Addiction Recovery Program

The good people we work with. This is what Brandon and I are doing. We love it. The people there are truly amazing people. We are blessed to know them.

Called To Serve

"I wish to be up and doing. I wish to face each day with resolution and purpose. I wish to use every waking hour to give encouragement, to bless those whose burdens are heavy, to build faith and strength of testimony.”

—Gordon B. Hinckley, “Testimony,” Ensign, May 1998, 69

Over the past few months we have had several missionaries speak in sacrament meeting (for my non-member friends, that is the hour of church in which the whole congregation meets together to partake of the sacrament and hear talks on specific subjects). As I go through journal entries written during this time i realize I have several entries about wanting to serve. During one of these "Missionary Sacrament Meetings", I leaned over to Brandon and whispered, "We need to do this". Next thing I know (as in, the very next day...), Brandon has missionary applications in hand. He found a service mission for us! The mission will be for The Church of Jesus Christ of Ladder Day Saints, Addiction Recovery Program.

A couple of months ago we were able to sit in on a 12-step meeting then later meet with a missionary couple who coordinate the program in our area. Shortly thereafter we were asked by this same couple to get involved with a 12-step program taking place in our area on Sunday evenings.

So as a result of all of this, we are currently facilitating a local 12-step program (Sunday evenings). Our actual mission will be served at a Women's Recovery Center, also in our area.

I am still not sure I am the type to wear a missionary name tag, but maybe that is the very thing I bring to the table. Ha! Our papers are in and we've been attending missionary training meetings as well as meetings to help us facilitate on Sunday nights.

Here is some information about what a church service mission is:

http://lds.org/service/missionary-service/church-service-missionaries?lang=eng

Since 1979, the Church-Service Missionary Program has provided a growing and varied number of opportunities to serve. This important missionary workforce helps many Church departments and operations provide needed products and services. Serving others brings great blessings to those who serve and to the Church worldwide.

You can contact the Church-Service Missionary Program office at Church headquarters at 1-800-453-3860, ext. 2-4914 (or 801-240-4914), or e-mail csm-support@ldschurch.org.

What are church service missionaries?
The purpose of the Church-Service Missionary Program is to provide opportunities for members to give their time to the Lord through work-related service missions. Church-service missionaries serve at least 8 hours per week. They normally serve for 6 to 24months.

What are the qualifications to serve?All Church-service missionaries must be worthy to hold a temple recommend and should have no minor children living at home. They must be physically, mentally, and emotionally able to fulfill the specific call and its related duties. Prospective missionaries must also provide their own transportation and financial support. Church-service missionaries are responsible for their own medical and dental needs, including eye-care and prescription-drug expenses.

Brandon and I are so excited to serve. I think we both feel like we have no clue what we are doing and are scared to death, but the peace in this opportunity is amazing. I think we both just feel lucky and blessed and humbled. Our mission starts on June 1st and our badges arrived today when I came home from work! We are just waiting for our official call to come, which should be any day now. What an exciting time in our lives!

Where's my raft?!?

A few weeks ago, we came home to our street being blocked off. A water line burst under the road and was coming up through the asphault. Cars would sink slightly as they drove over the affected area. All that night, the city had to repair it. Next time, I plan to have a blow up raft so I can play.

Tulips!

This last Saturday Brandon and I attended a conference in Downtown Salt Lake City. After, we ventured over to a funky Chinese/Mongolian BBQ place. We noticed something going on across the street at the Library. It was Live Green, Greener Living in Downtown. We wandered around and enjoyed the eclectic group of people. Ok, we enjoyed the hippie's and weirdo's. There was a great band playing, three older guys in tacky suits, rocking it out on the drums, guitar and chelo. Anyone there know the name of the band???

After, B took me to the Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point. I have wanted to go to this for YEARS! B took me last year for my first time. So now we have a tradition. there are over 250,000 bulbs planted each year. Last year, we rented a golf cart. That resulted in Brandon chasing your typical chubby kid, in khaki's and a polo. Not to mention Brandon driving all over trying to get in the background of Bridal Photo's being taken and then taking the wheel while I'm driving and taking the cart up onto the lawn, past the "No Golf Carts" sign! So while I missed the golf cart, I wasn't having to worry about Brandon getting us kicked out!! Ok, I really thought all of it was hilarious. And Brandon tried to get me to go to a wedding going on but I chickened out.

This year, we walked it. 10 minutes in, we were barefoot and enjoying the cool grass on our feet. Hand in hand, we walked all over enjoying the flowers. We grabbed a coke and laid on the huge lawn at the amphitheatre and relaxed. Something I really enjoy about our relationship is our ability to talk. We spent the majority of that day talking and I can feel our relationship grow as we do. There were a tun of coy in the pond this year. We stood down there for a long time, just enjoying watching the fish. Once we were home, we had crab and enjoyed hanging in our pj's and watching movies. Seriously, such a fabulous day!!!



Here's a video of the fish...

Who's Your Daddy???

I have a lot of great men in my life. One is a pretty amazing dad. He is my husband. This dad is very unique. He loves the outdoors and loves to fish. He is a teacher, not just by profession but in life. He is a healer. He allows you to have your space to grow and figure things out on your own. He is supportive of all you do. He is honest, sometimes I think he is too honest! He is a fantastic rapper. He knows people in high places (like Obama). He is an amazing trumpet player. He has a testimony and is not afraid to share it. He see's the value in having an education. He has sacrificed and missed out on things so that other people wouldn't and so his family was provided for. He never ever needs the spot light and never puts himself first. I tell him he needs to do that a little more. He is the funniest man I know. Those closest to him really get how how funny he is. He encourages independence and does not control. He wants his kids and his wife to be independent and do things on their own. He is great at tickling backs and makes some tasty steak and shrimp! He can do the Oompa Loompa dance like know one else! He pays attention to the little things and is always wanting to serve others. He is a pretty awesome man. He loves his children. He makes mistakes but he owns up to his mistakes and does what he can to correct them. He is a great dancer, he really has some moves. He is a pretty awesome dad.

Eggs

Just a few pictures from dying eggs and from the actual day...Enjoy! :)_

Hoppy Easter!!

Easter has come and gone. Where does the time go? This year, the kids spent Easter with their mom. B and I spent the day having brunch with my family and then dinner over at his brothers house. I got Brandon an Easter Basket. Sort of. You may be wondering how one "sort of" gets an Easter Basket??? Well, I got all the goods for in the basket but never got the basket or the grass. So it was like an Easter Surprise! Oh-well....there is always next year, right? Brandon got me a new Easter Dress. He didn't know he got it for me til I was putting it on. He has great taste in dresses!

I find these holiday's odd. In my mind it's like two holidays in one. There is the spiritual/religious holiday and then the fun candy holiday. To be honest, I have never understood not celebrating Easter. The commercialized part. The Easter Bunny and baskets and candy have nothing to do with the Christian religion and while I don't know how it all got started, it's pretty fun. I wonder why people thinking hunting for eggs is recognizing a Christian religion?? My thoughts are the same about Christmas. I say, Party on!

However, when looking at the religious part of it, for me, I am very grateful to be able to remember and recognize what Easter is for me personally. I find a lot of joy in the fun parts and a lot of peace in the spiritual. I am grateful to my Savior for all he has done for me. The fact that I get chocolate on that same day is just a bonus!

We dyed Easeter Eggs with the kids the week before and then we did our family Easter Egg hunt the next weekend. My cousin's girls are on the same schedule as our kids for seeing the other parent and so it works out really well for all the kids to be together. We also celebrated Gramsy's birthday at the Easter party. However, I would have been ok with two parties...that just means more cake.

"Pretend like you know each other!!"Me with Laura, Izabelle and Liz
I'm not really sure what to call this....I worry about these two....
Who knew a hat like that could look good???
I wonder what he was doing right before I took this....


I think my hat is more fashionable...
Hailey...
Aunt Suzi. Need I say more????

All decked out for the party


I love this face

Mac Attack



Bunny Hop anyone?? Where's Wally???