The Gift

Hey, all my local yokels! Tonight and tomorrow night are our two performances of The Gift. It also serves as an Open House for our new Stake Center (church building), so feel free to tour our beautiful new building! I hope you will all attend! Performances are at 7:00 pm both days. Seating starts at 6:15 and prelude music and Children's Choir will begin at 6:30. I recommend arriving as early as possible for the most comfortable seats. Dress would be dressy-casual.

I hope everyone will come! I'm excited for these performances on the Birth of Christ and Christmas. I think everyone will enjoy it! I know that some of you were at last year's performance and remember the incredible talent there. This year is twice that and a whole new program. I feel so blessed to be a part of it. If I had to rely on my vocal talents to be in it, I wouldn't have made the cut, I'm sure. It's a good thing I can read! (I'm narrating.) :)

The stake requested the performers not save any seats for their families and friends due to the expected high volume of attendance. Last year we had over 700 people attend, and this year we have added a second performance to accommodate even more. The front few rows will be reserved for the Pastors and Priests of other local churches who are attending. We are grateful to have in this area a wonderful working relationship with local clergies!

Don't miss this. You wouldn't know what you missed, but I am telling you... You'd wish you'd come if you knew how professional and gifted these performers really are. This is a wonderful way to begin our Christmas season: praising Christ and remembering his birth! And it's FREE! And aren't we all about FREE these days?! :)

Directions: The new Stake Center is near the corner of Riggs Road and Higley in Gilbert. It is behind the dairy just off of Riggs on the South side, west of Higley Road.

It's official.

I'm alive. Whew. I'm so glad.

So, I haven't been here lately, but I am slowly returning. I finished my apron for the Sassy Apron Swap today. It came out ADORABLE and it is already in the mail. Oh, I would love to show you all pictures... but I can't do that. My swap buddy could be watching...

Update on me and the ol' teeth:
I'm healing up. It has been very slow. I am glad to have almost all of the swelling gone. It turned out that I had just about every complication in the book. 4 dry sockets, cut nerve (which means NO FEELING OR TASTE BUDS in one side of my tongue, double black eyes, giant swelling issues, clove-oil packings 6 times, and so forth. But I'm doing much better. I still have no feeling in the right side of my mouth/tongue, however. I hope it comes back. It has ruined my ability to whistle and sing. And if you know me, THAT'S A PROBLEM!!!!!

Also, I just got my camera back. I had lent it out to a friend. Happily, it's back and I am ready to take some pictures. It's like being without my arm. Or my tongue. Oh, I already am without a tongue. *** "It's all good," I mumble.***

Anyhow, I just wanted to let everyone know that I am officially off of hiatus. :) Can't say it was refreshing, but it was an adventure.

A new meaning to "Unity in the Church."

Not Dead Yet

Nope. I haven't given in and kicked the bucket. I'm still truckin'.

After a full week of a nasty case of inbedism, I made my first emergence last night to attend the pie party. I have to admit, I didn't want to go. I just still feel like..... like I feel. But, I went and had a great time, and made Shane a beautiful apple pie in the process. The kids had it for breakfast today. Good Mommy.

So, I am still not on top of the world, and I am about to go give in to my strongheadedness and just take a silly pain pill. I mean really... Do I have to be so idealistic?!

But I wanted to stop by here and tell you all that I love you. No, I'm not medicated yet, it's not drug induced. But I know you are out there, my faithful readers, checking up on me. I wanted to thank you for the (seriously) 50 phone calls checking on me, the meals brought in for my solid-food eating family, the sweet little "love you" emails, the watching of my children, the forgiving of my absence, the caring, the comments, the prayers, the buoying of me and my family through this whole ordeal. I don't even have anything major wrong with me!

Oh, dear friends, I love you. Thank you for loving me, too.

Google Reader tells me that I have missed over 300 of your posts. 300!! And that doesn't include the posts I have undoubtedly missed on the many private blogs I regularly visit. I'm not going to try to play catch-up, I'm just wiping my slate clean.

Anyhow, I'm not back yet, but I'm getting there. I just wanted to thank everyone for spreading a little spoonful of love across our toast. You're the best.

I finally left the house to run errands today and was enjoying myself so much that I completely forgot to come home for my visiting teachers. (I got side-tracked at JoAnne's getting goodies for the Christmas Apron Swap. This apron will be so much fun! Reversible and co-ordinated to the max, and I'm not giving anything else away... just in case my person stumbles across my blog.) I guess I don't have it quite all together. I'm working on it. I'm off to read the message my VT's left me and smell the cookies. Then it's to bed with me.

But I wanted you to know... what goes around comes around. And when it's my turn to bring a pot of steaming hot chocolate to you, I will. Mark my words, I'll be there for you. Thank you.

Spinning, spinning, spinning.

No blogging today.  I told the dentist when he repacked my teeth today that the pain meds weren't even touching the owiness.  He prescribed me something stronger and I didn't think it was working until I just realized that my house is spinning, but I am holding still.  Do you think I will land at the edge of the yellow brick road with two spindly shriveling legs sticking out from under the porch?  that sounds nice. 

I'm gonna hit the bed before the bed hits me.  Now.

Trish vs. the semi-truck

This is a picture of me from last week:

And then I had some, er... um... changes. As my dear friend Kim told me today, I look like I had battle with a truck and lost.


This is me today, 3.5 days post-op from my wisdom teeth yanking.

I'm not considering a re-vamp on my profile picture with that one. Nope. It ain't pretty, I know. It doesn't feel pretty either. And I wouldn't bother putting it up here except Shane thought I should do some blogging while I was awake (I think he is secretly undermining my intentions of overdoing it with much-behind laundry, dishes, cleaning, etc.). I asked him what I would blog about. I haven't done anything outside of the house lately due to all of the fun I have been having right here in the safety, privacy, and comfort of my bedsheets. So, here it is, the reason I didn't go to church today. The reason I was unseen at the school carnival. The reason I didn't attend the scout day camp yesterday. And this picture doesn't even do justice to the swelling of my cheeks or the bruising around my jaw bone. But hey! It's all good. It can only last so long, right?!

I went in to Dr. Thorpe's office today, Sunday, so that he could stop getting pestering phone calls from my dear Shane. It turns out that I have dry sockets. He filled my sockets with little strips of medicated rags and sent me on my way. Let me tell you, the pain of having those sockets filled made the last 4 days seem like a cake walk. Giant, major OW. However, it's not the worst thing I have been through, not even this year. So, I'm not complaining. Just thought I'd share.

I'm going back to bed now. That's about all that I am good for. But hopefully I'll find some relief in the morning, and perhaps, if I am lucky, my sockets will begin to clot on their own, apparently not what they were doing to begin with. And if you don't see me around, now you will understand why.

I want you all to know you are lucky I didn't put up the worse pictures. Very lucky. Give-thanks-in-your-prayers lucky. Keep leaving me love, and I will do the same.

Cabbage Patch 'Munk, that's me.

I'm home, shy 4 teeth.

Ice on. Ice off. Ice on. Ice off.

I'm trying to reduce the

giant chipmunk cheeks.

They are cute on this guy, but not on me.

How come he gets to eat!?
I'm starving, but I can't move my jaw.
Ah, well... weightloss plan!! Whoohoo!!


When I feel better, I will go in search of my real family.
The family that looks like me.

I hope they will take me after all of these years of separation. They look really nice. I'm sure they are

as nice as they look.

Seperated at birth? Perhaps.

Or perhaps I will go live with the Chipmunks.

I'm just not sure that I am soprano enough for them. Perhaps they'll let me sing bass. I'm crossing my fingers!

Be happy, people.

Okay, I know that I am officially on hiatus LOL, but I have one more thing to say. I have received a flood of emails from family and friends, and read on some other blogs some woe is me-ness over the elections. This is all that I have to say about it:

The very blessing of this country is this: the peaceful transfer of power.

So, the election of the president didn't go the way I personally voted, but you know what? I'm not seeing rioting in the streets, or a need for a police state post-election. This is why, no matter who is put into power, no matter how red under the collar I can feel about hot political issues at times, no matter how often I see bigots, or right- or left-winged extremism, or a disrespect for my personal values, etc, I will still be eternally grateful to live in a peaceful democracy.

Honestly... the Lord could have seen fit for me to be born in Islamabad, Akara, Tashkent, Addis Ababa, Pyongyang, Amman, Tbilisi, Port au Prince, Phnom Penh, or Kinshasa. I could live in a constant state of civil war over ancient tribal leadership, or under the fist of tyranny. I don't. I am so grateful.

I don't believe that Obama is going to create minefields between the homes of Republicans and their children's schools. I don't fear that he will ban women from working or mandate burkhas. I am not concerned that he will allow the tummies of our children to become distended while he allows the government to control distribution of food to only the wealthiest of land holders. I don't believe that I will, in the next four years, have to make the choice between having a pet and having a pet for dinner. Can we not abstain from depression? Of course we can.

Peaceful. Transfer. of Power.

Let's not grow ungrateful for what we have.

Be happy, people!

Apologies in advance.

Here's the deal. My home and family are recovering from footlessness today (it's amazing how disgusting a clean home can become in a short time of Motherhood gimpiness!) and preparing for Momlessness over the next few days, since I am going to have my 4 wisdom teeth out (for sure this time) tomorrow. So, I won't be here, doing my reading, writing, and arithmetic. Neither will I be commenting, answering e-mails, etc. I'm on hiatus. Enjoy post-political life while I am away!

Have S'more

Last night's continuation of last week's block party was great. Who doesn't love bobbing for apples post a dinner of s'mores? Hmmm?

Once again, I love you, Mack!

Non-Political, Non-Partisan

(Originally posted here on 9/19/08, but moved up for the sake of the election.)

I wouldn't put anything on the blog that was strictly political or partisan. It's just not my way. However, I commonly put things on here that speak my thoughts. The below video does just that. To me, the issues of life, faith, family, and the sanctity of marriage are the foundational strengths of this country. To me, it is not political or partisan to protect and fight for these most sacrosanct, preeminent values. To me, they are what distinguish our nation for excellence. They are integral in the preservation of our culture, our homelives, and our future.

The protection of life, faith, marriage, and family is not a loss of inalienable rights, the forcing of wills, or the limitation of relationships. It is the polar opposite. By protecting these rights and values, we thereby also define and protect the rights to death, atheism, choice, divorce, and interrelational companionship of all kinds. To fail to protect life, faith, family, and marriage is also a failure to protect their antipodal opposites.

Well, enough said from me. Watch the video. It's well done, and it speaks my thoughts.

From http://www.catholicvote.com/

Halloween Block Pot Luck Par-tay

I don't know why I love that photo so much, but I do. So, even though it has only a fringe connection to our block party (the pumpkin was in attendance), I just had to include it.

As you can see, there was plenty of food.

We set a TV up in the back of Vanbi and let the kids watch the Corpse Bride while we ate.

Next year we'll project a movie onto the side of the house with the projector.

But it was great the way it was, too.

But on Halloween night, a movie can only hold attention for so long...

This group had other things to do! There was candy to be had. You've all done it before, I don't need to explain how it works. So, here are just a few of my favorite pictures from the night.

Thanks, Pam, for sharing your light.

I love you, Mack!

Trunk or Treat

I didn't take too many pics at our Trunk or Treat last Wednesday, but here are the ones I got. Nevan's costume wasn't done yet, so he went in a pirate hat, cutoffs, eye-patch, and t-shirt. It's all good. At least we got it done for Halloween, right?!

Ready to go.

Even Vanbi dressed up.

Cute little kitty.

Carson and Meeka are great friends.

The kitty sisters.

And one of just Mayzie.

It all began with a balloon,

and a few strips of newspaper and some homemade glue.

In comes the duct tape and empty wrapping paper roll...

Is this what life was like before helium balloons?

Echo echo echo. That's right. Repeat.

Ah, yes. Now the fun begins.

Are you wondering yet? Are you thinking that we've gone crazy? Too late. We were already crazy. I mean, really... who doesn't want an eternal spring green balloon?! Well, keep wonderin', because I am not giving you any hints as to our secret mission.

Time to shop. I took my paint chips with me.

But, unfortunately, this was the best match that I could make. Okay, just one hint. I'm nice that way. They are rubber gloves.

Don't take the bandages off too soon after surgery, or blindness could be the result.

While the eyes were healing up, we made a nifty harness out of cardboard, ribbon, and sticky-back velco (the greatest of all inventions), stuffed a pair of pajama pants with polyfil, attached them to Nevan with plenty of safety pins, and da, da, da, dum... we were finally taking shape.

Poor Nevan with his allergy eyes...

A few more safety pins, a couple yards of black fabric, and a lot more pollyfil later, we had a complete and totally finished Alien Abduction costume.

I'm losing my title.

For a long time I have been titled in this home,

"The Finder of All Lost Things."

But BEHOLD, I have lost something BIG.


Okay, It's actually little.


But it was just there...


and I've never lost it before.


I have not been able to find this lost thing, and I have looked everywhere!


A week and a half ago, while kneading the Sacrament Bread dough, I removed my wedding ring, like I always do. When I put the bread in the oven, I went to retrieve my ring, like I always do, from the bottle of ring cleaner, where I always put it while I knead.

It wasn't there.

It is nowhere! (Tinkerbell, bring me my lost thing! Please!) And since I own no other jewelery (no, my ears are not pierced), I am making do with what I've got.

Do you think Shane will notice?

Expect Updates & PRINT 'N' TAKE voting

Okay, I was pressing through the pain yesterday, but today I can't walk on it. Urgh. So... I should pretty much be sitting all day. Blog update day! Good thing I can just drop off my early ballot at the polling place, because there is no way that this foot is standing in line! :) OK. I've vented. I'm happy again. :) See me smiling? :) :) :)

Oh, and if you don't know what to do about voting for Judges in AZ, visit this blog: http://azjudgesreview.blogspot.com/

And, I know that I already said that I wouldn't be political, but guess what: I'm in pain and I can do whatever I want to. :P It is voting day, afterall.

And here is how I am voting on the propositions:
100 Yes
101 Yes
102 Yes
105 Yes
200 No
201 No
202 No
300 No
Remember, the first 4 yes, the last 4 no.

and on Judges:

No, not these judges...

theeeeese judges...

Justice of the Supreme Court
Bales NO

Judges of the Superior Court
Abrams NO
Akers YES
Araneta YES
Arellano YES
Baca NO
Ballinger YES
Blakey YES
Buttrick YES
Cohen NO
Contes YES
Davis NO
Ditsworth YES
Dunevant NO
Flores NO
Garcia NO
Gentry-Lewis NO
Gordon NO
Hannah NO
Harrison YES
Hilliard NO
Hoffman NO
Katz NO
Kemp YES
Klein Yes
Mahoney Yes
McClennen Yes
McMurdie Yes
McNally NO
McVey YES
Miles, L NO
Miles, R NO
Oberbillig NO
Padilla NO
Potts YES
Ryan NO
Sanders YES
Steinle NO
Stephens YES
Trujiollo NO
Udall YES
Whitten NO

Why bother? Judges are very important, that's why. And I have had many conversations with people around voting time every year that start, "I never know what to do about the judges..." And, so, I have read about them all, and here is what I will do. I chose judges who hold a history of being tough on crime, and gave the benefit to the three or four judges that I couldn't find information on. All of the judges that are soft on crime and who try to legislate from the bench got my NO vote. So, this list works for everyone! If you are tough-on-crimey, vote with me. If you are soft-on-crimey, vote opposite me. :) Happy Voting!