Latest News around here

Wow. I don't even know where to begin. This is going to be long.

First, my new baby niece is here! Tara had her baby last night, Jayda Karen Alofipo, and she is healthy and strong, and Tara's labor went so fast that she didn't need an epidural. She is superwoman! She should have pictures up soon on facebook, or check back onto her blog later
http://tara-wayne.blogspot.com.

I totally missed posting anything about Annaliese's 1st Birthday (Nov. 6th). We were in St. George and we had a little party where she got to have her first taste of cake- and it was dairy-free, corn-free, and gluten-free. It tasted like burnt brownies. She loved it. We're taking her back to an allergy doctor in two weeks. I don't know how that's going to help, but we may test her for Celiac's disease, since we've found that wheat has been causing the stomachaches, the diarrhea, and the itching.

(sigh)

The good news is that there are a lot of gluten-free foods for her (like brown rice pasta) and she absolutely adores it.

The bad news is that WIC will no longer give her the corn-free Similac formula that she's been on for a 10 months, so we're trying to get the insurance to approve it with a doctors prescription. It's been two weeks now and I haven't heard. Praying for a miracle on this one. She cannot have goats milk, soy milk, almond milk, cows milk, or any formula that has corn syrup solids (that's all of them except the one she's been on.) So what kind of milk can she have? Yes, there is rice milk, but that's basically just rice water, there's not enough good nutrition in it. We need that formula.

Let's see, our house is not in foreclosure yet. The auction was postponed for 30 days, and I'm betting it will be postponed again. So we are still paying our very-cheap rent in the meantime.

Samuel's legal case is almost over- the district attorney could tell that Judy's case was a bunch of BS (WOOOHOOO!!) and he motioned for dismissal. Now it just has to be approved by a judge. It is so nice to know that his good name will not be tarnished through all this. We are so grateful.

At the same time it's kind of crazy how one wild accusation could lead to such a dramatic change in our lives. Not only did it force us to leave the state, it also ended up costing him his income and employment.

That wasn't really a problem until now. We ran out of money this month. Have you ever watched your bank account and savings go down to $20.00? Yeah. It's freaky. We've been able to live for 2 months on all the money we had left in the world. And now it's gone. It's put an unbelievable amount of stress on us.

So I didn't even know how to write on my blog. I didn't want to burden my friends with our stress. I didn't want you to feel sorry for us. And yet I couldn't just pretend that all is perfect and happy in our life, even though through all of this we have felt very blessed. The last few weeks have been really hard though, with the money situation.

Stress. Bills. Pressure. Finances. Christmas.

The Relief Society President got wind of what was going on. Samuel has been out of work for 60 days now. Our bills were paid through the end of November. All I can say is that my conversation with her was one of the sweetest, most cherished experiences of my life, and I have truly seen why this organization exists in the first place. It was changed my heart.

And it was like someone had cut open the growing pressure of a world that felt like it was going to explode, and the pressure eased, and Samuel and I stopped fighting and figured out why we were working against each other, and not together. That same RS President gave us gift cards to Outback Steakhouse, Coldstone, and then she came over one Saturday night to watch the kids so that we could enjoy each other and just TALK. I just love that lady. Her son-in-law is Max Hall, by the way, BYU's quarterback.

Ok. So back to the story. Samuel's internship will start in January. He has to have his real estate license, which he is actually getting as we speak (he will hopefully have his license by Dec 10th). He isn't home during the day, so my whole "work from home " thing is not going to bring in much this month. It's a struggle to fit in even 10 hours a week; it's not work that I can do while kids are awake. I'm sure you guys know what it's like. I don't know what I was thinking trying to take on extra things. Life is already crazy enough as it is.

Well, I don't want this to be depressing. I'm not depressed. So....yeah, we're living at a subsistence level. It's stressful. We're going to be living below the poverty line for awhile. But guess what, we are the most blessed family in poverty that I know of. We get to live in the most beautiful neighborhood in Arizona (I think). We have all the food and medical care we could need. (Thanks government assistance. You're the best. ) We have possibilities for the future, and though I don't know how it will all work out, I just know that someday money will not be a problem for us. I can feel that this experience is teaching us some important things, and that one day we can hand someone a big wad of cash and hug them and cry with them, because we've been there.I really look forward to that day.

And one final note-- Pay your tithing everybody. Pay your tithing. I heard the stories, growing up, about money just showing up when you need it, and you know it's because the Lord is keeping his promise when he said, "Prove me now herewith..."

Just when our bank account hit that $20 range, and we knew we would not have anything coming in for December, the windows of heaven opened. We got a $1500 check in the mail. Where, you're wondering? From a car accident. Remember the day we moved from Las Vegas, we got in a tiny side-swipe accident? And it caused our movers to cancel on us? And everything just seemed to be going wrong? (Read about it HERE if you've forgotten). Well, that car accident was the other girl's fault, but there were no witnesses, and so she lied and told the cops that I had run the red light; the cop had to write the accident without faulting either of us. We were SO mad. Samuel filed a claim anyway, but I knew it was useless without the police report faulting that girl. I was WRONG. I don't know what inspired Lesley at Lincoln General Motor Insurance, but it had to have been the Spirit of the Lord, because she somehow discerned the truth of it all, and settled in our favor. We took our car in to get an estimate (you can barely see ANYTHING on the outside of our car. Seriously.) And somehow the guy writing the estimate decided there was $1537.00 worth of repairs including repainting, a new tire, an alignment, etc. And that check came to us in OUR name, which means the money is ours to do whatever we want with it.

I call that a miracle, wouldn't you? It came at exactly the right time.
Pay your tithing.

So, I just want to tell you all that I love you and appreciate your support and love. I know that everyone has their trials, and many of them are hidden. Not everyone is an open book like I am. ;0)-- and that is okay. I know of other people who are experiencing trials right now. I know of a couple who's two children have kidney problems, and their little baby has to be on dialysis THREE hours EVERY day. I know of the girl in Vegas who lost her 14 month old in a drowning accident. I know of people who's husbands are entangled in pornography. I know of people who are battling cancer, even though they are my age and have young families. I know of so many couples who cannot get pregnant, no matter what they do. I know of several young girls that have lost their husbands in sudden and sometimes strange freak accidents. Life can be so hard. I am so grateful that this is our trial right now, because at least we have our health and we have each other. But I know the Lord will support us through our trials no matter what they are, and as hard as they will be, they are never more than we can bear- we won't be able to bear them alone though.

Well, pictures for sure next time around!

Sickened

Let's back up about 5 years. The movie RENT came out. I didn't know a whole lot about it, just that it was a big broadway play, and I knew that my favorite broadway actress (Idina Menzel, the original Elphaba from Wicked) was one of the main characters in the broadway play and also in the movie-adaptation of Rent. So I begged Samuel to take me to see the movie. Even though it was a PG-13 movie, I sat there in SHOCK, sick to my stomach. This was my first introduction to gay couples in the entertainment industry. There was a gay couple and a lesbian couple. And my favorite Idina Menzel was one of those lesbians (or she was a bi-sexual or something...) There was butt grabbing and boob grabbing and I think some kissing, and I guess it's fair to say that I was caught off-guard. I vowed NEVER, EVER to see Rent again. I was so disturbed.

Next I fell in love with two shows on ABC- Grey's Anatomy and Brothers and Sisters. Brothers and Sisters was the first to have a gay character, and that was probably the first time I ever saw two men kissing. I almost threw up. I couldn't believe that this was allowed on primetime TV. I mean, COME ON, at least save it for cable! So I stopped watching the show for awhile, but later slowly went back to it, making sure I would always fast forward any scenes that involved gay people.

Then, Grey's Anatomy hit me with a hard blow. And you know the one I'm talking about. The totally unnecessary transation of Callie from a married heterosexual to a woman experiementing (and enjoying) lesbianism. Grey's Anatomy was one of my very favorite shows. When they showed a lesbian kiss on that final episode of the season a year or two ago, I vowed that I was DONE with the show. Then they surprised me and kicked one of the lesbians off the show. There is still a lesbian relationship going on, but as far as I've seen, no more lesbian kissy/huggy behavior.

I'm sure it's just a matter of time. And I know I have to draw the line somewhere. And it's going to have to be soon, because my kids will be old enough to see some of the shows that I'm watching, and I will do anything to protect them from this filth.

I can't help but marvel at how QUICKLY the floodgates of sin have opened, and how within a matter of years things that were never shown, EVER, on TV, to things that are now so common and mainstream that they are being accepted as commonplace. And if things have gotten so bad in SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME, can you even IMAGINE what will be on TV in 5 years, when Kalia is all of 7 years old? I don't even want to think about it.

And then there's the music problem.

You know whose music is fun and catchy and great to dance or workout to? Britney Spears. Remember "Oops I Did it Again" or "Hit Me Baby One More Time"? Or more recently "Womanizer" and "Circus"? Seriously, some of the best songs to work out to EVER. (Well, I don't really work out right now, but if I did, those would definitely be my songs of choice.)

Did you hear about her latest hit single? It's called '3'. And you know what it's about? Having a threesome. You know. A Menage a trois. Also what you might have seen on Gossip Girl the other night. Do you know what made me sick about the song? It was this news headline:
"Britney Spears becomes the first artist in over three years to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, to be released tomorrow (Oct. 15), as "3" opens at the pinnacle of the chart." Yeah, I listened to it. I'm worried about all the people who listen and bop along to it's catchy tune and beat, not knowing what she's really saying, or not really listening to the lyrics. How about this line?

Are - you in
Livin' in sin is the new thing (yeah)
Are - you in
I am countin'

Yeah. Sickened. Livin' in sin is the new thing. SATAN'S LIES!! It's NOT the new thing for me and my house.(Joshua 24:15) Then one month later, the Gossip Girl episode that not-so-subtley teachs viewers that having a threesome is just part of college life and experimentation.

Satan's lies. Satan's lies. Satan's lies. Pounding us from the media. From sources that used to be harmless. Once upon a time, and long, long ago, when Britney was only 18 and still singing about being a heartbreaker.

The whole "dividing the wheat from the tares" is happening now. I know we can't straddle both sides forever. So if you're not ready to make your choice now, GEAR UP. We will have to choose soon. We have to. Our spiritual lives are going to depend on it. And if we don't, well, things that once felt so awful and so wrong will slowly become acceptable. It's going to be hard. I will admit, sadly, that I am still watching all three aforementioned shows. And I know that I have to just quit. Give them up. What is it going to take for me to do it? I'm not sure. But you can bet that there will be some prayer and fasting going into this decision, because I am just feeling so strongly that it's time for the floodgates to close.

One of my most favorite quotes of all time is this:
"At first we abhor, and then we ignore, and then we embrace."

And a favorite quote from C.S. Lewis:
“You will say that these are very small sins; and doubtless, like all young tempters, you are anxious to be able to report spectacular wickedness. … It does not matter how small the sins are, provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing. … Indeed, the safest road to Hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.

I've heard it said that Satan's power diminshes every time a temple is built on the earth. That definitely gives me hope. I am going to start right there by trying to find a way to get to the temple every week, in hopes that it will help strengthen me against this wicked world. I have so many things that need to be worked on, so to me this is the simplest place to start.

I'm vowing today to fight back. The Media will not take me. It will not take my family. It can take itself and the world and go to hell. And I mean that literally in the non-swearing, "I'm talking about the place" way.

And that's what I think about that.
If you are in the mood for an amazing talk about the temple and the power it will have in our lives, see Elder Bednar's talk HERE

Ideas?

We have spent the last 5 days in St. George, and we're having a blast. I got to go to Time Out For Women with my mom and sisters, and it was wonderful. I have really been feeling like I've been in a scripture study rut for awhile now. I am reading a little each day but I'm not getting anything out of it. I need a new routine or study guide or SOMETHING. Any ideas?

Fabulous Finds

Time for a few more reviews on some of my favorite products:
1. Organix Coconut Milk Anti Breakage Serum

I am not sure if you can find this at Wal-mart or Target, but you will definitely find it at a drugstore. If you look at the other Organix products (shampoos and conditioners) you can probably find a "Try it free" tab on the bottle, so you can buy any organix product, and mail in the receipt for a full rebate. That's what I did. I tried both the coconut milk conditioner and this serum. I was NOT impressed with the conditioner, but I LOVE this serum. It made my hair so silky. (TOO silky, if you want your hair to hold a perfect style, FYI). I love the smell too. Well worth $4.99 if if you don't get a rebate.

2. Lancome Teint Idole Foundation

This is my favorite department store foundation (in other words, expensive), but it gives me the perfect amount of coverage, doesn't rub off too much, the coverage lasts all day, and lots of color options for all skin tones. The color I found blends in with my skin flawlessly. I love this stuff.

3. Neosporin Lip Health Daily Hydration Therapy SPF 20

This is THE BEST LIP MOISTURIZER THAT I HAVE EVER FOUND. Not only does it have sunscreen, you can't tell it's in there (a lot of Chapstick products with SPF feel really waxy, but this one is perfectly smooth.) Another great thing about this is that it's not in a jar, so you don't have to dip dirty fingers into the jar to get the product out. This white cream-like stuff moisturizes my lips for HOURS.

4. Suave Advanced Therapy

One time I was on my way into a temple session, and I stopped in the bathroom right beforehand. I washed my hands, and on my way out the door I saw this lotion that one of the workers had left for everyone to use it. I pumped a bit into my hand and rushed off, but the entire time I kept thinking about how soft my hands were. I bought a bottle after that, and I still love it. It's a really good moisturizer.

5. Tree Hut Shea Sugar Body Scrub in Coconut Lime
I bought this one day at Walmart. IT SMELLS SOOOOOOOOO GOOD. Not very coconuty or limey, at least not in the "Bath and Body Works" way, but it just smells amazing. It scrubs my skin WAY smooth. I have had little bumps on the hamstring area of my legs for the longest time, but this will scrub them right off. I think this cost around $5 and it's a pretty good size. The only downside is that the sugar grains will stay on the bottom of your shower/tub if you don't rinse really well.