Good News!

So here it is, 2 weeks since my last post, and I'm already failing at my resolution to post more often. Oh well. I've decided that I'm okay with mediocrity in most areas of my life, so why start being "gung ho" now? ;-)

Anyway, the good news is . . . Mike is not going to Iraq in February! Yay!!! That is a huge relief. And some other good news we got on Wednesday is that he has been named the new director of the RCFL in Salt Lake (that is where he works--Regional Computer Forensics Lab)! Another yay! We are so blessed.

It's funny how you can go along for years operating under the status quo, and then all of the sudden have so many changes thrown at you. It's a growing period for us I guess--but again, that dang happiness anxiety keeps nagging at the back of my brain. I just hope "growth" doesn't equal tragedy or calamity. I just keep thinking of a friend of ours from college who passed away last Friday of a brain tumor. Evan was 42, and he and his family had fought a very exhausting battle for 2 1/2 years. His wife Margot was amazing through the entire ordeal, and I just hope Heavenly Father knows I could not be that strong.

Haiti and the after effects of the earthquake are haunting me too. I just agonize for everyone there who is suffering and trying to help. I wish there were something I could do to directly relieve even just one person's pain or to meet their needs--especially all those children. I guess all I can do is donate money to the Humanitarian Fund and maybe make hygiene kits and pray. It's a terrible scene, and I wonder if it will ever happen to us. And the floods and mudslides in California--that's another disaster in the making as I type. It's hard to feel calm when there is so much turmoil. It's interesting that the Mutual theme for this year is Joshua 1:9:

"Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest"

It's easy to have courage when you're sitting in a warm, safe home with a full belly, and I wonder what tests of strength, courage, and faith await us and our children in the coming months and years.

But on a happier note, we spent the long weekend in Las Vegas. Sunday Alexis (Barlow) Christiansen (one of my Laurels when I was YW pres. in that ward) sang in church, so I got to see her and her baby. She has 3 girls now--just like me! And I got to go to lunch with my girlfriends from our old ward--all of whom I am extremely blessed to have in my life. All the women in this group are a-ma-zing and constitute Primary (past and present), Young Women (past and present), Relief Society, and former Stake Young Women's presidencies. More importantly, they are the righteous moms of my girls' friends, and I love them for being such wonderful examples! You couldn't find better women anywhere, not even Utah (lol! wink). I miss them so much, but I'm so glad we can stay in touch.

Left to right: Jodi Thomson, Toni Thatcher, Kim Goon, Linda Borla,
Amelia Haycock, me, Wendy Davis, Cheri Jenkins

We stayed at the Delahoussaye's and Debbie let Megan hold Dustin's snake!


Oh, and one last thought . . . the Newbery Medal was awarded on Monday to this book . . .


If you have kids in 5th through 8th grade, I highly recommend they read this! It's a great story--I loved it.

Tagged Again. . .

I really don't like getting tagged, and I know I don't HAVE to do this, but it's much more fun when it's not about me. Plus, I haven't had anything to post lately, so this is a good way to get me to actually do something on my blog.

HUSBAND TAG (from Kim)

5 Things he loves:

Mountain biking

Good shoes

Oreo shakes

Getting outside to enjoy nature

Lincoln Park (editorial note 12/2/08--okay, so I didn't even know that it's "Linkin Park." Shows you how much of an interest I take in my hubby's "likes!" I don't particularly like their music (too much screaming), but he likes a couple of their songs quite a bit.)


5 Things on his "To Do" list:

Rid the world of injustice and crime

Buy iPod docking stations for Danika and Brooke for Christmas

Finish filling in dirt in the bedding area along the side of the house

Finish reading the autobiography of Parley P. Pratt (this is the longest book he has ever read, and he actually might finish it this year!)

Swap the locations of the printer and the scanner


5 foods he enjoys:

Anything and everything from Great Harvest Bread Store

Cafe Rio Pork Barbacoa Salad

My homemade pizza

Ben and Jerry's ice cream--pretty much any flavor

Kozy Shack Rice Pudding


5 things you might not know about him:

He has invisible hair

He loves Karen Carpenter songs

He cried during "My Girl" and "Steel Magnolias"

He makes a mean whole wheat pancake

(This is bragging) he graduated 2nd in his FBI Academy class, but really should have been 1st :o)


5 places he's lived:

This question was a bugger on the FBI application (we had to list everywhere he had ever lived, including exact addresses).

Tucson, Arizona

Brazil

Utah (various cities)

Quantico, Virginia

Las Vegas, Nevada


5 quirky things about him:

He loves carrot juice and thinks it tastes like chocolate milk

He has a serious case of wanderlust--he always wants to move

He will NOT EVER button the top button on his dress shirts

He has an entire Rubbermaid tote full of free t-shirts from computer shows in the basement, but he wears the same 3 t-shirts all the time

He is a paradox: super health-conscious, but also overeats (and has little self control with sweets); frugal, but also sometimes a compulsive shopper (especially @ Costco); very attentive to detail when he wants to be, but also ADD when it comes to other things
But I sure love him!


5 people to tag:

Rachel

Sarah Parkin

Debbie D.

Jennifer Jenkins

Kysha

Mikey Turns the Big 4-0

Happy Birthday Mikey! Still love ya, even w/out the hair, you studmuffin!

Okay, enough teasing! I would actually like to thank my awesome hubby for all that he does for me & our family. Here's my short list:

I love you for...

• Getting up every day and going to work in bumper-to-bumper traffic


• Driving home every day in bumper-to-bumper traffic


• Wanting to provide a comfortable life/home for us


• Doing the dishes every night after dinner, without being nagged--and sometimes more often when needed


• Being the strong one, and for being vigilant in enforcing rules and consequences with the kids (I am sooo weak at this)


• Listening to me complain


• Putting up with my indecisiveness


• Liking everything I cook :)


• Being funny, and knowing when to use humor to break up tension at home


• Letting me do pretty much whatever I want


• Encouraging me to try new things, better myself, and follow my dreams


• Believing I can do anything


• Being masculine, but not being a slob


• Being authentic (WYSIWYG with you)


• Staying physically fit, even with back and leg pain


• Sticking with me through thick and thin!!!
  
  Here's to another 40 years!