Kenzi Got a Job!

Kenzi got a job this last week. We are so excited. She is one of 6 chefs at a eating disorder clinic in Logan. There are two facilities, adult and adolescent. She has worked in both places and has decided that she likes the younger girls better. They are eager to learn and are really full of life. All the girls help prepare meals, clean up and Kenzi eats and associates with them. She will be a great source of inspiration and a positive influence in their lives. You can go here to read about the facilities http://www.avalonhills.org/
It really is amazing and they have wonderful reviews.
It's a world I'm not familiar with and thank goodness I hope never to be. Kenzi said she fights back tears and has alot of empathy for the girls that are there. I know she is going to learn alot about life. What a great experience.

Haiti

If you want to follow a remarkable story about a couples journey to get their adoptive kids to the US go here. Make sure you have kleenex cause you'll need it. And maybe you'll feel inspired to help them out.

http://www.countdowntohomecoming.blogspot.com/

My Quiet Sunday

All of the kids were gone this weekend. Meaning Ez went to SL with friends to a missionary farewell, Colt and Kenzi were at their own apts. It's a great time for Paul and I to have quiet time together and do whatever. I like it...
Today in our RS lesson we talked about unconditional love from our Heavenly Father. He lays down for us "laws" that we need to obey. Just as we lay down "rules" for our own children. Our heavenly father may not like the choices we make, but will always love us. If we keep his "laws" there are great blessings for us to enjoy. If we don't then we only receive mediocre blessings.
I especially love the scripture in John 8:11 when Jesus came across the adulteress woman and said to her, not condemning the woman but said "Go, and sin no more". He was still kind and loving to her but stern. We as parents often have the same experiences with our own children. We love them, we don't like their actions but we still love them and they know it. I know my children know this because they have told me that.
I love my children. I know my parents love me, I know my Heavenly Father loves me and for this I'm thankful.

The Douglass Fam

Heres some pictures that were taken in November. Emily does a great job and we love them! My family is beautiful and we really had a blast, even if we were kicked off the train tracks by the Heyburn cop... It was fun. (There you go Ez ...)
Check out the rope. That is our family totally!

The men in our family with Zoe

Studs...

The Eagle Has Landed

Today we enjoyed 50 degree weather and we felt like it was spring. Paul, Kenz and I went outside and laid on the deck for about a 1/2 hour. It was wonderful. We soaked in the rays for as long as we could. The river was beautiful. They're were some little patches of ice floating along and it was cool. After we went inside, cleaning and hanging out, Kenzi said, "There's an awfully big bird in the tree." We looked out and it was an Eagle. He had a pretty good size fish in his beak and was hanging on with those huge talons just chomping away. It was the coolest thing ever watching him devour that fish. It is amazing how big and strong he was. When he was done which was all of about 10 min. he just sat there perched for about another 10. Finally he spread his beautiful wings and flew across the river. He found alittle patch of ice and sat for a moment then away he went again.
How lucky we are to live in this little piece of heaven. I love it...

Yummy Dinner

I made this great meal from this blog I read, given to me by my friend Erin called "Smitten Kitchen". She lives in NYC and cooks and writes about food. I made her recipe which she actually got from a chef in NY who owns a restaurant called "The Little Owl" anyhoo... Meatball Sliders. So good! I also made a delish risotto with sausage and homemade spaghetti sauce. So good. You can go to her blog and find any recipe for anytime of the year and whatever you decide to make you will not be sorry. I have made several things and everything is wonderful.

Bon Appetit! http://www.smittenkitchen.com/

High School Reunion

I do have to tell you my readers one fun thing that happened to me when I was home taking care of mom.
My high school had a five year reunion between 1978 - 1983. I went with my brother and his wife. It was pretty fun because... No one recognized me! They all had to look at my name tag to see who I was. One guy said, who I hung out alot with, "Holy S---! You look like a movie star! You look awesome!" He did not know who I was. I was so taken back I almost choked. Then I was talking to the cutest guy in my class, football star, quarter back, everyone wanted to be with him... and I had a hot flash! I was sweating so profusely I couldn't even get a grip. Sweat was running down the side of my face, perspiration on my upper lip, my hair was going limp, wow it was bad. But I got thru it and when I turned to leave he said, "Wow, Karla you look terrific." Yeh! That was the highlight of my year. (So far) Were only on Jan. 12th.
It really is true when they say the guys look bad that were so cute and the girls get better and better. It's true!

I'm Shoppin' Again!

Here's my thrifty savings for today:

Walgreens: $96.48 OOP$39.30 Savings of $57.18 Check out the mayo spent $2.23 ea on those bad boys... $1.99 for the batteries and .33 cents for the soup. The razors were buy one get one free @ $5.00 and the chicken stock .59 cents ea. Love it! :)

Target: $79.27 OOP $43.95 Savings of $35.32

So today I spent approx. $83.00 for all this stuff and it went into my food storage. I love it. I think thats quite a bit of stuff and savings!

My Family in Cali!

This is the Saturday we brought my mom home and had 30 people at the house for Christmas dinner. I was alittle hammered! Me and Ging pulled it off and it was a success. Help from all family members was greatly appreciated!
Here's my mom and dad. My older brother on the left, my more mature sister, and my baby brother in front of me. We had a nice visit while we were all together. I love them all in their unique way. We all have something to bring to the table and it's great. My mother is doing better everyday. The blood pressure is down a bit and cholesterol high. Those two things are being treated "aggressively". Mom's doctor is Dr. Kienle, very young and cute and needless to say we all three girls get along great with him. We make him laugh... :)

Things are almost back to normal here at our house. Kenzi leaves tomorrow to go back to school, Colton is in Boise looking for a job so that leaves us with Ez. He is doing well at work and has sold 4 cars in two weeks. Go Ez! I'm glad to be home even though the weather back in Cali is 70 most of the time and here, well, it's damn cold!