Saturday, November 26, 2011
Another Temple Update
This is the scene the day before Thanksgiving...so interesting to see it coming along finally and to watch how they dig the holes so deep that giant machinery looks like little toys. It sure is going to be a small temple though in comparison to those in Utah or the others here in Arizona. I am so happy though that it will be close so we can attend more frequently!
Friday, November 25, 2011
I'm Finished! FINALLY!
I knew it was coming - the annual Blurb discount email. I was going to be happy with a 15% discount. But, when the email finally arrived like it does every November and it was for 20% off, I was elated! It spurred me on to working to get my 2009 blog book edited and ready for publication. So, since the beginning of November, I have been working through it page by page, making sure everything was just right. And then...what should happen a few days ago? I got another email that it was now 25% off! I was so glad that I decided to take this week off and relax - even if that meant working hard to get the book done, because now I had enough time to do a second book! As of Monday evening, I had only 28 pages left to do in my blog book, but I was just sick of it, so I decided to make our 2010 Michigan trip into its own book since I knew I had a ton of pictures that would take up ... oh, maybe 80-100 pages ... and I didn't want to put the whole trip into my 2010 blog book. So, I started working on that book on Tuesday morning. I worked and worked for hours and hours and by Wednesday evening, it was done and uploaded - all 276 pages of it! Then, I finished the additional 28 pages from the 2009 blog book. I just had a couple of updates to make after visiting with Auntie Sigie on Thanksgiving. That one ended up being 424 pages!
This morning, I came in, wrapped up those few changes, and then started sending it to Blurb. I came in just a little bit ago and it was finished uploading. So, I placed the order, paid, and both are now getting printed! Thank you, thank you, Blurb for that awesome discount! I saved $45! I really wish I could have gotten my 2010 book done too, but I'm burned out for now so I will load it in to the program and as the year goes by, I'll work on it here and there so it's not a marathon again to get it finished in time for another discount.
Now, I'm off to watch a movie, do some laundry, and clean up around here. But, as a sneak peek - here are the covers from the books I just finished!
This morning, I came in, wrapped up those few changes, and then started sending it to Blurb. I came in just a little bit ago and it was finished uploading. So, I placed the order, paid, and both are now getting printed! Thank you, thank you, Blurb for that awesome discount! I saved $45! I really wish I could have gotten my 2010 book done too, but I'm burned out for now so I will load it in to the program and as the year goes by, I'll work on it here and there so it's not a marathon again to get it finished in time for another discount.
Now, I'm off to watch a movie, do some laundry, and clean up around here. But, as a sneak peek - here are the covers from the books I just finished!
Front Only
Back and Front
Front Only
Back and Front
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Temple Progress
I checked the Phoenix temple website again today and here are some new pictures on the progress:
Friday, November 18, 2011
Where the Heck Am I?
Tonight I had to go to Mesa to pick up some "things" (i.e. Christmas gifts) so I left work and raced to get to the store before they closed. As I drove, I called Melon Man and chatted with him and then called Linda and chatted with her. Soon, I was getting off my third freeway and was at my destination. I ran in, picked up the items I'd already paid for, and got back in the truck to turn around and head home.
It was late enough (9:30) that I didn't dare call anyone to just chat all the way home, so I just listened to the radio. They started playing Christmas music on Monday and I have been LOVE-I-N-G it all week long! Businesses and homes are starting to put up Christmas decorations and I'm just feeling so FESTIVE already! So, I'm driving along in the big red sleigh and I have the radio on loud and proud and I am just singing along to every Christmas song that comes on, belting them out one after another, thinking about all the fun stuff I'm going to do and work on this week, just being off in la-la land. Then, it hits me...
WHERE THE HECK AM I?!?!?
I had no idea where I was! Nothing was familiar. It was dark so it made it that much harder, too.
Finally, signs! Okay, at least I know now that I'm still on the right freeway and going in the right direction! So, back to singing at the top of my lungs...until...
I, once again, had no idea where I was!
Thank goodness there are signs every so often. It wasn't until I got to the airport that I didn't have this keep happening. I guess I've been to the airport frequently enough that my brain recognizes it and from then on, I was good.
This whole thing made me realize just how much I have missed in the last 6 years. I made myself a commitment that I would try harder to get out of work on time. I am so looking forward to the next 9 days of peace and quiet...doing projects I've needed to do. Doing all the laundry. Putting up the Christmas tree. Sewing the drapes finally for the living room. Decorating the house. Working on Christmas presents. Re-setting the timer on the driveway lights. All that good stuff that just needs to get done but doesn't. Oh...and I am going to watch a ton of Christmas movies while I do it! Tonight....Elf....while I blog....
It was late enough (9:30) that I didn't dare call anyone to just chat all the way home, so I just listened to the radio. They started playing Christmas music on Monday and I have been LOVE-I-N-G it all week long! Businesses and homes are starting to put up Christmas decorations and I'm just feeling so FESTIVE already! So, I'm driving along in the big red sleigh and I have the radio on loud and proud and I am just singing along to every Christmas song that comes on, belting them out one after another, thinking about all the fun stuff I'm going to do and work on this week, just being off in la-la land. Then, it hits me...
WHERE THE HECK AM I?!?!?
I had no idea where I was! Nothing was familiar. It was dark so it made it that much harder, too.
Finally, signs! Okay, at least I know now that I'm still on the right freeway and going in the right direction! So, back to singing at the top of my lungs...until...
I, once again, had no idea where I was!
Thank goodness there are signs every so often. It wasn't until I got to the airport that I didn't have this keep happening. I guess I've been to the airport frequently enough that my brain recognizes it and from then on, I was good.
This whole thing made me realize just how much I have missed in the last 6 years. I made myself a commitment that I would try harder to get out of work on time. I am so looking forward to the next 9 days of peace and quiet...doing projects I've needed to do. Doing all the laundry. Putting up the Christmas tree. Sewing the drapes finally for the living room. Decorating the house. Working on Christmas presents. Re-setting the timer on the driveway lights. All that good stuff that just needs to get done but doesn't. Oh...and I am going to watch a ton of Christmas movies while I do it! Tonight....Elf....while I blog....
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Look to Him and Live
Today was our first Stake Conference for our new stake. And...it was WONDERFUL. It was probably the best stake conference I have ever been to.
I didn't really want to go today. I think Satan was really working on me. We skipped last night's adult session - I told Melon Man I was only going to go to one, not both. Why? I don't know, I just wanted to stay home, in my quiet place, I guess. So, since he hadn't slept yet by Saturday afternoon, we agreed we would just go to the Sunday session. I am so glad we went.
We got up about 7 and were out the door by 8 and at the church by 8:15. It didn't start until 10, but our chapel has a tendency to fill up early with all the elderly folk and then all the families end up having to sit in the overflow and it's loud and the chairs are hard. We didn't want to sit back there, so we made sure to get there early. In fact, we were the first ones there except the A/V guy. The chapel was still dark. I went and sat on "our" bench and Melon Man went to do some clerk work. I read an excellent talk from the Conference issue of the Ensign and then journaled about it for my Personal Progress project.
Around 8:45/9:00, folks started filtering in. At 10, the conference started. Our former bishop and current home teacher, now the second counselor in the Stake Presidency, gave a great talk about Love. Then, a new convert who is only 16 or 17 years old gave a talk, followed by the daughter of the lady that I worked with on Prom. Both youth talks were excellent. Such strong testimonies in such young people! There were a few more excellent talks - one by a young adult in a wheelchair, one from Brother Mabey in our ward who is soon leaving with his wife to go on a mission to the Marshall Islands, and then another lady who struggled with trials in her life. Essentially, the last three all talks about the different trials they had had in their lives, and how they left it up to God and he came through for them because of their faith and devotion to Him. Then, we sang a rest hymn and then the Phoenix mission president and his wife both spoke.
Then, President Thalman spoke. I really loved his talk. He started with a story about living in Utah growing up and each year, they would brand their calves and the calves would be marked for life. He then proceeded on to talk about how we "brand" ourselves. He talked about how the Cub Scouts have their motto and they repeat it each week. Then, how the Boy Scouts do the same. Then, he mentioned that the Young Women have a motto too that "brands" them and he asked all of the 12-18 year old young women and their leaders to stand. Then, he asked all of us to repeat the Young Women theme, which we did:
I stood proudly with these young women and repeated these words, happy that I had finally committed the theme to memory and was able to stand less than 15 feet away from our local leaders and share my commitment of these things with them with full conviction and testimony of them. Even Melon Man made a "good job, Honey" comment.
I'm proud to be "branded" with these values. I look at what society offers today and while those things may be what the rest of society deems "good", I know differently and am happy to follow these values instead.
After President Thalman's talk, President Rolfe, the Stake President, spoke. He talked a lot of looking to Christ and living. It was such an uplifting talk! I wish I had taken notes, but I was so focused on what he was saying, that I think I would missed a lot of what he said. He reminded us that there are certain things we must do to be able to return to our Heavenly Father - baptism, confirmation, follow the Holy Ghost, receive the ordinances of the temple, and there was one more...
Either way, it was an excellent talk. I don't think I've ever heard such a quiet large crowd before in my life. The children there were in excellent form and were ever so quiet. The only noise you might hear was an occasional baby crying and often that stopped quite quickly. It was just so solemn and peaceful. President Rolfe is an excellent speaker!
I hope that Melon Man and I will take into our lives the things which we learned and felt today. I know as we do, we will draw closer to Christ and someday return to be with him.
I didn't really want to go today. I think Satan was really working on me. We skipped last night's adult session - I told Melon Man I was only going to go to one, not both. Why? I don't know, I just wanted to stay home, in my quiet place, I guess. So, since he hadn't slept yet by Saturday afternoon, we agreed we would just go to the Sunday session. I am so glad we went.
We got up about 7 and were out the door by 8 and at the church by 8:15. It didn't start until 10, but our chapel has a tendency to fill up early with all the elderly folk and then all the families end up having to sit in the overflow and it's loud and the chairs are hard. We didn't want to sit back there, so we made sure to get there early. In fact, we were the first ones there except the A/V guy. The chapel was still dark. I went and sat on "our" bench and Melon Man went to do some clerk work. I read an excellent talk from the Conference issue of the Ensign and then journaled about it for my Personal Progress project.
Around 8:45/9:00, folks started filtering in. At 10, the conference started. Our former bishop and current home teacher, now the second counselor in the Stake Presidency, gave a great talk about Love. Then, a new convert who is only 16 or 17 years old gave a talk, followed by the daughter of the lady that I worked with on Prom. Both youth talks were excellent. Such strong testimonies in such young people! There were a few more excellent talks - one by a young adult in a wheelchair, one from Brother Mabey in our ward who is soon leaving with his wife to go on a mission to the Marshall Islands, and then another lady who struggled with trials in her life. Essentially, the last three all talks about the different trials they had had in their lives, and how they left it up to God and he came through for them because of their faith and devotion to Him. Then, we sang a rest hymn and then the Phoenix mission president and his wife both spoke.
Then, President Thalman spoke. I really loved his talk. He started with a story about living in Utah growing up and each year, they would brand their calves and the calves would be marked for life. He then proceeded on to talk about how we "brand" ourselves. He talked about how the Cub Scouts have their motto and they repeat it each week. Then, how the Boy Scouts do the same. Then, he mentioned that the Young Women have a motto too that "brands" them and he asked all of the 12-18 year old young women and their leaders to stand. Then, he asked all of us to repeat the Young Women theme, which we did:
We are daughters of our Heavenly Father, who loves us, and we love Him.
We will stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places
as we strive to live the Young Women values, which are:
FAITH - DIVINE NATURE - INDIVIDUAL WORTH - KNOWLEDGE - CHOICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY - GOOD WORKS - INTEGRITY AND VIRTUE
We believe as we come to accept and act upon these values,
we will be prepared to strengthen home and family,
make and keep sacred covenants, receive the ordinances of the temple,
and enjoy the blessings of exaltation.
I stood proudly with these young women and repeated these words, happy that I had finally committed the theme to memory and was able to stand less than 15 feet away from our local leaders and share my commitment of these things with them with full conviction and testimony of them. Even Melon Man made a "good job, Honey" comment.
I'm proud to be "branded" with these values. I look at what society offers today and while those things may be what the rest of society deems "good", I know differently and am happy to follow these values instead.
After President Thalman's talk, President Rolfe, the Stake President, spoke. He talked a lot of looking to Christ and living. It was such an uplifting talk! I wish I had taken notes, but I was so focused on what he was saying, that I think I would missed a lot of what he said. He reminded us that there are certain things we must do to be able to return to our Heavenly Father - baptism, confirmation, follow the Holy Ghost, receive the ordinances of the temple, and there was one more...
Either way, it was an excellent talk. I don't think I've ever heard such a quiet large crowd before in my life. The children there were in excellent form and were ever so quiet. The only noise you might hear was an occasional baby crying and often that stopped quite quickly. It was just so solemn and peaceful. President Rolfe is an excellent speaker!
I hope that Melon Man and I will take into our lives the things which we learned and felt today. I know as we do, we will draw closer to Christ and someday return to be with him.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
It's Blog Book Time!
I spent Saturday doing something for me. No chores. No laundry. No YW lesson. Just a few errands and the bulletin. And...just something for me. I worked on my 2009 Blog book! It's coming along...slowly, but surely.
When I did my first blog book, I had only been blogging for 3 months, but I knew that I wanted each book to be a calendar year, so that book ended up only being about 80+ pages. I learned a lot doing that first book. I learned so much that my second book ended up being about 240-250 pages! Sure, it helped that I blogged for an entire year for the 2008 book, but still...I learned how to do more things graphically.
Now, I'm working on my 2009 book and boy, is it different! When I first "slurped" it into the bookmaking program, it was about 320 pages. But, now that I'm halfway through the year and I've edited it so it showcases certain pictures, etc., it's already up to about 380 pages...and like I said, I'm only about 1/2 way through the year! Argh! The maximum number of pages you can do in these books is 440, so I will probably end up having to do two books of similar size. I'm okay with that. I'd rather they not break because they are too big. I guess we'll see. I have only until the November 30th to get it done in order to get the 20% discount, so I need to keep crackin' at it.
The other thing that is so different this time is that I am doing white text on black pages instead of black text on white pages. I REALLY love the look and it really goes along with what I wrote in the preface. It's just more time consuming because I have to work in the regular view and then change the view to the white on black when I'm done reviewing the page. Just easier.
So...that's what I did yesterday. And, I loved it. And it was nice to get some "me" time for once finally. And I plan on doing that again soon...I hope.
When I did my first blog book, I had only been blogging for 3 months, but I knew that I wanted each book to be a calendar year, so that book ended up only being about 80+ pages. I learned a lot doing that first book. I learned so much that my second book ended up being about 240-250 pages! Sure, it helped that I blogged for an entire year for the 2008 book, but still...I learned how to do more things graphically.
Now, I'm working on my 2009 book and boy, is it different! When I first "slurped" it into the bookmaking program, it was about 320 pages. But, now that I'm halfway through the year and I've edited it so it showcases certain pictures, etc., it's already up to about 380 pages...and like I said, I'm only about 1/2 way through the year! Argh! The maximum number of pages you can do in these books is 440, so I will probably end up having to do two books of similar size. I'm okay with that. I'd rather they not break because they are too big. I guess we'll see. I have only until the November 30th to get it done in order to get the 20% discount, so I need to keep crackin' at it.
The other thing that is so different this time is that I am doing white text on black pages instead of black text on white pages. I REALLY love the look and it really goes along with what I wrote in the preface. It's just more time consuming because I have to work in the regular view and then change the view to the white on black when I'm done reviewing the page. Just easier.
So...that's what I did yesterday. And, I loved it. And it was nice to get some "me" time for once finally. And I plan on doing that again soon...I hope.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
They've Started Digging!
Yes! They've finally started digging for our new temple! I just happened to check the website tonight to see if there was any news and there were actually pictures of huge dumptrucks barely sticking up into view from deep holes in the ground. The church has really tried to work with the neighbors on this temple. At first, it was just going to be a two story temple. Then, there were all kinds of problems with the neighbors so it's now a single story temple, but with two basement levels! Rock on...
It seems like the timeline has shifted out. The website now says 2013/2014 for it to be completed. Bummer. I was just working on my 2009 blog book and there are entries in there about how they were just announcing where it would be. It amazing that it's taken so long to get to this point finally...in the U.S....in a fairly LDS state compared to others. Oh well...I'm just glad to know it's finally underway and in about 2 years will be finished!
It seems like the timeline has shifted out. The website now says 2013/2014 for it to be completed. Bummer. I was just working on my 2009 blog book and there are entries in there about how they were just announcing where it would be. It amazing that it's taken so long to get to this point finally...in the U.S....in a fairly LDS state compared to others. Oh well...I'm just glad to know it's finally underway and in about 2 years will be finished!
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
How Many Gallons to the Mile?
Tonight I actually left work at 4:45 so I could go to my laser hair removal appointment and then on to Mutual. I made it just fine to the appointment. I left there promptly at 5:30. I stopped on my way at El Pollo Loco for a burrito to eat along the way since I hadn't had lunch or breakfast and knew it would be hours until I actually could eat if I didn't. I had plenty of time to get to the church...
...if only I had known that it would take me over an hour to go less than two miles!
It was awful. Everyone was stuck and nobody could really go anywhere except forward. That's just the way it is where I was. So, I texted Kelly to let her know I would be late - but I never even made it - it was 7:30 when I finally made it to Grand and since she'd essentially excused me, I continued on home.
What a night. I watched and watched as the gauge on the gas tank just kept moving slowly downward and I continued to just creep along. However, as I sat there moving about the pace of a snail on a sticky pad, I listened to a talk by President Eyring on faith as part of my Personal Progress program. Thank goodness for smartphones at a time like that! It was kind of hard to follow at first, but toward the end, I really liked it.
Essentially, he said that if we read The Book of Mormon with faith that we will find the answers we seek, we will find them. I always have struggled with reading in that I just don't like to read. I can read, I just don't find pleasure in it. It almost feels like I'm squandering my time. I know that people will disagree with me and tell me how much they love to read and I think it is great that they find enjoyment in it - I just don't and that's okay. Anyhow, I know that when I do read the Book of Mormon, if I really put my heart and effort into paying attention to what I'm reading, I WILL find the answers I seek. If anyone out there is reading this...I ask you to do the same so you will be able to know the truthfulness of this book like I do...
...if only I had known that it would take me over an hour to go less than two miles!
It was awful. Everyone was stuck and nobody could really go anywhere except forward. That's just the way it is where I was. So, I texted Kelly to let her know I would be late - but I never even made it - it was 7:30 when I finally made it to Grand and since she'd essentially excused me, I continued on home.
What a night. I watched and watched as the gauge on the gas tank just kept moving slowly downward and I continued to just creep along. However, as I sat there moving about the pace of a snail on a sticky pad, I listened to a talk by President Eyring on faith as part of my Personal Progress program. Thank goodness for smartphones at a time like that! It was kind of hard to follow at first, but toward the end, I really liked it.
Essentially, he said that if we read The Book of Mormon with faith that we will find the answers we seek, we will find them. I always have struggled with reading in that I just don't like to read. I can read, I just don't find pleasure in it. It almost feels like I'm squandering my time. I know that people will disagree with me and tell me how much they love to read and I think it is great that they find enjoyment in it - I just don't and that's okay. Anyhow, I know that when I do read the Book of Mormon, if I really put my heart and effort into paying attention to what I'm reading, I WILL find the answers I seek. If anyone out there is reading this...I ask you to do the same so you will be able to know the truthfulness of this book like I do...
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