Bountiful Basket Excitement!

There is a Food Co-Op called Bountiful Baskets, and I am so hooked! Last Monday, I tried to "contribute", which is actually a payment for my portion, but I was a week early...which is so funny. I usually know when my week falls, because every other week is a pick up for the site in the town where I live, and I usually volunteer, but the week prior I was busy so I wasn't able to, so I got confused. I was really bummed because the process is fun, and the experience is amazing because there always seems to be a surprise in the baskets, there is always something I truly enjoy, as well as something that I usually go, "what is that?" or "How can I use that?" Which allows me to think outside the box in food preparation.
So, I am really ready to contribute fr this weeks pick up on Saturday, and guess what, I am an hour early...so I am trying to contain my excitement for about another hour until I can get my basket paid for. I am looking forward to maybe getting an extra or two this week as well! Their sourdough bread that I got two weeks ago, is amazing, and will be getting more when it becomes available again! I don't know anywhere else even at a Farmers Market where you can get two heaping reusable grocery bags full of fruits and vegatables for such a great deal!
If you would like to check out Bountiful Baskets foryourself, and see if they are in your area, go to this site!

Their web address is www4.bountifulbaskets.com

"Loves Lately"

Well, at least that is what I saw on an old co-workers family blog. That is what his wife called her list. So, I thought that I might share a few of my "loves"...
1. Right now, at this very moment..."Bambi," the movie is playing on Disney Channel and I have been sitting at my computer for more than 5 minutes without so much as a wimper. The best part, the unabashed laughter coming from the other room, when I peeked, Bambi was trying to stand up on the ice, my little ones got the biggest kick out of that.
2. As with my co-workers wife, I am also thankful for Costco, I only go about twice a year, and spend a lot, at least in my opinion, but we come home with things like paper towels, toilet paper, cleaning and laundry soaps and supplies, industrial sized bottles of shampoo, raw chicken, canned tuna and chicken, garbage bags, velvetta cheese, Pam Cooking Spray and Spices. I remember when not too long ago, we would also pick up diapers, baby wipes, and numerous gallons of milk and apple juice. I always wondered how it was all going to fit in the back of our SUV. It always seemed to, even if we had to hold some of it on our lap, but it always did.
3. Biggest Loser DVD Set, my newest purchase, there are two DVD's in the set, the one I am currently working on is the quick start one. You focus on a specific area of your body, that is different each day for 10 minutes. I am excited to get going and the little girls are doing the exercises with me so far. I am going to need to work at things a little slow and at the lowest impact, and am doing so thusfar, but my heart rate is getting where it needs to be to burn calories, and I am happy about that.
4. My husband! After almost nine years of marriage, when he calls me each day on his lunch hour, my heart skips a beat, and I get giddy for just a moment. I love him so much. I just hope that I tell him often enough.
5. Our girls! They try my patience each day, but they are a wonderous source of joy, laughter, and pure love! They are my heart, and I will love them all forever!

I won!

I won and didn't even know that I had entered!
Yesterday, while running errands, I picked up our Bountiful Baskets fruits, veggies and extras of sourdough bread and sugar cookies, then went to Michaels to pick up cross stitch floss (string), then I actually went to Bath & Body Works in the mall, which was a shocker, as I NEVER go to the mall, then I went to Real Deals, and even stopped at McDonalds and brought home lunch for the three girls, which is a treat, because fast food, while fast isn't the best for you. Anyway, after about 4 p.m. or so last night, there was a knock at the door, and to my surprise it was a woman from our Relief Society Presidency...I thought it was an "official" visit, turns out, I won the drawing that they were having at the Real Deals store, and since she works there and knew me, she decided to just bring my prize to me. That was great of her to do, plus I was in shock, I didn't even know that there was a contest. I never win anything, so it was great! What a great way to start the week leading the Valentine's Day!

In the early morning...

In the early morning, before all the chao begins that is my life, it is peaceful. I can sit here at the computer and look on facebook, or read the artcles from the newspaper website, or even play a game online if I want. That is so nice, but inevitably, my mind starts working making lists of things to do, places to go, chores to get finished, calls that need to be made, and the like. Just a few minutes ago, I was sitting here semi-quietly, first checking facebook, then reading an obituary of all things, then my mind shifted. I have a Bountiful Basket to pick up this a.m., I then have to drive to Twin to pick up cross stitch floss because I am running out of a few colors, if you can believe it, then Real Deals on Home Decor is having a Valentine's Sale, and their stuff is so cute, so I want to head over there before coming home.
Hubby is also going to a Gun Show with his brother this morning, so I am taking full advantage of having a teenage daughter who can watch her little sisters until I get home. Sounds like fun right, it should be, but the "fun" really begins when I get home, laundry, ironing, bread to make, food to prep for the week, and two little girls clamoring for my attention, because they missed me! Oh, the JOY!

Applying to College...

Okay, so I officially feel old! My teenager is applying to Boise State University, as we speak! She just called from school, where she is in the Counselor's office as an aid in the morning, and she is filling out a college application, and had a question for me. She is graduating from High School at the end of May, and time is just flying by! We are going to make her announcements, as it is cheaper, than getting the ones pre-printed by the hundreds by Jostens, and so that is a wake up call that I had better get started on them. Which will be a bit time consuming, but thank goodness for Costco, and their photo center, so I can save on printer ink, and everyone can still get a Senior picture!

As for my schooling adventure, I sent a transcript request yesterday so that an updated official one can be issued, so that I can start in earnest applying to a Master's Program. I feel as though this will be a lifelong process for me, which is good, but boy I will be happy when I am totally finished!

Plus, not to date me even more, I have to get my five year old prepared to register for Kindergarten soon too, she needs to update her shots, and dig out paperwork so that she can start school in the fall. Oh, boy!

Fast and Testimony Meeting

I say the following practically every month, that "This month, I will share my testimony in church!" I even say it with conviction, in my head, anyway. Last year was pretty good for me sharing-wise, I got up during fast and testimony meeting three different times, in three different months. Which is pretty good, if you, like I, was following what our Stake Presidency challenged us to do, which among other things was to share our testimony once in the year 2011. But, 2011 is not 2012. I so wanted to start off on a positive foot, and share my testimony by now, but sometimes you have a strong feeling from the Spirit that actually lifts you off the chair and in the general direction of the podium, but I have not had that happen yet, as in the past. There were some wonderful testimonies shared, mostly concerning missionary work, and temple attendance, there was even a wonderful testimony shared concerning the wonderful kindness of members of our Ward, and how that had touched one family in particular. I don't know about your Ward, but we as a Ward have been asked to focus our testimonies on feelings, and the Spirit, and keep them as much oriented towards the Church, personal revelations, and feelings that we feel we need to share by the Spirit. In the past, there have been testimony meetings where numerous people would stand, and say they were wanting to share their testimony, but instead talk about their newest vacation, or the like, we even had once where a person, without naming names actually chastised someone from the podium. Which I am grateful to our Stake Presidency to remind us in a polite way that Fast & Testimony meetings were just that, to Fast, Reflect and Pray, and Share our TESTIMONY of the Gospel!
So, in a small way, I would like to share a bit of my testimony now. I Believe with my whole heart that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true Church upon the Earth. I believe that Joseph Smith was called of God to be a Prophet in the Latter Days! I sustain Thomas S. Monson as a Prophet, and I look to him for guidance, as I do also look to my Stake and Ward Leaders, as they are called of God. I believe in the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, and learn something new each time I read what is written that I can apply to my life. I know that our trials are necessary to be able to return to live with Heavenly Father, when our time here is done, and I know that the blessings are abundant if I remain faithful.

Super Bowl Sunday...

Okay, okay, so the Super Bowl is the major day for football, and there always seems to be a lot of Super Bowl Parties and other get-togethers, but it is Sunday! So, I asked my husband, the love that he is, when the Super Bowl starts, as I am not a huge fan of the game, but more about that in a minute. He said it starts about 2:30 p.m. our time, so I said, "Good, then I won't have to prepare food until I get home from church." To which he agreed. He wants me to, as he does every year to make easy to munch on food that will not take much time, for me supposedly and food that doesn't require sitting down at the table.
Just so you know, we do not have the big blow out here with lots of people over. It is just something we do not do, but as for the time it takes for me to prepare the different hand-held sandwiches, dips, putting out bowls of various chips, and in the past a couple different hand held desserts, it takes time, a lot of time to prepare for this. Don't get me wrong, but I am not as big into the game of football as my dear, sweet adorable teddy bear of a husband, and so I don't mind leaving the living room to eat a sit down dinner with the kids during the game. But, as he says, "It is only once a year." The one thing I do enjoy are the commercials though, but in the past couple of years, they have not been as good as in years past. I still remember the Coke commercial with Mean Joe Green, and the Budweiser Frogs, keeping in mind that I am a Latter Day Saint Woman, who lives the Word of Wisdom to the absolute best of my ability most days, I do indulge in chocolate more than I should, but really, can you blame me? Anyway, my point about the frogs is that they were funny, never mind the product they were selling.
So, Sunday morning, I will get up and go to church as I usually do on Sunday, I will sit through Sacrament, with our new Bishopric, and the try and participate in Sunday School, and then Relief Society, and then I will hold the door for some of the slower moving lovely ladies, as they pass me leaving the building, and may even take the long way around on the way home, then I will get home and pick up the pace a bit so that my husband can be ready, soda in hand, chips and sandwich on a plate nearby when the kick-off happens. The joys of being a loving wife!