So Sunday I gave the Joseph Smith lesson in Relief Society (translation... I taught the women of my church). I really had a great time with this lesson. I knew exactly what I wanted to say and how to say it. I only got through half of what I was supposed to. But I felt getting ready for the lesson that that would happen. I have met a great bunch of women in this ward. They are strong through their trials. Joseph Smith said, "If you will put away from your midst all evil speaking backbiting, and ungenerous thoughts and feelings: humble yourselves, and cultivate every principle of virtue and love, then will the blessings of Jehovah rest upon you, and you will yet see good and glorious days; peace will be within your gates, and prosperity in your borders." I strongly feel that if we step out of our own little bubble (world) and put others needs before our own we will have strength and comfort in our troubles/trials. You won't feel the need to talk bad about someone if you service them. If you love them you won't and can't find fault with them. I want to work harder at serving everyone around me.
I also got a phone call this morning from the bishop (the preacher of our church). He asked if Billy and I would be able to speak in church on Sunday. Well Billy is at Pre-Ranger School and so he gets out of it. But I was asked to talk on Elder Uchtdorf's Priesthood Session talk. Which of course I was not there to hear (It's a talk just for the men of our church). So I looked it up on the net and read it. I have to be honest I feel stumped. I don't know which way to take this talk. It's about staying focused on the big picture during times of trial. If anyone has a story or a bit of advice I am very very open to any ideas.

New Blog Page

Okay so I've been totally learning how to better my blog page. My friend Cindy Howard (we met in Georgia at church) totally inspires me to learn more about my blog. I wanted to spice it up a little. The playlist is a totally stolen idea from my sister-n-law Renee's family blog. I'm still tweaking the colors but I'm totally having fun doing it. I'm completely Internet retarded so it's like a whole new world to explore and learn from. So if you have ideas please share.

New Life Day

Okay so a year ago today I had the great opportunity to donate my kidney to a good friend. Alvin had been on dialysis for almost 6 years. When I first started the process I thought it was as easy as saying, "Okay I have the same blood type lets do it." Well it's a little harder than that. Even if you have the same blood type as someone that doesn't mean you will be a match to donate. I took blood test after blood test and urine after urine test. Even then I had to take a CAT scan, MRI, EKG, ex-rays of my kidneys, an ex-ray where they put dye throughout my body (which I can't remember what it's called),and many many interviews to check my sanity and dedication . Plus more blood tests and urine tests. Believe me it wasn't as easy as saying, "I will do it." By the time the surgery was scheduled I didn't think it would really happen. But on April 15, 2008 around 5:00am my mom, my sister Amber, Alvin and his wonderful wife Candace all met up at the hospital. They took me back and of course took more blood and urine, and prepped me for surgery. From this point on I didn't see Alvin until the next day. The nurses then took me to the hall right outside the surgery room. I met the doctor and the anestegologist for the first time. They talked to me for a minute about what was going to happen and the anestegologist started his magic (yes right there in the hall). The last thing I remember was the anestegologist telling me that he donated his kidney a year earlier and me saying, "Oh that is so woooooonderfuuuuuul." I said it in this very over dramatic way and I thought to my self 'that sounded more dramatic than I wanted'. The next thing I remember was waking up and not being able to open my eyes. I heard voices and was having trouble breathing. I then fell a sleep again and woke up to a nurse yelling at me to stop crying. I seriously had no idea I was crying. I definitely had no control over it. I was really out of it. They then took me to my room where my mom and sister Amber was waiting for me. The first question I asked was how Alvin was doing. He had been kept in ICU until morning for extra precaution but was doing great. When I finally got to see him, he looked great. He seemed a million times better.

The whole process was a huge learning experience for me. I learned so much about myself and what strength I do have. I learned how much my family really loves me and wants my dreams to be achieved. I learned that I put Billy through a lot of stress because he wasn't there to help. I learned that my kids really love me. I'm grateful that Alvin is doing great a year later. I'm so very blessed I knew I could do something beyond myself and that's why I donated my kidney. The hymn "Because I Have Been Give Much"....I too must give, explains exactly how I feel. I have been given so much. I have amazing parents, awesome brothers and sisters, and was raise in a very happy home. I married a man that I can't even express how much I love and am grateful for. He gave me 3 1/2 kids which I have the great opportunity to watch grow and they teach me so much. I had one huge worry about donating my kidney. I knew our family wasn't finished and I wanted at least one more child. I am due June 30th and everything is going great.

Zona vs. The Bouncy Castle

Poor Zona and Broc whacked heads. Zona found out how hard Broc's head is. While they were in the bouncy castle Broc bounced one way and Zona bounced to met him. The poor little guy cried for awhile which isn't like him. We put ice on it because it swelled up pretty big. But two days later this is what it looks like. He's so strong and brave about the whole thing. Not considering the head whacking they had a great time in the bouncy castle. When it was time for bed they all went right to sleep. It was a great party! My heart breaks every time I see Zona's poor little cheek.

Saturday Conference

Today was Broc's birthday party. We invited a lot of kids and it was great. Billy rented a BIG bounce castle from the MWR (on post activity place). The kids loved it and it made it so much easier to entertain the tons of kids we had. They ate pizza, fruit, ice cream, cake, and drank a lot capri suns. I got to met and talk to a lot of great moms. It was nice to met new people. It was also Conference Weekend (I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints. If you don't know every April and October we get to hear from the prophet and his apostles). I love listening to Conference! They always seem to hit right on what I'm stressing about. I needed to here about debt. I need to be more aware of if I need, want, or can live without things I buy. I know I can work harder on being more giving to others (for example with our fast offerings). I also need to work more on my faith. I love feeling like I can do these things. Instead of, it's too late for my salvation. I LOVE CONFERENCE!

Broc is 8!

Today is Broc's 8th birthday, which he has been looking forward to. Let me tell you a little about Broc. Of all my kids he is the most like me. He worries like me but with that he also has a huge heart. He loves WII and playing Tony Hawk and Ben 10. He just started karate and is a orange belt (he had his graduation from white to orange last night). He loves to hang with his cousin Hunter (which he doesn't get to very often because we live so far away). He wants to be a Police Officer and a Master (Karate black belt) when he grows up. For those that don't know turning 8 is a big deal in our church. This means Broc can be baptized. He is going to wait to be baptized in Utah when we go back, so that his cousins (and the rest of the family) can be there.
Broc really is an amazing kid. He has taught me so much in his short life. (Poor guy, he's my guinea pig). I love to see the world through his eyes.

Venice Martin Priddis 1924-2009

Billy's grandma mother passed away last night. She was very kind to me. I think she related to me a lot. She was a military wife and new how it was to raise a small family by yourself for long periods of time. She would always go out of her way to make me feel welcome and wanted. Great Grandma Priddis was born in Cowley Wyoming. She later moved to Utah and then on to California until Grandpa swept her off her feet. She was creative and brilliant with ideas. She spent her life being a mother of four boys (Bob, Chris (Billy's father), Ron and Rick and married to a man that loves her beyond belief. They would have a family "Pig Out" every conference weekend. It was at those great family events that I got to know her best. She will be very much missed. But she has "Lived" and I will never let my children forget her and her life.