Why?

There are some things that happen in life that you sit back, scratch your head and say, "WHY?".... early this morning that happened to me.

Yesterday Thayne called from work and said he wanted to run away. He was sick of work, sick of MSHA (especially sick of MSHA) and just wanted to get out of town. It just so happened that I was half way through the parent/teacher conferences and fighting a head ache and wishing I had ate something for lunch before I left and felt the same way. So I asked him why not? Let's run away! He asked if I was serious. I said "YES!!!" Next thing I know, he had a suite at Montego Bay, jucuzzi and all! I met him in town and we headed for the border... so to speak! I love that we can just pick up and leave at a moments notice, knowing that the kids can keep the house under control and running smoothly! It was so nice to just drive... to be able to unwind, talk, laugh and escape. We had a wonderful dinner and then a long, long soak in the jucuzzi! All the stress and tension just disappeared!

Here comes the 'why' part. At a little after 3am we wake up to yelling, swearing and who knows what else. The couple in the next room decided that 3am, in an expensive room no less, was a great time to hammer out all of their marital issues! REALLY! WHY??? Okay, don't answer that... I am sure alcohol played a big part in it, but come on... you take the time to rent a nice hotel room, and then you get plastered and decide to wake up the entire floor with your screaming, foul mouthed fighting? I had better things to do with my morning... LIKE SLEEPING!!! Hello people!!! I realize that in a hotel/casino they try to make it so you don't really know if it is day or night... but we were pool side... an OUTSIDE pool... didn't the dark night give you a clue that it was not a decent hour to air your dirty laundry? I'm just saying.... get a clue!

So, as Thayne and I turned on the tv and waited for hotel security to take care of the problem, we laughed and wondered why people are the way they are... just why?!

Food storage? Why?

I have had several conversations lately about why we are trying to get food storage. And there were a couple of comments here about why we are working so hard to get our food storage. So I thought I would share our reasons why we are working hard to prepare our family now for times that may come in the future.

For as far back as I can remember, I have memories of our church leaders offering counsel to be prepared and to have our food storage. To avoid debt. The modern day scripture from our church leaders has taught us, "If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear." It has always sounded like good counsel. There have been times in our marriage that we had several months worth of food stored up and a crisis would hit... and the food storage allowed us to live on the food we had while we spent the money we would have used for food on prescriptions and other medical necessities. Years ago while serving in the Relief Society Presidency in Illinois I did a class on being prepared. There was a quote, I think by Spencer W. Kimball that said something to the effect that there may come a time when having our food storage was just as necessary in our day as boarding the ark in the days of Noah. That has always stayed with me and kind of haunted me. There have been times that we could barely make it payday to payday... and other times we have been able to stock up. For a while now, both Thayne and I have felt a constant, nagging need to get our lives in order in this way. We have felt that we need to spend every extra penny on getting our food storage and preparing our family for troubled times. We aren't looking for trouble... just preparing in case something comes up. As the economy sinks deeper and deeper it seems even more important to follow the good advice of our leaders. President Gordon B. Hinckley offered this advice, “The best place to have some food set aside is within our homes. … “We can begin ever so modestly. We can begin with a one week’s food supply and gradually build it to a month, and then to three months. … I fear that so many feel that a long-term food supply is so far beyond their reach that they make no effort at all. “Begin in a small way, … and gradually build toward a reasonable objective.”

We are asked to work up to having a 3 month supply of foods that we normally eat and then work into the long term storage of wheat, rice, beans and other long term storage items that would keep us alive in extreme conditions. We are working on getting at least a 2 week supply of water. That's not an easy task for a family of 17 or so... but we are working slowly but surely. Not long ago there was a small earth quake that caused a lot of damage to a town near us. After hearing from people there and in other places where natural disasters have occurred the common thing people shared was that they couldn't have stored enough water. We will be concentrating on getting a LOT of water stored, but every trip to the store we are trying to throw in a couple of jugs or a case of water for storage.

We have also been counselled to have our 72 hour kits prepared. 3 days worth of stuff that we could grab and go if we needed. Recently at church, our ward (congregation) has been working hard at getting our emergency essentials prepared. Last month we did a big preparedness activity that involved putting together medical/sanitary and food kits that would last 3 days. We sealed 3 days worth of food per person in Mylar bags....

We did one for each member of the family. They will go in their 72 hour kits. We aren't doing this out of fear, or in a rushed and crazy way. We are counselled to be prudent in obtaining our storage. We decided that we waste a lot of money on things that don't really mean anything in the long run, so instead we would try to use that extra money for things that matter. Who knows what is going to happen in our nation, our economy, jobs... we can't see the future. But we have been promised that if we are prepared, we won't have reason to fear. There is peace in my heart as I watch our food storage increase. We are working through our church to build our supplies. I just ordered a couple of cases of butter that has a shelf life of 20+ years. Several people we know have used it and it comes highly recommended (http://www.mrewholesalers.com/cannedbutterdetails.html). They also gave everyone the opportunity to buy wheat, and thousands of pounds of wheat will be delivered to our area next week. Last month I bought a couple of cases of honey that was offered at a great price. We aren't going into debt to buy... we are adding weekly and planning to continue to get bulk items as they are offered through our food storage specialists from church. It's exciting to see so many people working together to be prepared for hard times should they ever come! A great site that explains why we do what we do and gives helpful tips for any family that wants to do the same thing is http://www.providentliving.org/ There are also great websites that I love... http://morewithlesstoday.com/ and http://www.myfoodstoragedeals.blogspot.com/

Our prophet, Thomas S. Monson said: "Many more people could ride out the storm-tossed waves in their economic lives if they had their... supply of food....and were debt-free. Today we find that many have followed this counsel in reverse: they have at least a year's supply of debt and are food-free." Isn't that the truth???

So, in a nutshell... that is why we do what we do!

Where do I put this???

We are desperately trying to get our food storage built up. We feel it is probably the most important thing right now and we committed to buy just food storage items every week. I ran to the store today and bought some things on sale that is just for food storage.

So the big question is..... where are we going to keep putting this stuff until Thayne gets the room in the garage done for it all???? I have used every spare inch of space in cupboards and just don't have enough room to put all of this! That's a good thing I guess but sheesh... we need to get busy!

Back to Curves....

I have a really healthy dose of self-loathing! I have for a while... over a year to be exact! I always gain a LOT of weight when I am pregnant, but in the past, I just had to get it in my mind to lose weight and I would. Until Nate! That child has done more to my mind and body than I can even begin to comprehend or express!!! :) He has worn me out! I spent almost a full year not ever sleeping for fear that if I went to sleep, he wouldn't wake up. Months went by where I dozed at night while he slept on my chest, or waking up several times a night to make sure the monitor was working... or the monitor going off and me getting up to make sure he was okay. I'm not sure my body even knows how to sleep anymore! My thyroid is messed up, my adrenal system is just shot, my hormones are messed up and I am just plain fat! It took me a lot of years to not have an anorexic mentality anyway... there were times I couldn't convince myself that I was skinny enough, even when you could count my ribs... but now I am the opposite and I HATE it! I hate how I feel. I hate how I look. I have felt myself sinking into a depression that I want to avoid at all costs. Yesterday talking to my mom was when it hit me... she was upset about how her blood pressure meds made her feel and I said, "Mom...it's time you get busy and get off them!" And I knew it was time for me too! I loved Curves. I loved it so much I worked there on and off very part time for many years. And that is saying a lot since I have always committed to being a stay at home mom. It was only a few hours a week, but I saw Curves change the lives of women and I loved being part of it. It changed my life! I started going after Kalli was born and it was a fun, quick way to lose weight and get back in shape. I worked there all through my pregnancy with Hyrum and my back never hurt! After Hyrum I lost 50lbs and 47 inches and I felt great! I signed up again last year after Nate was born but then he got sick. I started going again and miscarried... but it's time! I went back today and it felt GREAT! I am so out of shape. But I am going to do this again!!!! I realized how much I missed it! Yeah for Curves!

Let's concentrate on what I DID get done today... shall we???

There are days when I feel like I do a lot but when I look at my 'to do' list it seems that I really didn't get anything crossed off! Okay, that's most everyday! But today as I was sweating and working I thought that I would just finish what I could and only think of that, not all of the other things I wanted/needed to get done!

We are quickly running out of room for our food storage! Well, in truth if we actually had the recommendation of a year's supply of food for a family our size we would need to own another house! But we are trying desperately to get our years supply of food and water and are now getting creative in storing it. We already have some big bulk items out in the garage in sealed buckets but Thayne and Jace are now going to build a food pantry in the garage. We don't park in it anyway, so why not? There will still be room to park a car in, but they are going to build a food pantry that is insulated and with shelves to the ceiling. I can't wait! Well... I'll wait while they finish the inside, but that is the goal to have finished before the end of summer.

So today I cleaned and organized the back room (off the kitchen... it used to be my laundry room, and will be again as we are getting another set after promising me one for 2 years after giving up both of my old sets and getting a HE set!) and organized the mess of food that had been stacked up waiting for me to get to it. We are out of room back there now, and will continue to stack in the downstairs laundry room until we get the garage done! I also cleaned and organized the freezer in the garage... it's completely full, we need to get another one. And I cleaned and organized both fridges, the one in the back room and the one in the kitchen. I also went visiting teaching which takes half a day at least! And I kept the kids working while I was working which was a huge accomplishment all by itself. Got dinner made and did the dishes and we got both the kitchen and living room mopped! I may have a page full of things I didn't get done... but I did do something!!! And I am just going to go with that tonight!!! (Didn't get a picture of the back fridge or the freezer because Thayne is back there painting trim and I will not distract a man in action...especially when that action is getting my house finished!!!) Now if the rest of my week could be productive... it's going to be insane! We have New Beginnings tomorrow night. And a parent/teacher conference at the high school. Pack meeting/pinewood derby on Wednesday...oh, but wait... Thayne and I have to go into town for temple recommend interviews too... these are the moments of parents trying to figure out how to be in two places at the same time! Parent/teacher conferences are Thursday and we may or may not be going to a Jazz game this weekend. My calender is running out of room to put eveything that needs to be done... but today I did this... and I am going to concentrate on that!!!

What goes on when mom is gone.... now we know!

The deck has no railing, but the kids love going out and acting like they are rock stars!!! They think it's a stage!!! I was going through pictures on my camera and saw all kinds of crazy pictures of them on the deck while I was gone the other day.I was looking and Bummy said, "OH!!! I took these pictures!" "Really?" I ask. "Yeah, we were rock stars!" was his answer! Oh great! Kailee always tells the kids when I leave that they are going to party like they are rock stars. Which is really funny to think about... those poor rock stars wouldn't be such poor examples to the world if they partied the way Kailee and the little kids partied!

Kailee moved the speakers from the computer to the door and turned on some music and danced for the neighbors!

All the world's a stage!!!

The surprise that almost worked!

Caitlyn decided to throw a surprise party for Jace at her house. It was planned quickly because Stetson was able to come home from college to be here and if it isn't done quickly, well... little siblings have big mouths! :) In fact Hyrum whispered in Jace's ear, "I'm sorry! I knowed about this!" He kept a secret... he 'knowed' yet he didn't tell!
Jace threw a couple of kinks in the plan. I picked up the cake but got a text message telling me he was home, so I took it to Caitlyn's house. Then Jace went early to Caitlyn's and wanted to eat so they went to the little place down the street.... in the end it would have worked out perfectly EXCEPT my brothers blew the surprise! Oh well... he was surprised that we pulled it off, and it was a fun night. Caitlyn's mom had lots of yummy food and everyone had a great time!

Happy Birthday Jace!!!

Nate adores his big brother Jace! Well... in truth the adoration goes both ways!

Cory came to help celebrate

Stetson came from BYU-I to celebrate too

Caitlyn, Chelsea and Jenna pulled off the surprise!

Blowing out the candles.... all the kids wanted to help

Weird...just weird!

Knowing... that is! I have to say the movie industry knows how to market a movie and advertise in a way so you have absolutely no idea what the movie is all about! Interesting. No sex, no swearing... just interesting, in a weird sort of way. Gives you something to think about! Hmmmmm... well it was nice! Nice to hang out with my husband and Buffy and Tracy.

Okay movie... in a weird sort of way!

Procrastination!

I don't know that I have a problem with procrastination, I mostly have a problem with having time to do everything on my list of things to do! That might be my problem. It only seems like I am procrastinating, but it's just that I get myself into too many things with not enough time to get it all done. So it looks like I am procrastinating! :)

We are having a woman's conference tomorrow. One lady was in charge of the humanitarian part. She isn't going to be here so she handed it off to somebody else. She handed it back because she was no longer going to be there. So I was asked. I accepted, and am even excited to do it. But every week it has been something else. Last Saturday was our Super Saturday, and every single night of every single day we have a million things going on. Today of course I am getting everything done for tomorrow. I had them on my list of things to do... it just happens that I ran out of time until today. So I will be running like crazy trying to get it all done... on top of the surprise party we are having for Jace tonight (shhhhhh, don't tell him!) and then of course Thayne had to go into work! But I am NOT going to get myself worked up again about how bad the wonderful government agency of MSHA is! Oh, don't get me going!!! So he MAY get here in time to go to the party but he will likely be at work tomorrow dealing with people who have all the authority but absolutely no know how or common sense and dealing with people who don't really want to work for a living, they just want to cause problems for the rest of the working class!

I finally had time to sit down and make phone calls last night at about 10pm. Only thing is... I'm pretty sure people wouldn't have been happy to have a phone call at 10pm reminding them to bring the things they signed up for to put in the school bags for our humanitarian project! It seems that not everyone catches their second wind after 10pm like me!

This will teach! I shouldn't procrastinate. Oh wait... I don't really procrastinate. I pretty much just function better when I have too much on my plate!!! Yeah, that's it... let's go with that. It sounds better than procrastination!

Moving right along....

On the home improvement project that is! They called and said that the carpet has been shipped and should be here no later than next Friday, so hopefully by the end of the month we will have new carpet in the bedrooms and the stairs!

Garrett came out and helped on the deck while Jace worked on the trim in the living room. Tiffany just worked on Old Maid with the kids which they absolutely loved! (She's the best!) And then of course the kids thought dancing on a half finished deck sounded like a good idea... yeah, I know... but what can I do! They have too much of their father in them sometimes and things that aren't really a good idea sound like fun! :) haha! But nobody fell off so that was a plus! And being the good mommy that I am... I told them, "I don't want ANYBODY falling off this deck!" I yelled it every few minutes to them and for once they all obeyed! Didn't want anyone thinking I was a bad mom for letting them play on the deck with no rails on it! Besides, it isn't that high! Unless they fell on their heads I'm pretty sure it wouldn't cause too much damage... or is that if they did fall it wouldn't... oh well... they didn't fall so there was nothing to worry about! ;)

We pick up doors tomorrow and it's Thayne's day off and he told me I canNOT bug him so he can get some things done! In my defense....I don't bug him, he just likes to hang out with me... okay, and I like to be with him too, so if I happen to be leaving, he looks at me with puppy dog eyes and I end up begging him to go with me and we end up playing more than working! It's a horrible, vicious cycle! But I am going to be strong and NOT ask him to do anything but work, work, work on the house! It doesn't hurt that I have a million things to do to prepare for the humanitarian part of the stake women's conference on Saturday. It kind of got handed to me to be in charge of and it's down to the wire and I need to get it organized! So Thayne is on his own tomorrow... he will do nothing but hang new doors and put on the new trim! Poor guy!

Tiffany and the little ones playing Old Maid... Kami and Hyrum tried to cheat to see where the Old Maid was in Tiffany's hand!On the deck... cutting trim and dancing!

And pizza for dinner! All of Nate's toys thrown onto the couch and everything moved to the middle of the room!