15 Things I LOVE!!!!

It has been a long time since I (Sarah) have written on here. I have been wanting to write, but I haven't known what to write...so my mom gave me an idea. 15 things I love!!! So here we go...

1- My family. Of course I will always love them all no matter what. My extended family is very large too, and I don't even know how many people there are in my extended family...

2- Friends. I really wonder what I would do without them. Even when I'm having a terrible day, which very well could include having a rubber bowling ball drop on my ankle, falling down the stairs, getting a disappointing grade on a test, or anything else of the sort, they are always there for me to comfort me and make me feel better.

3- School. Yup, I said it. I like school. Depending on the class, I can really enjoy myself sometimes while at the same time learning. It's also a time where I can see my friends, make new ones, and I also get to do one of my favorite things in the world- play music.

4- Like I just said, I love music. Whenever I'm having a bad day, I can turn on my ipod, or the radio, and float away into a world of my own. It can help me fall asleep, or wake up, and I can have fun while playing it.

5- Church. I love going to church, even though sometimes I may look very bored. I really do enjoy being around my church friends and listening to what they have to say. I love my leaders, and I know that they love me too.

6- Snow. The powdery white stuff that gets school canceled, causes major accidents, and provides enjoyment for little/older kids.

7- Thunderstorms. Some people hate them, but I love them!!! I love the rumble and the darkness about it. I really don't know why I love dark clouds, but I do. They make me so happy!!!

8- Early morning seminary. Sure, I don't like getting up early, but by the time I get to school, I am usually wide awake. When compared to days that I don't have seminary, I am tired until about my 3rd or 4th hour class. I also love my teacher, Sis. Ryan, who is simply one of the most amazing teachers/cooks ever.

9- Heaters. I don't think I really have to explain myself that much for this one. When it snows, I am grateful to be able to go outside, and know there is a nice warm house that awaits my return.

10- Gum wrappers. For those of you who haven't seen my agenda...it is covered in the foil from "5" gum wrappers. That is probably one of my favorite things to do in my boring classes that we never do anything in, stick the wrappers onto my agenda....I will have to put a picture on here...

11- Journals. I recently have started to keep a journal that I have tried to keep up on at least a weekly basis. It's really nice to have something to write down all of my feelings in, and write down any important experiences in.

12- Calculators. So I have this student teacher in math, and he isn't the best teacher. He feels the need to show us the long way of how to do a problem, that can take more than 15 minutes to do, then he tells us we don't even need to do it that way, and shows us a way to do it on a calculator that takes 15 seconds. Which is why I love the calculator.

13- Extreme Makeover Home Edition. This is my all time favorite show, because I know I can always watch it. There is never anything immoral on it, and it has a good theme.

14-Weight loss. For those of you who don't know, I am currently working on losing some weight. It is a good goal for me, and I know that by doing this, it will help me have a much healthier life.

15- Driving. I just recently started driving. I have my permit, and I still have about 8 more months until I can get my license. :-)

Well, there is my list!!!! WOOOO!!!!! Wow that took a while...hehehe. Until next time!!!

My Heart Did Sing!

I walked out the door this morning and stopped in my tracks! I heard something oh, so familiar. Two long calls, four short calls and I knew there was a cardinal somewhere nearby! Sure enough, way at the tip top of a very tall tree...there he was, singing his heart out. I'm sure he was saying something about ignoring the groundhog. His singing made my heart sing...maybe Spring will be here eventually!

Liquid Gold Is Pretty Good, Sweet Baby Claire Is The BEST!

Ah, pictures I've been waiting for! My sweet friend Katharine did these infant pictures of Claire back in November. I've been anxiously waiting to see them because I knew they would be wonderful. Claire has changed so much already, but oh, I remember this, I remember this! Is there anything more precious than an infant...I think not!
Snow finally arrived in Edwardsville this week! We woke up Wednesday morning to about 7 inches of the beautiful fluffy stuff! It would have been perfect for skiing...super powdery! Too bad we're in Illinois! Out of desperation to see something pretty I had bought some flowers this week for my kitchen window. Tulips and snow...a wonderful combination!

Sarah and I really did try to make a snowman, but it just didn't work. But snow angels, those are different story. We had a little snow "fight" after she made her snow angel...I won!

I love this picture of Lindsay...I can so see it happening! She worked so hard preparing for the show Pebbles did in California this past week. Apparently the background was supposed to say "moments" instead of "memories". They both work fine I think. I am so proud of Lindsay. The show went well and their booth was a hit. I've told her all along how talented I knew she was, but how fun to hear it from someone else that really matters. Not that I don't matter...

This week I made my Chicken Pot Pie. For some reason Rich and Sarah just raved and raved about it. I'm quite sure that I didn't do anything different, but it just seemed to hit the spot with both of them. This is THE easiest recipe ever...

1 Pillsbury Pie Crust

1 Cup or so of shredded cooked chicken

1 Can of Cream of Potato soup

1 Can of Cream of Chicken soup

1 bag of frozen vegetables...my family prefers the corn, green bean, carrot mixture (NO lima beans allowed!)

Mix together, put in pie crust, put 2nd layer of pie crust on top, bake at 375 til done - 30-45 minutes or so.

Last week I thought to myself, "I know I'd feel so much better if I just had some fresh squeezed orange juice." And then I realized that our yearly installment of oranges that my sister Sally always sends in January had not arrived yet, and I wondered if they were coming. Sure enough they arrived on Friday. Yippee! We call the juice "Liquid Gold"...it is SO good. These oranges are straight from the groves in Mesa, Arizona. You can see that the box is already half empty. Thank you, thank you, thank you sister Sally! You made my week and I feel better already!