I love waterfalls---if they are outside!

I love the sound of waterfalls.  I love to watch the water fall from the mountains but, I do not love the sound of water falling from my kitchen ceiling nor do I love to hear the sound of water hitting my wood floor.

  As I left for work this morning, I ran back into my house to grab my yogurt.  As I made the turn into the kitchen, the most amazing waterfall was falling from my ceiling.  I had a huge flood.  My first thought was that of “pretend that you did not see anything and go to work.”  Of course, the responsible me started grabbing buckets and pitchers to catch the falling water.  It was coming out of the seams and out of the light fixtures.    (One of many pitchers that was filled with yucky water!)

There was water everywhere!!  It was crazy!!  I ran upstairs to figure out where it was coming from—it was coming from the master bathroom AGAIN!! 

Yes, this is NOT the first time this has happened.  I can not believe it happened to us again.  It was crazy!!!

After many panic phone calls and many quick prayers… the phone rang and I hear, “I am standing at your door.”  No, it was not a knight in shining armor, it was the guy in the blue truck.  And it was not there to save the day…BUT…he ended up saving my day!!  Thank goodness for such a person to serve a helpless, panicked, tired, etc…person (ME) !!  Mr. Blue Truck guy…you, TRULY, will be blessed!! 

 

Remember to smile….even when it is difficult to do so!

Michelle

Wild Thing, You Make My Heart Sing!

I will be honest, I am not a true fan of visiting teaching.  I know, I know….how can I say that? But, I feel that I should be honest with all of you…I am just NOT a fan of such a task.  I do have to say that I do LOVE to talk to people.  I just do not not like being assigned to talk to certain people.  Does that make sense?

So, when Jen, my visiting teaching partner, called and asked me when would be a good time to visit those that have been ASSIGNED, I just was not all excited.  I might add…I DO LOVE THE PEOPLE THAT I HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED TO LOVE VISIT.

We visited our first two sisters…they are such sweethearts. Then, we went to our last one (which is also a sweetheart).  Her husband greeted us outside and asked if we were okay with wild animals.  Jen and I thought that he was referring to their two dogs.  He grabbed his wife and took us to his backyard where we were able to see the most adorable baby (2 weeks old) raccoons. 

Of course, I am not the type of person that plays and cuddles with animals.  I am definitely a girly girl.  But, after a lot of persuasion and laughter, I held the most adorable raccoon.  Oh, he was so cute. He did make me squirm a little bit when he snuggled up to me.  Then, he fell fast asleep. Oh, my goodness, I have never held such a thing.  His little hands were a tad bit creepy but, so adorable.

Jen loves animals and she was in high heaven with the baby raccoon that she was holding.  In fact, her raccoon was snoring.  TOO CUTE!!

Personally, I think that we were a bit too hilarious for our visiting teachee…Kami.  She just kept laughing at us.  Just think…if visiting teaching was like this every month…ok… you get the drift.

As for me, I am still the girly girl.  I do not think that I will own such an adorable creature in this lifetime.

 

Have a great day!!

Michelle

sit back, close your eyes and ENJOY!

As I was getting ready for work the other day, I turned on the radio. The song that was coming through the speakers was one of my favorite songs, Taylor Swift’s Love Story.  After that song was over, one of my other favorite songs started, Coldplay’s Viva La Vida.  Oh, I knew that it was going to be a good day.

When I arrived at work, I mentioned that it was going to be a good day because I had heard 2 of my favorite songs.  One of my co-workers asked what songs were they.  Then, he asked if I had heard the song that was floating around YouTUBE.  I had not…until tonight!!!…I LOVE IT!!!  This is incredible!!  Jon Schmidt and cellist Steven Sharp Nelson have put my two favorite songs together.  Did I already say that I LOVE IT?!

  I have always thought that Jon is incredible but, this outdoes anything that he has ever created.  My two favorite songs coming together—oh, what a delightful day!!  So, sit back, close your eyes and just enjoy!! 

Have a great day!!

Michelle

The Alphabet Station--my recommendation!

If you are or ever been a young women's leader, you know how much work, creativity, effort, sacrifice, and energy that goes into planning young women's camp. Well, I am currently serving in our Stake Young Women's Presidency. I love my calling and I am so grateful that I am serving at this time in my life. I am so excited for camp.

I have been working on items for our young women for months and months. Finally, it was time to take all of the many hours of printing and cutting to the local store for all the items to be laminated. After spending over 2 hours at this certain place and laminating over 53 feet, I felt a sense of relief. The final steps of all the planning is coming to an end. I went back to work, finished my projects and then, went home for a night of cutting out all of the laminated items.

Arriving at home, I turned the TV on, grabbed my scissors and started to cut. As I cut, I noticed that the top layer of the laminated film was peeling off the cardstock. WHAT? Yes, it just kept peeling and peeling. Let me tell you, it would have been nice if it was an orange....not laminated film. I rolled it all back up and headed back to that local store. I walked in...controlling my anger...and showed the first clerk my dilemma. She looked at it and said, "We have been having problems with the laminator all week." WHAT? ALL WEEK?? She then made a comment that stunned my inner soul....She chuckled and said, "We are offering you a 10% discount..." I will spare you the last part of the sentence. I could not and still can not believe what I was hearing. Another clerk came up and looked at my un-rolled 53 feet of laminating and said, "WOW, you have spent a lot of time on this project."

I asked them for ideas of what to do.

They had none.

I asked them if they were going to put a sign on the laminator saying that it was broken.

They said that they could not do that.

I asked them if they were going to tell the lady at the laminator that she was using a defective laminator.

They said no.

I could not believe my ears. I was so angry that I rolled up my defective project and walked out.

So, 2 weeks later after I researched laminating stores, re-copied each item, re-cut each item, I headed to THE ALPHABET STATION!! I was very hesitant to hand over all my items...feeling a little bit sick that I would have to recreate everything a 3rd time...but, I did. The sweet lady that helped me was an angel. She did a fabulous job. It did cost a tad bit more but, it was all worth it.

I shared with her my experience at the last store and she could not believe what had happened. She told me that her store stands behind all of their projects. If something happened during the laminating part, she would recreate, recopy, re cut and re-laminate the defective item. My 100% recommendation for laminating. If you need something laminated....THE ALPHABET STATION is the place for you!!

I'm Back....

I’m back!!! I am sure that all of you have been wondering what has been going on in my life. HA HA!! In all seriousness, I am back to my blogging excitement. First of all, let me share with you some of the highlights that have happened since the last time I was apart of this so-called blog world…

• My adorable niece, Brylie, turned 2.
  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

• I worked on items for young women's camp

• My Mom and Dad celebrated their 45^th wedding anniversary!!

• I worked on items for young women's camp

• We shopped at IKEA!! I know that this is not anything monumental but, I did take pictures of it and so I wanted to share….

Brylie seems to always brighten my day! Don't you just love that adorable smile?

Shad & Jessica trying out this living room furniture.

Brylie trying out this counting game.


My mom & Brylie taking a break!


I love how Brylie crosses her leg--she was imitating her grandma.

• I worked on items for young women's camp.

• My sweet friend, Ammie, gave birth to her sweet little Max!

• I worked on items for young women's camp.

• 3 of the sweetest girls that were in my Laurel class got married…

all in the month of May…

Whitney, Megan and Sam.

• I worked on items for young women's camp.

• I became addicted to FARM TOWN on Facebook thanks to my friend TONY!!

• I worked on items for young women's camp.

• My friend, Vieve went to the Real vs. Kansas Soccer game and was featured on television. Do you think that makes her famous? If it does, I know someone FAMOUS!

• I worked on items for young women's camp.

• I received a 99.8% on QC project for work!!

(Such a relief to many many long hours at work)

• I worked on items for young women's camp.

• We placed flowers on the graves of the people we love and miss.

• AND...I worked on items for young women's camp.

• Memorial Day weekend was full of rain, mud, 4-wheeling, BBQ's and family. I would have taken pictures but, my camera died.
  

Of course, there were many many other things that happened in the life I live...but, these were the events that I can think of....

Chocolate...the best melt-down ever!!

My nephews needed a ride home from school so, they called their grandma to rescue them. Their grandma, my mom, went to their aide. These particular nephews were unable to attend our family Easter dinner this past Sunday; therefore, they had not received their Easter presents from my parents.

Mom decided to give them their presents when she went to pick them up. She placed their Easter gifts on the seat where they normally sit. Austin's on the front seat and Tanner's on the back seat.

First, she picks up Austin. Austin climbs into the car and starts opening his Easter gifts. Then, it time to get Tanner so they drive to his school. While they are waiting for Tanner, they start chatting about this and that. Then, Austin looks in the back seat . . . "Grandma! Tanner’s chocolate bunny just had a melt down!" My mom looks in the backseat and finds a pile of melted chocolate. "Yes, he definitely did!"

Who would think that chocolate bunnies have the capability of having “melt downs”?

I broke a tradition!!

I broke a tradition tonight. Am I sad? Am I happy? HMMM!!!

This tradition started several years ago. For the past several years, on April 15th, my mom and I would drive to the local post office at approximately 10:30 P.M. I would hand the envelopes containing my income tax over to the clerk. In return, she would smile (or growl) and drop them into the HUGE bin of other envelopes waiting to be sent to their destinations.

BUT, this year, I broke tradition. I filed my taxes electronically this evening. One day early!! Am I sad that I broke a tradition? HMM!!! I would say that it is a bitter/sweet feeling. I am so glad that I can mark another task off my mile long list but, I am sad that I won’t see those familiar faces tomorrow evening. Maybe...just maybe...I will drop by the post office tomorrow evening at 10:30 PM.

Happy Tax day tomorrow!!