Parker's seminary awards

These are Parker's seminary awards.  We are so proud of him!!

Doctors appointment

I had my doctors appointment today and I need surgery to remove the lumps on my legs.  I am not happy about this, but it has to be done.

Medical Happenings

I have had a bump on my thigh for a couple of years now, and my doctor said it was a fatty bump. The other day I noticed another bump on my thigh right below it. So now I have to big bumps on my thigh.  When Brent saw them, he made me go across the street to see my doctor who lives there.  I hate to bug him at home, but seeing Brent so worried about it, I decided to go.  He took a look and thought it would be good to have a biopsy done.  So, today I made an appointment with the surgeon for Thursday.  We will see what he says!

Last week I had an appointment with my ENT.  He feels that next May when I have my next appointment, he will slowly start to take me off of my medications for Menieres.  He feels I am doing very well at controlling this condition.

Fun with jewelry

Today I went to a get together for a sister in the ward that is moving to Kansas.  They had the party at a bead store and each one of us got to pick a couple of beads to put in her necklace.  The necklace turned out very pretty.  The store is closing and they had 40% off of everything so I had to make something.  This bracelet was a gift from Brittany and she gave it to me with the blue beads and a couple of the silver beads. I have had it for a while but had not added any beads to it so I took advantage of the sale and added the rest of the beads.  I think it turned out pretty.

I also made this necklace.  It was so much fun to look around and pick out the beads and then put them together  and make a necklace.  I love how it turned out.

Young Men fireside with the General Young Men's President

Yesterday the General Young Men's President, David L. Beck and his first counselor Larry M. Gibson were in attendance at our Ward.  I did not know they were there.  I was only at our Ward for Sacrament meeting and then had to leave to go to a Ward Conference.  Brent told me when I came home that they had been in our Ward.  Their wives were in Brent's Gospel Doctrine class and they really liked Brent's lesson.  We had a fireside with them last night for the young men and their parents.

Brother Gibson:
He spoke about"Fulfilling your Duty to God".  Through the Duty to God program they have opportunities to LEARN their duties, ACT or make their plans to fulfill their duties, and SHARE their experiences with their parents.  He said that one role of the Aaronic Priesthood is to strengthen families.  In D&C 20:59, it says "to warn, expound, exhort and teach and invite all to come unto Christ". He said that when the boys share their experiences with their parents, they are connecting spirit to spirit and with Heavenly Father.  There are 20 Doctrines in Duty to God that were taken from Preach My Gospel, to get them ready for a mission.

Brother Beck:
He asked the parents what is the hardest thing about Duty to God?  Some said tracking their progress. Others said that they are so busy with other things/kids/activities/work and that this is one more thing to feel guilty about.  Another said that it is hard to make it a priority.  Brother Beck said that he did not want any of the mothers in attendance to feel guilty, because that is what women do! He gave us ideas on how we can incorporate Duty to God in our everyday life. I already do that, we use it in family home evening.  I keep the booklet on the desk in my office along with Conner's Faith in God so I can keep track of it because lets face it the boys lose them.  He said that the Priesthood is given to the young men to bless others.  He said that one way to track the progress is to listen to them, to invite opportunities to talk.  Parker loves to talk to me at night when we are going to bed, so I let him because that is when he really opens up.  He said that the way to transfer religious family values is through informal conversations, like driving,eating.  The Duty to God is about developing attributes so we should look for those changes in our sons.  In D&C 84:106 it talks about: those strong in spirit help the weak become strong.  We need to make sure our sons are strong in spirit so they will be ready to help those who are weak.  In D&C 88:77-78 it says "I give you a commandment that you shall teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom.  Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly...." That is a wonderful blessing given to those who teach and that we should let our children teach so that they will be instructed more perfectly!

Zumba in Slovenia

I was looking for a choreography for the song "Tacata" and I found this instructor from Slovenia. She is really good  and I thought I would share it.

Sisters In White

Yesterday we had our Stake Relief Society's Sisters in White.  I got to the temple at 6:30 a.m. and stayed there until 3:00 p.m.  I had a wonderful day at the temple.  The week prior I got an e-mail from Matthew, the young man helping me with my genealogy, he told me to check the new family search site because he had had much success with my dad's mother's side of the family. I could not believe how much he had done.  I now had over 60 more names.  The Stake RS president asked me to help with the sisters doing the baptisms.  She would help them out the font and give them a towel and I would be in the bathroom to help them with anything they needed.  A couple of times I opened the door to the font to check on the baptisms and I could hear my family's name as they were saying them during the baptism.  It was awesome to know that they were getting baptized.  All of my female baptisms were done!! I asked if they were doing male baptisms and brother Taylor said that he would make sure my names would get done and they did also!!!!  All of my family names were baptized yesterday.  Even though I was busy greeting and helping the sisters I was able to do 16 initiatories for my family, it was such a wonderful feeling. On one occasion I felt the spirit so strong I started to cry.  It was an awesome day.  I still have a lot of work to do though.  But at least for now the baptisms are all done, which to me it is the hardest to get done.

Piano Recital

Conner got his certificate from when he participated in Federation in February.

With our piano teacher Sister Heidi Larson

Heidi and all the students

He got a goody bag and a trophy

Monday night was our piano recital.  Conner and I participated.  I get very nervous but it is a good experience for me to do it.  She has three adults students and none of us like to do the recitals. We all complain but end up doing it anyways.  I do it because it is good for Conner to see me participate and also good for me too.

Happy Mother's Day!

We took two pictures this morning and I did not realized that Parker closed his eyes on one and Conner on the other one.

For mother's day this year I got Seaworld passes and an iPod with an i home speakers so that I can listen to music and I can download Zumba music.  Brent made me breakfast and dinner. I am so blessed to have a wonderful family!!

Seaworld

We went to Seaworld yesterday. When you buy a ticket for one day you get to come back for the rest of the year.  Conner can't wait to go again.

Parker

Parker and his guitar.

Zumba video

My friends Johanna, Natty and I were at my house working on some Zumba choreography when we decided, for fun, to video tape a song that I had done choreography for.  It is hard to come up with steps but also so much fun.  This one song is for a cool down.  We did not have much room and we were dancing on pavers.  So it does not look all that great.  I did this song yesterday by myself for the first time at Karen's Zumba class and it was awesome!!  I also did it today during Johanna's Zumba class this morning.  I am going to start working on other songs.  We also did a Zumba video for a lady who is moving and she wanted to take it with her so she could do it at home.  She is a well to do lady so she hired a videographer and he video taped us.  We danced for about 2 1/2 hours and I was in most of the songs except about 5 of the 25 songs we did.  It was only 5 of us doing it so we tried to take turns but then Johanna and Maria (another lady) had to go and it was Karen, Michelle and I so we had to finish the video with no break.  It turned out so good. I have a copy of  it so I will try to put some on my blog if I figure out how to do it.

Conner's play part 1

Conner's Play part 2

Conner's play part 3

Conner's second grade play

Last night Conner had his second grade play.  He was not too happy because he wanted a speaking part and he only got to sing in the choir.  I tried telling him that his part was just as important because he is a good singer but that did not work.

With dad after the play

With mom after the play

Another school year is almost over.  It just keeps going faster and faster and it makes me sad.  He will always be my little boy!!!

Happy 24 Wedding Anniversary to us!!

We celebrated on Friday night because Brent is in Miami this week.  We had a great dinner at Timpanos.

I had Conner take our picture at church yesterday.

We can't believe that it has been 24 years.  Time does fly.  Before you know it your kids are grown and you are grandparents.  You have to enjoy everyday.  We have been so blessed. Yes we have had our problems but it is true you always look back and you are thankful for everything, the good and the bad.  We are best friends. We love being together and making each other laugh with our stupid jokes.  It is amazing how well we know each other.  We think alike, we like the same things.  We are thankful to have each other, to love, respect and honor.  

Pack meeting

Last Wednesday Conner got the Bobcat badge at Pack meeting.

Zumba Certification!!

Yesterday my friend Natty and I went to a Zumba instructor training.  We  signed up for it about 2 months ago.  We were so excited that the day finally came.  We got to the Hotel at around 8:15 a.m. and we did not get home until about 7:00 p.m.  We danced pretty much all day!!! It was a blast!!!!

This is Natty, me and Jimmy (a friend of ours from the YMCA) with one of the instructors.  Jimmy is on a wheel chair and becoming an instructor was a big deal to him.  He was so excited and he could not sleep the night before.

The girl in the middle was Zefille from Miami.  She was sitting near us and was alone so she joined our little group.  She was so sweet, I felt bad cause she didn't know anyone and she hang around with us the whole day.  Now we are friends on Facebook!!

This is Julie Kellie the main instructor, she is awesome and funny too.

This is us, the new Zumba instructors!!!

This is Adriana another one of the instructors.   She was really  nice!!

This is me with my certificate.  We had to change our clothes because we were very sweaty.  I brought deodorant and body spray.  I am so happy I did this, I just love Zumba!!