What a difference friends can make!

Well, Dusty and I were talking with our neighbors about some things in our life that we want to change. So, we decided to do something about it! What a concept :)

Every morning this week Dusty and I have gotten up and went to our neighbor's house at 7 a.m. for scripture study. It's like the seminary I never went to ;) Just Kidding.... Anyway, it is a great feeling to have such good friends that are good people and really care about one another. If one couple is late the other couple will call or just come over and get you out of bed. It is so good to have an accountability system in place. When you know that some one is counting on you to do something, it helps you even more to do it!

This entire week I have been able to do so many more things in my day and by night time (which really means around 11 p.m....) I am tired. I have had the hardest time going to bed. Dusty and I both have and getting up like this is helping that too.

It is such a blessing to have such wonderful people who will go to great lengths to help strengthen all of our lives and our families.

Freakin Book Readin and Birdwatchers

So, I used to make fun of people that were involved in "Book Clubs". I never really saw the point. I never used to really read a whole lot...until now. I am constantly reading. I think my reading obsession started on the drive to Utah from Texas. I was reading the Harry Potter series and I think I read two books in the drive. I didn't realize that I had picked up a new habit though. (Although it's good that I picked up a good habit...people are driven to madness while taking the "scenic" (ahem...long) route to Utah in a 27 foot truck pulling a trailer while holding a box of about 14 snakes in your lap...need I go on?);)

It has been said that I was a little over the top (a.k.a. reading Harry Potter books until 4 or 5 in the morning in bed with a flashlight under the covers...did I just admit that?) Then I went on to books like Becoming Women of Strength, The Peacegiver, Bonds that Make us Free, Richest Man in Babylon etc. etc. etc. My book list that I have read is the longest in my life.

Why am I telling you all of this?

Because I am reading all of the time and I love it. AND because my neighbor and I broke down and started a book club for women and I love it. We haven't even met yet but we are all reading the book and have a blog set up and it is just really fun. I can't ask for more than friends who really help you be a better person. We are just going to meet once a month for a Saturday brunch and then decide the next book to read and then keep up the blog with our thoughts and comments. I am really loving it and I never thought I would!!!

OK, so what does birdwatchers have to do with any of this? Dusty is in a ornithology class (Bird class for you people who need lamen terms ;) He LOVES it. His teacher is off the chain random and funny and keeps Dusty entertained. He loaded everyone in a van and took them to a Home Depot parking lot to look at birds. He also took everyone to his house to birdwatch. Dusty and I used to make fun of people that birdwatched too. I think mostly because we saw this guy in the Mojave Desert that was ALL DECKED OUT in camouflage, a freaking 100x zoom camera with a HUGE lens on it, big binoculars and I can't even remember what else. So that picture sort of sticks in my mind about birdwatching.

Well, Dusty really likes birdwatching and when I was doing dishes the other day he broke out his binoculars he checked out from school and had his bird book out teaching me what birds were in our backyard. I didn't mind it so much myself either. I don't proclaim to be a birdwatcher...yet!

I guess Utah really does something to people! I don't care. We like it here. We have met so many neat people and have some of the best friends I have ever had. (Besides you Ange, we all know that) It is a great thing to try new things and like those things you try!

I have a link to our book club and you can join in if you want even if you are far away. You can read along with us and I can add you to the blog and you can share your thoughts too. We are focusing on books that will strengthen our families and women as individuals. Please give us any book suggestions you may have too. Click on the link on the top hand page to the Provo Book Nook if you want to join in or see what we are reading.

Safety Reminder

Take a few minutes and watch this video that gives you a few tips on how to protect yourself from identify theft.

http://video.sheriff.org/psa_cartheft.shtml

New Favorite Quote

"A woman is like a tea bag. You never know strong she is until she gets into hot water."
~by Eleanor Roosevelt.

How to cut down on junk mail

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Courtesy of: www.GetOrganizedNow.com

Texas Trip

Well, we just got back from Texas and I think I need another vacation!! It was full of adventures. Dusty's sister Sunny got married and there was lots of stuff to help do for that and Makayla and Isaac got to spend three nights and four days with us. I think I have a title for a new Children's book...Isaac! That's it, just Isaac!! He is full of...hmmmmmm...what shall I say....spunk! Dusty and I both learned a lot!!!! I felt like the worst aunt in the world becuase I gave him a spanking. However, that is for another post all of its own :) We played hard though. We did lots of stuff together. It was nice to travel back to Texas and it was enlightening too. I do miss the kiddos and Dusty's family but Dusty and I know that we need to be here in Utah. We love it here and have grown so much in every possible way.

Anyway, here are just a few pics. I got so busy that I didn't really take many pictures. Or was it the fact that Dusty took over 100 pictures at the zoo of snakes and wouldn't let me erase them.... ;) At any rate here they are.

2006 Christmas Devotional

Well, I am just getting around to posting these pictures. Dusty and I had the opportunity to go to the First Presidency Christmas Devotional in December. It was beautiful. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir sang and the orchestra played. It was gorgeous. Here are a few pictures.