I'm a Mormon

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

A nickname we've been given is "Mormon" because we have the Book of Mormon that we use with the Holy Bible.

Alot of people don't know what a "Mormon" is...or they have heard horrible-and in most cases UNTRUE things about us. 

(i've met people who were taught that 'Mormons' were devil children and actually had horns and tails)

But you want to know what a "Mormon" really is?

Its someone who believes in and follows Christ's teachings. 

Its someone who loves and serves.

Here is a video, take a few minutes to watch it.

http://vimeo.com/joshuabrown/hurricanesandy

 And if you are interested in learning more go to Mormon.org,  or ask me if you want.

http://mormon.org/me/7RS2/Andrea

Sleeping Beauty I am NOT

I am no stranger to the difficulties of falling asleep.

The year before I met and married Jace, I struggled MAJORLY with insomnia. 

So bad that I literally COULD NOT sleep. AT ALL. FOR DAYS.

I went to the Dr. and he prescribed sleeping pills...which i did NOT feel good about taking.

So I started taking a little Benadryl at night...i figured people take it every day for allergies, and it always makes me drowsy, so that might be the best and safest option. My Dr. agreed.

So I took Benadryl every night for a year. There were multiple times I tried to sleep without it, but I soon found I was a bit dependent on it.

Then I planned a wedding. And I was so exhausted by the planning, going to school through it, and then the wedding...2 weeks after we were married I was able to start sleeping WITHOUT any "medical aid". 

We've been married for 3 years now...and only very RARELY do i need that extra little push into dreamland.

HOWEVER. 

This last week has turned me into SLEEPING- DEPRIVED- UNBEAUTY. Seriously. I have gotten only  4-5 hours of sleep every night...and I'm still waking up almost every hour. But then on Saturday, I had gotten very little sleep and was up really early, worked like mad cleaning a gross house, and then cleaning my less-gross apartment, and then...miracle of all miracles...i crashed HARD and slept for 10 hours STRAIGHT. I thought that my sleeplessness streak was broken!

False. 

Sunday night i was up every hour again.

So. Last night i turned to my trusty friend...Benadryl. And i slept soundly. All night. 

I'm really hoping that I'm not going to get into a bad pattern that i'll have to break. I just want to sleep. 

Is that too much to ask?!?!

The Eagle Project

I have ALL brothers.

Which means, I am familiar with the Scouting program.

My little brother's Eagle project has been going on the past 2 weeks. 

He decided to work with a company called "Save the Family". They do alot, but the main thing is that they have about 100 homes that they "give" to homeless families to stay in until they can save enough to get back on their feet. Joe said their motto is "no family left behind" or something like that.

Joe decided that not only was he going to go in and prepare (bomb for bugs, sweep, mop, scrub all tubs/showers/fridge/oven/counters/grout, paint all the walls and trim and base boards, AND shampoo all of the carpets) one of these homes (3 bed, 2 bath, kitchen, and family room), but he was ALSO going to do a food drive and whatever he collected he was going to stock the house with for the family that moved in.

We already had the food drive last week. Today was the BIG working day. We had about 20 men show up and me and my mom's friend and her daughter--my mom and dad were sick. We really lucked out with the young men leaders in my parents ward...alot of the men who came were: contractors, drywallers, professional painters, general handymen, and a man from THE family of scouting (meaning that he had done like 1000 eagle projects and knew just what to do). Joe had 2 friends show up, but the rest of his buddies either had sports practices or work. 

This house was in BAD shape. Like, roach infested-mold growing-dirt/dust everywhere-BAD shape.

Armed with gloves and masks we got in there and tackled it room by room. We had one man and his sons spend the majority of their time scrubbing down the fridge/kitchen. The mother/daughter team did alot in the bathrooms. We had one of the contractors on his knees for literally 2 hours taping and then painting baseboards. Everyone was incredible. It was exhausting work. 

BUT WHOA.

It looks like a completely different house. Its clean. And that is a miracle in and of itself. Seriously. I can't believe the difference. Its amazing what ALOT of elbow grease, a group of people willing to give service, 6.5 hours, and 5 gallons of paint will do. 

I'm proud of Joe for wanting to become an Eagle Scout and I'm proud that hes getting it done! Good Job little brother! (and thank heavens that this is our last eagle project for a LONG while!)

Grateful Days 6-10

Day 6:

Our Home. Its technically an apartment, but feels like its much more. We love it. Its cozy. 

Day 7:

My Bosch. This is what I wanted from my parents for our wedding, and I got it! It has helped me make countless cookies, cupcakes, and breads...its the gift that just keeps on giving!

Day 8:

My wonderful parents! I love them very much. They just celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary in August!

Day 9: 

My mother in law Kara painted this picture the month we got married. Little did she know that it looks exactly like the bridge up at my cabin where we went on our honeymoon (color changing leaves and all!) When they were packing up their house she asked if I wanted anything, and this painting was at the top of my list!

Day 10:

I ordered our Christmas cards a week ago, and have spent some time every night addressing them to people. Now they are all ready to send! (I'll wait until Thanksgiving...don't worry)

Cheated.

This is not a word i use very often.

Its not a word i use lightly.

As we exercised our right to vote for our next president tonight...
and the electoral vote came in into Obama's favor...
while the popular vote was in Romney's...

I feel cheated.

Its MY future, and MY children's future that i'm looking towards.

This election has brought out the ugly in people.

There have been so many slams on "Mormons", so many slams calling white people racist.

Tonight alone I was called more horrible, nasty, and hurtful names than I could EVER imagine another human being feeling comfortable calling someone else.

I wanted to explain my thoughts behind the reason I voted the way I did. I was so much more informed on this election...I have watched every debate, studied outcomes and fact checks, and prayed to God to help guide me in the right direction.

I was polite, wanting to have a civil conversation, when i was beaten down by someone who was uneducated in the election process as well as in human decency.

Why? Why have we let ourselves get this way? Why are we allowing another 4 years of hardship, of loss, of a president who really DOESN'T care about this country?

I don't know.

What I do know is that I feel cheated. and sad.

But, I'm going to keep praying to my Heavenly Father to help us, and guide us. And somehow, i know that we'll get through. Maybe not unscathed, but we'll get through nevertheless.

Grateful Hearts...

I've seen ALOT of people doing the days of gratitude posts on their blogs or on instagram, and i think that its such a great idea! However, I wouldn't post something everyday...or try to take a picture everyday, but i can do it in groupings :) That's doable!

So today on day 5 I'm posting 5 things...

Day One:

I'm grateful for my big brother, my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Day Two:

I'm grateful to have been at Time Out For Women for the 2nd year in a row. What a wonderful and uplifting experience to share with my mom, SIL, aunt, and cousins! (as well as 4,000 other sisters in the gospel!)

Day Three:

My husband. He is the best!

Day Four:

My brothers! They kind of rock my socks.

Day Five:

This furry little nerd who has been my best friend growing up!

A little paint date...

I am not a wonderful artist...

that is no joke.

However, i LOVE going to As You Wish and painting pottery.

Silly, right?

WELL.

I've been going for YEARS, and I passed that love on to my brother Joe. Normally he and i go on painting dates to As You Wish, but Monday it was JACE that asked me if we could go for a little paint date.

:)

We've gone a couple of times since we've been married...

the first time he made a dinner plate with a smiley face on it.

i made a platter with our name on it.

the second time we went he made a cereal bowl with a smiley face on it.

i made a piggy bank for our future cabin fund.

(Jace's bowl is in the dishwasher and i don't have a picture of it...)

are you sensing a pattern with Jace?

can you guess what he made this time?

...

...

a mug! (to complete his set of course! also, it has a smiley face.) he's really into herbal tea lately 

and wanted a really good sized mug for that.

i also chose a mug to do. you guys! its hot chocolate weather! i got so excited thinking about that.

(it says "'tis the season to be freezin'!")

i am beyond excited that we are into November now, and i foresee these mugs getting used...ALOT!