Temple Work in the Light of a Tragedy

So J and I have accepted a calling to be Temple Workers.  We are very excited and are happy that we will be able to do service for others.

In our ward, the Bishop and his wife had a baby that lived only 7 days.  But those were 7 glorious days because she was supposed live only minutes.  Though we can do nothing for them, other than pray and just love them.

We hope that putting their name in for prayers, in the Temple, as well as the service we are doing for others will let them know that we are doing it for them.

We are one eternal family.  And we are so blessed.  I just wish, as I'm sure we all do, that there was more we could do.

J will go to the temple 4-5 times a month and I will go 2-3 times.  Since he works only a few minutes from the Temple he gets more opportunity.  I find that after only one day being away from the Temple, I think of little else except going back.  Life, of course, distracts for a time, but my thoughts are always drawn back to the beauty and comfort of the Temple.

I want to share these feelings with my non-LDS friends, the Ducharme's and the Fisk's especially, because I know that they would benefit more than the average Joe from the comfort given in the Temple.  So here is your fair warning, we are going to continue being your friends and we will share the gospel, our love and testimonies with you at every opportunity.  But we do it only because we love you.

Our Pets are our LIVES!

I never really wanted to be one of "those" people who lets their pets rule their lives.  But I have noticed lately that my pets seem to control a large part of my life.  The dog needs to be taken outdoors 3x a day to use the facilities, as well as feeding and basic training.  You can never repeat training too much.  But, the kids have over-fed her with treats for tricks.  Then we have vet appointments and baths that needs to be done regularly, every 10-14 days.  And on top of that grooming appointments.  Here is a picture of Lady after her lastest grooming.  She seems to have enjoyed it a lot more than the first time!  Plus, it's a new shop so we got a first time discount!

OK, so you think dogs are high maintenance, add a cat to that mix!  Jynx, our cat, can be pretty demanding as well.  We have to pet her when she wants, we must watch out toes when climbing in and out of bed because she loves to attack them while they are moving around under the covers.  Then she is a voracious eater.  I give her 1/4 in the morning and 1/4 cup at night.  And the devours every bite, then promptly pukes it up anywhere she happens to be.  Some days she can keep it down other days, she can't.  She won't go outside because of the cold, and is usually found on my bed or on the kids dresser hiding from the dog.  Occasionally, she will hide out on Taylor's bed.  The pictures are of her in a paper bag that we gave her to play with, though she just fell asleep in it.

  So between cleaning up cat mess, litter, shedding hair and puke, and the dogs walks, training and accidents, we are a busy family.  Change that, I'm busy!  I take care of 90% of the cats needs (excepting petting, she prefers J to me) and 95% of all dog care.  Now I know why my mom didn't want us kids to have pets!

It's about time...

It's about time I posted something here!  I don't know if I have pictures, or anything to say really.  We have been go go go lately.  I'm homeschooling two kids and that keeps my very busy.  Taylor does her work without the need of assistance, but Bailey isn't old enough to be self taught.  I'm also looking at the fact that next year I will probably need to buy some more books for math mostly.  Math books aren't really something you can pick up at the library.  And they are the most expensive of text books.  And then I need to also find out how to get tests for standardized testing.  Our town requires the test scores.  I was given info on a company, but I couldn't find the testing info on the website!  I don't know what to do!

Ben has decided to go on a mission!  Yeah!  He also is going to try to do something called Sports Quest.  He will go to Belgium, play soccer and share the gospel.  He is hoping to do that this summer, but he needs to raise about $2500 to cover all the expenses.  I hope he can go, I think this will be a once in a life time experience for him that he could really use.

I'd also like to increase my production of artwork.  Whether is it personal photography, pictures of my kids, or photography good enough to sell or enter into contests.  And finally, I want to start going to school.  I want to get a degree in Child Psychology.  I want to help kids who, by no choice of their own, have been put into situations that they can't deal with, so their parents will bring them to me.  And I can study them, learn about them and help them.  Too many kids are in households where there has been a divorce and the rotating boyfriend thing that too many mothers do it just so damaging.  I hope to be able to give these kids a safe harbor, where they can learn how to deal with their parents issues.

The snowman the kids made after a recent snow storm.  It is getting late so the image is a little dark and I didn't have my flash. And I had gloves on so I couldn't adjust my settings.   The parrot I took a few years back.  It was a pet that someone brought out to show off at Halloween.  It was such a beautiful bird and the sun was setting so the lighting was gorgeous.  The flower was me just messing around for the fun of it.  I was trying to be creative.  It usually turns out like this.  A mess and no one knows quite sure what the statement is supposed to be, and neither do I!