Long Night, Early Morning

Hello friends...just thought I would give you a little fun update on what's been going on for the last couple days.
Last night, some very dear and loving people in my ward hosted a community benefit (auction) for a sweet sister in our ward that has cancer. Some of you who read my blog know who I am talking about. The benefit has been in the workings for months, and it finally happened last night. There was so much work and dedication put in by everyone who was on the committee. There were hundreds of items donated, and all were either auctioned off live, silent auctioned, or raffled. Everyone who donated items, bless their hearts, made a difference. I should have taken pictures, because there was a whole gym full of donated items. It was very humbling to see how many people came out and supported this sweet, loving, and precious sister in need.
At noon, most of the committee members, and volunteers (like me), met at the junior high to set up the items, number and label them. It was a ton of work! We were literally setting up items until 6 pm, when the benefit began. All through the night, until 9:30 pm when it finally finished, people milled around, biding on items, socializing, and eating donated desserts (I was lucky enough to help make some of the desserts). The auction was a huge success, tons of people coming out and supporting us from the community. It was great, I even saw people I hadn't seen from high school. Thanks to all the help after the auction, as well as before, everyone was out of there by 10:30 pm. So, as you can tell, it was a long (10 hour) day...for me anyway.
Then, this morning, I got to be up to the high school at 7:30 am. I was lucky enough to get asked to help with the mock interviews for Junior Miss this year. So, not only have I gotten to know the girls with their fitness routine, but I also got to get to know them in person, which was neat. I am amazed every time I am around young women. They never cease to impress me by their strength, love, and humility. All of them have to face so many challenges that I would have never dreamed of, and they handle them with finesse.
It was funny, I got up at 6:30 am so that I could get ready and look nice, and I didn't have enough time for breakfast, so Ted made me some toast and jelly to take with me. On the drive up to the high school, I was too nervous to eat and drive, and then I just rushed into the school once I arrived, so I didn't get to have any breakfast until after the interviews. Well, the interviews only went till 12:30, which was nice. And Carolee (another one of the interviewers, my young women's president I work with, and so many other things I could name. She is amazing to say the least) brought some orange juice. Thank goodness someone thought ahead. She is a sweetheart!
So, as you can tell, my last two days have been busy, and I love it!
Another piece of information I would like to share with everyone is that I just got accepted into the online BYU-Idaho Bachelor's Degree Program. I am going to be 1 of 100 students part of the program this first semester. It is barely beginning, so I am going to be one of the first students to try it out! Yeah! Wish me luck, because I will be doing school while we are farming this summer, and writing a book. Hope I can keep up with it all.
You know, it was really funny, a couple months ago, I was thinking about how my life was so ordinary and uneventful. So, I started to write a book. Then, I started helping with Junior Miss. Then, I got called into young women's. Then, I got back into school. Now, I am going to start farming again. I wonder what will be next...any guesses?

Details

Okay, just to clear up the air from my last post...I should have known better, but I didn't....I am not pregnant. I just LOVE LOVE to buy baby blankets with my mom at this fabric store in town. See, someday I will be a mom, and I want to prepare for that day, so I go and buy baby blankets. It is just one less thing to worry about when the day does come around that I get pregnant. So, I am not having a baby yet, but when that day does arise, I will let all of you know, first thing! LOL! Love you all!

Don't Tell

I got these baby blankets today as I went to a fabric store in at Blackfoot that has the cutest material for babies! Aren't they so cute? The reason why I say "Don't tell" is because Ted doesn't know about them...yet. He will soon enough (as soon as he gets home)!

Surprise

Ted surprised me with this last night! I am sooo excited! He got a laptop for me so I could help him out with his business accounting. Secretly, I think he also got it for me so I could write while I moved around the house too. He is such a nice guy, always thinking about ways to help his little wifey.
If any of you haven't heard, I am writing a book...well, hopefully a couple of books. I know, I know, it sounds stupid, and like I could right a book...but, I love it, and I hope to write a influential book for my kids, and for some of my family members that believe in me. Maybe, just maybe, if it touches one life, then I will be able to call this writing of mine productive. Right now, it is so much fun, and the hardest thing I have ever done, but I love it. Thank you for supporting me...especially Ted, my mom, and Ted's amazingly supportive and loving family. You all inspire me.

These are my cowgirl cookies. There is a story behind why I made these, so here it is:

Now, as some of you know, sugar cookies take forever to make. These took me about 2-2 1/2 hours...so you don't make these kind of cookies for a quick snack, there has to be a purpose or reason.

Well, on Tuesday night, I had New Beginnings with the young women, and I made sugar cookies in the shape of stars and put green frosting and pink sprinkles on them (the theme was "Oh, The Places You Will Go" by Dr. Seuss) It took me about 3 1/2 hours to make all the cookies, because I made tons of them. Anyway, they turned out great (and I wished I would have taken a picture of them). I took the cookies to our New Beginnings, and we had quite a few left over, so we divided the cookies amongst ourselves, and I think I got the most. I was okay with that, because I was going to give them away to Adam and Morgan, my mom, and another couple girls that couldn't make it to New Beginnings. Well, as I got home and was unloading my car (most of you can already see where this is going), I grabbed as much stuff as I could so I wouldn't have to make more than a couple trips. I took the cookies into the house first, along with my coat, purse, a book, bag, and some other stuff. Opening the door (which is usually the hardest part), went well, and I was feeling good, but just as I turned the corner to walk into the kitchen, the pan the cookies were on suddenly shifted to the side, making all the cookies slide to the same side, which threw the pan off balance. Needless to say, the pan flipped before I even had a chance to try and save it, spilling cookies, frosting, and sprinkles all across the floor. I was very proud of myself, I didn't get upset, or yell, or kick the cat (which I was tempted to do). I very maturely cleaned up the mess (Ted helped, because it was a big mess), and decided I would get even with those stupid cookies...so I made more. I shaped these cookies into cowboy figures, because it fits my family more than stars do. Then, I put purple frosting and pink sprinkles to turn them into cowgirl cookies. So, my purpose for telling this story, and making the cookies was that, if you can't fight back or get even, just take the high road and spend another couple hours on making cookies that you have to have to make yourself happy! Getting even only hurts yourself, not the dumb pan or cookies.

Garling Family Photos

Thank you Miriam! We Love You!!!

Looking Out

The sunset on Tuesday night. In our family, we like to relate the sunsets to our lives. So this sunset is for Zach, because it is the last Idaho sunset he will see for two years until he comes home from his mission in Texas.

Our pup, Tippy, taking a nap in our flower bed.

Our other pup, Patches, taking a nap at the same time as Tippy in one of our whiskey barrels we plant flowers in every year.

Since I have been so busy inside the house, I sometimes forget to look out. Here are some of the fun things I saw and captured out my window the last couple days.

Adios Zach!!!

Zach already looks like a missionary as he heads off to Lubbock, Texas, speaking Spanish.

Outside the MTC, the famous picture spot on the corner.

Ted's mom, dad, and brother Zach inside the MTC.

Ted's family that came down and supported Zach as he left on his mission (I was there taking the picture).

This last Wednesday we went to the MTC and dropped Zach off to go on his mission. We miss him already! He is going to be an awesome missionary because he is so humble and loving. We love you Zach!

Spread the Word!!!

Just to let you know, Nauvoo University is starting in the fall of 2009. At first, it will be a semester program like the JSA/BYU-Nauvoo was, but they are looking to turn the University into a two-year community college, then a four-year university. If you could, please pass on the news to people you think would be interested in the program. There is a website you can visit for more information. It is http://www.nauvoouniversity.com/. There is a video at the bottom of the page that is awesome to watch!