New Job Duties

Even though I will still be a Risk Management Analyst in the Risk Management Department at the EGUSD when the REMS grant is over I will have completely different job duties. Kirt suggested that I find some course work to help position myself better for the new position. I started toward the profession designation of CPDM- Certified Professional in Disability Management. At a staff meeting when there was mention of they would have no one to do the Interactive Processes I was able to say that I had just done part of a webinar on the Interactive Process through CSAC-Excess. In the same staff meeting I was able to remark that I had started the CPDM. I think it gave me some credibility. Then the other analyst, Margaret, took a job in HR so I will be the only analyst for an indefinite time- cabinet will not allow the position to be posted due to the budget problems. Marlon was supposed to go to a Disability Conference Friday morning, but had triple booked himself so he asked me to go. It was just here in Sacramento and I had no problem driving to it. It was a good learning experience.
On the way home I stopped at Kaiser to have my BP checked- it was high, had a pedicure with Tracy at Judy's, and then picked up a Rx at the EG Kaiser. I think I left my ATM card there...will need to try to track it down.

Owning a Home is a Lifestyle Choice

Today we went out to have a late lunch at the home of Mike and Susan C. Six months ago the bought a house (just a little way off Grantline Road) with some land. The house is really lovely inside, but the 5 acres is a great deal of work. They have an orchard, a pond, a barn, just for starters. They have ordered 25 chicks and will soon have a chicken coop with lots of laying hens. They want to be a self-sufficient as possible.
The house had sat empty for over a year and so the overgrown landscape has been over whelming, but I think they had to chop away with a huge machete. Actually they had to get a huge ride on lawnmower type of thing- sort of what the school landscaping guys ride on to mow the lawns.
In the barn Kellie has room for her steer that she is raising for her Ag class. and Whitney P. has her 2 pigs there also and comes out each day to take care of them. Also in the barn they have 2 barn cats (feral) who actually earned their keep yesterday for the first time by catching and killing a vole.

100+ today

I substituted for the RS teacher who was teaching the TFOT lesson. She was out of town. I think it went well. It was a talk by President Eyring.

I have been serving as the Preparedness and Home Storage person, and trying to get the sisters inspired to get prepared, and to learn or re-learn how to cook. There is just too many people with too little in their cupboards!

The last week in April

We are all so blessed. Our ward is having a forty day fast for the missionary work, and Kirt and I signed up to fast on Tuesday, April 27th, and then we also signed up to feed the missionaries that night. We told them to be on time as we would be very hungry. It felt really good to do the fast together. Elder Dalton from Tooele, serving in our ward and Elder Logan from Hawaii- he was on splits from Rancho Cordova.

We see many around us losing their jobs, and are thankful that we both have employment.This morning Kirt has gone to WINCO to do a major grocery shop- my bet is that he will spend about $300. I gave him a list with many case of canned goods on it. I think it is important to keep well stocked.

A young father in our ward, Josh MacDonald, died in an auto accident this week, leaving wife and three children.

Out garden now has tomatoes and beans and squash out in the planter boxes, and Kirt transplanted some sunflower seedlings out along the back fence. We have other seedlings almost ready to go outside.

Spring is here...

In California, it is time to be thinking seriously about putting in our garden. Our peach trees are in bloom, the apricot and pears and already bloomed and the blossoms are gone. I hope to get a fruit dehydrator this year.
Kirt has the soil in our raised planter boxes all turned over and ready for planting. We have some Raspberry and Marion berry plants ready to plant. - we just don't know for sure where they will go.
The 2 pots of hyacinths that Kirt gave me for Valentine's are blooming on the front entryway and they smell heavenly.
We have a Pomegranate tree that Samantha gave Grampa- it should go in the back yard somewhere.
I think we might build an arbor on the south side and grow some grapes. Then I will have the fruit I need to be able to can fruit cocktail. (except the maraschino cherries and I think fruit cocktail will be just fine without them.)

Things that I feel strongly about...

1. I am a mom, and grandmon; I love my kids, husband and my grandchildren
2. I am a daughter & I love my mom, she is still very important to me
3. I am a sister – “oh, the joys of sisterhood!” as a child and as an adult
4. I want my children to live good lives, remain active in the church, and work always to be the best they can be
5. Education is important
6. Continuing education continues to work for me
7. The importance of making a marriage work- it is important to marry the right person, at the right time, in the right place
8. Oral histories- I love to find out details about my ancestors lives
9. Family history – who did I descend from?
10. Quilting, knitting, some scrap booking
11. I have arthritis – and can do less with my hands than I want to.
12. Stress management
13. The importance of a good relationship with in-laws
14. Christmas – family holidays and get-togethers
15. Our joys and struggles as we lived in our “Poverty, hunger and dirt” days…we were so poor, with 6 kids in a little 900 sq ft home.
16. Emergency preparedness – follow the prophet
17. Getting out of debt- living within our means

What do you feel strongly about?