Yet Another Wednesday at Home

Even though I've been 'grounded' this month (no going to the farmer's market to sell Lilla Rose), I've had a better month of sales than either of the last two months, which I'm quite happy about and very thankful for!  I enjoyed a rather large order from someone I do not know this month.  This is probably the 4th or 5th time in around 6 months, which is awesome.  Every sale is awesome, really.  I appreciate those who purchase Lilla Rose (or any of the other things I sell) through me.  I love my customers!

 The Who's Who Flexi combine with a french-twist-type-braid for classy elegance.

 

Sweet oblong bun with curled tails up held by a beautiful Princess Tiara flexi, perfect for home or out and about.

A new Lilla Rose Consultant will join my team the first Saturday in March.  I'm so excited!  She thinks she'll sign up with Fast Start, which, in my opinion, is THE only way to go.  Why?  Well, it provides SO many more options right off the start.  Also, purchasing Fast Start means the new Consultant is already Fast Start Qualified.  That's a big deal because when a Consultant signs on with only the Party Kit and then someone signs on in her team as a Fast Start, the "Lilla Rose Mama" is only eligible for the Fast Start bonus if she's sold $2,000 in products by then.  I don't think I've sold $2,000 yet. Because I signed on with Fast Start I have and will receive the bonus when anyone signs up as Fast Start in my team.

There are other benefits, too, of course.  If you have any interest in selling at a market or anything similar, Fast Start with the mixed set is the best way to go.  That's what I did and I'm still very happy about/with it!  I enjoy, very much, selling at the market and hope to get back before too much longer.  Baby girl is still sick some days, which means she's still sick, of course.  But, for instance, yesterday she seemed totally well.  ahwell

Currently I have one direct teammate and she has one direct, so that makes me a Lilla Rose grama!  heeheehee   How awesome is that!??  My direct teammate was one of my first hostesses and saw the awesome potential with this business.  My newest Consultant is signing up because, as she put it, "The flexi just sells itself!"  I totally agree and that is among the reasons I just love Lilla Rose!

I have one Facebook/Google Hangout party date available for March.  If you'd like to earn some lovely hair jewelry for free, let me know.  I'd love to work with you.

My other businesses are going slowly, but well.  I am working to build up a small VA business (virtual assistant) as one of my streams of income.  I've got one client and hope to have another soon.   I did a trial post for the new potential client and am just waiting to hear back from her now.  I've also been working on recipes in hopes of selling them (and photos?) to other bloggers (sort of a VA thing, but without anyone being a regular or consistent client).

I've had a couple really wonderful business/work-type gifts come to me recently.  The first was winning some ad space on another blog.  How cool is that!?  I'm pretty hopeful about that.  I also won a free featured post on another blog.  This is good for my blogging and for my Lilla Rose business.  I'm very pleased and very grateful!  I have been wanting/hoping and working to build a strong online Lilla Rose business, so these gifts are especially wonderful!

I haven't sold any of my crocheted items lately, but I've still been working.  I made some pretty squares for a group afghan and a very cool hat for my baby.  I'd love to hear what you think!

If you'd like to, I hope you'll sign up for my newsletter.  I rarely send anything out, at this point, but if I send something, it'll be special!  (The sign up is to the right.)

Have you heard of Lilla Rose before?  If not, I encourage you to follow my blog (to the right) and like my Facebook page.  I share photos of Lilla Rose hair jewelry and uplifting thoughts to brighten your day.  Let me know if you'd like to see something specific and I'll make that happen.

Working Wednesday

Last Wednesday was a good working day.  Better than the week before.  Not as good as my best day at the market, but still good.  It was a great day as far as conversation and enjoyment.  It's coming to the point that working at the market is a bit of a break from my daily work.  And I get to spend more time paying attention to and playing with my babygirl for a lot of the time at market day.  I definitely like that!  I think she does, too.

 The children and I were so tired when we got back to the house that we all took a nap and ended up staying awake quiet late Wednesday night.  It was good, though.  Thankfully, everyone stayed mostly nice.  YEAY!

I forgot my camera again.  Sorry, no pictures from last week!

Grampa Bruce came by a couple of times with gifts for the children.  Another vendor gave the children gifts.  Yet another vendor let us borrow a blanket for the baby (it was quite warm the week before, but then very cold last week!).  Yet another vendor friend gave me a gift which made it easier for me to bring my birthday plans for my husband to fruition.  Praise the Lord!

Working Wednesday

Last Wednesday was not a super sales day, but it was acceptable.  I'm thankful that I've been pretty steady with a low and high day, but mostly really steady.  Praise the Lord for it!  I forgot my camera, too.  sheesh... that's twice now!

Working Wednesday: Special Video of my Girls in Action

This video was a bit staged.  I mean, really... do you think it would even be possible for ME to be behind the camera and catch them in the act of attempting to get a passer-by interested.  How very cool it would be if I could get someone they didn't know to do a video of them in action!  THAT would be suh-WEET!

We had a good day at the Market last Wednesday.  I realized I was stolen from the last Market Day.  So very upsetting... especially because I'm pretty sure I know who it was.  :(  She seemed so kind.  Just another lesson for me on NOT to trust people as much as I would like.  *sigh*

This past Wednesday ended up about half as much as my best day.  I'm so grateful.  Especially now because I'm hoping to make a child's wish come true.  It's a worthy desire... and I miss my sister!  I'm hoping God will continue to bless and favor us and enable me to earn the funds we need to make this dream come true!!  God is so good... I'm just hoping He wants what we want!  :)

They don't normally demonstrate the item they did this time...

proved a little awkward.  Next time I'll make sure they do a Flexi

for you to see.  That is what they sell most consistently.

Working Wednesday

I'm so excited!  It's sorta overwhelming, but wonderfully so!  I'll tell you about my other-than-Lilla-Rose-work in just a minute.  I just have to tell you about my Lilla Rose news first!  :)

What is so exciting and overwhelming?!  I'm glad you asked!

A few Lilla Rose Consultants and I have joined together to create an AWESOME Hostess incentive.  So far, since I have been a Lilla Rose Consultant, I have had 4 Hostesses.  Most of my selling has been via the Farmer's Market.  Three out of the four had parties that were more than $200.  The other... well, not so good.  But it could've been with a little effort on my Hostess's part.  How does this tie in?  Well, all of my Hostesses who have $200 parties from now until the very last day of February, will be eligible for the Hostess incentive.  I've already booked 4 spots and I have only 6 more to fill.  I hope you will be one of my Hostesses!

The Grand Prize winner will receive $700 cash AND a $200 shopping spree with her Consultant, me if you win after Hostessing with me!  There is also a similar second prize and may even be a third prize!  How exciting is that!??  And that, my friend, is all ON TOP of what you'll earn by simply having a $200 Party!  It's a win-win situation.  There really are not many deals that truly are win-win, but this is!

This is the Flexi of the Month for January 2014.

The Flexi is the signature piece of hair jewelry and can be used for scarves as well as a few other things (not just hair).  We also have other pieces of hair jewelry, too.  Something for every lady with any hair and since flexis can be lovely ornaments for scarves... we even have something for ladies with no hair!  :)

I've got a couple giveaways live currently.  Available to all new Lilla Rose Customers.  I hope you'll check them out.  One with Outnumbered and the other with Growing.  Enter both!

I was able to go to market day today!  I'll tell you about it next week.

In other working news... I'm still striving to figure out the whole 'monetizing a blog' thing.  I've earned a little already, which is really encouraging!  I hope you will enjoy all that comes of this effort of mine to create a new stream of income for my family via this place I have nurtured for the last 8 years.  I still love writing here... just hoping to bring in some needed income via this passion of mine!

Crocheting is still on the stove of my mind... sitting in the warming spot, currently (meaning: I've not had any orders recently).  If you'd like me to make something for you, let me know!

I continue to love my Tower Garden.  I haven't spent as much time nurting it as I would like, but it continues to thrive and provide us lovely veggies!  It's also just really cool to look at!

Young Living essential oils are amazing!  I'm so grateful to be a distributor of them!  I've been using various brands of essential oils for more than 7 years now and I think essential oils are, basically, miracle workers.  Young Living has surprised me, even with my "long" experience with EOs!  I don't have a wide variety of the oils yet, but I have used Lavender extensively.  It is SO effective!  I was not expecting to be as impressed as I am.  I've used it on my baby's face when she's almost caught the cough/cold the older children have had and each time (three now), she has immediately recovered!  I've also used it to help me stave off the cold and it has helped my children relax and rest better through the night.  I've had LOTS of neck and back pain the last month and the Lavender EO from Young Living has helped woderfully!  The biggest difference?

Well, with other Lavender EOs I could sorta FEEL it upon application.  It wasn't super hot and it didn't really burn, but it was definitely warm and maybe a little tingly (depending on the brand).  I don't feel anything with YL Lavender... nothing like that, anyway.  I only feel relief that seems to just... appear!  It's been really wonderful!

Bit by bit, I'm working to change all my essential oils over to Young Living oils!!

That's all for now.  Til' next Wedneday when I share more of what I'm working on!  ^_^

Working Wednesday

Another holiday on a Wednesday, so no Market Day today.  Don't you worry, though, I'm working!

I've submitted two pieces to two different blogs and I'll be published later this month.  I've got another piece I'm finalizing and that, too, will appear on yet another blog later this month.  Yes.  Yes, I have been busy!  Thank you for asking!  :)

Although I have been pretty busy, I'm feeling pretty good.  A little on edge at times, but better than I have in situations as potentially stressful in the past.  HEY!  Maybe I'm actually growing up!  That is a hopeful idea!

Crocheting has been going on around here a bit, too.  My girls are excited about learning and doing pretty well with it (the two eldest).  That's exciting for all involved, of course.

So, I'm keeping busy with various things pertaining to those and more.

Oh!  HEY!  If you want to hostess a Lilla Rose Party with me, right now is an AWESOME time to do it.  A few teammates and I have a special incentive going on...  If you hostess and your party qualifies (reaches $200 for this opportunity), then you are entered into an opportunity to win $500 OR MORE!  How awesome is that?!!?   By the way, three out of the four parties I've had so far have finished at more than $200 easily.  The other party... well my hostess really didn't do anything for the party, so it didn't qualify at all.  Let me know if you'd like to be a hostess with me!  You can comment here with your email address, write to my email, or contact me via Facebook.  They all work well to get in touch with me.  :)

Working Wednesday

The Farmer's Market I've been working is closed today and next week (of course), but I'm still working!

What do I DO?  How do I work?

Thank you for asking!  I'm glad you're interested.  *wink, wink*

I actually have way more work than I can handle. Not all of it falls under the umbrella of "work for money," of course.  I'll stick to that umbrella for now, though.

My efforts to market myself and thus market: my Lilla Rose business, and the other businesses I own are, in large part, spent online.  This blog, Pinterest, Facebook, twitter, my newsletter (you can sign up by entering your email address in the box under "TNJNT newsletter" to the right), picture/graphic alteration and creation, networking, and actual crocheting (which, of course, is not online) take up a huge amount of time.

But what do I DO?

Well, I spend a lot of time in my work space... at my computer.  That time is spent writing posts, which is a time consumer.  I love it.  I love to write.  None-the-less, it eats time.  Making pictures to work with my posts is also time consumptive.  Notice, I haven't had photos with every post for the majority of my blog's life!  I am hoping to go back and add photos to older posts.



My Facebook business page is a time eater.  I love the growing interaction there.  It's been a lot of fun to put out games and enjoy the responses.  I really love seeing what and how people think.  It's just cool.  Anytime you see a picture on that (or any of my pages), you can bet it's taken a while to create them.  I'm so grateful for picmonkey.com and Photobie.  I don't know how I would manipulate pictures if not for those two tools!  What you see on my Pinterest is most often NOT my picture creation. Twitter still befuddles me a bit.  I really don't know the etiquetter of that social media.  I don't post often and have a very poor following because I really don't know what I'm doing there.  That is one of my goals for the new year: to figure that out and increase my followers.

You may not realize it, but for a blogger to get in good with those who pay for what we do (write, review, do giveaways), I need to have good numbers here in my blog as well as the other social media I've mentioned.  It's a lot, I tell ya!

I use and love Pinterest as a photo bookmark more than an idea storage place.  I like the ideas, too, of course.  I just tend to use it to keep track of things I'd like to find again.  For ideas, I've used Pinterest most for recipes.  I like to see what the food is going to look like before I attempt a new recipe.  Is that weird?

Pretty sure I'm missing something, but my brain is mush right now.  I sure would love to hear from you!  Is there some form of social media (or other tool) that you think would help me get out there more?  I sure can use all the help I can get!

Working Wednesday

I stopped these posts because I was just so frustrated about my tent remaining non-functional due to problems replacing a broken part.  The problem is mostly resolved, but not compltely.  It caused another problem, though.  I'm selling indoors for December because I could, at least, do that and I didn't want to miss ANOTHER market day because my tent company couldn't get me the correct part to repair my tent.  The new problem: it's more expensive to sell inside AND inside gets less traffic.

Dec. 4th

 

Dec. 11th

Dec. 11th trying to get baby to smile.

Ria holding baby and our setup on the 11th.

 

 

God has been very good to us and we've had a few sales each time.  Praying for more as we could really use the business and encouragement in business!  If you think to pray for us, I hope you will!  I KNOW prayer works wonders!!!

Working Wednesday #5

My Ria's Lilla Rose Party turned out quite well.  She is very pleased with it's conclusion, as am I.

The Farmer's Market(s) are not happening because my tent is STILL in disrepair.  :(  I'm hoping for some satisfactory resolution very soon.

I continue to work on building my business online by seeking out bloggers with whom to do reviews and giveaways.  It could be a bit of work for bloggers, but they get a Free Flexi from me... if you love this hair jewelry or are looking for something comfy AND beautiful to hold your hair, it is totally worth it.  The bloggers I have worked with have been wonderful so far!

Networking can help our businesses and lives, too... Did you know more than 1/2 of job-seekers find their employment through networking?  I'm not really sure how to do it... the whole networking thing.... so it's like I'm feeling my way in the dark.  I know there are classes and online things you can pay for to teach about those things, but I just don't want to spend what I'm making for that.  I guess I'm willing to spend my time more than money.  Praying for leading always!

Being a Mama is always lots of work... especially as a Homeschooling Mama.  I'm definitely still doing that!  And my laundry room floor was actually bare at least once this week!  HA!!!  ^_^

Working Wednesday #4

I continue to work hard to market myself and my businesses, primarily Lilla Rose.  I am working to increase my efforts at marketing my crocheted items, too.  I've crocheted since I was around 10 years old and am pretty good at it.  I'm even an award winning crocheter, matter-of-fact.  I am very pleased about that bit of info.  ^_^

I didn't get to go to the Volusia County Fairgrounds Farmer's Market last Wednesday because the part for my tent that I received was wrong again.  We ordered a new one and it's STILL wrong.  I'm going to miss my Wednesday market day yet AGAIN.  I'm especially sad about it because the County Fair is going on and that means LOTS more traffic than normal.  Trying to look on the bright side... I was pretty sick on Sunday and Monday.  Maybe I need the break?  Working to resolve this newest problem.

If you like what I do here, I hope you'll check me out on Facebook by searching for TNJNT!  I would love to hear from you here AND there.  I would love to develop a community feeling with you.  As it stands, I don't really feel like I know my audience very well.  I know a few of the ladies who post and comment regularly.  I sure would like to know more of you!  One benefit to you of me knowing you... I can cater what I do to you and for you.  I sure would like to!

These cuties are examples of my work.

You can order these guys in purple (with pink,

as pictured, blue with green, green with blue, and more!)

$15 each plus shipping

drop me a line if you're interested



Funny Hubby and SUCH a Hardworker

Jessie is obsessed with growing pineapples lately. I know. Interesting, huh? Apparently, this guy who used to work at the Club (the old full-time job that is now the part-time job) was able to grow 17 (or more) pineapple plants from the tops of pineapples being discarded at the Club. He has also had fruit from them. At least, that was Jessie's understanding.

So, now Jessie is on a mission to grow fruit-bearing pineapple plants. It's amazing difficult from the reading we've done (just this night, actually). Jessie's tops are in step 3 right now.

I think Jess is interested in this NOW because we're getting a garden going again. (Like that alliteration? ^_^) The sort of funny thing (to me) about the plants he's focused on growing is that they require at least 20 months growth (in Hawaii) before they will flower to produce a SINGLE fruit. All of the other things we are growing will bear fruit this year for consumption and/or preservation. Jessie's efforts will require much more EFFORTS! And I guess we'll be living here for at least 2 more years (assuming he wants to get some fruit from his efforts).

At least, the pineapple tops are totally free even if we do have to leave them. ^_^

His Hard Work
Jess has just finished a week of working at the Grille (the new job down South) and the Club (up North). Thursday he worked from 8 to about 10am at the Club, drove to the Grille and worked until about 10pm. Friday was the same at the Club, just later at the Grille and then he went to WalMart for some groceries. Saturday was the same as Friday except that he came straight home from work.

He had ALL of today off!!!!

Tomorrow (Monday) he'll work only in the morning at the Club. Tuesday he's off all day.

Wednesday through Saturday he'll be working at the Grille from 8am until sometime around (or after) 10pm. While this is long and hard, it'll actually be a little easier (Jess anticipates) because he won't have to worry about getting from one job to another on time. It's also quite good for our family because he'll end up with overtime.

The amazing part of all this is that he'll be making more $ during this time of working overtime than when he's on salary. The thing about salary, though is that it's stable. If he were to continue to be paid hourly, his hours would be cut during the off season and we'd either have a hard time or (hopefully) have savings. So far the savings thing hasn't worked out because the income was just covering needs. So, all in all the whole salary thing is good for us. I just hope he won't have to work 14 hour days in general! His boss has told him that during Bike Week, Race Week, and another week (can't remember when) he just sends his wife up North (to family?) because he's basically never home. He has gone so far as to say that Jessie should be prepared to basically just sleep at home during that time. Hmmm... well, that won't be too different from what we've just done 3 days of and will be doing another 4 days of.... I think we'll manage.

Miracle
I've commented to Jessie a few times that this new job is really another amazing miracle in our lives. I asked him if he could see the truth of it (the first time I mentioned it to him). He didn't really respond, which, in Jessie speak, is an unwillingness to agree, which actually almost always means he DOESN'T agree. So, I went on to explain my supposition. And here's how: This IS a miracle and gift from God because Jessie has tried to improve our financial situation on his own,in his own strength, basically, since we arrived here. (Moving here was an effort to that end as well.) It has worked a bit, but not generally and not over-all. Remember, we've been on Food Assistance from my Church very recently! It's only at this time when things are SO bad in the economy at large (our unemployment here in Flagler County is almost FIFTEEN percent!!!!) that we get a lift up... or a pull up. It's not a lift or pull of our own doing or in our own power. It's as obvious as the nose on my face, to me!

And I keep thinking things like: Heavenly Father sure is making it clear that we are not doing these things in and of ourselves. He's making sure to make it difficult for either of us to have any pride in the improvement of our situation. Father definitely wants to make pride in our situation far from the realm of possibility. I'm grateful... knowing as I do my issues with feeling pride.

My girls and I were watching the Ruth Living Scriptures movie the other day. In it Boaz is near kin to Naomi and her hubby (odd/long name I can't remember). Before they leave to live among the Moabites (in the movie) Boaz offers to help them financially and says, "I don't know why the Lord has blessed me when so many other are losing everything, let me help you!" Though the words probably are not word-for-word from the movie, the idea is captured and it is EXACTLY how I feel!!!! It's a miracle! And I'm so beyond-words grateful!!!

Our God is a MIGHTY God.

Working, and Love It

I loved the last(?) talk by Elder Wurthlin. I think it's one of the finer things. The title was: Come What May, and Love It. My title is a bit of a spin, but I think his talk and the information in it pertain here.

This week has been unusually busy. I'm absolutely amazed that it's late Thursday night. I really shouldn't be after today. This was an especially busy day, admittedly, but I'm having more and more of these. This is not bad, but I'm also not used to it. I'm not quite to the point I want to be: Working, and Love It.

I've been pondering so much in the last month or so that I really need to be good with working almost constantly. Being worn out isn't bad, at least, I feel I need to have this attitude. I honestly can't remember what cause the initial flip of the switch (to ON), but somehow I realized in the recent past that death is not a time to rest from all our work... we'll get to rest from all our cares. HUGE difference there. For whatever reason, I'd somehow amalgamated the two (work and cares) to be one and the same, but they SO aren't.

Perhaps this wimpy epiphany came as a result of the hard work I put in (and I observed Jess put in) when our kiddos were sick with the pukey stuff AND we were (at least, I was!) SO worried. I just felt the burden of CARING so heavily. And not that I think I should NOT care about them, but that there's something to be so concerned about... I think that's the burden that we will be free from. No fear. No worry. Such a heavy burden to be set free from, eh? *sigh*

What a day to rejoice in... yet, I do fear Death. Of course, I'm a big boob when it comes to change - even when I know they are good changes. It's difficult for me, okay!?

__________________________________________________
Enjoying the "wild" world of Tori's brain? Leave me a lovely comment!

Also, click on over to Finer Things Friday and check out some other bloggers' finer things!

Jobs OH, JOBS!

Looking ALL Over

Jess went to Orlando yesterday in search of work. I'm very glad about it. It's amazing how much work I end up doing for these job hunting epeditions. I keenly and clearly remember the time investment I put in when we were still up North and he came down here to check out the market for Chefs.

Jess was gone from around 8 in the morning until around 7:30pm yesterday. Of course, more than 4 hours was driving because of getting from here to there and then from each place to the next, but the rest was spent in interviews and such! He had a request for a second interview with Disney, but it wasn't management. He DID, however, learn how to go about applying for a Sous or Executive Chef position! YEAY!!

Naturally, if you know anything about our lives lately, you KNOW I've had the girls on my own for longer than the time he was gone yesterday, but RARELY after being up until 3:30 in the morning the night before! THAT was rough! why was I up so late? Well, there were a few things that needed to be updated in Jessie's "I LOVE ME BOOK," which I feel is very important for him to have to show prospective employers. There have been many impressed with it and it adds a bit of an edge. In addition to that, I spent a lot of time updating the look of his resume, altering his cover letter a little, updating references, and putting those items together in little packages so he could easily hand them to an interviewer or someone of importance. On top of all that (and, mind you, these things were done ALL day the day before yesterday), I also spent a good deal of time creating directions in Google maps for Jessie to use in traveling to the various locations we'd determined he would go to apply. Can you tell I was busy? Well, I WAS! So, I didn't get much of any ChaCha done that day... Tuesday. Yesterday I was just too darn tired. And then today I find I'm at $.10 a search. I'm pretty bummed about it, but determined to keep going with it for at least SOME additional cash flow. I need to have a way for pay for Ria's dance class and our current income from Jessie's work just won't.

So, today I've done some ChaCha, but I also have looked for writing work. It's SO time consuming! I haven't found anything in the freelance realm of my interests/abilities, BUT I did find something else that's pretty interesting. I'm hopeful about it since I love to write in my blog anyway. It's PayPerPost and it's a way to sort of make a little bit of money by blogging where I already do anyway! I've started the process and looked at a few jobs and it looks like it'll be a more enjoyable work and potentially pay more that ChaCha. Plus, I'll be WRITING! ^_^

Look for some weird and interesting posts for the PayPerPost gig. Hopefully they'll be some things that you're actually amused by or interested in, too! :)

I'm also considering trying for a job with Sylvan... but, without knowing the details, it seems like I'd have to commit to certain hours and such, which is just not terribly workable at this point. We'll see. I know I'm eligle since my teaching certificate was not revoked! :)

ChaCha
So, in case you didn't catch it in the info above, I didn't make the top guides for ChaCha and now I'm making $.10 per answer. :( WHAT a bummer! Still, I've earned around $120 with what I have done up to this point. Not too shabby, all things considered.

The Girls
Both have been sick in the last 2 weeks! :( How annoying! Kat was the worst, but seems to be much better. I'm so glad. I would MUCH rather be ill than have my children ill!

Ria is still reading amazingly well and Kat is using the potty even more consistently. She even lets us know when she needs to pee when wearing a diaper most of the time. Pretty awesome, right!?

Jess
Is well. He was planning to be the food preparer for our Ward picnic on Saturday, but now has to work. Pretty disappointing. He was really excited about it. Ahwell... what can you do??

Me
I'm all right. Worn out, is all. The belly is getting huge and I'm just not sleeping well. This is upsetting because I was around 34-36 weeks when this hit with the girls. Too EARLY now! I'm only 32 weeks! I have a feeling this baby will come earlier than we've been expecting.

I've walked pretty regularly except for one week (was it last week!?!?). I feel SO much better when I walk regularly. Actually, it's about that time now. Must run! :)

Just Pluggin' Along

We've had a few time consuming activities as of late. They are pretty much inter-related and still very iffy, so I'm not going to go into the nitty gritty as yet. We are hopeful that something good could be in our near future (pertaining to Jessie's career and our finances). If you feel so inclined, say a prayer for us that things start looking up. It would be (will be!) greatly appreciated!

Ria and Kat spent the morning with Mary, Victoria, and Ms. Sage yesterday. It was SUCH a treat and such a sweet and generous service by my friend, Sage. She came all the way out here to pick them up and then brought them home AND bought them ice cream on the way! She wanted them to look forward to spending time with them again. Ice cream wasn't necessary for that, I'm QUITE sure! So sweet and amazingly thoughtful. Don't you think?

Walking
I've still been walking. 5 days per week, even! The belly is getting pretty huge, but for whatever reason I don't feel myself needing to waddle as yet. At least, I don't feel the need for waddle most of the time! Perhaps it is BECAUSE of all the walking I do for exercise. That would be cool, eh? This week, thus far, I've been able to walk for at least 60 minutes each day. I feel really terrific about that... very pleased with myself and GRATEFUL for the cooperative weather! Even on Wednesday, when I didn't go walking, there was this HUGE crazy thunderstorm from about 3pm until 5, or so. But right around 6:30pm, when I'm trying to depart my home, the weather was lovely for walking. I was just SO beat after the temple trip and Jess went in to work (at the last minute) so I felt it was better to calmly stay at home rather than get frustrated with the bickering babies! :)

Starting a Part-Time, ANY time, Gig
I'm not yet fully approved, but I'm through with all the preliminary stuff for this Gig that I can do from home, on the internet, as much, or as little as I want... WHENEVER I want! and earn some money. It's not a huge payment per service rendered, but my sister-in-law (Jessie's sis) has been doing it for a bit and purchased a Wii for her girls with her earnings. So, I figure it could help us put a dent in our debt OR increase our food storage purchasing power! And addition to the latter will be VERY valuable!!! ^_^ I'm leaning toward the food storage purchasing initially, but once I feel we're covered/safe there it would definitely go toward our debt issues. I'm hopeful!

I'll let you know how it goes. I will, of course, invite you to join my team (though I'm not exactly sure what "my team" is or means). And I'll hope that you're interested if it's as flexible and easy as it seems to be thus far. Oh, and no monetary output required at all. The initial investment is time spent in reading all the rules and completing the required (EASY) tests. For me, that "investment" hasn't been tiny because of my beautiful distractions ;) BUT totally worth it if I can make any sort of an addition to our finances on a regular basis. Ya know?

Potty Training
Kat is doing quite well. She's only had one accident today. Yesterday none (though she wasn't in training mode full-on because of the day's activities). The day before I think she had an accident or two. But considering all things, she is really progressing amazingly well in this endeavor!

Pretend
Ria is FULL of pretend worlds and plans. She's so fun and funny to watch because she's SO often putting bits and pieces of her Disney movies together in strange sequences in her pretend play with Kat. Ria loves to play with Mama and Daddy. The BEST thing about playing with her parents, I think, is getting to tell them what to do! I swear it's the only "safe" way she can command her elders and she seems to really LOVE it. I suppose that's pretty normal and understandable! I mean, most of the time she's got to do what she's asked rather than get to tell others what to do. Less frequently, but sometimes, I do see and hear her integrating things she's read into her pretend play. More often, though, the reading comes out in her information sharing/teaching. Can you imagine what a joy THAT is for me?? I LOVE IT!!!!

Health
Thankfully, right now, we are all well. My only complaints are the fatigue (mental and physical), heartburn, and discomfort (especially when trying to sleep), but given the circumstance (pregnancy), that's not much to complain about! Jess is tired because he's not sleeping well, either. I swear this is mostly because of me, but he blames it on other things. I still feel bad because I'm tossing and turning a LOT these days! I have noticed that when I sleep on the couch (because the position there supports my body very nicely!) he seems much more rested in the morning. ahwell... Jess has a lot more pregnancy symptoms this time around than he did when I was preggie with Kat. He had some sympathetic pregnancy stuff when I was preggie with Ria, but I think it's probably more this time than then, even. Pretty interesting, huh?

Job Hunting and Crochet

Last night I did the bills in hopes that we would have enough money for Jess to do some more grocery shopping this morning. It didn't work out. What did happen was Tori getting even more stressed out about our finances. So, when Jess came out of the laundry room/computer room, I told him he wouldn't be going grocery shopping, but I did need him to go job hunting! So, he did that this morning. He feels good about his efforts. My preferences were not heeded, so that's a bit annoying, but I'm trying to be trusting and faithful, too... so, we'll see. :)

I think that the job hunting is going to be a major time sucker for Jess in the upcoming future. It feels like we need the change really soon because the bills are starting to not work out smoothly at all. I'm pretty bummed about that. I'm just so tired of having this particular trial repeat, over and over in our lives! *sigh* I do think it'll work out - eventually. Or, perhaps it's more accurate to say I HOPE they will.

My main preoccupation lately has been crocheting. The new baby's blanket is taking quite a lot longer than either of the previous two. I definitely attribute this to the fact that I'm using two colors, so there's just more to DOing it. It already looks quite cool and the actual depth of the blanket is only about 3 inches. :)

Oh, I "finally" learned that Evelyn, Chris, and Addie received the package I'd mailed. I was anxious to hear the parents' impressions. I actually only spoke to Evelyn, but she was very pleased. I'm really glad!! I was sort of nervous about it because the hat had an added bit to it... which I forgot to mention to Evelyn that she could really easily disassemble just that portion if she didn't prefer it. Well, either she'll learn that here or I'll eventually remember to tell her. :) She often tends toward less is more sort of fashion (and does it beautifully), so she might prefer NOT to have the little fringe I added to the hat to make it match the booties.

I still have yet to start my own new baby's jacket, hat, booties, and Tigger doll. I can hardly believe I'm 26 weeks preggie and I'm so far behind! My only really good excuse is that I've never had a calling AND been homeschooling like I am now with either other pregnancy. (of course) I really need to get to work on those items something serious! The Tigger, alone, will take a couple weeks (if I'm able to work on it regularly). ah well

We've had some SERIOUS rain this afternoon. I'm REALLY hoping that means it's going to be nice and clear around 6:30pm for my walk! I learned, from my midwife, that the walking helps my anus (when it's tender as it has been lately) because the exercise reduces my blood pressure. Neat, huh? Now, to do something about the constipation! ugh!!!