Churchy stuff

I 've never been to a meeting like the one I was able to attend last night. It was announced last week that our entire stake was going to be re-alligned. They also told us that ever ward in the stake would be affected. Needless to say, that was the talk of the town all last week. Being that my house is on a strange little finger of the ward, I thought for sure they'd reassign us. And I just love my ward now. Randee and Tawny both attend. And my mom is there too. There's nothing like attending church with your family. Anyway, the meeting was cool. The stake center was packed. More so then I've ever seen. So singing the hymns was super cool! There were some great speakers and then we were able to sustain our new leaders and the changes made to our wards. They even had us stand as a ward. That was cool to look around and see old friends and new faces. My ward is really going to change! Most of the ward will be new people I really don't know. And I'm not exactly the most social person. This will be an opportunity to do as I was encouraged last night, and break out of my shell to make new friends. Change is good, right? At least I still have my mom and sisters.
Oh, and yesterday was the primary program!! I love those kids. I was teary just watching them take the stand. Their spirit is so pure and so amazing! Celia wanted so badly to be on the stage. She bargained the entire way to church to be allowed. She even went so far as to say "I'll just sit with Kayla, so she'll want to sing the songs." Kayla was terrified and refused to go. I think Celia would have gladly taken her place if I would have let her!

Goodbye Chace!

So, Chace is on his way to Spain. He packed late, late last night. And left early this morning. I'm really going to miss him. So will Celia. She just loves her Uncle Chace. And 8 months is a long time. I'm so happy for him though. This is such an amazing opportunity. I'm also a little jealous. Silly me. Why didn't I run away to Spain when I had the chance?

A little perspective

Dan sent this to me...
"The Miniature Earth" Project lists statistics of the Earth if the entire population was only 100 people. Some of the statistics go on to list how many from each continent, how many men and women, how many would live in urban areas and how many in rural. Then it started to dig into how many of each religion. It stated that of those 100: 43 lived without basic sanitation, 18 live without an improved water source and 6 own 59% of the worlds wealth. 13 are hungry or malnourished. Only 7 have a secondary level education. But the one that I thought was the most interesting was this: If you have a closet to put your clothes in, a refrigerator to put food, a bed to sleep in and a roof over your head, you are richer that 75% of the world's population.
I read that, and all I can think is, wow. I've got a closet overflowing with clothes. Most of which I don't wear, and some items still have tags on them. I complain that I don't have the best, when others don't have any. I always have food. I have a warm home and a family that loves me. I don't want for anything I really need. Truly I am blessed.

Big day!

Yesterday was a big day... we had a domestic conference where the Guardian ad Litem made her recommendation for custody/visitation of Cecelia. Given the battles that have take place these past few months, I was very hesitant for her decision. My worst fear was that she would allow Jason visitation, and soon. Since the state hasn't ordered him to complete any therapy or treatment programs, that thought terrifies me. But, it turns out, I had nothing to fear. The Guardian as Litem truly has researched our case and seen the truth. She's filing a petition with the state on Monday. This will mandate Jason undergo psycho-sexual evaluation. If he passes, the state will begin their reunification process. He will be closely monitored and required to complete therapy. And that could take a very long time. If he fails, they will move to terminate his parental rights. Either way, I'm so grateful! Celia will be safe!
These past few months have been such a lesson in faith! I had in my mind the path I really wanted Heavenly Father to allow me to take. I thought I had the best things all planned out. When those things started to fail, I couldn't understand why. So, I kept praying. Only this time, I prayed for faith and to know His way for me. I can't even express how much better this path is! Celia and I have been blessed in ways I am still trying to understand. It's amazing!

Yummy!!

Sweet Potato Fries.

Try them. You will like them.

I hate being a single,working mom

I still have this dream that one day I'll be able to stay at home with Cecelia. Given that I've been forced into being a single mom, that dream seems so far away. Especially after a day like today! Tawny, my sister, is not happy watching Celia. But, she won't tell me. And it seems that Celia has been acting out quite a bit. I wish I knew. I want Celia to be happy and I appreciate Tawny watching her. It's just not working. So, I feel like a horrible mother. Horrible that I have to work. Horrible that my little girl in unhappy. And I can't help but blame and hate Jason for doing this to us.
I am so grateful though for the huge network of loving people that pick up the slack when I can't! As soon as Mom, Randee and Chace found out about today's situation, they had a solution in place and Celia was taken care of. And this was all before I really knew what was going on! I guess I'm not really a single mom after all!

I love men, honestly I do

UCLA Study
A study conducted by UCLA's Department of Psychiatry has revealed that the kind of face a woman finds attractive on a man can differ depending on where she is in her menstrual cycle.
For example: If she is ovulating, she is a attracted to men with rugged and masculine features. However, of she in menstruating or menopausal, she tends to be more attracted to a man with duct tape over his mouth and a spear lodged in his chest while he is on fire.
No further studies are expected.

(Ok, so I've been a little PMSy this week...)

Good Song

Not Too Late

Tell me how you've been,
Tell what you've seen,
Tell me that you'd like to see me too.
'cause my heart is full of no blood,
My cup is full of no love,
Couldn't take another sip even if I wanted.
But it's not too late,
Not too late for love.
My lungs are out of air,
Yours are holding smoke,
And it's been like that for so long.
I've seen people try to change,
And I know it isn't easy,
But nothin' worth the time ever is.
And it's not too late,
It's not too late for love,
For love,
For love,
For love.

Norah Jones

I am the birthday girl

So, the dreaded 29 has come and gone. And it was actually great! I got to work and my little office was all decked out with balloons and signs. Then we had an all day junk food fest. (per my request) We had caramel corn, pizza, salsa and chips, little smokies, cheese and crackers, veggies and dips and pumpkin squares. Yumm-o! I think I consumed about 3 gazillion calories! Everyone was so nice. I think I got sung to about 10 times. And my dad sent me flowers! That never happens. And they're gorgeous. Lots of green! My favorite!
When I got home, my family and I had plans to attend the Monet to Picasso exhibit at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts. What none of us realized was that it's closing weekend and it's completely sold out. Oh well! So we went to Trolley Square and had dinner instead. I think my mom was a little disappointed that we couldn't do the exhibit. But, we had so much fun! Including the car breaking down. It really was a great night though! I really just wanted a night with my family. And that's what I got. I couldn't have been better!

Out of the mouth of the munchkin

Sweet Celia. You just never know what's going to come flying out of her mouth. Here are two of her latest...

Today, Celia dressed head to toe in her best princess outfit. Then she got a chair and sat patiently waiting in the hall. When my mom found her like that, she asked what she was doing. "Waiting for my prince to come!" she answered confidently.
(Me too Celia. Let me know if you have any luck!)

A few days ago, Chace had a date over. Celia, as usual, decided to talk their heads off. I overheard her whispering to the girl. "My mom thinks she's the boss of everything. But, I am the boss of everything!"

Heaven help me! I've got my hands full with this girl!

Warning....Extreme Pity Party!

I really hate being sick! Coughing, blowing my nose, and aching all over. And it's not like I could stay home today. Princess Amy has taken the week of. And she was so kind to leave me stacks and stacks of jobs three weeks overdue on payment. I'm working my tail off just to get caught up so people don't keep screaming. Oh, and did I mention that she's never trained me? What little I know I've had to either figure out for myself of find someone else to train me. So, I've fumbled my way through all week, just getting sicker and sicker. And it's only Thursday. I'm tired and should really just be home in bed coughing up a lung... Ok, that's it for my pity party. Tomorrow's my birthday. The big 2-9. Which is pretty much 30 and that's pretty much old. Happy Birthday me.

Needed a change...

Girls can't pee standing up!

I shouldn't have to have this conversation with my daughter! Right? The other day I caught Celia just in time to stop her from "peeing like a boy". She had her pants around her ankles and both seats up on the toilet and was ready to give it a try. She was so upset that I stopped her and just kept insisting she could really do it because "Joshy does". So I had to explain to her, again, that boys and girls have different parts. And that she really couldn't pee standing up. Her response? "I'll just try it at Randee's!" (Randee has been alerted!) And what's really funny... this isn't the first time we've had this conversation! My Celia adventures never end!

Yelowstone!

Our Yellowstone Adventure

Ok, so I'm not like super camper girl. Everyone knows that, right? But, bring the motor home and I'm set. This was a great trip!! I just love Yellowstone. Celia was so excited to go since she's read "Who Pooped in the Park" with Grandma. She can now identify several different kinds of animals from their poop, or 'scat' as she always corrects me. Who's kids is she?? That's so not me.
Getting to Yellowstone was probably the biggest adventure of the weekend. What with Celia's potty stops every half hour, Josh throwing up and taking that fabulous detour to Lima, Montana. (Yeah, I hadn't heard of it either. It's about 100 miles the other way from Yellowstone.) But, we had fun. The kids were such troupers. Especially since we didn't get to camp until about 11 that night.
I loved exploring the park with the kids. They were so dirty and so happy. Celia especially. She was totally in her element. Animals, dirt and tons of space! We saw a coyote, tons of bison, elk and even a bear. We had a bison ramble through the camp. And Sunday morning we had breakfast with an elk!
My favorite quote from the weekend comes from my niece Mikayla. Celia of course was filthy and Mikayla the clean freak decided to approach me about it.
She said "Aunt Manda can you please change her?"
"Celia?" I asked.
"Yeah. So that every time I play with her she's not so dirty!"
I could have died laughing! She was totally serious! One of the hardest lessons I've had to learn as a mom- Kids wash. And dirt won't kill them.
What a fun weekend though! Thanks Mom and Bill!!

Just put the stupid book down Amanda

It's pretty sad when I'm staying up way late to read a book I swore I'd never read! I'm exhausted today! The Twilight books totally frustrate me, but then I pick them up and get hooked. Besides, I'm totally in love with Jacob. Yeah, I know he's not real. Randee can sympathize with me on this one. But, seriously. A tall, hot, brown guy? What's not to love?
It does make me miss my best friend though. I guess you can only hurt someone so much...

Celia loves her brother

So, I got this feeling about a week ago to contact Sinjin's mom Heather to see if we could get him and Celia together for a little visit. She's always been so hostile to me in the past. (Actually hostile is an understatement. What's the word for loathes every part of me and wishes me dead???)
Anyway, I emailed her and she actually responded very cordially. We set up the little visit for last night at the park. I was a total nervous wreck going into it because Jason had already emailed me to say he knew about the visit. I could just imagine him showing up at the park and making a whole scene. There's still a protective order keeping Celia safe from him. But, I could see him being him and showing up anyway. And I just didn't want to have Celia and Sinjin involved in that whole mess.
Things turned out great though. My wonderful brother brought his two friends and came with me just to be safe. (Thank you Chace!!) Celia and Sinjin were so excited to see each other. They hugged about a million times and were inseparable the whole time. He's so sweet with her. He just dotes on her and she can't get enough of his attention. He's grown so much these past few months. He told me all about school and the things he's been doing lately. I really miss that kid!! Hopefully, this will start a new trend. I would love to get the kids together again. Celia's already asking when she can see her brother again.
And maybe, just maybe, Heather can see that I'm not as evil as she's made me out to be?