A Good Cause

I just got home from an amazing fundraiser. My daughter, Tori, and a bunch of her friends set up an afternoon/evening of music, art, and raffle prizes to raise money for Invisible Children. For those of you who don't know, Invisible Children is an organization founded in 2003 by a group of people who went to Uganda on a mission trip. They learned about a man named Joseph Kony who led the Lord's Resistance Army, intended to overthrow the Ugandan government. To man his army, he would invade villages and abduct the children to become soldiers. The group of missionaries were outraged and created a documentary called "Invisible Children The Rough Cut."

The cause has grown immensely over the past 8 years, due mostly in part by "roadies" who are volunteers who travel the country telling the stories of the Invisible Children and the horrors of Uganda. Tori has a passion for this organization, and will probably end up doing a tour as a roadie someday soon.

Next Monday, April 25, Tori will be participating in 25. This is a fundraising effort in which participants will remain silent for 25 hours. Now, I love my daughter, but Tori even talks in her sleep, so this will be a huge challenge for her.

So back to the fundraiser. Tori worked her hiney off (not that there was much there to begin with) getting donations for the raffle. And, today, for 5 hours, at Co Ho coffee house, these kids sang, drew names, told jokes, and sold cookies, caricatures, and hand made crafty stuff to help these people across the world from them. Tori is a fundraising animal. By about 8 pm she was completely drained, but kept pushing for donations. There were actually more raffle prizes than people. Tori started selling prizes for a dollar each. By 7:30 these kids raised $568.00. Really? I am so proud of all the college age kids who have a passion for this cause!

As a mom, I have tried to teach my girls to give back, regardless of income level. And my girls surprise me all the time with their generosity and selfless giving to others.

To find out more and contribute to Tori or Sammee for the 25 fundraiser, go to http://www2.invisiblechildren.com/. Thanks for your support, and thanks to Tori and her friends for having a passion for this cause.

More Tidbits

So the past couple of weeks have been pretty much non-eventful. Work, bowling on Saturdays, chasing kids, balancing the checkbook. Last weekend Kat and I went to Boise for State bowling. Her 4 person team took 3rd (WOOT!), and she bowled very well in doubles and singles. It was kind of bittersweet though. Up until about last year the annual trip to Boise was a family affair. This year it was only me and Kat. It was nice to have time alone with her, but it reminded me that my girls are growing up and becoming independent adults. No matter how many times I remind myself of this, they are still my little girls.

On another note, Tori, Kat and I went to see Sammee in yet another play tonight. Are you ready? "Cannibal the Musical." Written by Trey Parker (South Park), it is the irreverent, probably totally false, story of Alfred Parker, the first person ever convicted of cannibalism. If you don't know the story, he and 4 colleagues left Utah to go to Breckenridge, CO to search for gold. Packer was the only one who made it out of the Rocky Mountains. He is pretty infamous in Colorado. The U of C in Boulder has Alfred Packer day every year. A celebration of this person who ate his colleagues (ew) to survive the Colorado mountains through the winter. I just love it when local theatre is willing to perform something that could (will) offend some people. In this case, there are Mormon jokes throughout the play. It is also supposed to be badly acted, sung, and danced. It was cheesy, blasphemous, and kind of gory. They even had a "splatter zone," complete with rain ponchos to protect clothing. The funny thing is, by the time the girls and I entered the theatre, the splatter zone was full. All in all, a fun evening, and the actors did a wonderful job and really enjoyed themselves. Makes me want to fly to NYC and see "The Book of Mormon, the Musical" on Broadway. Also written by Trey Parker. I love unusual theatre.

So that's about it for now. Updates on Tori's college application process as they occur.

Another Year

So I am reflecting on the past year. Last year at this time I had given my notice at Funk Farms, Kat had moved in with my parents so she could pass 8th grade. Tori was frantically trying to graduate (like she needed to worry), and Sammee was trying to decide where to do summer theatre. Also, my gramma, Shorty, passed away 2 weeks after my birthday. This year, I love my job (even though it will end in a couple of months), Tori is putting down deposits on colleges for tuition, Kat is at home and doing much better in high school, and I'm not sure what Sammee's plans are for the summer. But, I am financially secure (for the most part).

So where is this going? I'm really not sure. I just kind of got reflective tonight. I realized that after my job on the construction site is over, I will never find a job in Pocatello that will pay me what I am making right now. I don't know what will happen this summer, but I know God knows what's up.

And, speaking of God, our church, good ole FBCPoky, might actually have a new Senior Pastor soon. We have a pastor coming this week to candidate. He will preach tomorrow and April 10. After over a year of transition, some change will be nice. I will be in Boise next weekend, so I won't know the outcome of the congregational vote until I get home, but it looks good. Lots of excitement right now.

So, I become another year older, my life continues to move forward, and so do the lives of everyone around me. The past 12 months were a huge step forward for me. I still love my life, my job, my girls, my family, and my friends. I wonder what will happen in the next 12 months?

WOW! where has the year gone?

Is it really the end of March? School will be out in 2 months, then summer. At the end of summer, Tori will be going away to school. Not sure where yet. Either So Cal, Denver, or Boise. Next week I turn 44. In one year Sammee will graduate from college. Life moves pretty quickly. So here is my update.

The church I attend, and am in leadership owns 17 acres of land to build a new facility someday. We have 2 more annual payments to make, but contributions have dwindled in the past couple of years. A deal was made with the seller to take back 5 acres and whatever money we can raise by May, and the land will be paid off. Tomorrow our church family will vote on this measure, plus a motion to sell the remainder of the land. Tough day tomorrow.

We also lost our Senior Pastor last February. He and his family got called to a church in Nevada. The first 2 weekends in April we will have a candidate for Senior Pastor come to our church, with the vote on April 10. Unfortunately, I will be in Boise that weekend. At least I do get to hear him preach.

The only thing I have to look forward to (besides each and every day), is the first weekend in August. Some of the girls (at least Kat, and hopefully Tori and Sammee) will be going to Kansas City for a mini college Theatre Department reunion. The former head of our department will be in KC that weekend. Kat is very excited to go, Tori is hoping that she can get the time off of work to go, and Sammee doesn't know what she is doing for summer yet. I can hardly wait for my girls to meet as many of my friends as possible.

In other news, my dumb (but lovable) 50 pound dog decided that she needed to stand on me to give me kisses this morning. Unfortunately, my laptop was on my lap at the time. I no longer have an "H" key. Makes typing fun. And, no, I can't find the key. I just saw it flying through the air. It's probably in the couch cushions with assorted change, crumbs, and various remote controls. I ordered a new keyboard within an hour. And, I never noticed how many H's I use, or how many H's are in words. Sheesh!

So that is my boring life for now. More posts as Tori's college situation unfolds and Kat competes at State bowling.

Wow! I Could Slack More!

Okay, so somehow I ran out of hours in the day to blog. Quick recap.

Tori is working 2 jobs trying to save up for college next fall. She and Sammee have an apartment in Old Town. Sammee won't stop doing Theatre. Maybe this summer she will get paid to do it again. Kat started high school. Her freshman year is turning out to be rough, but she is bouncing back well. I have a great job (temporary)! I love what I am doing, and I love the people I work with. The thing is, I work at least 50 hours a week.

I am also still doing ministry at good old FBC Poky. That area is a touchy one. Since our senior pastor left last March, things have been in limbo. We are looking at getting a new pastor within a few months, but things are kind of tense right now. We have had quite a few people leave the church, some of them leaders. And I'm stuck in the middle. I'm just trying to do the job that God placed me to do, and it is getting difficult to do. Frustrated is the best word to describe it. I know it will get better, but right now it could give me an ulcer. I shall muddle through and stand my ground.

Sometimes I wish life could be easy, peesy, lemon squeezy. But I live in the real world. The world of unexpected expenses, saving for a rainy day then getting a monsoon, planning the day and then having to scrap all plans. I still have lots of joy in what I do, and I still love my kids, even though they make me nuts sometimes.

So, basically, life is good, regardless of the twists and ridiculous stuff that occurs. I am pretty much still happy. I have other issues with my ex and his wife, but that is all for now.

Can I Be More of a Slacker??!!??

I have decided to try to blog at least once a week. A lot has happened recently. I still love my job. Kat got braces on Thursday. She has been bugging me for years, and i finally relented. We thought Medicaid would pay for it, but they have a policy of a certain severity of the teeth before they will pay. So, I now have an added expense, but I can handle it. I already have the budget reworked. I have also almost completely caught up on the past due bills from my unemployment.

On another note, Tori is working on getting her driver's license, and looking for a car. I sometimes marvel at her responsibility. She has been planning this for a long time, and had all of her ducks in a row. However, she had not anticipated her grandmother. Mom is helping her out with the car, so she insisted on having the car checked out. Tori called our friend Tait, who found some things that concerned him. So now he has a friend who is an actual mechanic who needs to look it over, and I have to CarFax the VIN. But, Tori is being patient. God love her.

Sammee has been cast in the first play and the musical at ISU. She is playing the drunk actress in "You Can't Take it With You." (I hope it's not typecasting), and as Texas in "Cabaret." Looks like I will be going to the theatre a bit this fall. She is doing well in school so far, and Kat loves high school.

Well, that's about it for this week. Maybe next week I will have more exciting stuff to report.

I Am Employed! (at least for now)

This will be a quick post, but an important one. School starts this week for Kat, Tori has 2 jobs, Sammee started her 3rd year of college, both Sammee and Tori got their own apartment, and.....I am working!!!!! I have a long term temp position with the head construction company that is building the Hoku plant. Downside, I am working 5 10 hour shifts. Upside, I am working 5 10 hour shifts! Hoku wants the plant finished and operable by the end of the year, so construction has picked up. The company needs someone to keep track of construction hours and get paychecks out to the construction workers on time. Hence my job.

I love my job. For the first time since leaving ON Semiconductor, I feel like I fit in (except for my handwriting, which will always be an obstacle). I am excited to be part of a team, not part of a group of us and them.

So, I will be busy with work and helping Kat with homework. I hope to update this blog and keep the world updated on my status. After the first of the year, I will be looking for work again. I am starting a consulting business, so if you need bookkeeping help or help with your computer problems, I'm your gal!