Saving Money

With the Economic Woes that seem to be bombarding the media lately I've been thinking about how I save money.  There are many things you can do but yes they do take more time and effort. You just have to ask yourself is this worth it.  For me these things are.  I find they bring me satisfaction and my family benefits from them.  

1.  Making Yogurt-I make yogurt at least two times a month.  I make about one gallon at a time and it is delicious.  I prefer homemade over store bought because we can flavor it with fresh and canned fruits.  I use it also in cooking to substitute sour cream which is much healthier.  I also think eating yogurt on a regular basis can prevent you and your children from getting sick as often.

2.  Clip Coupons and Shop the Ads- If you can find items on the Ads and also use a coupon with it.  Awesome deals!

3.  Use Cash for some of your expenses-When it's gone it's gone.  We use it for groceries, going out money, babysitting for dates, date money, and Devin and I's Mad money.  Mad money is our allowance to ourselves that we can spend what ever we want.  I get a whoopin' $5 but I really enjoy having it.  Sometimes I will save it up for something I really want.

4.  Grow your own Veggies and Fruits and then Preserve what you can't eat at the time it's in season

5.  Have your milk delivered-This way I try to only go to the store once or twice a month.  The less I go to the store the better I do on my grocery budget

6.  Make things from scratch-It can be intimidating to make breads, and other items you normally buy but the more you do it the easier and funner it gets.  Yesterday I made my first loaf of French bread with cinnamon chips in it.  It actually turned out great.  We are going to use it for French Toast tomorrow.  I don't have to buy Great Harvest Cinnamon burst bread at a crazy price of $5.00 a loaf!  

I would love to get any more ideas that you find help you save money.  So if you think of something post a comment.   

Happy Saving!

Be prepared and ye shall not fear

Coming home from Gunnison/Mayfield after a fun weekend with family (New Years Eve) we had a scary incident that will be imprinted on my mind for a long time.  Close to the Farr West heading north we were one of the first cars on a fatal car accident.  We pulled over to help the victims.  Someone had already called 911 and one man (who happened to be a paramedic) was already performing CPR on the driver of the vehicle.  Devin helped the passenger which happened to be a boy from Cache Valley who was driving with his grandma.  Devin came to the car and said what do we have that we can help with?  Luckily we had a little bit of medical supplies from Derek and Charity they sent home from us, but this was not much.  Devin was able to talk with the boy and keep him as calm as possible.  He knew as well as the paramedic that his grandma was already gone but they kept working on her until the ambulance was there.  After the ambulance came and took over Devin got in the car and relayed his experience.  Life is so fragile.  Here this grandma was just driving a long and then just like that she was gone.  This touched Devin and we had a special moment just thankful to be alive with our loved ones.  Then we started talking about how we can be more prepared if that should happen to us again.  We made a list of things we would like to have on hand in the car for emergencies.

1.  Wool blanket (this would have been very helpful so the people wouldn't have to lay on the pavement and to keep them warm)

2.  large gauze pads (to stop bleeding)

3.  Medical scissors 

4.  Ace bandage (immobilize hurt body parts)

5.  flashlight

What do you keep in your car for emergencies or things that you have found to be helpful?

This also made me think about being spiritually prepared so I can return to my father in heaven. I truly believe in the council that if we are prepared, we shall not fear.  

Claire's Baby Shower/Grandpa T is 80

We had a fun baby shower for Claire this weekend at my parents home.  This was fun to get together and see Claire so excited to be a mom.  She has waited a long time and she just glows.  It's so interesting that we are on our own time tables.  I always thought I would have been one of the last of my friends to get married.  I really wanted to go on a mission and go on a few adventures before I settled down, but Heavenly Father had different plans for me.  I'm grateful for my experiences and know that he has guided me in my life.  Just as he has in yours.  

During the shower, Devin and Dad started remodeling the bathroom.  They took out the toilet, tiles and the bathtub.  It was quite the job but it's only just begun.

My grandpa had his 80th Birthday Celebration right after the shower.  This was a cowboy theme with all the family wearing bandannas that coordinated with the family they belong.  Homemade root beer, ice cream, and cookies were served.  Almost every one of the Titensor clan was there.  Neighbors, friends, and family came to this celebration to honor Grandpa.  There was a special program that featured several musical numbers and ended with a video tribute Angie put together.  We are all hoping Angie will give us copies.  Hint hint!   Grandpa sure looks good for 80 years.  He is such a good example to me.  I love him and am so grateful my children have a relationship with him.  

After the celebration we went to Grandma and Grandpas new home in WX and ate Hot dogs and hamburgers and just visited with everyone.  The cousins sure had a great time playing and the adults visited for several hours.  

Monday we took Grandma and Grandpa Titensor to a Martin Luther King Concert at U of U.  It was a musical trip to South America.  Very cool music.  Conrad even got up to dance to the jive'n jams.  After the concert we drove past the capitol and was amazed by it's beauty at night.  

We had a fun weekend with friends and family.  Isn't that what holidays are about?  I wonder what other people do on MLKJ Day?  

Enjoy the slideshow and if there are any pictures you would like for your own history.  I'll e-mail them to you.  Just let me know.

The Parable of the Broken Leg

So I'm reflecting again today and thinking about what I was doing at this time a year ago.  It reminded me of my first sharing time that I gave the lesson after I broke my leg.  The topic was about Repentance.  I couldn't get out of my mind the similarities of my experience with physical healing and the spiritual healing of repentance.  So I wrote the following to share with our Primary children, cast and all.

All of us as humans can get physically hurt.  I had an accident where I hurt my leg.  It hurt me really bad, and as soon as it happened I knew this was not just a bruise; I couldn't get up and walk.  I was taken to the hospital where a doctor found there were 4 breaks and told me I would need surgery.

I did have surgery and now I wear a cast to protect my leg so it can heal-it's like a big band aid.  The Atonement works very similarly.  Just like any of us can and will get hurt at one time in our lives, we also will sin.  When we sin or do something we shouldn't do our spirits are hurt.  Some of our mistakes are more serious and require us to have a longer healing process.  When our sins are more serious we go to the bishop who will help us repent.  When I broke my leg I wouldn't be able to do it without help so I went to a surgeon who was able to put my leg back together-this is like going to the bishop, he will assist us in the healing process.  But every mistake we must pray to Heavenly Father and say sorry and commit to do better.  The Savior heals us of our sins.  Just like he created our amazing bodies that can heal itself.  

Today a year later I look at my scar on my leg and it doesn't hurt but I still can remember the pain it caused me and I certainly will do everything in my power to avoid doing it again.  I believe Heavenly Father allows us to remember our sins for the same reason.  The spiritual agony we endure will help us avoid sinning again.  This remembrance is not to make us feel guilty only to make us wiser in the days ahead.  

I found it really cool that President Hales spoke of this very issue in April's 2008 Conference, only one month after I did my sharing time.  He  stated in his address about abuse, "Healing may begin with a thoughtful bishop or stake president or a wise professional counselor. If you had a broken leg, you wouldn’t decide to fix it yourself. Serious abuse can also benefit from professional help. There are many ways to begin healing, but remember that a full cure comes through the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, our Master and Redeemer. Have faith that with effort His perfect, eternal, infinite Atonement can heal your suffering from the consequences of abuse."

I have a testimony in the power of the Atonement and I am so grateful for the knowledge that I can be forgiven.  And although I may remember my mistakes our Heavenly Father has promised to forgive and forget.  I love our Savior and it's nice to know that he loves me even though I'm not perfect.  

Heather-2008

Martin Luther King Jr. Day of last year was when I broke my leg.  I can't believe a whole year has past since then.  I have been reflecting on that and how grateful I am for the experience and what I learned.  Many of my friends have asked me to relate the story so here goes.

Our family likes to visit Derek and Charity and Janelle and Dallas down in Mayfield/Gunnison Utah at least once a year.  It didn't work for us to go down for New Years Eve so we went for Martin Luther King Weekend.  

It was a cold winter and there was plenty of snow so we planned on sledding.  One of our favorite things we do is to be pulled by Derek's 4-wheelers on tubes or sleds.  It is a blast.  After a good hour of being pulled around, we were about to call it a day.  I was walking on the ice and didn't see a sled coming right towards me until it was too late.  As soon as I was hit I knew I was hurt bad.  As I laid on the ground everyone came running to see if I was OK.  Conrad asked matter-of-factly "Is she dead?"  We got a good laugh out of that and sent the kids inside while Derek got his Suburban close to take me to the hospital.  After I realized that I was going to be off of it for awhile I started crying and Devin asked me if I was hurting and I said no, I was just sad because I just started a great routine of going to the gym with my neighbors and now I couldn't exercise with them.  Little did I know that this would be the least of my worries.  

The X-rays in the hospital showed a break in both bones in my lower ankle.  We opted to drive home to Logan with my foot immobilized and get it fixed there.  I really don't remember it hurting a lot until the drive home.  The shock wore off as well as the pain medication.  That drive was painful and very long for me but we made it home.  

I got surgery about week later from a great orthopedic surgeon.  Because I was five months pregnant I wanted to be sure we took precautions and monitor the baby.  Surgery required 2 plates and 10 screws and some major pain.  Because I was trying to be cautious when I first came out of surgery I told them I didn't need any med's two times.  Two hours later I was moaning, and deep breathing because of the intense pain.  I ended up staying over night in the hospital which I wasn't planning on because I wasn't managing well.  

After surgery I had a lot of time to sit/lay around.  I watched Monk, read books, cross-stitched, journaled, and tried not to go crazy. =)  

For my own record I'm going to list some milestones of recovery:

Jan. 21, 2008-Broke my leg

Jan. 22, 2008-First appointment with surgeon

Jan. 24, 2008-2nd appointment with surgeon (Brittany and Scott had Benson today)

Jan 25, 2008-Surgery 

Jan 27, 2008-President Gordon Hinkley Died today

Feb 22, 2008-Went to USU Basketball with Aliene and Don cast and all.  

Feb 23, 2008-Went to all three hours of church for the first time since accident (foot was very sore and swollen by the end but I'm glad I went)

March 11, 2008-Got my cast off.  In a Walking boot.  Hurts to flex and point, started to do the alphabet with my foot 4-5 times a day--Very painful.  Bearing a little bit of weight on my right foot with crutches.  

March --April 23rd Physical Therapy once or twice a week--at home I do exercises and Devin pops the scar with a snake bite kit so the scar doesn't stick to the bone.  Swelling is still bad enough I can't wear regular shoes so I bought a pair of 10 wides.  

June 3-Last Appointment with surgeon!--Everything looks great he said swelling will go down after I have the baby.

June 10-Abigail was born

I am so grateful for everyone who served our family at this time.  I have a journal full of names and acts of service from family, friends, and neighbors who helped.  I hate to list everyone for fear of missing someone.  But I will mention a few.  I thank Devin for taking on his responsibilities plus mine.  Mom O. for staying with us and taking the Samantha and Conrad for several days.  My mom, Melissa, Janelle, Charity and many ward members for watching Conrad and Samantha.   Brenda and Nicole for taking Traeden to school everyday, and Lisa and Christy for getting Samantha out of her crib after naps.  My dinner group and the ward for bringing us meals.  Derek for sending me flowers and movies to pass the time.  All the good well wishes by phone and card were so helpful.  Thank you and I love you all!  The hand of God truly reaches out to touch me and my family through the angels among us.  

Devin 2008

It's so much easier to do summaries about your kids because they change so much in just one year. But I will attempt to make this interesting for more then just me here.  

Devin keeps busy doing so many things.  I wonder how he manages to juggle so many things.  He is assistant scoutmaster. He works with the 12 and 13 year old boys in the area.  He really enjoys the camping, hiking and playing that he has to do with the calling.  He has a great leader that he shares the load with so that always helps make things nice.  

Devin is always dreaming of ways to make our home and yard nicer, and more usable.  This year he tackled a huge project of building a good size shed in the back yard.  This was done with little help from me since I was either pregnant or recovering from having a baby.  I was really proud of him because he designed the whole thing on his own.  It even has glass windows to let in light!  We are able to store all our bikes, lawnmower, ladders, and stuff like that we don't have room in our spacious garage. (NOT!)

At the beginning of the year he was Mr. Mom, husband, and Dad.  He did all the snow removal, cooking, cleaning, you name it.  He never complained or made me feel bad that I couldn't do more.  We both learned a lot in this time frame.  I always knew he could manage without me, but now I really know he could.  He even made dinner for the dinner group, and delivered it so we could get dinner brought to us the rest of the week.  

He is still working at Apogee and is satisfied in the capacity he fills there.  I am very grateful he loves what he does and that they are happy with him.  He is the manager there and the largest accomplishment for the year was the completion of their beautiful building.  He foresaw all the construction of this project.  He does so well at envisioning things so this was a fun and rewarding project to be a part of.  The Herald Journal did a really nice article on the building and how innovative the construction is.  Click for a great picture of the new building of Apogee.

This fall Devin joined the American Festival Chorus which is conducted by Craig Jessop.  This has been a fun out for both of us because we can go together and share this amazing musical experience with each other.   We are so grateful to have found out about it so we could tryout.  

This year Devin is coaching Traeden's basketball team.  He does a fantastic job.  He is so concerned about the boys, and wants them to have a positive experience.  

I was able to throw him a surprise birthday party for him this year.  Since his birthday is Christmas Eve, he often gets overlooked so I wanted to make sure he knew how much he his loved.  

I sure appreciate all Devin does for our family.  He is a wonderful dad and husband.  I'm a lucky lucky girl!