What does my mother want to know about?

It's been a month since I blogged anything. I wasn't really sure what to write, maybe writers block? But then I need to think, "what would my mother want to know about?" Especially since we live so far apart. So here are some of the things that have happened in the last month.

We were redoing the YW board in the Bishop's office and I used permanent maker that bleed threw on the Bishop's desk. Dave and I found that toothpaste removes marker. Here is the after, we forgot to take before pictures.

I got more PB's. The first is my great great Grandfather John Edward Rogerson's, then my great Grandmother Madora LaVerna Rogerson Jensen, then my Grandpa E Q Jensen.

These two were done on the same day, 3 September 1901 in Monticello, and from the page numbers they were only done nine apart.

There are actually two for my Grandpa, one in 1933 and the other in 1939.

I have sent my literature review off to get published by the Medical Problems of Performing Arts journal. I have no idea when they will notify me whether they will publish it or not. So I am still working on editing the others so they will be publication ready soon. I should be pilot testing my next two projects soon.

Last week I was looking on FamilySearch and noticed that someone was trying to seal my Grandpa Riding to his second wife Mary. None of us really liked her. And she is already sealed to her first husband, so I'm not to sure why someone is doing this. So I notified my Dad and uncles about this. Then put a message on my Grandpa's and Mary's name telling everyone that they did not have permission from our family to perform the sealing. I told my Dad that they need to contact Mary's family and let them know incase they didn't, but my Uncle doesn't remember how to contact them. So we've done all we can do.

The company Dave works for, the RAC, was bought out by another company. You know when that happens things get changed. Dave was inform that his department was being eliminated, but that everyone was going to be moved to other departments by January. For two weeks Dave worked in another department on days, but then last week went back to his normal job at nights, but then was told this coming week he is going back to days for the foreseeable future. He is still in limbo until the company decides where he is going to be permanently and we don't know when that is going to happen.

My calling is 1st counselor in the Young Women's. I am always teasing the YW that they need to remember to flirt when they go to church dances. A couple of weeks back another YW leader heard from other church members in another stake that one of our YW has a bad reputation for flirting. Great, now I feel bad for encouraging the flirting. It didn't help that this YW had a boyfriend for a short time and he is one of those bad boys, or in this area they call them chaves, it was even fb official. It caused a stir for about a week, then died down. Everything is alright now and the good LDS boys are even asking her to dance at the church dances.

Dave and I were looking at the NHS website (England's socialized healthcare) and it said if you have been trying for more than six months and are over 35 then go see your GP about starting the fertility problems process. So I went to see my GP and they took some blood samples and my hormone levels are normal. Next week, Dave has his appointment with his GP to start his part and I am having a ultrasound (I think to check egg count) and another blood test to check more hormones. We knew getting married in our late 30's that there is a higher risk of not getting pregnant, miscarriage, having something medically wrong with the baby, or even a chance at multiples (yippee!). We even talked about adopting if we couldn't have kids, but the LDS social services website says you have to be married for 2 years before you can start the adoption process. The adoption process in England is so freaking LONG! After the UK government got rid of all the adoption companies that refused to work with same-sex couples, I really doubt that they would allow an LDS couple adopt. So if we can't have a biological child, then we will have to wait until we move to Utah to adopt.

We had the missionaries over for dinner a couple of weeks ago and they challenged Dave and I to do mormon.org profiles. Dave already had one, click here, so I made one, click here.

Is this what you wanted to know Mom?

6 months

Dave and I have been married now for 6 months, so we went to the Preston Temple yesterday. I don't know if I am suppose to say something profound about marriage, but it's only been 6 months. It hasn't been weird living with a boy. The adjustments from singlehood to marriage, especially since we are in our late 30's, has not been as difficult as I thought it would. The first month I felt like I was in a haze of bliss.

Anything I miss about the wedding? Yep, I miss hangin' with my family. That was such a fun day, even though I didn't get to talk to everyone, I'm glad they all came to the Temple to see us sealed. And I miss that amazing cake! If you didn't get a piece make sure you head over to The Chocolate and order the Cherub, but get it with caramel filling. Just so yummy!!!

The next 2 years are going to continue to feel temporary, until I graduate. After that the plan is to move back to Utah, closer to my family. Hopefully the economy cooperates and Dave can get a job at that time. And the government is generous by immediately granting Dave a visa! Fingers crossed and many prayers!

brownie cake

Here are pictures of the brownie cake I made between General Conference sessions.

Dave bought the Ghiradelli's brownie mix from Costco. I split the mix in two and baked the separately. Follow the recipe on the box for oven temperature, but the time says to bake for 45 minutes and I only do 30 minutes.

Then I mashed up Oreos and mixed it in with some Betty Crocker Buttercream Icing. I put one layer of brownie on a plate, iced it, then put the other layer on. Then eat! I will warn you that it is REALLY sugary with the addition of the icing and Oreos. Dave describes it as a diabetic coma.

Sarah Jane Perkins PB

This is the PB of Sarah Jane Perkins Rogerson, my second great grandma. It was done in 1875 and if you read the beginning carefully it says, "A Blessing by John L. Smith patriarch ..." I thought the name John L. Smith looked familiar so I looked it up and sure enough I was right. John Smith was the nephew of Joseph Smith Jr. the first prophet of the church and the first son of Hyrum Smith, Joseph's older brother, from his first wife Jerusha Barden Smith. The recorder is J.R. Smith, John had two son's named John and Joseph, but neither of them had a middle name that started with a R, so I don't know who the recorder was.

The PB was done "Parowan Iron Co, Utah In Apr 2nd 1x75", which makes me think that John Smith wandered the Utah Territory giving PB's to the members instead of everyone going to their local Stake Patriarch. Does anyone know the real story of how PB's were done back then?

General Conference

Have you seen this picture before?

If you haven't, this picture was taken in the early 1980's for the LDS church to use, mostly for manuals. I am the girl in the yellow dress. I was about 6 years old. Thought I would post the picture since it's the Semi-Annual General Conference this weekend.

Thank Heavens we can watch Conference online now. I hate having to get dressed up, drive 30 minutes away to the Stake Center, find a parking spot (on the street), and sit on VERY uncomfortable benches or chairs for 4 hours. Instead I'm sitting on the couch in my pj's with Dave's laptop hooked up to the tv. And after the morning session (it started at 5pm England time) I will make a brownie/oreo cake (thanks to the pinterest idea), yup oreos are now at most grocery stores here, but in smaller packages.