Have I Done Any Good? Official Music Video ft. Alex Boye & Carmen Rasmus...

Today, I was thinking that I am not a very good server.  I helped yesterday with Marlee's prom and complained about the person in charge because she wasn't as organized as I would have been and I felt she was wasting my time as well as others time.  I should have realized that I was there to help my friends that were in charge.  I should have thought about how I was doing it so my beautiful daughter and her friends could have had a wonderful experience.  Instead, I was selfish and thought about myself.  I need to think about doing good in the world instead of my crazy selfish existence.

Why the change?

About 6 years ago, I had an eye-opening experience, I was too fat for my kids. I couldn't keep up with them and I was going to die. We were on a family vacation and I was literally praying for life flight to come and rescue me on a hike. The only thing that saved me was thinking of my kids going back to school and asking what happened over summer vacation, they would have to answer that their mom died on a hike. I made it up the hill, not without a lot of sweat and tears. Fast forward to today. I have lost 48 pounds and still have 42 to go. I know that I am going to die if I don't take care of myself. This is my life and I need to live it. I think a lot of changes have been made but I am now in it for the long haul.

New Year New Me

Well, it is time. I have tried everything to get to a healthy body. I have done every diet known to man. I have had weight loss surgery and that has been my most successful thing. I am excited for a new year to focus on me and use my tool that I have been blessed with. This is my year. This is my accountability. I am going to be a healthy, happy person and that is my goal!

Visit from Sydnee

This week, my cute niece Syd came to visit. We have had lots of fun adventures and lots of movies watched.

She arrived on Monday and we went to Chili's for lunch. She and Marlee got to babysit our other niece Christa while Jacob had swim lessons. After they came home she took Noah and Oaklee to Roaring Springs.

Tuesday is my homework day so we don't usually do a lot. We decided to go to the movies. We went and saw Rango. This has to be the dumbest movie ever. I can't believe how terrible it was. I am so glas that we only paid $1 to watch it.

Wednesday, we went to Jumptime. It is a trampoline place where you can jump into pits of stuff or just jump or play trampoline dodgeball. It was too funny. We could not stop falling. Especially me!

Thursday, Oaklee had a swim meet and it was great to see her swim the back stroke again. We got to watch her swim and freeze to death at the same time. It will be warmer this week, I am afraid.

Friday, Marlee and Sydnee went downtown and hung out, shopped, ate and just were teenagers. They came home with new TOMS. They say they are the most comfortable shoes ever and TOMS gives a pair of shoes to needy people in Africa. I say they are $60 shoes. EEK!

Saturday, we left for the night in McCall. We went with the Peterson family to celebrate the 4th. It was nice to get away for a night. We started a hike up the canyon in McCall. Sara, me, Marlee, Syd and Christa stopped half way up because I started to get light-headed from the altitude. It was a good thing because it was already slippery from lots of snow banks and dangerous from fallen trees. The rest of the family finished the hike up to Duck Lake. Oaklee fell in the snow up to her waist and they said that the lake was 3/4 frozen over. It was a fun day. Oaklee and Noah stayed up in McCall to be with Grandma and Grandpa as well as Kylee and Jacob.

Monday,we went to the Liberty Parade downtown. We had a good time with John and Sara and kids. Christa took her first step there. It was cute. The Grand Marshal of the parade was a POW/MIA soldier in Afghanistan. It was very sad. Hope he makes it home soon. We went to lunch at Tucanos. It was yummy. I love Bacon wrapped turkey. Later after the kids came home, we went to U-Swirl. It was really yummy. Not too healthy but yummy.

Where does the time go?

Time goes by quickly and I get overwhelmed and quit a lot of things. I am not sure why.

Here is the Peterson family update starting with youngest to oldest.

Oaklee is swimming again this summer. We had the opportunity to go to Lagoon in May for her clogging team that made it to nationals. They took first in their division.




Noah is busy with scouts, chess and video games. He is a ferocious reader and is busy being a brother. ( you know bugging sisters and all) He just got home from a pioneer trek with his church youth group. He did a good job and worked really hard.




Marlee is busy. We had the opportunity to go to Washington DC in June. She and her partner did and exhibit for National History Day on the Japanese Internment camp in Mindoka Idaho during WWII. It won 2nd place and Best Idaho topic for Idaho so we got to go the National competition back east. We had a great time and she is excited for next years competition.



Wayne is working his two jobs. He was just called as the First Counselor of the Elder's Quorum in our ward. He has been busy with all he does for us.

I have been really busy with homework. I am taking two classes this summer and am really excited about growing closer to finally finishing college. My goal is to graduate by the time Marlee graduates from college. 2017, here I come.

I will try to be better. It is my summer goal.

Primary Program

Today was our Primary presentation at church. All the kids from age 3-11 sing and give speaking parts about what they have learned this year. Oaklee gave a gret talk about how she knew that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ were real. She said they are so important that that is the first thing we learn that we believe in. See Article of Faith #1. They then sang a bunch of songs. A new song I hadn't heard before was called I Know that My Savior Loves Me. The second verse said "Now I am here in a beautiful place, learning the teachings of Jesus. Parents and Teachers will help guide the way, lighting my path everyday. Wrapped in the arms of my Saviors's love , I feel his gentle touch. Living each day, I will follow his way, home to my Father above. I know He lives! I will follow faithfully. My heart I give to Him, I know my Savior loves me."

That is amazing to know that at such a young age. If I could have learned that so long ago, I think my self-esteem issues would have gone by the wayside.

Good job Oaklee. You have done such a great job.

Marlee's first dance

Marlee went to her first dance last night. She and a group of her friends went to dinner and then to the dance. They had a blast. How do I know? I got to chaperone. I promised her I wouldn't stalk her. I promised I wouldn't dance. I promised I would not talk to her friends. I did good. She said I could do it again.

She was beautiful. Thanks Sara ( my wonderful sister-in-law ) for coming and doing her hair. What would we do without you?