My Name's J. and I Smoke Pot!

Less than two weeks before we move back to our home!  Ron and I are so excited that we're having a hard time sleeping but there is SOOOOO much to do!  

Last Friday morning, our friend Jeanette dropped off her horse trailer which can easily fit four horses and squeeze in five.  She and her husband, Mike were going to help us move the first load on Saturday afternoon!!  Well, Ron woke up Saturday morning at 2 am and was so excited about packing that he couldn't go back to sleep!  He woke ME up and then he finally got out of bed around 4 am and said, "I'm going to start working."  It was pitch dark outside!  But between the garage lights and the porch light, he had enough light to load up all the food storage, the holiday decorations, the "grandma toys" I had saved from when my children were young, the other things in the garage, PLUS most of the boxes in the house that I had packed earlier.  That horse trailer was loaded!  He worked and worked and worked and was finished before 8 am.  The problem was that four missionaries were supposed to come at 9 am and help us load the trailer.  There wasn't anything left for them to load!  When they called, Ron canceled one set of missionaries and asked the other missionaries if they could come on over and help with a couple of small projects.  They helped disassemble the can rack that held a lot of our food storage, took down Emily's and the guest room beds, and helped Ron repair the wooden steps in the backyard that had dry rot.. Then, they were on their way 30 or so minutes later.  Those missionaries and Ron know how to work! 

About 4 pm, Mike and Jeanette showed up with their large pick up truck.  Ron and Mike loaded up the disassembled can rack in the back of the pickup and then we were off to our old home!  It took about two hours to get there and it was so great seeing our house again!  The kitchen is glorious!  The master bedroom closet is bigger than I remember! I have so much storage!!!  (Can you tell that I'm excited?!) However, as we drove up and parked, we noticed that we have new neighbors.  The corner neighbors moved out and new people moved in.  They were BBQing on the driveway and despite the delicious smell of grilling meat, we could also smell through the closed truck windows the smell of marijuana. Their garage door was up and we couldn't help but notice that they have a large screen TV and a couple of couches in their garage.  It looks like that room is now the party room!  Their SUV was backed into the driveway with the windows rolled down and they were enjoying loud rap music coming from their car stereo system. As Ron and Mike unloaded the trailer, Jeanette and I wandered over to introduce ourselves.  Jeanette's whispered comment to me was, "You need to make your potential enemies your friends."  She went up and introduced herself and then I introduced myself and the man stuck out his hand and said, "My name is J. and I smoke pot." 

Really?  We couldn't tell? He explained that he wanted to make sure we knew because we would be neighbors. We found out that he and his wife work two hours away and they've lived in that house for two years.  He moved from Oakland and he's very glad to be out!  We heard dogs barking in the backyard and since Jeanette loves animals, she inquired what type of dog they own.  J. answered, "Oh, we have three pit bulls.  They are very friendly unless someone is climbing over our fence!"

No, I did not take a photo of our neighbor's dogs, but they look like the one on the right.

 I assured him that I would NOT be climbing over his fence.  I know that Ron will NOT be climbing over that fence either.  Now, I need to make sure our two sweet granddaughters also know that when  they come to visit THEY shouldn't climb over the fence.  (Although I don't think that will be an issue since they are almost two and seven months old.)  He brought the dogs out and they do seem pretty friendly.  One of the dogs is expecting puppies any day now, so now we'll have even more pit bull neighbors!   His wife and female cousin were also friendly and after we move in, I'll make some non-marijuana brownies or chocolate chip pumpkin bread and go over and deliver it.  I really hope that we can all be good neighbors--even though we don't smoke "pot." 

Tender Mercies

Yesterday I helped the sister missionaries in our ward teach a new investigator and her daughter who was baptized a couple of weeks ago about the wonderful messages found in the Book of Mormon.  We read a few verses in 1 Nephi 1 and concluded with this verse:

"But behold, I Nephi will show unto you that the tender merices 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."

 As we were discussing this verse, the sister missionaries turned to me and asked me to share some of the tender mercies I've experienced.  I didn't share these yesterday, but I would love to share them with you.

1.   In the summer of 2012 I knew Emily would be leaving for BYU-I soon and I wondered "now what I am I going to be when I grow up?"  I had been a full time wife and mother (which I LOVED) for about thirty years, but I knew I would need to stay busy so I wouldn't turn into a daytime talk-show watching, bon-bon stuffing woman.  Ron and I were friends with a couple in our ward.  One day, Darryl casually mentioned to Ron that he was searching for an administrative assistant.  Ron said, "You should consider Loralee."  A few days later he asked me to meet him at his office and after a 30 minute "interview" the job was mine!  That was one tender mercy!  But, that's not the end of the story.  Several months later when Ron was told his position at the community college was being eliminated, my paycheck combined with his unemployment made it possible for us to live frugally--but within our means

2.  After a year of BYU-I, Emily decided that she needed to serve a mission.  She was worried how we would financially do this--Ron didn't have a job and she was searching for work, also.  Ron told her not to worry--a way would be prepared.  Between family support and Emily finding a good job at Hobby Lobby, we knew that she would be OK.  About two months before she entered the MTC, Ron was offered a job with the state of California.  It has been the BEST work environment he has experienced in over ten years.  Another wonderful tender mercy of the Lord.

3. We have LOVED living in Morgan Hill.  We have LOVED living close to my mom, my brothers, their wives, and their children.  We ave LOVED the hills surrounding Morgan Hill and the cute downtown.  We have made so many good friends in our ward.  And yet...we still missed Stockton.  It was our home for twenty-six years.  We longed to go back.  We were renting out our home and even though we tried to make the house we were living in feel like home, there were limitations of what we could do.  Ron's patriarchal blessing says that as he lives a righteous life, that the desires of his heart will be granted.  His heart's desire was to return to Stockton.  The final tender mercy of the Lord I want to share with you today is that Ron received a promotion with the state of California.  His begins his new job in Sacramento next week. Once our renter's move out November 30th, we'll be moving back into our beloved home.  I know that realistically, things have changed, but I'm hoping and praying that Stockton becomes the beloved home that we remember.  

We have truly been blessed with so many tender mercies.  I am so grateful for the love I feel from our Heavenly Father.  I believe that as we keep our eyes and hearts open, we will see and recognize so many manifestations of the tender mercies of our Heavenly Father. 

Death by Pasta Salad

A couple of weeks ago Ron and I attended our ward's High Priest Social.  The quorum would provide the meat and we were asked to sign up for either a salad or dessert.  Ron is known for his scrumptiously delicious homemade ice cream.  His latest specialty is Chocolate, Chocolate Chip Rocky Road.  Imagine delicious rich chocolate ice cream sprinkled liberally with chopped up milk chocolate candy bars, slivered almonds, and mini-marshmallows and you will have an idea of the decadent goodness.  We signed up that he would bring ice cream because it is a crowd pleaser.

However, a week before the event Ron looked over the sign up list and saw there was an abundance of  desserts and very few salads.  Being the considerate person that he is, he scratched off dessert and wrote in our name for salad.  I was fine with that.  Salads are actually easier to prepare and healthier to boot!  When he spoke with the organizer of this yearly event though, he asked that we not bring a fresh fruit or healthy green salad--but a pasta salad.

 Insert shocked silence.

A pasta salad?  I've NEVER made a pasta salad in my life!  Yes, I've been married for like forever and have cooked how many thousands of meals and tried out how many hundreds--nay, thousands of new recipes over my life time and yet I have never made a pasta  salad before?!

That is correct.

I was worried.  I don't particularly care for pasta salad.  (Perhaps that is the main reason I've never made it before.)  When I attend buffets where pasta salad is served, I don't always choose that particular dish.  And now, we were asked to bring a pasta salad?!

Why couldn't we just bring Ron's delicious, decadent, oh-so-good but-not-so good-for-you ice cream?
I searched the Internet for recipes.  I spoke to my friend and co-worker Vickie (who is a GREAT cook) for her suggestions.  With great trepidation, I purchased the ingredients and made my first pasta salad!

It seemed to be enjoyed by all at the social--only one serving was left out of the fifteen servings I made and no one was grimacing or moaning or groaning or gnashing their teeth OR dumping it sneakily into their napkin to dispose of at a later time (at least that I noticed) so I felt successful.

But, two days later I had a very strange dream.

I dreamed I was in some type of place where you only were allowed to eat one food for every meal for the entire week.  There were four choices that cost no money--including pasta salad!  The other four choices cost money, and when I checked my pockets and my purse I realized that I had none.  So, I would have to choose one of the free choices.  I hemmed and hawed and debated on the best thing I could eat for a whole week.

Finally, I settled on the pasta salad because it:

1. Was made with some type of grain. 
2. Had veggies in it. (Red and yellow bell peppers and red onion)
3. Had some dairy product (freshly grated Parmesan cheese)
4. And had olives in it!  Any food with olives can't be all bad! 

As I was contemplating my choices, I knew I was in a dream, but I simply could not wake up! As I ate pasta salad three times a day for a week, it was not pleasant.  I thought I would be the first person known to mankind to die of pasta salad!

When I woke up I realized how stressed I had been about making an unknown and untried recipe for people I care about.  

In case you have NEVER made pasta salad before either and are DYING to try it (pun intended) here is the recipe I used:  Ron says it's good and it got 4 1/2 stars on Allrecipes. com.  Thanks Allrecipes.com for sharing this easy recipe!

Italian Pasta Salad

1 16 oz. package of mufti-colored rotini pasta

1 cup creamy style Caesar salad dressing

1 cup Italian salad dressing

1 c. freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1 yellow bell pepper, chopped

1 red onion, diced

1 large can olives-sliced

1.  In a large pot of salted water, cook pasta to al dente, rinse under cold water and drain.

2.  In a large bowl combine all ingredients.  Serve either chilled or at room temperature.

Enjoy!  And I hope you never have to experience death by pasta salad! 

Dolphins, Pelicans, and Seagulls...Oh My!

A few weeks ago Utah Sisters were in town for a visit.  Because they live far, far, far, far away from the beach, they thought it would be a splendid idea to make a trip to the Pacific Ocean and enjoy the waves and the sand.  It was cold and somewhat foggy when we arrived but we enjoyed watching the seagulls and pelicans fishing for lunch and eventually saw a small pod of dolphins frolicking in the waves. 

Not an actual photograph I took--but wouldn't it be cool if I did? 

 Probably the funniest part of the day was my fear of all the birds flying overhead.  

This is only a SMALL number of the birds we saw!

The following is a reenactment of a conversation between my Utah Sisters, my Mom, and myself:

Good times at the beach!

"There are hundreds of birds here--maybe thousands of birds--and I'm nervous that they may leave a little present in my hair," I said.

"Loralee, there are NOT thousands of birds here," said my Mom.

"OK, maybe not thousands but certainly hundreds and they keep flying overhead."

Karen butted in, "You are worried about a bird pooping in your hair?"

"Yes," I replied, "It's happened before and it's not pleasant."

Barbara who had been down at the seashore dipping her feet in the ocean and was not privy to any of the earlier conversation then joined us.  She sat down in her lawn chair and noticed the hundreds (maybe thousands of birds flying overhead.)

"Boy, all these birds make me nervous!" Barbara exclaimed.  "I'm afraid they're going to poop on my head."

Karen and my mom burst out laughing!  "What is it with my older sisters and their irrational fear of birds?" Karen shouted.

"Hey, it's happened before," Barbara declared.  "Yeah, it's happened to me, also," I cut in.

Grandma replied, "The birds aren't flying over our heads.  This is a no-fly zone." 

"I don't know," I replied.  "They seem to be getting pretty close."

Barbara said, "I've got an umbrella in my car.  Maybe I should get it?"

Aunt Karen jumped in, "Actually, I have an umbrella in this bag.  As I was getting ready for my trip, I thought maybe I should unpack it but then the thought came, nah, you might need it.  Here, you can use it!"

Gratefully, I unfolded the umbrella and held it over our heads.  Ten minutes passed.  Fifteen minutes passed.  Aunt Karen and Grandma continued to mock us for our fear of birds and their not so delightful gifts.  Suddenly, I said:

Karen, Barbara, and I--and the trusty umbrella!

"I heard a plop!" 

Barbara exclaimed, "I heard a plop, also!"  

I lowered the umbrella and the ugliest color green nastiness was on the umbrella!  Barbara and I felt vindicated by the umbrella's protection and Karen was patting herself on the back for listening to the prompting she received to take her umbrella to sunny and hot California where she prevented her older sisters from being traumatized once again!

The end.

What Makes You Beautiful

In just over a week, I'm heading off to Young Women camp.  I went three years as a young women and this will be my 12th (and possible final year) as an adult.  

Young Women camp is a wonderful experience!  Testimonies are developed and strengthened, friendships are deepened, and you can't help feel the love of our Heavenly Father as you enjoy the beautiful world He has created for us.

However, many young women (and their leaders) feel very self-conscious about the lack of blow dryers, curling irons, flat irons, and make-up while they are at camp.  It can be liberating not to have to dress up and impress others, but there is also a feeling of vulnerability as you show the world--this is what I REALLY look like.

I love the following video.  It was created by the Young Men in the Citrus Heights Stake to help the Young Women remember that it isn't the eye liner, the mascara, and the shiny carefully coiffed hair that makes them beautiful.

If only we received more messages like this in our life.

...and then our eyes locked....

A few days ago I was talking to a friend.  I asked how things were going and she giggled a little and announced that she is getting married on July 21st.  

"Wow!" I said. "That's coming up quick!  Where is he from?" 

'Oh," she replied, "He's not from around here.  He travels a lot."

I'm thinking that maybe he's a truck driver.  Or a pilot.  Or a salesman.


She blushed a little as she replied, "He's an acrobat in the circus."

I hope I didn't look too startled.  I did not see that coming.  At all. 

"Really," I gushed!  "I know a woman who used to be a trapeze artist when she was young!"

(I was trying very hard to find some common ground, and this is the first thing that popped into my head.  Pretty lame, huh, although very true.  I do know someone who was a trapeze artist when she was younger.)

We talked about my amazing friend who used to be a trapeze artist when she was younger for a few minutes and then I asked the next question:

"So, where did you meet?"

I'm thinking perhaps they were introduced by a mutual friend.  Or they met at a party.  Or online.

"We met at the circus."

I hope I didn't look too startled.  I mean, it makes sense, but I did not see that coming.  At all.

"I took my two daughters to the circus and we were sitting on the first row.  As he performed our eyes locked.  There was that instant attraction to each other, you know what I mean?"

I nodded my head.  I felt that way toward Ron when I first saw him.

"After the circus was over, I was in the parking lot walking back to my car.  He quickly changed out of his performing clothes and 'accidentally'  bumped into us in the parking lot.  We've been together ever since." 

I think that's the most original "how we met" story I've ever heard!

I hope my friend and her fiance will be very, very happy. 

First Jobs

When I was 18 years old, Tom, a man in my ward told me about a job opening at the supermarket he worked at.  He was a school teacher by day and supplemented his income by working as a cashier at night. 

I don't know how he did it.

"Loralee, the bakery department has an opening.  Go and apply."

Dressing carefully, I drove to the grocery store and asked to speak to the bakery manager.  When I told her that I heard their was an opening and I would like to apply, she replied, "There is no opening.  You heard wrong."

A few days later, Tom asked me how it went.  I told him that there wasn't an opening.

"Oh, there's an opening.  Go again.  Tell the manager I sent you."

Reluctantly, I followed his orders.  I didn't want to be told "no" twice.

To my surprise, there was an opening this time.  After a short interview, I was hired!  I had my first non-babysitting job and I was thrilled.  Skeeter, my boss (her real name was Juanita but everyone called her Skeeter) was demanding, but I think she eventually realized that I was a hard worker and tried to do my best.  When I left that job a year later to attend college out-of-state, she presented to me a pendant necklace which I still have.

Emily is now 18 years old and she's had her share of babysitting, house-sitting, and pet sitting gigs, but it's time to make a little more money.  She began applying for jobs--in person and online.  Some of the application questions amazed her.  She wasn't sure what they meant.  She asked my opinion.  I wasn't sure what they meant either!

After applying at many business establishments, she had a group interview at a small clothing and accessory store.  She came home discouraged.  Nearly everyone else had more experience than she did. 

"I did not get this job!" she exclaimed.

A few days later, the phone rang.  It was the hiring manager.  She offered her a summer position.

"Thank you so much!" she exclaimed at least a couple of times. 

Good for you, Emily!  You did it without any friend or family connections.  Good luck on your new part-time job.