Dessert Bar

This was the dessert bar featured at our Young Women's Valentine fundraiser dinner. It was fun (and stressful) to put it together. I think it turned out great! There was hardly anything left for the girls to eat when the evening was over.

Fundraising Project

Last week Mike's Dad was diagnosed with Stage 2 prostate cancer. He met with the oncologist this week and they decided that radiation treatments will be most effective right now. We are grateful for good doctors and medical treatments that are available.

This treatment will be expensive. The estimated cost is 40 to 50 thousand dollars....Holy Crap!! Yes, he has insurance - but his portion will still be several thousand dollars.

We have decided to use this opportunity for our fundraiser this year. We will be selling homemade bread and rolls. We are talking about other options (like cupcakes for Valentine's Day), so we will be adding more items in the near future.

We are also planning a yard sale for early summer. If you have any items that you would like to donate for the yard sale, just let me know. I will be happy to pick them up (as long as you live around here :)

We have started another blog dedicated to this fundraiser.....please check it out for more details

New Year = New Project

For a while now, I have been contemplating what I could do to help others. I have had the pleasure of working on a couple of different fundraisers/charities over the past couple of years, and I have truly enjoyed it. I just wasn't sure what I wanted to do this year.

I finally had one of those "aha" moments yesterday.

I want to be a better person.

I want to help more people.

That idea was solidified in my mind today by a talk given at church. The talk was based on this talk given by Elder Christoffersen at General Conference a few months ago. A quote from the talk that answered any doubts of what I was to do:

"True success in this life comes in consecrating our lives - that is, our time and choices - to God's purposes."

Over the past few years, I have met so many wonderful and amazing people through volunteering my time for different causes. I want to continue helping others - I feel very passionate about it.

But, I always wonder if I can make a difference. Can one person really make a difference? That nagging question was also answered today at church. It was a powerful experience that showed me that the Lord is aware of each and everyone of us. He knows what we need, and if we pay attention and have an open heart, answers will come.

Over the last couple of weeks, I have felt a strong desire to help out in some way. I wasn't sure what, who, how or any of the details - I just knew I wanted to help.

Then last night, I realized the answer was right in front of me the whole time ....duh!!!

I have started to make preliminary plans and this week I hope they take shape.

I will post more details in the next few days.

Fish Lake

The summer of 1983 we went to a family reunion at Fish Lake.

My sister, Michelle, was great at catching fish.....I wonder if it had anything to do with the special stance she is using here....???

I am considering putting this on Facebook and tagging her in the picture so that all of her friends can enjoy the picture too. What do you think? Perhaps a little bribery might keep it just on the blog.......love ya Michelle!

A Post for Anna!!!!

I have a great friend named Annalisa. She lives in New York City. I miss her. Anna commented a few days ago about my lack of blogging. So this post is for her.

Every time I drive by this headstone place I think of her.....and I laugh! Maybe she will leave a comment about why this place is significant in her life.....maybe she won't.....

And YES, I think Anna should carry a web cam around with her wherever she goes!!!!

Specific Items Requested for Baskets

Friends have been asking me what they can do to help with the fundraiser for Nick Jardine (see next post if you don't know what I am talking about). Here is the list of items that I have come up with to put in our theme baskets. If you would like to help, just pick from the list below. You can drop off your new items to my house, or give me a call and I will gladly pick them up! And if you have other fun ideas - go with it, these are not set in stone - just ideas!

If the item is red that means we have already received the donation.

THANK YOU!!!!

Family Fun Night
· Board games
· Card games
· Microwave popcorn
· Puzzles
· Markers/crayons
· Play dough
· Silly string
· Candy

Family Movie Night
· Movie
· Microwave popcorn – buckets pending
· Candy (big movie theater boxes)
· Drinks
· Pretzels

Car Wash
· Bucket
· Polish
· Armor all
· Rags
· Soap
· Air Freshener
· Tire cleaner
· Car Wash Pass

Spa
· Foot Zone $50 Gift Certificate
· Bubble bath
· Bath sponge
· Lotions
· Oils
· Candles
· Relaxing CD

Gardening
· Small shovel set
· Knee pad
· Seeds
· Use large pot or watering container
· Garden decorations
· Gloves


Baking - A Family has volunteered to finish this one...:)
· Matching Aprons
· Measuring Cups
· Measuring Spoons
· Mixing Spoons
· Timer
· Mixing Bowls
· Mixes(cake, cookie, brownie, etc..)

Baby
· Baby carrier - pending
· Blanket (2 rec'd ) - 1 more pending
· Onesies
· Diapers
· Wipes
· Lotions
· Hairbows from The ruffle bottom bowtique
· Shoes

Tool Box – backup idea
· Hammer
· Screwdrivers
· Measuring tape
· Pliers
· Nails
· Wrench set
· Duct tape
· Utility knife

A Special Request for Help

We have some good friends that live in Shelley that we have known for 10+ years. Mike and I met Josh and DJ (before they were married) while we all worked together at Walmart. Anyways...long story short, Josh and DJ Jardine have 3 adorable little boys. Their middle child - Nick (who just turned 6) - was born with serious heart problems. His doctors at Primary Children's in Salt Lake have determined it is time for a substantial open-heart surgery. They have to travel to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota for this surgery on June 15th. If you would like to read more about his story go here: http://nicksheartstory.blogspot.com/

Family and friends decided to host a fundraiser for this extremely expensive surgery.

We are assembling theme gift baskets for the silent auction to be held on June 10th. If you are able, please join us in supporting this wonderful family!

Currently, we are working on the following theme baskets:

Baking

Baby

Family Movie Night

Family Fun Night

Car Wash Bucket

Gardening

and Spa

If you would like to help contribute to any of the baskets, just let me know.

THANKS!