Handcart Trek and New Jobs

Yesterday I got the girls ready for their Pioneer Handcart Trek 

Event that kicks off today until Friday, July 1st. Just in case 

you didn't know..Youth from all over the globe participate in 

these Handcart Treks sponsored by the LDS Church. It's an 

annual event that's open to all youth ages 14 to 18. My son 

that just graduated isin't going since he just landed a job at the

Barricades starting off at $16 an hour. My little brother, Aaron

got him in, so I'm really happy for him. 

The girls are going and I'm sure this will be a humbling exper

ience for the both of them. We attended a fireside held especially

for the Trek and the youth were introduced to their Ma's & Pa's 

and the family that they're assigned to stay with for the duration

of the Trek. We were told to have our youth start walking every

day for at least 15 minutes 3 days a week until the actual Trek. 

So that they're prepared for the Trek. So far we only went once

last week, I hope the girls will do well. We sent them off with a 

digital camera (the only thing they can take, no cell phones, etc.)

to take pictures of the journey. I can't wait to see them. 

Last night, we dropped the girls off for a big sleepover at their 

young women leader's home and from there they left this morn

ing for their 7 hour drive to where the trek will begin. We were

asked to prepare a lunch for our children. They had Coldstone 

Creamery Ice Cream last night for a treat. The girls are so excited

about leaving today. I told them that they have to make do without

showers and so they'll have to adjust to using wipes for every

thing. I've heard that they come back humbled and more appre

ciative of what they have. 

How is your week coming along?

First Sunday in Our New Ward

Yesterday we finally made it in to church to meet

up with our new bishopric and ward members. It 

was also a fast Sunday since we're going to have 

General Conference next weekend. During sacram

ent meeting after announcements were made, every

one was given a chance to stand up and give their

testimony and I wanted to get up but have this 

terrible fear of standing in front of people and talking.

So I decided what the heck..just get up and do it 

and introduce yourself and the family while you're

at it. So I did..most of the people who were bearing

their testimonies before mine, were talking about 

their family trials and tribulations and how the gospel

has helped them get through those hard times. 

I got up and introduced myself and the rest of our 

family and explained that we have our share of trials

and tribulations are currently working through them

with bible/scripture study every night and daily prayer.

I felt so much better after I bore my testimony.

So after Gospel & Doctrine class, I headed over to 

Relief Society eager to learn and take in the lesson. 

I think I've been spiritually starving and needed to be

fed. I met so many wonderful sisters who not only 

care and help one another. I too, am excited about 

getting to help out with one of their many projects 

for the upcoming month.  One of them is 1000 Quilts

for Japan. 

They're collecting 1000 quilts, blankets and comforters

for the earthquake and tsunami survivors. Many of 

them suffering from the cold and sleeping on floors of 

shelters without a blanket for comfort. 

• Donate a homemade or purchased quilt,comforter or blanket. It can be twin,double or queen size. No thin or old blankets please. 
• Tell your friends, family and co-workers about this great opportunity for service. 
• Invite your facebook friends to participate. 
• Andy and Bax on Grand Ave and Sgt. Gators in Boring has wool blankets for $25. Stores such as Kohls, JCPenney's, Walmart and Target carry comforters.
• Attach a note of encouragement to your item letting the recipient know you care. 
• Place your item in a plastic bag.

They also asked the sisters to head over after church 

to another sister's home to do more quilting there so 

that they may finish the quilts before the April 1st dead

line. I really want to go but will be able to make it for 

the Tuesday night gathering. I'm excited to learn how

to quilt. I've been wanting to learn for so long and now

my chance to learn it will  be this week:)

They also have a Humanitarian Project going as well

until April 9th..collecting 100 pairs of new socks, 25

 New Wash Cloths, 25 New Hand Towels and were

asked to place the donations in the box at the RS table. 

They also showed us how to can a day food supply

per person for emergencies. They used a tiny can 

opener to open the can with. The lady said that they

used it in the army and you can hang it on your key

chain. I forgot to ask her where you can buy them.

I think I'd like to buy alot to have on hand. Sorry 

the picture isin't perfect. I used the cell phone camera

on this one. 

I think that's a wonderful idea. Here's what they had

in there. 

• Nature Valley Granola Bar
• 1 pack of Ramen noodles
• 1 plastic cup
• 3 plastic spoons
• 2 juice boxes
• 1 pack of fruit snacks
• 1 envelope of hot chocolate mix
• 1 envelope of Cider mix
• 1 bag of dried fruits or snack mix

 You can do it the way you want to. This is what

they just had on hand to put in theirs. Some people

use backpacks instead of the can. I think I'd do 

both, label the top of the can so that I can rotate

and use it before the expiration dates. 

Relief Society Birthday Bash and Dance

A couple of posts ago..I posted that I was asked
to make a cake for the Relief Society Birthday
for this past Friday, March 19th. I'll tell you it
was stressing me out all last week and I wasn't
sure if I was going to pull this off.

I've never baked a cake for the board to try out
but they chose me from a handful of other
women they could've picked in the ward. So I
decided that I was going to do a fondant cake,
yes..umm I've seen it done on before but had
I made an actual one in real life? No, but I
figured I better try my hardest since this was
going to be something to feed 300 or more
people.

So the first 5 cakes were apple cakes
then the base cake was 2 different layers of
marble cake. I baked the apple cakes days ahead
of time and let it set in the fridge until the
day of. I baked the marble cakes the night
before and was worried about getting the
fondant on while my two little ones are
watching in the kitchen.

The picture is blurry, Loni [6yo] was my little 

camera guy in the kitchen. He was upset when I 

wouldn't let him do the fondant balls. So I let him

take the pictures. It looks uneven because I have

3 cakes for the top tier and only 2 for the other 

tiers. I had to make it this way because I knew I 

wouldn't have enough fondant to cover the whole

cake. This is all from their budget of $100.00

My friend Sulu's mom came and posed by the cake. 

I was in a hurry that I didn't get an upclose shot of it.

ok. so we ran out of the marbled fondant balls and

had to go with purple and neon pink. But they said 

it's ok. this is before they post up the candles on 

there. 

these are the tissue paper blossoms we made the

night before the dance. we attached them to fishing

lines and attached small mirrors the invisible line.

we didn't leave until 2 am. Then I had to be back 

in the church kitchen by 8 or 9 am to start putting

the cake together. 

Lani and Vaha used the table covers as swags and

rosettes for the wall decorations. neat huh?

These are the RS women doing a Bollywood number.

Another number from our culture called the Maululu.

I hope I spelled that one right.

I was trying to catch a picture of Nesi, in the line

dance. She's in the long pink dress holding hands 

with her little friends.