WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

THE KIDDO UPDATE!

I've been waiting for pictures to come so this post is a little bit late, but still worthy of a post. 

I'll start with JESSIE.  Jessie started the 8th grade this year.  That means my baby will be in High School next year.  Jessie loves everything about football and has played this sport for about 6 years now.  He is very good and has A LOT of talent.  He is very fast and very coordinated.  This being his 8th grade year, is really the most important year to play, to show the high school coaches what he is made of.  So he went to tryouts and practices and gave it his all.  He was chosen to be the running back for offense and middle line backer for defense as well as punter.  Yes, thats right, he plays Both Offense AND Defense. 

So... first game of the season was about 2 weeks ago.  Barely into the 2nd half of game, he gets in there and catches a kick off return and is running the ball towards the end zone.  He runs right into the defensive line and ends up getting himself hurt pretty bad.  His left arm all scratched up and his right arm possibly broken.  So he is taken off the field and to the hospital for xrays.  And sure enough, its broken.  He is out for the season.  Big Bummer! 

Other than that, he is good.  Loves to skateboard and spends plenty of time at skate park.  Working on getting better grades in school this year. 

SHELLISE went on her first date to Homecoming Dance 2 weeks ago.  She was asked by her friend/boyfriend, Branden Mosley.  They had a wonderful day that started off at the Cedar City SkyFest, dinner at his house and ended up with the dance.   After the dance was over and on their way out the doors, Shellise got injured.  I'm not sure exactly how this happened, but one of the big metal doors inside the school was opened on top of her foot, cutting it and crushing it a bit.  This caused her a lot of pain and she ended up having to go to the hospital the next day to get xrays.  She came away with her foot wrapped and crutches for a week.  Here are the pictures of her date.

                            Excited for Date!

Getting Ready

Beautiful!

Ready!

Branden & Shellise

At the Dance

Shellise on crutches

Okay so now I am thinking both my kids have been injured last week, what is going on?  And then I receive this picture of Shellise yesterday. 

Yes, that is Shellise in the hospital.  She got really sick with strep throat and tonsilitis.  Her dad ended up having to take her to the ER where they hooked her up on an IV to give her some antiobiotics and liquids.  She was there for 6 hrs and sent home with instructions to see her doctor today.  She is one sick little girl right now and is miserable. 

So it seems my kids have seen their fair share of the hospital the past 2 weeks.  When it rains it pours, and I hope the pouring has stopped for them.  They say things come in three's... so it should be done.  Here is to good heath and no more injuries!!!!

I can't wait to see them at Thanksgiving.

SEPTEMBER GIVEAWAY!

Mormon Mommy Blogs is offering an awesome giveaway of goods and services worth up to $900.  It's only being offered until Friday, October 2nd.  So hurry and head on over to their blog to get your entry(s) in.

Not Me! Monday

This past week has been a bit of a rough one for me.  I've had problems with my eyes and couldn't wear my contacts for several days.  I also don't have a good pair of glasses with the right prescription, but they are better than nothing.  Unfortunately, the blurred vision, the light sensitivity, and just plain not being able to see has taken its toll.  It has caused dizziness and headaches as well as nausea.  But this would not make me a grouchy person at all.... Not Me!  I am always a happy and calm person, nothing ever bothers me! 

After being stuck in the house for most of the week because of my eyes, we decided to go on a little hike up in the mountains one day.  Everything was fine for the first little bit, but after a while my eyes really started to get blurry, I started seeing triple, I felt like the ground was moving out from underneath me, and I started to feel like I was going to be sick.  So I was not the 42 year old, grown woman, who completely lost it and threw a major fit.  Nope, that was NOT ME!.  And it wasn't me that ripped her glasses off her head and threw them to the ground....that was definately NOT ME!    And it was NOT ME who started crying uncontrollably and had to have my husband practically carry me down the trail and back to the car.  Nope, that was NOT ME!  I don't even know who that person was.

And it was NOT ME! who spent 24 hours being sick with the flu bug later on in the week. Nope, I was not the one that spent the whole day lying on the couch doing abolutely nothing, but being miserable with a sick tummy and aches and pains.  Nope that was NOT ME!   I never get sick! 

And since I wasn't the one that was sick,  It was NOT ME who decided to make chocolate chip cookies the next day to take on our camping trip over the weekend.  And I promise it was NOT ME who ate more cookie dough than the number of cookies I actually baked.  That was definately NOT ME!  I just wouldn't do that.

And it's NOT ME that is really glad last week is over!  Nope NOT ME!  I would never be glad to see a week go by fast. 

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

ON A QUEST FOR GOOD BREAD....AND OTHER STUFF I'M MISSING!!

Some of you may have experienced moving from one place to another.  Moving to a different house in the same city or even state isn't so bad.  Moving to another state or country is a whole other experience.  After moving long distance it really takes time to get used to things.  Every state is different in one way or another.  It could be whether or not they charge sales tax, or local laws that are different than what you may be used.  Moving to Bozeman, Montana from Salt Lake City, Utah has been a good experience for the most part.  However, there are some things that will definately take some getting used to. 

For instance, I can't buy my favorite bread here.  For those that live in Utah and know and love Grandma Sycamore's bread, you will understand.  For those of you that don't know, you will have to trust me.  It is the best bread out there.  Its the next best thing to homemade and so very fresh!  I searched every store in this town only to find out they don't carry Sara Lee products and have no idea what I'm talking about when I ask.  So I am on a quest for good bread and so far I haven't found it.  Very disappointed!  So for now, I go to Great Harvest to get the Honey Whole Wheat that I like from there. And if I want white bread I'll either have to "settle" with what is available, or find a recipe that I like and bake it myself.  Now begins my search for a good bread recipe.  If you have one, please do share!

Next, are the many restaurants that I love and that they don't have here.  Yet, anyway. 

This is where Bill and I first met and its our favorite! Closest one is over 2 hrs away.

No more Charbroiled Chicken Club Sandwiches with Fried Zucchini

Good bye to the Green Burrito's and Chicken Quesadilla's

There are none of these either.... not on every corner... not in Montana!

What No Slurpee's??

No Maverik gas stations?  Bill's favorite place for snacks and things. 

Seeing Casinos attached to every gas station and on every corner is something else I will have to get used.  Yup! You guessed it, gambling is legal in Montana.  Its nothing like Las Vegas or Reno, Nevada... not even close.  But, yes there are many, many casinos. 

Another thing that I just learned about a couple days ago when I went to Subway is that they do not take the point cards here in Montana.  What?   What about all my points I've been saving for that free sandwich, chips and drink?  Ugh!!!!

For those of you that are LDS and live in Utah and like to frequent Deseret Book or Seagull Book & Tape, BE VERY GRATEFUL!   The closest Seagull Book is 4 hrs away in Idaho Falls.  There isn't a book store in town that carry any LDS products.  Nope, not even WalMart folks!  Online Shopping is the next best thing.  This will definately take some getting used to.   

Bill listens to audiobooks while he drives at night. He really enjoys many LDS authors as well as many authors outside the LDS scene.  However, accessibility to LDS audiobooks outside of Utah is very very difficult.  You can't just run down to Deseret Book or Seagull Book to buy them and you definately can't just run into your local library and pick up an LDS authored book of your choosing.  Nope!  It doesn't work like that here.  So, I have spent countless hours searching for online audiobook downloads that I can purchase and download onto my own home computer, and either burn to a CD or transfer to Ipod.   Note to self - Ipod purchase is needed very soon! 

Oh... and we don't even get a radio station that plays Delilah!  How am I to survive not being able to listen to Delilah at night?  Well okay...I can listen as long as I'm on the computer! 

One other thing that I thought strange, and I already posted this to facebook a few days ago, is this sign that I found at our local library. 

Move Over Handicap Parking!  This sign took up at least two up front rows of parking.  Is that discrimination against most of us who drive regular gasoline type vehicles? Strange!

But Hey, there are many things to like about this place.  I live in Big Sky Country, Montana.  It's beautiful here! I live very close to my most favorite place, Yellowstone National Park.  It's right out my back door and  I can explore it any time I want.  The weather is so nice and mild (compared to Utah) in the summer, and the winters aren't that much different than what I am used to. 

There are many new things and places to explore.  Hiking and biking trails are everywhere, as well as fabulous White Water rafting and Fly Fishing expeditions.  This is Fly Fishing capital USA afterall!!  There are 3 very large rivers very close by... The Yellowstone, The Gallatin (for the rafting), and The Madison (for the fly fishing).  Oh.. and it's only a 30 minute drive to the nearest Ski and Snowboard area.  Bill is happy about that. 

There are thousands of acres of wheat farms, cattle ranches, as well as horse ranches surrounding the area. 

It's a dog friendly town.  Dogs are welcome pretty much anywhere here.  Even into some eating establishments where they have a supply of dog bowls for water and food. 

The people are friendly and willing to help if you need it. The community comes out and supports all the local events and school activities. 

It's a smaller town than what I am used to, which I like very much.  It only takes a couple minutes to get ot Bill's work.  Yet there are plenty of shopping establishments to visit.  WalMart and Target are on top of my list.  There is a mall with JCPenney's and Maceys and all the other stores you find in a regular mall type setting.

We don't have to pay sales tax on anything we shop for.  And our cars don't need Emissions & Safety Inspections in order to get them licensed and registered.  That's a BIG plus! 

Yes, it will take time to get used to the differences and to find things to replace others that I got used to in Utah, but there are so many other things to like, to experience and enjoy.  I'm still in the newness (is that a word?) stage and every day is an adventure to me, and I am finding that I am enjoying that part very much.

Have you moved recently and are missing some of your favorite things?  Please share your experiences with me. 

PARAGLIDING MONTANA

Bill (my husband) was finally able to go paragliding today.  It's the first time in Montana since we moved here.  It's been pretty frustrating for him just trying to get a hold of the right people and gather information on site locations and times etc.  Then he couldn't go because he was too sick for a few weeks, then it was either too windy or rainy or the wrong timing of his work schedule. 

I probably shouldn't say this but he has been "brooding' about this for some time.  He bought a brand new wing in Utah right before we moved and because we were in the middle of the move he didn't have any time to try it out.  The Point of the Mountain in Salt Lake is a well known place around the world for Paragliding.   So coming from that right outside your back door to what we have here around Bozeman is on many levels very different. And its going to take some getting used to. 

Today he finally made it.  We met up with his local paragliding buddy, Keith, and went to Story Hills and gave it a try.  He is a VERY HAPPY CAMPER NOW!  Here are a few pictures. 

At the top of the hill getting ready to bring up his wing.

Again getting ready to open his wing.

I just had to take this picture!  This cow came running up the hill, obviously very irritated that they were invading its space or its hill.  He stood there watching and "mooing" for quite some time.  It was hilarious!

Bill and his paragliding buddy Kieth

Finally off the ground and soaring away!

Soaring downward

NO HE DID NOT LAND IN OR HIT THIS TREE! 

It just looks like it from this angle.  He actually made a very smooth landing behind the tree. 

See there he is gathering his wing.

Getting ready for the hike back up the hill

Still Hiking

Almost there!

Now Bill is looking forward to the next time.  Hoping for tomorrow or the next day.  I am sure I will be taking many more pictures now that he knows where all the paragliding sites are and when they fly. 

EYES THAT CAN'T SEE, A HIKE AND A CAMERA THAT REALLY WORKS!

I had an eye appointment last Wednesday to get a pair of glasses to be used when I don't want to wear my contacts.  I have been having trouble with blurred vision and burning eyes for about 2-3 weeks so I thought the prescription in my eyes had changed.  Nope!  Found out my eyes were wounded.  Like someone had poked hundreds of pin holes in my eyes.  That explains the blurred vision, the burning, and the sensitivity to light... oh... and all the headaches.  The cause?  Unknown.  The doc says possibly the contact solution or the contacts themselves.  He said my eyes have become allergic or sensitive to either one.  He wants me to change solution first and see what happens before he changes the contacts. 

Because of this he was not able to check my eyes for prescription.  Instead I got antibiotic eye drops (which cost me $45 copay at the pharmacy and would only last me 3 days) and was told to leave my contacts out until my next appointment, which happened to be today.  I have a pair of glasses but the prescription is so old that it is almost worse wearing them then to just go without. 

The first couple days of no contacts, not being able to see, the burning and light sensitivity really limited me on what I could do.  I couldn't sit at the computer for long periods of time, I couldn't watch TV either, I couldn't read for long and I definately couldn't drive.  And having the constant blurred vision drove me completely crazy and gave me lots of headaches. 

The drops seemed to help after the first couple days.  The blurred vision wasn't so bad, and the light sensitivity diminished.  So on Sunday we decided to go for a hike.  The first part of the hike went fine but after a while I got really dizzy and started to see triple and felt like the ground was moving out from underneath me.  And I also got sick to my stomache.  I got really upset by this.  And I threw a tinsy little fit by throwing my glasses onto the ground (I can't believe I am even sharing this with you).  So we ended up having to turn around and go home. 

On a much lighter note.  I got a new camera this weekend!  I have been needing a new camera for over 2 years, since I dropped the last one I had in the Ocean on the Oregon Coast.  That is one of the reasons we went on a hike, so I can try out my new camera.  I was able to take a few pictures and they turned out great.  I am very pleased.  Hope you enjoy them too!  Now I just need to learn more cool stuff about digital photography.  Looking into some classes.

Fairy Lake Trail Head - Bridger Mountains

Looking down on Fairy Lake from trail

Wow!  Beautiful Blue Green Water.  And all the beautiful green pine trees surrounding it.

Look how amazingly beautiful that water looks

Beautiful scenery!

Bill looking at the Blue Blue Sky

Forest Foliage along trail

SAVING MADELINE

 I have been given the opportunity to read the latest novel, Saving Madeline, by my favorite Author, Award-winning novelist, Rachel Ann Nunes', and write a review to post on my blog.  I have been so excited to share this with you.  I have read and love all of Rachel's books, but I think this one has touched me the most.  I could not put this book down.  It has given me insight to the serious subject of drug abuse and child neglect, and how it affects everyone around you, especially innocent children.  It is a very heart-wrenching and touching story and it will bring tears to your eyes.  I believe everyone needs to read and hear this message so that you can be more aware of what drugs can do to those you love. 

Be sure to leave your comments.  Anyone who comments on this review will automatically be put into a drawing to win a free copy of  Saving Madeline.  Winners will be announced on Rachel's website and will be contacted sometime after September 25th.

Book Summary

As a public defender, Caitlin McLoughlin dreams of someday locking the bad guys in prison instead of defending them. But prosecuting jobs are scarce, and Caitlin’s future seems bleak. When her current client is about to walk away from a brutal crime, she risks her career to make sure he doesn’t hurt anyone else. Yet what if her choice means sacrificing her career and the means care for her mentally disabled sister?

Then Caitlin meets Parker Hathaway, charged with kidnapping four-year-old Madeline. Just another criminal, another job, Caitlin thinks.

But Parker tells a far different story. Can Caitlin believe him, as her heart urges? Is she willing to put everything on the line to defend her client—a man who claims to be protecting the child he loves? Or is her trust better placed in the handsome deputy district attorney with his undefeated record in court? Caitlin’s pursuit of the truth swiftly thrusts her into a maze of unanswered questions and unexpected heartache.

Meanwhile, time is running out for Madeline. If Caitlin doesn't find the proof she is looking for soon, there may not be a future for any of them.

Author's Comments

Several years ago, shock radiated throughout Utah when an infant was found dead after ingesting meth she had found in a plastic bag on the floor of her home. What made this tragic circumstance even more notable and horrific is that weeks earlier her father had forcibly taken her across state lines, hoping to protect her from her mother’s substance abuse. Authorities found the child, placed her back with her mother, and sent the father to jail for assault and burglary. A little over a week later, the baby was dead and the mother was charged with desecration of a dead body for moving her daughter to cover up the mother’s drug abuse. All charges against the father were eventually dropped.   Sadly, this is not the only story of a child becoming the victim of a parent’s drug use.


States seem to be losing the battle against methamphetamine addiction. Child welfare, law enforcement, substance abuse, and treatment systems are overloaded. Some estimate that over 8.3 million children in the United States live with a parent who has a substance abuse issue. Nearly 2 million child abuse cases each year are investigated, and a half million of those have enough evidence to act on. Some 200,000 children are removed from their homes each year.

But what about the cases that aren’t proven? What about the children who fall through the cracks, but are still at risk? To what lengths might a non-custodial parent be compelled to go in order to protect a child from danger?

These were the questions I thought about as I began writing Saving Madeline. I wanted to show one man’s dilemma in balancing his need to protect his daughter with his duty to obey the law, to detail his struggle in an overloaded system where there are no second chances for the innocent victims.

To learn more about Rachel Ann Nunes, you can visit her at her website here:  http://www.ranunes.com/

SO WE DON'T FORGET!

This Week's Topic

We're doing something a little different this week!

Sharing Main Dish Fall Recipes!

Soups, Casseroles...Anything yummy we can eat for dinner!!!

Chicken & Broccoli Casserole

Ingredients:

4 oz. cheddar cheese shredded

1 C. Cooked Rice

1/2 C. Sliced Mushrooms (Fresh or Canned)

1/2 C. Diced Onion

1/2 C. Evaporated Milk

1 Can Cream of Mushroom Soup

10 oz. Pkg Frozen Broccoli

1-1/2 Tbsp. Margarine
1 tsp. Salt

5 Chicken Breasts boiled & diced

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray 2 qt. Casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside. 

In saucepan combine all ingredients except broccoli, cooking over medium heat, stirring constantly, until cheese & margarine are melted.

Add broccoli and cook until broccoli is heated.

Spoon into casserole dish and bake 30 minutes.  Top with a little more shredded cheese and let melt. 

I sure hope you try out this recipe and enjoy it as much as my family and I do.  Come join the fun!!

Not Me! Monday

I went on a hike today to the top of 'M' mountain here in Bozeman, Montana.  It was a great hike except that it was steep and it was Hot!  I had too many layers of clothes on and I was feeling trapped.  So... I was not the person on that trail that stripped down to her bra, right out in the open, giving anyone who was looking a "free" shot, just so I could remove some layers.  Nope!  That was Not Me!  I wouldn't be caught dead or even think about doing that. 

It was also Not Me! who made a batch of Scottish Shortbread to take to our neighbors as a thank you for welcoming us in the neighborhood, and then ate practically the whole plateful myself and decided to just make another batch for the neighbors.  Again... That was Not Me!  I never do those sorts of things! 

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

Presidential Speech...... I'm confused!

I will be the first to admit that I am not a political person.  I don't like or understand it.  Politics to me are confusing as well as maddening especially when there is so much political bashing.  I will also be the first to tell you that I did not vote for Obama, and I don't necessarily believe he is the right one for the job of being our President.  However, he is the President and I believe we as a country need to work harder in finding ways we can work TOGETHER rather than working so hard in finding ways to DIVIDE our country even more. 

That said, I have read several of your blog posts or comments on Facebook regarding the Presidential Speech to our school children.  Most of you are in an uproar about him speaking to our children.  You are even suggesting that you will keep your children home from school and have made it very clear to everyone that you think we should all keep are children home from school and not allow them to listen to what he has to say.

I DISAGREE!  First of all, I want my children to be able to form their own opinions of such things.  But this is what I don't understand, why wouldn't you want your children or any other child to hear this message? 

Excerpts from President Obama's Message to School Children:

"We need every single one of you to develop your talents, skills and intellect so you can help solve our most difficult problems," Obama said. "If you don't do that — if you quit on school — you're not just quitting on yourself, you're quitting on your country."


In the prepared remarks, Obama tells young people that all the work of parents, educators and others won't matter "unless you show up to those schools, pay attention to those teachers."

"At the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents and the best schools in the world, and none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities."

"I expect great things from each of you," he said. "So don't let us down — don't let your family or your country or yourself down. Make us all proud. I know you can do it."

Come on Folks, what are you afraid of?  
 
In my opinion, every child needs to hear this.  A child can hear this same message over and over again from his parents, siblings, friends and not get it.  But a person, such as the President who is in a very powerful leadership position, telling our kids about his failures growing up and what it takes to become a successful person may just be the one person that your child will listen to.  It may be this one message that may change your childs attitude and will want to make him/her strive to reach their goals and become a better person.
 
That is all I have to say.  I am anxious to hear your thoughts and/or opinion(s) regarding this topic.  Please do share!