Scouting is for boys who WANT to do it.....

None of my boys were really into Boyscouts. They did it for awhile, and then got sick of it. None of them got their Eagle and that is totally fine with me. My philosophy is this: If my son wants to participate in scouts... I am behind him 100%. BUT if my son does NOT WANT to participate, I am NOT going to force him. I am NOT going coerce him. I am NOT going to lay a guilt trip on him about it.

Scouting is not for everybody.

David and I got invited over to my old Bishop's house for dinner last night. We kind of wondered why... all of the sudden.... we get invited over. I figured they heard I was engaged and wanted to pump me for information. But.... actually they had NOT heard that news.

No........... we barely got in the door, and sat down to the table for --- I must say --- the BEST steaks David and I have ever had in our lives (Jeremy cooks a mean steak) -- when Bishop just jumps all over David about getting his Eagle.

It was uncomfortable. Because, I'm sorry.... but repelling down a mountain, and mountain biking, and hiking a 20 mile trail, and all that does not sound like a good time to me and it does not appeal to David either. If it did --- again --- I'd support it. But he doesn't want to do that. And these days with all the scouts that die while off on one of their activities..... I am not real thrilled with putting my son in that situation.

Besides, David doesn't like any of the other boys that are going and he will not be happy.

I knew though, there was an ulterior motive for having us over to dinner. And yes... I was right.

Man! Feel that wind blowing???

It's from all the tongues wagging over the fact that I'm engaged.

Who really gives a fig? I mean, my family yes.... but it just annoys me that the neighbors even care. I'm not close to any of them. What is the big deal?

The one I didn't really care to have find out.... did find out because Athalee ran right over to tell her.

So I got a text from this person and she was trying to be all "sweet" (but I know she is PISSED that she was the last to find out).

She says "Tell me all about your new guy."

I said, "I'll tell ya later."

And when I see her.... I am saying this: "The reason I did not tell you anything is because he is Mexican. And I know how much you HATE Mexicans."

Time flies

It's been two weeks since I left Kauai. I wish I was still there. It's a heck of a lot nicer weather than here in "Welcome-To-Winter-Revisited-in-June" Utah. Brrrrrr.

So, wedding plans are coming along. I have a caterer. I have a playlist for music and David says he will download my songs. I have decorations in mind. I have two places in mind to have it, but despite my reluctance at doing it at my ward building... I think that is where I'm going to have it. Because it is close, and it is cheap. LOL. My second place is the Town Hall in Herriman where they did the Kramer Family Reunion dinner. But that would require people to travel further.

I'm not expecting a ton of people. (I'm not inviting a ton of people).

Yesterday in Relief Society they made me announce it. The GASP in the room was hilarious. I wish I could have taped it.

My witchy neighbor was not there. So now the WHOLE ward knows and she does not. Do you know how pissed off she is going to be that she is the LAST to know and more importantly that I did not tell her personally??

LMAO.

Ask me if I care.

Thoughts to reflect on......

First, I was dying to finish my highschool and start college.

And then I was dying to finish college and start working.

Then I was dying to marry and have children.

And then I was dying for my children to grow old enough so I could go back to work.

But then, I was dying to retire....

And now..... I'm dying........

And suddenly I realized -----

I forgot to live.

"To make money we lose our health. And then to restore our health we lose our money...."

"We live as if we are never going to die, and we die as if we never lived......"

LIVE EACH DAY TO THE FULLEST!!!

Take me back!

Wow.... I miss the tranquility, beauty, peace, fun, and spiritual high of Kauai.

Take me back!!

I know why it is so expensive to live there. If it wasn't, then the whole world would live there. I know I would.

I have been reading Michael and Bryttan's blog. Cracks me up. My children are so talented. (Yes, Karin, I mean YOU also).

I love reading both Karin and Michael's blogs. Karin keeps threatening to quit. I hope she doesn't. I would miss it.

Ahhhh this picture.... this was our own private beach. (I say private cuz not another soul was on there even though it was right outside my hotel)

We stood and listened to the roar of the waves, and felt the sun, and splashed in the surf. The water was warm. This is the beach, though, where we got chased by the ugliest, fastest, creepiest crabs I ever saw. Some of them were HUGE. The size of my fist! I did not get pictures of them as I was moving too fast the opposite direction. LOL

Sunday dinner was YUMMY.

Crunchy Romaine Strawberry Salad

3 oz pkg of ramen noodles
1 cup chopped or whole walnuts
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup sugar
2 TB red wine vinegar
1/2 tea soy sauce
8 cups of torn Romaine Lettuce
1/2 cup chopped green onions
2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced

Discard the seasoning pkt from the ramen noodles. Break noodles into small pieces. In a skillet, saute noodles and walnuts in butter for 8 minutes over med-low heat. Watch closely because it will burn easily. Saute till golden. Cool.

For dressing, in a jar with a tight fitting lid, combine the oil, sugar, vinegar, and soy sauce. Shake well. Just before serving, combine the romaine, onions, strawberries and noodle mixture in large bowl. Drizzle with dressing and toss gently. Serves 8.




Peanut Chicken Skewers

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup soy sauce
4 garlic cloves minced
3 TB fresh squeezed lemon juice
2 TB brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (I used chicken tenders)

In a saucepan, combine the first 8 ingredients; cook and stir over medium-high heat for 5 minutes or till smooth. Reserve half of sauce for dipping.

In the other half, I rolled the chicken tenders and let them sit to marinate for a few minutes and then I grilled them on my George Foreman Grill.

You could bake in oven, or you could put on skewers and grill on BBQ. Or put in a skillet and cook in the sauce.

But I like my George Foreman. It does the job.

Paradise.... Oh Yes It Is.

So the news is out. George and I got engaged. Yep! He is one romantic guy. So very sweet. Oh I wish people knew him like I know him. He and I have so much in common and so many things that are just "ours".... like the smileys. And words we use together. And names we have for each other. And symbols we have for each other. I am "water" because of many reasons. One is that I am Aquarius which is the Water sign. But also I am DRAWN to water. I love water, oceans, pools, waterfalls, fountains, pictures of water, reflections off water.... I am water. I did not want a diamond. I wanted something simple. My ring is white gold with Aquamarine stone. (water).

We had so much fun. He proposed the night I got there. In the moonlight, by the pool, near the waterfall, with the roar of the ocean in the background. The moon was Full that night and that was also the only night it was visible. We both cried. We both love each other so much and we just know that this was meant to be. We were lead to be together. He treats me like a queen.



He is such a sweetheart. Everything is for me. Everything he does is for me. He is so kind and considerate. And he has been this way since I met him. He hasn't changed. He's still the guy I met.


He is a simple man. A hard worker. A good heart. He will treat me with love, kindness and respect. That is really all I ask. I don't care for money, cars, diamonds, jewels, or things of the world. Those mean nothing to me. All I care about is a man who will take me to the temple. A man who will love, honor, and work with me to build a wonderful life. That is him. He has promised me a mansion on high. Which is the only place I want a mansion.


The only things we take with us when we die are what's inside of us. That is where our treasure lies. Not in things of the world. But in things of the heart and the spirit.

I am truly happy. And I have been happy since I met him. And we have the best communication of anyone I know.

So now... we save up our money because we have several trips we want to make. We'd like to go back to Kauai or to Maui one day. We'd like to go to Florida to visit George's sister. We'd like to go to Texas to visit his daughter, grandkids, son-in-law, mother, and other siblings. We'd like to go to Vermont so he can meet my dad.


Lots of bright hopes for the future. He still has time he has to work over there on the island and he may go to Oahu also for another job. We've discussed it and although it's hard to be apart, the money he is making is really, really good, so we can endure being apart.

I'm happy. He's happy. Life is good. ALOHA!!!!