Employment for next school year is a go!

So our boss called yesterday and asked if he could meet with us.  We were all very nervous.  He gave us the good news first, which was that they had enough funds to pay us for next school year.  Then the not so good news was that all our contracts were cut.  So instead of working 220 days a year, I will work 200.  That is a significant monthly financial cut for us but I am sooooooo grateful that I still have a job.  When I first knew that a lay off was a real possibility, a few months ago, I was concerned that we did not have more in savings and more food storage.  So, now I'm committed to putting all we can in in savings and adding to the food storage.   I don't want to be in that position again where I feel we can't make it through a tough economic time.  The church has warned and warned, and encouraged and taught us to prepare for hard times and disasters.  I feel that that advice has been stressed a lot lately.  So I'm going to work on this.

 Something I haven't done for many years is plant a garden, so I think I will plant 2 or 3 things this year and see how I do?  I definitely don't have a green thumb so this could be a challenge.

Happy and Satisfied....

I'm feeling very grateful for all the blessings I have. I'm thankful for my home, my job, my children, my husband, Spring, a healthy body, the gospel--even my cat who follows me around the house from room to room--I think he idolizes me?

I'm so excited for Brooke to have her baby, I'm excited for Wicked, I'm excited to work in the yard, to do everyting--read, exercise, read blogs. I feel so blessed to have good friends and family (the best friends and family!!!) I'm excited for 3 college graduations I'm going to SOON. I have so many things I want to learn and do and feel I better get in gear cuz life is going so fast!!!! In the next day or two I'll find out if I have a job for the next school year... I'm being hopeful. Okay, I'm off to the gym now. I've worked 1/2 a day because the kids are not in school today.
I love you all. Please stay close to me cuz I need you all.

Our quick trip to St. George this weekend.

We had a great time--thanks!

Books I'm currently reading....Or browsing through.

I've mentioned how I like to read 3-5 books at a time--I was going to try to stop that but as you can see below--I'm not doing to good. I love books and love to read them...

I got this book for my birthday. I love Ellie. She cooks really healthy foods that are natural and taste good.







Right up my alley this book is. This is mainly about how trauma influences a child and thier development.







This is a deep read--can only do a few pages at a time. I know there is so much
for me to learn and I am hoping for some insight with this book.









I love Nate Berkus--His style is clean and inviting--kind of a California shiek.

Lunch at Maddox....YUM. The rolls and halibut were so good.

44444444

Trying to stay positive.

I miss the sun, working in the yard, having it be light until 9:00pm, wearing flip flops and more. I guess that is what is so good about Spring--there is nothing like it after a long cold winter. I have been crossing days off the calendar for January and have been getting quite a bit of satisfaction from that. I'll get the same satisfaction from crossing days off February--Wahoo, it's a short month!!!


This past week my boss sat down with the social workers and had to give us the bad news of drastically cutting our salaries--beginning immediately. They said it was preferable to laying us off. He is not sure we will have jobs next fall. If we do, it will be likely that we will have another pay cut. So Ned and I have been thinking of every possible way to decrease spending and live on a lot less (that food storage may really get used). I see this happening all around me with family and friends and I really do pray for all of us. I have hope for Spring, for a stronger economy, for a job next fall, that I will be able to buy my little grandbaby some fun things. I can FINALLY afford to buy cute baby things and yet I cannot now.

I've really been thinking about resolutions and changes for the coming year. Besides the above words, I'm really going to try to be less critical in everything. I believe the "Secret" and know that we attract good or bad things into our lives with our thoughts and actions. I'm going to really try to study the scriptures more and also, Britney, you'll like this one, I'm going to prepare for Gospel Doctrine by reading and studying and pondering the lessons and also read and study and ponder my Relief Society lessons ahead and give them much thought so I can learn the gospel better and have my faith and testimony grow.

Well that is all so serious--so I need some fun and lightheartedness in my life--I thought I'd start with the little joke on the top of my blog.
I'm glad I can keep in touch with you all through blogging--thanks for doing them!

Trying to stay

Good Things Utah!!!! For my brithday--FUN

Our new friends!!!



Marti Skold and Reagan Leadbetter



Angie Larson



Miriam in the Good Things Utah Kitchen



Reagan wishes she could be my friend



Three Generations.

Christmas Eve

Oh my gosh!

LET IT SNOW!!!





This is the Sidewalk in front of our house, Wow!






OH my gosh, we are getting LOTS of snow. I'm pretty sure Ned has shoveled snow every day for a week now and we are getting the next storm in tonight and then again tomorrow. I love it, just concerned about everyone being safe in the snow.

OH my gosh, I'm STILL sick. I can't shake this cold, I hope I don't end up with something serious. I still look like the picture in the previous post (maybe worse since it's been another week).

OH my gosh, it's Christmas Eve!!! I love Christmas eve. It's my favorite part of Christmas. The stockings are stuffed and presents are wrapped (we tried to be a little more meager this year). I've got to start making Ned's fabulously fattening sweet potato casserole, then get the Pina Colada's ready to make and then... Yum. Mostly, I love spending the evening with my family.

Merry Christmas to all. I'm so thankful for the birth of the Savior and for all he has blessed us with in this world.

My month so far...

Christmas Concerts
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir concert at Temple Square with Brian Stokes Mitchell. It was beautiful and spiritual. We went with our good friends Mark and Nena-thanks Nena for inviting us!







Then we went to our annual Family Christmas concert. First we ate at The Pie on U of U campus and then went to the John Schmidt concert at Kingsbury Hall. We had Betty with us, but Elaine was afraid of walking and driving in the snow and Lindsay was afraid of being without her friends...so we missed those two a lot. It helped me feel the good spirit of Christmas. Thanks Brooke for arranging that.





The dreaded cold. It's not just any old cold. I have been in bed for 4 days...Hoping I can make it to work tomorrow. Don't I look pretty? How I look is how I feel.

Happy Birthday Brooke!!!!!!

It always has been my children that motivate me--they are motivating me to blog today. I wanted to put a picture of Brooke up on my blog--but as usual having computer problems. You all know how beautiful she is anyway! And with all my heart I can say she is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside. I am so blessed to be her mother. Brooke has brought me so much joy in her 28 years. She has always been there for all her family and friends. I'm telling you she is the most supportive person there is. She comes to everything and anything to support those she loves. She makes dinners, she thinks of special, meaningful things to do for people and to give to people. She got her grandfather Batley's hard working genes. Brooke loves the Lord and she shows this by teaching primary children, helping her neighbors, attending church, making friends, serving others, being a great wife, mother to be, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, daughter in law and friend. The moment the doctor placed her on my tummy after she was born I was instantly and deeply in love with her. Now that she is an adult she is my daughter/friend/sister--that's the fun stuff about having adult children. Brooke--is there anything you can't do? Hair, paramedic, decorating, cooking, yard work, stitching and on and on. I love you. We all love you. Thanks for being in our lives. This coming year holds for you many more great opportunities, blessings, joy and fun. I can't wait to share them all with you.
Love, Your mom

Butler Baby

I am so happy for Brooke and Andy. They are pregnant and had an ultrasound today that showed them their little baby... I have a big lump in my throat and have said many prayers of gratitude. This is going to be fun!

Too tired to blog more...maybe tomorrow.

Six Quirky Things About Me.

1. I like to make lists of things to do. If I make the list part way through the day and I've already accomplished a couple of things, I'll write them on the list anyway and cross them off just to make me feel better.

2. My kids love to make fun of me on this one. I have to rub my hand across the outlet in the bathroom--just to make sure there is nothing plugged in there (looking is just not good enough). I'm working on this...

3. I LOVE to write stuff down. I have about 5 notebooks by the side of my bed that I write stuff down on. Mostly stuff from tv but also thought from books, and things from magazines. Stuff like good make up to buy, healthy things to eat, spiritual thoughts, good bargains, etc.

4. I have a couple of places around my house that I keep piles of stuff. One in my kitchen, one in my extra bedroom and one in my bedroom. Good things I want to read, study or look at such as good magazines, books (I LOVE to buy and read books), recipes, articles.

5. Being a mostly vegetarian. No red meat, chicken only rarely and only from certain places and I can only have a bite or two. I can't really eat eggs--only rarely and can only have a bite or two. Just plain weird with meat. I've seriously considered hypnotherapy on this one--it's quite inconvenient.

6. Hmmm, so many quirky things... Right when I get up in the morning the first thing I have to do is open up all the blinds in the house. AND if it's good weather I love to open the sliding glass door and get some good morning air in the house.

Conference--Love it.

I have been watching conference today. My favorite talk was Elder Holland's. I cried the whole way through his talk...not sure exactly why except he was talking about some things close to my heart. I started listening to the talk after it had started but it seemed to be about the help we receive from heaven--angels and the Lord watching over us. One things he said that I loved was "The Lord will fight our battles and our children's battles and our children's, children's battles. What do we do to merit this [blessing]? Search diligently, pray always and be beliving".

On that same subject he quoted one of President Monson's favorite scriptures--it's beautiful! "...there will I be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine algels round about you, to bear you up." D&C 84:88

I know when we listen to conference--when we listen to the Prophet, President Monson, it is as if God were speaking to us. Can't wait for tomorrow. (Church in P.J.'s is fun!)

Here is a picture of President Monson--remember Carole and Missy saw him and his cute wife having breakfast at Denny's in SLC. He was just there having breakfast talking to people. No pomp and circumstance.

Year two down...infinity to go.

Ned and I had our 2nd Anniversary on September 19th. We celebrated it by going to the Anniversay Inn in SLC. We stayed in the "Room with a View". It was great and fabulous--just like Ned! We did have a beautiul view--we could see the night lights of the city from the bed! I'm a very happy wife and feel so blessed to be married to Ned. He is perfect for me! I prayed for a man with all his qualities and he was an answer to my prayers. He is easy going, funny, loves the Lord, is a hard worker, likes to have fun, makes me happy and supports me in all I do. Thanks Ned for taking a chance on me. (No we didn't have someone come in the room and take a picture--we set the timer on the camera).

The surprise win!

So I was helping with a 5K and 10K race for Wasatch Mental Health a few weeks ago and Ned decided to come along. Then he decided he wanted to run in the race--since we were going to be there anyway. The morning of the race Ned was going back and forth--saying he didn't want to make a fool of himself and come in last in the race--he didn't think he would run (after he paid the intrance fee.) When we arrived he got the bug with all the runners warming up and decided he would go for it. Lo and behold, he won the 5K race in his age catagory--the "Masters" (I guess that means the old guys). It was pretty funny because he thought he would come in last, but I was so proud of him for trying and winning a medal!

Freezing at the Summer Concert

This picture is of Ned and myself and Mark and Nena. We were at the Three Dog Night Concert at the Scera Shell on Labor Day. Do you remember how hard it rained and hailed that day? It was fun to hear all the oldies. I remember when "Joy to the World" came out. I loved singing it--I think I was in elementary school. These men are getting up there--they gotta be in thier late 60's?? We started the summer on Memorial Day at the Scera at the America concert and ended the Summer with this concert. I really can't bear that Summer is over... I'm going to hang onto it as long as I can.
Just a word about Nena. She truly is one of bestest and oldest friends. You know, one of those friends who knows EVERYTHING about you and loves you anyway. She makes me laugh and we can talk about ANYTHING!!! We've seen each other through some really tough times. I became friends with her when we were just starting Provo High and she and a couple of others came to me and talked me into trying out for cheerleader with them. I would have never done it on my own. After much prodding, I tried out. Never been so scared in all my life. But I had a blast and I got to have Nena for my new friend.