Working Girl

There have been alot of changes the last few weeks.
1. Dave has a job working at a new dental office in Riverton, Utah
2. We moved (AGAIN) into another rental that is in Lehi (near Thanksgiving Point)
3. Christmas...doing the rounds to all the family members in the area
4. I started my new job at Stampin Up.

Stampin' Up! is a direct sales company that creates an exclusive line of decorative stamp sets and accessories for greeting cards, scrapbooking, craft projects and home decor. I work as demonstrator support agent in the call center to answer any questions or concerns our demonstrators may have about product, customer realtions, and to help them further their business. I wasn't sure what to expect, and I have been pleasantly surprised! How many people do you know can really say they love their job. I can. Everyone there is so nice and the building is big and beautiful. The lunch room is on the bottom floor of this huge atrium with this giant rock waterfall in the middle of it. It's so nice to work in an environment like that.

While I still haven't been converted to the world of scrapbooking, I love making cards. If anyone is curious about Stampin' Up! products or design ideas, check out the website. If the link doesn't work, sorry, you'll have to copy and paste.


http://www.stampinup.com/us/enu/default.asp

Do You Believe in Miracles?

(TRADITION- PART II)

I believe in Miracles. I've seen them in my life and I've seen them in the lives of loved ones. There are miracles all around us that often go unrecognized. With the Christmas season upon us, as I've been focusing on the miracle of the Savior's birth, I've thought of my own little miracle growing with in me and the miracle that will be this child's life. With the focus of miracles and the emphasis of tradition all around, I can't help but think of the tradititions I want to pass on to my "little miracle".

Dave's and my first Christmas together as a married couple we decided that we didn't want to have Santa Clause as guest in our home; flying reindeer and a fat man in a red suit delivering gifts to children all around the world, keeping a list of naughty and nice are not the "miracles" we want to focus on. That being said-Dave and I both grew up in homes where we left milk and cookies out for santa, wrote dear santa letters divulging our deepest wishes, and anxiously waited for our presents-confident in our nice to naughty ratios.

Maybe I feel the way I do, because I feel guilty about my lack of focus on the Savior in Christmases past, I don't know. I actually don't know ANYONE that doesn't practice the Santa Clause tradition, which makes it a little challenging to be one of the mold breakers.

While our decision was made several years ago, with the pending arrival of our first born, we are even more committed to a "non-traditional" Christmas. While Santa won't ever be visiting my home, I'm hoping that the real "Christmas Spirit" the spirit of the Lord will.

I know I'm not the first or the last person to feel this way, and if you're someone that has been looking for an "alternative" way of celebrating Christmas but have been unable to figure out the details, I would love to tell you how Dave and I have been enjoying our Christmases in the past, the present, and our plans for the future.

In Palau-when you are going against tradition or customs, they refer to it as "going against the tide". As I've told family and friends about my feelings on the holidays, I've felt like I'm going against the tide. I'm not trying to get on my soapbox and tell others what customs they should or should not follow. We all have to make our own choices and do whats best for us, and this is the choice that Dave and I feel is best for us.

May you all enjoy your own family traditions and have a Merry Christmas!!!

Tradition-Part I

With all the beautiful snow that has painted the Utah valley, as I sit shivering with my feet in several pairs of slippers and hot cocoa between my hands, I've been missing Palau more than ever. I really miss the warm humid weather and the warm water that surrounds the islands. Something else that has made me think back to my experiences in Palau are the traditions and customs that different religions and families embrace during the holidays. Palau is a culture full of tradition, or custom as they call it. Some of the customs are really fun, and other customs people dread being a part of. Some Palauans go so far as to seek out spouses not of Palauan blood so as to escape some of the financial obligations and responsibilities of Palauan custom.

A little about Palauan customs:

Custom: Siukang. In Palau, there are many customs. When there iss a family obligation-it is a custom. Often, Palauan custom-siukang, refers primarily to those customs that entail financial obligations, often considerable, to family and friends. These include the following:

ocheraol: a custom on the occasion of the building of a house, but which can also help pay for a new boat or something else;

house party: a custom of much recent vintage for the building of a house or financing major repairs on a house;

chebechiil: marriage;

ngasech: the traditional ceremony held in honor of the first born child.

kemeldiil: the wake at the death of someone;

sis: a traditional ceremony held four days after the death that involves food offerings to the spirit of the deceased;

omengades: a ceremony traditionally held nine days after death in which stones are placed on the grave;

cheldecheduch: held some months after the death to settle the debts and funeral expenses and to make other settlements between the families of the deceased and his spouse.

All of these customs and traditions required days and sometimes weeks of preparation. The women of the clan/family-wife, daughters, sisters, cousing, aunts, grandmothers, second cousins, third cousins, etc.etc.etc. were expected to be assembled preparing traditional palaun food (some meals literally take ALL DAY to prepare). The men of the clan were in charge of fishing. This would require fishing excursions that started at 4am until 3am the following day. Coming home to rest and then going out again that evening and staying out all night.


Our friend Brray Oiemei was having a goodbye party (he was joining the US army) and I had gone over to help with the food preparation. The fish was to be prepared for boiling by being wrapped in a banana leaf and then tied with bamboo string in a very particular manner.


Tapioca had to be cut, boiled, and hand pressed through the device you can see me using. I don't remember what they call it, but it reminds me of what we use to make homemade pasta with. It is very old and hard to turn, and if you have wimpy arms like mine-they will hurt for DAYS after. Once all the tapicoa is pressed through, you from the tapioca into hamburger shapes for putting on the fire.


After grinding the tapioca, you have to literally burn it over a fire. It must be black! It's supposed to taste better that way. Once it is blackened, you mix it up with alot of white sugar and then put it through the press again!


After it has gone through the press you cut it into inch long pieces and after placing it on a plate, pour hand squeezed coconut milk over it.


This is what it looks like when done. It is quite yummy!


While I enjoyed being a part of this tradition, it took all day to make this particular Palauan meal. Palauans are required to participate in customs requiring even more work than this day did, sometimes two to three times a month.

The young women would sometimes explain to me that they would have to miss church, or an activity because of custom. I admit I was a little unsympathetic at these times when I'd respond by saying, "well, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ, we have a custom too. It's called Church!" To this they would usually just laugh at me, bless their hearts, but this really put me to thinking about my lifestyle as a follower of Christ and as an American, and an individual. I'm reminded of my ponderings especially at this time of year, with the air full of traditions...

What traditions do I follow and incorporate into my life?

To be continued....

ALL I WANNA DO...

SLEEP! SLEEP! SLEEP!

I have not had a full night's sleep since...I can't even remember
when, and I don't know if I can't remember because its really been as long as I think it has or if its because its just one of the other 100 things I can know longer remember. I've mentioned that I'm on an anti-nausea medication because I've been so sick my doctors have threatened to hospitalize me two different times. One of the side effects of the medication is drowsiness and dry mouth. The type of dry mouth I'm referring to is one that you have after running several miles in Las Vegas in the middle of the summer. My mouth gets so dry (and I sleep with it closed), that I wake up in the middle of the night needing to get a drink of water. That drink of water adds two more bathroom trips to the four I already make. When I'm not thirsty or answering calls from mother nature-I wake up because I have restless legs-which can only be relieved with some intense stretching and jogging in place or up and down the stairs. If that wasn't enough, there's the wonderful feeling of my stomach acid crawling back up my throat, and the especially tasty Tums (I HATE the taste and texture of Tums.)

This is why I'm so GRUMPY all the time. I had noticed that I've been really irritable, and somewhat angry the majority of the time, and I have finally figured out why. It's because I'm exhausted!!! I don't mean to write about all my sleepless woes except for the purposes of 1. Warning all and any who are to come with in five feet of me during the next four months and 2. to apologize for any rudeness I have thrown in your direction or will throw in your direction during the next four months.

Thanks for your understanding in relation to my perma-bad mood; if you don't understand...don't tell me about it...it won't be pretty.

Thanksgiving Yummies

Something I am SO thankful for this year, is good food. While living in Palau, I had the best, and most fresh sea food you could imagine. I miss eating coconut crab, parrot fish, and sashimi. It's just not the same back in the states. However, EVERYTHING else here is fantastic!!! Thanksgiving is my favorite food holiday by far, and in Dave's family they have thanksgiving dinner three- to four times in November! Did I marry into the right family or what?!?

My assignment this year is to make a desert. I have recently learned how to make this scrumptious Pumpkin Spice Pull-Apart Cake. My sister in law invited my to one her ward's cooking nights, and this lady demonstrated how to make it and of course had samples. It's a cake, that "pulls apart" so that its more like an easy finger food dessert. I've never seen one like this before, and think its really fun. Here's how you do it:

Ingredients:

1 pkg Pillsbury Hot Roll Mix (I had never heard of it before, but I found it the bottom shelf near the cake mixes)

1 yeast pkg.

3 C white sugar

1 C canned pumpkin

1 C chopped nuts

1 C melted butter

1/2 C water

1 egg

6 T cinnamon

2 T sugar

2 T oil

2 1/2 t nutmeg (the recipe calls for 4 and 1/2 t but I don't like the way it tastes with that much)

1 t ground giner

1 t ground cloves

In a small bowl combine, and then set aside: the cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger & cloves

In a separate mixer combine: Hot Roll mix & yeast pkg, 1 T spice mix(from bowl that you set aside), and 2 T sugar

In a small sauce pan heat: canned pumpkin, oil, and water

Then add the egg(already lightly beaten) and the ingredients from sauce pan to the flour mixture; stirring dough until it pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Turn dough out onto floured surface and shape into dough ball and knead for 5 min until smooth. Cover and let sit for 5 min.

Add 3 C sugar to remaining spice mix. Sprinkle 1/2 the chopped nuts in bottom of greases bunt pan. Divide gough into 40 pieces. Dip each piece in melted butter and in spice mix. Arrange 20 dough pieces over nuts in bunt pan. Repeat with remaining nuts and dough pieces. Sprinkle any remaining spice mix over top. Cover loosley with plastic wrap and cloth. Let rise until doubled in size (about 30 min). Remove plastic wrap and back at 350 for 30-40 mins. Immediately flip over onto serving plate. Serve warm.

VERY YUMMY!!!

This recipe is NOT hard! This is an especially good family dessert. Enjoy!!!

Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse

WARNING: The following contains commentary that may seem blasphemous to Stephanie Meyer literary cult followers

So when I was in Palau I kept reading about Twilight, New Moon and Eclipse. It was on everyone's blogs and it seemed to be the "new Harry Potter." All my sister-in-laws were reading them, and people at church and down the street, these books were everywhere. When i would ask readers (all of which were women) there always seemed to be a sigh of hope and longing that followed the emphatic urges to read this series of books. EVERYONE was reading them and reccomending them, so of course, I was curious. I like many other Harry Potter fans was going through that rebound stage after having finished the last and final Rowling book and was looking for a good rebound/quickie novel to lift my spirits. Having an insane amount of time on my hands, being practically bed ridden with morning sickness I did alot of reading. After having read all three-I've come to the conclusion that while I think the story line and plot have been fantastic, I was terribly dissapointed with the character development. I think in the second and especially the third novels, the main characted Bella becomes incredibly annoying and I could care less what happens to her. Book two was such a waste of time, it took over three hundred pages to develop what was painfully obvious when hints were revealed in the first novel. (I'm trying to be broad so as not to ruin the experience for someone who is determined to find out for themselves the emptiness that is left with the reader after reading these books.)

Now tell me-does anyone feel the same as I do? Is there anyone out there who is tired of saying they see the emperor's clothing when we all know he's naked??? Or am I alone on this one?

While I'm addressing literature-I would like to thank my friend Susie who so thoughtfully sent me a thought provoking, and emotionally stirring novel while I was in Palau. That was a well told story with well developed characters.

I'm interested to hear your thoughts and or feelings on the Stephanie Meyer's series. Post away.

How did you afford to give your baby a place to sleep?

I have seen so many of my friends blogs with pictures of cute baby rooms, and I want to know-where in the world do you find your baby furniture-ie: crib, changing table, dresser? I've been looking around in stores and on line and I'm feeling so frustrated about trying to find some of these things with out breaking the bank. HELP!?! I feel like companies are descending on vulnerable, unstable pregnant women who are in the pregnancy fog, and it's just not right. Especially to take advantage of the first time mothers who don't know how this all works. If anyone can make recommendations or if you have any good advice on what you either did or wish you had, I would greatly appreciate it. I'm just amazed at how much expenses are incurred before the baby even blinks. Thanks everyone!

I have loved reading everyone's responses to the last post. I have truly had some laugh out moments. I especially loved Mel's deep thoughts, I had never thought of it like that, and once I did I really enjoyed the bonding moment with my little baby. Something I've loved being pregnant is channeling into this other spirit in my body. It's so amazing. I feel like I already have a sense for this little one's personality. I'm so excited to meet them.
I first felt the baby kick-and kick hard too ( I was laying on my stomach, which was my first time doing so since being pregnant) and the baby probably feeling squished was pushing against me for more room. I've then felt the baby kick every few days or so, just once a day until this past week when I feel the baby moving around all the time. It's so fun!!! It's such an amazing experience. It's also amazing how women that have had babies with in the last year can't seem to remember any of their other discomforts. I'll ask my sister in laws about all my discomforts and they can never remember anything.

So about the gender-when Dave knows, I will tell everyone else. I'm trying to convince Dave to let me tell him for Christmas, so hopefully by then, but I can't make any promises. It's fun to hear everyone's guesses, so keep them coming ;)

About "the baby"

What I'm about to say will make some people very unhappy with me, but those people are just going to have to get over it.

I KNOW IF I'M HAVING A BOY OR A GIRL, BUT I'M NOT TELLING!!!

Well, not right now at least. Before Dave and I were pregnant (tangent-I hate using the expression trying because it's so telling of all the sex a couple is having), we had talked about keeping the gender of the baby a surprise. All growing up I had always thought that it would be fun to approach my pregnancy this way. However, 500 vomits, and 25 pounds(gained) later, I decided I really needed that extra umph to get me through the next five months and especially the last 24 hours of those five months. Dave however-who only has had to put up with an easily aggitated-sick-prego lady wanted the gender to be one of the surprises during delivery.
<<>>

So-I KNOW what the gender of the baby is-and I have agreed to not keep it a surprise from him until he's ready. Dave's said I can tell my mom and friends we don't see often, but I won't. There are two reasons for that:
1. It's morally not right as far as I'm concerned for friends and fmaily members to know the gender of the baby before the baby's daddy even does.
2. "The Baby" as "it" has been officially dubbed is something I am ALWAYS thinking about. So it is a secret I am constantly trying to keep. For those interested, they're excited, but it really doesn't effect anyone else, so the secret will not be a constant weight on their mind, and with out practicing daily to not spill the beans...they will undoubtedly fail and our secret will be ruined!
If you ask me it is a boy-I will say no. If you ask me if it is a girl-Iwill say no. So you may ask me anything you want, but until I tell Dave, my lips are sealed.
I am secretly hoping Dave will cave, because I'm super excited and it is SUPER hard to keep a really good secret like this one.

OH-for all you worried about decorating and cute name brand clothes-I'm due March 18-24 (Ultrasound said 18th, my period says the 24th)-so it won't be too cold out to worry about coats and bundling. I'm all for the whitey onesys. Also because we'll probably be in a rental there will be no creative painting or boarding or trim. I'll also be trying to get a bed set that is gender neutral because this baby stuff is spendy and I don't want to have to shop around again in a few years.

That's my baby news, any questions?

I'm still here...

Since moving back to the United States almost two months ago-everything has been such a whilrwind of chaos. We sold Dave's car, so we have one that we share for errands and job hunting. Neither of us have a job yet, and we also don't have a home, so we are mooching off my brother in law and his wife(who is due to deliver a week after me), and in all honesty it really sucks being in this predicament. Poor Dave is feeling the stress and pressure the most because the baby is going to be here faster than we realize, and her wants to be able to provide for his family. I should be more greatful that I have a husband that doesn't like to take it easy. Dave loves to be busy and working. He's a doer. It looks like we will be staying here in Utah for the next three to five years to have a baby, maybe make another baby, and just enjoy the time around family. We have a three to five year plan, because the california snob I am is having a hard time admitting defeat in settling in Utah. So we call it a three to five year plan for my psychy. When "we" (dave) gets a job and we get a place of our own to live, I'll be better about pictures. So for now, this will be a little bit of a boring blog.

We're Expecting!!!

Dave and I are excited to announce that we are expecting a bundle of joy around March 24 2008. Moving accross the world while pregnant with "all-DAY" sickness should be an adequate excuse for not posting on the blog for a while though. We are back in the USA and are currently in SLC staying with Dave's brother Doug and his wife Wendy while we figure out what we're going to do next. To be continued....

Survivor All Stars!!!

BREAKING NEWS!!!! Just because I'm on the other side of the world does not mean I'm not completely out of touch with what's going on...or should I say what's about to? For all you Survivor junkies-here is a BIG surprise- Survivor is going to be doing an All Star season-gathering the "All Stars" from previous episodes and shooting it here in Palau. It's supposed to be TOP SECRET. The problem with that is that Palau is a SMALL island-with everyone being related to everyone (they count third cousing and fourth cousins as being direct cousins), and the expats (non-palauans) sticking together like soldiers at war, nothing happens, or is about to happen with out everyone knowing about it.
So, word is they're supposed to be filming here in a few months. Some of you may be wondering why they would do AGAIN in Palau...while that reason is not yet floating around island yet, the rumor is its because the crew enjoyed being here so much. When the crew was here last time, one of the marinas they were using alot even built a bar and grill for them. The Palauans loved having them here because they dropped SO much money, everyone treated them really well. Anyway-this news has not yet hit US from what some of us can tell-so those of you in the US reading this will be among the first to know about it. It probably won't be aired until next year, (I don't really know when) but I'm glad I won't be here when they are. A Japanese tour bus comes through the country and everything is inconvenienced. Having a crew of 300 will be insane!

For all you Survivor fans- this ought to be a good season!!!

Girl's Camp

For all my fellA girls camp attendees, remember the good old days of sitting on "The Rock" and listening to "The Story"? Those were good times. As the Young Women's president here in Palau, and with the branch being not too big, I'm also dually camp director. As I have never been either before, much less at the same time-I'm stressed. So of course, I know that all the original die hards like most of the people reading this-would be a great place to turn for help. Girls camp is Friday Aug 9-10... What I'm really lacking are activities-mostly craft ideas that can't be too fancy because we don't really have craft supplies anywhere in the country. Our theme "It's a Jungle out there" coincides with the Danville Stake's girls camp this year so that I can borrow some of their ideas as well.
Our girls camp here in Palau will be an overnighter in the famous Rock Islands. We will have access to canoes, fishing, coconut trees, sand,...big bugs, big cocnut crabs (seriously they are bigger than my hear and look like aliens!) We will not have electricity of fresh water, and we will be getting there by boat. If as you read this any ideas come to mind that could help me help these girls have the kind of experience that we had, I'd appreciate your input. These girls have also NEVER had a girls camp. So-I really want to give them a great one.
I DO have a copy of girls camp songbook-so that is DONE!!! I've already taught them a few of the fun ones-they love it. I've already taught them about wiggling like a fish, and writing with their butt too. (these for having elbows on the table, losing items, etc.) Any other token memories...? Thanks everyone who can contribute.

I would like to thank...

I have two friends I would really like to thank in particular. The first person I would like to Thank is Lauren. If you scroll down the second to the last post, you will see me lamenting over not being able to post any pictures. I don't know how, but Lauren was able to do so with some pictures I sent in a link from ages ago...she's amazing! I'm so happy to show you pictures of some of my young women. The ones in the pictures below are the ones I call M&Ms. They know it and the love it. Most people have nicknames like sweety and hunny, but being the sugar addict that I am, I name people after Candy. (the other girls are Kit Kat, Taffy, Sweettart.) So Lauren, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for the picture posting and blog maintenance. You're awesome. Thank you Lauren!!!

My next friend I would like to thank is Melanie. She has so compassionately decided to not do Harry Potter postings until I can at least get the 7th book in the country. I am greatful that I'm able to read with all the suspence sill intact. Thank you Mel!!!

Palau

Dave and Sheryl at Thai restatraunt

Palauan sunrise

Melly(red), Mercy(white) and Pres. Kesolei (branch president)

with Sheryl after watching General Conference

Madalsar & Sheryl at General Conference lunch

I made spaghettie for 70 people!

Melly and Madalsar

Our Austrailian friends, the Hannahs took us for a day to the Rock Islands







Dave in a Cave

Jelly Fish Lake-they don't sting and there are millions! It's awesome!

The treacherous hike to the secret jelly fish lake-there are 7 in Palau.

We have our own Kayak. This a cave by turtle island in my favorite bay, Neco.

Palauan sunset

Palauan Trivia

I have been trying for much too long this morning trying to post pictures of Palau and my special Young Women, and from my birthday and our trip to the island of Angar(which is part of Palau but is a three hour boat ride away), but my computer hates me, blog spot hates me, and I think the PNCC internect/phone line hate me too....so no pictures for you.
I will have to wait until I have the car (Dave and I share the car, and I take taxis usually when I don't have it, but I don't have any cash today, so I'm stuck at home.) Anyway-I'm going to have to wait until I can go to the PPR (Palau Pacific Resort) hotel loby and use their high speed internet connection to get some pictures going.

I've been trying to upload the pictures of the Dolphin experience Dave took me to for my birthday, and of our trip to Angar, and some other fun ones. Next time.

Palauan trivia: "next time" is a common english phrase used in Palau and is often substituted for "NO", or "I don't want to", etc. The Palauans have a hard time saying no to your face. Saying NO is true in ALL cases-so when you invite someone over for dinner, make plans to go fishing, kayaking, etc., ask them to do something, etc.etc.etc. they will say Yes, even if they mean no. It's very confusing and frustrating and really trains you to lower your expectations of the people around you other wise there is a lot of dissapointment.

Another phrase used and abused in Palau is "Never mind." Never mind is sometimes used for no. I don't know who taught them to use it this way, but it is permenent. They will say never mind if you don't understand what they're saying, if they are done talking about something, if they feel dumb, it's kind of a catch all.

OK-does anyone remember when Nishan got back from his mission and he would nod his head for no and shake it for yes? Well, I guess it's how it's done where he served his mission and I used to always think he was faking it. Well-the lovely Palauan habbit I've picked up is the raising of my eyebrows (up and down once or twice for emphasis) to say yes. EVERYONE does this! When I was getting to know the Young Women in our branch and I'd ask them a question, I thought they were ignoring me and I felt really stupid. Then one of the sister missionaries told me they say yes with their eyebrows. It's annoying when people do it to me, but I do it all the time now. Dave doesn't mind though.

Well-I'll try again later to do some picture posting.

Blogging Babcocks

I guess it was only a matter of time that we get on the blogging scene. Being so far from so many friends and family though, this will be a nice way to update EVERYONE with out the annoyance of mass e-mails or writing similar e-mails to twenty+ people. With the devestatingly slow internet connection we have, it will also be easier to share pictures of the crazy, beautiful place we live in. We're excited to share our adventures and "misadventures" with you.