YW - Totally Awesome Super Fun Activity

In my church our youth have their own groups, classes and activities. From the age of 12 they enter Young Women's if they are girls, and if they are boys, they receive the Aaronic Priesthood and join Young Mens.

In Young Women's there is a program called Personal Progress that each girl begins working on when she enters at 12 and the goal is that she finish the program by the time she leaves when she turns 18.

Personal Progess is a goal based progam focused on 8 values. They include activites and projects for each value that must be done and signed off by a parent or leader. They are not easy. They take time and sometimes a long term committment to complete the value experience or project.

At the beginning of this year, our YW presidency issued a challenge to the girls. They had several experiences required to complete as well as a project. They had a time frame in which to get them completed and for every girl who did, they were invited so this "Totally Awesome Super Fun" activity. It was held highly secret until a few weeks ago.

When the activity was finally announced, it was also explained that while it was an incentive to get the girls working on their personal progress, it just wouldn't be as fun without everyone. So EVERYONE got invited to a huge sleepover at a ward members cabin. The girls were STOKED!

We met yesterday in the church parking lot, loaded cars, and headed north to Ogden Valley. The cabin was beautiful! We settled in, had a big production for the girls who completed the challenge (which were MANY), ate dinner, and then the fun began.


There was a lot of hanging around, eating, laughing, and chatting. We also had some guitar hero going, DDR in another room, and then a big screen showing of a movie in yet another area of the cabin. There was no lack of something to do, or someone to talk to.

Even some of the brave leaders got into the fun:

I tried really hard to make it a later night than my usual 8:30, 9:00 if I'm lucky. But finally at about 9:30, I caved. Asleep. Other than hearing some running outside on the deck at who knows what time, and some constant talking, I didn't stir again until 5:30am. Re.Freshed.

I made my way upstairs to find bodies sprawled everywhere and every which way. However, a handful of troopers had done the ultimate. Pulled the all nighter! (Suckahs!) I guess that is the fun of being young.
I on the other hand, was feeling GREAT! Was it the 8 hours of pretty good sleep or was it the Monster I allowed myself to have that morning?

More talking, laughing, telling me everything that happened while I slept, and me schooling several of them in the game of speed.

After some finishing off the junk food, having breakfast, and cleaning up, and one last picture with mi tres amigos (they are actually all sisters) we loaded back into the cars and headed home.

We did wake up to snow, which didn't sit well with me since all I wore was my jammies and slippers.




It was a blast! It was a great reward for the girls working hard and an incentive for the others to keep working, making, and completely their own goals.

A huge thanks to the Hovorka's and especially Dana who served as our priesthood leader. This his how he felt when he finally stumbled out of his bedroom.

For me, if was fun to be around them all. They are the absolute best girls ever. They love each other, they are kind to each other and they look out for every other girl in our ward. Much can be learned from the example of our youth.

Thanks girls, and most importantly....thanks for letting me sleep and not doing anything obnoxious to me! I slept in my bra for a good reason!

A Quilt Full of Holes

I know it's not Sunday, therefore throwing everyone off with this spiritual post, but I got a beautiful email this morning, that has had me thinking all day.
Thanks Mom for passing it along.......

As I faced my Maker at the last judgment, I knelt before the Lord along with all the other souls.

Before each of us, laid our lives like the squares of a quilt in many piles; an angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a tapestry that is our life.

But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was. They were filled with giant holes. Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in every day life. I saw hardships that I endured, which were the largest holes of all.

I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and the bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened.

My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and empty,like binding air.

Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of truth. The others rose; each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled their lives had been. My angel looked upon me, and nodded for me to rise.

My gaze dropped to the ground in shame.. I hadn't had all the earthly fortunes. I had love in my life, and laughter. But there had also been trials of illness, and wealth, and false accusations that took from me my world, as I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again. I spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each time offering it up to the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me.

And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it was.

I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light. An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who stared at me with wide eyes. Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes,creating an image, the face of Christ. Then our Lord stood before me, with warmth and love in His eyes.

He said, 'Every time you gave over your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles. Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me shine through, until there was more of Me than there was of you.'

May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing Christ to shine through!



**I hope to become more concerned with my relationship with God, than perfect quilt squares**

Funny Bone Friday - Things I may have heard, or said, or just thought in my head

"Stop being so nice so I can stop liking you!"

"They are in a whole vortex of DOOM"

"I came. I swam. I peed in Chad's lane. Yup. Good workout."

"No more shaving a sheet in the wind for you."

"They're the blood thirsty Lamanite leftovers"

"If you weren't sick, I would huggle you"

"one must first shower WITH soap to remove all fecal matter." (thank you for not providing a diagram)

Thankful Thursday

Oh look what's happened, I'm using October's logo....it's November. Oh well.

Thursday's have been the tradition of listing all the things that I am thankful for, although I see lot's of friends on FB - listing something every day this month. I've decided that's just too much effort for me. In fact, let's hope I actually get this done each Thursday this month.

Why? Am I ungrateful? Do I not have anything to be thankful for? Am I a thoughtless, godless, selfish ingrate? Um....no. At least last time I checked I wasn't.

I think I am always trying to come up with something new and unusual to list. Something that just JUMPS out and is so thought provoking as to astound anyone who happens to read it. Something so unique and unusual that it cements itself in blog history.

I'm just not that creative. Or original. Or funny. Or cool.

So, for what it's worth, today, I am keeping it simple. Keeping it real. Keeping it honest.

I am thankful for:


The dude at sev who, whenever he is working, waves my mug refill through as free and then pretends that he didn't do anything nice for me.

Wednesday Wrandom Wrambling's

My house smells like chili cheese dogs. Tuffy texted Splenda to ask what was for dinner (cause I really DON'T cook - for reals), and didn't like the answer so he made a HUGE plate of chili cheese dogs. NGL - they were a work of art. But they stink. And he ate them at my bedside. Combine that smell with the lingering chlorine in my nose and really, I think I might barf.

Notice how no one ever really says the word barf anymore? I hear vomit. I hear throw up. But we have lost the use of that all descriptive word - barf. I think I'm gonna start a campaign to bring it back. Barf. Barf. Barf. Barf. Barf.

Am I the only one sick of the whole Twilight thing? GOSH! Enough already. Stupid vampires, ugly Edward, or whatever his name is. 3 different day time tv shows that were on in the background while I worked today talked about them. One show even took teenage girls and did a "Twilight" makeover on them. The girls were obsessed with the series and wanted desperately to look like a character. Really? REALLY? I know many of you love the whole thing, and that's okay, it's not a deal breaker (at least for me), but really, enough already. Barf!

I think my back is getting better! I'm hesitant to say much, I don't wanna jinx anything, but, yeah, I think I see a light. It's distant, but it's there! YIP.PEE!

I swam right out of my swim cap yesterday. Yup. There I am doing my laps, minding my own bidness, and as I'm cruising along I feel it loosen and slipping. By the time I got to the wall, it was just a little bunch of yellow stuff askew at the top of my head stuck there behind the strap of my goggles and my hair sticking out every which way. Seems that perhaps I had put a tich too much conditioner in my hair before putting the cap, which hadn't completely dried out, on. Makes for some slippery conditions. I live to amuse others. I'm pretty sure the lifeguards were snickering. Shame on them. That deserved loud laughing, pointing of fingers and openly mocking. I would have.

It's only 50 more days until Elder L comes home.

My SIL is doing a 6 week boot camp. I am green with envy but having fun living vicariously through her. I'm proud of her.

Thanksgiving is just few weeks away. Christmas is just a few more after that. I could care less. I am living for 1/1/10. Does that make me weird? (don't answer that)

I love my bed. Splenda needs a new one. How's that all gonna work out?

I'm craving Cafe Rio. I mean CRAVING. Like I prolly will break down and go get it for lunch this week, cause once I start thinking about something like that I can't let go of it until I actually eat it.

I suppose if we had that tonight instead of the dinner Splenda announced, it would piss off the Tuffster. That'd be funny since he ditched me for Wendy's yesterday.

I miss my previous life. My life where I woke up at 4:30, ate a light breakfast, was at the gym by 5:30, working out with all my friends. Cycling to the office. Coming home, going back to the gym for another workout. I miss washing loads of workout clothes.

Now my life is still waking up at 4:30am, but instead of eating, I read my scriptures. I'm still at the gym at 5:30, but instead of working out and having fun with my friends, I am in the pool swimming lonely laps. Sometimes I can chat with Debbie while I pool run, but its as we pass each other. It's not the same.

Going to the office is hard. Sitting at my desk for the majority of the day hurts. Little breaks help, but by the time I get home, I am dying. So now, I've been working in my bed and my little breaks consist of laying flat to ease the pain in my back.

Instead of cycling home and going back to the gym for more fun with my friends working out, lifting or doing yoga, I am laying down, watching TV and falling asleep.

Let me clarify, I'm not complaining. I've already done that and it got me nowhere, this isn't complaining. It's just identifying the differences in my life now and the one I had 3 months ago. I miss that life. I am adjusting to this new one. And am looking forward to the time, I get back my old life back. I look into the office and say hi to Patrick every now and again and I feel happy! It will come, I absolutely know it! And that makes me happy!

Did I mention I'm reading my scriptures? REG.U.LAR.LY! That's a good change. I think I need to keep that one when I morph back into my old life.

And now, I'm off to call the Splenda Daddy to pick up Cafe Rio on the way home. Woot to the Hoot! Sorry Tuff...... (not really - insert evil maniacal laugh)

Slang Gang Word of the Day

November 10: automagically

adv. Something that happens automatically, but that also has some mysterious, "magical" element to it. "Smart" appliances, features, etc. that do intelligent things with less help than you might expect.

I installed Windows, and it screwed up my system automagically!

**Or as in "I wish my house was automagically clean" We've been using this word for YEARS!

Dennis Miller and Fort Hood

I freakin love Dennis Miller. I laugh every.single.time. This clip is worth every 8:06 of it.



And for the record, I am TIRED of political correctness.