Kind message

Two years ago, I was told the story of Joseph Smith by a return sister missionary. This story changed my life, this story has become everything that I am, everything that I will be and everything I could ever dream of. ♥

This was sent to me by my friend, Cynthia Bugarin. Thank you Cynthia this made me smile and tear up a bit, but it wasn't all Evan & me...I taught many many people on my mission in Washington/Oregon about the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. I bore a strong fervent testimony daily, but like the Apostle Paul, I was rejected by many. To have been prepared to share a message with this young girl, whom Evan and I were simply answering her questions, means so much to me. If my 18 months in Washington/Oregon was suppose to be a preparation to teach Cynthia, it was worth it. To know that we opened our mouths and shared something that was important to us because we loved her. She was prepared, ready, and willing to hear the Gospel. Her heart was softened. Her faith was strong. I feel blessed that we had the chance to be in her life in the time that she needed us. God is good. God is great. God has a plan and he knows all that is needed in our lives.

Sunday's @ Mom's

 Big girl CJ crawling around-love her

Crazy #1

Crazy #2

 These girls have such fun personalities

 playing & laughing

 Ninja-the ginormous catdog {one of the kittens I rescued last Memorial Day}

 clean & happy

Jade, Libby & Sage

Funeral

I attended a funeral today with my Mom & Dad. My great Uncle Richard Ballantyne passed away November 2, 2011. He was my Grandpa Ballantyne's last sibling. It was hard to see my Grandpa having to attend another funeral after having seen him at my Grandma Ballantyne's funeral just 5 months ago. It was a nice gathering of loved ones. Death is always sad. Those that live on earth are left missing the one they love. But great Uncle Richard lived a long life-97 years. I am sure God has so much for him to do still especially after having such a long earthly experience. My Mom got to see cousins she hasn't seen in years. I was able to visit with my cousins, Aunties & Uncles. I was glad to be able to support my Grandpa. I had a nice lunch with my Mom & Dad afterwards at this little Italian Deli in Glendale.. It was fun to just hang out with my parents for a little bit. I don't get to do that much, but it was a nice little timeout on a rainy day.

cousin Sarah

What has a Veteran said to you today?

My first Veteran of the day said his greatest memories of being in the service were how tough he thought he was at 17, but how scared he was when he actually had to fight in WWII (Germany and Italy). His greatest memories were traveling all around the world and seeing so many different countries especially South America (because there wasn't anyone trying to kill each other there).
Quote of the day for this Veteran:
Me: Floyd, take out your key (from the exercise machine).
Floyd: What?
Me: (much louder) T-a-k-e o-u-t y-o-u-r k-e-y (from the exercise machine).
Floyd: You want me to take out my teeth?
Me: No Floyd! keep your teeth in, take out your k-e-y!
Floyd: (smiles and chuckles)

Happy Veteran's Day! Thank you to all the servicemen that fought/fight for our freedoms!

Happy 11-11-11!

"Take what comes your way. Do the best with it. Be as responsible as you can and something good will happen" ~Frank Gehry

Tender Mercy

Today I received an email like I do every month reminding me that my AT&T Uverse (cable/internet) bill is ready to be viewed. Included in the email was the amount and due date of my payment. I thought, man they messed up the numbers again! Last month, I noticed that same montly email said I owed $48.48. Well I wished my bill was that cheap, but I knew it had to of been a dyslexia inputting error because my bill should really be $84.48. So I went ahead and paid what I knew I should pay so I wouldn't be found guilty of not paying my whole bill. Then I got the email again for my bill this month and saw $48.48. I decided to call (I try to avoid calling and having to speak to an automated person-then pressing 1 for english, 7 for billing, 9 for cable and internet, then hearing please wait on hold as we are experiencing an unusual high volume of calls today) and figure it out (trust me I wasn't complaining about having a cheaper bill, just being honest you know). Apparently, after going back in forth with the representative, we somehow got a random credit of $36.00. Coincidence? I think not. For us, any type of discount or credit is only a blessing. I look around me and see that I am so blessed. Blessed with my amazing husband. Blessed to have a job. Blessed that Evan got into the only Grad school he applied to. Blessed that he is almost done. Blessed that we have been taken care of despite many stressful financial situations. Blessed. I count my blessings. But this small tender mercy of $36.00 is more than just a mere dollar amount. Its Heavenly Father's way of letting me know he hears me and answers my prayers. He is aware of us and is watching over us. He sees our faith and efforts.


Elder David Bednar, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, said in a talk he gave in 2005, "Often, the Lord’s timing of His tender mercies helps us to both discern and acknowledge them." He referenced to a Book of Mormon verse, “But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance”. He continues-"the Lord’s tender mercies are the very personal and individualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances, guidance, loving-kindnesses, consolation, support, and spiritual gifts which we receive from and because of and through the Lord Jesus Christ. Truly, the Lord suits “his mercies according to the conditions of the children of men” (D&C 46:15)..."Faithfulness, obedience, and humility invite tender mercies into our lives, and it is often the Lord’s timing that enables us to recognize and treasure these important blessings."


I am very thankful for tender mercies of the Lord.  “The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works” (Ps. 145:9).

"The trainers keep ‘em in one piece"

Note: Evan was working this game Friday night and The Press Enterprise {local newspaper} was there doing an article about his soon to be full-time profession- Athletic Training.

BY: JIM ALEXANDER-STAFF WRITER
RIVERSIDE — Arguably the most important people on the sidelines Friday night at Riverside City College’s Wheelock Field, or for that matter at any high school football field, didn’t wear helmets. Or headsets.

Put it this way: The athletic trainers who worked the Riverside North-Riverside King game, a 35-14 North victory, referred to themselves as “first responders.” There’s a hint.

Football is a collision sport, its violence institutionalized. Therefore, it stands to reason that the people charged with helping keep these athletes in one piece, or putting them back together, have a fairly outsized role.

In this community it is the SPORT Clinic, an offshoot of the Community Medical Group of Riverside, that has helped provide that sideline presence for three decades.

The SPORT Clinic provides athletic trainers for most of the school districts in the surrounding area. In the Riverside Unified School District, the trainers are hired on a per-event basis, per the contract between the district and the clinic. In the Corona-Norco school district, according to clinic director Jim Clover, a trainer is on campus up to 30 hours a week during the school year; in the Moreno Valley district, it’s 20 hours a week. At Beaumont, it’s a full-time trainer.

Julie Jamison is King High’s athletic trainer supplied by the SPORT Clinic. But she also has a full-time presence on campus as a faculty member, teaching sports medicine, medical terminology and advanced sports therapy classes as part of the Career Technical Education curriculum.

For Friday night’s game she had four student trainers assisting her, and the delineation of duties in case of an emergency has become a part of the pre-game ritual.

“If something severe happens,” she said, “it’s, ‘You go on the field with me, you go get the materials, and you call 911.’ “

The hands-on experience the King students get isn’t just educational, it has its perks. Student trainers who work at least two seasons with a team get a letter jacket, just like the athletes.

“When I see kids on campus with jackets that say ‘sports medicine’ on the back, that’s a really cool sight,” she said.

On the North sideline Friday night, Evan Stubbs was going it alone. Stubbs, a native of Hawaii, is a semester away from his Master’s degree in the sports medicine curriculum at Cal Baptist, and is in his first year with North’s teams.

There were no occasions for the trainers to go onto the field to aid an injured player Friday night, but there was enough going on behind the scenes. Trainers are taping ankles as early as 31/2 hours before the game, packing up tape, ice and the rest of the essentials to take to the game site, and spending the odd moments in between trying to anticipate difficulties before they occur.

“A big part of the job is to try and prevent as much as possible,” Stubbs said.

Game night is only part of this story. Players rehabbing injuries or needing treatment invariably find their way to the facility on Magnolia Ave. the rest of the week, because the SPORT Clinic treats athletes from all area schools at no charge.

“We don’t care if they have Kaiser, if they have the Riverside Medical Clinic, or if they have no insurance at all — we take care of them,” said Jim Clover, coordinator of the clinic. “Somebody blows a knee up, Kaiser gives them six visits. We’ll see them every single solitary day and no money changes hands.”

The doctors of the Community Medical Group have continued to foot that bill, and in a sense it’s a win-win for all involved. Or win-win-win. The other medical facilities save money. The parents save money on medical costs. And if the clinic gets a kid through an injury, back on the field and on the way to a college scholarship, it saves the parents money at the back end, too.

But sprains, strains and fractures are one thing. Concussions have become a huge issue on all levels of sports, and the athletic trainers — armed with California AB 25, signed by Gov. Brown last month and taking effect January 1— now have a specific, consistent protocol with which to treat a player with a head injury.

“When I have a kid who gets a concussion, I have to do a lot of correspondence with the parents, to educate them as well,” Stubbs said. “They need to know what to look for.”

Anyone still doubt that these are the most important people on the sidelines?

Its just a Saturday

I love me some Saturdays like this{wish Evs was around and not working} -lounging around and cuddles with my puppies.

Fires of Faith

I finally finished watching this series on BYUtv {click here to watch it}. It was seriously one of the neatest series I have watched in a long time. I was so impressed by the history of the King James Bible. I learned so many things.What stood out to me most were men of God, good men, trying to further the work of God by bringing the Bible to the hands of the people in their own language. William Tindale, John Wyclif, Martin Luther and many more reformers who took part in bringing forth the translation of the King James Bible. I find it amazing how hard they worked to bring about such a great work. How they put their lives out their and lived in hiding at times, were persecuted, betrayed, spent years in prison for heresy and then eventually martyred for their testimony and work of translating the Bible--breaking the mold of a dominant Catholic land thus bringing forth Protestantism. Oh how history repeats itself. Joseph Smith too was just a man. A man that sought for the word of God, for truth. He didn't want to be a Prophet. He didn't ask for that. Yet he too died a martyr. " He lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people; and like most of the Lord’s anointed in ancient times, has sealed his mission and his works with his own blood."

Halloween

My day started out at work..I asked this member (83 yrs old) what his costume was for Halloween and he turned his hat sideways and made a gangsta face said he was a thug. Made my morning.

Since Evs was out of town in Arizona, I took Sage and Jade with me to visit J&B Greco to take Rubi and Cole trick or treating. Sage and Jade were Mr. and Miss Claus this year. They are so adorable. I got many compliments on how cute they looked too. It was a proud furry momma moment.

Josh & Cole watching Monday night football

 The little princess Rubi

 Ru wanted to join in..Sage scared after Ru sat on him.

Family Halloween picture minus Evs

Sweet Cole

All the night festivities: 

Ru loved to lay down in her wagon. She was on a candy high..oh and she loved looking at the stars.She would yell trick or treat before even getting to the door.

For You.

       I love you. I'm so glad I have you forever. I miss you while your gone.

Ward Trunk or Treat

Decorated the trunk of my car all Halloween-like. Hooked up all the kids with handfuls of candy--they had alot and its two days before the real trick or treating! 

Locked out

I never thought I would be the person to lock myself out of the house. With no spare key.  Luckily, we have a doggie door. Even though I didn't need to jam my head & shoulder through the door, at the time I felt it was the smart way to get back inside. 

It took me 3 or 4 attempts to use my momentum, snag the lock and unlock it. Later that night when I was reenacting my break-in, I challenged Evan to see if he could get in through the door. This was his way. 

Needless to say, he is the brains of the family! It was much easier to just put my arm in the door and reach up than to cut off my angle by putting my head and shoulder in. Learn something new everyday.

My Faith

I had a discussion aka "exchange of personal beliefs" today with a man {Luthern Pastor} that comes to my fitness center. He was working out and I was making sure he was doing it right.  I had mentioned a series I had been watching about the King James version of the Bible on BYUtv and the things I found interesting about the series. He then asked me a succession of questions regarding my faith "Mormonism" {The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints}. What I found interesting about our "discussion" was that in all the things he asked me it was never about whether I believed in Jesus Christ. If I knew he was my Savior and Redeemer. He focused on trying to bait me into a contentious argument about whether I felt he was "saved" and going to heaven. He focused on our differences of his belief in the trinity {God in 3 forms} and my belief in the Godhead {3 separate beings with 1 purpose}. Our differences about true scripture and my belief that God still speaks to a prophet today, continuing revelation. I was grateful for my conscious effort to keep the Spirit in our discussion. I was grateful that I was able to point out our commonalities and bear my testimony of my Savior, His redeeming love and grace. I just dont quite understand how people who believe that the life I lead and the faith I believe isn't considered "Christian" yet the first opportunity this man who calls himself a "Christian" because he "reads the Bible" is bashing the Catholic faith for worshipping Saints and "having it all wrong." I wonder what the world would be like if people would consider asking the questions," How has Christ strengthened you in your life? Or what does Christ mean to you? Or How do you feel we can come closer to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?" Our world has a tendency to focus on how we are all different. But God knew that there would be differences in peoples beliefs and opinions after Christ was crucified. He sent the Apostle Paul out to teach the people. I love this record of when Paul went and taught the Ephesians about the reasoning for missionaries around the world and messengers like himself sent by God. In Ephesians 4:11-16 he records:

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

I will be grateful for the day when someone won't just assume I am not Christian because I attend the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I will be grateful for the day when someone will ask me who my Savior is instead of asking me why I don't drink coffee or alcohol and assume I must not be Christian. Until that day, I will be grateful that I can live my life in such a way that someone who doesnt know Christ will learn of him because of my example.

YES!

It's Wednesday! We have been busy with work, new Zumba routine to teach to my oldies but goodies class {I been doing the Zumba dancing} and researching and writing a paper {well Evs has been doing the school part}. It sure is a beautiful day today in sunny So Cal. Partly Cloudy and 65 degrees, love me some sweater weather.

Hard at work

My nephews Brian and Jason have been selling caramel popcorn for weeks now to raise money to cover their Boy Scout Camp costs..etc They go out with their wagon filled with popcorn in hopes that someone will buy some. $20 or even $50 for a bag of popcorn never hurt anyone! Surely anyone could find a cheaper bag of caramel anywhere else in the world, but what's the fun in that right? Besides, look at how cute and dedicated these Boy Scouts are, they are out roaming the streets of Oregon, even with a missing wagon wheel! Such a motivation!

This is the boys calling me on skype when they weren't hard at work with the wagon. How could I possibly say no to beggars with those cute faces. They even did their "official" door approach.

Being Strong

I have a member that comes into my health center that is 77 years old. His famous words are, "Let me tell you a story.." Of course I am not going to say, "No!" So I just sit and listen. Yesterday he was telling me about how weak he has become since he was in his younger years. And the story goes like this: He was working at a Ranch doing all the clean up and feeding and such. One of the Animal Docs wanted him to work with him because he was bilingual. So one day he was driving around with the doctor in this big truck. The doctor stopped and got out to make a visit and he decided he wanted to get into the drivers seat and try to drive {note: he was intoxicated??} Well instead of going forward he went in reverse and hit a pitchfork flattening the tire. He hurried back into the passenger seat and the doctor came out and asked what happened. He put on an act as if he had no idea what the Doc was talking about and was shocked to see a pitchfork in the tire. Well the Doc was unable to get the jack underneath the car so my member said he got out of the car, walked over and just lifted up the truck! He said I didn't even know I could lift up a truck. I used to be so strong...the story goes on but I dont want to document it for boredom sake. All yesterday I tried to ponder what I got from his story. What I got from it was that we are stronger than we think we are. We all have weaknesses and we experience trials in our life that drain us and make us feel weak. But really things we endure and experience can make us strong. I love this scripture from the Book of Mormon:

Ether 12:27

      And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

Our Heavenly Father and Savior will make us strong when we are weak. Often times its the things we feel are draining our strength that develop our strength and in turn make us stronger.

When my member told me how weak he has become since his younger years, I knew it wasn't completely because he is now a young 77 and not 19, its because he failed to maintain his strength through exercise and taking care of himself. I wonder if I could apply that to myself. When I am feeling weak, is it because I have failed to pray often? Or failed to study my scriptures consistently? Have I failed to serve others? Or have I failed to "Come Unto Him" as the scripture(s) state? Whatever it may be--I know that I can become strong especially when I need it most.

He always finds a way...

to make my day!
He found a giant bag with these mixed inside with another candy!
I love you my hubby!

I have been searching everywhere for this yummyness and apparently its SPECIAL EDITION. I found it at one store, bought 2 and went back and they were gone..I am not a chocolate (milk,dark) eater {more like despiser} but I sure do like these things even though they are very bad for me!

I also got some of these bad boys. They were a bonus {they came in the medley bag}.

THANK YOU HALLOWEEN TIME!! Sorry Trick or Treaters I will NOT be sharing!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY..

to my nephew Jason L. Ritchie!

8 years old-what a great age! I hope you enjoyed your donuts and juice you had at school this morning. I wish we could be there to celebrate with you!

Taking a Sunday Ride

They love taking a ride in the car.

We spent our Saturday...

Sleeping in til 9am.

Watching Naders soccer game with the Fallans & T&M Greco.

Eating apple pie and a ginormous pickle{me} @ Riley's Farm in Oak Glen.

Taking fun fall pictures with Britt.

Eating Cafe Rio with J&B Greco.
What a nice day!

   Happiness is a choice. Make the choice. Be Happy.