oh, so many things to tell...

oh! where do i start! there is so much to tell you!

ok! so i am just gonna make a huge list and get started! you better get comfy! this might be long! lol!

* you all know about my friend jami! well, her sister started a blog with regular updates about her... i am so excited! you can check it out here!

* so i haven't really been working out like i should be. however, i did go today! ya for me! but i was weighed and measured! yuck! what a horrible experience! hopefully next month it will be better!

* my cute friend maryruth is going to have a baby any day now! i can't wait! she and her hubby are going to be such great parents!

* my best friends family is still living with us and we are having a blast! unfortunatley for them, they have not been able to find a home yet... but they are still looking. they might have to rent something for awhile first. i am sure it will all work out for them soon! they are such good people!

* my sister in law is going to be coming out for a visit in less than 2 weeks! i am excited. it will be great to have her here!

* this last friday i attended the scrapbook expo in slc! it was so fun! i went to with a handful of people! some i knew well, some i have met a few times, and a couple whom i had never met! but we all had such a great time! thanks girls! i sure love ya!

* while i was in salt lake for the expo i was able to see a couple very dear friends! kris and carma! we went to lunch to celebrate birthdays! i miss those gals! they are such good friends! (thanks again for the bread, kris! it is delicious!)

* i got to visit with my friends from paperloft too! what fun! first, their new lines were out! what amazingly cute paper! but most important, i was able to visit with marsha and sandi! so fun! i hadn't seen them since may! way too long if you ask me!

* ok... so i know i am a little late in this... but i am finally reading breaking dawn! i really wanted to read all 3 books again before i started it... so i did... :) i am loving it so far! shhhh... don't tell me what happens!

* my poor little toes are feeling very deprived! they are in need of a pedicure! oh wait! next week i am getting one! oh... they are so happy now! lol!

* we got to see sally struthers!!! she is so funny! i fell in love with her during gilmore girls! she played babbett, the crazy neighbor lady! she is starring in the 25th anniversary of nunsense! it was sooooo funny! on her website is the schedule for the tour! i am pretty sure it just started, so take a look and see if she is coming to a town near you! you have to go! the show is traveling all around the country! so check it out!

* ya... and i still addicted to solitaire! my new favorite is the algerian solitaire... thanks emily! now i can't stop playing! lol!

* fall is coming! act

ually, monday was the first official day of fall! and i am soooooooooooooo excited! i love this time of year! it is my favorite! while traveling through the canyon this weekend i saw the beautiful leaves that were starting to change! oooooo.... love it!

* my cute friend holly had a pretty major surgery a couple of weeks ago. she is home and recovering! ya! can't wait for her to feel better! i sure miss her!

* my mom and i were able to attend time out for women a couple of weekends ago! what an amazing spiritual experience! we were truly blessed to be able to go! this event was on my mom's 60th birthday! there were amazing speakers, inspirational music and great company!

we attended both the friday and saturday sessions. the theme this year was "living a joyful life". the speakers were great examples of that!

my fav's were mary ellen edmunds, and kenneth cope and merrilee boyack! so incredible! these pics are with mary ellen and kenneth!

on saturday there was a "joyful life" presentation where they spotlighted 3 women out of the 2047 that were there! i had sent an essay in to the committee to share my mom's story and they read it! i was so excited! here is the essay i wrote about my beautiful mom!

A Joyful Life: My Mother, Sally Carlsen

I am so excited for the opportunity to share with you a peek into my mothers’ joyful life! First of all, the day of this Time Out for Women (September 13th) will by my moms’ 60th birthday! J It is the first time that either one of us has attended this type of event, and we are thrilled!

Sally Carlsen has a life grounded in the gospel of Jesus Christ and she faces every day and every trial with a song in her heart. My mom has not had an easy life. She has endured many struggles along her way. With the Lords help, she has found peace and strength with each obstacle. Through prayer and music, my mom has found joy- true joy- even during the rough times.

Mom joined the Church when she was 30 years old, with one small child and another on the way. As a single parent she learned quickly that she needed the loving guidance of our Heavenly Father in order to survive, let alone find joy! J As she sang to us each night before bed, we felt the peace and power of her happy life.

Families are a funny thing! They can bring such great happiness or sorrow and heartache. My sweet brother has made some choices that have caused a few heartaches. My mom is amazing! She handles it all with such faith and strength. She reminds me to rely on the Lord and give that heartache she is feeling to Him. The Atonement is her guiding strength through those hard days. She believes in its power to give her the courage to go forward and find the rainbows after the storms. She has learned to delight in the good days and in the little things.

Recently Mom broke her foot and then lost her job shortly thereafter. She could have totally fallen apart, because she is the soul provider in her home. Not my mom! She found the silver lining and decided this was a blessing in disguise! She felt that a door had opened to a new “work from home” job opportunity!

My Mother, Sally Carlsen, is my hero! She lives a joyful life through every trial and triumph, smile and tear! She is an amazing example of living a Christ centered life, each and every day!

i sure love her! and am very proud to be her daughter! happy late birthday mom!

* one of the things i love about the fall is the new seasons and shows on tv! wahoo! some of the ones i am looking forward to are: survivor, biggest loser, ghost whisperer and moonlight!

sorry this was so long! i will try to be better about posting more often so you little bums don't get so tired of reading my mammoth posts! lol!

happy fall y'all!