So, I did it again today! I stayed on the treadmill for 30 minutes. I sweat a lot, got my pulse up. I feel like I did well. I will keep it up! To other news, my dad has the MRSA virus. He has had it for about a month now. It has caused pneumonia as well. Mom said he sounds like he smokes a couple packs a day with his cough. Anyway, he was in the hospital for several days last month, but they let him go home and put him on a heavy duty antibiotic for 30 days. It hasn't helped. So he is now having to get 2 IV treatments a day at 2 hours each time. Hopefully this round will kill off the MRSA and get rid of the pneumonia so he can breath again. I tell you what, I really don't know how my dad is still living. He must really have some important work to do on this earth for Heavenly Father to keep him around after all that has happened to him.

I did it!

So this morning I went down to the clubhouse in our complex and I exercised. I exercised my butt off! Ok, not off... I have a long way to go for that. But I was sweating and my pulse was racing and it felt really good. I did the treadmill for about 10 minutes, then I did the bike for 30. The bike is cool because you can play Tetris while you pedal, but you have to keep pedaling in order to play. I feel like I accomplished something! I feel very proud of myself and I am really going to try to keep it up. I was by myself, so that was good. There is a tv in there but you can only watch DVD's on it. I need to get a tv series from Netflix or something so I can have something to watch so I will stay on the treadmill longer. When I was in college, I used to read a book while I was working out. So I tried that again today... yeah right. That was not gonna happen. I am about 1/100th the shape I was in back then. But maybe someday I will get back to the point where I can read while exercising. Or maybe I will just enjoy it so much that I won't need to read or watch tv or anything to keep my mind off of my screaming thighs... It is only the first day of the rest of my life. That seems really far away. But I am not going to put a time limit on myself. I am not going to set myself up for disappointment. I am just going to take it one day at a time and hope and pray that I lose weight and get healthy. Right?

I was NOT prepared!

I thought I had a little more time! I was not going to get snow boots and snow pants and coats until the next paycheck. I was going to spread it out a little. Since we have lived away from the cold for so long, the kids do not have the appropriate winter wear. We got Hilton a couple pairs of jeans this weekend. Since all he had was shorts. Caroline has 3 pairs of pants. Lorelai is in pretty good shape with her hand-me-downs from Caroline. She is still in 18 month-24 month stuff, so she is wearing Caroline's clothes from Montana. Those are great. But I sold her good snow suit on EBay last year because I did not think I would be needing one for her anytime soon. And I did not have a good winter coat for her! So we tromped off to Walmart and bought the LAST 24 month coat they had. I am not a big proponent of WalMart winter weather gear, but I would rather only spend $20 on a coat for her that she will just wear one year. The big kids will get Lands End or LLBean coats. You need them up here! I cannot believe it is already so cold! But it is supposed to warm up a little later this week and be more fall-like. I will not complain though! I would much rather be cold than turning up the air-conditioner!!!

Dew Drops

Need a great gift for a gal for Christmas? I have the PERFECT idea! These beautiful and AFFORDABLE watches from Dew Drops. These are so cute and customizable for whatever suits your mood! This is a good friend of mine who has started this business and I want her to have lots of success! So check out this website and buy some presents for your mom or mother-in-law or sister or friend... or your friendly blogger! Heehee!

Families are forever!!!

Twenty-five years ago, my Aunt Peggy and Uncle Barley and cousin, Nicole, were baptized. I was 10 years old, but I still remember it. Very vaguely, but it is still a profound memory. On Saturday, my aunt and uncle will be sealed to each other and to their daughters. It is such an amazing and wonderful event. I will be another year older on Saturday... This is the best gift that I could ever get. I know that is not their intention. I am sure they did not even realize that they were going to be sealed on my birthday. It is not an intentional birthday gift. But one that I will cherish for eternity. Now I know that that family is now part of my eternal family! This is something that I cannot express into words how incredible and awesome it is. My cousin, Nicole is what I consider one of my best friends in life. We have been buddies since she was born. We got into a lot of trouble together growing up! Even when we have been apart physically, we have always had a great connection. I love her dearly! She is a faithful woman. A woman I want to be. She is a great mother, wife, member of the church. She has unfailing faith. And I know that it is because of this faith that this day has come. She has always been such a great example to her family. And I know this is why her family is going to be eternal. My Aunt Peggy and Uncle Barley are amazing people whom I love with all of my heart. I am privileged to be a part of their family. And now we will be an eternal family.

Boys will be boys

So, I stayed home from church today. Lorelai has had tummy trouble since yesterday and I have had a lovely migraine since Thursday. I did not want to brave the crowds of Stake Conference so I opted out. I should have gone. Hilton was playing with a kid outside when the kid did something to him and Hilton pushed the kid who then fell and hurt himself. I had to deal with kid's mom who got her hackles up. This kid has been tormenting Hilton since the day we moved in. He is 2 years older and at least a head taller. Hilton usually just yells and walks away but I guess it was one too many times. So now Hilton is in his room for the rest of the week. No playing outside. I asked Justin to go talk to him and he said, "Did you talk to him?" Yes, I had, "Well then that's fine. Boys will be boys. I'll talk to him later." Sorry to disturb you... I am not ready to be dealing with angry mothers. Hilton is usually a pretty good kid. He just has a bad temper. What am I going to do about this?

I had a dream....

I dreamed last night that I had a baby girl and named her Anna-Belle Pearl. Justin insisted on the name and that we have another girl... now I KNOW it was a dream!

Autumnal Musings

Fall, fall, fall, fall... I love fall! That is all. I love fall. And not just cause my birthday is in fall and all my friends send me amazing homemade cards and gifts...

Just some getting used to

So, we are here. It has been such a horrible move. As I have said on a previous post... Things are not looking up quit yet. But we are hanging in there. I hope to make some new friends soon. And to be hanging out with old ones soon too. The kids are adjusting to school. They say that they get made fun of when they say, "yes ma'am," and I said I don't care. I do not want their 2 years of southern manners to go to waste! I am fine with not having shopping or resteraunts since we have no money to spend there anyway. I am loving the cooler weather, and the beautiful mountains. I absolutely love Idaho and we have to pinch ourselves every time we drive down a country road. I love living in such a rural area. It really is a dream come true. I miss my friends in Lafayette, terribly. I want so much to go to Coyote Blues and a movie with my girls... I don't know if I will every find a group of friends like the Lafayette ladies. Here, people are very involved in their own wards and stuff. And my ward is full of young students. We have 60 children in the nursery... that is not a typo... and 120 children in the Primary. There are only about 25 YM and YW... and there is only one person over 70 in the ward. It is crazy young and the ward is just HUGE! Like 550 members who are almost all active! It is like Stake Conference every week. So it is very difficult for people to get to know you because they have no idea who is new! Anyway. I will stop complaining and be grateful for what we do have. A beautiful home, a beautiful town with a gorgeous temple up on the hill. And Justin is at his dream job where everyone just adores him! It was a miracle that he got this job which we are realizing more everyday. One of the HR guys is in our ward and a former missionary from Justin's mission. He told us that with the hiring freeze they are not hiring anyone at the school... not even staff, let alone faculty. For the new-hire luncheon that Justin went to when we were here before, there were over 60 people there... that was 4 years ago... this time there were 6. Justin was one of only 6 people hired on the entire campus this fall. So we are grateful. We really are. We just have to adjust.

We finally have the internet. Suffice it to say, it is a miracle. More to come later.