Camping in the Rain

So, for one of the classes at the college, we are going backpacking/camping for the weekend. Of course, two weeks before this weekend when we were meeting, the professor said "it's not gonna rain! Are you crazy?" Well, I must have been because it's going to rain the whole weekend we are there...ug...so we either wear cotton (which is like a sponge) or buy something called poly propylene clothing that I have NEVER seen before!! Yikes!! I hope that it's going to be a little fun at least! I just hope that if it gets to be too much for Brad's back, he tells me! Yeah, so check back on Monday or so if you are interested in an update on how the trip went. We leave Friday morning and come back Sunday night...oh boy...here goes nothing! We had a two man tent from the professor, but it was full of mold so we are now using the kid's single person tent...for two of us! We'll see how that goes. Brad fits...when he not only lays diagonally but has his head 6 inches into the side of the tent. Oh sheesh!

This is a Wonderful Quote!

“We stand at the crossroads, each minute, each hour,each day, making choices. We choose the thoughts weallow ourselves to think, the passions we allow ourselvesto feel, and the actions we allow ourselves toperform. Each choice is made in the context of whatevervalue system we’ve selected to govern our lives. Inselecting that value system, we are, in a very real way,making the most important choice we will ever make."Benjamin Franklin1706-1790

Graduation is on the way... :)

Well, today at the college I finally went to buy my cap, gown and tassel. Shew...$27! But seeing how I didn't walk for high school because I was absolutely DONE with the high school scene, I am definitely taking full advantage of this graduation. Yeah, whatever, some might say "it's just community college" but yeah, did you see that one word in there...COLLEGE!! 3 years at this school and I'm finally moving to bigger and better things. And the only reason it took so long is because I not only got my general ed done, but also finished about 1/2 of my liberal studies degree as well so I don't have to at Sac State! So there! Anyways, I'm going for the huge deal bit...grad invites, big dinner after, family coming, my grandma already said she will cry because she a "blubberer", I'm totally psyched because I'm graduating before my older brother (yeah, the usual sibling rivalry at it's best) and this gets me one step closer to my career of choice! Brad's pretty excited too. Seeing how our marriage isn't the norm, he is actually going to benefit immensely from my getting the necessary degrees and credentials to teach because that means retirement for him :) He's worked hard enough for the past 20+ years, now it's my turn! That's one of the plus' for him with our marriage :) I start my career and he finally gets to relax! A plus for me is that he will be home, which is what I LOVE coming home too!! But still, that's a few years away. But 23 more days and there will no longer be college for me for a little over three months! WONDERFUL!!!

BABY NEWS!!!

Well, I am happy to say that the little one is a healthy baby girl!! It took an hour for us to see what "its" gender was, but finally she did us the honors of uncrossing her legs!! I just had to eat some food, and then she was happy :) S0 it's a strong looking baby girl, and we are thinking of the names Grace, Willow, Elizabeth...and that's all for now. We had liked Willow for a while, but now Grace is the new favorite. We shall see though!

7 hours to go

Well, I thought that maybe if I didn't think about what was coming up, the time would go by faster, but I see that I was extremely wrong!! I am so excited about the appointment today!! As is my stepdaughter...she is getting out of school to come and see the sex of the baby (She really wants it to be a girl.) I really just want it to be healthy. I'm hoping that the things I have planned today will make my day go faster so that I don't have to think about what's coming. But with my luck, it will be on my mind until it happens! Come back soon to find out the sex!!

Baby Gender News

Well...long time coming but finally we are 29 hours away from knowing what our precious baby's sex is...I am walking on eggshells with so much excitement that I wish the day would just fly by, but of course I must also have the mindset of not wasting the day that you have. So it's tough to balance my excitement with my desire to have the best experience with the day at hand! But oh boy...it's on my mind every second! I am thinking girl; hoping I can use the half of my huge trunk that is filled with girl clothes, and Brad is thinking Boy just so that we don't agree on the sex! So we shall see...29 hours and counting! I have to drink 32 ounces of water between 1:15 and 2:15, making sure that I am done with all 32 ounces by 2:15, and then my appt is at 3:15. I hope I don't sneeze between then!!! Wish us luck!

Brain Surgery and Multiple Sclerosis

So I recently found out that my mom had brain surgery. Yeah! Crazy, huh? I haven't had contact with my parents and brother for certain reasons, and then all of a sudden I get a call from her. She lets me know she's in the hospital after having brain surgery, and that the brain tumor she had was bigger than the doctors thought and was also connected to her brain stem, and so they had to remove it! Amazing what your mom chooses not to call you about...even though I told her to call if there's something super important or life threatening. Anyways, I went to visit her at the hospital and was glad to see she was doing well despite surgery two days before. After talking with her and being about ready to leave, I find out from her that my brother has an MRI on the 29th because he might have Multiple Sclerosis. Wow...what news! So it's now pretty much a hurry up and wait game to see if she will let me know what's going on. And to see if that's what he really has, or if he just sits around to much playing video games. Harsh, I know, but I also know my brother...we'll see...hopefully prayers will help with a miracle or two.

Baby KICKS!!!

Well, I was sitting here reading my responses to blogs and scoping out other blogs, and I kept feeling things on my stomach. So I leaned back and lifted up my shirt and saw a super big kick!!! Wow it was awesome!! Of course, it only went about 2 cm up from the level of my stomach but I absolutely saw it!! It was an amazing thing to see! I have been feeling it the past week or so, and felt it earlier today really hard after having lunch with my grandparents, but didn't look then because we were visiting together and that would have been crazy to yank my shirt up and my pants down to see my belly! But this is the second super kick, and I've been feeling the flutters this past week...I absolutely love it!! Thank you Lord for this blessing inside of me!!

Pam...this ones for you!

To all of those out there that have their own garden, and have to deal with the cats using it as a litter box...don't fret any more!! Just recently a garden plant has been developed called Coleus Canina that cats, dogs and even foxes will avoid.

Coleus Canina is also known as the "Pee-off plant" or the "Scaredy Cat" coleus

This attractive Coleus has excellent foliage and small, attractive spikes of blue flowers in the summer. It releases a stench that cats just can’t stand. Thankfully it only smells to the human nose when touched! Could this be the solution to your feline intruder problems you’ve been longing for? The plant is an annual, but can easily be propagated and cuttings kept in a frost-free place over winter. Plants need to be established before the smell is released. They need to be in drier rather than wet soil and planted every 1-2 yards.

You could also try using the herb rue. The blue leaves are a lovely garden accent, but cats seem to hate the odor.

Cats are not keen on the smell of citrus either. So you could try using orange or lemon peel in your yard as a deterrent. Similarly some folks advocate coffee grounds, blood meal, cayenne pepper, lavender oil, lemon grass oil, citronella oil, peppermint oil and eucalyptus oil.

You can also...So many gardeners stick with protecting particular plants or beds by pouring vinegar, or placing orange peels or moth balls in a vented jar (where cats can't get directly at them) near the base.

Also...Plants Cats Don't Like
There are a number of plants cats are known to dislike. These include geraniums, marigolds, petunias, lavender and coleus canina which will emit a foul smell if the cat was to brush up against it.

The moth balls are a controversy because if the cats eat them, they could die. So they would have to be put in a jar with holes in the lid. I think planting cute flowers, as listed above, is the best bet! Hope this helps all you gardeners!

Oh Everyone needs a flat tire in life!

Well, this past week has been wonderful, as usual. We got the garden planted just in time because the rain came, which I'm happy about! Not only does it mean that the garden gets watered, but that my allergies go away!! So it's been wonderful for me. But of course, this morning...the flat tire! Brad left for work and called me letting me know my car looked crooked...well, my tire was plum FLAT! I was like a fish out of water...don't know how to fix a flat and he had left for work. It's amazing to see how small things are thrown into your life to help you learn to help yourself, and especially to appreciate others. I say appreciate others because while I was frantically looking at the E-tran bus schedule (I had a dentist appt to get to) I heard the garage open, and he walked through the door!! Oh my night is shining armor!! He had come back and fixed it for me!! He said he couldn't leave his "damsel in distress!" I feel like when life gets too easy, there needs to be things thrown in the mix, just to let us know that there are things that need to be learned. Never are we to just skate by and let the days waste away; which I learned today. Also, I learned that you must listen to your promptings that you get. I had heard a weird sound for the past two days while driving my truck, but it really sounded like a bag stuck to my wheel and so I didn't think much of it. That was for two days...now I know...next time, check out what the sound is!! So everyone reading...take my advice!! Listen to the promptings, and always try to learn something new in each of your days that pass. I'm glad for the flat tires...for the things in life that help me to learn good lessons and to realize the things that other people do for me.

The Best Year so far

Oh, wow, I just can't seem to find anything that has happened this year that I can complain about...I graduate from community college, I find out I'm pregnant after two years of trying with my wonderful husband, we celebrated two years of marriage in December, and we will soon be embarking on a journey once again to Montana. Not only will it be a wonderful trip because we get to see the family again, but I will be 6 1/2-7 months pregnant (which by the way has gone smoothly! No sickness at all, and I feel just like I'm not even pregnant except I am super hungry!) And we will also be saying goodbye to my husband's 4th child as he leaves for a mission in a few months. Oh, and how could I forget that I was accepted into the University I had hoped to go too! So all in all, everything has been great!! Many blessings upon me as well as the family, and I have no reason to complain. We just listened to parts of the General Conference, and not only enjoyed that but heard some talks that could be used in our lives, and that was such a blessing to be able to do! We also hear about the sex of the baby on the 21st!!! So that is exciting as well! You all will have to wait for that answer!