in mouse pad! And it seems to be adjustable.

And so I don't strain my back while blogging Iwanna one of these as well! I just love this color. It looks so comfortable that I may NEVER get out of bed again! I found this one on Amazon.com.

But I'm thinking...if I'm never getting out of bed, then maybe Iwanna this one. This one comes with all the bells and whistles, the only thing missing is Keanu Reeves, but it does have massage so maybe I don't need Keanu? You can find this one HERE.

So that's my Christmas Wish List or my Christmas Iwanna List. What's on your list this year? Here's hoping that all your Iwanna wishes come true!

Biscochos...a family tradition. Done for 2011!

Every year in our family we get together and bake Biscochos, a small, crispy cookie flavored with Anise, Cinnamon and Cloves. It's almost like a Mexican version of the Snickerdoodle. And it's very popular. One of my blogging buddies, Paula from Sweet Pea also made some recently. She calls them biscochitos. Her recipe calls for brandy! I never thought about adding Brandy.

We grew up eating these as children. Our Tia Nico would make batches and batches of these and everyone always went home with a big Folgers coffee can full of them. It wouldn't be Christmas to us without this cookie and without Tamales, which we are making next weekend.

Here's my mom, the Head Chef and Baker and her two lovely assistants, me and my sister. My sister had hurt her back a couple of days ago so she was barely able to move. She was mainly there for moral support and entertainment value!

Last year we had the whole family, including my brothers, their spouses and kids in an out throughout the day baking. It was a real family affair and you can see last years pictures HERE if you so desire. But this year because my sister had hurt her back and my mom has been suffering with pneumonia and bronchitis we figured we wouldn't make them this year, but at the last minute we said "What the heck!"

My sister's two boys, Sean and Isaac were there helping for a bit early on. Isaac brought his Ipod and played some wonderful music for us. The boy has great taste in music. Here's a few pictures of the boys with me, with my mom and with their mom.

Sean and me

Me with Isaac, he's my nephew and my Godson.

My mom and her grandson, Sean.

My Mom and her grandson Isaac.

My sister and her boys.

And here's the boys, helping? Brotherly love!

Ok, now we're ready to get busy. I like to get it started with some energy drink...in the form of Agavero Tequila! This is a delicious sipping tequila that my cousin Stella introduced me to. Unfortunately...right after this picture was taken my nephew/godson spilled it :-(

Oh well, no crying over spilt tequila when there's Biscochos to be made! Several years ago my daughter gave me this Pink KitchenAid mixer and I love it! It makes creaming the sugar, shortening and eggs a breeze. You just set it and forget it. Well except for having to scrape the sides now and again.

While this stuff is getting creamed, we sift all the dry ingredients together. Then we mix the dry into the wet slowly and you knead, knead, knead the whole thing. Then we roll softball size balls out to about 1/4 inch thick and cut with a little pizza cutter that has a curly edge, like a crimping edge. That's the little gizmo in the picture.

My daughter April had to work and didn't get to come and help and hang out with us. She always likes to use cookie cutters instead of the little crimpy pizza roller, so I made a special tray of Christmas Cookies just for her.

Then you bake and here's what you end up with!

These little guys are so good right out of the oven but they actually get better as they get cold and age. They get crispy and sweeter. We doubled the recipe and look how many it made! If you would like the recipe, please click HERE.

My mom was kinda dreading making them as they are a lot of work and she wasn't feeling up to Par and my own sis's back is broken. But between the three of us we accomplished another annual Biscochos bakeoff! Doesn't my mom look happy here? All the work was worth it just for this picture!

And so ends another lovely day in my life. Now I just have to get through a week of work and then we get to start all over in the kitchen and make Tamales next week. Tune in for that!

A Change of Perspective

Ever since I was a little girl, I have watched and admired my 

mother. I observed her as she nourished and nurtured my younger 

siblings. I noticed how selfless she was and how she always went out 

of her way to make sure our family was happy and safe. 

Every time she talked about one of her children, I noticed how much 

love she had for us...pure and selfless love. 

I have watched my mother, loved her, and desired to be like her. 

Growing up, I have always dreamed of the day that I would get to start

 my own family. I have always talked about how I wanted a big home 

full of children to love. Since being married, Brett and I have been 

thrilled and anxious to expand our family. We were awed by the 

responsibility of parenthood, but at the same time were 

dedicated to be our best.  

For the past 13 months we have prayed, fasted, hoped, planned 

and prepared to increase our family. We have watched others around 

us get pregnant or have children, and become all the more excited for 

the time we would be able to add beautiful children to our home. 

However month after month for the past year, we have gone 

without success. 

While Brett has been steadfast to support me, I must admit, there have 

been times where I have found myself feeling weak and heart-broken. 

I feel very selfish because I know that there are others who 

have been waiting and trying to conceive much longer than we have. 

I look to them as examples of faith and hope. 

As much as I try to be strong, there have been times where I can't help 

but break down from feeling so weak and overwhelmed. 

Month after month, questions seem to enter my mind....

"What am I doing wrong?", "Does Heavenly Father not trust us

with his children?", "When is it going to be our turn?", 

"Is there something wrong with me?", 

"How can Heavenly Father command us to multiply and 

replenish the earth, but then, at the same time, not allow us to do so?", 

"Am I being punished?". 

It is challenge and a trial I am reminded of on a daily basis. 

Some days I am in denial, some days I blame myself, 

some days I ask Heavenly Father, "why me?", 

some days I feel so much heartache and absolutely broken inside. 

In spite of my feelings, I have often found myself on my knees praying 

to Heavenly Father...explaining my desire to be a mother.... 

promising that I would be a better person if I could conceive.

 I would set goals and work to achieve them.... 

trying to be the best I could be so that Heavenly Father 

would trust me to be a mother. At the end of each month of progress, 

my heart would break all over again, when I would realize I wasn't pregnant. 

In the past two months, I have prayed for a 

change of perspective. 

I was seriously blessed at conference. 

I was reminded of the simple fact that 

Heavenly Father loves me so much, and has not forgotten me. 

In my life, it has been so easy to have "faith" in the Savior and 

trust my Heavenly Father when things were going well- 

when things went exactly "according to plan". 

There has been a scripture that has meant more to me

 in the past thirteen months, than it ever has in my life....

"Dispute not because ye see not, 

for ye receive no witness until after 

the trial of your faith..." 

(Ether 12:6).

Growing up, I have learned about faith in primary and young womens...

 I taught it while serving a mission. In the past year I have learned

 more about faith and patience than I ever thought possible.
I have learned that faith is only determined when it is tried. I have learned
that absolute faith and trust is what really matters, especially when things 

don't go according to plan. I have learned that I shouldn't "doubt" 

because I haven't received a certain witness (or blessing) yet.

 It doesn't mean the blessing won't come. 

It doesn't mean that I should feel abandoned or forgotten. 

It just means the trial isn't over yet. 

 It means to hang on. To hold tight. 

It means to learn whatever I can during the trial and to always look 

for the tender mercies in my life.

 It means to be patient, and rely on the Lord's timetable. 

Absolute trust means to have faith when it's easy and when it's not.

 It means to stay on course until the promised blessings come. 

I love this thought and promise from conference-

"Wherever you are, whatever your circumstances may be,

 you are not forgotten. No matter how dark your days may seem, no 

matter how insignificant your may feel, no matter how overshadowed 

you think you may be, your Heavenly Father has not forgotten you. 

In fact, He loves you with an infinite love.... 

He loves you even though at times you may feel lonely... 

If you only allow His divine love into your life, it can dress any wound, 

heal any hurt, and soften any sorrow. 

You are destined for more 

than you can possibly imagine. 

Continue to increase in 

faith and personal righteousness."

-President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

I know that Heavenly Father IS aware of me. 

He knows when I feel discouraged. He DOES in fact know the 

desires of my heart... but he also knows my potential for growth. 

He knows that it is only through trials that I will reach my full potential. 

I know that this trial is not over, and that Brett and I will probably 

endure much more time without the possibility of conceiving.... 

but I know that as we trust and believe completely we will have

 the patience to overcome and understand our divine purposes. 

Take a letter Maria, Address it to My Wife. . .

Hey…remember that song, Take a Letter Maria, Address it to my Wife?

Earlier today, I asked my assistant Mary if she had added a trailer to a policy and she said, "What" and came into my office so she could hear me better and I sang, "Add a trailer Maria".  Then she gave me the look I get 100 times a day, the look that says, "Why oh why did I have to be assigned to Alicia?" So I said, haven’t you ever heard that song and I sang,

"Take a letter Maria,
Address it to my wife,
Tell her I won’t be coming home
I’m gonna start a new life."

After hearing me sing in it my beautiful, melodious voice...well then she thought it was a cool song. Which made me wonder why the man singing it was so cold blooded. Telling his secretary Maria to take a letter and tell his wife he’s done with her. So I pulled up the lyrics…

Last night as I got home about a half past ten
There was the woman I thought I knew
In the arms of another man

I kept my cool, I ain't no fool
Let me tell you what happened then
I packed some clothes and I walked out
And I ain't going back again

CHORUS:
So take a letter Maria, address it to my wife
Say I won't be coming home, gonna start a new life
So take a letter Maria, address it to my wife
Send a copy to my lawyer, gotta start a new life

You've been many things but most of all a good secretary to me
And it's times like this I feel you've always been close to me
Was I wrong to work nights to try to build a good life
All work and no play has just cost me a wife


CHORUS
So take a letter Maria, address it to my wife

Say I won't be coming home, gonna start a new life
So take a letter Maria, address it to my wife
Send a copy to my lawyer, gotta start a new life


When a man loves a woman it's hard to understand
That she would find more pleasure in the arms of another man
I never really noticed how sweet you are to me
It just so happens I'm free tonight
Would you like to have dinner with me


CHORUS
So take a letter Maria, address it to my wife
Send a copy to my lawyer, gotta start a new life
 
This song was written by Ronald Betram Aloysius "R.B." Greaves III in 1969 and was a #2 top hit on the Billboard Hot 100.
 
1969...hmmmm, that means that I was only around 11 years old when this song came out and I was singing it at the top of my lungs everywhere I went. A song about infidelity, being sung by an 11 year old? What do you think I was thinking when I was singing this? I don't remember anymore. I just remember I loved the song, the words were easy to remember.
 
It really was a lovely song, if you just don't take into account the infidelity and the sexual harrassment there at the end when the boss hits on poor defenseless Maria. Give it a listen.
 
 

The Influence of Righteous Women

What can I say....I am a blessed girl. 

Much of that has to do with the woman

 in my life who have blessed me with their examples and their faith.

There is nothing as life-changing as a righteous women.

I am a living example of someone who has been touched 

and affected by the influence of righteous women.

 I have been thinking a lot lately, how lucky I am to have such 

wonderful sisters and an amazing mother.

 Each of them are so accomplished, so talented, and so faithful. 

They are powerful examples of good.

They are charitable and full of love for those around them.

They are selfless, they are kind, they are motivated.

They stand up for what they believe and never back down.

Carley, Caitlyn, and Mom... You are my examples. You are my heroes. 

I look up to you more than you will ever know.

 I am so grateful for your righteous examples in my life.

Pet Peeves

We all have pet peeves right? Things that we can't stand? Some people have a pet peeve about those who snap their chewing gum or crack their knuckles.

There are actually a few website devoted to lists of pet peeves, there's pppeeves.com, you can even check your annoyance level on that one and then there's getannoyed.com. My favorite pet peeve on that site being when famous people give their kids strange names, that bugs the heck out of me too!

One of MY biggest pet peeves is people that stay in the far left lane even when they know that lane is going to end up ahead and then expect everyone to stop and let them merge right into the lane that is now going to become the far left lane. Does that make sense? No? Ok, let me show you a drawing of what I mean.

Ok, so above you see 3 lanes of traffic. Don't you love my cars? Purple, Red and Blue. The long ones are truck-tractors cause they are my 'bread and butta! The cars in purple in the far left lane...I call those people the A-Holes as the label clearly shows. (Pardon my french, but they are A-Holes!) I usually am in the red lane (the middle lane) and it peeves me greatly when those A-Holes in purple in the far left know they have to merge ahead but they gotta get one more car ahead until they can just STOP all traffic in my red lane so they can get in!

As they are passing me, I yell out at them (in my head of course cause I am a proper lady and everyone knows that proper ladies can curse in their heads as long as that filth doesn't come out of our mouths!), "That's right A-Hole! Pass me! I'm sure wherever you are going is a much, much more important and special a place than where I am going, so by all means...............pass me! A-Hole!"  Then I end up having to slam on my brakes cause everyone ahead of me is slamming on their brakes cause all the A-Holes in the far left lane are now merging!!!

So this morning, I'm driving along having my morning chat with my sister and I am telling her how I heard on the news that there will be some construction on the "99" this morning and to avoid the area if possible and I forgot and got on the "99" anyway. She's telling me that she saw that too and meant to remind me but she forgot too! (I think it's all the nachos and tequila that makes us so forgetful. It's definitely not our age!)

So I'm driving for once in the purple lane, the far left because when I get on the freeway I have about 18 miles to go before I get to my destination so I go in the fast lane cause that's how I roll people! I got places I gotta be and I don't want to be held up! Alrighty then, I'm in the fast lane and the traffic starts backing up and I chat with my sis about that and then all of a sudden on the left side of the road, right in front of me, is a BIG sign saying "LEFT 2 LANES CLOSED AHEAD".

It's then that I realize that I am in the far left lane! That lane is going to close ahead and when I move into the right lane that lane is going to close ahead as well and I'm going to have to merge right TWICE! So all of a sudden I realize that I now am the A-Hole!! And I tell my sister, "OMG sis, guess what? My lane is gonna end and I'm going to be that A-Hole I hate that slows up traffic further by having to merge!"

My sis busts up laughing at me! I'm mortified! Not to mention I hate merging in tons of traffic. Luckily truck drivers are the Angels of the Highway because two of them let me in and I merged safely and was only 20 minutes late to work!

And that's my story of how I started this day by being an A-Hole. Unintentionally of course, but I'm sure all those people that had to slam on their brakes so I could merge didn't think it was unintentional...they just thought, "There goes another A-Hole with places to be that are more important than mine!"

Oh, by the way...in the very detailed drawing above...you see the first purple car?...you see that yellow in the bottom right corner of the car? That's the blinker! The blinker I have to stare at! It's like a little blinking light taunting me and saying, "Hahaha, you have to wait for me to merge, Nani nani nani!" Grrr!

A Face that is Pleasant and a Face that Apparently is Not!

The other day my sister Lisa and I went to Denny's for pancakes after a difficult day. Actually we had pancakes and Nachos. Actually Lisa had pancakes and Nachos, I had french toast and Nachos...and decaf coffee. That's right, it's Friday night and the "sistas" are living the dream! Out on the town in the Big City (Bakersfield).

We walked in and decided to go to the bathroom and wash up first before being seated. When we came back the Host/Greeter, the guy at the front behind the register told my sister, "Don't I know you from somewhere?" My sis says, "Well I don't know, have you ever had insurance, buried a loved one, bought a casket or a John Deere tractor or been to Shafter?" (Actually she named all the places she's ever worked and then the tiny little city we live in.)

Mr. Greeter said, "No, I haven't ever been to any of those places or that small town, but I swear you look familiar, maybe it's just cause you have a pleasant face?"

A pleasant face. Hmmm, well yes, my sister does have a very pleasant face, she is always smiling and she does have a lovely smile. She's a good-hearted, caring person that will give you the shirt off her back (as long as she's wearing a t-shirt or camisole underneath) so yeah...I guess you would say she has a pleasant face.

But if I had a dollar for every time someone tells me that my sister and I look the same, or are we twins, I could buy...well I could buy French Toast and Nachos at Dennys! Anyway...it happens a lot.

So I tell Mr. Greeter, "Well what about me? Don't I have a pleasant face?" (In reality...Mr. Greeter hadn't even noticed I existed.) So he turns to me and stares and then mumbles something that sounded like, "Umm...yeah, I guess your face is pleasant too?"

What the heck! My face is pleasant too??? With a question mark at the end? Hesistantly like he didn't know what else to say? Dude! My sister and I are basically the same person! How can her face be pleasant and mine not? And to make matters worse, she fell in love with my glasses and recently she ordered a pair EXACTLY like mine! We have the same glasses!

It was all I could do to suck down my french toast, nachos, eggs, hash browns and bacon (included with the french toast thank you...I didn't order extra!). Then Mr. Greeter has the nerve to come over to our table to make sure all is ok and he starts quizzing my sister again on where he knows her from cause she just has this very pleasant face! Too bad he wasn't our waiter because then at least I could have had my vengeance by not leaving him a tip!

Me..........................

My sister................................

Almost twins right? Ok, well when you put our photos side by side like this I guess we're not exactly the same person, but I think we both have pleasant faces. Don't we?

Iwanna Wednesday - Let's Wrap it Up!

So I used to do this thing called "Iwanna Wednesday". Remember that? I hear it was very popular with many of my readers. Alas, I won the lottery and purchased everything in the world and so now I lack for nothing and there is nothing left to lust for anymore...well except for Keanu Reeves! *sigh* I love that man! But I couldn't buy him, he has to come to me of his own free will!! (Yeah, like that's gonna happen.)

So anyway, back to Iwanna Wednesday and the whole winning the lottery thing. (Spoiler alert...I really didn't win the lottery, that was just to catch your attention!)

Ok, so yeah...I did this Iwanna Wednesday thing because I am one of those people that wants EVERYTHING! I can walk into a store and the very first thing I see I say, "I want one of these!". I can drive down the street and look at someone's front yard and say, "I want one of those in my front yard!" So my sister and my mom say I want everything I see therefore they call me "Iwanna". Don't get me wrong, it's not that I'm materialistic, I just find beauty and joy in almost everything I see and then I want it. It's ok to want it if it's beautiful and it brings you joy, it's bad to want when you just want it so someone else will be jealous that you have it. And yes...that is the way my mind works!

So I designated Wednesdays as my day to want any "lil ol thang" I want. I don't necessarily have to have it, but hey...I can want it right?

So the other day, I was stumbling with my favorite little friend on the computer; stumbleupon.com and I saw this nifty youtube video. Watch it, it's short and very cute and educational. And the young girl is just so cute! Watch her laugh and dance, she's just cute as a bug!





I've done an Iwanna post about scarves before. Well scarves and pashminas...you can read that one here, there were some real gems in that post! But I don't think one can ever lust too much when you're lusting after scarfs, pashminas, mufflers, gloves, all those things that help to keep us warm. So Iwanna share some more with you so you too can go out and buy a few and use the handy, dandy video above to tie, knot and wrap them 25 new ways!

First...since it's football season and my favorite football team is the Dallas Cowboys (and aren't they doing great by the way?) check out this one. The reason Iwanna this one is because even though I know it represents my team, during non-football wearings it's just beautiful, feathery shades of blue and silver. Perfect for those cold, gloomy, foggy days here in Kern County! This one can be found at www.artfire.com and it's $26.96, but if you're good at knitting or crocheting (Lisa) you could probably make this lickety-split! I love things that are wispy and feather, or lacy or sheer and feminine.

I've seen this next scarf quite a bit in the stores this winter. It's a squiggly scarf, this one is Cashmere and it's from bluefly.com and even on sale it's a bit pricey for me, it's $77.60 on sale. But they are so amazingly soft, even the ones that aren't cashmere and they hug you when you wrap them around you as they are springy, like a slinky...remember the SLINKY? My mother would love this one, red is her color!

My sister came home from a conference in Santa Barbara a few months ago with a scarf knitted with ladder or trellis yarn, which looks like this. We have searched high and low for this yarn in all of Bakersfield and we can't find it, but I did find it online at creativefiberarts.com, this one is Ice Ladder Yarn and it's $3.25 for the ball and I believe you can make the whole scarf with just one ball, so that's a bargain compared to the other two scarves above!

I wish I had a picture of the one my sister has, but it's something very similar to the one below. If you're listening Lisa...Iwanna one the exact same color as in this picture. It reminds me of the tail of a mermaid :-)

On Black Friday, my sister and I went to Big Lots! Iwanna wanted to buy an artificial White Christmas Tree that was going to be on sale. Unfortunately, it was too small for Iwanna, but she is Iwanna after all and can find beauty and joy in EVERYTHING so she came home with the scarf pictured below for $5! (She's such a bargain shopper!)

Pardon the photo, but the only light available in my house at night is on my kitchen table. Isn't this gorgeous? Now the only reason I can think of why it was being sold at Big Lots and for only $5 is that if you will notice, it only has fringe on two sides opposite each other. The other two sides are plain. Why does that make a difference? Well imagine folding this scarf in half to create a triangle? One side would be fringy and the other would not and then on the opposite side you would have the mirrored version. But it's so beautiful and warm and I know no one will notice anyway!

There is only one other scarf Iwanna today on Iwanna Wednesday...it's gray, it's wool and it's wrapped around the neck of that other little item Iwanna. . . *sigh*

Happy Iwanna Wednesday and may all your Iwanna wishes come true!