THANKFUL thursday......

(on friday)

Last week I picked my oldest son, Bo up from the airport. He has been in Montana for the last 2 yrs going to school.

• I am thankful for his accomplishments
• for his help around the house
• for taking the trash
• helping out with his little brothers
• running errands for me
• his easy going personality
• his goals

I am very blessed.

THANKFUL thursday.....

Today I am thankful for the privilege of knowing

Carol Ann Candelaria.

• for her contagious smile
• her sense of humor
• her work ethics
• her family
• her laughter
• her determination
• her YUMMY Christmas COOKIES!
• her strength during life's trials
• her love for others
• her service
• the many hours spent with her and her family
• all the fun get togethers
• her generosity
• the memories
• her friendship

Many people will walk

in and out of your life,

but only true friends will

leave footprints in your heart.

-Eleanor Roosevelt-

Candelaria, Carol Ann Age 51 of Mesa, AZ, passed away peacefully at home, with family by her side, on October 10 2009 after a courageous battle with cancer. Carol was born in Long Beach, California on February 24, 1958. She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She loved to spend time with her family, and enjoyed the holidays immensely. She was known for her baking, especially her Christmas cookies. She is survived by her husband of 28 years, Richard Candelaria; son James Candelaria; daughter Heather Chambers; son-in-law Bryce Chambers; sisters Mary Dolmage, Sue Burdess, Nancy Renner, Cathy Kelly, Rita Dennis, two grandchildren Maylee and Jayce Chambers, and many nieces, nephews, and good friends. She will be missed and forever remain in our hearts.

THANKFUL thursday...

• my toenails painted
• being able to be a 'mOmMy HeLpEr' once a month at Mac's school
• spending time with my husband
• having my parents here visiting
• 'fall foods'....seriously, what other season can you eat pumpkin pie, pumpkin roll, stew, winter squash etc....and have it taste so GOOD?!
• the changing colors of the leaves on the trees...especially on the mountains
• programs that help those with out medical/dental insurance
• a working furnace

my heart is FULL....

yesterday we had a Stake Relief Society meeting. We were asked to bring a goal that we could work on that would help us in our calling. As I thought about this I kept thinking the same thing.....stick to the basics! When I'm doing the basics life is good! I'm happier, friendly, more productive, a better wife and mother, more in tune to the promptings of the Holy Ghost etc....

So, my goal is to do the 100% challenge our ward is doing and that is:

• pray twice a day
• personal scripture study - at least 5 minutes a day
• SMILE :)

I know by doing this it will help me be a better person and will help me be more mindful of others and their needs.

It was interesting to hear the goals of the other sisters, they my have worded it different but basically they all share the same goal. It all comes back to prayer and reading scriptures. I left the meeting inspired and with a full heart!

rambling....

this post is mostly for my own benefit to remind me of the experience I had today. I was getting me a soda at Canyon Country and my Stake President walked in. We said hello to each other and I made a comment about it being a while since I'd seen him over in this area. Then out of the blue he says "you bore your testimony in 1st ward a couple weeks ago didn't you?" I said "ya, but how did you know?" He then told me he was sitting out in the foyer during our meeting and he was listening and when I was bearing my testimony he got up and took a peak to see who it was. Well, it was me and he told me I'd done a good job. Of course I thanked him and then we both went about our business. It put a smile on my face and gave me a great feeling inside. He may not be the prophet, but he has been called to his position by inspiration and holds those priesthood keys and is the shepherd over our stake....and he knows ME!

organized....

those who know me know that I can be a bit 'anal' when it comes to certain things....one of those would be having a daily organized routine. Without my lists my life feels chaotic, so I like to use organizers. I've tried the handheld organizers, but I always go back to the paper notebook type.

I was in need of a new one when I came across some that a stay at home mom makes and sells on etsy. They are adorable! She also makes notebooks, journals and cards. I LOVE that she adds a scripture on the cover. She also does custom orders. I've had mine for about a month now and it's so cute that I haven't wanted to write in it and ruin it (another one of those weird quirks of mine)

anyway, I took a few pictures of my new organizer....they don't do it justice though.

for better pictures of her items you can go to her blog at http://thebestnesst.blogspot.com

her blog is one of my favorites to visit cause it's so up lifting and real.

homemade laundry soap....

I have been making my own laundry soap for about 3 months now.....

I got these cute enamel pots off of ebay and I used my criket to cut out the words

also, about a month ago I started making my own fabric softner.....

after the first batch of laundry soap I changed the recipe just a bit cause I didn't feel like my whites were getting clean enough.....but, now with that change it works great and it's a lot cheaper!!!



ingredients:

3 bars fels naptha soap (grated)

1 box arm & hammer washing soda (4 lbs)

2 boxes arm & hammer baking soda (4 lbs)

1 box borax (4lbs)

and then I add I small box of inexpensive laundry soap - usually surf

grate soap with cheese grater (I use a salad shooter - cause it's faster) mix all ingredients together.

use 1 Tablespoon per load or 2 -3 Tablespoons for heavy soiled

there are other variations out there,but this is the one I use. If interested in trying the others go to http://www.tipnut.com/

great site for other things too

fabric softner ingredients:

6 cups water

3 cups vinegar

2 cups (16 ounces) cheap conditioner (whatever scent you like)

mix and store in a one-gallon container. You can keep refilling your store-bought container. It may separate. Shake each time you use.