Focus for January and February 2008

After some procrastination the kids and I talked last night about our first two focuses of the new year. The first is FOCUS on gratitude in prayer. We have committed to taking time in our personal and family prayers to remember to give thanks to Heavenly Father for what we have, what we have been blessed with and what we are grateful for. I was reminded again of this principal (it is usually not too far from my mind) yesterday in church when the bishop (what an inspired man) gave the opening prayer. He took some time to specifically state things that we are grateful or thankful for. I was particularly impressed with the thought and time to make each statement unto the Lord. Thank you Bishop for constantly reminding us. So that is our first focus. I think in doing this we are reminded of how much we truely have and how much Heavenly Father is there blessing us. It invites a spirit of gratitude into our home and hopefully will start to remind us to take careful note of what we are being blessed with each day. I have been impressed with our prayers last night and again today. I can tell the kids are trying to remember this principal. It helps for them to hear the prayers of their parents to remind them and to help reinforce this pattern.
The second Focus is for the month of February...we are starting early though and that is to read from the Book of Mormon daily. Both personally and as a family. (for those of you in our sacrament meeting, you can tell I was impacted) I let the kids choose whether we start at the beginning or pick up where we had left off before Christmas (I know, I know, I know.....) they opted to start at the beginning and to read and ponder the words of Nephi. I am excited to have this as our February Focus. The month of Love will help us with that Love of the Scriptures.
I will keep you posted on our progress!
I talked to Kris tonight and things went well today. When I called him back after I got done with everything I needed to here, he was already asleep in bed...I woke him up! Sorry honey!!!
Maybe we can get him home this next weekend.....That is my hope!

Another Date

Nick and I ended up having a "date night" last night. He came with me to drop Nate off at a birthday shin dig...and then we headed home. We decided upon McGraths Fish House and Nick was ecstatic! He LOVES seafood. So he ordered a combination plate that had salmon, snapper and giant prawns. Oh, he was in 7th heaven!! We had such a good time just talking and laughing. I think we need to do one on one dates with our kids more often. Maybe that is one thing I will add to my "focus" list for the year!!
Anyway. It is only 6:30 AM, I am headed back to bed for a bit as I got up at 5 not feeling to hot! I will see how the morning progresses!

New Background

One note...before you begin...I noticed now, as I loaded the new template that I lost all of my pictures...Not sure how that happened, but I will investigate...so before you upload a new template...make sure you are not loosing your pictures you have posted. I will let you know what I find out.....

Well. I hope you like the new template I am using. I was looking at a friends blog and noticed a link for pyzam.com. They have tons of free templates to use with blogger accounts. All you do is find one you like, click to get the code, copy the code and paste it into the edit html button on your blogger account...all the directions are on pyzams web site.
There are some really fun ones! Go check it out....I sound like an advertisement, huh!!
Well, Kris is getting some reinforcements on Sunday...actually just one. One of the gals in support is flying out to help train and rove around with the newly trained agents to answer questions. He had to stop his new training class last Thursday because the agents on the floor were bombarded with things they couldnt answer and there was no one to ask...so he stopped training and went to help them. Things will resume Monday with the new training class and go thru Thursday of next week. Then everyone will be on the phones...hopefully they can get the managers there trained and then he can look at flying home and doing continual support for them from here. (please please please please) I think the whole process would be easier if I just knew a date that he would be coming home!
I am doing better today.. I think I am over the "hitting the wall" slump..thanks to my friends!
I just did some things for myself yesterday and then I finally took a LONG and really really HOT shower...(and the hot water didnt run out... :0 )That was fabulous! I got the boys off to their campout and played with Caitlyn. Today we are up...she made up chocolate chip muffins and I made cocoa! She is practicing her skills at sewing and having fun with that. We are going to attempt to finish her dress... I will post pictures as it gets done!
have a great SATURDAY!!!!

mom and daughter date

Well...we werent toooooo exciting, but we did have fun. Caitlyn and I called up Teresa Perry and her daughter, Ciera, and we went to Robintino's restaurant in Bountiful. They have wonderful Italian food and the best Ranch Dressing on the planet! So we have pizza and ravioli and it was yummy! Then we went to "Ross" clothing store for about half an hour and then back to the Perry's house. We were all really tired. Caitlyn and I are finishing up some "Bunny Tracks" Ice Cream and are going to get our Jammies on and watch a movie and going to bed!
We had fun!

Hitting the wall

Well, I made it to 5:30 AM this morning...I actually slept from 11 until now! YEAH..but I am really still very tired. I told Kris last night that I "hit the wall"...meaning...I am done. I am ready for him to be home and it looks like he will still be there about 2 more weeks. So...I am trying to occupy myself. My boys are both going on a campout with scouts tonight..this one should be fun. They are going up to a Cabin by Nordic Valley Ski Resort. (up in the "valley")They are sleeping up there and then sledding all morning and into the afternoon tomorrow...so it a girls night out for Caitlyn and I. She will be tired, as they have dinner theater rehearsal until about 6. So, maybe dinner and a movie..or maybe I will wake her up with dinner and bowling...or something insane like that....any ideas?? Post them quick!
And let me know...those of you with husbands that travel.....what you do when you hit your wall. When you dont think you can go another day without seeing that man...without the support of your husband at home...I guess it is down on my knees for me! I do feel the spirit of the Lord with me and I am soooooooo grateful for children who laugh and do really silly things to keep me occupied! I love them. Nate was hillarious last night...just silly things and sayings!
Ok..I am going back to bed for another 45 minutes and then I do have to get up and start my day!
Oh..and a BIG HUGE THANKS to Deanna for calling me and supporting me and letting me know it is ok...because she does this all the time! How great for you to have Dan home on a week night!
love to all!
Cheryl

Hello all, yes our blog is showing the right time and yes I am doing this in the middle of the night. Working to train the small group in KC at Block's main call center has had it's ups and downs. I miss my family terribly, and it have been putting in 18 - 20 hour days out here, but if that means that the customers get taken care of and that management finds that I do know a little about what I have been saying for the past few months I think it will be worth it in the long run.

I was given 20 people techs out here to train, one group is from the downtown Block call center, and that manager was not very keen on the idea that came from corporate to spare 15 of his people, so he did not send the fastest or brightest, but they are coming along in training. The other call center manager at the one that I am training in, did a good job at picking 5 that really are bright and are picking up the information quickly.

The biggest issue that faces this training process is, I am taking a training curriculum that I have been working on, that is normally done in 2 weeks, and cramming it into 3 days. True, I normally have the trainees listen to calls during that time, which we cannot do out here, and that is part of the time, but it does make it so they are hitting "info overload" very quickly. Tomorrow, oops today will be the last day of training before TaxWorks relenquises the 800#'s to come to Block for Block offices to call to get support. Should be interesting :)

Another Update

Well, we are now 5 days into the time Kris will be gone...or has been gone, rather! I got a better night sleep last night thanks to a unisom and Caitlyn sleeping with me! I was grateful to have a warm body with me. The dogs are to squishy...in that they like to squish in as close as they can to me and I wake up feeling paralyzed or like I am a mummy! Caitlyn's friend Ciera is sleeping over tonight, so I guess it is back to me and the dogs for tonight!
Kris said his first day of training went very well and that the group selected for this training is really on the ball. So that is encouraging!! Maybe he can get it all wrapped up in 2 weeks and be back home!
I think I am floating somewhere in this numb space that is somewhere between exhaustion and sleep deprivation and a functioning reality where I have to be the adult in charge and make everything happen! Sometimes I just realize that I have been Sitting and staring into space! WOW!
Anyway. Today was a fun day for the kids and I. First we went cruising through the snowstorm out to west haven and then I dropped Nate off at a friends house. Then Nick and Caitlyn and I met the Perrys and went to Enchanted. This was an EXCELLENT movie. We laughed so hard. Nick laughed so hard I thought he was going to fall off his chair! I loved it! I would go see it again and again and will definatly buy it when it comes out!! After that, we went to the mall for a while. Forever Young shoes was having a mega sale..this is the one we wait for all year! BOGO free. So for 18.00$...we got 2 pair of boots and 2 pair of dress shoes...that is about 5.00 per pair of boots and 3.00 per pair of shoes plus tax! Not to bad if I do say so myself. Caitlyn and Ciera got twinner boots and they think they are pretty cool!
Nick got some new books at Barnes and Noble and at Deseret Book. He is thrilled.
As for Nate....Well, i hope he ate some food and someone was nice to him today. I havent seen him except for about an hour this morning! i guess I should call him and see when he will be arriving at the homestead!!
Until later!

1 day and counting

I thought I would keep a log of life at home and life as reported by Kris. Hopefully Kris will be able to log on and publish comments and let us know how life in Kansas City is.
I talked to Kris yesterday and his flight was pretty uneventful until he got to the airport there. Then all sorts of crazy things happened from complications with the rental car to complications at the hotel. The joys of travel! Everything is resolved now. His rental car is a Jeep Liberty which he says is the worst car for driving in the snow. With the ABS and the streets of ice there, it is not a good combination. HOLD ON HONEY!!
On our end....I was up and down all night. The dogs kept jumping up on the bed and then down. They finally settled down about 3 am. I woke up at 6:30, Nick and Nate came in for prayers. Caitlyn slept in a bit as she was up late doing French homework. She went babysitting for the Gardners last night and then came home, did homework and went to bed around 11. Nate was glad for warmer temps today, although he said walking to the bus stop in 0 degrees was not too bad. ( I think he sits on a throne of lies) :)
I am now home, the dogs are fed and the laundry is waiting to be done!
We love you daddy and miss you! I will post pictures of life on our end here!! Maybe you can send some pics of KC to me and we will post them here as well!

Hang in there, baby!

I can't believe it is January 16th ! Where does the time go? We found out yesterday that Kris has to fly out to Kansas City, Mo tomorrow for at least 2 weeks, maybe a month. I am devistated! I really am not one of those wives that likes to have her husband gone. I can't even think about it right now because honestly, it really stresses me out! But on the other hand, it is good, career wise for Kris. Their call center for Taxworks is so busy right now and most days they have about 80- 100 customers waiting in que to have their calls answered. This is not acceptable and is obviously not good customer service. So to aleviate some of the pressure on the agents here, Kris will fly to KC to train people in their call center. he will need to train them, and then stay with them until they can handle the calls and questions on their own. Now, back to my side, I already can feel my back tensing up and just the thought of being the mom and dad is making me crazy. But I can do it. i have done it before, but I sure could use lots of hugs and "hey, how are you hanging in there?" I think the biggest thing is that I am just WAY to busy right now and Kris takes so much of the load when he gets home and that will be gone for a while.
Ok. I am done complaining. The good thing for Kris is that the Corporate offices in KC know who he is and that he is willing to do so much for the company. These solutions were his suggestions and they took them. They are willing to see what he can do and how he can help. I figure that just helps with job security!!
Anyway...life goes on and I am blessed with wonderful kids who will help out and who are old enough to have conversations with and with whom I can go on "dates" with. Kris will be in a hotel for a month. I think I will stay here!!

Happy New Year

I thought I would do a quick update and post some New Years Eve pictures as well. This year we went to the Perry's to ring in the New Year. Nate ended up hanging out with friends playing games and such. It was weird to not have him with us, but, yet another sign of things to come! We had the Perrys and the Chamberlains (both former neighbors) to celebrate with and we had TONS of really great mexican food. Teresa made chile verde, and a taco/nacho bar and this amazing triffle. I brought enchildas, and a version of sweet pork ( trying to get close to Costa Vida's sweet pork...it wasnt too bad) And a cranberry/jalapeno dip. Chamberlains brought all sorts of food too and this yummy, gooey chocolate dessert creation!!
We played Tripoly and Are you smarter than a 5th grader and watched the kids play with the Wii. The girls (ciera, caitlyn, stephanie, valerie, sami and ali) all played and doorbell ditched the cute boys up the street. Nick hung out on the computer and played games with us!
All in all it was a great night. As we counted down to the New Year we all agreed that it would be OK for Dick Clark to finally retire and then we kissed our spouses and kids and toasted with martinelli's.
Our goals this year are to focus on things that are the most important and will do us the most good as a family and as individuals. It is hard getting started, but our first FHE is next week and we will define what this means to us!
Happy new year..one and all!
Cheryl