Spring Cleaning...Kitchen (okay, only parts of the kitchen)

I've taken a break from my deep spring cleaning.

(Well, more like I've been lazy.)

Until today. I started to clean my kitchen. Just the standard stuff like dishes, washing off counter tops. Then I decided to clean off the tops of the cupboards and go through the items that have accumulated up there. Some things will go to the yard sale, other things are already in the garbage. It was dusty up there, so I lifted the vacuum on top of the washer and used the hose to vacuum up the dust.

Then I decided to clean my oven....that is the point of this post today. The world needs to know that it is worth the extra money to buy the better cleaner.

A few days ago I bought this cleaner knowing I needed to clean the oven. I followed the directions. I sprayed a heavy coating and then let it sit for 2 hours. Then I scrubbed. And scrubbed. And scrubbed. Then I sprayed again and let it set for another 2 hours. Then I scrubbed again, and again.

I bought this cleaner because we are trying to be more thrifty. This can was $3 cheaper than the name brand. I was so proud of myself. Until I was down to only a fourth of the can and my oven still looked at dirty as it did before I started.

So I went to the store and bought this stuff. It was well worth the extra $3! I sprayed and let it set for an hour. It still took some elbow grease, but my oven is now sparkly clean.

I also cleaned the top of the oven real good, but I cheated there. I bought new trays to go under the burners. I must admit, I spend way more time cooking with my stove than I do cleaning my stove. I should have done this cleaning project months ago. And I probably should do it more often than I have been.

Sadly, I waisted all my energy on the stove today and didn't get much else done. I still have a few cupboards I want to go through, but I am waiting until we buy the shelf I've had my eye on for a while now.

Where did it go?

I've decided that this blog needed some improvements (oh no, more online construction!) Don't worry, I've already completed it. I have an infertility blog that I have decided to move my infertility stuff to. I did keep a few things here, because they were part of another posting and I didn't want to break the posting up. But if I found everything, there should no longer be anything negative on this blog. (Or hopefully any of my blogs! Please let me know if you see something negative so I can remove it.) If you need to find an article on infertility that you know used to be here, click HERE to see a complete listing of them in there new blog.

I may need an intervention

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I love blogging! I think it is so much fun. I have made friends that I never would have other wise. I have found support that I didn't know was out there. And I love that it's a great way to keep up to date with those I love.

Prayers Needed

Our file is being presented to a potential birthmom. I can't share details right now, but please pray for us and PLEASE pray for her.

Meeting online friends

Saturday was a great day. We woke up early and I sent Josh out the door to help my mom pour cement and then I hit the road and headed to Provo. The r house blog had a meet and great idea exchange for promoting adoption. When I saw the RSVP list of who was going I just had to go too! It was so much fun. I have so many ideas that I can't wait to put into action. I will probably be spending some serious time on the computer this week designing a new profile. I will try to highlight some of the finding ideas on our FSA chapter blog over the next few weeks. I had so much fun meeting everyone there and getting to know them in person.
I decided that since I was in the city I would do some shopping. I went to my favorite store, The Dress Barn and was very pleased with some pants and tops I bought.

Then being the dear wife I am, I went to Sportsman's Warehouse and bought a few things for my hubby. While I was there I noticed two things: There was a Quilted Bear three stores down and in the parking lot I noticed this car.

I parked next to it and the kid asked me to run a full and empty toilet paper roll into a store and give them to someone. She didn't look too happy. I don't understand why, he used a really good expensive, soft tissue paper.

I've only been to the Quilted Bear once and Josh was with me. I had to hurry through because he wasn't that impressed. But this time I was able to browse at my own pace. I bought several blankets for my latest time relaxing project, crocheting, and I can't wait to get them done. They are so cute.

I also found a few pictures that I have been looking for.

So true, so very true.

And this one to me describes adoption perfectly.

A few weeks ago I was also able to find a picture that Josh loves. It is of Joseph and Emma and the twins they adopted. It really is priceless. The book store was having a great sale and so I decided to get this picture for him. I couldn't find it as a picture, but I did find it as a greeting card, so I had them frame that.

Happy Birthday to me!

Wait, it's not my birthday, that was in January.

For my birthday, Josh's family gave me a gift certificate to a local store. I went in a few times to use it, only to realize it was still hanging on the fridge with the card. Then when I finally got it in my purse, I wanted to feel a little richer before spending it because I was afraid I would go in the store and spend more than the card was worth (yes, I have that kind of spending problem).

But last week I finally went in. I looked through their jewelry book for half an hour before deciding on these little beauties.

IThey are gorgeous, the pictures don't do them justice. And of course I was right about the spending thing. When they ordered my items they also ordered several more pieces to sell. I ended up walking out a little poorer because I could resist this bracelet. I'm not usually a bracelet fan, but I loved this one.
Thank you Barbara, Matt, Melanie, Colter, & Preston for the great present. I love it!

One way you could help us adopt

In a comment a few days ago someone asked if we have an adoption button. WE SURE DO! I still feel new to the blogging world myself, so I thought I would do a quick step-by-step of how you can add our button to your blog.

Why would you want a picture of us on your blog? Because when other people look at your blog they might feel inspired to click on it and visit our adoption blog. And maybe they'll look at it and think nothing at all. Or maybe they will know someone (who might know someone) who is thinking about making an adoption plan. Then they could refer that person to our adoption blog and TADA we could be blessed with a child. It's that simple. And then you could say, hey, I helped them find their child. That would make you so special in our lives we just might name our next kitten after you! (Sorry, it won't be our child; we already have those names picked out.)

It's easy, just follow these instructions:

1. Right click on this picture and click "Save as."

2. In the top right corner of your blog click "Customize."

3. In your sidebar click "Add a gadget."

4. Scroll down and select "Picture."

5. In the title box you could put something like "Help my friends/family adopt." Or "This couple is looking to adopt." A few months ago I helped my dad post a link on LDS Singles.com and I titled it "Help me become a grandpa."

6. You can add a caption if you like, but this step is optional.

7. In the link box put this: http://joshandsavannahadopt.blogspot.com This makes it so when they click on the picture it takes them to our adoption blog!

8. Click "Browse" to upload the image and choose the image that you saved in step one. It will take a minute to upload the image.

9. Click "Save."

Its that simple! I just did it on my cooking blog, and it only took a minute.

Also, FYI, we received our adoption pass along cards yesterday. We have 500. If you would like some to hand out, please let me know and I will get them to you. Remember, you never know where our child could come from so please help us. Please leave me a comment if you choose to do this; it'll make me feel are warm and fuzzy!

I need a pick me up...

We were contacted by another scammer.

So in trying to lift my spirits and restore my hope I found these great videos about adoption.

Kittens have a new rule

DO NOT BRING YOUR FOOD/TOYS TO BED.

THERE IS NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE.

The only question I feel like answering is, yes, at least it was already dead.
For a complete list of rules, check out this POST.

Happy Mother's Day to my wonderful wife

Hello there all, it's me, Josh, again. I thought I would take this opportunity (Savannah is in the other room and doesn't know I'm doing this) to leave a mothers day tribute to my beautiful and loving wife. She is truly an amazing woman and today, on one of the hardest days of the year for her, I want to tell her how special she is to me.
Savannah, you are my world, no-one else on this earth could have endured the heartache that you have so well. I draw strength from you every day. You are my reason for getting out of bed each morning, my sunshine on the gloomy days. You make life fun and interesting and an amazing adventure. You are there to support me when I stumble, you smile when I'm blue, keep me grounded when I need it, and make me feel that, at least to you, I am the most important man in the world. I am amazed at how our years together have flown by, I am in love with you more each passing day, and I still cannot believe that you chose me to spend the rest of time with, but I am very thankful that you did. I love you dear, happy mothers day from me, Pyro, Missy, Zip, and Sage. Word cannot explain how much you mean to all of us. Thank you for everything.
Love Your Sweetheart

Pictures of Dallon from South Africa

Josh's mom got a package in the mail from Dallon! He included a DVD with a TON of pictures. After looking at it we decided two things: (1) they took all their camera's and combined the pictures to make 1 DVD thus insuring an endless amount of pictures, and (2) Dallon needs to give his camera to his companion more and BE in the picture. After going through the numerous photos I created a few slides shows highlighting my personal favorites. Since I couldn't seem to limit myself I made 4 different slides hows.

Sorry it will take so long to see all the pictures. A slide show was easier to create than to load each picture individually. You can click the "+" or "-" in the bottom corner to speed them up or slow them down. You can also hover the mouse of the picture to make it pause. I didn't take the time to re-caption them so the words are what the pictures were called when they downloaded off the cameras.

Here are some picture of Dallon in South Africa (he's the golden haired missionary)

Wildlife Pictures

More Wildlife (we think another missionary took these pictures, but I love them so I wanted to include them.)

Scenery (I think some of these were taken by Dallon, and others were taken by someone else.)

Pass Along Cards

We finally got around to making up some pass along cards. A friend recommended a great place, Spaces for Faces. I don't know why we put it off. It only took a few seconds and the printer had a proof to me within a few hours. I think they are shipping today so I should have them next week. If you want any to hand out, please let me know.

Front
Back

We are also using the front of the card as our blog button to our adoption blog. If you want to add it to your blog just copy and save the picture and in the link box add http://joshandsavannahadopt.blogspot.com. That should link it to our adoption blog.
We are also planning a yard sale to raise some money for our adoption fund. I think it will be the first week of June at my mom's house. If you have anything you would like to donate, please let me know and I will come pick it up.

Malachi 3:3

A friend sent me this email today. It is just what I needed to hear.

Malachi 3:3 says:
"He sill sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."

This verse puzzled some women in a bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.
One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible study.
That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining Silver.
As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all impurities.
The women thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: 'He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.' She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time.
The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, 'How do you know when the silver is fully refined?'
He smiled at her and answered,
'Oh, that's easy...when I see my image in it.'

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.

Just because it was a great day

Yesterday we had plans to help a neighbor work cows, but we woke up to rain. So we had a nice lazy day. We pulled the sofa bed and watched movies.

Zipper and I took a catnap.

I don't know why people assume a catnap is a short nap. Clearly they've never seen my cats nap!

Sage slept under the car to stay out of the rain.

Then we decided to go to town and watch the Shelley Irish Dance School. They are from Provo. It was really good.

Pictures of Sage

A few weeks ago I came home from getting groceries. When I pulled into the drive Sage was wrapped around a pole so I untangled her before taking the groceries in. When I came back from the truck, this is what I saw...She wants to be friends with the kittens, but they still don't want anything to do with her! She danced and rolled around Pryo for a while before Pyro had enough and ran off.We took Sage for her first truck ride since bringing her home. She DOES NOT like car rides. Doesn't she look so sad...
Josh made it about 10 feet down the driveway before she had about worked herself loose. So she rode in the front seat with him. We were taking his parents truck back so we had to drive different vehicles down. But on the way back I sat in the back seat and held her through the window.

She did like visiting the farm.