July 1, 2013*

I think I'm not dealing with stress well. My headaches and breathing and sleeping are all causing problems. When I specifically prayed and worked on my breathing it got better. I really need help. My headaches are so bad and so common. I need something to change. Here's my brainstorm on what I can do differently.

• Go to bed by 10
• Limit time on computer: work 1 hour at night and no screens after 10 am.
• Morning devotional: read scriptures, ponder and plan day when I get up or after breakfast. 
• Put a few 10 minute meditation breaks into my day
• When I first notice a headache or tension, take care of it: eye drops, meditation break, stretching
• Eat healthier
• Exercise 4 days a week if possible
• Stretch before bed

July 7, 2013

Letter to Dustin:

We just got back from Utah.  A bunch of Bob’s college buddies were having a reunion. We spent Saturday with them.  We had a good time.  Bob really loves those guys and they have fun reminiscing about all the dumb stuff they did together in college.  The big shocker, though, was one of Bob’s friends got divorced.  We called them the Huxtables because she’s a lawyer and he’s a doctor.  They’re the nicest people.  They took their 2 kids and went to Africa for 3 years to do mostly volunteer work and now he works at Primary Childrens hospital and she’s a law professor at BYU.  Anyway, 3 days before Christmas she sent him an email that said she’s done being married.  He had no idea there were even any problems.  And now she’s dating a 26 yr old actor from CA, has had a bunch of plastic surgery and she wants to become an actress. So crazy.  She ran the recycling club in college. She just was not someone I’d ever think would do something like that.

And Friday night we met Bob’s sister Katrina’s fiancé.  You remember her right?  We’re so excited she’s getting married.  And he’s totally the “lid to her pot”! Have you ever talked to Katrina at all? She’s a pretty unique girl. But this guy is unique right along with her!  My favorite thing she said that night about her fiancé was “He’s extremely intelligent and he doesn’t mind that I am too!”  Isn’t that hilarious! And then the guy, Josh, trapped Bob and told him all about some kind of nuclear reactor something for at least 15 minutes. He asked Bob if he wanted him to explain the reactor thing and Bob said no that’s ok, but then Josh said “come on, it’s not that hard to understand.” And then went on about it.  It’s so great people like that can find each other!

We were supposed to get together with Casey too while we were there, but Kami had family come in too so they hung out with them instead.

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I went to girls camp this week.  I only went for 2 days and 2 nights because I split the week with another leader.  That was a great amount of time at girls camp! It was a good time.  So testimony-building for the girls.  And there was a fire up there in the next canyon all week we were there, but we didn't smell smoke or anything.  But we came home 4th of July morning and by that afternoon the fire had jumped canyons and they were evacuating the mountain.  Now they won't have girls camp up there for at least the next 2 weeks.

On the 4th, I got home from camp that morning.  I packed and got ready for our trip to Utah and then that night we had the Gunnels over to swim and bbq.  Then the Pettingills and Harmons came over too for fireworks.  It was really nice.

June 30, 2013

It's our 12 year anniversary today.  We celebrated by staying at the JW marriot.  We had Lexi babysit. That worked out great. We went to the cheesecake factory for dinner then checked into our hotel. Then we did the helicopter tour Bob got for fathers day.  It was fun.  Saturday we slept in then had lunch at Claim Jumper, then went to Fry's electronics.  Bob's been wanting a speaker receiver or something for our tv for a while, so he got that.  Then we went to the Temple.  It was nice and relaxing.

June 23, 2013

I had a neat experience with Aaron this week.  It was a tender mercy.  We went to the water slides for the first time this week.  We went with the Deans.  The 3 older kids paired up with a Dean and they rode the rides together.  I was a little worried about Aaron and Cannon since their not as old as the others, but we let them go.  I stayed with Ruby and Seth all day and Ruby didn't love it.  So it was kind of hard to keep her happy so we could stay and let the other kids enjoy it.  We got on the lazy river after lunch and the both liked it, so we stayed a long time.  By the time we got out I realized I hadn't seen Aaron for a few hours.  I was watching Seth and Ruby in the wave pool by now and I started getting worried.  I knew I couldn't get the kids out and go look for Aaron around the park without crying and whining and having to carry them at this point.  So I just watched them and prayed and prayed.  I knew Heavenly Father knew where Aaron was and I knew He could send the Holy Ghost to Aaron if I asked.  So I asked Him to tell Aaron to come check in with me.  I asked over and over and kept watched for 10 or 15 minutes.  Then Aaron showed up to check in.  I was relieved and thankful and recognized it as a tender mercy.  But it wasn't until I talked to Aaron about it later that I was really amazed.  I told Aaron and he said he had been in line for what he thought was 30 minutes.  It was the really crowded part of the day so you have to wait in a long line to get a tube and then you wait in another line to go on the slide.  He'd waiting through the whole first line and was about to get his tube, when he felt he need to check in. So he left the line he'd been waiting in and followed the prompting to come see me.  It was such a tender mercy.

Our first full week of summer break at home went pretty well.  Seth finished swimming lessons and is swimming all over the pool.  The kids played with friends a lot.  Aaron and Rachel both set up play dates with kids from school.  Aaron picked a boy who is in the San Destin ward.  I'm so glad they got together.  They played so great.  Aaron is a hard one to match with friends.  He seems to more tolerate his regular friends than really enjoy playing with them.  But this friend, Jack Monson, was like his bosom buddy.  They were so fun to see together.  Hopefully they'll get to play together a lot this summer.

June 20, 2013

I'm working on the home-study seminary manual for my scripture study. At the end of 1nephi 1 nephi talks about tender mercies. The lessons asks you to write some of the tender mercies you've experienced. So here are some I can think of. I hope thinking about this will help me recognize more of them in my life.

• We were able to buy this amazing house
• We've been able to make enough money to pay for both houses and still be comfortable
• I knew the car wasn't going to stop at the 4 way stop so I waited for it. This happened right after Nicole Boyd shared an experience where she had a similar experience but she heard words tell her the car wouldn't stop. I didn't hear any words. I just peacefully knew what would happen. This is one of the more common ways the Holy Ghost speaks to me. 
• Our friendship with the deans and how all our kids have someone to play with
• 
  

June 19, 2013

• Kids testimonies 
• -teach them my lesson about the Holy Ghost
• Help them recognize and explain how it feels

• YW
• Change class presidency? Isabelle. How will that affect older girls?
• Caylee, Lecates Bridget jasmine delaney. All worry me. 
•      Need to strengthen them and help them see their good traits
• 
  

June 9, 2013

We're in Visalia.  School got out on Wednesday.  Danny is now a middle schooler.  They had a big program on the last day of school.  He's so big. We had the deans and a few families over to swim after school on Wednesday.  Then Thursday we left for Visalia.  Bob came with us and he flies home tonight.  On Friday we swam at the neighbors house, went to Bravo Farms and a Mexican street fair in Lindsay.  Saturday Bob took Rachel, Danny and Seth and they picked blueberries.  We swam again and went out to dinner. 

For the rest of the week we don't have too many plans.  Danny really wants to go fishing.  I'm looking forward to being lazy.