What was your first job?

I was driving home from the office this week and saw a new construction sign announcing the coming of a new "HOBBY LOBBY" to the area! I immediately thought to call Tessa and announce to her the fabulous news! Unfortunately, when I called she couldn't hear me and kept telling me to speak-up... I think she must be screening her calls (try calling the Hartwig House # ~ you'll know what I'm talking about!) But a short little trip down memory lane took me to one of Tessa's first jobs at the Hobby Lobby she worked at when living in Flower Mound and still in high school! This must have been a fun time for Tessa having a bit of freedom and opportunity to make extra $$$.

My first job was as a back office hand for Luster Chiropractic, in Mesa. Dr Luster was in the bishopric with my dad at the time - but that's not how I got the job... Mom had been hauling all of her 4 kids down to the office 1-2 times a month for routine adjustments (I have no idea why) and everytime we went the office ladies would be short handed and the phone would start to ring off the hook. Well, at some point the phone rang so long that I finally got up and answered it myself, took a message, or put them on hold - can't recall exactly.. but a week later the Dr's wife called and asked if I'd like to come fill out a job application!

Daenon doesn't remember what his first job was... it was too long ago. Ahhhhh. His memory is better when he's afraid I'm make something up! After the lawn mowing business when he was 12... he worked at the car wash in LA... He still frequently recalls all the very fancy and expensive automobiles that he was priviledged enough to drive while working there! I'll let him fill in the details later!

Hula Performance

So, I decided to let my secret out! For the past eight weeks or so I have been learning about the Polynesian culture as a way to honor Mom. Her love for the people and culture became so evident to me when Michael and I lived in Houston, with Mom and Dad, in 2003 prior to moving to Arizona. There was an older woman in the ward who's grand-daughter was professionally dancing with a group locally and she came over to the house and graciously performed for mother. You should have seen mother's eyes. She just sat there in amazement with her arms folded in front of her with one hand on her mouth fighting to keep the tears back (all while in her flambouant "nice" house robe.) She told them of her story of when she was a teenager and pure joy is all you heard out of her mouth when she spoke. All I can remember, as I sat there watching the dancer and listening to Mom, was I want to do that someday! Well, since I have moved here I kind of fell into a Polynesian Dancing Group that was just formed six months ago for excercise. The all lds group has turned into something more than what they were expecting when they first started out. They started performing a few months back and I had the oppurtunity of being able to join in with the performances last night. I was part of a paid luah party for a local Retirement Community and danced two Hawaiian songs. I can't begin to tell you how nervous I was for this performance. My lips quivered, like they were flapping in the wind, the whole time I was on the dance floor. This was something completely out of my element but I had the most wonderful spiritual thrill dancing last night. After it was over, I was fighting back the tears of how grateful I was to have an oppurtunity to be apart of this wonderful group of girls! So, thanks to my wonderful mother I think I have found a new passion of a different type of dancing!

P.S. I am the BIG "YELLOW" bird in the video! Hopefully soon I won't be a Big Bird but a Small Bird! :-)

Homepathic Remedy

White Chocolate Chip Carob Cookies

I was hungry for something sweet this afternoon so I decided to use the last package of white chocolate chips I had in the pantry. I read the package and their recipe called for cocoa powder. Hmmm. I don't have that- but I do have Carob powder! I bought some more recently because when it is cold outside I actually do enjoy a nice cup of hot carob. Funny memories. Anyway the cookies actually turned out pretty tasty and I am no cookie expert!

What Would You Call This?

This is one of my childhood things. Hailey has been playing with it for about a year now. It looks and feels like mom made it out of some ancient type garment material. It scares Brady to look at it sometimes! What exactly would you call it? Obviously it is a doll of some sort. A potato doll? I wonder what she called it?

I FOUND 100 DOLLARS!

I found 100 dollars in Brady's pants when I was doing laundry this morning. I am so excited!
I can pocket it and buy something silly.

April Fool's!