We're starting to get excited around here

Josephs papers went in Tuesday night after he spoke with the stake president. Maybe the call will come on Wednesday, or the next or- my last offer is the next. We are starting to guess!

A good idea

I read somewhere or a few somewheres of a few good ideas for being a missionary mom. Here's what I've come up with. The clock above is Argentina time, and we have a count down chart on the lower left. I can probably find a better map, but this was a quick find at Costco so I'm using this one. I have a little map of Bahia Blanca taped to the lower part of the map.
I'm saving the right half for our next missionary ;)

Fabric I couldn't pass up

Last week I was in a fabric store near my home and I saw this awesome flannel!! Dr Suess' Grinch!! oh man, how could I resist? There was a sample quilt made up and I just couldn't pass it up. So here is one of my current sewing adventures. I'm so happy I got use that fabric. Not much fabric impresses me. I'm very choosy. That's how I was with men ;) and I still have the one that impressed me so long ago :) and I'm still impressed. this was supposed robe about my fabric

A pinterest inspired recipe

Have you heard of "pinterest"? It's kind of new and kind of weird to figure out, but it's really fun. It's kind of like google images in that you type in something you are interested in and pictures come up under that topic. There are people you "follow" and who "follow" you, kind of like *friend* on Facebook. So I can search organization and pictures with their original link come up. If I just go to my main page all the recent "pins" that my friends have marked come up. It covers lots of topics

SO! Here is a pinterest inspired idea. Homemade caramel is pretty much kryptonite to me yet I had to make some. I used gala apples I had and they were pretty good. In the back are some fast caramel apple slices-- er I had a meeting to get too. Whatever. Wish I could have made just half a batch cause all that caramel is still calling my name.

So that's where they are

Joseph "hit the button" to do his part in his mission papers on September 16. It's been a little slower going than I ever would have predicted. Today I got a call from the stake missionary secretary. (a man in our stake that handles the leg work on the missionary papers that come in?) he said the dr hadn't filled out all the papers correctly so he, the man in our stake, couldn't do his part of the submission. I raced over and got the papers that needed more info, raced to the Lehi clinic then back to the mans house. I was so glad to get this glitch smoothed over in one day. Joseph still needs to visit with the stake president and we've been asked to wait for that invitation----- waiting..... Waiting..... BUT at least we know what stage the papers are in. I asked the man that called what the process was after I got him the completed papers. He said he needs to put the info in the computer, then Joseph will need to see the stake president. Then it will be up to 3 weeks for the call to come. Ok! Good to know. So there's the update on the papers. Btw, Joseph is wanting to keep his hair long curly until he goes to the temple. Eye yie yie.....

My Friend Mal

On Google reader, I read a blog of one of Lauras friends. She's one of my friends too. She's so fun and perky and happy and smart. She's also a RM, which I love more and more every day ;) On her blog she talked about a personality test that she took, and she invited us to take it as well. So heres the test, and her challange-
Quoted from her blog
"So I just took this fun little personality test... this is link. How's about you take it and then post your results so I can see?! "
http://psychcentral.com/personality-patterns/

And here are my results. I'd say they are pretty accurate, though somethings are not true.

Passionate
You are in touch with your emotions, and sometimes you react before you think. The good news: you don't tamp down your feelings. The bad news: you sometimes say or do things that you later wish you could take back.
You do not live your life on an even keel; you do not go for long periods without experiencing some mood swings.


Warm
You have a genuine interest in other people. You're a natural host, and are always thinking about how you can increase the happiness of those around you. When friends have problems or are in trouble, you're usually the first person they turn to for aid and comfort. Scoring high on the "warm" trait suggests that you are among those who enjoy domestic activities — doing things around the house — and are enthusiastic about charitable work, helping others, and making the world a better place.
You don't always say exactly what you're thinking; you don't like the idea of causing anyone pain because of your criticism.


Understanding
You are willing to take the time to find out what's going on with other people, especially if they're in distress. You're a good listener, you don't criticize, and you offer unbiased, respectful, honest advice when it's requested. With a high score on the "understanding" trait, it is likely that you are enthusiastic about charitable work, helping others, and making the world a better place.
You don't feel the need to impose your standards on others or say things that, even though true, cause pain.


Tender
You are gentle with others, both physically and emotionally. You are careful not to upset people and go out of your way to find the nicest way to say something. You naturally focus on the fact that the world is full of wonderful people, places, and things. More often than not, people with a high score on the "tender" trait enjoy spending time with children, love romantic movies, and are enthusiastic about making the world a better place.
You don't think of yourself as tough-minded or gruff, nor do you need to be seen as some kind of objective source of truth and rationality.


Empathetic
You are in touch with your own feelings, which helps put you in touch with the feelings of others.
You don't buy the logic that your happiness comes ahead of everyone else's because unless you're happy you're incapable of making anyone else happy.


Sympathetic
You have a knack for knowing what's going on in the hearts and minds of those around you, without their having to tell you explicitly. People tend to turn to you with their problems because they know you care, and that you will likely offer good advice and a helping hand.
You do not feel that people with sad stories are just looking for attention, or have brought their problems upon themselves.


Friendly
You would rather hang out with others than spend time alone, and you'd far rather be doing something with your friends than just sitting around. You're happy in a crowded room, club, stadium, or auditorium.
You're not a private person who is ill at ease in a group; you don't view excessive socializing as a waste of time.


Rash
You get excited easily, allow yourself to react without censoring your feelings, and sometimes blurt out the first thing that comes to mind.
You generally don't consider what you're about to say before you open your mouth to speak.


Emotional
You let it all hang out, and those around you always know what you're going through.
You are not isolated from your emotions; no one would call you "cold-blooded," or even "cool as a cucumber."


Accessible
You're comfortable expressing yourself in words and actions, with no self-censorship. You believe that if someone doesn't like what they see it's not your problem, but theirs. A high score on the "accessible" trait suggests that you have a lot of friends, socialize often, and enjoy rap/hip-hop music.
You don't see the need to keep your thoughts to yourself, or to have a zone of privacy that encompasses only yourself and a small circle of friends and relatives.


Take the test and let me know how close it was to how you see yourself! kinda fun hua?

The pants-more difficult than it looks

The coat

The "day dress"

Will sew for surprises

well, it should say, will sew for happy surprises. Everyone that sews knows that sewing comes with a few frusterating surprises.

I was asked again this year to help sew for the jr high play. I really enjoy it and this year I sewed for 3 different kids, a few pieces each. Some pieces were a little tricky but I was able to turn in the last piece today. When I walked into the drama room to give the teacher the dress, I saw the other costumes there and some of them were ones I had sewn. It was a happy thing to see them. The deadline for the sewing was tomorrow, so I was happy to get the dress done this morning. I still may get to sew more, w'll see. I do need time to sweep and mop and feed my family and catch up on laundry. Ive just been baby-ing those jobs along. But I do enjoy the reason to hide down in the basement and sew with Dr Quinn on TV.
Last week one of the moms of a teenager I sewed for brought me flowers!! LOVED THEM!
Then today, a Dad of another of the actors brought me this!! WOW! NICE! well yes, of course Ill do something that challanges me and that I enjoy for treats! :)
It was a happy surprise! Ill try to post the pictures I took in the drama room of the things I sew-ed... I sewn? That I prepared on a sewing machine.

My little girl is 27

Monday marked a special day. All day long I was thinking about what I was doing 27 years ago at the same moment of the day I was living now. Does that make any sense? 27 years ago I had my first baby. My Laura. The beginning of a whole new education I thought I was prepared for-- and I still think I was in lots of ways but not all of them.
Laura spent her 27th birthday on a huge boat with her two best boys. I'm glad she had a great special day but I missed her. I missed making her a cake or going out for lunch. This birthday thing is more a mama thing than I ever realized.
Happy birthday my girl. Thanks for helping me learn how to be a mama and making your dad and my dreams come true. You are wonderful and beautiful and amazing. We both love you more than you'll know

Picture of the day

White handkerchiefs and the sign on the wall by the soon to be #2 temple in Provo!!!