utah trip

Pictures from our trip to Utah last week:

We left Thursday and drove to Vegas.  Faith wanted to stop and take pictures of the temple...

We stayed at "South Point."  There were only two beds which meant us girls all slept in the same bed...

In the car...

We stopped again in St. George to see the temple...

At the reunion on Friday...

We stayed Friday-Sunday at the Homestead Resort in Midway, UT...

Lunch at the park on Saturday...

Sunday, on our way to Salt Lake, we stopped and had lunch in Park City.  The park we ate at had these cool fish sculptures...

Mom's "inexpensive and quick" project that we helped her put together Sunday for her "Sister's Party"...

Monday we stopped and let Faith go in and see her school and talk to the housing people...

CROWN BURGER!!!

Salt Lake temple...

Driving home...

typical sunday dinner conversation

Last week Dad decided he wanted Seven Layer Dip for dinner for Father's Day.  In order to make it more of a meal we decided to also add in some baked chicken, for those that wanted it, and some veggies and fruit.  While we were discussing this Dad asked, "And what do you eat it with?"  Mom looked at him for a moment and said, "Tortilla chips."  Dad looked confused and asked, "Not Fritos?"  At which point it was discovered that Dad might not actually know what Seven Layer Dip was and was confusing it for a Frito casserole that my mom sometimes makes.  When mom described the Frito casserole Dad said, "Yeah!  That's what I'm thinking of!"  She then described what Seven Layer Dip was and he said, "Yeah!  That's what I'm thinking of!"  At which point we were ALL confused.

Fast forward to today.

Mom made Seven Layer Dip (as pictured below after everyone dug into it) and then said she still wasn't sure this is what Dad really wanted since she's still not sure HE knows what he wants or what Seven Layer Dip IS.  And thus began the below conversation:

Dad: So what's in this dip?
Mom: *explaining layers*
Dad: But no Fritos?
Mom: No.  That's hot.
J.R.: This dip is supposed to be cooked?
Cheryl: No.  This is a cold dip, the Frito casserole is something that is cooked.
J.R.: It might be better if it was cooked.
Mom: You don't cook Seven Layer Dip, it's supposed to be cold.
J.R.: How many layers is in the Frito casserole?
Cheryl: Four
Steven: I thought Frito casserole was called Missionary Dip.
Rest of the table: What?! *accompanied by LOL'ing*
Steven: We always have it when the missionaries come over for dinner, I thought it was Missionary Dip.
J.R.: No, that's Missionary pancakes.  But that's really only two layers.
Faith: Three if you add syrup.
J.R.: Yeah!  Pancakes, peanut butter, and syrup.
Dad: But this isn't Frito dip?
Mom: No!
Julia: Where are the tater tots?
Cheryl: Tater tots?!
Julia: Yeah, for the tater tot dip.
Steven: No, that's Shepard's Pie.
Mom: *choking on water as she dies laughing at the table*
J.R.: Maybe if we add a mayonaise sauce to it...
Dad: A Ritz salad!  Apples, potatoes, and grapefruit in a mayonaise sauce. (side note: this is a quote from the British TV show Faulty Towers that has become a family tradition)
J.R.: And a screwdriver.
Julia: I'm still waiting for the tater tots.
Mom: *rolling her eyes*
Dad: This is really good dip.  I wish we had some Fritos...

what's the best cure for cramps?

A story about a good-looking cowboy!!

My favorite author does it again!  Her newest book came out yesterday and I devoured it today in about 6 hours.  I couldn't put it down and I'm sad now that it's over.  If you want a great story to get lost in for a while, you won't be disappointed. Heath is the perfect wounded hero in a cowboy hat that I just want to wrap my arms around, get lost in his blue eyes, and maybe lick, but definitely kiss.

Sigh...why don't they make men like this anymore??  Every time I read a story like this I get that Paula Cole song "Where Have All The Cowboys Gone" repeating in my head.  I seriously should have been born in the 1800's....

96 hour kit

For the last 6 weeks my family has been working on getting our 72 hour kits in order.  For years, we've been warned about being prepared for the last days.  Well.  It's the last days, and now the rest of the world is starting to catch on to the fact that we need to be prepared for the emergencies that are inevitably coming.  So...we've spent the last several weeks devoting FHE to different areas of a 72 hour kit.  We also decided that instead of 3 days, we want to have it ready for 4--96 hours.

Below is my kit.  There are still a few little things I need to get, but at least I have the majority of what I would need were I to be either home-bound, or need to leave my house for a few days.

First Aid Kit:

I got most of the stuff from the dollar store, so it only took about $40 to 

put this together, including the container.  

Food:

I tried to get everything so it wouldn't need to be heated or take extra

water to make.  I'm still trying to come up with something for dinner.  Right

now I have instant soup packages, just so I have something.

Extras:

The trick to a 72/96 hour kit is to try and plan for any emergency, but also keep 

everything limited due to space and weight.   What I've packed: TP, a map of AZ, ponchos,

candles and waterproof matches, tampons, a cup, a washcloth, hand wipes, a space blanket,

travel toothbrush/paste, and a section of The Book of Mormon.

Clothes:

Best to have a full change of clothes, plus underwear and shoes.

This is a cool little stove that JR showed us how to make out of a cat food can and

a hole punch.  All you do is pour some methyl alcohol and it will burn.  Last night he

demonstrated it and it was pretty awesome!

This is everything stuffed in the rolling suitcase I've decided to use:

And this is where it lives now in my front coat closet, along with my water jugs:

I still need to get a few things like some rope, a flashlight, and a Leatherman, but like I said: at least I'm more prepared than I used to be!

yes for marriage!

I had a different blog post in the works for today, but I'm going to save it for tomorrow.  Why?  Because I was a part of history today and obviously, when you're a part of history, it requires blogging about!

Quick disclaimer to my friends/followers/readers who aren't LDS: you're probably  not going to understand much of what this post is about, but that's okay!  If you have questions or want to know more, let me know and we can chat :)

How was I a part of history you ask?  Because of this:

Elder Ellis and Elder Callister from the Seventy came to organize 5 YSA (Young Single Adult) Stakes here in the valley.  Previously, all the different YSA wards were a part of family stakes, but now we are our own stakes.  Pretty cool!  They organized single stakes up in Utah a couple years ago and got the go ahead to organize them down here just a few months ago.  Nothing is changing with my ward in regards to leadership or meeting place, which is nice.

We had a meeting last night where all the new names and boundaries were given, then got to hear from Elder Ellis, Elder Callister, Elder LaSuer (who is one of the local Area Seventies) and a few others.  They each gave some great thoughts and spoke a lot about personal revelation and following the word of the Lord, especially with all these changes.  There were also several talks about making sure we are choosing to be on the Lord's side and giving our whole hearts to him.    This morning we had Stake Conference with our new stake (I'm in the Mesa YSA East Stake now) and got to sustain our new Stake Presidency: President Sandstrom, President Rogers, and President Maybree.

Again, several remarks were made about personal revelation: how to seek it, and making sure we follow it, and more thoughts on avoiding sin and what we can do to stay strong against temptation.  One quote I really liked was, "Sin will yield to the power of the scriptures."  I definitely need to get back into the habit of reading every day and praying morning and night.  Sister Sandstrom, when she was bearing her testimony, related several different experiences she and President Sandstrom have had over the years in the different YSA wards they have been involved in.  One story was about how a guy and a girl had met and ended up getting married from an activity revolving around the campaign ad a few years ago for Prop 102 (to protect marriage here in AZ).  At the time the slogan was "Yes for marriage!"  When President Ellis got up to speak he said he liked that slogan and that that should be our stake theme.

It's always fun to see big changes like this take place and be a part of history.  Mom said last night that this was like when the change was made to go to the three hour block schedule that we follow now.  In a few years, no one's really going to remember it being any other way.

i feel like I should blog but...

...I really have nothing to say.

However, because blogging is the 21st centuries version of writing in my journal, I feel pressure to at least check in every couple days and let my future posterity know how I'm doing so they can hopefully gain a greater appreciation for me and all the struggles I went through in my life and all that jazz.

So...

Since my post on preparing for my death and making sure my estate is taken care of, I haven't done anything to change my current situation.  I find I'm not really ready to confront the possibility of my ultimate demise.  I feel that writing a will and taking out additional life insurance is just going to be tempting fate.  Once I do those things then death can swoop in at any time and take me, but if I put them off then I'll never die because I'll never be ready.  There.  I just decided.  I'm not going to do it and I'm going to live forever!

(As if THAT'S not tempting fate)

(Knocks on wood)

I don't really want to die OR live forever.  And I promise I will take care of all that depressing adult stuff soon.

What I have done since my last post is decide that I'm only going to weigh myself once a week instead of every day.  Every day weighing just leads to emotional breakdowns and temper tantrums and really isn't good for my overall well-being.  I went out last night with Katy for dinner and a movie (Chili's chips and salsa and other appetizers and then Snow White and the Huntsman) and ate way too many food points, I'm sure, but I don't really care.  Yes, I know loosing weight is important and I am going to stay with Weight Watchers for as long as I can afford it, but I'm not going to prevent myself from living and having fun occasionally.  I don't splurge on a regular basis, so once in a while is okay.

I've also been contemplating getting a dog.

Why?  Because, as stated in my previous post, I'm lonely.  And since Mr. Right doesn't seem to be making any appearances (remember how he died of dysentery on the Oregon Trail?) I figure a pooch might be a good replacement.  Plus, it would be an added security system.  I really don't mind living by myself...during the day.  At night, I tell myself I'm okay being in the house all alone, but the truth is, I'm not.  I'm definitely doing better than I used to do, but every since the break-in back in November I've been a lot more skittish about being alone at night.  Why is it that all the regular house noises seem 10x more loud once it's dark outside?

Here are my concerns about getting a dog:

*They're kind of stinky

*They leave poop in the back yard (and sometimes the house)

*The shed

*They cost money to feed and take to the vet

*What would I do with him/her whenever I go on vacation and can't take him/her?

*He/she would be left alone all day while I'm at work and I would feel bad

*Although I NEVER see her, I'm not sure if Invisible Roomie would be okay with a dog in the house

*Some family members have pet allergies so they wouldn't be able to come over to the house anymore


Here's why I think it would be a good idea to get a dog:

*So I'm not alone in the house at night (or during the day when I'm home)

*So the house is more protected when I'm away

*So I have someone who loves me and is excited when I come home

*So I have an excuse to exercise


I've spent some time the last couple days looking at pictures of dogs that are available at the Humane Society and some other rescue places around town.  There are several who have caught my eye and who I would consider bringing home.  I'm just not sure if I'm really ready for the responsibility.  Plus, then I remember how much I cried when our ferret died a couple years ago and I know that if I DO get a dog and he/she dies (which they always do) it's going to be 10x worse.  I think that's probably my biggest issue when it comes to relationships.  Loving hurts.  And I'm scared to do it.

Bottom line: I can't do anything (read: I don't want to do anything) until after my summer trips so I'm not bringing someone home and then immediately leaving them for a couple weeks, which gives me a couple months to make a decision.  Should I, or shouldn't I?  I don't know.  I guess we'll have to wait and see...

death & dieting

Yesterday I did something I've never done before.  I met face to face with my insurance agent, Scott.  Now.  I've had insurance (car, life, renter's and now homeowner's) since I bought my first car when I was 20.  But I've never actually met face to face with an agent since I first signed up for car insurance with State Farm in the little building in American Fork, UT behind the pet store and Seagull Book that my mom took me too in 2002.  Wow.  Was it really 10 years ago??

When I called my agent last week regarding my cracked windshield he wanted to set up an appointment to go over my policies.  I set up the appointment, figuring it was going to be an hour of him trying to talk me into buying different or additional coverage, and steeled myself to be strong and "just say no!"  But, it was actually a very good and enlightening meeting.  And Scott is a really nice guy.

We went over my policies, found a few inconsistencies that need to be corrected, and talked about what kind of coverage I needed to take care of my estate (P.S. who knew I even HAD an "estate"??) when/if I die.  Not a very pleasant topic (especially since I'm dreading turning 30 and being officially old enough as it is already) but it was interesting.  Basically we figured out that I need to carry a life insurance policy, or policies, of about $158,000.  That would settle all the debts I currently have including my house, car, credit cards, student loan, and take care of burial and funeral expenses and not leave anything for Mom and Dad (since they are my beneficiaries at the moment) with any outstanding amounts.  Kind of morbid, I know, but it's good to know this kind of stuff I'm figuring out.  Right now I have $150,000 between a personal life insurance policy I took out 10 years ago, and a policy through work.  We also talked briefly about getting a will set up.  But I'm not sure I'm ready to tackle that yet.

Sigh.  I guess since I AM turning 30 next month and there really is no way to avoid it, it's time to get serious about more of this "adult" stuff I've been putting off and avoiding.  I need to be more involved in my retirement and savings plans and make sure I am covered in case anything does happen to me so I'm not leaving a mess behind me.

I just wish I didn't have to do it all alone.  Being single is lonely and right now I'm feeling particularly so.

On top of feeling lonely, I'm also starting to get a little discouraged with this whole losing weight thing.  I haven't lost any weight the last week and a half.  I fact, I've gained a few pounds back.  I know that weight fluctuations are caused by lots of different things and it's normal to go up and down, but I've been trying really hard to stick right to the plan and only eat the allotted food points each day.  Yet every time I get on the scale and see that it either hasn't changed, or it's gone up a little bit I feel like Bob Wiley from "What About Bob" and I have a little tantrum in the bathroom.

"I'm baby-steppin', I'm doin' the work, I'm not a slacker!  Check it out I'm in really bad shape!  Gimme, gimme gimme--I need, I need, I need, gimme, gimme gimme..."

But my scale just sits there.  Looking at me.  With judgey eyes.

Maybe it's my scale that should think about writing a will and taking out a life insurance policy.  It's existence here on Earth may soon prove to be a LOT shorter than mine...