Giving Thanks

First of all, I hope everyone enjoyed the Thanksgiving Weekend!
Second - I want to thank our family and friends for the hospitality we were given over the holiday.

The day before Thanksgiving, Austin, one of the family neighbor boys came to the door stating that their mother wasn't home and there was something stuck in the turkey that his older sister (Britney) was going to cook. So I went over to the Griffith home to find a large turkey in the sink. They had done a wonderful job on thawing it out. But before mom left to jury duty that morning, she told them to pull out the "giblets". The kids had no idea what a giblet was. :-) So I proceeded to pull the neck and the giblets from the turkey...while they all laughed about "giblets". They had made rolls, jell-o and other dishes for a feast they were having that evening. GOOD JOB KIDS!!

Anyway, later on that evening, they invited us over for this pre-Thanksgiving feast. We were very excited to spend some time with this lovely family of ours. We laughed about "giblets" most of the evening along with other stories, never a dull moment. And the food was fabulous!


Thanksgiving morning we went down to Central to spend the day with the Woolsey family. It had been a LONG time since we were all together in the same place. I'm very grateful for our families and for all the love and support they give us.

ReNae and I went to Salt Lake to see a play the day after Thanksgiving. "Once Upon This Island". It is a play that takes place in Haiti and tells an old folk story. It was a lot of fun and it really meant a lot to me. Thanks ReNae! We had a fun-filled day of travel and talk, making the Thanksgiving weekend even better and reminding me of all my blessings.

Then the icing on the cake...Joni and her beautiful family came to visit us on Saturday and even stayed the night before heading back to California. The BYU game, against Utah was also on Saturday. ReNae, Dale, Devin, Scott & Aaron were very excited as the game unfolded. It was a lot of fun to have so many of us there. (Joni and the kids were there as well, but we didn't watch it much.) I had picked up a couple of pizzas for all of us and some other goodies...including making Muddie-Buddies...YUM. One of the pizzas was double layer and it was huge.
















Saturday evening after the big crowd left and Family Katz and the Woolsey's went on a field trip to cabellas, there was a BYU basketball game on that Scott and Aaron wanted to watch. The kids were put to bed, Joni and I hung out in my MESSY room and just talked and talked. After a bit, Joni and I went into the living room to see what the guys were up to, and there were two beautiful poinsettias on the counter, 1 for each of us and a love not from our husband. CUTE!! They are awesome and once again, we were reminded of how blessed we are with wonderful husbands.

Lafayette - Day 3

November 18
The first day we were here, Keith the gentelman that also works for AEG, showed us that an article had come out in a local, free paper about "our" religion. We read it the first day we got here; it's a journalist who followed the missionaries around for a few days. It also talked about some of the members and this made us more excited to meet our new ward family.
The link to the article is below, or to the left under my Lafayette links:
http://timesofacadiana.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071114/NEWS01/711140310/1002/NEWS01

Sunday, this was the day I've been most anxious for. I was so excited to meet the ward. We were greeted by many people. 3 sets of elders and all sorts of lovely members. We actually ran into a friend from Snow College, that Scott and I both new, she was just visiting, so it was pretty random!!! SMALL WORLD!

We're looking forward to getting to know the members better. There are a couple of couples that we seemed to click with pretty fast and we've made plans to get together in January when I get back. One couple is anxious to teach us Cajun cooking, Cajun talk and even Cajun DANCING!! How exciting!!!!!

After church we took a drive to the north to the "country" and through some wildreness areas, once again, we wanted to see more of the culture of Louisiana in a different way. We stopped near a creek and took a small nap and then headed back to the hotel.

We're just packing up and getting ready for another VERY early flight in the morning. We'll spend the next couple of days before Thanksgiving cleaning up the house and packing up as much as we can.

Again, I'm very grateful for the opportunity we have to be here. I can tell that I will learn a lot here and that my testimony will be strengthened by the members here-it was amazing what I learned/felt today, I can't imagine what it will be like when we get to know them.

Signing off...
SLY

Lafayette - Day 2

November 17
We went and looked into other apts. and didn't find anything as nice with the amenities and the price as close to River Ranch. So we put money down on a cute little apt at the River Ranch. We went back to the mall to look for a few Christmas gifts-we came out empty, I was bummed. We tried a new resturant, Logans Roadhous, it was fabulous. Scott had some amazing ribs and I had some wonderful tipilia. We drove around in some residentual neighborhoods to see more of the culture of Louisiana. SOOOO different, yet soo beautiful! And then back to the hotel to watch a little LSU football-GO TIGERS!

Nothing too exciting, but we've really liked being here. People have been so nice and very welcoming, even to those of us with a "wierd" way of talking...

SLY

Lafayette - Day 1

Night of Nov. 16th & November 16th (HAPPY B-DAY BEAN!)

Scott and I both got home a little late from work, and hadn't even started to pack, or even do laundry. Our little green duffel bags weren't going to meet the demands of our new traveling needs. (but they've served us well, thanks little cute duffel bags)

So we went in search of luggage at about 8pm, (we want to thank "Ross" for not closing until 9:30pm) We found some GREAT Sampsonite pieces for a great deal, we rolled through Mc'D's for some thunder thighs and a pot gut and we were on our way home to get ready for the EARLY adventure the following morning.

By 10:30, we started some laundry and packing what we could, while cleaning the house up as well...Well 12:30 rolled around and Scott did get into bed. (we needed to be up by 2am) I struggle with packing plus I really wanted my house a little on the clean side when I got home and my toe nails were a MESS! So I opted to clean and paint my toenails. (A girls got'a do what a girls got'a do)

NOV. 16 (HAPPY B-DAY QUEEN B)
About 2 am I jumped in the shower, once my toes were cute...well, as cute as my pudgy-no nailed toes can be... Scott got up about 2:30 and we were on our way by 3am. We stopped by Davids apt at 3:30am (bless is heart, he took us up to the airport).
By 4am we were there and our flight left at 5:15am.

(wow-sorry, a lot of details, I couldn't stay sleeping this morning, but I don't want to bother scott...yet)

On our last leg to Lafayette, from Houston, we were in a SMALL plane, two propellers-are those called "twin prop planes" Anyway, I hadn't ever been on that size of a plane in the states, and it brought back some good memories of Cabo Vered...Cabos was much more exciting with chickens...but hey, we can't have all the luxuries in life here in the states. There were some VERY annoyed people on the plane about the size...but, then there was a group of people, all basically from Louisiana or near by states, that just talked and laughed about all sorts of stuff and they didn't even know each other. I'd never seen a plane full of strangers carry on the way they did-very fun. I'm supposing it has something to do with the nature of the people of the south.

Another employee (Keith) of AEG came to pick us up. His wife, Julia, is actually visiting this weekend, so she was there as well. He lives in the apt. complex that we're looking into, so he took us to his place and he had set up an appointment for us to get a tour of the "town" and talk about getting set up with an apt.
I had actually talked to this gal on the phone a few times and so it was fun to meet her in person.

After talking finances and stuff, we jump in a golf cart - 6 seater - and we rolled around the town. Now when I say town, it is a town within the town of Lafayette. There are all sorts of shops and dining options and really, anything you'd need or have in a basic city...even a post office. So we even drove around the different homes that are built there, CUTE, CUTE, CUTE!

Then we met back up with Keith and Julia and we stopped by their apartment for some tasty goat cheese and other assorted cheese and crackers and grapes for a little snack. We then went by Scott's office to meet the crew and to pick up his truck. Keith and Julia left us with a map and keys to the truck and we were off. We checked into the hotel, and TRIED to take a nap, didn't work...
so we got changed and went to the mall - I thought that would be a good place to do some "people watching" and went by the church ward house...it's not even 2 miles from the apt. we may get into and then we had a dinner engagement with Keith and Julia at one of River Ranches restaurants, called 11 Hundred. We spent a few hours just chatting and visiting about personal stuff, job stuff, and anything that we wanted to. They invited us to go to the local "Bluemoon Bar" but we opted out. :-) They know we don't drink, it was more out of being polite that they asked us.

So...that was all. A long story for not much happening.

Scott reminded me that I hadn't talked to the Bean that day, so at 10pm her time, I gave her a b-day call. Sounds like she and Kris had a lot of fun! Good Job Kris for doing something so fun for her.

Scott was OUT before I got off the phone. Good times~

So far we've liked what we've seen...other than we can't see mountains...anywhere! But we're excited, even more so now that we've met some of the people he'll be working with and the cute apt. complex.

Well, that's far more than enough for now...oh and ummm we forgot our camera...oops!

SLY
beijinhos

Scott Says Goodbye

November 15th was Scott's last day at work...it was a little more emotional than he had anticipated, not only from himself, but those who he's been working with for the past few years as well.

They all chipped in to buy him a nice little gift, a lovely card, signed from the folks in the office and had a "donation jar" that was passed around and then they got him a gift card at Sportsmans Warehouse. VERY NICE! THANK YOU!

Scott and I have learned a lot from him working at Provo City and we are so grateful for all the people we've been able to meet and learn from. I'm also very grateful for those who have seen "something different" about him. That something different has made it possible for him to spread his wings. With that wing expansion, he has been able to fly a little higher and see the world from a new perspective.

I'm grateful for Scott and his desire to learn all he can and for his ability to make substantial progress towards his dreams and goals.

I'm grateful for Scott for letting me be the "free spirit" that I have a tendency to be. He has let me follow my dreams and desires, while keeping me "well grounded", and helps me be the best that I can be.

I could go on and on-but I don't want to bore ya'll, but I did want to let all of you know how much I love my cute husband and how pleased I am with his choices that has led AEG (the new company) to see he's a good, hard, honest, reliable worker, someone that they want/need on their team here in Lafayette.

Love ya'll
beijinhos

R-A-N-D-O-M

So...for the past few years it's always bothered me that the toilet paper in public bathrooms never had a straight edge where it had been ripped off-it bothered me that people were rude enough not to "clean" up the edge...to my dismay I've recently realized that the reason there is no straight edge on public bathroom toilet paper is because....they haven't been quilted into cute squares with perforated edges!

Then to my horror as I thought back on all the mean thoughts I had about people who didn't leave the TP tidy for the next person-I was one of them! I couldn't have ever left a straight edge either!!! I had, like all the others...walked away without thinking twice about being tidy with the TP...I was too worried about why others weren't being tidy with the TP....

Wow! Amazing what it takes for me to learn very simple rules of life...I'm just as bad as the next person!

love ya!!!

New Blog Page

Well, I've been putting more slide shows together, more or less scrapbooks for myself I suppose...and I didn't want to post them all on my regular blog. I felt that they'd just take up too much space and become boring... So, I've put another blog site together, JUST for the slide shows. This way you can browse through just the slide shows and IF one looks interesting to you, you can watch it...The link to the blog is at the top of the blog, or if you want the address: sjfootprints.blogspot.com

Footprints, because I feel that memories are footprints in our hearts, minds and souls, they mold us and create us into who we are. I too believe we are here to leave footprints of our souls and Gods love wherever we can.

SLY
beijinhos

Halloween 2007

Well, we celebrated Halloween for 3 nights;
Monday: we had a little family home evening with David, Alicia, Devin & Elle. Alicia had a long running tradition of making "face" cookies. They tasted quite a bit like ginger snaps and they were GOOD. The reason they called them face cookies is because they'd use candy and make faces on the cookies. YUMMM!! We also decorated pumpkins, I only got a picture of one that Elle did. CUTE!!

Make your own slide shows and scrapbooks

Tuesday: Our ward held a Trunk'nTreat party in the parking lot of the church. There were A LOT who showed up, we were thinking 15 or so cars would come and decorate and hand out candy. (I'm on the activities committee) Well, there were 40+ cars who came and all the decorations and costumes to go with it. It was a lot of fun. Maddies little Yoda costume didn't work out too well, so she cruzed around the parking lot as a Lady 'Pug'. She was cute and just loved the attention, she thought she'd get a good bowl of candy...but we made sure we swiped it before she got too far with it.

Wednesday: We contributed to a good share of cavities that will soon need to be taken care of for an hour or so, then I left the bowl of candy on the door step with a sign that said, "Please take one, sorry we missed you." Then Scott and I headed out for some dinner.

So that's that. Scott got up early this morning to go out on the elk hunt down south. I was in a meeting and got a call from the secretary in my office telling me that Scott had locked himself out of the truck and the spare key was gone...and needed me to take a key to him...I was oh, so bummed to leave work, but hey, a gals got to do what a gals gotta do....

He'll be back latter tonight but be gone again early in the morning and he'll be staying a night or two...??? Can't seem to keep up sometimes.

Well, Scott and I will be heading to Louisiana on the 16th and stay until the 20th. We'll go check out the apt. opportunities and travel the town. We'll come back for Thanksgiving and then Scott will start work on the 26th. He'll do 9 days on and 5 days home until the Christmas break, then all 3 of us will head to Louisiana in January. Crazy!! There is a guy I work with from the South and he's been giving me all sorts of helpful hints...places to see, food to eat...or not eat...We're getting more and more excited each day.

Well, this is my longest post yet, sorry.

I'm looking forward to seeing my family & friends over the holidays! I'm VERY anxious to see some of you I haven't seen in a LONG time...or never even seen.

BE GRATEFUL!!

World Series Elk

Well, 1 year later and the famous elk has come to live with us...just in time for us to be moving out...what luck hu?

He'll be up on the wall tomorrow evening, but for now he joins Maddie and Scott to watch the world series.

Nightmare Before Christmas!

I hear it's getting cold in California, and Joni has been just hoping for Christmas to come a bit early this year, well I think Santa got Joni and I mixed up because he has sent me the snow.

SO, in behalf of Joni... MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Louisiana???

Laggon or BUST

So, Elle and Devin came over tonight and I got all these fun pictures from when we went to Lagoon this summer and I just couldn't contain myself...while Elle cut my hair...a little more and stuff I had to put it together...I hope you enjoy it!

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RED CROSS & DAISY

Well, for the last couple of years I've wanted to get back into the Red Cross department...I LOVE my lifeguarding years...anyway...there is a guy in my office who volunteers and trains for the Red Cross. He even had the opportunity to go to New Orleans right after Katrina hit. He was there for two weeks...not pretty, but good experience. Anyway, I'm going to take an Instructor Training class next week. I'd love to have taken the Life Guard Training class, but it's all day for a week and I just can't get out of work for a week right now. I'll do that next time. So anyway the class will consist of 5-6 hours a night for a week and I'll get the opportunity to start training those in my class. Then once I certify I'll be able to train for the Red Cross in many different locations...just the basics obviously. But I'll start working my way through the multiple courses and levels. I'm way excited!! AGAIN, let me just say that I want to get back into the lifeguarding department. Plus with the certification I can teach the boy scouts and the other youth groups and stuff. No, it won't be the exciting level Joni will see, but it will be fun for me.


Anyway, not a lot going on around up here...I am watching Bryan's bird for him...while he's in Disney Land. I think about right now, he's at "Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party"... Her name is Daisy, an Indian Ring Neck. She can get a little bratty, but she's fun. A LOT of personality. I was amazed when I met her a few years ago and see it, wouldn't believe a bird could have personality unless I met her.
We had a little Halloween photo shoot...I know, I'm a dork...

WIG?

Wig or real?





What'da think?

Garden Of Memories

With the passing of summer and the fall season upon us, I just wanted to reflect a SMALL bit on the beauty of the summer garden in which all of us Martin Girls grew up in...

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Fall Tomatos

Well, we had a SMALL garden this summer. It consisted of mostly small yellow tomatoes that we never even ate. I've pulled all those out, but left the 3 red tomato plants that haven't produced anything all summer...until now. They got big FAST, but took quite awhile to redden up. Today we picked the 3 of the 4 that have been ready in the last couple of days. We weren't too sure if they'd be any good, but after our delightful tomato cheese sandwich last night. Oh, yumm, juicy and full of taste. We are looking forward to the next couple of days and our tomato meals.

Stephanie Comes to Visit

Stephanie came down Friday evening, Sept. 21, to go to the BYU vs. Air Force game...oh, and it was Homecomng! Because this is her birthday weekend...and not just any birthday but the big 30, we celebrated by going shopping, for BYU gear, getting a facial, manicure and our hair done...







just to go out and play in the BYU Stadium of rain. We had a lot of fun not only wandering down memory lane, but in creating new memories to look back on...
Thanks Steph, I luv ya!!

Palmer 2007

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Water

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Maddie Mae

Testing Again...any better???