tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64098329465063671202024-02-19T02:00:38.526-05:00Six Chicks and a Dadwhiting familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805965515005386820noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6409832946506367120.post-16803318345925151982011-12-06T12:23:00.003-05:002011-12-06T12:30:34.714-05:00Overheard at our house.Heard at our house yesterday after school:<div><br /><div>Kami: Mom, you would be so proud of me! The kids asked my why I didn't go to catecismo (catechism) I told them that I was a Mormon and we didn't have it. Then they started asking me about what a Mormon is! And I told them that Mormon wrote the Bible!</div><div>Me: Honey, Mormon didn't write the Bible.</div><div>Kami: Well, who wrote the Bible?</div><div>Me: Different people, You know, like the book of Matthew, the book of John.....</div><div>Kami: They were Mormons, right?</div><div>Me: No, they weren't Mormons.</div><div>Kami: Well, God is Mormon, isn't he?</div><div>Kayli: No! God isn't Mormon!</div><div>Me: Girls, no fighting....</div><div>Kayli: He is Catholic!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I think we need to have some gospel lessons in English........</div></div>whiting familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805965515005386820noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6409832946506367120.post-40548052356970686452011-09-24T09:49:00.000-04:002011-09-24T09:50:42.377-04:00family mottoSaw this on a blog and thought it was so funny. And true.....<div><br /></div><div><img src="http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n530/midleagedmormonman/Frame19.jpg" alt="Photobucket" /></div>whiting familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805965515005386820noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6409832946506367120.post-89492544359623869122011-04-08T12:52:00.006-04:002011-04-08T13:45:14.358-04:00A tribute to grandmothersIn April each year the Carol Morgan School has an international fair where the students study about different countries and their peoples. Each elementary class is assigned a country and the students learn about it. Kambrielle was very excited when she came home and told me that this year her class was studying Sweden. We looked up facts online, looked for photos and wrote reports. We were especially excited because one of my grandmothers is Swedish! <div>Last Thursday Kami came home very happy because she was chosen as the girl from the class to go and speak during the elementary school assembly about Sweden. Then I heard these words: "Oh, and by the way mom...I need you to make me the National Swedish Costume to wear during the assembly" </div><div>Panicking, I quickly googled the image and found that it was doable. I had one week to get the outfit done....not that easy here where they don't sell patterns! I felt fairly confident that I could do it, and was pretty happy that I could make it out of inexpensive cotton.....should I need to cut something out more than one time!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAvWIm5exqlNqdcqS1JngvZOjDfwXp86MtBT99B4DngrEO2PhgMHmq9iCHiI3Df4PtpMHjWjND1zETG9oYnxdD6blLGuFMy88MobYY_NM-1Byv1yj27buIvEzTEjIR9WOySM0-Jrga2CQ/s1600/979.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAvWIm5exqlNqdcqS1JngvZOjDfwXp86MtBT99B4DngrEO2PhgMHmq9iCHiI3Df4PtpMHjWjND1zETG9oYnxdD6blLGuFMy88MobYY_NM-1Byv1yj27buIvEzTEjIR9WOySM0-Jrga2CQ/s320/979.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593257714995364370" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">This is a photo of Kambrielle in front of her classroom. The flag of Sweden is in the background. </div></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLyJqyYFO1wPTXBaTL34kalIFexpC3o8U_E-M07eh3OWWuaJOmM9BOtiK9SIVzBS8Sn580hXHe-zGMxRMSqN7aCbQ-oSBKazftXv3CObJdI6d4iY3JyHnfRLHInZrd2e9BBF2zNf64ZE/s1600/978.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLyJqyYFO1wPTXBaTL34kalIFexpC3o8U_E-M07eh3OWWuaJOmM9BOtiK9SIVzBS8Sn580hXHe-zGMxRMSqN7aCbQ-oSBKazftXv3CObJdI6d4iY3JyHnfRLHInZrd2e9BBF2zNf64ZE/s320/978.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593257377479059458" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Her full outfit. She was so excited to have a long dress!</div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LbQe3nHBG6s/TZ89b7eayAI/AAAAAAAAAJk/1-dj5X14oTs/s1600/981.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LbQe3nHBG6s/TZ89b7eayAI/AAAAAAAAAJk/1-dj5X14oTs/s320/981.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593256812248483842" /></a><div>Kambrielle sharing her report in front of the school. She got really nervous right before, since the gym was full of students and parents. I was very proud of her! One of her favorite things about Sweden that she wanted to share was about ice hotels. She thinks that we should go there and stay in one this summer.......Don't think that will work!</div><div>As I worked this week on the costume, I thought about how thankful I am that my mom taught me to sew and encouraged me in it. I can't tell you how many things of mine she picked the stitching out of when I wanted to scream and throw them away. She learned from her mother, Elsie Butler Speer, who was a professional seamstress. My grandfather passed away when my mom was 2 years old. To provide for her four children Grandma sewed for people. Grandma Speer didn't have an easy life, but I have lots of happy memories of her. Grandma liked to go dancing on the weekends and so she would come over once a week and my mom would wash her hair and set it in rollers and style it for her. Grandma would often sleep over in my room and she would tell me stories about growing up in Texas; picking cotton in the morning, then riding her horse to school and then coming back and picking cotton in the afternoon. After my grandmother passed away I was in a gift shop once in Texas and I found the perfect gift for my mom. It was a ball of cotton, with the husk on it still that had been crafted into an angel. </div><div>I also thought of my Grandmother, Sylvia Erickson Pierce, while I was researching Sweden. Grandma Pierce's parents immigrated from Sweden to the Portland area. I grew up with stories of lutefisk (smelly fish that they actually sell and eat all the time here in the DR!) for Christmas. My Grandma Pierce was THE best pie maker. Her apple pie was my all time favorite. She was a great baker and we kids loved going over to their house. We would always get some treats and a can of soda, pretty amazing things for a kid! She and my Grandpa were very supportive of my and my brothers while we were growing up and I don't remember her missing any of my activities, even church ones that they didn't necessarily understand. I think of and miss her and Grandpa often. While my kids were growing up,they got a savings bond from Grandma and Grandpa every Christmas and some birthdays. When Kierstin went to college, she cashed hers in and used it to buy a computer for her studies. It was as if my grandparents were still there, supporting her as she took her next important step.</div><div>I am really grateful for the grandmothers that I had. They were so loving and caring to me. I also adore Kevin's grandmother. She has always shown me such love. I also really appreciated the time that we spent together, when we lived in Riverton Utah, since she was so close to us. I tried to do something with her once a week and she gave me such a good example of a grandparent who lives and loves the gospel. I have had some amazing talks with her and I love her! I miss seeing her, but we still get together when we are in Utah.</div><div>It hurts me now, as I think of the amazing memories that I have of my grandparents, that we live so far away from my children's grandparents. I feel bad that my kids don't have the one on one experiences with their grandparents that I had. When the kids were little they spent a lot of time on the phone with my mom and they loved that time. They are really looking forward to hanging out with the grandparents this summer! </div></div><div>So, thank you to my amazing grandmothers. I hope that my grandchildren will love me as much as I love you.</div>whiting familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805965515005386820noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6409832946506367120.post-10385310681945946352011-03-20T13:24:00.007-04:002011-03-20T13:39:40.342-04:00As heard in the car.....The following were heard on the car ride home from church and while doing the dishes after lunch. Note, these were all discussed in utter sincerity.<br /><br />Ever wonder what is going on in my children's minds? Take a peek:<br />________________________________________________<br /><br />Kami: "Mom is lonely a lot. I think that she needs to get herself another man."<br />Other girls: " It is just that Dad is always at work"<br />Kami: "Yeah, that's why she needs two men. One to do the working and one to stay home and give her comfort all the time."<br />Me: "I think that is illegal"<br />Kami: "Well, I am going to do it when I grow up!"<br /><br />__________________________________________________<br />Kaitlin: "One of the kids in Sunday School was being so stupid. He said he just hates all gays. I told him, 'How can you hate all gays?' and he said he just did"<br />Kaitlin: " That is really ignorant. Do we hate all people that sin? Do we hate people who smoke because it is a sin? Do we hate Democrats?"<br />Me: "I didn't know being a Democrat was a sin!"<br /><br />__________________________________________________<br />Kaitlin: "Mom, when I graduate will you take me out for cheesecake?<br />Me: "Yes. We can do that."<br />Kari: "Will you take me for cheesecake?"<br />Me: "Maybe." (BTW Kari asks to go out for cheesecake at least once a week.)<br />Kayli: "Mom, when Kaitlin graduates we all need to go out to that really yummy restaurant. You know, it's called 'Outhouse'"<br />Me: "No, it's called <strong><em>Outback</em></strong>. We don't want to eat at the Outhouse Restaurant!"<br /><br />~Kimwhiting familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805965515005386820noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6409832946506367120.post-10058080971072545022011-03-16T16:45:00.002-04:002011-03-16T16:50:57.780-04:00EvidenceI found this note on the countertop yesterday while making the lunches for the kids to take to school. Please note that the high schoolers had allready left for seminary while I was making the lunches.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIff3EuZHDJWLRp1keHUw4VbpoBgQ6bb80nqN0YBBI8sGiY0FR9ypoeWst7P59y03yvjfQx1xlRi6ypYm0NuRT9TMSB09xfQfOrIGUOvHkATF3X5Q73pCqvGHFUVu4IZof4NjSRYL_8vc/s1600/Image.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 379px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 516px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584782222436229170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIff3EuZHDJWLRp1keHUw4VbpoBgQ6bb80nqN0YBBI8sGiY0FR9ypoeWst7P59y03yvjfQx1xlRi6ypYm0NuRT9TMSB09xfQfOrIGUOvHkATF3X5Q73pCqvGHFUVu4IZof4NjSRYL_8vc/s320/Image.jpg" /></a> It looks suspiciously like Kari's handwriting. If something happens to one of us....you know who to blame.whiting familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805965515005386820noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6409832946506367120.post-87908716878305692772011-01-15T21:54:00.002-05:002011-01-15T22:12:13.248-05:00Attitude<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89wK2owjTb_7_lGCXeRn_TMdMPyD8HmIAxmlsjiv8GAcDfPVpNxOHusimI_0dZyDckMJyPdW_jHQSQIr9br_mt8Ooy1jXNrGtcwk0YyLc-nJi93_eOOM2zm6IUv4OHH8ZMBG9ApD9VE8/s1600/earrings.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562616051349859954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89wK2owjTb_7_lGCXeRn_TMdMPyD8HmIAxmlsjiv8GAcDfPVpNxOHusimI_0dZyDckMJyPdW_jHQSQIr9br_mt8Ooy1jXNrGtcwk0YyLc-nJi93_eOOM2zm6IUv4OHH8ZMBG9ApD9VE8/s320/earrings.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Tonight I wore pirate skull and crossbones earrings to the adult session of Stake Conference. Like this, but mine are gold....... </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I am becoming a rebel.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>~Kim</div><br /><div></div>whiting familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805965515005386820noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6409832946506367120.post-56553153787092828312011-01-09T17:15:00.003-05:002011-01-09T17:28:33.761-05:00first generation church membersChurch here is a lot different than at home. <br /><br />No, the women don't have the priesthood (wait, in one branch on one of the islands a misguided leader DID do that) and the gospel teachings are the same.....but some times some strange things pop up.<br /><br />I have to remember that most of the members here are first generation; meaning that they are the first person in their family to be baptized. This leads to some sweet teaching moments. About a month ago, a dad was blessing his baby. He went up to the pulpit to do the blessing and started talking, welcoming people, etc. The bishop pulled him aside of the microphone, with Elder Coleman, and the father was given about a three minute instruction on how to give a baby blessing. It was a sweet moment as this dad was given instruction and we practiced patience and love.<br /><br />Forward to today. I was sitting in sharing time for primary, happy that the Primary Presidency had come today. Last week everyone was gone and so I got to do sharing and singing time. One of the counselors got up to do the sharing time. She is new in primary (since I have been here) and is a very visual, tactile person. She always has great visuals for the children to see and focus on. Today she was sharing how the scriptures and their teachings are a great treasure for us, better than earthly treasures. She had a beautiful red cloth draped over the table area and then placed a box in the middle of it with different jewelry pouring out of it. Great visual aid.......too bad the box was from a bottle of Johnny Walker.<br />~Kimwhiting familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805965515005386820noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6409832946506367120.post-29972118633094074662011-01-04T11:48:00.002-05:002011-01-04T11:56:47.431-05:00Fasting funnyKambrielle began to fast when she turned eight in July. It is a huge struggle for her every month and she is trying to get through it.<br /><br />This last Sunday she began way too tired....having teen-age sisters doesn't do much for her bed time. We just forget that she is only eight and let her stay up with us. And then we pay the price the next day.<br /><br />So, Kami was ultra-tired and then went to primary and the substitute teachers brought everyone in class cookies if they were good. All the other kids ate theirs immediately and Kami held on to hers. So, here she is staring at these delicious cookies and knowing that she has to wait and wanting to wait, but wanting to eat them too! (Know the feeling?)<br /><br />She started whining and whining and whining and........ Finally we had all had it! Kevin told her to find something to keep her mind off it and she cried "I did! I was practicing my Spanish on Rosetta Stone and it started a new lesson! It had me saying 'Ella come. El come. Ella bebe. El bebe' I can't stand it!!!!"<br /><br />I burst out laughing......translated those mean; "She eats. He eats. She drinks. He drinks."<br /><br />She just couldn't win.<br />~Kimwhiting familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805965515005386820noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6409832946506367120.post-65683343201550484742010-11-27T19:38:00.004-05:002010-11-27T20:14:42.822-05:00Newest Members of the Family<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS87WkewhPEXZUYM97AlGAGpJ9ol10vaTK_eChgZFMrSFSEphQTGIRr2pLpSa4iYLWedjiljzyotDpoRFzR5Hi0VyuDZGFKIjaQwbVpPAcBd29MFw1YdJn0c1mJhPXBk0FG0F9x7I7hZQ/s1600/156.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544396534980501522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS87WkewhPEXZUYM97AlGAGpJ9ol10vaTK_eChgZFMrSFSEphQTGIRr2pLpSa4iYLWedjiljzyotDpoRFzR5Hi0VyuDZGFKIjaQwbVpPAcBd29MFw1YdJn0c1mJhPXBk0FG0F9x7I7hZQ/s320/156.JPG" /></a> I have been looking for some kittens for the girls for the last two months. I told my friends Charmaine and Julie and they were on the lookout for a kitten for me. While at the vet, Julie found out that there was a mother cat that had just had kittens and that we could have one in three weeks, when it could leave its' mother. She took photos of the kittens, so that we could choose, and brought her camera to Girl Scouts. I showed the photo to Kari and Kambrielle and told them that Kevin and I had decided that they could get a cat. Kari about hyperventilated and cried right there at school. They went home and told their sisters and we had the happiest girls around.<br /><br />Fast forward a few weeks........ The lady with the cats won't call us back. No kittens are available..............insert sad and disillusioned children here. You can't get kittens here like at home. You don't really see them on the streets much, or people giving them away. I don't know why you don't see them more, especially with all the rats that are here, but I have my suspicions......(think dinner meats)<br /><br />Friday when Kevin got back from work in the early afternoon we loaded the girls into the van and headed off to El Arca, one of the pet stores here in town. They had two kittens.... and only wanted $210 a piece. They were a himalyan siamese mix. I asked the worker there if he knew of anywhere we could go to get a kitten that just needed a home. He looked at me like I was insane and shook his head no (of course, I did interrupt his computer games he was playing...)<br /><br />We went to another pet store in town and they also had three kittens for sale. These were a steal at $278 for the black ones, or $334 for the orange one. Needless to say, we left there without purchasing anything. We did enjoy looking at the monkey they had for sale. It had an infant that was clinging to its' back and it was really cute. They won't sell them to Americans, is the rule, but I am sure that if I had the money they would sell it to me! (something about the way we can't bring them back into the US)<br /><br />Kari suggested we try a pet store in a poor area of town, that we pass on the way home from Kevin's work. We headed back there and headed in to talk to the owner. They only had dogs, birds and fish. I asked the owner if he knew of any kittens and he was very kind to make some phone calls. I told him we didn't want a pedigree, just a kitten that needed a home. About 15 to 20 minutes later a man showed up on a motorcycle, holding a box with 2 very scared kittens. The girls immediately fell in love and, after a bit of negotiation, we left with 2 little girl kittens and spent about $27 for the two. Kevin and I decided that we would get two so that they could keep each other company. <br /><br />We brought them home, bathed them, and fluffed them up. (They took the baths without a problem) Throughout the night the girls played with them, observed them and came up with names. The one with the gray markings is smaller, but more adventuresome. She goes exploring and gets into everything. She is named Sophia. The one with the black markings is much more timid. She jumps at everything and is learning to trust us. She is named Giuliette (Kaitlin wanted the Italian spelling of Juliette).<br /><br />Hopefully the twice weekly baths and brushing them will keep my allergies at bay. <br />My eyes are itchy, but my children are happy!<br />~Kim<br /><br /><br /><div></div>whiting familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805965515005386820noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6409832946506367120.post-92082441360694466982010-11-22T09:21:00.006-05:002010-11-22T10:28:27.728-05:00Really RandomYesterday Kami was hugging me as we waited for the elevator to come up to our floor. She squeezed me really tight and said, "I am glad you are chubby. It is nice to hug chubby people."<br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />Two weeks ago I was riding in a taxi home from the temple. We have only one car and Kevin needed it and so I was using public transportation. I was having a chat with the guy driving when he needed to swerve to miss a pothole. I asked him...(conversation translated from the original Spanish)<br /><br />me: "What do you call those holes in the road?"<br /><br />him: "Holes in the road?"<br /><br />me: "Yeah...you know, the holes that we get after a big rain."<br /><br />him: "holes"<br /><br />me: "You don't have a special name for them? In English we call them potholes"<br /><br />him: without a pause "Maldito hoyos" (translation... d*#* holes)<br /><br /><br />They have really amazing potholes here. They are everywhere after a big rain, which translates to all the time. People in Utah complain about the road conditions there, but they have nothing on the roads here. When you are driving down the street you are constantly swerving around these potholes. It feels like living in a video game.<br /><br /><br />Once I was in the Colonial Zone with Elder Coleman's daughters. They were visiting and wanted to do some souvenir shopping. Since the Coleman's were busy with an assignment I volunteered to take them. We got a bit lost coming back (lots of one way streets that are wide enough for one car only) and so were coming back up a street I don't normally go on, when there was a big pothole in the road. I am talking huge! This hole had one of those blue plastic water barrels in it, and then another water barrel stacked on top of it that was 1/2 way in.....so this hole was 1 1/2 barrels deep! I barely squeezed the van by and the ladies started yelling for me to back up so they could get a picture! No way! We barely made it by the first time.<br /><br /><br />Wish I had the picture though!<br /><br />~Kimwhiting familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805965515005386820noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6409832946506367120.post-42182252649492845452010-11-15T14:17:00.001-05:002010-11-15T14:18:39.331-05:00Computer challengedHey look! I changed my background! And without Kierstin's help! <br /><br />Will wonders never cease?<br /><br />~Kimwhiting familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805965515005386820noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6409832946506367120.post-40242379735927043432010-11-13T08:34:00.008-05:002010-11-13T13:19:26.393-05:00Still laughing.....maybe.Still trying to keep up with the attitude of laughing at what life throws at you.<br /><br />Woke up last night with the bed shaking and the door slamming ......yep, earthquake (5.6). I kept shaking Kevin, it felt like forever but was only a few seconds, trying to wake him up saying "Kevin, earthquake!!! EARTHQUAKE!!!!" He says "Yeah, I feel it", then turns over and goes back to sleep!<br /><br />I got up, checked on the girls, checked the house and then went to bed and worried about Kaitlin and Kari. They are at a Stake overnight campout for seminary students. There was no information here about the earthquake, so I had no idea where it was centered (93 miles SW of Santo Domingo, in the ocean) and didn't know if it had affected the girls more or what.<br /><br />This morning, when Kayli checked Facebook, she saw that there had been an earthquake (her friends talking about it) and came running to tell me. I informed her and Kami that I knew, that they had slept right through it and that all was fine. Their only real experience with an earthquake is with what happened in Haiti and here in February. Kami was, understandably, concerned.<br /><br />All is well, and it was just a small earthquake. Hopefully, I WON'T get used to them!<br /><br />-Kimwhiting familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805965515005386820noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6409832946506367120.post-57222830281903580632010-11-12T08:48:00.002-05:002010-11-12T09:11:52.805-05:00Laugh or Cry.... your choice!Things have been stressful here lately. The cultural differences are taking their toll on our family's happiness and Kevin has been EXTREMELY stressed out about work. Seriously, he could work 24/7 and he would still never be able to get things caught up or up to the level that they should be. He allready works several hours on Saturdays and Sundays and every night..... like 70+ hour weeks! (Imagine living like this for the last 21 months!)<br /><br />Things are difficult in our ward, and I noticed that Kevin and I were turning into Laman and Lemuel (insert murmuring here) and it was rubbing off on the kiddos. (insert murmuring here) I even asked Kevin if, since you could do "home school" it would be possible to do "home church". He was not amused.<br /><br />Kevin came home from a church meeting last night that was a disaster and told me that we just need to start laughing at these things. We can't change them.....seriously, you just can't change other people who don't want to change!..... and so we just need to start laughing more.<br /><br />I got to thinking about a quote from Sister Hinkley that said "The only way to get through this life is to laugh your way through it. You either have to laugh or to cry. I prefer to laugh. Crying gives me a headache."<br /><br />So, here's to less headaches!<br /><br />One thing that I had to laugh about yesterday......<br />The maid comes on Thursday's. She is very organized and hates me having anything out of place. So, if she sees anything that isn't where it goes, she puts it in a pile. (No, she doesn't put it away, just in a pile. Yes, I have tried to ask her to put away the things that she knows where they go (ex: hair stuff), but it doesn't happen). Just imagine the piles around my house now! I was working on organizing my bedroom in the morning and early afternoon, as I am wanting to work on my goal of scrapbooking in my extra time here. I had been working on one thing at a time, so as to not get overwhelmed, while I was doing the laundry and other chores I needed to accomplish. <br />Imagine my surprise when I entered my room with a load of laundry to fold, to discover that Morena decided that I should finish all the organizing in the room yesterday afternoon (about the time that I was starting dinner). She had taken everything off my dresser, Kevin's dresser, my night stand, Kevin's nighstand, my piles of books and magazines, etc and stacked them all over my bed so that I could put them away.<br /><br />I thought that I was the boss.<br /><br />Obviously, I am wrong.<br /><br />-Kim<br /><br />~What is going on in your life lately that you need to laugh about?whiting familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805965515005386820noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6409832946506367120.post-39441524834728616892010-05-08T16:23:00.005-04:002010-05-25T11:02:46.549-04:00BasketballWe had Kaitlin's basketball invitational tournament today. The girls Varsity team had basketball going on, while the boys JV and Varsity soccer had games outside. Quite a lot of fun. Kaitlin's games started around 8:00. There were 3 games, with about a 20-30 minute break between, and then on to elimination for the final game. They won the first game, lost the second by one point in the last 10 seconds, lost the third game by four.<br /><br /><br />Kaitlin played almost the entire time.....maybe sitting out 3-5 minutes per game. Needless to say she is exhausted. However, she did great on her rebounding and putting in some shots. She made more than half the points in the first game!!! Great job Bubbs!<br /><br /><br />They lost the first round elimination game by 5 points. The last game was played on the outside court and the girls just had this glazed look in their eyes as they pushed it for all that they could to finish in the heat and humidity. Kevin and I were texting about the games, as they went on (I am the slowest texter in the history of the world), so that he could feel a part of the action while he is flying home from a long trip today.<br /><br /><br />I ran home between the 2nd and third games and got the girls to come and cheer on the team. Kambrielle watched a while and then ran out to play on the playground and blow bubbles while Kari immersed herself in a book (she looked up enough times to get furious with the other agressive team!) and Kayli was my water/gatorade/flavored water runner to buy things in the cafeteria while I yelled and cheered my head off (I was a cheerleader, you know. Don't worry, I didn't bring my pompoms or anything...... this time.)<br /><br /><br />Great job Kaitlin. CAISSA is coming up at the end of the month. This is a competition where other international schools come in. We will be hosting two girls in our home during that time. Should be a lot of fun!!!<br /><br /><br />With love,<br />Kimwhiting familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805965515005386820noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6409832946506367120.post-18107897979053126962010-05-07T11:12:00.002-04:002010-05-07T11:25:40.668-04:00Cultural DifferencesSo, just about every day I think of something that I want to put on my blog. And then I think about all the time that has passed without writing and how I need to "catch up" (being the crazed OCD manager that I am) and so I get exhausted thinking about it and then I do nothing.<br /><br />Fast forward to now......I am now going to write whenever I want. It will probably be random. It will probably not have a lot of pictures, because my lovely computer likes to freeze up when I am putting on photos (Fred, help me!!!). But it will be me. And I am trying hard to remember the funny, happy things that are going on here. So, beware. Read on if you want.<br /><br />Yesterday Morena (the lady who helps me clean) was here when the girls got home from school. I went and picked up Kambrielle at school and got Kaitlin and took them to the Ortho for Kaitlin's appointment. The other two girls stayed at school and did basketball (Kayli) and band practice (Kari). <br /><br />I went back to talk to Morena in the laundry room (she was doing the ironing) (OK, get all your jealousy out now..... yes, it is wonderful to have someone else do the ironing) and Kambrielle came with me. Morena got this happy look on her face (she just loves kids. She was a nanny for 18 years and really, that is her calling) when she was looking at Kambrielle. She loves her, it is obvious, and with a very proud expression said "Ella es gorda! Ellas es gorda y grande!"<br /><br />Ugh. I didn't know what to say! So, I just said "Si!, esta!" and then went in the other room and busted out laughing. Her sentiment translates to " She is fat! She is fat and large!" I don't think that I would ever have anyone in the US come and proudly tell me how fat and large that my daughter was getting!!!!!<br /><br />What she was lovingly trying to say, was that Kambrielle was growing and getting big. And in a country where lots of kids are tiny because they don't eat well Kami does look healthy and strong.<br /><br />I wonder how she would describe ME to other Domincans????????<br /><br />With love,<br />Kimwhiting familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805965515005386820noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6409832946506367120.post-30519570764701760282010-03-24T14:28:00.000-04:002010-03-24T14:22:16.114-04:00Whale WatchingIn February, three friends and I went to Samana Bay to go whale watching. My friend, neighbor and fellow ex-patriot Kathy Jackman is the reigning queen of fun trip planning. Anything fun that we do, she is likely to be behind. She has wanted to go see the whales, and so when she realized that the peak time was at hand (mid Feb) she called to see who was in for an adventure.<br /><br />I am always up for some girl time, and so the kids were assigned to their daddy (wonder what the hair looked like at school?) and off we went!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWdO-Pj_g8DPKkbfu6wPEFS5P-nS7ywWMh9ScFumDMtwpItfw_maORRI_JrRAu3I1neQxbWMkdFPGluhnA4Xu85c4D4dTzYErnrfCyHi0k14PSE-N_jdt-rQBv0qa-uxsG2MSavUDTcI0/s1600-h/035.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441552046280338802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWdO-Pj_g8DPKkbfu6wPEFS5P-nS7ywWMh9ScFumDMtwpItfw_maORRI_JrRAu3I1neQxbWMkdFPGluhnA4Xu85c4D4dTzYErnrfCyHi0k14PSE-N_jdt-rQBv0qa-uxsG2MSavUDTcI0/s320/035.JPG" border="0" /></a> People were so excited to go whale watching with me that they even made a sign so that people would know where to line up! Wow! Are these people friendly or what?<br /><br /><br /><br />We left at 6:00 in the morning and drove the 2 plus hours from Santo Domingo to Samana Bay. The road to Samana is a toll road and is also one of the best roads on the island. It is only two lanes (one going each way), but there are no 2 foot pot holes and so it is great! You drive for awhile, pay a toll, drive awile, pay a toll, etc. I believe that there were three tolls to pay each way. And the strange thing is that each toll was a different, odd amount (like 72 pesos, or something like that), so that the toll workers had to make change at every toll and you were never prepared with the amount, because it was different at each station.<br /><br /><br /><br />We arrived in Samana about 8:15 or so and so we had some time to drive around the town a bit before we went to the office. Our boat was scheduled to leave at 9:00, so in traditional Dominican fashion it left at 9:30.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8ULFsIrJRU3xhdkyePb0VG_UTwZFuQ7mYs3FfO_Zva4AsFZ5KUGu_-oyK4dIGz4xlQDU0M52ZA63uSuGW33HyxodPqmydaisqbmg-X6a7CGBg7Rv4dOC-pM9_M7E76kva0JtVPnAim0/s1600-h/009.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441551408874630690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8ULFsIrJRU3xhdkyePb0VG_UTwZFuQ7mYs3FfO_Zva4AsFZ5KUGu_-oyK4dIGz4xlQDU0M52ZA63uSuGW33HyxodPqmydaisqbmg-X6a7CGBg7Rv4dOC-pM9_M7E76kva0JtVPnAim0/s320/009.JPG" border="0" /></a> A view from the boat of the bay.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA3aS_CcBNVSGhvUHE7hMiqEWAyWh8KsCWIYfxoFCunA6gtavYgtTMfUajGOBLJZkSiCW_mPQL8P88-f4a09J4K_us8dK5yx7RqFyP4qsqiZvQ8Mwd7Cytl3SyP8WABkBHWGq1GKwJ5RQ/s1600-h/008.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441550510702733890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA3aS_CcBNVSGhvUHE7hMiqEWAyWh8KsCWIYfxoFCunA6gtavYgtTMfUajGOBLJZkSiCW_mPQL8P88-f4a09J4K_us8dK5yx7RqFyP4qsqiZvQ8Mwd7Cytl3SyP8WABkBHWGq1GKwJ5RQ/s320/008.JPG" border="0" /></a> My ex-patriate friends and sanity savers. From left to right they are: Denise Lilly (from Layton. Her hubby is over the welfare department here), Nancy Rappleye (from Layton. Her hubby is over seminaries and institutes here) and Kathy Jackman (from South Jordan, or maybe West Jordan. I can't remember! Her husband is over the accounting department here). Kathy has been here the longest, going on three years in July. Denise came a month after we did and Nancy came this last summer. They are so fun and a great support. Kathy lives in the same apartment building with me and Denise and Nancy live in the building next to the temple.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKw7qJvPDNstKRD62A20BgpqcCSN3b-eykroMVIUgyt4wuhCRxPohW7Zu_Gg5jOOYZ8upWVEvJ9EEJkXA6jrP1k6WqxvRXj5igs-C16kD1sLw6BHCqUJAoPm5mw4VO_SHqtbNaPjeyK2Y/s1600-h/22434_1247158851916_1017763653_1542456_1810920_s%5B1%5D.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441550305443142530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 130px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 97px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKw7qJvPDNstKRD62A20BgpqcCSN3b-eykroMVIUgyt4wuhCRxPohW7Zu_Gg5jOOYZ8upWVEvJ9EEJkXA6jrP1k6WqxvRXj5igs-C16kD1sLw6BHCqUJAoPm5mw4VO_SHqtbNaPjeyK2Y/s320/22434_1247158851916_1017763653_1542456_1810920_s%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a> We decided to go out onto the front of the boat to enjoy the view. It lasted about 15-20 minutes and then it decided to rain too hard to stay outside. Drat!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7E6jENJ3olx3AkfRk55hD11izCflXHyfPiHHV3Jz81IW_UscqTjVIc6nID1Fg6kZWAFUTr8_x9M2H_0GOwhNyIXlliCl681FWqxDy0i8MP4tfxWujl9_UxR7vek1Hjgkw0m_8pj9HwUM/s1600-h/014.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441550063207417970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7E6jENJ3olx3AkfRk55hD11izCflXHyfPiHHV3Jz81IW_UscqTjVIc6nID1Fg6kZWAFUTr8_x9M2H_0GOwhNyIXlliCl681FWqxDy0i8MP4tfxWujl9_UxR7vek1Hjgkw0m_8pj9HwUM/s320/014.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Sitting in the front of the boat. Wish I had thought to bring my binoculars! I loved the look of this little island that was in the bay. You could snorkel out to it from the beach area. Unfortunately, it got too cold and rainy to do it while we were there.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZmVdn_InGpVCtY3iq65K1g7Sf2A7jFVlp-yvFRxwG42D4GetAUatEvotx-hlPs-57II_uxfg1PkN6BG8Ot2WengvOQtc6aOsfZ8r3gZnpVqkhIR-7s5AOmC37RQLku_fUOld47O21DRI/s1600-h/032.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441548917555921522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZmVdn_InGpVCtY3iq65K1g7Sf2A7jFVlp-yvFRxwG42D4GetAUatEvotx-hlPs-57II_uxfg1PkN6BG8Ot2WengvOQtc6aOsfZ8r3gZnpVqkhIR-7s5AOmC37RQLku_fUOld47O21DRI/s320/032.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is one of the workers on the boat. Seen here tying us up to the dock.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAVyu8ybeTXE_idt9EacBv-XVvVGEbYbWoNPFRsIWdufLQ-8xqMyUehLUJUoPZcKAHb8cf-XYizI2ZTv7bZt-zE6uiiDvwy6MH4QC6v87iEY5a-cVYUpAsxmX_jgrFf85OlTLFK7nVU20/s1600-h/011.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441548403204925266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 3px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 6px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAVyu8ybeTXE_idt9EacBv-XVvVGEbYbWoNPFRsIWdufLQ-8xqMyUehLUJUoPZcKAHb8cf-XYizI2ZTv7bZt-zE6uiiDvwy6MH4QC6v87iEY5a-cVYUpAsxmX_jgrFf85OlTLFK7nVU20/s320/011.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441533730955824514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 165px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 120px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPqRa2C0H6gPfFd9pXeLhMAYZz9xxmKyJ11A2_h4N4YF5QkFd_dcEgQW8WKs9Y6uxtjwCEwEX9bAoJNeD2M6WjL_LcKM7ItNLxtvCrlECRwBYX0OVng-bFjscPDQlBC03mPYOA-dx_i-E/s320/22434_1247158811915_1017763653_1542455_4581927_s%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /> I stole this photo from Nancy's facebook and thought that I could blow it up bigger, but it was too grainy. The water was so beautiful and I just love the little islands with the palm trees on them.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZqlqiCj2fsqaY_q1QxSqvJMSRzrKnqtrYMbnI7X8yFhN9LjNrMJQbkGPSC9vmrKDemVfrX5R9GXVJyFI5ahjDpfAZmI7wcIbNA1TCkAPuCUJ-kMcGO1BVWKR6lWRlhRPj3G6iHkxl1k/s1600-h/023.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441533451109054114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 236px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZqlqiCj2fsqaY_q1QxSqvJMSRzrKnqtrYMbnI7X8yFhN9LjNrMJQbkGPSC9vmrKDemVfrX5R9GXVJyFI5ahjDpfAZmI7wcIbNA1TCkAPuCUJ-kMcGO1BVWKR6lWRlhRPj3G6iHkxl1k/s320/023.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Sighting the whale! Thar' she blows! My camera batteries were too slow to catch anything good, but you can see the dorsal fin of the whale in this picture.</div><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxGVooBw5J7k_lALw28AiqPOiHlkaCg8R2slXkcPOKQ7LLSm0Guyrx8XsapaqgTNsAYr8p4mSHgUzQxzdjP8MAtrPelRfAticn2szued8ao1PrrFcTKj1BzU6OPmfJfQOuhEdDkeXPdv8/s1600-h/024.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441533347506687106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 152px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxGVooBw5J7k_lALw28AiqPOiHlkaCg8R2slXkcPOKQ7LLSm0Guyrx8XsapaqgTNsAYr8p4mSHgUzQxzdjP8MAtrPelRfAticn2szued8ao1PrrFcTKj1BzU6OPmfJfQOuhEdDkeXPdv8/s320/024.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Whale going down for a dive.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEjFcV-rkBppyN7iJ4TNTtAwme4tJtE7EQVntt1sl48HAvJpyLk7ayqBqi0WNkKRHrAT5k1s4Ls4I7vGrG2B6Ovz3Ps_uBcL589-1a6Bvz4MM8Tq_UpC0_KhUv133RPqGn_b8sGZhj-B0/s1600-h/026.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441533093208632770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEjFcV-rkBppyN7iJ4TNTtAwme4tJtE7EQVntt1sl48HAvJpyLk7ayqBqi0WNkKRHrAT5k1s4Ls4I7vGrG2B6Ovz3Ps_uBcL589-1a6Bvz4MM8Tq_UpC0_KhUv133RPqGn_b8sGZhj-B0/s320/026.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Wish that my camera was fast enough to catch the spouting and the tail, but alas, it was not to be. </div><br /><div>The seventh grade class from Carol Morgan makes a trip to Samana every year, as a culmination of their whale study unit. Kari lucked into going on it the very first week that we got here last year. The 7th graders had gone a few days before us, and Kathy's son was part of the group. They were so lucky to have a huge group of whales in the bay when they went and they were very active. They were even seen breaching the water! When Kari went they had dolphins gliding along the side of their boat and there was a large sea turtle swimming by the boat too.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Unfortunately, probably because of the weather (you know that whales just don't like to get wet), we just saw this one guy the day we were out.<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlRWuni6GV3qxuS5JDJG0zbrCs0bsVuW4TuaO19R6g6JnApT2yUNT-chjSjY2sgSvkB7elukFLSNWrAvUXaU3QFlPm572lk3FLz5dZ9Bd_PZPm9y3woFnp0n1NIl5lxSSz8EfyjaKCOXM/s1600-h/030.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441529878770730290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlRWuni6GV3qxuS5JDJG0zbrCs0bsVuW4TuaO19R6g6JnApT2yUNT-chjSjY2sgSvkB7elukFLSNWrAvUXaU3QFlPm572lk3FLz5dZ9Bd_PZPm9y3woFnp0n1NIl5lxSSz8EfyjaKCOXM/s320/030.JPG" border="0" /></a> Some of the boats that were at the dock. Boy am I glad that we were in a bigger boat and not one of the small ones that were going out. I got a bit seasick, even with 2 dramamine pills, and so I can't imagine what it would be like for someone in one of the small boats! Notice the people on the dock wearing sweatshirts..... these are Europeans, not Dominicans, so you know that the weather was a bit cold that day. The one time in the last year that I have wished that I had brought a jacket along with me!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0wAn0hyphenhyphens-xyhIEohZm4r_P6GJyCxcwWSsIwmvp-p2Kd0xn_njp0cjTvvX8KLnTkOXlNXhMDIdrdFzhyXGWU3q_s1CxTAP6uYfo9GS0fB1wiJIiZ59PpO4JCsNm5eyUsV8eawnlEoIJq8/s1600-h/031.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441526655284743362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0wAn0hyphenhyphens-xyhIEohZm4r_P6GJyCxcwWSsIwmvp-p2Kd0xn_njp0cjTvvX8KLnTkOXlNXhMDIdrdFzhyXGWU3q_s1CxTAP6uYfo9GS0fB1wiJIiZ59PpO4JCsNm5eyUsV8eawnlEoIJq8/s320/031.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />We got back from the boat ride at about 1:00 and decided to eat our lunch sitting up in this tower. There were several of them along the "malecon" here. A malecon is what the Dominicans call the street that runs along the shore line. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>After lunch we found a group of shops and went looking for some souveniers. Nancy found some jewelry that she liked, as did Kathy, and Denise got some fridge magnets and some other fun things. I was a party pooper and didn't get anything. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Around 3:30 we headed back home, back to the chores, children and chaos!<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwNgllShc8079vY_wdYAsZrH8ZmvWRLi9h3_vx2c_jPO9rq-QZc1yva4f15LDHc9VFUQTy8D-MJD0F82-9_c6odUMsiOEQQzWnub-Ql0afK5yIDbqhYHJkvX7FLeznm2M1670chWWuzI/s1600-h/036.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441525404161923298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwNgllShc8079vY_wdYAsZrH8ZmvWRLi9h3_vx2c_jPO9rq-QZc1yva4f15LDHc9VFUQTy8D-MJD0F82-9_c6odUMsiOEQQzWnub-Ql0afK5yIDbqhYHJkvX7FLeznm2M1670chWWuzI/s320/036.JPG" border="0" /></a> As we were driving home, I snapped this photo of a home along the side of the road. This is pretty typical architecture for the homes here. The nicer ones are also painted in this type of bright paint.....looks like something that Kambrielle would pick out!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDsBD6iFcDJU1zO4lDs0kopRXsRSBmCr3FynE0-TBkfHDj3DwwL6Y9mmWkOfbCEHb5exPQ_Q4CpTVA0HwG0gP4hgMAJbQgRiLcJi82ktNvqMA_Ns76pJO8lzSnX2zzJhJN4B9Pq1Ywtg/s1600-h/037.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441525042881620770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDsBD6iFcDJU1zO4lDs0kopRXsRSBmCr3FynE0-TBkfHDj3DwwL6Y9mmWkOfbCEHb5exPQ_Q4CpTVA0HwG0gP4hgMAJbQgRiLcJi82ktNvqMA_Ns76pJO8lzSnX2zzJhJN4B9Pq1Ywtg/s320/037.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is one of the rice paddies that we passed by. They were all along the roads in this one area and so I got a decent picture of this one. The green of the growing rice plants is very vibrant, like something in a photo that you would see of Ireland.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqrrbQEjukr_gavtKqC_B0ZVr_GWC__rqxqJ_0J7S5Jsa-XWj53PdHy7TUuhm9ynbkL9Il79Wbv4XFczGKEZTpmiFXTqLI_xeiyzzCeb3pRgFyiCoa4HbhA7lExrmvuX7E6r7um4FN86E/s1600-h/038.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441524368560466898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqrrbQEjukr_gavtKqC_B0ZVr_GWC__rqxqJ_0J7S5Jsa-XWj53PdHy7TUuhm9ynbkL9Il79Wbv4XFczGKEZTpmiFXTqLI_xeiyzzCeb3pRgFyiCoa4HbhA7lExrmvuX7E6r7um4FN86E/s320/038.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />There was one stretch of road where there seemed to be a palm tree plantation. The trees were growing as far as you could see and as deep as you could see as we drove thru. I have no idea what they were being grown for, but you could see in some sections where old trees had been harvested and new ones were growing. Hmmmm, must investigate this further......<br /></div><br /><div>We got home around 6:00. I gave hugs and smooches all around, helped with homework and dishes and then thoroughly crashed around 9:00 (love that dramamine)</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Can't wait to go again next year with Kevin. There is a lovely resort there that would be fun to stay at. Maybe he and I can get away for a weekend and enjoy the quiet feel of the beach there. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>whiting familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805965515005386820noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6409832946506367120.post-90383895686752626682010-01-14T19:31:00.001-05:002010-01-14T20:06:44.877-05:00Haiti - From Kevin's ViewWhat the church does is amazing. Since the earthquake, we have held a daily coordination meeting with Church Humanitarian Services. They ask what is needed and then pull all of the strings to make it happen. <br />Here locally our Area Welfare Manager is working all hours coordinating all kinds of aid that is being offered. Because of congestion at the airport in Port au Prince people are having to land in the DR and then drive over land to Haiti. Bennie is coordinating doctors and others asking to volunteer and then flying in to help. There will continue to be shipments going over land from here. Like Kim mentioned, we transferred 2 good brothers to the border today with two pickup trucks, 40 gallons of diesel and as many hygiene kits, first aid kits, tarps water and other things as we could get into the pickups. After about a 6 hour drive we met a couple of key priesthood leaders at the border, transferred everything from one of the pickups into his vehicle and then sent the other pickup with our two good brethren on into Port au Prince. These two brothers will help assess buildings, member needs, help coordinate the massive church shipments that are coming in and anything else that is needed. <br />I was amazed and touched at the amazing amount of Heavy trucks, equipment etc that we saw at the border. There had to be 100 semi-trucks, apparently full of supplies, waiting to cross over. Most of that had to be coming from the already impoverished Dominican Republic. On both our way there and back we passed many other trucks, cranes, trucks with bleach, large tank trucks, and people and everything else between. A very touching show of support and solidarity for the Haitians. <br />As we put our arms around our Stake President/Facilities Manager at the border today we saw the shock, sadness, and stress in his eyes as he told us that he already knew of 15 deaths in his stake. We said goodbye to our friends, knowing that they will be sleeping on a hard floor tonight and doing without all of lifes conveniences. For food they took two 72 hour kits, two boxes of granola bars, 6 cases of water (for others) and one filter water bottle between them (these things will filter anything including urine, mud, you name it, so that it is drinkable). I got back home a couple of hours ago. Please pray, pray, pray for these people. Haiti was already extremely impoverished before.<br /><br />Thanks. Kevinwhiting familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805965515005386820noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6409832946506367120.post-50098366782858270942010-01-14T06:53:00.007-05:002010-01-14T20:08:24.145-05:00Earthquake<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgey0RGo_IeSoA8tngqSxxXX9D83hpQp3ZY94sguxLitNXlgUz3ph7J_QB8HhH6ejki0obDL6AXjMqsdyV6rOGpwVDh407wZuUUi9l38yNrDhXaWmHJCZL9fNsfPX9UgkjW3eLWKnL3KfQ/s1600-h/earthquake.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426562888334960882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 147px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 98px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgey0RGo_IeSoA8tngqSxxXX9D83hpQp3ZY94sguxLitNXlgUz3ph7J_QB8HhH6ejki0obDL6AXjMqsdyV6rOGpwVDh407wZuUUi9l38yNrDhXaWmHJCZL9fNsfPX9UgkjW3eLWKnL3KfQ/s320/earthquake.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Tuesday evening at 5:53 we were all hanging out on the fourth floor in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Munives</span> apartment. The fumigator had come at 4:00 and so we couldn't go into our apartment until after 6:00. I had just returned from the school where I had picked up <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Kambrielle</span> after Girl Scouts. I was visiting with Emma and the girls were watching "Phantom of the Opera" with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Keny</span> and Emily while Alex and Parker were playing on the computer. Emma got up to answer the phone and the couch felt like it was moving. I haven't been feeling well this week and so I thought, "Wow, I must be getting really sick! I had better go lay down!", thinking that I was dizzy or something from not feeling well. A second later I realized that the plants were moving and lamps moving and went "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">AUGH</span>! Earthquake!" A minute later Kathy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Jackman</span> ran down the stairs and gathered us up, along with Parker, and we went out onto the tennis courts/park area to wait and see about aftershocks.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>While waiting there, we learned from cell phones that the earthquake had been centered in Haiti, and had registered at 7.0. What we felt had been registered at about 4.2 (is what I read in the paper, but I can't find it to confirm the exact number) Kathy felt it more than we did, since she lives on the 14<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">th</span> floor. We learned that we were in a Tsunami Watch, and that continued until around 10:00. They did measure a very small Tsunami in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Santo</span> Domingo, but it was just a displacement of a foot.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>The older girls were a little frightened, but kind of excited. They were hoping for no school on Wednesday, but no luck there! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Kambrielle</span> was afraid and very clingy and I worried that she would be sleeping with us that night. Thanks to girl scouts, she was wiped out and crashed on the couch and was able to get a good night's sleep.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>When we returned to our apartment around 7:00 we turned on CNN and were able to hear the small amount of information that they had available. Kevin stayed quite late at work, working with the brethren there trying to get information from Haiti and share it with the Presiding Bishopric. The church has some satellite phones and so late in the evening they were able to contact some brethren in Haiti and begin to get an idea of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">devastation</span>. </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>Yesterday Kevin went to work early and stayed quite late gathering supplies and organizing how to distribute the supplies that are being sent by the church. The church generally sends things and has them distributed by other organizations that are <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">all ready</span> up and running in the country, generally Catholic Relief Services.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>Kevin left this morning at 5:00 and is driving with some other men with trucks full of supplies. They were purchasing <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">walkie</span> talkies for the leaders to be able to communicate with each other. He was looking last night for gas cans. They were taking as much gas as they could, since there is not gas available in most of the country. I am not sure of the other supplies that they were sending, since Kevin came home after I went to bed and got up at 4:00. They are meeting priesthood leaders at the border and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">transferring</span> supplies there.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>He told me that he was able to speak with one of his Facility Managers yesterday. Kevin asked him how the people in his stake had fared. Kevin was told that almost every family in the stake had lost their homes. (He only knew of one home that had survived) Several families had deaths in their families....... two of them had all their children die, as the home collapsed on them. </div><div></div><div></div><div>I am so overcome with grief for the people here. There are 3 people from Haiti in my Spanish class. One of them was there yesterday. She had been able to talk to her mom for 5 seconds, right after the first quake (there have been many, many strong aftershocks). and at that time they were OK. Part of their house had fallen off and crashed onto their car (they are one of the wealthy families that has a car). Their home is destroyed, but they were alive. The other two weren't there. One is an older gentleman (a lawyer in his early 60's) and he has children and grandchildren there. I am sure that he was driving to try to get them out.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>One of our friends here works for Cure, International. He is leaving today with several doctors to help however they can with the injuries. Please keep all of the people that are there in your prayers and pray that the service people that are going there to help will be safe. Haiti was very unstable and unsafe before this happened.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>This is the post from the church website of what the church is doing. If you have been feeling that you should do something, please give at the link attached. Or add to your fast offering this month under Humanitarian Aid.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><em>SALT LAKE CITY 13 January 2010 In the wake of the devastating earthquake in Haiti, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is mobilizing resources to address the most pressing needs of the people in the Caribbean nation. Images of collapsed buildings and devastated families tell the story of the widespread destruction.<br />Two planes, one departing from Denver as early as Thursday and another leaving from Miami later this week will each include over 80,000 pounds of food and emergency resources such as tents, tarps, water filtration bottles and medical supplies donated by the Church. Transportation is being provided by Airline Ambassadors and Food for the Poor will aid with distribution in Haiti.<br />“We are constantly assessing needs to determine how our resources can directly help the people of Haiti,” said Nate <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Leishman</span>, manager of the Church’s humanitarian emergency response efforts. “We are fully committed to this ongoing process and doing our best to help wherever we can.”<br />These new shipments are in addition to emergency supplies being sent by truck from the Dominican Republic including personal hygiene kits and supplies for newborns announced early Wednesday by the Church.<br />“We express our sympathy and prayers on behalf of the citizens of Haiti following the recent devastating earthquake,” said Kim Farah, Church spokesperson.<br />All Latter-day Saint missionaries serving in the country are safe, and Church leaders continue efforts to account for Church members in the area.<br />Donations for relief efforts can be made at </em></span><a style="TEXT-DECORATION: underline" href="http://give.lds.org/emergencyresponse"><span style="font-family:arial;"><em>http://give.lds.org/emergencyresponse</em></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><em>. </em></span></div>whiting familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805965515005386820noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6409832946506367120.post-52759030572361864292009-11-17T08:30:00.008-05:002009-11-17T09:07:51.225-05:00Uniforms<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQ79qQVT08hNc4tKiEhORkKogpyuFDxJYowomWd-xulnQWk_VkOvEM0Kxz5gTal0zUF_YY0OBQy7h9a_s1kcPQtCLiete6DkEOW1ixig_oDuVXk4-WjdorlnC6EeyhGZdLEOEEvuLZTI/s1600/282.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405072201616147746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQ79qQVT08hNc4tKiEhORkKogpyuFDxJYowomWd-xulnQWk_VkOvEM0Kxz5gTal0zUF_YY0OBQy7h9a_s1kcPQtCLiete6DkEOW1ixig_oDuVXk4-WjdorlnC6EeyhGZdLEOEEvuLZTI/s320/282.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaPTdAfvgbukVlX7gaj0jY-nY6R3D_1jb4ZN7I5xL0tjbFZOVOTWF9c381IN2LyYjiO6MRGK7WL5DBCSjXr2IobJM8IplMnkl5xbPxZcXFbjjsnVV-oG3RZ1hoNd9ipeZhR1dySJG1Pos/s1600/283.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405071912284324402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaPTdAfvgbukVlX7gaj0jY-nY6R3D_1jb4ZN7I5xL0tjbFZOVOTWF9c381IN2LyYjiO6MRGK7WL5DBCSjXr2IobJM8IplMnkl5xbPxZcXFbjjsnVV-oG3RZ1hoNd9ipeZhR1dySJG1Pos/s320/283.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Pics are from the first day of school in August. I tried to get Kierstin to have a roommate take one of her so that I could continue the tradition, but she was reluctant.......wonder why?........</span></div><div> </div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div></div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><div></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The law here states that anyone attending school must wear a uniform (the exception being college). This applies to private and public schools. I don't know the reason for the rule. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">For our family it has been a good thing and I actually love that they wear uniforms. I will often hear the girls wondering "Hmm, should I go with the blue polo and the khaki pants?" And then the other will say "I was thinking the khaki pants would look better with the blue polo" At the beginning of this school year Kari told me that she was glad that they wore uniforms, since it would be impossible to "keep up" or feel comfortable with the other kids that they go to school with. </span><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Kambrielle, being in elementary, has 2 uniforms. The blue polo with khaki's for regular days, and the PE shirt and shorts for PE days (they alternate, every other day). I only purchased 3 blue shirts for her, since that is normally the most that she would wear in one week. </span><br /><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">When I do the laundry I hang the polo shirts to dry, since they would shrink terribly if I were to dry them (1. 100% cotton; 2. My dryer has only two settings..... hot and hotter) This makes them a bit wrinkly when they are dry. A few months ago I started asking the lady who helps me if she could press the shirts (they iron EVERYTHING here) and so the girls have been going to school nicely pressed and starched. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">On Friday, Kambrielle went with her class to see a ballet. The rule is that when you leave campus all students must have on their blue polo uniform and long pants or a skirt. This kind of messed up our laundry schedule, as Friday was supposed to be a PE day. When Kambrielle went to get dressed yesterday, she found that there were no shirts in her closet, due to the extra shirt that she used on Friday when she went on her field trip. It was clean and hanging up in the laundry room. She grabbed it from the hanger and then there was a giant pause. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"What is wrong with this shirt?" I quickly looked it over and didn't see any problem. </span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"Nothing", I replied. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"It is all.......krinkly and has.......lines in it!" </span></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"It just didn't get pressed yet, honey" </span></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"Am I really supposed to wear it this way? Aren't you going to iron it?" </span></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">What have I created?</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This conversation was going on as I was doing someone else's dinner job that they "forgot" to do the night before. Nope, I didn't iron it. Yep, she went to school without that fresh starch feeling. Cruel child punishment, for sure.</span></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">-Kim</span></div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div>whiting familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805965515005386820noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6409832946506367120.post-19594924093175649862009-11-13T11:26:00.009-05:002009-11-13T11:47:13.506-05:00It won't be like this for long....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUibtE7NuDQn9DqpjCnlBQaUkYGYHt8aRT0YlQ9lGLH1vUNuC9R4SFEvclJOUzVU6DHKv1lSggtQ1GL-yxC542smWcq7KOkj9yta55hHYSJTZpOTHnpLChxPf8E3DApqWNSBW8mePFp8U/s1600-h/001.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403629892435192290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUibtE7NuDQn9DqpjCnlBQaUkYGYHt8aRT0YlQ9lGLH1vUNuC9R4SFEvclJOUzVU6DHKv1lSggtQ1GL-yxC542smWcq7KOkj9yta55hHYSJTZpOTHnpLChxPf8E3DApqWNSBW8mePFp8U/s320/001.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpsps4594ux4uqAu-qeRAE-Wk2w55S9xq7DC7MQqtJAMTYxsYPND9eK5zVgDx4F6L7R0zWjFNe3cFXmITMcJh2rpdzFGen_aGIYWjiAp_PpP3VIo-h5MfIpWNG0wzI6oLfg69skTLLVoI/s1600-h/002.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403629636037471762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpsps4594ux4uqAu-qeRAE-Wk2w55S9xq7DC7MQqtJAMTYxsYPND9eK5zVgDx4F6L7R0zWjFNe3cFXmITMcJh2rpdzFGen_aGIYWjiAp_PpP3VIo-h5MfIpWNG0wzI6oLfg69skTLLVoI/s320/002.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Snapped these a few days ago. Kambrielle was so excited to get her turn on the Guitar Hero, as there was no school due to parent-teacher conferences. She is so cute when she plays it. She can play better than me! (OK, everyone can play better than me!)</div><br /><div>I didn't hear anything for awhile, so I looked over to see what was up and caught her fast asleep with the guitar laying across her. So cute.</div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div>I got a new CD when my parents came. It is a collection of popular country songs, since I can't get them on any stations here. I was listening to the song "It Won't Be Like This for Long" by Darius Rucker. I love the words and the idea behind this song. Now that my youngest is growing up I find that I am trying to enjoy the stages that everyone is going through more. </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div>I am thinking of having "it won't be like this for long...." put in vinyl and put it on the wall in my living room. It is a great reminder for me. Remember to enjoy the fun that you are having right now, with my children, with my husband and with the experiences that we are having. Also, when I am going through something really hard, remember, it won't be long until I can look back on it because I made it through.</div><div></div><div>-Kim</div><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div></div>whiting familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805965515005386820noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6409832946506367120.post-88774180546055919792009-10-25T11:20:00.003-04:002009-10-25T13:13:15.032-04:00Tender MerciesGoing to church here is kind of hard for me.<br /><br />It is hot and uncomfortable, as there is no A/C and the benches are hard wood, no padding at all. There is no carpet anywhere and the building is always dirty (There is no custodian at all for the building and when families are assigned to come and clean it, most of them do not show up for their turn. So, if we are lucky it might get cleaned once a month). I don't understand 90% of what is being said and someone stole part of the translation equipment, so Kevin can't translate for the ward anymore. He ordered a new set, but it will take several months to get here and make it through customs. I really have not bonded with anyone in the ward and so there is no social interaction in between sacrament meeting and when I go to primary. And, I teach Primary in a room that is really just for storage of old junk that for some reason they can't get rid of....... our class of two sits in there with the broken ping pong table, the broken ugly green metal (rusting) cabinet that stores the primary junk that no one uses and the broken, chipped top table that I use to put my primary manual on. The room doesn't even have it's own door. I have to try and listen to what is going on in the other room and then open the accordian door that separates us from them when it is time to go, so that we can go out their door.......<br /><br />These were the things going through my mind as I left for church in a rush with breakfast still sitting on the table, calling out to the ants, no makeup on as I spent all my time getting some extra activities for my primary class (which I forgot on the kitchen counter, sigh). I told Kevin "Will I make it through today? Maybe I should just stay home." (Of course I didn't)<br /><br />We made it into sacrament a bit early and had to sit on the front row, as there were no benches with enough space available where we could sit together except there. (Older girls loved sitting there!) Smiled at a few people and waved at a cute girl from Primary who I just love. (That is all that we do, is smile and wave as we can't really understand each other that well. She does like to come and sit by me during sharing time)<br /><br />The first speaker got up to give his talk. He looks to be in his early 20's and was baptized a few months ago. Kevin knows him, but I don't really know him at all. He was well prepared and looked anxious to share his message with us. What I didn't know is that he has a very pronounced stuttering problem. Probably the worst that I have ever heard. Ever. He struggled and struggled and struggled to get through his talk. Since we were on the front row, I sat looking at the brother, trying to encourage him with my eyes and attention (Don't you just hate it when you are giving a talk and you look out at the congregation and it appears that maybe 2 people are listening? Everyone else is looking down, texting, studying their lesson to give next hour, etc?) I was praying for him, as was everyone else in the congregation. I thought that maybe he would be blessed to be able to share his talk clearly, or to be able to get through a sentence without struggling. Here he was, brand new in the gospel, giving a talk in Sacrament with lots of visitors here today. If anyone deserved a miracle, he did. And yet, he didn't get one. He struggled to the very last sentence of his talk. He tried and tried and tried to share the scriptures and messages that he had prepared and yet he couldn't get the words to come out of his mouth.<br /><br />And yet, what could have been agonizing and awkward wasn't. I haven't felt the spirit as strongly in our Sacrament meeting in a long time. You could tell that every member there today was really rooting for him and pleading for him to be successful. When he finished, I could hear and see several sisters crying; being overcome by the spirit. I don't know how many people understood his words. There were a lot of American missionaries and ex-patriate families, like ourselves, there who speak mostly English. There was a family there from Russia. There was a large group visiting today from Guadalupe and French Guyana who spoke only French. And I am sure that those who spoke fluent Spanish had a hard time understanding. Blessedly for us, the Spirit can speak to each of us individually so that we can understand the love that our Heavenly Father has for us.<br /><br />So, I guess that it doesn't have to be perfect to go to church. No, I don't have my great ward family from Utah anymore. No, I don't have a building that is new, nice or even clean. No, I can't communicate with most of my Brothers and Sisters in the ward. But I can feel the Spirit. I can know of the truthfulness of the gospel. And I can know that my Heavenly Father loves me enough to try to teach me what is really important here on the earth today.<br /><br />-Kimwhiting familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805965515005386820noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6409832946506367120.post-48144825129597716282009-09-23T20:12:00.004-04:002009-09-23T20:50:40.676-04:00Scripture Study<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTffYWYVuLPiqXfcXvNQ45zKr-ImmofbfcefaoBLlaPOKEbROGDnEPDz8-zikrOU3pI2nX7QqQfhKd26_9LqIuGQAdxP74RXqCcs9WKPjYH6T0I9jKtHM_qxoUNetRTnzC65zD9mVQAw/s1600-h/el-libro-de-mormon.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384822166853980386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 278px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTffYWYVuLPiqXfcXvNQ45zKr-ImmofbfcefaoBLlaPOKEbROGDnEPDz8-zikrOU3pI2nX7QqQfhKd26_9LqIuGQAdxP74RXqCcs9WKPjYH6T0I9jKtHM_qxoUNetRTnzC65zD9mVQAw/s320/el-libro-de-mormon.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>When we went to Stake Conference one of the Stake Presidency asked the members of the stake to read the Book of Mormon. I didn't understand everything that they said, but at the end of the conference they handed out charts to track your reading, where you color in one block for each chapter that you read. </div><br /><div>I decided that we needed all of the blessings that we could get, so for FHE this week we talked about personal scripture study, read an article from Elder Bednar in The Friend about how to get the most out of your scripture study, read an article from The Ensign about scripture study and then made some goals. We broke the chapters in the Book of Mormon into 20 chapter segments and then decided upon rewards that the girls could earn. They were things like a candy bar, a pack of gum, and when they finish, a dinner date with mom and dad. The rewards were every 20 chapters for the first 100 chapters, every 25 chapters for the second 100 chapters and then just one reward for the final 37 chapters. We taped the charts up on the wall in the kitchen so that the girls can fill them in when they finish a chapter.</div><div> </div><div></div><div>You have never seen such scripture reading in your life. Kaitlin got the first prize (as she had been reading for Seminary) and now Kambrielle is determined to be the next one to earn it. She is allready on chapter 11, after only three days. Mom is the one currently in last place!!! Kambrielle has declined watching Dancing with the Stars with us the last two nights and decided to read scriptures instead. She has fallen asleep with her Book of Mormon on her face for the last two nights!</div><div> </div><div></div><div>Today I went to the Distribution center and went a little crazy for Spanish items. I got the CD's for the car of the Primary children's songbook, then I got pocket size hymn books for everyone in the family (there are never enough hymn books in the chapel), Spanish triple combinations and the new Spanish bible. I also ordered a subscription to the Liahona, so that I can read the Ensign in English and then practice my Spanish with the Liahona. Hopefully I can have a moment like Elder Groberg, in the movie The Other Side of Heaven, where he learns the language by using the scriptures........hey, it could happen!</div><div> </div><div></div><div>-Kim</div><div> </div><div></div><div>What have you done with your family to encourage individual scripture study?</div>whiting familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805965515005386820noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6409832946506367120.post-25400493047894190592009-09-20T19:52:00.004-04:002009-09-20T20:34:32.909-04:00Yummy Black Bean SalsaA month or so ago I was looking around on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">allrecipes</span>.com and decided that I wanted to make some black bean salsa. Making things here is always a bit of a challenge, since I can't always find the ingredients. So I took a few recipes, tweaked them to the way that we like and threw some things together and came up with this. Granted, it is a little different every time that I make it, but that is how a good salsa is. <br /><br />I guess technically this really isn't salsa. My friends from Mexico remind me that for it to be salsa the ingredients have to be ground together with a mortar and pestle and the vegetables are usually cooked slightly by roasting them. So, I guess it is really a black bean <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">pico</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">de</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">gallo</span>, if you want to be <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Mexicanally</span> correct (like that word I made up?)<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGEa1qKxPGQS_J3yQMTSAxt9mcsNyVb1MIrmhpnoTaQ4dG7iPK8_cHmTbYTs9fTRab-McpqyxDdQKooXNCuGsGf0j3s5_pe41yAxl3DGIzWiXg2ph0hNwp9tzf2ldpEg8-WijEPBClyOY/s1600-h/IMG_1634.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383702359432506994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGEa1qKxPGQS_J3yQMTSAxt9mcsNyVb1MIrmhpnoTaQ4dG7iPK8_cHmTbYTs9fTRab-McpqyxDdQKooXNCuGsGf0j3s5_pe41yAxl3DGIzWiXg2ph0hNwp9tzf2ldpEg8-WijEPBClyOY/s320/IMG_1634.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is what the left overs looked like..... yep, I should have taken a picture first, but just thought about sharing it after we had <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">all ready</span> devoured a large portion. The bowl was full, so you can see how much the girls like it. Kevin wasn't home, or there would have been no left overs. Plus, it is a very sneaky way to get them to eat fresh <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">veggies</span>!<br /><br />Black Bean Salsa:<br />7-9 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">roma</span> tomatoes<br />1 large yellow pepper (you can use green or red, I just like the flavor of the yellow)<br />1-2 large <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">poblano</span> peppers<br />2 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">serrano</span> peppers (or to your hotness taste)<br />1 15 ounce can black beans (or that amount of cooked from scratch beans, what I do)<br />1 15 ounce can corn (or even better, that amount of frozen sweet white corn, defrosted)<br />1 medium to large red onion<br />1 bunch cilantro<br />1-2 limes<br />2-3 tsp. ground cumin<br />about 1 1/2 tsp. salt<br />about 1 Tbsp. white sugar<br /><br />Dice the tomatoes, onions and peppers and place in a large bowl. I like to seed the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">serranos</span>, because we don't like it too hot. When you cut the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">serranos</span>, make them as teeny-tiny as you possible can and then wash, wash, wash your hands. Add the corn, which has been drained. Drain and rinse the black beans several times until the water from them runs clear. Add to the bowl. Take the bunch of cilantro and cut it up with a pair of kitchen shears. Add to the bowl. Sprinkle seasonings over the vegetables and mix well. Cut limes and squeeze the juice over the vegetables. Mix well and then taste. Season according to taste. Kevin likes a bit more sugar, to cut the acidity of the tomatoes and I like a lot of cumin. Mess around with it until you get your favorite taste. Let sit in the fridge at least 30 minutes for the flavors to blend.<br /><br />The salsa is better with frozen corn, but I can't get that here. Or you could use fresh corn on the cob, cut it off and blanch for 2-3 minutes, cool and then add to the salsa.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh00YrOoJ7kUZd_7zWGtSwgXvY03nZJp1dZoX046sBdBVnFN5w1RZWPCCMIB5gooXxR9d9ZRn5u4UtqhmKu0muiX-ygYvti2Gh5bR4QVe5aoDFOSG40ukSnDEayTihgfZMlA7sHt6l1KEw/s1600-h/IMG_1635.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383702119651932402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh00YrOoJ7kUZd_7zWGtSwgXvY03nZJp1dZoX046sBdBVnFN5w1RZWPCCMIB5gooXxR9d9ZRn5u4UtqhmKu0muiX-ygYvti2Gh5bR4QVe5aoDFOSG40ukSnDEayTihgfZMlA7sHt6l1KEw/s320/IMG_1635.JPG" border="0" /></a> For dinner tonight I made the salsa, then grilled some chicken breasts and made some rice that I cooked in chicken broth, in place of the water. Served the rice with chicken on the side. Covered the chicken with salsa and then gave the girls a big scoop of salsa on the side to eat with tortilla chips. It would have been really yummy if I had melted a bit of Colby jack cheese on top of the chicken breast before putting the salsa on top..... thought of that one too late.<br /><br />I have started cooking the black beans from a bag of dried beans and then putting a serving in a plastic container and freezing them. Then I just pop a container out of the freezer and put it in the fridge the night before (if I think of it), or I will defrost it by letting it sit in a larger container of hot water, like I did today, since I didn't plan ahead. The canned beans are a lot more expensive here than the dried ones, and black beans are very easy to cook.<br /><br />Give this a try and see if you like it! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Buen</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Provecho</span>!<br />-Kimwhiting familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805965515005386820noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6409832946506367120.post-79046205532216781102009-09-18T08:20:00.007-04:002009-09-18T08:45:18.102-04:00Spanish Humor - Middle School StyleKari has been working hard in her Spanish class. The girls all have SSL (Spanish as a Second Language) every day for 1 period. It is pretty easy in Elementary school, but gets serious in middle and high school. Kaitlin's class is all in Spanish, no English spoken. <br /><br />Today Kari came home with some writing on her hands and couldn't wait to show it to me. And so, we share it with you.......<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZzUzwNVjlbfKTb6i9oK7IEOnTxnBUCWPoOX-UvvS0O6eTrklEkeJBbpVVsXdlq9y0eHjc9mxh2n-D50oUB64TxbMJIm4v5qz6L5yn-rFSAlot8hcKKU8e7PdVN6msjRCQC69TERiT5xQ/s1600-h/IMG_1627.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382785904253962738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZzUzwNVjlbfKTb6i9oK7IEOnTxnBUCWPoOX-UvvS0O6eTrklEkeJBbpVVsXdlq9y0eHjc9mxh2n-D50oUB64TxbMJIm4v5qz6L5yn-rFSAlot8hcKKU8e7PdVN6msjRCQC69TERiT5xQ/s320/IMG_1627.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf_ZqMrSJx-1rNVhixUG5YVaRQASdlEkhIVlbmFMj01ctUW-kxZHJpXv5nepYIz9kl0V1BilIYqDdy7GODi0sb4a7EJWYTMbsCy2eVLPHqoH_HTBop0RbeIP9ldkW6u0-gW52kGq3CB04/s1600-h/IMG_1624.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382785574720121554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf_ZqMrSJx-1rNVhixUG5YVaRQASdlEkhIVlbmFMj01ctUW-kxZHJpXv5nepYIz9kl0V1BilIYqDdy7GODi0sb4a7EJWYTMbsCy2eVLPHqoH_HTBop0RbeIP9ldkW6u0-gW52kGq3CB04/s320/IMG_1624.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkzsvQkHmDQRZHww1F2G382XyVrfw_jmnB8XPqlCrnNRhTQL9adY7na7eEh7ZHa3S-abLNFfFrASFe45lLXeVYxURkOt2_u04HDX00w4s70GNX4B-5KIFiirsAwZ_AnuhI_JzXxVUoqIk/s1600-h/IMG_1623.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382785298197122226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkzsvQkHmDQRZHww1F2G382XyVrfw_jmnB8XPqlCrnNRhTQL9adY7na7eEh7ZHa3S-abLNFfFrASFe45lLXeVYxURkOt2_u04HDX00w4s70GNX4B-5KIFiirsAwZ_AnuhI_JzXxVUoqIk/s320/IMG_1623.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkYunBag4mjHCXh0qi2Kabo1HCG8cB9pOw1fe31vz38qnR7IITQ2jYQul5bVFxYPELq9AwJaub2VlmVt8AmNzf_5IQdtXHmmsnBQl-1kU9HXtgE9AvOxsHtfnZEMAJf-nxIdDeyx3PgZs/s1600-h/IMG_1623.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382784977982019794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkYunBag4mjHCXh0qi2Kabo1HCG8cB9pOw1fe31vz38qnR7IITQ2jYQul5bVFxYPELq9AwJaub2VlmVt8AmNzf_5IQdtXHmmsnBQl-1kU9HXtgE9AvOxsHtfnZEMAJf-nxIdDeyx3PgZs/s320/IMG_1623.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib6rAfuYPS7ah7J8-DLnmfcyupmglLXUmksWkmLBaujgbSH9biyP3kxmiJZdBULHCOVAIqShCkJw6xc1EOR6X-_SGuSVbNOeAfC18mvRbUEuZFcG28COyJR7961cm02GPKMm_p4nmqqq4/s1600-h/IMG_1624.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382784509892471618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib6rAfuYPS7ah7J8-DLnmfcyupmglLXUmksWkmLBaujgbSH9biyP3kxmiJZdBULHCOVAIqShCkJw6xc1EOR6X-_SGuSVbNOeAfC18mvRbUEuZFcG28COyJR7961cm02GPKMm_p4nmqqq4/s320/IMG_1624.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ZHh2-cAWwLSp0U7T90drTcNK2Qj_UxdONhY53Rir6gLjPsiGPtumulXKikHfdtBxMjIVrpZBP4jVrC8lIKch4TuprTL2zeG5g1UDu1YzVtlzak7p4_Z_XNd0VTx47jbraGQ4oGvYV-c/s1600-h/IMG_1626.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382784162864901842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ZHh2-cAWwLSp0U7T90drTcNK2Qj_UxdONhY53Rir6gLjPsiGPtumulXKikHfdtBxMjIVrpZBP4jVrC8lIKch4TuprTL2zeG5g1UDu1YzVtlzak7p4_Z_XNd0VTx47jbraGQ4oGvYV-c/s320/IMG_1626.JPG" border="0" /></a> If you don't know what it says..... too bad!!! Look it up! If we have to learn Spanish, so do you! Go to freetranslation.com and see what it says!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHZjctzK79FPtiKxDWrz6cjrjJ1bbLGoAV9YbcEArwDBqGn5a18zV_vqE85tGsbDIHQ8gEbayBVTm0NJ-tETQpl1xiVnHZExKe9neKN96SdPPTjDF_1lB78zKT2fJx3hEGjxKPwr-ah8/s1600-h/IMG_1628.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382783842081146386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHZjctzK79FPtiKxDWrz6cjrjJ1bbLGoAV9YbcEArwDBqGn5a18zV_vqE85tGsbDIHQ8gEbayBVTm0NJ-tETQpl1xiVnHZExKe9neKN96SdPPTjDF_1lB78zKT2fJx3hEGjxKPwr-ah8/s320/IMG_1628.JPG" border="0" /></a> Kari is on the Middle School Peer Team. They help at school functions, do service for the other kids in the school and when someone new moves in they are there to help them, provide support for them and be a friend. It has been a fun experience and I know that the other girls want to try to do it next year too. </div><div> </div><div>-Kim<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>whiting familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805965515005386820noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6409832946506367120.post-81918862671870873502009-09-14T13:03:00.002-04:002009-09-14T13:43:29.223-04:00Bad, Bad ParentsCAUTION - Bad examples enclosed - Don't read if you don't have a sense of humor-<br /><br />Yesterday we had Stake Conference. It was being held at a chapel that we had never been to before, so we were up and left an hour early so that we could follow our neighbors, the Munive family, who knew how to get there. Sister Anderson and her two sons met us at our parking garage so that she could follow us as well.<br /><br />We made it to the chapel with plenty of time to spare and we staked out a row that was as close to the front as we could get, while still being under a moving ceiling fan. They were trying to get as many people in the chapel and gym area as they could, and so the chairs were as squished as you could get them (my knees were touching the bum of the lady in front of me when she sat down..... you get the picture......) Needless to say we were a little warm and a bit uncomfortable. There was no A/C, but the fan did help a little. <br /><br />We were there a full 35 minutes early and so we were visiting quietly with the Munive's behind us and watching people while they came in. There was some cheek kissing going on when people that we knew came in and some hand shaking, but mostly people watching. Kami had her coloring book out and ready and Kaitlin and Kari were working on their personal progress books, the stuff that they could do that involved scripture reading. They were prepared, as there would be no translation and so I knew that no one but Kevin would understand what was being said. The girls were being great. There was no fighting and they were just troopers to go in and sit in that hot area for 2 1/2 hours where they would not understand anything.<br /><br />Back to the story. There was a woman about 4-5 rows in front of us who kept standing up (this was before it started) and she was turned around, so that she was facing the back. She had her children around her and a baby (maybe 10-12 months) that was pulling on her shirt. After a long while she picked the baby up and was holding it (don't know if it was a boy or girl) facing the back. YIKES!!! You know how some babies are just not cute. Well, this baby fit into that category. It had a LOT of curly hair and was very fat.... but not cute fat.... just, weird fat. I was trying to be polite and just be quiet about the whole thing. A few minutes later, right before the opening song, Kevin leans over to me and says "Did you see that baby up there?" "Yes", I whisper back. "I just can't figure out what it looks like" says Kevin and after a pause we both look at each other and whisper "The Grinch!" at the same time.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuW5VByYc6ZZGcW0bnuI6B5BjTK3JMRyu6JtGiJlEPA38hjmTJnOp_Z_Bakaw0ueYwrKyZOTFP6j3QjWUSqs7dFhOrgHwZe5fMJpmMyTv28udFLtiWP99sjaAyD0ug_NJcSEQqAu2ikig/s1600-h/baby+grinch.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381370275571428290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuW5VByYc6ZZGcW0bnuI6B5BjTK3JMRyu6JtGiJlEPA38hjmTJnOp_Z_Bakaw0ueYwrKyZOTFP6j3QjWUSqs7dFhOrgHwZe5fMJpmMyTv28udFLtiWP99sjaAyD0ug_NJcSEQqAu2ikig/s320/baby+grinch.bmp" border="0" /></a> I am serious, just imagine this picture with brown skin, no body fur and a lot of curly brown hair and you have an image of this baby. (The eye brows are just about right)<br /><br />We were trying to control our laughing, but then the girls wanted to know what was causing this quiet shoulder shaking. We told them and then of course everyone was peering around the people in front of them, trying to get a peek at this baby. Kaitlin and Kari were just rolling their eyes at us, they couldn't believe we were their parents. <br /><br />Later, as we were driving home Sister Anderson was following us to find her way home and when we got to a place that she was familiar with she went into the other lane to try to pass and let us know that she was OK from there. Of course, this resulted in Kevin speeding up and the girls yelling at him to pass her car. "Don't drag race with the General Authorities wife!" was coming out of my mouth, as we were going down the road. <br /><br />I think that we needed a time out.whiting familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805965515005386820noreply@blogger.com2