Mary Kay Lessons

I learned a lot of things this week through my business. I learned a lot about working with people as well as working as a part of the Community. I just wanted to share a little of what I learned. Mostly, just so I can remember it.

This past week I was able to have a booth at a big community event. I met so many wonderful people there! I had such a good time getting to know the people of the community and learning more about them. There were so many fun personalities and so many sweet and caring people that I was able to meet.

The thing that surprised me the most was how people showed so much gratitude for my co-worker and I being friendly and kind. I never realized that it meant so much to people, but the amount of times that we were thanked and shown appreciation really surprised me. I think it surprised me for two reasons. First, because it seemed that it was a rarety for them to be treated that way, and second because it meant so much to everybody.

Another thing I learned is that even if I feel like I am a small business and not many people know me, I do still have so much support from the community and the people. It gave me courage knowing that. It has helped me already to have the confidence I need to continue working my business by the Golden Rule. I am so incredibly grateful for a wonderful community full of wonerful people who support me and my family.

I am so impressed by the thoughfulness of people, also. A picture of my co-worker and I ended up on the front page of the newspaper. I had customers and friends calling me to tell me about it and I even had one customer cut out the clipping and give it to me when I dropped off an order to her. The people here really inspire me and help me be a better person. It has given me so much more motivation to give back to them.

20 Weeks

Tomorrow I will be 20 weeks along (or about 4 1/2 months.) That means that I am halfway through my pregnancy. I thought I'd write a little update about how things are going, as well as a picture. I thought it would be fun to do a picture every four weeks to see how I grow.
This little guy is moving sooo much! It's good to know he is healthy and active. In a week we get a full ultrasound to see more about how he is developing.

Violatte and Annalee are so excited. Annalee has learned that she is going to have a "Baby Brudder" and she can hardly wait. Violatte really seems to understand that there is a baby growing and she is so excited, also.

As for me, my morning sickness is slowing up some. I even gained a couple of pounds so we are dong good. I've had some funny feelings lately, so they are worried about low blood pressure, low blood sugar, and some other things I don't understand. They did some blood work this past week so we'll see how that turns out. I'm just grateful that I can feel him move and know that he is still well and active.

State rejects terms "Bride" and "Groom"

This was from an e-mail that was sent out earlier this month by the American Family Association concerning a little more about Proposition 8. It was sent out September 12. After reading, please continue to pray that Proposition 8 will pass. It is so important to the people of this state as well as the people of this Nation. Please send your prayers out. They are so needed.

Earlier this week I shared a news item broadcast on WorldNetDaily reporting that Pacer County, CA denied a marriage license on the grounds that the couple to be married had written the words "bride" and "groom" next to the terms "Party A" and "Party B" on the marriage license application. The couples wrote in the words "bride" and "groom" because they wanted to be legally recognized as husband and wife.

Pastor Doug Bird of Abundant Life Fellowship in Roseville, CA was alarmed to learn that the State now rejects the traditional terms "bride" and "groom." Last week, Bird performed his first wedding ceremony since the California Supreme Court's May, 2008 ruling that declared homosexual couples must be allowed to marry.

Following numerous calls to the Pacer County Clerk's Office, county officials told AFA that it was the State, not the County, that rejected the wording "bride" and "groom." According to the State, no alterations are allowed on official State forms, including license applications.

According to Gary Kreep, an attorney and executive director of the California-based United States Justice Foundation, only the state legislature may authorize a change in language on marriage license applications. Unlike other states, in California the content of marriage license applications are determined by statute.

In other words, the California Dept. of Public Health had no authority to replace the words "Bride" and "Groom" with "Party A" and Party B." Therefore, the department's altering of the form was not only highly offensive, it was illegal too. Click here to see the department's self-legislated mandate to counties.

Sincerely,



Donald E. Wildmon,
Founder and Chairman
American Family Association

Everything you need to know . . .

. . . you can learn in preschool.

Violatte has learned so many wonderful things in preschool lately. My favorite one is "clean-up time." They have clean up time after a certain amount of play time. Now, every couple of hours at home she will announce that it is clean-up time. If I don't jump right in and help clean up she reminds me to help clean up. Then, she, Annee, and I all clean up toys and things for about 5 minutes and then they are back to playing. I love it! She is such a big help!

One of the ones that drives me the most crazy is that she learned what traffic lights mean. She is quick to tell me as soon as the light turns green and tell me to go. If I go through a yellow she tells me that I should have slowed down. She has turned into quite a little back-seat driver!

She has also become very responsible. She was some before preschool, but now she is even more so. She knows what all needs to be done before we leave to go somehwere (such as shows for everybody, getting keys, checking the diaper bag), she knows what needs to be done before we can eat (such as setting the table, gettin napkins, washing hands), and she is always ready to do what needs to be done. If I forget to do something she always reminds me, too. She is a really responsible little girl.

10 Quirky Things about Ridgecrest

The other day I went on a walk with a friend of mine and we were talking about some interesting things about Ridgecrest. It is a quirky town, but I love it, so here are some original things about this town that we live in.

1. Lots of people bike and walk. This is one of the first things I noticed, and I love it. I also learned that at 5:30 ish in the morning there are even more than I see at any other time during the day. You don't see as much when it is crazy hot in the summer, but the rest of the year, people are keeping pretty fit.

2. There are more motorized wheelchairs per capita than probably any other city. It's amazing how many you see rolling down the road.

3. No mosquitos. I love this one. I guess there are perks about it being so dry.

4. There are so many ants! I mean sooooooo many ants! It is an ongoing battle in almost every home. Ants vs. people.

5. Acronyms. I don't know if it's because most people work for the Government but there are acronyms for everything (Government-realted or not). For example, the school district's acronym is SSUSD.

6. One quirk that I do not like is that there is so much litter. I know that people say it is because of the wind. I will admit that the wind gets pretty crazy (as high as 75 mph I've heard) but, seriously. Litter just does not appear because of wind.

7. Lack of doctors of every kind. How can a town full of smart, brilliant engineers have such and incredible shortage of physicians and decent medical care. So, if anyone out there knows a good doctor looking for a place to work -- send them to Ridgecrest!!! We are begging! There also seem to be a shortage of teachers, nurses, police -- pretty much everything but engineers.

8. Fireplaces. As we were looking to buy a house we noticed that most of the homes had a fireplace -- in the middle of the desert -- go figure!

9. This town is very patriotic. I love this and I have to say that it has done good things for me. With most of the town working on the base or in the Navy this whole community has a strong sense of patriotism.

10. Churches. This was one of the first things that amazed me. There are more than 30 churches in this small town. I love that everyone is religious. I think it makes the community a better place.

Despite all it's quirkiness, we love it here. It's a great place and we are so happy that we have a great town to live in!

My Hubby

I was tagged with the hubby tag -- who is my favorite person to talk about anyway, so here goes.

1) Where did you meet? (the first time)
We met in church the very first Sunday of the school semester. We met in Sacrament meeting but he only remembers talking in Sunday School class. :)

2) How long did you date before you were married?
We dated (officially) for two months before we were engaged. Then we were engaged for three months before the big day.

3) How long have you been married?
Four and half years!

4) What does he do that surprises you?
He is so great with little daughters. I know he is great with boys, but he is a fabulous daddy to daughters, too!

5) What is your favorite feature about him?
Everything!!! I love his face (and great eyes) and he is just a hunk!

6) What is your favorite quality about him?
He has sooooo much patience! It is shocking!

7) Does he have a nickname for you?
Honey, Sweetie, and Babe

8) What is his favorite color?
He doesn't really have a favorite color

9) What is his favorite food?
He loves olives and Spanish food!

10) What is his favorite sport?
Sadly, I had to ask him this one. (We don't watch sports) He loves to play volleyball, though.

11) Who said "I love you" first?
He did. On Christmas Day when we were talking over the phone.

12) When and where was your first kiss?
We had a lot of dates where we did homework together (well, sort of) and he kissed me on the love seat in my apartment during a homework date.

13) What is your favorite thing to do together?
We love to do anything together -- especially outdoors things like playing catch or hiking. We also love to play games together.

14) How old is he?
26

15) Do you have any kids?
Two girls and a little boy on the way.

16) What is a hidden talent he has?
He is really handy at taking care of things around the house. He also plays guitar. He is a good cook, too.

17) What is his favorite type of music?
Country

18) What do you admire most about him?
Definitely his patience and how he is not judgemental of people.

19) Do you think he is going to read this?
I sure hope so.

We are expecting a . . .

BOY!!!!!!!!!
I can hardly believe it! I am so excited that we are going to have a little son in our family now. Jim is especially excited. We found out yesterday and he has been so excited ever since! He has so many plans about what he is going to do with his boy -- including fishing, camping, hiking, digging, building things, and taking things apart. I love seeing him so excited.

I have to admit that I am really nervous, though! I know how to raise girls (well, sort of) and now I am going to have to figure out what to do for a boy. It will be wonderful. I am so excited!

Beginning Again

So, I was having a lot of troubles with our other blog because it wouldn't let me have the right e-mail on the account. We are going to start all over with this blog and hopefully it will work better . . . and hopefully we won't have to make any more changes!