Moving/Packing

There are a few good things about moving and packing.

1. Throwing away trash I hang on to for way too long.
2. Taking stuff to the DI/Good will.
3. Getting organized.
4. Cleaning under, over, around and through things.
5. Finding things that you have been missing under couches, beds, in closets, etc.

Trying to find the positives of moving. ;)

Date Night

Yesterday Dave and I had a great date night.

First of all we went to look at a couple places For Rent in Lehi.

Then we went to

And got a great deal on massages 2-for-1, that's 12.50 for an hour massage per person.
Luv It! They do this every two months for three weeks in a row.

Then we went to dinner at

We had gift certificates for Pizza Factory, and I recommend it, the food was good.
We were out just the two of us for almost 4 hours. I love spending time with Dave and strengthening our relationship. Sometimes we get busy and don't take the time for each other,
Then we pay though because I am high maintenance when it comes to time. I like my time and I like people to spend time on me, especially my hubby.
Marriage is our most important relationship though... if that is not strong then the family unit could fall apart, and
Family is Important to Me!

For Rent

We thought we had a place to rent,
but it looks like they are selling it so we have to find another place in less than two weeks.
I really like this one place, but Dave is unsure.
Man this is difficult. Why???

I do not like moving.
Our landlords grand daughter needs a place to rent so they are booting us after almost 2 years. Dang it!!!

I am praying for strength, patience, peace and guidance.
And maybe someone to magically move us like Mary Poppins, oh wait that's me.
I'll keep ya posted.

Visitors

Dave, Noa and the kids.

Dog pile on the lawn on David Jr.

It was such a nice day and evening yesterday that we all stayed outside to chat and play.

What beautiful girls! Thanks for coming to see us.

Missed you Tonya and Dieter. See you next time!

Song for the season...

I have written before about my theme songs...
The next one that seems to be manifesting itself is
"Have I done Any Good...
in the World Today?"
I am feeling like it is time for me to give back a little more.
After all I have been given the last two years (and ALWAYS) finishing this degree, it's the least I could do.
A new goal I have set is to write in my journal each day...
1. Something I am grateful for.
2. A way I have seen the hand of God in my life that day.
AND
3. A service I did that day.
(Not including the work I do which is a service itself, but I get paid to do that)

Here are some of the lyrics to that song I like best.
Have I done any good in the world today?
Have I helped anyone in need?
Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad?
If not I have failed indeed...
Has anyone's burden been lighter today...
When they needed my help was I there?...
Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure,
A blessing of duty and love.

There are chances for work all around just now,
Opportunities right in our way.
Do not let them pass by...
Love's labor has merit alone...
To God each good work will be known.

Just the little things are important. I need to be more conscientious of others and be willing to help when He needs me, not so selfish.

Sweet Tooth?

Yes, I have a sweet tooth.
I don't think I have mentioned on here about my wonderful husband and his job!
He is so talented, especially when it comes to baking and cooking.
He works at the Sweet Tooth Fairy here in Provo.
The motto there that I love is,"you are what you eat, so eat something cute!"
The stuff is cute and delicious, which is part of the reason I have needed to lose weight.
He really enjoys it and hopes to be a partner with thewonderful owners, Megan and Ethan Brown, someday.
Check it out and try it out if you are in the Provo area.
Click on the Sweet Tooth Fairy above and find out about their other locations.

(I'm not saying Dave gets credit for the recipes there- they are all Megan's doing, but Dave is still good at what he does!)

Cupcakes and cake bites, both DELICIOUS!

They make other sweets too, but this is their specialty.

Therapist

I can't stop grinning.
(There are tears in my eyes, but not on my cheeks today.)
I keep looking at the DOPL website.
I can't believe it.
All that work and energy is paying off.
I have been and continue to be so blessed.
My license posted today.
It's official.
I am a Certified Social Worker.
Or in other words I am a therapist.

Marathon ?

I really want to run a marathon this year.
I wanted to run the St. G marathon, but did not register in time.
Actually I did not have an extra $80 two weeks ago, and I was unsure if I would be able to lose this school fat (like post pregnancy only from grad school).
I think I am going to though, lose the extra weight anyways.
Since graduation I have lost 10 pounds. Yay!
So I was looking online at Utah Marathons trying to decide which one...
There is one in SLC July 24, but it may be too soon.
There is one in Park City Aug 21 (Joey's bday), but it only allows 500ish and I'm not sure how exciting that would be.
Then there is one in South Jordan Sept 25 that looks good, I just don't know anything about it.
Anyone have any tips?

Woman

Googled some quotes about women and these are the ones I like.

Whatever women do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult. -Charlotte Whitton

Because I am a woman, I must make unusual efforts to succeed. If I fail, no one will say, "She doesn't have what it takes." They will say, "Women don't have what it takes." -Clare Boothe Luce

The loneliest woman in the world is a woman without a close woman friend. -George Santayana, The Life of Reason, 1905-1906

I am a woman above everything else. -Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

The history of all times, and of today especially, teaches that ... women will be forgotten if they forget to think about themselves. -Louise Otto

I hope that my dear sisters throughout the world—grandmothers, mothers, aunts, and friends—never underestimate the power of their influence for good, especially in the lives of our precious children and youth!... May I invite you to rise to the great potential within you. But don’t reach beyond your capacity. Don’t set goals beyond your capacity to achieve. Don’t feel guilty or dwell on thoughts of failure. Don’t compare yourself with others. Do the best you can, and the Lord will provide the rest. Have faith and confidence in Him, and you will see miracles happen in your life and the lives of your loved ones. . . Wherever you have been planted on this beautiful but often troubled earth of ours, you can be the one to “succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees” (D&C 81:5). My dear sisters, as you live your daily life with all its blessings and challenges, let me assure you that the Lord loves you. -Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf
(please don't mind that I look totally prego in this shot, but I am not!)
Happy Mother's Day!

Dreams Really do come true!

Yesterday I was filling out the paperwork to request my license to practice therapy.
I started to get emotional because this is a dream I have had for as long as I can remember (well at least since I was 12).
I have accomplished it! I am going to request my license Monday morning in Salt Lake City at DOPL, Division of Professional Licensing.
I feel so blessed and grateful to have the dream becoming a reality. This dream happened earlier than I expected as I did not plan to go back to school until I had 5 kids and they were all in school, but apparently God has other plans for me.
Now I simply want to be able to do His will for me.
This has been a long, difficult and emotional journey and this chapter has finally come to an end.

Also I took these two to the local Surf-N-Slurp and got them snow cones brrrrr.
While she was making David's he said "I'm the luckiest kid in the world"
Glad I can help others achieve their dreams too!

David got tigers blood and root beer side by side and Joey got tigers blood and bubble gum mixed. MMMMMM :)

P A S S

One of my friends posted on her blog about how much those four letters meant to her. I did not really get what she was talking about until I saw those four letters in that order myself.
P A S S

It happened, I did it! BUT definitely not on my own. I have been praying for help with that for over a week now. I went to the temple this morning in order to help my mind be more clear and active. I actually started crying when I saw those four letters today. I was overcome with gratitude that it was over and that I passed.

This test was the LCSW test which is the licensing exam to be a therapist/social worker. It cost me $300 and I would have had to pay $300 again if I failed today, plus wait three months, plus pay for an internship license until I actually passed so that I could practice therapy legally.

I am so thankful for the help I received during this test. At one point, after 2 hours of testing I got up to take a break and saw I was having a physical reaction to the stress because my face was bright red. It was 170 questions... my attention span was such that I was reading each question atleast 3 times :) Gotta love it!

Anyways I am done and feeling tons of gratitude! And Relief!

Deserving

Sometimes I feel so undeserving of these two.

I can be such a grumpy mom.
I just got done with my first official week of full-time work.
Tuesday-Saturday 9-4, hopefully this doesn't last too long.
I was so grumpy and edgy with them.
Then Joey came up to me and said "mom, I love you." And gave me a big hug!
I felt like poo.
I am constantly apologizing to them and asking for their patience,
and they are always willing to offer forgiveness and love.
I am so thankful for them in my life and count them as BLESSINGS!

OA

This was on the OA Website... I found it a little humorous so I wanted to share.

Are You a Compulsive Overeater?

This series of questions may help you determine if you are a compulsive eater.

1. Do you eat when you’re not hungry?
2. Do you go on eating binges for no apparent reason?
3. Do you have feelings of guilt and remorse after overeating?
4. Do you give too much time and thought to food?
5. Do you look forward with pleasure and anticipation to the time when you can eat alone?
6. Do you plan these secret binges ahead of time?
7. Do you eat sensibly before others and make up for it alone?
8. Is your weight affecting the way you live your life?
9. Have you tried to diet for a week (or longer), only to fall short of your goal?
10. Do you resent others telling you to “use a little willpower” to stop overeating?
11. Despite evidence to the contrary, have you continued to assert that you can diet “on your own” whenever you wish?
12. Do you crave to eat at a definite time, day or night, other than mealtime?
13. Do you eat to escape from worries or trouble?
14. Have you ever been treated for obesity or a food-related condition?
15. Does your eating behavior make you or others unhappy?

Have you answered yes to three or more of these questions? If so, it is probable that you have or are well on your way to having a compulsive eating problem. We have found that the way to arrest this progressive disease is to practice the Twelve-Step recovery program of Overeaters Anonymous. Overeaters Anonymous is a fellowship of individuals who, through shared experience, strength and hope, are recovering from compulsive overeating. We welcome everyone who wants to stop eating compulsively. There are no dues or fees for members; we are self-supporting through our own contributions, neither soliciting nor accepting outside donations. OA is not affiliated with any public or private organization, political movement, ideology or religious doctrine; we take no position on outside issues. Our primary purpose is to abstain from compulsive overeating and to carry this message of recovery to those who still suffer.

Is OA for You?

Only you can decide that question. No one else can make this decision for you. We who are now in OA have found a way of life which enables us to live without the need for excess food. We believe that compulsive eating is a progressive illness, one that, like alcoholism and some other illnesses, can be arrested. Remember, there is no shame in admitting you have a problem; the most important thing is to do something about it.

I am going to give it a shot... My clients right now are all expected to attend Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Cocaine Anonymous (CA), Marijuana Anonymous (MA) etc. so I am going to give OA a shot.

My Class

These guys were all amazing, fun, understanding, funny, hardworkers, cute, and the best cohort I could have imagined to spend the last 20 months with.Thanks MSW Class of 2010!
LYLAS, love ya like a sister.