Hubby

Can I just tell you that I LOVE MY HUSBAND!!

I think he's just so damn HOT!!!

MMMmmm!

I am such a blessed woman!!!!!

Classified Ads. Hmmm....

I got a newsletter from the Ye Lion's Den Restaurant the other day. Inside the newsletter was a list of excerpts from the classified section of newspapers. I thought they were fun so I'm going to share with you what was highlighted inside the mailer.

ENJOY:

``` Illiterate? Write today for free help.
``` Auto Repair Service. Free pick-up and delivery. Try us once, you'll never go anywhere
again.
``` Our experienced Mom will care for your child. Fenced yard, meals, and smacks included.
``` Dog for sale: Eats anything and is fond of children.
``` Man wanted to work in dynamite factory. Must be willing to travel.
``` Stock up and save. Limit: One
``` Mixing bowl set designed to please a cook with round bottom for efficient beating.
``` For sale: Antique desk suitable for lady with thick legs and large drawers.
``` Now is your chance to have your ears pierced and get an extra pair to take home, too.
``` We do not tear your clothing with machinery. We do it caerfully by hand.
``` Great Dames for sale.
``` Tired of cleaning yourself. Let me do it.
``` Vacation Special: Have your home exterminated
``` Used Cars: Why go elsewhere to be cheated. Come here first.
``` Wanted. Man to take care of cow that does not smoke and drink.
``` Our bikinis are exciting. They are simply the tops.

Closer to me

I am so excited! I am getting closer to the size I was when I conceived Mykayela. Monday I went into the washroom to get into my boxed clothes looking to see if there was anything I could fit and I brought out half the stash because they fit! Not only do they fit but we're looking pretty dang good together!! :o) The whole reason I was looking for something was because of the concert I was taking Catelynn and Eliana to; the Soul2Soul concert: Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. I wanted to wear something that makes me look better than frump-a-lot-carebear-mama.

It's been so easy to trim down. I don't know why in the world I took so long to do something. I held my baby weight longer than ever before and felt awful. Shaklee has this AMAZING program called CINCH which makes the losing of weight easy. To tell you the truth about the matter, I haven't even gotten all the way into it and I've lost weight and inches just doing a partical job. I love it!! I LOVE SHAKLEE!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's so exciting to fit into new clothes...or, rather, OLD clothes!!! LOL

Soul2Soul

So there really are some perks of being in a military family! lol While I don't really love the idea of sacrificing my husband to a cause for life or even for months at a time, I do have to say that I like the little "thank you" benefits. One such example is the FREE tickets for the Soul2Soul concert tour with Faith Hill and Tim McGraw. Monday, June 11, I was able to attend the concert with our two oldest girls; Catelynn and Eliana.

We stopped at Crown Burger to eat--the best food ever!--and parked there with a permit gained with our purchase. It was the first time either girl had been to Crown Burger--I know, I know...I should be ashamed, but now they can say they've been there like every other normal person here. ;o) The concert started at 8:00pm so we needed to eat quickly as we didn't get into Salt Lake City until after 7:00--so much later than I wanted, but it worked out fine. I had the Crown Burger special; cheeseburger with pastrami--YUMMY!!!, Catelynn and Eliana both had a junior cheese burger, and of course we had their awesome fries and fry sauce with a drink. We were VERY full by the time we left for the concert; STUFFED would be more like it. Yes, our mouths and our tummies were so grateful and happy with our choices!!

We entered the Energy Solutions Arena with a huge crowd and made our way to the seats we were given--THANK YOU Tim and Faith!! The stage was fun, the four different "legs" had a constantly changing display of lights and designs...it was beautiful. The place was packed and the energy was just a strong as a championship game...seriously, everyone was PUMPED.

The lights were down and then there was a wave of energy and sound, at first a dull roar and then a LOUD--and loud doesn't even come close to the level of sound there was--screaming explosion, clapping, and stomping. Suddenly the lights came up on the furthest most portion of the right "leg" (look at the picture) and there stood Faith Hill singing. The gold in her hair was washed in the light and seemed to give her a halo. She sang and we were all loving it, then the lights spill over the the furthest most part of the left "leg" to highlight the very handsome Tim McGraw. It was a very good opening.

The show was full of sparkles, changing displays, and all kinds of light that involved the crowd.

I was a bit suprised to see Faith's hair was blonde instead of the brown it has been recently. She mostly walked around the stage singing and waved some to the crowd. She said that Salt Lake City had one of the best crowds in all 7o-odd cities and 50 states that they've been to. She loved being here last year and was glad to be back. It was kind of funny, too, as she was talking she said she was glad that she had put on her underarm deodorant...stammered a bit saying, "not...that you'd know...but now you do," she giggled and then said she felt kind of like family here.

Tim had a slightly higher pitch in his voice than what I was expecting. Everything was great though...I love his music. It was super fun to stand up and dance a bit to his songs. He dances around a little more than Faith does and the crowd was CRAZY whenever he'd get close.

It was a very nice evening...a long concert--over three hours--which was awesome. As you can see from the pictures, we were up pretty high, but like I said, the tickets were free due to my sweet husband's sacrifice of service to the military. It was a fun night to spend with our Eliana and Catelynn.

Beautiful Miss Eliana at her first major concert...Happy Tenth Birthday!!!

Friends

Yesterday, while sitting in the front yard with one of my girls, I watched a brownish SUV drive past then a few seconds later the same SUV had turned around and drove toward my house. As I watched it move closer I recognized the passenger and instantly became very excited...it was Pat and Bob Young! These two people have been such blessings in my life--they have been angels of mercy inspiring hope within my heart and I've been missing them terribly over the last two years. So amazing! It was perfect timing because two of our children were sick--puking with fevers--and needed preisthood blessings, so Bob helped Mark with that and our children are feeling much better now.

```````````side note: have you notice the number of times I typed the word "TWO" in the paragraph above````````````

It's so nice to know the LORD is aware of the things we need. He sent people I needed to see for peace and hope.

I am so grateful.

Walk it off...

Sometimes we just need to get away. This weekend was one of those times. While Mark was camping with our boys, I was home with our six girls so we could have a girl party--Cookie Lee Jewelry. Two of the girls were quite frustrating and one especially irritated me beyond reason. From Friday night to Sunday I just wanted to throw her out the window. I had to leave the house a few time to walk around the neighborhood so I could think instead of simply FEEL angry. Some children process things differently than others, or more directly important to me, they process differently than I understand and know how to work with. Therefore, I want to scream, shake, stomp my feet, and just have my OWN temper tantrum but I can't because I'M the "grown-up"! It's so not fair!!! I guess this is why parents say things like: just wait, or I hope you have children just like you.

What do you do when the person you're trying to help just clams up, turn inward, and stonewalls you? Ugh!

Why is it easy to have answers when it's someone ELSE'S children and/or other people's problems?

You know the dialogue that goes on inside the head when you're having an debate; that inner voice that says: GROW UP; or ACT YOUR AGE; or WHY ARE YOU ACTING LIKE THIS; or YOU'RE IN CONTROL HERE, GET IN CONTROL; you know, things like that. Well, that voice wouldn't shut up. However; that OTHER voice--the victim voice--wouldn't stop either.

Sometimes being the Mom isn't fun. That's just the truth about it. I love being a Mom, don't get me wrong, yet there are times when I miss just being Young Regina.

On the flip side, I was able to appreciate the area we live in. I felt a peace overcome me while I walked off my irritation. It's interesting how when we feel at peace we can fill our lungs so much more easily.

Anyway, at this juncture, I'm awaiting an answer on this particular episode of frustration.

Go with the flow

At first I was so irritated that we had to go get Catelynn, Gabriel, Kaylee, and Nicholas on Sunday. Saturday is a day for travel, Sunday is for church; however, their mother said we needed to go on Sunday to meet her in Wyoming. Saturday we worked more on the house and the yard getting things ready for everyone to be together. We drove passed a sign stating someone had to move out of state and was selling some furniture and appliances...so we went to see what was for sale. There was a practally new GE Digital washer and dryer set that he was selling for an incredible price--that I'll keep a secret. It was a "miracle", we've been wanting just that for quite some time and needed a way to receive it...there it was, right before our eyes with a way to do it. AWESOME!! What a blessing. Now we have a new set...beautiful...it washes and dries perfectly, quietly, and soooo easily. The children are in charge of washing their own laundry so this is so helpful. If we'd been on our way to get our children, we'd have missed this opportunity. So, I guess the lesson is to be patient when things don't appear to be what you want them to be...they me turn out to be BETTER...or, at least, something that brings you closer to your ultimate goals. We weren't any worse for the wear traveling on Sunday; Mark and I were still able to keep the day focused on the LORD and His Gospel, and we now have a beautiful washer/dryer set that's barely used and will save us energy use, detergent, and water...as well as make it easier for everyone to reach and do thier laundry...sometimes we just need to go with the flow.