Virus

Sorry for the lack of posts on this here blog.  I accidently invited a nasty virus onto our main computer by opening an email.  Since then, our computer is having many issues, including not letting the internet browsers work.  What a pain in the behind.  Right now I'm using my husband's computer he has for work.  You don't realize how much you use something until you can't use it.  Wow!  On the up side, the house hasn't been this clean since who knows how long.  Not just because of no computer, but I did rededicate myself to doing better.  And I have.  It's nice.

We put our rats, Pinky and Brownie, to sleep last weekend.  They were getting old and having some difficulty breathing.  It was quite a sad night.  I can think of only one other time I've cried so hard and so much.  I think PMS had something to do with it this time.We sure miss those cute ratties!

My new calling in Young Women's is going well.  I'm starting to get to know the girls a bit.  We had a class activity on Tuesday to play games, check Personal Progress and get to know me.  I had to bring some items that represented who I am and explain why I chose those items.  I brought my drumsticks, a vintage brass owl, an hourglass, 2 books, a piano book, a picture of the kids, some things I've crocheted and my keys.  It took me 2 days to come up with those things.  Maybe I need to get to know myself a little better!

My husband and son are going camping in Goblin Valley this afternoon.  It is a 4 hour drive there, so it will be late when they get there, but tomorrow should be full of activities and fun.  They will get back later tomorrow evening.  The girls and I will have to plan some sort of fun thing for us to do without the boys.  I'll be thinking on that.

All our chickens are now laying again.  They slowed down quite a bit during the winter and Pansy stopped laying altogether while moulting.  We've gotten 3-4 eggs a day all week.  They sure are excited about the new grass growing.  I caught Matilda sneaking under the fence to get at the grass.  She got all the way out and I had to give her a little talking to about not doing that.  I bought some crickets at the pet store a few weeks ago for the chickens.  It is great fun to watch the chickens chase those crickets around.

New Calling

I used to serve in Cub Scouts as a Bear Den Leader.  I was there almost 2 years before being released 2 Sundays ago.  My new calling is 2nd counselor in the Young Womens Presidency.  The time committment is quite different between the two callings.  With Cub Scouts, it was about an hour a week for den meetings and pack meeting, plus an hour here and there for planning and record keeping.  With this new calling, it's a bit more.  Here's what last week was like for me:  1 1/2 hours at orientation with YW President on Wednesday, 2 hours at presidency meeting on Thursday, 3 hours at ward dance on Friday, 4 1/2 hours at UVU for Best of EFY meeting and lunch afterward on Saturday, and 1 hour on Sunday for regular meeting.  I know all weeks won't be like that, but whoa, what an introduction to a calling!  We have about 40 or so young women in our ward.  It will be fun to get to know them and the leaders as well.  I'm looking forward to this new experience!!!

Decluttering

I've been reading and hearing a lot lately about simplifying our lives.  Decluttering certainly does that.  Less stuff to dust and clean and pick up?  I'm all for it!  So my rule is if I don't use it or love it or if there is no sentimental value in it or I'm not putting it in my Etsy shop, out it goes.  So far I have 4 garbage bags of clothes, 6 pairs of shoes, 2 boxes of miscellaneous decor and such, 2 boxes of books and magazines, 1 lamp, 1 clock radio, 1 rice cooker and 5 lunch trays.  And I'm not done yet.  I still have a few rooms to go through.  I just love taking things to the D.I.  It's so freeing!!!  We also threw away some ratty clothes and passed down some too small clothes to the next sisters.  Hooray for simplifying!!!!!

If you give a child scissors...

they will probably cut something they're not supposed to.  Here's a list of what those somethings have been at our house:

their own hair,

someone else's hair,

flannel pajamas,

jeans,

bed sheets,

doll hair,

stuffed animal fur,

hair ribbons,

hair elastics,

crayons,

shoe laces,

seat belts,

socks,

and the latest,

eye lashes.

The scissors are once again in time out.