- Assertive - By Pudge

It's time I put my paw down!
This is my bed Joey!!!

Hey.....at least give me some credit for trying..... :)

- Roommates - By Pudge

What's my problem with roommates you ask?

They think what is "yours" is now "ours"!!!

- Little Miss M -

I seriously can't get enough of this little one!!!

- Aunt -

AUNT: Just like Mom, only cooler!!!

Enough said.

- It's Official... -

It's official!!! I am THE worst blogger ever!!!! I'll try to do better in the future, okay? Pinky swear!

And.....I plan on catching up on a few things that have gone on over the summer. Here they are just so you'll have something to look forward to! :)

- Diane's retirement.
- Relay for Life.
- Butlers big move.
- My Birthday.
- Steel Days.
- Bear Lake.
- Pug and Joey's love story.

So stay tuned!!! They will be put in chronological order so you might have to look hard for them...

- One Year Older and Wiser Too -

That's right! I'm one year older and wiser too (hopefully). It was a GREAT day!!!

It all started off with my wonderful brother-in-law making a yummy breakfast for everyone. Yummmm......french toast, hashbrowns, scrambled eggs, with bacon and sausage. And I got to blow the candles out on my french toast. Could it get any better? Nope!

When it's your birthday in our family, YOU get to choose what you want to do. Well...I chose to hike to Timp Cave! I LOVE it up there! One summer, a group of us would hike the trail in the mornings about three times a week. We learned many fun facts along the way that not everyone knows about...like the "watch tree". Anyway, the Butler's and I made the trek to the cave. It was so fun and I'm so grateful that everyone were such great sports about it!!!

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!! :)

- I HEART OZ -

Guess what I did this weekend?!

That's right...I saw WICKED!
I only have two words - LOVED IT!!!
After all, GREEN is my favorite color!

- Who's the Leader of the Club . . . ME!!! -

- My Pammy -

Pamela Jane Durrant Hunsaker
February 28, 1953 - January 4, 2009

When an artist paints a picture of someone, they try to capture more than what first meets the eye. They try to capture everything about them from the inside out. The little intricacies of each line of their smile. The sparkle of kindness that lights up their eyes. How the winds of life trials float through their hair. The love they have felt in the rosiness of their cheeks. And the hearts they have touched through the details of each brush stroke. When the artist’s job is done, the canvas of the subject’s life is more than a beautiful painting. It speaks a thousand priceless words that otherwise cannot be described.

It’s hard to paint a portrait of my Pammy. SHE....was the one who danced through life with a paint brush in hand and a palate of vibrant colors splashing, painting, and spreading love and memories in all of our lives. Pam created for each of us special moments that only she could paint in her own beautiful way.

The portrait of Pam’s life spreads laughter and joy to all who she has come in contact with. And I, Pammy’s Manda, will always treasure the following memories....

• Singing oldies along with the radio while driving in California rush hour traffic after an amazing day at the beach.

• Starting the traditional skinny dipping event in Bear Lake together.

• Chocolate covered cinnamon bears, almonds in any form, steak and mushrooms, large diet cokes with a lemon, and always on Christmas Eve...peppermint ice cream with homemade hot fudge and brownies.
  

• Going to Jazz games as VIP guests and eating gourmet hot dogs together.
  

• Tagging along with her to her annual Treasurer’s conventions in St. George and the burnt almond fudge frozen custard she HAD to get at 10:00 at night.
  

• Sharing stories on how she kissed that guy...and that guy...and that guy when growing up.
  

• Helping her do marathon Christmas shopping when she didn’t feel good where my arms practically fell off trying to carry all the bags so she wouldn’t have to.
  

• Going to her boy’s games and girl’s recitals and being a tad embarrassed at how loud she cheered because she wanted to make sure her kids could hear her.
  

• Sliding down the old City Hall stairs having races on card board boxes and sharing that tiny office where we were packed in like sardines.
  

• Lint brushing her perfectly shaped bald head after Suzy shaved it during chemo....trying to lighten the situation.
  

• Participating in Relay for Life events and cheering for her while she proudly took her survivor laps.
  

• Running to her bedside after I went through the temple this summer just to give her a big hug because I knew how bad she felt because she was too sick to attend.
  

• Walking over to her house at any time of the day just to sit on the floor next to her bed....just to be with my Pammy.
  

My list could go on and on!!! She has been my mentor in every way. My second mom. My best friend. I know the brush strokes of Pam’s influence will definitely continue to paint masterpieces within all of our hearts.

She was an artist and her life was her canvas.
Celebrate her brilliance.

She loved life and it loved her back.
Celebrate her passion.

She listened to her heart above all other voices.
Celebrate her wisdom.

She saw every ending as a new beginning.
Celebrate her resiliency.

She ignored people who said it couldn’t be done.
Celebrate her independence.

She added so much beauty into being human.
Celebrate her presence.

She walked in when everyone else walked out.
Celebrate her friendship.

She just had this way of brightening the day.
Celebrate her radiance.

She made the whole world feel like home.
Celebrate her warmth.

She colored her thoughts with only the brightest hues.
Celebrate her optimism.

She ran ahead where there were no paths.
Celebrate her bravery.

She held her head high and looked the world straight in the eye.
Celebrate her strength.

She designed a life she loved.
Celebrate her joy.

She remained true to herself.
Celebrate her authenticity.

She made the world a better place.
Celebrate her.

- Life Stinks - By Pudge

One time...I had to go to the vet.

Ya know what I was told?
She said, "You've got to go on a DIET!"
And my persons are obeying her!

STUPID STINKY VET!!

Can you imagine what my Thanksgiving was like?!
So yeah...LIFE STINKS!!!

- I've Been Dreaming of a True Love's Kiss! -

I saw this fun test on a blog of a friend's - friend's - sister in law's - cousin's - brother's - wife's blog. Well not exactly along that path...but sometimes that's what it feels like, right? Anyway, it's fun so check it out!!

You Are Aurora! (A.K.A. Sleeping Beauty.)

Thoughtful and loving. Authority figures probably have been sheltering you all of your life. Thankfully you're a very tranquil person who is content with what life has given you, but secretly you want to know how the outside world works.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

- Endowed With Power -

My temple experience was ABSOLUTELY-AWESOMELY-AMAZING!!!!! I loved every bit of it!! I’ll admit, it was different…..but SO SO SO C-O-O-L!!! All of the cute workers, along with my family and friends, said that they have never seen anyone so excited to go through the temple!!! I’m sure they have, but they just thought it was fun seeing someone so excited. Apparently I was glowing and just happy as a lark! Little Miss Sunshine was definitely in the building!! I wasn’t nervous one bit which is actually quite unlike me. I just felt so prepared and ready for it that I could hardly contain myself!!!

My favorite was the washing and anointing and the beautiful blessings I received. Wow!!! It was pretty much the COOLEST THING EVER!!! Can you tell I’m still so excited?!! I’m so appreciative of all the love and support that everyone gave me. It felt really great and the fact that I actually accepted the love open-heartedly was even better. I just went around hugging everyone in sight!! The temple workers, my family, my bishop and his wife, and my cute little friends! I loved seeing everyone in their “white dress”. Wow! I loved it!! But I was a little worried that I may have been irreverent or something. I definitely still need to learn my temple etiquette. Especially what you can and cannot share outside of the temple. I wish I could just tell everyone everything so they could know what they are missing out on!!!! I just don’t get why people wouldn’t want to go to the temple every chance they can get. Sigh……

Anyway…most importantly, I felt my Heavenly Father’s love for me! It’s hard to describe other than it just felt SOOOO GOOD!!! My “ROAR” is louder than it has ever been in my life!!! Seriously. I’m not making it up. The temple is just so dang awesome!! I can’t wait to go back again and again and again!! My stake president just told me to enjoy the moment and not to think about it too much the first time, so that’s what I did. But now….it has opened up a whole can of worms into my little questioning mind. There is so much to learn and I can’t wait to increase my knowledge!!!! Any recommendations on where to start? I guess just going to the temple as much as I can is the way to go….especially since I’m a beginner.

- Oops!!! -

:) :) :) :) Oops!!! I think I just grinned my bummy off!!! I guess I won't have to worry about the "granny bum" dilemma. Just kidding. But yep, still grinning about the temple tomorrow afternoon!!! I AM SO EXCITED I CAN'T CONTAIN MYSELF!!! Seriously. I'm even having the hardest time sleeping cuz I can't contain my eager anticipation! I'm 200,000 times worse than a runny nosed kid on Christmas!!!

- Temple Mania -

I AM SO DANG EXCITED FOR THE TEMPLE THAT I THINK MY HEART IS GOING TO EXPLODE!!!!!

Here’s the series of fortunate events that caused this happy excitement:

I passed my interviews with my bishop and stake president…which I was SOOOOOOOOOOOO nervous about!!!! I was not so nervous about the interviews themselves, but more about the huge decision to make some serious covenants. I was so nervous that I started doubting my decision to go through the temple period. Then I decided it was that “motard” Satan who was trying to stop me and that going through the temple was something that Heavenly Father would want me to do. I was still a tad nervous until the stake president signed my recommend. Then all I could do was grin my bummy off!!! He even commented on how happy I was. Then I knew I had made the right decision and have been so happy since! I’m actually probably starting to annoy everyone cuz I can’t stop talking about it…even to the ladies at work!

On Saturday, I bought all my temple clothes. I love my cute little temple dress, but I’m worried that once I put it on in the temple I’ll start skipping around and start singing “the pioneer children sang as they walked and walked and walked.” Seriously! I feel like a cute little pioneer woman or something with it on. Sidenote: I walked over to my Aunt Pammy’s (my second mom) house to show her. She’s the one with the liver cancer and the giant hemotoma. Anyway, I put it on to show her and she started crying. Apparently she is so proud of me and feels so bad that she can’t come. That’s when I broke out into the pioneer children song and dance routine. I hate to see her cry but then it hurt when I made her laugh…so I guess it’s sort of a lose/lose for her, huh? No worries…I’ll make it up to her somehow.

Then this weekend, I passed out all my invites/announcements. My sister made them for me. They’re pretty dang awesome! I was just joking that she needed to put Amanda Diane on them, so of course she did! But I still love them anyway. I want to invite practically every single person I know to come!!!! Unfortunately, some of my extended family members don’t hold a current recommend…I’m gonna work on them. I gave them invites anyway hoping to spark a little somethin’ somethin’ to get them motivated to do what’s right.

Today on my lunch break, my mom, my sister, and I went to buy my garmies!! I was such a nerd there. All I could do was grin and tell the lady, “I don’t know!” I’m pretty much went with what my sister likes…and some other one that was #2 on my poll results. But I did tell the lady I was worried about having a granny bum….cuz the waist on them is so dang high! I don’t want the waistband to be all the way up to my arm pits. Then I felt a tad embarrassed because I’m sure she’s a grandma…but she totally understood what I meant and agreed that the granny bum is not a good thing. So we’ll see how it all goes….I’m sure I’ll adjust to the granny bum if it happens. After all, I won’t have too much of a choice, right?

Holy cow!!! My face is getting tired….I just CANNOT stop grinning!!! I’m so excited!!!

- Mandy's Poll -

Good morning fellow sisters in Zion! I hope you all had a wonderful and relaxing weekend. I sure did! Wasn’t it absolutely BEE-YOU-TEA-FULL?!

Announcement: I’m not sure you have all heard, but on July 11^th Mandy will become endowed with power! That’s right…I’ve decided to go through the temple on my birthday. Yipee!!! I know…I know…it’s about time, right? Anyway, I’ve decided it would be fun (and beneficial to Mandy) to take a poll on the different flavors of garments. So…what kinds do you like and dislike? Any little facts and findings on what you’ve discovered? Any temple preparation tips? Anything you’ve got or would like to share would be awesome!

When you get a minute, let me know. Thank you for being such great examples of women of faith to me! Love you all tons!!!

PS: If you’d like a copy of the poll results…I’d be glad to share. I might even make a pie chart or graph or something to display my findings. You know…just for kicks.

- Flubber Bustin' News -

Hey there Mandy Pandy’s Flubber Buster Biggest Loser Fan Club!!!

Here’s the scoop:

Good News: Since February 4th, Mandy’s lost 20.8 lbs, 19.25 inches, and 5% body fat. WOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! (I've been meeting once a week with my team and our trainer. We've been exercising our bums off! Literally!!)

Bad News: Mandy will not – I repeat – will not be moving on to the next round. I’m sorry to disappoint you all. (Sniffle, sniffle, sob, sob…) For those of you who are extremely sensitive, hold back those tears for there is more good news ahead!

Good News: There’s a new twist in the game!! All those competitors eliminated from the first round, which includes me, can still workout on our own to come back in August to claim victory!!!! I still have a chance!!!! Go Mandy…it’s your birthday!! (Groovin in my chair at my desk! Dang! The Mayor just walked by while I was in mid-celebration. Hee…hee….I’m just a tad bit embarrassed!) But honestly, there’s a chick on another team that has lost over 50 lbs and I’m afraid I won’t be able to catch her. But that ain’t gonna stop me from trying!!!!! Anywhooo…..I’m sharing with you all so I will be held accountable, k? So when you see me, just give me a high five and a “Keep on keepin on sista!”

Stay tuned for more “flubbie bustin” progress reports. Thanks! Love ya! Bye!

- Pug Bowling - By Pudge

- Gordon B. Hinckley Tributes -

- ANNOUNCEMENT -

Ladies and gentlemen. . . boys and girls. . . it is a joy and a pleasure to announce to you that I am a proud member of THE FLUBBER BUSTERS!!! You may be asking yourself, "What?! What does that mean my darling friend/ sister/ daughter/ aunt/ cousin/ pug-owner/ niece/ neighbor/ president?" Well, you'll just have to stay tuned for more information. In the meantime, carry on. . . carry on. . .

- Elder Richard G. Hinckley's Testimony -

This was an email forwarded to me. It's really neat to read. It was from an acquaintence's cousin who lives in the same ward as Elder Hinckley (son of Gordon B. Hinckley). It's a bit long but worth the time. Check it out:

Elder Richard Hinckley bore his testimony in Sacrament meeting today. He thanked everyone for the notes, calls, food, flowers, and all they had done for their family.

He said President Hinckley had been diagnosed with cancer early in 2006, and was not expected to last until the end of the year. He and his five children met with Dr. Ward, his cancer doctor, to discuss options. The doctor said they did not know how chemotheraphy would work in a 95 year old, as they had not tried it before. President Hinckley said he had three questions, and had them written down on a paper. The first question was "Will I still be able to live on my own?" "Yes", the doctor answered. The second question was "Would I still be able to put in a full day's work?" "Yes", the doctor answered. President Hinckley's final question was "Will I lose my hair?" "No", the doctor answered. President Hinckley then agreed to have chemotheraphy. He said his life belonged to the Lord, and He would take him when He was ready. President Hinckley said he needed to do all he could do to prolong his life, for he had work to do.

The doctors discovered the chemotheraphy was not working in January (2008). Again, the Hinckley family met with the doctors. At 97 years of age, recommended President Hinckley do nothing. President Hinckley replied again his life belonged to the Lord, and that he needed to do all he could do. He received the more aggressive chemotherapy the Tuesday before he died. On Wednesday, he went to the office and did a full day's work. Thursday morning, he did not get out of bed.

Elder (Richard) Hinckley said he was scheduled to go preside over a stake conference in Henderson , Nevada that weekend. Before he left, he talked with his dad, and felt prompted to give him a blessing. He also said he would take his cell phone, and keep it on. Saturday, after meetings, around 4pm, President Packer called and told him he needed to come home. He did, and stayed with his father and other members of his family until his father died.

Sunday afternoon, Presidents Monson, Eyring, and Packer came and gave President Hinckley a blessing. About 7pm, President Hinckley took his last breath, and passed away peacefully.

Elder Hinckley shared some anecdotes about his father. He said one of his dad's favorite pictures was a picture of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, with a photo of a singing President Hinckley electronically placed right in the baritone section. He would show it to everyone who came to visit. Elder Hinckley said this photo was something family members would fight over. Thursday night, after their practice, members of the Tabernacle Choir asked for their own private viewing. After, they presented each member of the Hinckley family with that photo.

Elder Hinckley spent a lot of time at the Conference Center during the viewing. One of the ushers shared a moment with him, which he thought was sweet—a small girl came through with her father. She asked her dad "Do you think President Hinckley has met Nephi yet?"

Elder Hinckley said true to form, his father had his funeral planned down to the last detail, leaving no decisions to his children. He planned the speakers, the hymns, everything. He said his father had "every button buttoned, and every knot tied"—as always, prepared.

Some of the things Elder Hinckley said about his father were that "he was reverent, faithful, humble, and true". As a family, the Hinckley 's said, "We hope others will turn their hearts to the Savior".

He said a new prophet would be announced tomorrow, around 11am, and, although the Hinckley family had never tried to be in the limelight, they were ready to step back and fade into the background as this new prophet takes his place.

Elder Hinckley said there were many flowers at the funeral, so he brought up two arrangements to our chapel for us to enjoy. One arrangement was from President Hinckley's counselors; the other from the quorum of the seventy. He said they didn't need all of the flowers at home, and that they were going to die anyway, and invited all of us to come up and take a flower after sacrament meeting. Many of us did so after the meeting, and we have made a bouquet we are enjoying here at the house. We are planning to dry as many as possible.

Annie babysat this morning for Michael and Heather Hinckley while they attended Music and the Spoken Word. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir was singing a medley of President Hinckley's favorite hymns. They had reserved 100 seats for the Hinckley family, and Heather and Michael (they are the ones who lived in our house while we were in Honduras ), went.

It has been a very spiritual day for me, and something I really need during this dreary winter. We have had snow about every other day this January, and cold since the first of December. We have four feet on the side of our driveway, and two feet in the yard, and it is snowing again. I am glad I have these beautiful flowers, and memories of President Hinckley, to lift me up.

Love,
Shelly