Uplifting weekend

I have to say that I do enjoy conference weekend. It isn't because I get to stay in comfy clothes while I am spirtually uplifted. I enjoy the talks and seeing how applicable the messages are for me in my life and those I know that are going through struggles or special circumstances. It is so amazing how inspired the leaders of the church are. It is so amazing how Heavenly Father does speak to us in this day through his chosen prophet and apostles. I loved the messages of hope and joy that were given. I love how Pres. Ukdorf is able to relate to all people becuase of his life experiences. I loved the talk given by the YW general president. I think it is so cool that they are putting a temple in Rome, wow!

On a side note...here is an update on things in my life right now.

Everything that I have heard about the relief society retreat has been wonderful reviews. Everyone seemed to have a great time. I have asked people what their favorite part was. Many have said different parts, which means that everything that we planned was meant for the different sisters. Many people have requested that this becomes a tradition and some have even asked for it to be a bi-annual thing. News flash we have quarterly enrichment meetings maybe they should just come to those. Oops did I say that out loud? Anyways, the hard work definately paid off even though I was not there to enjoy it myself. If you want to hear an amazing program about the 10 virgins and how to correlate that parable in to your life you must get this CD. We performed the program at the retreat and it sounds like many people were very touched by the message. http://www.byubookstore.com/ePOS/form=robots/item.html&item_number=6-87747-180-6&store=439&design=439

Work, wow this is going to take some adjustment! It is so very different from what I know and love. I have a lot of flexibility which is pretty nice. I don't have to feel rushed to get to work at 8:00. But, it seems that a lot of my job will be visiting people to develop relationships, hoping that will lead to sales. That does seem strange to me as that doesn't seem like work to me. I am the type of person that likes to see progress that is measurable as I work on stuff...it is a little difficult to do that with this job. I did finally get my business cards this week and email. So now I feel a little better prepared to make visits and present myself to people. I would like to have some more training under my belt on the products, but I guess that is going to take some time. It is strange to have to go and find my own leads...I hope I can do that.

A little more then a week ago Tiffani left to go to Argentina's MTC. She is with two other American sisters down there and they are the first American sisters at the MTC.

My back yard is in full bloom with wild flowers. I planted one of those seed mats in my backyard

and I have a million of these little pink flowers taking up a quarter of my yard. They are super tall too...probably 5 and a half feet tall. I love them! They have almost taken over my onions. You can also see a small portion of the spagetti squash plant that has taken over the rest of the yard. It has even grown up and over the tomato plants!

Oh, in my sadness of missing the RS retreat I forgot to mention that the coed softball team that I play on took 1st place in our tournament and league! Hip Hip Hooray for smushballs!

Sad day

I have been planning the RS retreat for my ward for the past 9 months. It has been a long time coming and I was super excited for it. Friday was the big day...we would spend friday and saturday at the Heber Valley Camp. We had planned a really great program for Friday night, humanitarian project Saturday morning and a fun Challenge course Saturday afternoon.

I woke up friday morning not feeling very well. Within an hour of waking I realized that the retreat was not going to be something I would be participating in. I could not leave the restroom! I was weak, hot and cold and exhausted from losing everything that was in my body. I was so sad that I couldn't take part in the retreat. But, being that walking from the bed to the bathroom was exhausting and going up and down the stairs killed me, there was no way I could do it. I have some great neighbors that brought me gatorade and 7 up to drink. It helped to get some fluids back into my body. I did manage to eat two slices of bread yesterday.

I am on the mend. I have managed to keep my toast and noodles down today. I think that part is all over. I have been having some hot flashes and I am still a little tired. Every time I look at the clock I keep thinking of what I would be doing at the retreat. Right now I would be cleaning the camp...I am glad that I am not doing that. Just got to think of the positive, right?

New Job

This is my last week of no work. I will start my job officially on Monday the 29th. I will be working at an office furniture dealership in downtown Salt Lake, called MBI. I will be a sales person and if I can get design projects then I will do some design.

This will definately be a new challenge for me as I will be responsible to develop accounts and to work these accounts to get sales. They will give me two accounts that are fairly consistent and stable. The first is UVU (used to be known as UVSC) and SLCC (Salt Lake Community College). I will also have the Wells Fargo account, which I know well. So, hopefully these will give me a good start.

It will be somewhat stressful as I have to sell quite a bit every month before I start earning commisions...and things will be really tight until those kick in. It is a good thing that I have followed the prophet and I have my food storage. It is a good thing that I found my freezer on Craig's list so that I could use my coupons and stock up on meats, frozen veggies, make jam, freezer meals etc. It is a good thing I still have money on my cafe gift card and I can get many more meals to go in my freezer. It is a good thing I didn't end up buying a car when I REALLY wanted to and so I don't have a car payment. Wow, when you count your blessings things don't look so bad.

I just want to thank each of you for your love and concern that you have shown to me these last few weeks. I have recieved more phone calls then I usually do, with people checking in on me to see how I am doing. You guys are the BEST! I am grateful for a wonderful family and fantastic friends.

It costs how much?

The other day in the paper there was an insert saying you can get 3 free bottle of laundry detergent by calling a certain number. So, being unemployeed and a sucker for free product I called. They said that in order to get the detergent I needed to watch a demonstration on a new vacuum. All I had to do was give them my honest feedback. Sure, I could do that.



So Tuesday, they came to deliver my detergent and to give me the demonstration. It took about an hour for them to do the demo. This vacuum is called the Patriot, it was developed for the military. In fact it is the very vacuum the use in the White House! Can you believe that? It recieved its name because they used it to clean the patriot missles.

Anyway, the vacuum was quite impressive and really made me look like I don't clean my house very well. They of course explained why my vacuum isn't very good. I learned all kinds of gross details about the dust, dust mites and air we breathe in our homes. In fact he said if two people sleep in the same bed for 7 years you have accumilated enough dust and dead skin that there is a third person in your bed. GROSS!!!!!

In the process of demostrating the vacuum, I managed to get most of my house cleaned. They vacuumed my living room, the sofa, the loveseat and chair, my return air vent, swept the kitchen with the sweeping attachment, vacuumed my stairs and one of my mattresses. Wow, lots of hard work for them...it was great for me!


At the end of the demonstration they presented the price of the vacuum. WHAT? This vacuum is a small fortune! It is over $3,000 and if I had purchased it that very day I could have save $600 and bought it for $2,700. What a bargain...too bad I was unemployed. That was a great reason because they really couldn't be pushy with me and try to make me purchase it. So, they said well I hope you enjoy your free detergent. I replied, "I will and thanks for cleaning my house today!"

Making light of the Presidential campaign

Okay, so if you haven't seen this skit from Saturday Night live...it is pretty funny.
http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2008/09/sarah-palin-tina-fey-staurday-night-live.php

Tina Fey looks so much like Sarah Palin and she got her mannerism's down pretty well. Amy's Hillary Clinton is exactly what I can imagine Hillary Clinton saying.

Pretty funny satire!

Tennesse getway

I can't believe I actually pulled it off, my Tennesee getway. It couldn't have been better timing! I did end up losing about 30 hours of sick pay...but, at least it wasn't 64! Thanks to the Jones family for helping me get over my sickness. ;)

It was great fun to finally see Kristen's new home, in person! Tennesse was nice and rainy when I landed and stayed wet for the first half of my trip. It did clear up and was nice the last half. So, I got to ride the zip line....man I must have gotten to be a scaredy cat in my old age. I was afraid I was going to fall off or something. I finally went and it was fun...nothing to be scared about other then SPIDERS! I got to the end and I looked down and saw a HUGE orange and black spider on my chest...yes I did scream. It pretty much grossed me out. The body of the spider was probably the size of a quarter. YUCK!

It was fun to see the girl's play volleyball and meet some of their friends. TraLyn had a birthday party while I was there, so I got to help Kristen decorate and host the party. It was fun to go and see the Biltmore, which I had studied at BYU in my architectural history class. This home was built by the Vanderbilts...really the first family in the US to really have loads of money. Once you enter their estate you feel as if you have been transported to Europe. You really don't see many things like this in the US. It was really quite amazing! If you are ever in Ashville, Virginia this is a fun place to visit. You of course can not take pictures in the house...so I can't show you the inside.

Everything at the Biltmore is big...even the leaves on the plants.

They had really pretty gardens on the grounds.

It was great to help Kristen with her daily responsibililties of being a mom. Wow, I don't think the term of stay at home mom is very applicable. I think we were gone more then we were home. It should be a run around mom.

It's Official

Well, I am no longer employed at Tahitian Noni. The news came on Thursday morning that they were laying off our department. I have to say it was with mixed feelings that I recieved the news. I was glad that I didn't have to go to work and pretend like I was working. But, the neccesity of finding a job was not something to look forward to. It was quite the experience that I had while there.

So, I had an interview on Friday with an architectural firm in SLC. It went fairly well, if they are hiring for personality I am sure I will get the job. I would definately grow and learn a lot there. I don't have a lot experience in some of the things that they specialize in.

Monday, I need to contact three other firms that I have heard are looking for a designer. Hopefully, I will be able to interview with them as well.

What am I going to do with all my time now. Well, I have a list of things that I hope to start crossing things off at a rapid rate. I hope to get some spring or I mean fall cleaning done. I want to start selling some of those cute journals and I hope to get a web site up and going soon. I plan to do some canning...tomato soup! YUMMY.

I will keep you updated on my job search and the progress of my to do list.