There is a kind of power that comes from setting and achieving goals. When I drift in my life I feel lethargic and like things don't really matter very much. When I am achieving my goals I have more energy and excitement for life. This past eight weeks I have been participating in a program called "Feel Great in Eight" I have been exercising and eating right and I feel healthier and I feel that this way of living is right for me and that I should continue this way for the rest of my life. Today I got into a size 6 dress that I have had in the closet for a long time. I got it drycleaned this month just in case. It is not even tight. It is not the weight that I am excited about. It is the fact that I do have control over myself. I can exercise and eat right and feel good. I think it what Heavenly Father wants for me.

The little car that could

Some of you may have heard the story of how our car stopped in Nampa on the way home from San Diego. We were all tired and had been in the car since early that morning. Carter was asleep and we were anxious to get home. Mike was driving and suddenly the car just stopped. Mike pulled off the freeway and rolled into a service station. We said a prayer, waited a little while and Mike started the car and went home. We haven't had any problem since and so we thought it might be bad gasoline.

Well, now you can hear the rest of the story.... Mike, Destenee and I traveled 15 hours to New Mexico and had a wonderful weekend with Heidi and Reed and the kids. The baby is adorable, the kids were fun and Destenee was so helpful and a delight to be with. We went on a hike, played outside, ate good food. The baby blessing was wonderful and we enjoyed church. Monday we traveled to the Indian caves and had a great time and then went to the park for lunch. We went to Heidi's and packed and left for home at 2 in the afternoon.

There is not much freeway between here and there. We were making good mileage. Mike had to pass cars on the two lane highway and the car was just humming along. We took an hour detour until we realized we were on the wrong road and turned back. It was a curvy mountain road with beautiful trees. Some of the prettiest scenery of the trip. We stopped at a hotel and left the next morning planning to arrive about 7 or 7:30 in Boise. About 100 miles out of Boise the car started sputtering. Mike pulled to the side of the freeway and we chugged along until the car started going again. The third time it did this it completely stopped and we couldn't get it started again. We called AAA to tow us home. We were allowed ten miles of towing and then it would cost us. We figured it would be about $400 to get home. The battery on the cell phone was getting low. We sat for a while as the semi's rocked the car as they sped past us. I asked Destenee to say a prayer. Then, we had to do all we could to help ourselves so we called Adam. Kimberly had to wake him up because he had worked all night the night before and was exhausted. We asked him to get the truck and tow rope and come and get us. He said he would. Corden was in the shower and so he had to call back for us to tell him how to get into the garage and where the key was hidden in the garage to get into the house. Adam got the keys, truck and tow rope and was on his way but first had to gas up the truck to start the rescue mission. Meanwhile, we were on the side of the freeway. It was getting dark and was starting to rain. The rocking of the car as the trucks and cars sped past was frightening. Destenee and I started to do a cheer. "Come on car you can do it if you put your heart into it! Clap, Clap, Clap, Clap clapclapcalp." Mike got the car started and we exited off the freeway and waited for Adam. Luckily we had Destenee who can invent games and riddles to keep us intertained. If you are ever stranded somewhere you can only hope that Destenee will be with you to help pass the time in laughter and fun. We still had a few crackers and grapes left to quiet our hunger pains. We also had a nice field of weeds for our other pressing needs.

Before Adam got there Mike tried the car again and it started again. Humm. . . We were so happy to see Adam and Thomas arrive with our purple truck. Mike said he would try to drive without having to tow the car on the freeway at night in the rain. We started off to drive the 90 miles back to Boise. I was watching the miles pass and praying the whole time. We had gone 5, then 10 then 15 miles and then the car started to sputter again. We pulled off the freeway but it didn't stop running. After a few minutes it started to smooth out again. Again we started counting down the miles, 5, 10, 15, 20 and then it started again. There was a truck stop and so we pulled off and idled until the engine smoothed out again. Off we went and made it home. Mike thought I would never want to ride in the car again and was making plans to trade it in and then he got an appointment to find out the cause of our car problem. The fuel pump was bad. The mechanic said that we must live a charmed life because as far as he could tell there should be no way that we made it home. He was shocked that we didn't get stranded somewhere in the middle of the desert with no phone service.

I felt so grateful for our green BMW for not stranding us in the middle of the desert and then giving the extra effort to get us home so that we didn't have to be towed on the freeway, at night and in the rain that I call it the little green car that could and I never want to get rid of it!! And that's the rest of the story!!

Corden was worried that he wouldn't be able to go to the Homecoming dance on Sat. because last weekend he was sick with the flu. He was able to get Lauren to say yes by singing to her until she agreed. Corden and Lauren and I went shopping for his clothes on Thursday. We got new black pants, a tan shirt, a black belt and a black tie. Saturday morning at 5:00 Corden was in so much pain from his eyes that he couldn't sleep. His dad gave him a blessing and then we proceeded to do all we could to help. His dad ran to the store for some eye drops, I tried the washcloth on the eyes and pain medication. He was finally able to rest and then we got the presciption from the optometrist filled as soon as they opened at 9:00 a.m. His eyes were so sore that he couldn't go outside. By the afternoon he was feeling a bit better. The group that he went with were suppose to go bowling but they spent so much time taking pictures that they didn't have the time. They went to dinner at PF Changs after coming here for pictures. They went to the dance and had a great time. Then, they went to a girls home and watched a movie. It was an eventful weekend and one that we won't forget.

Opa and Kylie at Heidi and Reed's home in New Mexico.

Kylie before Church.

Opa, Oma and Destenee at the Inidan caves in New Mexico.

Opa and Max on the hike.

Hiking in New Mexico. Destenee, Caleb, Carson, Max and Maia.

Thomas and Brandon standing tall.

Out on the lake in Boise.

Corn on the cob, made with jelly beans!

The cousins at the beach house. Destenee, Thomas Calvin, Carter, Gene and Isabel with Destenee holding Jeremiah in the second picture

Here we are after the blessing of Jeremiah Frank Fuhriman. Kirk, Opa, Gretchen holding Carter, Oma, Leticia, David holding Jeremiah, Adam, Kimberly, Calvin and Corden. Gene, Thomas, Isabel and Destenee.

This summer we spent a week at a Beach house in San Diego. Here are my boys before another day of riding the waves!

On the road again

Tomorrow we leave after work for New Mexico. We will travel 15 hours in two days. Spend two days and come back for two days. We decided to take Christmas gifts with us so we have been Christmas shopping. This week there popped up lots of extra things to do instead of get ready to go. Mike had to get his quarterly report done before we leave. Then, the roof leaked and we had to get that repaired. Then, we had to get the car repaired. Now we have a flat tire to get fixed before we go. Then, I was asked to work on Thursday. So, tomorrow I will have my 3 dance classes then run to work and leave on the trip after work. So tonight the list of things to do is so long that I don't want to face it. But, before I can face it I have 4 dance classes and need to pick up the drycleaning and go to Corden's soccer game. Mike has to pick up the car, work, come back for the insurance adjustor and go back to work and miss the last game of the season because we will be gone for the tournament. As soon as we leave Diedre will come back to Boise. Always the trials before the blessings.

Even with all these obstacles I can't wait to see my new granddaughter Kylie!! and play with Caleb, Carson, Maia, and Max!!