just so you know...

*Missionary jack loved the 4 rolls toilet paper I sent in his suitcase.
He asked, "since when was American toilet paper made of velvet?"
I guess he hadn't really thought about it until now?

*He also loved the sour candy. He said it was fun watching his Brazilian friends trying it!
In fact- he had forgotten about sour candy (funny because it was his favorite) they don't have anything like that in Brazil. He said the sour patch kids I sent- "rocked his world & kicked his butt."
wow- that's impressive...?

*Tonight is the start of The Biggest Loser- one of our favorite shows. Trent says when he grows up he wants to be on The Biggest Loser!
okay then...

*Chloe- was chosen to be THE ARABIAN SOLOIST in the Nutcracker!
Have I already told you?
I've told every. single. person. I have seen since Saturday. (Much to Chloe's embarrassment.)
I can't help it- we are all so excited!

*One week ago today... we found new homes for both of our dogs. Yes, you read it right- we are dog less. All I can say is- it was time.
We found incredibly, wonderful homes for them (max is the new best friend of a 5 year old boy who is blind.) We were truly blessed to find the perfect homes for them & are at great peace about the whole matter. We are seeking to "simplify"
really.
simplify.
not just talk about it-
this has truly simplified many aspects of daily life. Yes- even the kids have agreed it was the right thing to do.


*This morning Trent said he had a bad dream last night. He said his friend was a, "bad guy & chasing him." He said the only way to fight him was to find his, "weak spot." I made the mistake of asking what that would be? His reply, "his nuts, you know... his privates, mom?"
Oh boy.
Let's not use the phrase "nuts" in that way at school. please.

*I made two loaves of bread today & took them to friends.
*I made cookies & sent off some good mail.
*I visited with Wende & Kristy- saw Kristal for a second & finished two sets of cards for card club.

The job situation is looking okay. Much better than you'd think. I will post more on that later.

Life is Sweet

especially when you consider how great the toilet paper is around here

I mean, really? Who could ask for more!?

p.s. this was written yesterday

family night

(reinactment photo)

In an effort to be more positive & get that sad post off the top of the blog I am posting about yesterday...

warning-

this will be boring.

Yesterday I:

made breakfast & one lunch

ironed 16 shirts while my favorite show was interupted by breaking new... I hate that!

finished a long over due sewing project ~ it's a surprise so I can't show it

did the dishes-

laundry

changes sheets

made beds

and dinner.

played a game on my Iphone (man I love that phone)

watched some dancing with the sluts- some of those outfits are just wrong.

taught a family night message about the "traps" of temptation - eww that sounds scary?

it wasn't.

then lost at UNO- three times!

Hailey won twice & Brett once.

Not such a bad day?!

a really hard week....

it's been a really hard week here.
Last week- my sweetheart brett....
was unexpectedly

laid off from his job.
He was really good at his job, even though he didn't always love it.
Like- really good people!
often top in his department ...
even top in sales this past summer.
but still-
the axe
it.

fell.
hard.
and it hurts
a lot.
I think I took it harder than he did?
he strapped on his work attitude & has been working non stop at finding a new job.
He has several (3-4) promising leads already.
His resume was polished & published within two days.
What did I do...?
cried a lot.
then cried some more.
then got angry- really, really mad angry.
then humbled myself into an attitude of gratitude-
and now I am just numb. (well, and still grateful)
I ran into one of the members of my church congregation yesterday at Walmart.
Yes I shop at walmart- (revenue for my son in law, who just got a promotion- love him!)
He- asked me if we had figured out what lesson we are supposed to learn from this?
I then knew I hadn't learned a lesson because-- I flipped him the bird.
NO I DIDN'T... but I thought about it, just a little.
I've only flipped the bird once....
I was in H.S. with a carload of my cheer leading pals when the boys football bus passed us & mooned us all.
I still feel bad about it- I knew better.
We are going to be okay- really we are.
We are so blessed- SO SO SO BLESSED.
I mean- wow- what more in the world could you ask for?
Hailey hasn't had one- NOT ONE- seizure since school started.
We are healthy!
Chloe is doing amazing & is an Arabian dancer again in the nutcracker!
Trent is coming along well with 5th grade... school is difficult for him so this is BIG!
Brian is wonderful- teaching the gospel to missionaries...
Megan & Tony- are the best example of a strong young family that I know.
and Jack...
I am so happy to have a missionary!

Tonight as I scroll through summer posts...
I am so thrilled to have this blog!
The good times are so good.
The bad times are just temporary & this too shall pass.
It's going to be okay.
We have everything that really matters-
and for that matter-
we have enough money for a bit...

this may be my new favorite!

he got it!

nice girls

Yesterday was another big day at our house.

Chloe auditioned for her ballet school's annual Nutcracker performance.

SHE MADE IT!!!

(tickets go on sale soon- $6 or $9. It runs thurs, fri, & sat the week before Thanksgiving at Weber State University if you are interested let me know!)
And...

Hailey went to Homecoming!

Hailey & her friend Hannah are peer tutors to a couple of students with special needs. When neither one of them were asked to the dance-

they took matters in their own hands.

They asked two boys with special needs.

One with Autism & one with Cerebral palsy.

They had the best time!

I can't wait to get the pictures back.

*I can't believe it's this time of year again?

Summer went way to fast for me- how about you?

a debut...

many of you know that Hailey is an amazing singer/song writer! but some of you may not know this... ? Check her out here on Youtube- if you like this one... there's more! look for Hailey Messer- sometimes we sing!

one of the best gifts I've ever been given

About 21 years ago I was given a gift.Brett's sweet Aunt Barbara gave me her sewing machine.

I'm sure when she bought it - it was the top of the line.

Most of her life she made her own clothes.

This machine had seen a lot of use, but had been treated royally.

She gave it to me & I started learning. I had taken a sewing class in H.S. - that was great, but I had a long way to go. One week in R.S. Homemaking meeting there was a sewing class. I brought my "new machine" and a baby megan along. A really nice girl- I can't even remember her name- helped me with a project & taught me the basics on how to use this gift.

Last winter- she broke. The machine was really touchy when it came to the bobbin. Hailey was using it & pushed it a little too far. No problem - no sweat- because when Brett's Grandmother passed away, she left me this:

The exact same machine.

It was waiting in the basement. Who knows how long it had been since it had been used? Years & years- probably decades. DEfInateLy decades. Brett's Grandmother was over 90 when she passed. I oiled her up & started off again.

Unfortunately... over a week ago- it was over. sigh.

She can spin a bobbin- but not a good one! After a good week of trying & a phone call to the sewing repair shop... it's over. Really over.

Lucky for me-

4-5 years ago I bought this little singer on clearance for $40 at Target.

It was up in Chloe's closet. She had big plans for it.

It's Not the top of the line...

It's NOT my dream machine.

But it works-

and will have to do for now.

Even though I have thanked her many, many times for the gift - again I thank you Aunt Barbara for the sewing machine. It has brought so much joy to my life- learning to sew.