Talking while Shopping!

I went to the store the other day and noticed how impersonal the girl at the checkout was. She seemed almost annoyed that I was checking out. I began to observe the other checkers and noticed they too seemed to just do their jobs, no small talk, no smile, same greeting (did you find everything ok)and no good bye, they just moved on to the next customer. I can only blame this phenomenon on, yep you guessed it, CELL PHONES! While observing the checkers I also noticed that 3 out of the 4 customers where either talking or texting on their cell phones. Its no wonder that our society is becoming more selfish, more dis-respectful and less social! I've decided that its time to rejoin society, I am going to hang up before I get to the check out, go out of my way to create small talk with the checker and make it a goal to get a smile out of the person standing in front of me. Have we really come to this? We can't take the time to respect people we don't know? I would have missed out on a lot of frienships with people I met at Gymboree if they didn't give me opportunity to get to know them, I would have been annoyed if someone stood in front of me and talked to someone else while I was trying to help them. I learned a lot about social cues from my many jobs behind a counter ringing people up. I learned how to respond politely, create small talk with strangers, how to politely laugh and act interested, I was able to learn peoples emotions and moods(this comes in handy, you don't want to mess with someone having a BAD day), I use these tools everyday in my life, by ignoring checkers and continuing to talk on my phone I am doing society a disservice. If we don't allow the younger generation to learn these same social cues, our society will continue to become more selfish, and come on beside all that its just RUDE!

SICK over Spring Break!

So I can't decide if I am really lucky or really un-lucky! It is my spring break, I have been looking forward to this week for a long time. I had so many things I wanted to get done and started, I was going to do "spring cleaning", start Tyson's scrapbook, scan in all my pictures and put them on disks, clean out the garage, take down the trampoline, do some weeding, and get the garden ready to plant in. How much did I actually get done...NONE of it! I ended up getting sick! I spent four days in my warm bed watching Law and Order marathons or NCIS marathons. I took naps, played on my computer, made a budget (the only productive thing I did), coughed, blew my nose and napped again! I'm looking back on my week and thinking how unproductive it was....but I SURE DID GET TO DO NOTHING! I know you are thinking it sounds like heaven...well....IT WAS!

My Eternal Family

Saturday, February 20, my family had the opportunity to go to the Salt Lake city Temple and become an Eternal family! It was one of the best days of our lives! I had many different feelings and emotions that day, so did Troy, but I think our kids can say it best. The temple gave each of our kids a page to journal on. It asks who was there, what they did in the youth center and then about their thoughts and feelings about this sacred experience. I'm going to start with Tyson. He wrote

" At first I felt a little scared then I saw my mom and dad and gave them a big hug. I remember shaking the hand of the guy, then kneeling with my family and holding their hands. I was still nervous, but after it was over I got hugs from all the people that came to see us. Corbin teased me because I was crying a little."

Corbin's really made me laugh! He says..

"I felt like the luckiest 8 year old in the world, not every 8 year old gets to see inside the temple at my age. When I saw my mom and dad I thought they looked funny! I almost cried because everyone else was crying. It felt good to put all of our hands together and be sealed. I really liked seeing the temple for the first time."

Makenzie, being a little older (11), had more to say..

" When I walked in everyone was crying and it made me feel happy and excited that we had come so far from being people that never went to church to people that went every sunday and were able to be sealed. I felt so excited when we kneeled around the alter and held hands in the middle. This is my eterity. When the lady was bringing us to the sealing room (from the youth center) I got shakey and when we sat outside the door I looked at my brothers and thought these are MY brothers forever and this is the family I want to be with for eternity because I love them so much. When I saw my mom and dad I thought why are they wearing that? Then I thought it doesn't matter, they look nice anyway"

Like Makenzie, this is the family that I want for Eternity. I loved my kids so much before this, but it is so much better knowing that they are MINE, not just in this life, but also in the next! I am very lucky that Troy is who he is, a great husband, dad and my best friend. We are also very lucky to have as much family as we do who love us and support us! I am thankful for My Heavenly Father and the plan of salvation that makes it possible to have my family with me ALWAYS! This was truly one of the most amazing and peaceful experiences!