OH NO!!!!

OUR MORNING STARTED WHEN THE ALARM RANG AT 3:30 IN THE MORNING.(AFTER SETTING IT AT ABOUT 10:30 LAST NIGHT)  I DON'T BELIEVE I HAVE EVER SEEN 3:30 IN THE MORNING.  IT WAS DARK AND COLD.   WE HEADED TO THE TEMPLE FOR OUR FIRST ASSIGNED DAY THERE.  EVERYTHING WENT GREAT, WE WERE ON TIME, DRESSED AND IN OUR PLACES BY 5:00.    SO FAR SO GOOD.  OH, SISTER MERRILL WELCOME, WILL YOU COME TO THE FRONT AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF.  NO LEAD TIME.  I DO NOT THINK WELL ON THE SPORE OF THE MOMENT.  UHHHH I HAVE 5 KIDS AND 7 GRAND KIDS AND AM JUST HAPPY TO BE HERE.   MORE TALKING THAN I HAVE DONE FOR YEARS AT 5:10 IN THE MORNING.   FROM THERE IT WAS A WHIRLWIND OF LADIES IN WHITE AND CARDS TO MEMORIZE.   BY 8:00 I AM WONDERING WHEN MY BREAK IS.  I HAVEN'T SEEN MIKE FOR THREE HOURS NOW.  BY 9:00 I HAVE GONE UP AND DOWN 50 STEPS AT LEAST THREE TIMES.  MORE EXERCISE THAN I HAVE HAD SINCE LAST OCT. WHEN I STARTED MY 7 WEEK EXERCISE ROUTINE.   I REMIND YOU THOSE STAIRS ARE STEEP.  I FINALLY SPOT MIKE LOOKING GOOD IN HIS NEW WHITE SUIT.  I WASN'T SURE WHETHER TO LAUGH OR CRY SO I GOT HIM IN A CORNER AND WHINED.  "THIS IS HARD".  HE IS SO SUPPORTIVE,  "I NO, YOU SHOULD BE ME, TRYING TO MEMORIZE THREE TIMES AS MUCH AS YOU." OK WELL SEE YOU IN AWHILE.   I NEEDED TO GO TO MY LOCKER FOR SOME CHAP STICK, AND I TOTALLY GOT LOST.  ASK A WONDERFUL SISTER IN WHITE, WHERE AM I.  SISTER MERRILL YOU ARE IN THE TEMPLE. OK FINALLY FIGURED OUT WHERE THE MENS LOCKERS ARE AND THE OTHER LOCKERS ARE AND THEN FINALLY FOUND MINE. GO BACK TO LIBRARY AND TELL MIKE I AM STARVING.   I GOT HIM TO AT LEAST GO WITH ME TO THE CAFETERIA TO GET A DRINK.  NO DIET COKE!!!!!!!!  A DRINK OF WATER AND SOME FRUIT.  THE BANANA CREAM PIE IS DELICIOUS.   WE HEADED BACK TO THE LIBRARY FOR MORE MEMORIZATION.  WENT UP AND DOWN THE STAIRS THREE MORE TIMES.  (I HAD  TO BURN THOSE PIE CALORIES)   BY ABOUT 11:00 I WAS BACK IN THE LIBRARY.  I FELL ASLEEP IN MY CHAIR THREE TIMES.   I WHINED A LITTLE MORE AND MY TRAINER LADY ASKED IF I COULD DO MORE, AND I TOLD HER SURE, BUT MY HEAD WAS GOING TO BLOW AT ANY TIME.  (JUST SO SHE WOULD KNOW TO REVIVE ME) WENT UP THE STAIRS AGAIN, FORGOT EVERYTHING I HAD LEARNED.  SISTER MERRILL, YOU GO TO THE LIBRARY AND STUDY SOME MORE AND THEN WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND GO HOME.  GO TO LIBRARY, FIND MIKE THERE AND TELL HIM I AM GOING HOME.  HE GOES BACK UP THE STAIRS (I WONDER IF HE TOOK THE ELEVATOR ALL DAY????)  AND FINISHED  HIS RESPONSIBILITIES.  WE GET DRESSED, EAT LUNCH AT THE CAFETERIA, AND FIND OUR WAY HOME.  

IT WAS A GREAT DAY, AND I HAD LEARNED SO MUCH AND FELT HEAVENLY FATHER' S SPIRIT... BUT I WAS NOT SURE IF I WAS GOING BACK NEXT WEEK.    LAID DOWN ON MY BED AT 1:00  AND DID NOT WAKE UP UNTIL 4:00.  GOT UP, SAID HI TO CHAD, LAID BACK DOWN ON THE COUCH WOKE UP AT 7:00.  ATE DINNER, AND NOW I AM GOING BACK TO BED.  AFTER MY NAP, I HAVE DECIDED I WILL GO BACK NEXT WEEK.  IT CAN ONLY GET BETTER RIGHT?  I NOTICED ONE GIRL WHO WAS BUZZING AROUND DOING EVERYTHING PERFECTLY, SHE DID NOT SEEM STRESSED OR TIRED, NOT IN THE LIBRARY MUCH, AND SEEMED VERY HAPPY.   I ASKED HER HOW LONG SHE HAD BEEN SERVING AND SHE SAID, OH THIS IS JUST MY 2ND WEEK.  THIS IS WHAT THEY HAVE YOU DO WEEK 2.  OH NO!!!!!!!!!

YOU THOUGHT I WAS KIDDING HUH?

OK SO I THOUGHT I WOULD WHIP UP A LITTLE LASAGNA FOR DINNER.  HOME MADE MIND YOU.  WELL I PUT IT IN TO COOK AND IT WAS SMELLING DELICIOUS.  I STARTED BLOGGING AND PRETTY SOON IT STARTED SMELLING BURNT.   SOMEBODY BUY ME A TIMER PLEASE!

JUST A LITTLE SIDE NOTE- I LEFT MIKE TO COOK THE CHICKEN ENCHILADA'S LAST WEEK AND HE BURNED THEM.  WE LAUGHED SO HARD!!!!!

CHECK OUT MY NEW SPRING BLOCKS!!!

I HAVE ADDED 3 SETS OF SPRING BLOCKS ON MY GIFT AND VINYL BLOG.   THEY ARE SO CUTE. CHECK THEM OUT!!! CLICK ON MY LINK ON THE RIGHT OF THE PAGE.

SPRING SKIRTS FOR TAYLEE AND MAKINLEY!!!

THE LAST TIME I WAS IN SOUTH JORDAN, EMILY,TAYLEE, AND I WENT TO MATERIAL GIRLS.  TAYLEE PICKED OUT ALL OF THIS CUTE FABRIC SO I COULD MAKE LITTLE SKIRTS FOR HER AND MAK.  I DUG OUT MY SERGER WHICH HAD NOT SEEN DAYLIGHT FOR OVER 4 YEARS.  I HAD TO RELEARN HOW TO USE THE DARN THING.  EVENTUALLY I ENDED UP WITH THESE CUTE SKIRTS FOR MY LITTLE GRAND-DAUGHTERS.  SORRY BOYS.   I THINK I WILL PACK THAT SERGER BACK UP FOR A FEW MORE YEARS.  ACTUALLY I HAD A GREAT TIME MAKING THEM.  NOW I AM GOING TO GO SEARCHING FOR A CUTE SPRING TOP TO GO WITH IT.

I HOPE TO SERVE THERE SOMEDAY!

THIS IS THE IDAHO FALLS TEMPLE.  MIKE AND I WERE MARRIED THERE AND OUR 3 DAUGHTERS WERE MARRIED THERE.  CHAD AND JESS CHOOSE THE PORTLAND TEMPLE.  FOR THIRTY - TWO YEARS I'VE ATTENDED THE TEMPLE (SOMETIMES NOT AS OFTEN AS I WOULD OF LIKED) AND I'VE ALWAYS WATCHED THE LADIES THAT WORK THERE. THEY ARE ALWAYS SO KIND AND LOVING AND SEEM SO HAPPY TO BE THERE.

I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL TO WORK THERE BUT DIDN'T THINK I WOULD EVER HAVE THAT CHANCE.  WELL, LAST WEEK MIKE AND I WERE CALLED TO BE ORDINANCE WORKERS AT THE TEMPLE.  WE ARE SO EXCITED.  WE WILL  BE SERVING EVERY SATURDAY FROM 5:00 IN THE MORNING UNTIL 12 NOON.  I AM VERY NERVOUS ABOUT LEARNING EVERYTHING BUT I KNOW THROUGH MY FAITH AND THE HELP OF THE LORD I WILL LEARN IT.  MIKE AND I ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT SERVING THERE.  I HAVE ALWAYS DREAMT OF SERVING A MISSION IN A TEMPLE SO NOW WE GET TO START MAKING OUR DREAM COME TRUE WITHOUT EVEN LEAVING THE CITY OR THE COMFORTS OF HOME.  WE FEEL SO LUCKY AND SO HUMBLE TO GET TO DO THIS SACRED CALLING.  I PRAY I CAN DO AS WELL AS THOSE WONDERFUL LADIES THAT HAVE ALWAYS HELPED ME INSIDE THE TEMPLE.

I LOVE MY JOB - CLEANING UP GLASS AGAIN!

CHAD AND DAD AND JESS TRYING TO PUT THE BOARDS UP AGAIN.  AT LEAST WE KEPT THEM FROM LAST TIME.
THE CALL CAME IN AT 7:00.  DAD WAS JUST PULLING INTO OUR GARAGE WHEN I WAS TALKING TO THE ALARM CO.  I CALLED HIM WHILE HE WAS IN THE DRIVE WAY AND TOLD HIM TO HEAD BACK TO THE STORE.  I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY ARE GETTING BRAVE ENOUGH TO DO IT SO EARLY IN THE EVENING.  THEY PROBABLY WATCHED DAD LEAVE THE STORE. 
WE ARE PUTTING BARS IN THAT FRONT DOOR.  IT SURE WON'T LOOK VERY NICE AND THEN THEY WILL PROBABLY GO THROUGH THE BIG FRONT WINDOW.  THEY GOT WHAT THEY WANTED THIS TIME AND KNEW RIGHT WHERE IT WAS.   OH WELL TO LOOK ON THE BIRGHT SIDE OF IT- IT WASN'T 4:00 IN THE MORNING LIKE LAST TIME.

DO YOU LIKE MY NEW BLACK CURIO THAT I PUT MY ANGELS ON.  THEY NEVER TAKE MY STUFF.  MUST NOT NEED GIFTS TO GO ALONG WITH THEIR DRUGS.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY - OOPS JUST KIDDING!!!!

THESE VALENTINE ROSES ARE BEAUTIFUL, RIGHT?  WELL MY LITTLE CUPID THOUGHT ABOUT ME TOTALLY.  YESTERDAY, FEBRUARY 13TH (PROBABLY AROUND 5:00) ORDERED A VALENTINE BOUQUET FOR ME.   THIS MORNING, FEBRUARY 14TH VALENTINES DAY, NO FLOWERS ARRIVE.  THEY FORGOT HIS ORDER.  SO NOW I HAVE A CHOICE, GO PICK UP MY OWN FLOWERS, OR SAVE THE MONEY.  I DECIDED TO SHOOT THE ARROW RIGHT THROUGH MY OWN HEART AND SAVE THE MONEY.  I MUST BE GETTING WAY TO OLD FOR CUPID OR I FINALLY FIGURED IT ALL OUT.  I THINK VALENTINE'S DAY SHOULD BE BANNED.  IT IS ONLY FOR THOSE MONEY GRUBBERS OUT THERE WANTING TO SELL THEIR BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS OR FATTENING CHOCOLATES.   IT DOESN'T TAKE A SPECIAL DAY ON THE CALENDAR TO  REMEMBER THOSE WE LOVE AND THOSE THAT LOVE ME.  OH WELL, ALL IN ALL I DID WHAT I WANTED.  WE WENT TO SAMS CLUB AND THEN WENT AND HAD A HAMBURGER.  NOW THAT IS A VALENTINES DAY EVERY GIRL DREAMS OF.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY TO SOME OF MY FAVORITE FAMILIES

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO FROM MOM & DAD TO ALL OF YOU ON VALENTINE'S DAY. WE LOVE YOU.
THE HATCH'S
THE BROWNINGS
JESS AND CHAD
GRANDMA AND GRANDPA MERRILL
THE HOLVERSONS

FUNNY STUFF FROM THE UKRAINE

JUSTINS EMAIL JUST CAME AND THIS MADE ME LAUGH SO HARD, SO I THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE IT.

JUSTIN SAYS, "IT WAS FUNNY, THE MISSIONARIES SANG IN CHURCH YESTERDAY...GOT DONE AND THE MEMBERS DECIDED TO APPLAUD FOR US. HAHAHA
STILL TRYING TO WORK OUT THE LITTLE THINGS.

ONE OTHER THING HE MENTIONED. JUSTIN IS NOW SERVING AS THE BRANCH PRESIDENT SO THIS IS FUNNY TO US.
PRESIDENT SAID THERE IS A GUY IN A CITY NOT TOO FAR FROM HERE. HIS WIFE IS A MEMBER BUT LESS ACTIVE. PRESIDENT SAW HIS PICTURE AND SAID HE LOOKS JUST LIKE A BRANCH PRESIDENT SO WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A TRIP OUT THERE AND TEACH HIM THE GOSPEL!!! IT WILL BE FUN.

MISSIONARIES ARE SUCH FUNNY GUYS. THE GOSPEL BRINGS SO MUCH HAPPINESS TO OUR LIVES.

25 "RANDOM"Things About Me

 My niece Lindy tagged me to post 25 random things about me. This is harder than I thought.  I have thought of 25 things here.  

1- From a previous post I mentioned I have a facetious for Jackets.  I probably have 25 or so.

 2- My favorite place to Vacation is  by a pool in a really hot location.

 3- My favorite drink is Diet Coke with Lime

 4- I have 7 grandchildren who I love to be around.

 5-My best friends are my 3 daughters, 2 sons, 1 daughter in law, 3 son in laws, 1 husband,7 grandchildren and a partridge in a pear tree.

 6- When I go into a store I have to push a cart.  Even if I am only buying one item. 

 7- When I drive a motorized vehicle I want to go Extremely Fast.

 8-I make porcelein dolls with my friend Beth.

 9- I love to garden.  My favorite thing is to not wear shoes in the dirt. (gross I know)

10-I love to get in the Bath. Most days I get in morning and night.

11-I love to read a good love story.

12- My youngest son Justin was born on my birthday.

13- I have a booth at Mini Bazaar because I think it is so Fun.

14- I love to watch Little People.

15-I have a Maid.

16-I clean before she comes and sometimes after she leaves.

17- My friend Ranae use to clean for me, but I hated it because I wanted to visit with her, so we would take the money Mike left and go to lunch.  (I got caught and had to quit)

18-I use to eat the Mud Pie cookies I would make. ( when I was little)

19- I caught and sold Night Crawlers when I was 15.

20- I drove an Ice cream truck when I was 16.

21-I became a Dental Assistant  after the Ice Cream Truck.

22-I like the smell of Skunks.

23-My favorite food is Mexican Food.

24- I would love to go to Africa.

25- I do not like to talk on the phone. (much)

These are 25 weird things about me.  Now I am tagging, LaRae, Amber, Wendy, Lindsey Johnson, and Kristen M.  

SKATING WITH THE HOLVERSON FAMILY

THERE IS A PUBLIC ICE SKATING RINK IN SOUTH JORDAN SO WE DECIDED TO TRY IT OUT.
KYLER LOVED BEING PUSHED AROUND ON THE ICE.  I LOVED PUSHING HIM BECAUSE THEN I HAD SOMETHING TO HOLD ONTO.
KAMDON LOVED IT.  HE EVENTUALLY COULD STAND ON HIS OWN SKATES AND TAKE LITTLE BABY STEPS.
THESE TWO HAD NEVER BEEN ON SKATES BUT TOOK TO IT LIKE PROS. TYDON KEPT SAYING HE WAS BORN TO SKATE AND TAYLEE WANTED TO SKATE ON ONE LEG.
I WAS VERY CAREFUL NOT TO FALL.  I DID NOT WANT ANY THING TO BE BROKEN. IT WAS SO FUN.  WE ARE HOPING TO GO AGAIN THIS WEEK.