Bountiful Baskets

While Kenneth and I were without work, we had to really look for ways to save money and not spend what we didn't have. We came across a really neat opportunity to save money on fresh produce and baked goods and even though we are now both working, we are still participating.

It is a food co-op called Bountiful Baskets. Each week, you can sign up online to participate and for $16.50, you receive a laundry basket full of fresh fruits and vegetables. Each week, you can also add fresh baked goods, like 9-grain bread (yummy, yummy!!), fresh-made tortillas, cakes and crackers, breakfast bars and tropical granola. The prices are all very reasonable.

Each week, in the baskets, there are usually 5-6 fruits and 5-6 vegetables. We have had all kinds of neat things and are even learning to eat fruits and vegetables we never would have bought on our own and because of this, we are eating new and different foods so that we don't waste the food.

We have enjoyed apples, bananas, oranges, strawberries, kumquat, coconut, blueberries, blackberries, lemons, limes, nectarines, plums, peaches, pineapple, watermelon, cantaloupe, honey dew melons, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, bok choy, sweet potatoes. brown and red potatoes, corn, broccoli, onions (green, white, yellow, and red), celery, chard, spinach, green and red peppers, and the list goes on and on. We love the 9-grain bread and the tortillas remind me of the ones I ate daily on my mission. The crackers are really quite interesting but taste pretty good with melted cheese over them.

After participating for a few weeks, one of my girlfriends, Haley, and I decided to start a sight of our own. We co-coordinate the receipt and distribution of the fruits and vegetables and for doing it, we get a free basket on our week. It is a pretty cool thing that happens.

A truck drops off the produce at 6:30am each Saturday morning at a local park near our home. We distribute the produce into baskets (thus the name, Bountiful Baskets) and then wait for those who participated to pick up their offerings at 7:30am. We have a bunch of people who arrive early each week to volunteer of their time to help us get the baskets prepared. I am amazed each week at the willingness of the volunteers to show up early and stay until the last basket is picked up, the last basket and box are loaded and all are headed home for another week.

I love the produce and the quality of the fruits and vegetables. Most will last several weeks in my fridge before going bad and that gives me plenty of time to eat it all without have to throw it out because it has gotten moldy or gone bad. The produce seems to be fresher then what we usually get from the store and my grocery bill has decreased by $50 - 60 each week. What a find and one that I am glad we found when we did.

SO I have a few minutes...

Life is so crazy & never slows down, not even for a minute. The boys have been out of school for the summer now for 3 weeks and although they are loving it, the routine (what little one we had) went right out the window with the books, homework and classrooms. I don't think my boys have bathed in a week and they have forgotten how to do chores.

But, they are happy and I am glad for that. They are attending a community school this summer and love it. They are with a BUNCH of their friends and all they do all day long is play. Every Monday, Kenny gets to go swimming at the municipal pool and he loves that he gets to ride a school bus. Kale has cooking class every day and is learning to play tennis (or at least is claiming to). They come home really tired and that's OK with me too!

About 3 months ago, we met with and applied to become foster parents with an agency in town called Olive Crest. They are a christian based agency and of all the ones we have been looking at over the last 2 -3 years, they seemed the best fit for our family. However, they only accept about 50 new families a year and their process is much more rigorous then the County's process. We were accepted into the agency about 2 months ago and are about 1/2 way through the training and paperwork phase.

We hope to be licensed sometime this fall and have children (2-4) in our home by the first of 2011. We are really excited and feel great about all that is going on. This has added to the chaos though, as we are in training 2 - 3 nights a week and 1-2 Saturdays a month. We are also making all the necessary adjustments and upgrades to the house that are required. That alone is a full-time job.

But - WE ARE LOVING LIFE AND WE ARE HAPPY. Kenneth is finally working again and although the first few weeks have been a bit nuts with swing shifts, graveyard shifts, unpredictable schedules, and some up and down in the hours, it looks like he has proven himself useful and will be working 34-40 hours every week going forward. This makes him very happy and if he is happy, I am happy and if I am happy, the rest of the family is happy!

We have truly been blessed these last 9 months. Although our financial struggles have been the cause of many sleepless nights and some tears and a great amount of worry; we have made it through and come out on the other end stronger, smarter and happier. I have gained a very strong testimony that the Lord does know us and he gives us what we need. Much of what he has given us has not been what we thought we needed, but looking back, we have grown closer as spouses and family, friends have come into our lives that wouldn't have otherwise and we have learned to serve and be served. Waiting on the Lord is never easy, but he always comes through.

I don't know if anyone else would agree with me, but my faith has been strengthened and I don't worry as much anymore. I have learned to do what I am asked and have patience and faith and I have seen it all work out.

Off to Bountiful Baskets (a story for another day). Remember to Live for yourself and others, Love like it was your last day on earth, and Laugh more then you Cry!!

I know...It's been a while

So much has happened and time has gone way too fast. I have been working now for about 2 months and I am finally beginning to get the hang of things. I think I have identified most of the personnel issues and now we just need to work at finding solutions that create harmony rather then discord. I am also beginning to identify the inefficiencies of the company and put into place policies and procedures to help eliminate them.

The boys are about 2/3rd's of the way through school and are enjoying their spring break. They love school and are both doing great. Kale has graduated from his speech class and is now talking like a "normal" 4 year old. He is so excited that he will get to go to "the big school" next year. Kenny is really excelling and doing great in reading, writing and spelling. He still struggles a bit with his math, but we are working on it with him and he is seeing consistent progress.

Kenneth is still not working, but is finding things to do to stay busy. He is helping people complete "to do" projects, working on prepping the house for foster kids and continuing to rebuild his motorcycle. He is making a little money here and there, working on the side and has started looking for other ways to make a living, as the construction industry is just not coming back as quickly as we need it to.

We are going through the process to become certified in Las Vegas to be foster parents. We are kicking around many options and are thinking about taking in siblings (3 or more) and seeing how that goes. We may also take children that have "challenges". Most are mental or emotional challenges and the agency that we are working with provides support, training and assistance as needed.

There are many changes going on in our lives right now and things seem to change from day to day. I am striving to stay positive (and failing miserably right now) but trying none the less to show my trust and faith in my Heavenly Father and work so that I can be ready when he directs. This is all in his hands now and we are crossing our fingers, praying fervently and hoping with all our hearts that whatever happens, happens so that we recognize the Lord's hand in our lives.

I know the Lord loves our little family and has great things in store for us. I also know that it must happen on his timeline and that no amount of begging, pleading, or asking will change that timeline. I keep praying that whatever it might be, that we can survive until them and find joy in the journey.

No more Unemployment for Mom!!

I have finally gotten a permanent position. It isn't the one I mentioned last year; that offer was rescinded, but I am pretty excited for the new opportunity. I will be a controller for a Medium-sized Sub-Contracting company that specialized in fire protection (IE., sprinklers, fire alarm, fire hydrants, etc...) I start on2/1/10 and I am looking forward to the new challenge.

A challenge it will be too! There is a lot of clean up and reorganization that needs to happen. Procedures and policies need to be written down and published and there is no human resources; so that will also become my responsibility. I will be supervising a team of 3-4 staff accountants and clerks. And to top that off, the last Controller and CFO couldn't communicate with his staff to save his life, so I am expecting some major communication and trust issues to come out early on.

I know that I can do it though. I just need to hang on, be honest and let them know how much they are needed while still holding them accountable for their responsibilities. I also need to figure out how to make it clear right up front that we are starting fresh and that any "emotional" baggage from before needs to be left at the door. I think I need to come up with something more professional then that though. That could cause alienation right off the bat.

I am excited and looking forward to the growth. I will keep you all posted on the happenings and ask that you include me in your prayers. Thanks to all for the support and love that has been and is given to me. I am grateful to everyone for the influence they have in my life.

More of 2009 coming...

I have more to put on the blog for 2009 and I hope to get to it this week. Check back soon!

Putting up the Christmas Tree

 

We have a 13-foot Christmas tree the fills our front room.  We have vaulted ceilings in that room and so the tree is perfect. 

We actually got the tree for free from a family in one of our previous wards.  They lived in a house that was the identical floor plan we were buying.  They were moving into a smaller apartment and no longer had a need for the tree.  They didn’t want to just give it away to anyone, so they asked if we would like it.  Of Course we said yes because this meant that we wouldn’t have to buy one of our own.  When Kenneth went to pick it up, he found it in 6 – yes SIX – pieces.  We didn’t really understand the size until we put it up last year.  it was a chore!!!

This year, instead of trying to put it up with 6-foot ladders, Kenneth brought home some Baker Scaffolding and we set it up in the living room.

 The boys had a great time climbing on and “helping” to fluff and decorate the tree.  It took us about 6 days to get the tree up, fluffed and decorated.  But when we were done – IT WAS BEAUTIFUL!!

So was the rest of the house.  Here are just a few pictures of the decorations:

This is the piano and pony wall between the front room and the library.

This is my Nativity Scene.  We saved our Deseret Book points for 2 years to buy this.  I love it and sometimes think I should leave it out all year long to remind us of our Savior’s life and birth.

In our front room, we have planter shelves and very high ceilings.  This allows up to have walls of pictures.  It also is a perfect place to display my Santa Collection. 

   

I really love Christmas with the music, lights, decorations and smiling faces.  The shiny wrappings and beautiful bows, the wreaths and candy canes.  I am grateful that we have all these symbols to remind us of the importance of this time of year and the reason for the celebration.

Thanksgiving 2009

Thanksgiving was nice and quiet.  It was just our immediate family and so we didn’t really have a schedule.  We got up and put the turkey in the oven and then just spent time together until it was time to eat.  I told the boys I wanted to make some turkey name cards and asked it they wanted to help.  Kenny was all for it, so he and I ventured down into my scrapbook room, Kale joining us a few minutes later and here is what we did…

They really enjoyed tracing their hands and cutting out their little turkeys.

It was fun being able to share something I enjoy doing with my boys and we had a great time together.  After they decided they were done, I decided I wanted to try one other thing.  I made a turkey centerpiece that I think turned out pretty darn cute…

Then I spent some time setting the table and getting ready for the meals.

This was the table setting that I used.  The table looked great.  In fact, the boys were afraid to come near it for fear they might mess it up.

The turkey was the best yet.  Kenneth cooked it and he did something to it this year that left it tender and juicy with a flavor that was “to die for”.  I am not a big fan of turkey, but this was some of the best I’ve had.

All in all – It was a great day and being together made it even better.  We missed out family that wasn’t with us, but we really loved being together.