Way to go Id .a. ho!

Said Mr. Potato Head in Toy Story #2!

Well I finally went to the museum in Blackfoot Idaho, not inside, but the gift shop and outside.  We told the lady at the desk that we'd be back Saturday (it was Tuesday, 9.17.13).  Patricia Glenn and I went to Rexburg to go the temple since the Twin Falls temple is closed for a month.  Rumor has it that it's mold that is the problem. I can't imagine how they got mold here.  Seattle?  I've experienced that first hand, but dry farm land southern Idaho... mold?  Oh well,  It's closed all September and on sat we are going on a little road trip again and will pay 3 dollars to get into the museum.

In other news:

This is what the dog spend their time doing these days.  

4 little kittens that were rescued on a freeway in between SLC and Twin that I kept over night on labor day weekend till the shelter opened up.  I had them in this box outside and then in the bathroom and both places drove Coco mad.  The white stuff is rice.  They didn't eat any of it and they spilled the water.  The Christensen's daughter rescued them and they were pawned off on me.  I finally had to  put them in the car overnight.  Out of sight, out of mind for Coco.   They crawled out of the box and all over the car and me as I drove them to the shelter.  2 of them had the cutest personalities.  I wish I could of kept one.  The Christensen's gave me 5 dollars and the shelter took that for them! 

This is also what I have been doing. I gave this one to Robyn H. Parker since she is from Australia.

Patricia Glenn wants one since she has been.  

I kept this one for myself.  They are dish clothes and you iron on the pattern. 

This one was my first and I gave it to the Christensen's since they do so much for me like feed me, give me veggies to cook, give me blessings, teach me now to make chicken noodle soup home made, let me borrow movies and 100 other little things.   They have been a blessing I didn't even know I needed. 

My Civil Disobedience (as Seth would put it)

I'm in the video!  The dog is Coco!  This town of 44K is not big enough for me.  I need a bigger place to hide.  I'm always getting in trouble.

Can't see the video?  Me neither.  Here is a link: http://www.kmvt.com/news/local/Twin-Falls-Animal-Control-Keeping-Busy--202613261.html

What they didn't show (I didn't know I was being filmed) was that I had the dog who runs on a leash and Coco, the brown dog went 10 to 15 feet from me due to a motorcycle and that when I walked back to the car he followed right along. While that does not excuse me breaking the law, it shows that there are some situations where It's perfectly safe to do so.

The above is what I posted in response.  But what it really says is there is a need to have a off leash dog park and the city and parks and recreation will not support it.  

Here are the responses on facebook: 

• Stephanie J Martin cute dog!

  13 hours ago via mobile · Like
• 

  Seth A Graham While I commend you for your peaceful civil disobedience in the face of a law you don't agree with, you should not be surprised when you have to pay a price for it.

  13 hours ago via mobile · Like
• 

  Ruth McKell Rose I saw you in the video, life is interesting.

  12 hours ago via mobile · Like
• 

  Christina Feinauer Jones Your such a rebel!!!!

  12 hours ago via mobile · Unlike · 1
• 

  Kevin Oliverson Jailbait !!!

Idaho Dislike and the Single Adults in Twin.

I figured out why I've been so disgruntled, even angry about Idaho.  It's the complete opposite of the Western Washington I lived in. 

I come from Millionaire land- literally. Many members of my ward were millionaires, they owned million and 2 million dollar homes. If they weren't millionaires they were pretty darn close to it.  Lots of people making 6 digits and often a few times over.  If both couples made that much then..well you get the idea.  The CEO of Expedia and was in the bishopric.  Other CEO's and other jobs of those in leadership positions and not in leadership positions had a lot of money. 

Almost all 274 people of my HS graduating class went to college- 16% of Idaho HS students graduate with even an AA or 4 year degree.

While I love all the animals around here: goats, sheep, cows, horses, chickens, etc.  I seriously can't stand the  stupidity of the people.  In Idaho a subsitute teacher only needs to have a HS diploma.  Of course the bigger cities want you to have a college degree- but not necessarily in teaching. In the small towns that leaves for some lame teachers- who can't tell time on the face clock or don't know what the word "soot" is or how to say it, who don't like reading out loud, who think Columbus rowed his way to America! Ya- rowed.  The best part?  The lady who believed that has and AA degree.

I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed, but honestly..... it made me want to scream sometimes.

I received a Christmas present each year from the ward, usually just a picture of the temple or the years theme- not in Idaho. Got nothing. Often the RS did the same thing- a gift for Christmas and in those presidencies where they were creative and crafty a birthday gift too. Real gifts. In Idaho nothing.

Dog parks can be found in nearly EVERY city.  Seattle of course has more than 2.  Seattle and Mercer Island has a dog park on the lakes- which means swimming for the dogs. Merymoor Park has a 42 acre park with a river flowing through it with at least 3 openings for the dogs to go swim.   Twin is having to raise money- thousands of dollars for one.  Hardly anyone knows that when you take a dog to a dog park you MUST take them off leash.  That is the point!  It's neutral territory so no feelings of protecting their property and keeping them on leash leaves them less able to protect themselves and gives them the feelings of needing to protect YOU!  I'd talked to so many people  about the dog park and they won't even try! There are lame laws and lame people with the farmer mentality- keep them in a cage or in the back yard.  They know nothing of REAL dog needs or care.

Twin Falls has nearly NO single adult program to be spoken of.  Sure if your a senior citizen life is good, but not for the mid-singles. There are 3 stakes in Twin alone.  2 stakes were having dinners once a month and a speaker afterwords. My stake did nothing. I went and spoke to the stake president. WA has a SUPER program.  Check out the stuff going on there.

Now lets talk about the license plates here.  Every 7 years you have to give them back and get a new one.  And ya you have to buy it!  In WA you can have your license plate for 20 plus years. Why would anyone need to change?  Stupid.  I'm gonna guess it's about making money for the state. 

Lack of a SA program and lack of men is a problem.  The men around here work at dairy farms, cheese or yogurt factories and think it's great if they make 50K a year.  Really?  Really. I'm used to men that work at Microsoft or Expedia or Boeing some other big companies.

I've traveled the world.  Granted it's been to no Asian countries or anything south of Panama, but I have my dreams.  Idahoans think they are cool if they have been to other states.

Lots of hunters here, lots of guns and cowboy boots.  I sort of freaked out when a 8 year old told me he was shooting guns.  Ya, ya can't do that in the cities. 

I try to explain to even college educated been around the clock and when I mention millionaires their eyes get big.  I've just learned to lower my expectations about everything. 

Regardless of my stake now working on a SA program- once a month family activity for all ages at no cost to them, it will make no difference for me in the men area.  There is only a dance one a year around here, not every weekend like in WA. Firesides are just a stake president speaking, not Harvard professors or other extraordinary topics.  It's just a fireside- just come- no topic info.  It's been frustrating, but I have to except it.  It is what it is. I have no way of changing it.  They can only do what they do.

As I look at pictures for WA there is rain forest, mountains, oceans, lakes (two 5 min from my old house),and deep forests, islands, and ferries,  I went to flat land and if you want anything fun- you have to drive at least 45 min to 2 to 5 hours or more to get anywhere and honestly- there is not much that can compare.  If it does- it's on a MUCH smaller scale.  For someone who has been to Europe, Israel, and 2/3 of the states, while this farm land is quaint, it's not impressive. 

Life in a Nutshell

1.  I just got home from my first 3 hours at KMart working for Olan Mills trying to sell photography shoots.  I make 9 dollars an hour and every Tue and Wed OM is closed.  If I don't sell anything with in an hour and a half I get sent home, then only get to work that many hours next WEEK.  Crazy huh?  I was struggling with my feet killing me and not really enjoying it but also needing money so badly.

2. I'm on unemployment which is only 161.00 a week.  Not enough to pay the bills, but I am again getting food stamps.  I'm some what concerned with work in the fall.  If G. my little charge from last year moves to Buhl or Twin they have to go with a different company.  There are jobs in Gooding, but it is like an hour a way.  NOT fun!

3. Mr. 64 or scary Gary as I've been calling him (that date I had) did call me back on the next friday to see if I found a ward to go to, but luckily I was at the Department of labor, so really couldn't carry on a conversation.  I told my family about it and the advice was to take charge of the date, set some boundaries of what you will and will not talk about as all that was inappropriate.

The guy from Tennessee has been trying to message me via FB everyday.  He's very flirtatious and I find it annoying.  I un-friended him yesterday.

I got back in touch with the military guy who was all lovey-dovey.  I told him I was not interested in anyone who was not LDS.  He said he was a Mormon and I knew he was just saying that and that now I could not trust him.  He came back with a angry reply so that is over before it began. 

4. I spent last week in Meridian ID where 6 of the 7 kids gathered.  It was lots of fun!  We ate dinner every night at a family members home who lives there, talked and laughed till it got dark every night, then planned the next day.  There was no pressure, so assignments,  just relaxing fun.  We floated the Boise River.  I stayed with mom and so did my oldest sister, her daughter-in-law and her 3 kids.

Sarah brought her new dog Pepper,  I had my 2 dogs and of course there was Sadie the 13 year old Golden Retriever.  It was fun with them all.

We met Melissa's new soon to be husband Griffin.  Marriage on August 11 in the Las Vegas Temple.  The first kiss was there, the proposal was there and then the marriage.  Coolest story ever.  We also met Jessica's boy friend Chad.  

There will be pictures forthcoming.

5. I'm back to living alone.  Yentl moved out and I really need a roommate. I've advertised on Craigs list and I only get scammers which now I don't  respond to.

6. I met with my stake president about a lack of a SA program and he said that he doesn't know what to do with the 30 to 50 group.  I gave him some ideas, some info, etc.  He said I was inspired to come to see him.  I've been thinking about doing that for 3 weeks.   Who know what will happen.

Five For Friday # 5

ONE

Parker my little Japanese chin is a runner.  He loves to get away and explore.  I have a long lead I put him on in the front yard, so he can get around, but when it's on, he does his business and comes right back in, then waits to sneak out.  It's worrisome to me.  He can get pretty far away within a short time.  Coco on the other hand stay very close to home and I never have to worry about loosing him.  I was worried about how I was going to deal with this come summer when we have the door open all the time.

Little Parker with his clothes on.  I love his little paws sticking out!

But a few weeks ago, he got out MANY times and each time I did not scold him at all, just told him he's my little baby dog, that I loved him and carried him back home.  I did this over and over again for the next few days and you know what?  He's coming back on his own ALL the time.  It's so nice not to have to worry about this  anymore and I hope it keeps up!  I wasn't even planning on this being the solution.  I just did it, not knowing why, but I think it's a lesson on the power of kindness.

 TWO

I just finished reading my second book about polygamy. Each has been a little different.




The first book, Stolen Innocence concerns Warren Jeff's group. This story starts out in the metropolitan SLC area. This story is about manipulation, control, broken families and lies.  You can find it on CD and in hard cover complete with pictures.  This poor girl was forced to marry someone who had been mean to her all growing up.  Her father, mother and brother were often taken away from the family, brought back, changed, you name it.  It's shocking.

The second book, Shattered Dreams, is even more shocking.  This starts out in Murry Utah and Irene, the writer is a 4th generation polygamist.  It starts with her childhood and her mothers misery, leaving after dad goes to prison and her falling in love with a man who is 13 years her senior.  She's only 16 and is torn between marrying him or  her 1/2 sisters husband Verlan.  She picks Verlan and becomes a second wife.  Her life is mostly spent in Mexico, in farm land, in the mountains and by the ocean and for a while in Nicaragua. She lives in extreme poverty, with no electricity, no running toilets, thrift store clothes, and 25 or more people in a very small house.  Irene ends up having a total of 14 children.  The first dies the day of her birth. She struggles her whole marriage with loneliness, jealousy and her husband making promises he never keeps.  She falls in love with another man at one point, but stays in her awful situation. 

Verlan had been a temple endowed Latter-day Saint.  He ends up becoming the president of this church his brother started.  He often works in the states, and tries to find converts as far as Canada. Verlan ends up with a total of 10 wives and 58 children.  These people believed in the Adam-God theory, the "purity" principle, which means only sex for pro-creation, and glory and own worlds in the next life.  Irene can't stand the lack of sex and finally finds a text by Parley P. Pratt (I think) for 5 reasons for sex.  The Doctrine and Covenants is quoted as well as Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball.  Irene lives having to be obedient to requests that go against what her heart is telling her is wrong and there for feels TERRIBLE about herself and so unloved.  All she wanted was love and someone to be there for her.

Once Irene leaves he becomes a Born Again Christian. After reading her story, hearing how she felt and then her experience in this kind of a congregation, I believe that God is giving her a gift to live out the rest of her life, responsibility free.  She paid a great price while being a 2nd wife and this is her break.  In the next life, she will know the truth, except it and be OK.  That is my hope for her anyway.

Why do I read this you ask?   Being single so long and in the single adult program that is 31 to dead, I've often thought if there was polygamy I would be a wife and a mother and there would be no need for the SA program. I would always say I don't need a man 100% of the time, 50% or less would be fine.  Another phrase I'd say is "I'll be wife number 2, there isn't going to be no number 3"  meaning of course, a second wife after a death or a divorce.  I was a 5th wife to Jason!

Of course I would never leave the Church for such a thing.  I KNOW it is wrong, unless commanded by God.  In reading Jacob, I believe polygamy is about children.  Abraham needed to have seed to fulfill the promise.  The Mormon Pioneers needed to have children to grow the church, the gospel.  In Jacob chapter 2 he tells the Nephities that they cannot excuse by using the scriptures (David and Salomon) to have more than one wife. The Lord tells us there, He Ok'd it for Abraham and for this purpose as described in verse 30:

For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up ^aseed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken unto these things.

The Lord’s law of marriage is monogamy unless he commands otherwise to help establish the House of Israel (see Encyclopedia of Mormonism Vol. 3, pp. 1091-1095).

THREE

You know my little rescue dog Polly, well her name is now Pearl.  I got an email and a picture from the family that adopted her.  The mom even knitted her a little dress.  Here she is all clean and cute. I love her and still want to hug her!  She's such a cute sweet dog, but I'm happy to know she has a good home.  I just hope they don't smoke around her! 

FOUR

This last weekend I went with my sister Cindy, her husband Mike and Amber, their youngest daughter to take her for her second semester at BYU-Idaho.  Ricks used to be my old stomping ground and really the best 2 years of my life.  I had SO much fun there, made great friends that I am still friends with today, and got myself on anti-depressants.  The college then had 4 thousand students.  The hope how is to get 15 thousand students and they are well on their way!  The place has changed so much.  My second year I lived in Harmony House, across from the Spori building.  It's now men's housing and uses our old Vikings mascot in the name.  There are TONS of housing already gone up, and more going up.  More shops, more buildings on campus, more changes.  It's crazy!  They have a conference center called the Idaho-Center, or I-center.  It will hold all 15K students when they get them.  The conference center in SLC hold 21K.  They recently had a fire there (the one in SL) and I couldn't help but think that it would be OK if that burned down, because we have a plan B!

I also went to the temple there.  On the outside it looks like the Twin Falls temple, but it's much bigger and I have to admit I like not having to make an appointment!  The chandelier are amazing, covering the whole mechanism with those crystals  so you see rainbow colors when you look in it. I took some pictures of the temple and the conference center and some of the campus, that will be coming up soon!  Mean while you can go here to see the campus. It's beautiful!

FIVE 

I think recess is the hardest part of the day for me and there are 3 of them, totaling 45 to 60 min of the day.  Greg is usually fine playing by himself so I have a lot of down time unless the kids are coming up to me with problems.  Today I realized that all my thinking is negative.  I think negative about the kids, about Jason, other involved in that mess and even my childhood, and adult years in the past.  My life has been a disappointment to me.  I feel like a failure.  The sad part is, that in my realization (I suppose a step in the direction of healing) I don't know what to think about. Isn't that sad?  I cried about it.  I tried to think about things I could think about, but I really don't know anything that takes up enough of my life or time that would fill those minutes.

It also shows me how terrible this whole ordeal (mainly the marriage and moves) has been for me.  In my pattern changing class the teacher said she had worked with abused women who didn't even know what their favorite color was and other such simple things.  Any ideas of what I should think about?

Future posts about Castleford and BYUI coming soon!

Five for Friday #4

ONE

I don't have breast cancer.

I don't even have cysts. 

I have extra fatty lumpy tissue, which is an eye roller since I'm so small breasted. 

TWO

While I was at the office waiting for things to be done, I of course picked up a magazine and read a Dr. Oz article about anxiety.  Here are the 5 symptoms and if you have even one go to the Dr, the good Dr. said.
1. Chest pains accompanying stress (one of the reasons I went and got a breast exam.
2. Unable to function in  daily routines (does falling asleep at work count?) .
3. Fears and worries about multiple things I can't control. ( I guess I have some control over some things)
4. Repeated flashback or memories of traumatic events (not just of the last 3 years, but all through out my life).
5. Feelings of doom, panic, light headedness or rapid or irregular breathing (I've for sure had the 'my life is doomed' feeling).
I spoke to the Dr. and he's not going to put me on anything more than I already am on.  It will get better.

THREE

 I rescued my first dog! 

 My roommate named her Polly and she came to it.  She was such a mess when I found her barking up a storm, trying to get someones attention.  I was able to cut off some of the  horrendous mats including a second tail that was 4 inches long and so thick.  I  couldn't get everything, she was too wiggly and afraid of the scissors.  The mats on her face had gone up and over  like a back words C and the hair from her top fur came down over her eyes.  She was just the sweetest little thing.  Walking on her hind legs and holding up her front legs to let me know she wanted to be held. She jumped on the bed and slept with me.  That didn't' make Parker to happy and he told her off.  Coco and her got along good playing with  toys.  She was really so fun and cute and little, only weighing 9 lbs, but it was to hard with 3.  Parker and Polly would run out side and then I'd have to chase after both of them.  I didn't want to hurt Parker's feelings, so I put an add on Craigs list and found her a home.  I kept her for 2 days.  I'd love to get a dog like her for my next one.

FOUR

I did a little shopping recently, but only at the cheapest stores: Kmart and DI.  

Here's the deals I got at Kmart:

plastic dress boots for $10

a warm winter coat with a hood for $22

flannel PJ's for under $6

mascara for 1/2 off at under $5

Eye makeup remover for...??? I can't remember. 

It all came to 50 bucks and I thought that was a good deal. 

Then a few weeks latter I went to DI one Saturday night. 

I got 7 long sleeve shirts and blouses for 30 dollars. 

Now I need to stop, because I have to find a new roommate and get brakes on my tires.   :( 

FIVE

My mom came for a visit last week for a few days.  She did 3 sessions at the temple, one each day and helped me with so much!  Like making veggie soup, vacuuming the floors, sweeping and mopping the kitchen, cleaning the bathroom sink, and raked the lawn of evergreen needles and rocks, while I pulled weeds.  She filled my gas tank up for me and bought me a small safe.  I know.  I'm spoiled!  I invited her to a SA dinner and we both came home with a bag with 12  plastic Easter eggs that each have a symbol of the true meaning of Easter in them. 

Idea from here

This is a picture of my mom and dad a month before in died in July 2006.

My mom has chocolate on her dress!

Coco The Killer!

 

I saw this today and I thought "Coco the Santa Killer!"  It's OK really.  We've had it for about 4 years.  I bought it after Christmas, because who wants to buy a dog toy for full price?  Not me!   It was already broken, some stuffing had already come out of it, but it has been a LONG while since any more has come out, so I took a picture.

 Yesterday, he brought the brown dog bed out of the garage, into the living room.  This bed has been through many murders.  My mom and put the stuffing back in many times and sewed it back up.  After the second I told my mom to stop fixing it.  This is not his first bed, but the second.  I threw the first one away about a year ago.  It was worse that the one on the right. 

See, these dog beds are Coco's suraget mothers. He sucks on them and pushes his paws back and forth like he's kneading bread and the sucking is his nursing. We call them his mommies. The yucky one stays in the garage where I keep them when I'm gone, unless he tries to bring it out.  The older the better he thinks.  He will follow these anywhere.  If he's barking at night, all I have to do, is pick up his mommy, and he will follow me ANYWHERE!  

He's also been know to take one outside where he's going to be.  He'll just randomly suck on them.  If I come and pet him and give him attention when he's doing it,  he'll stop. 

So in keeping with the killing theme today he tried to kill his favorite bed and there is the proof- the stuffing on the floor.  I just gather it up and throw them away.

Parker likes to lay on the blue one too.  Most of the time that is OK with Coco, but there was one time- at my mom's where Parker was in it and Coco had the edge and was pulling on it, you know with 1/2 his body up and the other 1/2 down and making sounds.  Parker just ignored him for a while and then he got up and left. Coco needs his mommy. 

See, coco was rescued by a postal worker in the Seattle area.  He was tied up outside to a boat, being totally ignored.  He was all matted and after asking the people who lived there if they wanted the dog, they said no and so the worker, took him to a groomer, had him cleaned up and brought him to a rescue group.  They put him on www.petfinder.com and I saw his add, with no pictures for a brown cocker spaniel.  My mom grew up with them and always talked about her dog Lady and I really wanted to try that bread.  So for $250.00, he came home new years day of 2008.  He's a really stocky dog with a shorter nose than most cockers, so he may be part something else, like a water spaniel, or a Sussex spaniel, or a Shar-pei (I don't see that one).  Maybe a Chow Chow, cause they have fluffy fur and are stocky like him.

What ever the case (it costs 60 bucks to find out) I love him and he's a funny dog.  He is a major snorer, and funny noise maker when you grab his ears and talk to him.  He runs after any thing on a 2 wheels, wiggles up to anyone thinking they want to be his best friend and at this place can open up the door and get himself inside, but he's can't close the door, so the heating bill I'm sure is more expensive than it needs to be.  But what do you do?  This summer we won't have that problem at all! I never have to worry about him running off.  I can almost take him for walks with out a leash because he will follow.  He does not want to be left alone! I only put it on him walking down bigger roads. I can leave the house with him outside and there he will be hours latter in front of the house, waiting.  He's a good dog!  I love his furry self. I love Parker too, he's my baby!  These guys make me SO happy.  They are my 4 legged furry children that I love and wouldn't be without.

Five For Friday # 3

ONE

I have really great home teachers. One of them is in the bishopric and the other is on high counsel.  They have come twice.  They came the Sunday after finding out I have a lump in my breast. I talked about my insurance worries, the fact that I need a lawyer to write a threatening letter and I can't pay him/her, also I'm afraid I may need a new job soon.  They both know people who could help me and with in less than 24 hours I had the problems already worked on.  They knew some one who deals in insurance.  They called him and he called me that night and solved so many of my questions.  The next day the ward employment specialist called me and got some info from me to start the process.  I also got a call from the bishopric member giving me the phone number of a lawyer in our ward, who is the other counselor in the bishopric.  They mentioned that I have more people praying for me and you know what, I think it was Monday or Tuesday I felt calm and not worried at all.  I think it's because of members prayers.  This ward has been so great to me and I'm so thankful for the Church's programs that help SO much and can be done so quickly!

TWO 

The Monday after I found out I had a lump, I went to the clinic to pay my bill  and show them my taxes and my doctor who was suppose to have the day off way there, but as the nurse said, he's so dedicated.   The nurse found me and  told me that I'm pre-diabetic.  Which I already knew, but this confirmed it.  My A1C is at a 6.3 and 8 is diabetic.  They like to treat it- with meds, but 2 of my siblings are handling it with diet and exercise and my mom who is Type 2 and giving her self insulin shots all want me to try and work it out on my own.  I don't go see him till the 27, the day after the mammogram, so we shall see.  I'm working on being better.  I just got back from grocery shopping and didn't buy ice cream.  I turned down a danish at school yesterday, but did eat a chocolate chip cookie and boy was that good.  I figured it was the lesser of two evils.

THREE 

My mom made this for me.  I found something like it on Pinterest and had to have one on my little lamp that was not so cute,  by my bed.  My room is blue and white, but I wanted to bring some more color and patterns in.  Don't you think it's cute?  Thanks mom.  She made it from left over material, so it cost me and her nothing.  In fact the lamp didn't cost me anything either.  Mom is turning 78 in May and she's doing well,  but I'll miss her when she is gone.

FOUR 

My mom also made me this quilt for my living room, from scraps as well. Pretty huh? My living room has some red accents to it in the pillows and other items. So this will go well. Thanks again mom.

FIVE 

I got pictures taken professionally with Coco and Parker a few weeks ago and got them back yesterday.  I bought a bunch more and while the one with me in it are either showing my fat or showing my garments, they are pretty good.   I need to get the long wall in my living room done and up. These are photographs of the prints.  The dogs did so good for the pictures.  I was so proud of them!

Oh gosh, I just noticed the white socks.  I think I wasn't wearing the right shoes so I had to. 

A Cinquain

The teacher of the 2nd grade classroom I work does read-a-loud's of chapter books about every other day.  She's been reading Junie B, First Grader: Cheater Pants, right now. If you have not read any Junie B. Jones books you are missing out.  Seriously! They are so funny and the adults get the humor so much better than the kids do.

In this book, after the cheating episode the teacher, Mr. Scary has the kids get in groups and write a poem called a Cinquain.  I don't remember hearing about this kind of poem, but I may have and just don't remember.  It's one of those pattern poems. I borrowed the book so I could get down the how to and then I wrote one. 

It's in 5 lines:

1. one word (title) 

2. 2 words that describe the title

3. 3 action words about the title 

4. 4 words that express a thought or feeling about the title. 

5. one word that means the same thing as the title. 

As you can imagine I wrote it about my favorite things: Dogs.  So here goes my master piece:

Dog

funny, furry

running, licking, fetching

each one is different

Canine

I know you probably think it's brilliant.  I agree.  

Here is a picture of 2 of my favorite things. 

Parker and Coco in the back of my car on a trip home.

Dog Swim Party

This is a park near my home with a swimming pool. On the last Saturday of August it hosted a dog swim and stroll party. Only dogs could swim. They had 2 life guards there too.

It cost 10$ for the dog to swim, 10$ for the T-shirt. All money benefits the Nampa dog park.

Coco loves to swim. He would swim (not just at a party) all the time at the dog park on Mercer Island on the shore of Lake Washington. He doesn't get to do that as much, although I've taken him to Lake Lowell here, which is a man made irrigation fed lake that can get gross.

It was just so fun to see this in a swimming pool. It was fun to see the dogs get each others balls, dogs get on the Island and bark at the other dogs swimming by, to watch the dogs try for the courage to jump in the water- putting a paw out as if they could walk on the water. At one point I pushed Coco into the deep end. He went all the way under and came back up. I think that's his second time doing that. This summer I've been making Parker swim at the lake here, but it's not something he chooses to do, so didn't pay for him, but he walked around, going in the bathrooms, hiding beside a lady in a wheel chair.

There is also vendors outside the pool area. Some giving away treats and small bags of dog food. They had a raffle and my friend Beverley won 200$ in prizes including a LARGE bag of Science Diet Dog food. Parker and I participated in a look a like contest. I stuck out my tonge like he does and went on stage and told everyone about him. I so wanted to win, but didn't. If we do it next year I'm going to dress in black and white and WIN. A little girl had her dog dressed just like her with a green shirt and jeans. The jeans kept falling off the little dog. She got 2nd place I think.

Shelters or the Humane society had adoptable dogs for just 25$.

I got there, took these 4 pictures and promptly dropped my brand new camera in the water. The nice man next to me got it out, but it was ruined! Luckily I still had my phone camera.

Five for Friday

1. I am not doing that 31 days of reading proverbs. It's just not the right time for me and it's not doing anything for my spirit and that's important right now. There are other months with 31 days in it. This is what the Bible dictionary says about Proverbs.

There is much in it that does not rise above the plane of worldly wisdom, but throughout it is taken for granted that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (1:7; 9:10). The least spiritual of the Proverbs are valuable as reminding us that the voice of Divine Inspiration does not disdain to utter homely truths.

2. I'm reading The Book of Mormon instead. I'm looking for scriptures about the atonement specifically because of this quote and also about God the Father. Here are some other cool things I've found and how I'm looking at them.
A. The most important thing you can teach your children according to Elder Ballard is that they are children of God.

One day, years ago, I was at a seminary meeting where Elder Ballard was speaking to us – and he said something that I will never, ever forget. He said, “If my grandchild were in your classroom, there is one thing I would want to be certain that you taught them….” Now pause, for a moment – before he finished that statement, I remember being so impacted by it. He was making our classroom personal to someone that he cared deeply about, so I knew he was going to say something that I should heed. So, I was on the edge of my chair and ready to learn whatever he was going to say. He finished that sentence by saying, “I would want you to teach them that they are children of God.” (From this blog)

B. 1 Nephi 11:7 And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.

C. 1 Nephi 15:14 And at that day shall the remnant of our ^aseed ^bknow that they are of the house of Israel, and that they are the ^ccovenant people of the Lord; and then shall they know and ^dcome to the ^eknowledge of their forefathers, and also to the knowledge of the gospel of their Redeemer, which was ministered unto their fathers by him; wherefore, they shall come to the knowledge of their Redeemer and the very points of his doctrine, that they may know how to come unto him and be saved.

Knowing you are not just a child of God, but a covenant people of the Lord according to this scripture tells us 3 other important truths as well. They are 1. I know my past, my history. (not only the history of the children of Israel, but my history from the very beginning of time) 2. I know the gospel of my Redeemer. 3. I know how to come unto him and be saved!

Wow- that's a lot huh!

Do you see the progression? A few years ago I thought- so what I'm a child of God- so is everyone else- that doesn't make me special. But someone said to me- basically the message in that last scripture. You are a child of God who has been baptized, who has made covenants in the temple, who has access to the priesthood.

3. I am back to the job search for a job that will pay my bills. I'm only working 12 to 17 hours a week and only making 8.50 an hour. Not enough. I thought I had some good paying jobs just waiting for me, but they didn't come to pass, so I start again with a serious job search. Your prayers on my behalf would be appreciated.

4. FLEAS, FLEAS EVERYWHERE. I can't lay down in my bed, I can't sit down in my car with out being bit. Sadie, my sisters golden retriever got them from spending the night with me. No more dog sleep overs. If you know me, you know of my OCD behavior of scratching and picking my wounds. My legs are the ugliest they have ever been. I'm trying everything I possibly can- vinegar in the dogs water, garlic pills for me, cedar chips under the bed, bombing the house, borax in the carpet. Something has to work. Once I have the biting stopped and the wounds healed I can focus on putting fade cream on the scars. Maybe next summer I'll have nice legs, maybe, just maybe

5. I've been going to this divorce support group. We basically watch videos- a series of 6- from this Christian guy. I would rather spend my time talking than watching a video. It's in the basement of a Nazarene Church. Everyone in the group is Christian. No one knows I'm a Mormon. The videos are OK, the people in the group are really good people. I hear things about being saved, and laying on of hands, swear words, and prayers with Amen's, and yes in the middle from the one not voicing the prayer. We pray holding hands in a circle.

But my situation is so different and because of my beliefs it's different. (Marriage can be for eternity, is a gospel ordinance, I will only marry a temple recommend worthy Mormon so my choices are limited, I have no children and I may not have any.) Those things are a HUGE difference to what they are dealing with. They may have been married for 14 years or 8 years, or what ever and have children, and that is hugely painful, but the lack of the knowledge of eternity and the WHY of marriage makes it so different. I think about Ensign talks that the instructor should share with us. (I will give them to her) I think of reading stuff to make next time (if there is a next time) better. I think of how to say the things other say with gospel words, scripture words.

I tell you this because I don't know if I will continue. The next class will be "divorce care". I usually get something out of the class, but sometimes not. Maybe I will do a few classes and see if it helps with anything. My pattern changing class is telling me that I need to be number one, I need to take care of myself and to give myself a gift at least once a week. This divorce class is either good for me or it is taking up my time. These people do social things together on Friday nights, go camping, go the park after class and I just can't see myself really meshing with these people, really opening up and being me. I need LDS friends. While it's a good opportunity to share the gospel, and I'm not sure why I haven't shared my particular faith with them (No one else has), I guess because I'm afraid of trying to be "saved", convinced I'm wrong, shouldn't be there, etc. But I'm learning that I even have to be honest with the people in my ward that I'm divorced. It's making me who I am. It is who I am. I can't hide that, because I doing so I hide myself. So I will share, when the time is right with my ward who I really am and I will continue to think about and see if I will continue with this divorce christian group.