Care Packages by Janet

Me and my friend Ansley are putting together little packages to send to people who need some extra love. We would really like it if anyone new some people that need some extra love please post or talk to me. We would also appreciate any suggestions you have to what we could put in them.

September and a bit of October too.

In Sept. we had several birthdays at our house.

Mikey turned 7
CarieKay turned 14
Danny turned 5

they all enjoyed their day.

School seems to be going well for everyone, there is a lot of homework and I am proud of my kids for working so hard on it.

after going seriously over on our cell minutes for two months in a row, we decided to get a home phone.

801-691-0813

I have applied for a new position at work, it took them a month to get around to interviewing, which I finally did on weds. hopefully we will find out soon who got the position. (I'm hoping to find out when I go to work tomorrow (saturday))

Thomas is still looking for a job, he has applied for quite a few, but keeps not getting interviews and then getting an email telling him that they have chosen someone else.

Danny is enjoying being with his dad.

August

the kids are all in school. Jim and Echo are both in concurrent classes at Provo High. Jims is Auto, and Echo is doing both a govt, and a math. Carrie is finding that she is enjoying the honors classes they put her in in math. Katie and Janet are also doing well in school. Mikey likes the playground. the younger kids really enjoy walking back and forth to school.

I have been working quite a lot (2 days off in the last 14 days)( I do have tomorrow off so maybe thats 3 days off in 15 days). i was working every other day in deli and then bakery, but the schedule for the next 2 weeks has me in bakery. One day I was in the bakery and the cake decorator was complaining to the dept manager that there were too many orders and she wouldnt get them done, the dept manager turned to me and asked, did you say that you decorated cakes before? I got to spend the rest of my shift decorating cakes, and have a couple of times since.

Thomas is working on the paperwork to get licensed in Utah, and is getting to know Carries three boys as he babysits for her while she works and goes to school.

A job

I got a phone call today from walmart. they asked me to come in and add deli to my preferences. I did, and then they were able to input me into their local walmart system, I now have a job. I start at 6 oclock tomorrow.

Wow,!!! EARLY MORNING!!

in Utah

We are in Utah!

We took a day to load the moving truck and then a day to clean the house so we were behind schedule. but we got out of town ok, thanks in part to our wonderful branch missionaries who came and helped clean and took a huge load to the thrift store.

We were in Laramie Wyo. when the transmission (that was new in feb) went out on us, our dear friend mater drove in and picked up the kids and the trailer the suburban was pulling and took it all to Utah. We took a bit longer getting to provo than we had planned.

We pulled into provo about 10pm unloaded a few things and we were early to 9am church on sunday.

had sunday dinner with Thomas' parents, then disbursed the kids to von and carries homes where they stayed while Thomas and I (and echo) drove to escalante for a job interview bright and early monday morning (8:30). then we drove home to provo. Jim and Von had the truck 1/2 unloaded before von had to go to work, Toms brothers and their boys came and helped finish the unloading.

we decided we were on vacation for the week and did as little unpacking of boxes as we could till we found out if we were staying or moving to escalante. enjoyed the week of visiting with family and just relaxing. I bought and read the book "driven" about Larry H. Miller it was a very inspiring book.

On saturday morning we got an email from the escalante job saying thankyou but they gave it to someone already with the company. Our vacation is now over and we are unpacking as fast as we can. but where to put it all????

our suburban is slowly being worked on. it is under warranty but it is still out of state. we are having regular phone calls with our car place in SD.

Tom is looking for a job, I am on a Leave of Absence till the 16 of Aug. from walmart but so far no walmarts in Ut. valley are hiring, does this mean that I get to be a stay at home Mom, (while babysitting for my sister) or do I need to look for another job, maybe even using my degree?

moving day

Im taking a moment before we disconnect the internet, to blog.

Friday was Tom's, Lillie's and Jims's final day at work. Sunday was our last sunday in South Dakota. Today we are loading the moving truck and we plan on leaving Tomorrow morning before bright and early.

When we took the suburban in to get the Air conditioning worked on, we were told that the part it needs is in Salt Lake city and they could get it here in 4 or 5 days. We told them that in 4 or 5 days we would be in Salt Lake City and we would take care of it then.

the house is mostly packed, but I'm to the point where I cant really see what still needs done, because I have so many boxes in the way.

we are looking forward to seeing all of our Utah family and friends soon, and will miss all the rest of you. I have told the kids more than once we have new friends in Utah, just waiting to meet us.

Love you all!

Moving

Well, we have done much praying and pondering and discussing, and more praying, in the end we have decided to move.

I have given work July 16 as my final day, I plan on transfering to another walmart, not quitting. We are going to head back to UTAH! The kids for the most part are very excited, (Jim doesn't know yet, he is at scout camp this week) there are a few drawbacks, like drivers licenses for my under 16 drivers, going back to the three hour block for church, but we feel that this is the direction that Heavenly Father wants us to go.

Thomas is still looking for a job, so please continue your prayers on that. Also I am asking for nice moving weather with a nice tail wind to help blow us home.

We have reserved a truck for the 21 of July, and plan on being back in Provo, by the 24. we are going to take a short detour to MT. Rushmore on the way home as we have lived in South Dakota for 2 1/2 yrs and haven't seen it yet.

We only have 2 1/2 weeks so I have a lot to do to get us ready to go, an advantage to working at Walmart is that I can bring home boxes every day that I work. pack them then bring home more the next day, and pretty soon my whole house will be packed.

We will see how it goes.

Girls Camp

I got to go to girls camp this week. it was a great week. We went to Lake Pahoja, IA. It is only about 30 mins south of Sioux Falls, SD. We camped in the "scouting area" which was aproximately 3 blocks from the nearest bathrooms, and 4 1/2 blocks from the enclosure where we ate. there was a nice 4ft wide paved path, along rolling hills, and around a lake. our hike on hike day was simply all the way around the lake. The priesthood met us just more than half way with popsicles and cold water.

I was able to borrow my dads tipi from him for girls camp. I had a bit of a struggle setting it up, but I got it. Our theme was Tribes of Truth so it was quite fitting to have the tipi there. on stake presidency night we had a program where the older girls dressed up as indian maidens and presented the young women values, we had the girls start in my tipi and then enter the "stage area" it was a great program and many people commented how great it was to have the tipi there. (so thanks dad for lending it to me.)

Finally Licensed

I found out yesterday, through round about means, that my license to practice psychology was issued. This is a great relief. I would like to thank Heavenly Father and all of you for your support and encouragement in this long process.

On another note, my family has a new prayer request. Please keep us in your prayers as I look for a new job. My last day at Aurora Plains will be July 16th. While the choice was not fully my own it is a great time for me to be looking as my residency is now over and I am a marketable psychologist. We know that all will move forward in the Lord's plan, and there are already new opportunities on the horizon. (also the severance package offered was quite generous.) We love you all, and again Thank You.

Drew

In the Mail...

As you all know I recently graduated from MTI.

Something you dont know is that I did not get a diploma.

we had classes up to and including graduation day, so to give our instructors time to get grades in and to make sure all of our fees were paid, etc. etc. they only give us a diploma case. with a nice little letter inside that says essentially, congratulations, and hope you have a successfull life. you should receive your diploma in the mail before June 30. ( almost two months after our graduation day.)

Well, today I got my diploma in the mail. I have put it in the case and now I can put the case and diploma, into my cedar chest with my high school diploma.

one more thing off my summer checklist.

personal progress

A while ago: I set the goal: to earn my YW personal progress by age 40. I have not really had the time to work on this for the last 3 years as I have been busy with school. however yesterday as I sat in church and listened to a talk by one of the YW in our branch, I realized that I have now completed my Knowledge value project. Go to school and earn a degree. Yay!! one step closer.

Graduation

I bought my cap, gown and tassle today.

graduation is this friday. and I realized today that I didnt mail out invitations. so anyone who might be in the neighborhood on friday.

Graduation is May 7, 5 pm at the corn palace in Mitchell SD.

Love you all and thanks for your support!!!

Seminary

Jim and Echo finished seminary this morning. They enjoyed the year and they did a great job at waking each other up and getting the computer turned on on time. I am really greateful for a great teacher who was also always there with a great lesson and enjoyed teaching them. I think the webcam classes were a great idea. Thanks to Sister Smith, Maggie, Jim and Echo. Good job to finish!

New Calling

Several of my friends had asked what I was going to do with myself when I was done with internship and then school. I told them I didn't know but I was sure something would come up.

So yesterday, I was released from my calling of R.S. Counselor. and given the new calling of R.S.President. I am able to have two counselors, until one of them moves which she is planning on doing at the end of the summer.

Yep, something came up.

Graduation!!!

Today I filled out my

REQUEST TO GRADUATE

YAAY!!!!

I was told that MTI no longer sells announcements because no one bought them. SO I will be designing some on my computer and mailing them myself.

Graduation is May 7th. I am not sure what time yet.

UVU

So Mike and Drew are both UVU graduates. UVU is now in the same conference as South Dakota State. So when UVU was here for Basketball this thursday we got together to go! A bonus: groups of 15 or more get half price. with my family of 9 and mikes family of 6 we have 15.

Sunday Lesson

So saturday before work, I printed out the conference talk I was supposed to teach in Relief Society and took it to work to read thru before I had to teach it. Saturday after work, I looked up the scriptures it referenced and wrote them in where they fit.

Sunday after sacrament meeting, My RS Pres. told me that apparently the brother who was supposed to teach the men had prepared the wrong lesson and we were all meeting together. I was surprised by this, but hey if it meant not having to teach then OK. So I sat down in the back of the Chapel, (not quite the corner) and waited, after the introduction,and opening song etc. the counselor asked the branck pres who was teaching and he said, well Bro. Tanner was supposed to teach, but he is on call and came long enough to tell us that he won't be here today, so I guess the RS is teaching, as he turned and looked at the RS Pres. She quickly responded that Sis Wilkinson is teaching today, EVERY eye turned to me . (I was so glad that I had pre read the lesson and even looked up the scriptures).

The lesson went well, Not very many comments, so I finished 15 minutes early. I am not very good at adlibbing , especially in front of both groups, I am getting better when it is the just the RS. But it is still a skill I am not very good at.
When I said that was all, then there were a few more comments, but we were still the first class out.

Honor Roll

Last week the honor roll came out for last semester.

Jim is on the B honor roll.

Echo is on the A honor roll.

Carie is on the A honor roll.

Go kids, I am proud of each of you for your progress and hard work.

Bronze Medal School

Just found out our kids school got a bronze medal from US news and world report for being a good School.

We already knew this but its nice to see it recognized as such. They have done a great job at meeting the needs of all of my kids and making them all stretch.

Stormy

There is a storm headed this way, snowing since last night. a couple of inches on the ground(of new snow), Tom and JP got in the car and went as far as the edge of town, turned around and came home, since they could not tell where the road is.
When Tom walked in, he told me I should stay home from what should have been my first day of my new semester.

The kids didn't have seminary this morning, since school was closed both in Mitchell and Emery. Since seminary is on skype, I am not quite sure why they let this stop them, except it means they could go back to bed.

Maybe I can do some of that baking I've been in the mood to do, HMMMM

Eyeball

When we moved to South Dakota, Our daughter Carolyn started going by the name Carie.

Today while I was fixing dinner, Mikey asked me, "Mom , when I get to Carie's age, can I change my name?"

Mom..."What would you change your name to?"

Mikey..."Eyeball"

I told him no.