Two Separate Rants That Unexpectedly are Connected

I’ve been wanting to blog about this for weeks, but I haven’t had the mental patience to write it down.

I’ve been spoiled my whole life with excellent health insurance.  Whenever given the option, we’ve had some sort of HMO insurance.  I like HMO’s… everything is covered.  Then a couple years ago, our big bad corporate decision maker decided that HMO’s weren’t a “good” option for the employees anymore. In the last couple years, I’ve had to make some tough decisions about receiving medical care.  For example, after visiting an allergist to specifically narrow down what’s causing my allergies, I had to turn down the allergy shots that she recommended.  Would the shots have made my life better in the long run?  Absolutely, but the cost was too high to make it justifiable. 

In November, I looked at our Open Enrollment Options and about had a heart attack.  All three of our possible Health Plan Options had pretty much stripped away all our prescription coverage.  If we were a family that doesn’t have high prescription costs, it might not be as painful…. but…  as I mentioned above, I have allergies and asthma.  The best asthma medicine I have found that really keeps my asthma under control is Advair (the purple disk).  There is no generic yet for Advair.  The retail cost for Advair is $246.  Aetna, being the benevolent benefactor that they are, will only charge me the discounted rate that they get charged for Advair, which is right about $199.  And Applied Materials, being the awesome employer that they are, is allowing us to set up a HSA so that we can pay for our prescriptions tax-free.  Aren’t they just so generous and thoughtful?  So now I can put $200 a month into a HSA just to pay for my Advair… the big question is, what am I going to have to give up to pay for my Advair?  And that’s just one prescription we have…

I haven’t even brought up how high our deductibles are now.  Eric fractured a bone in his foot 2 months ago and it may require surgery to fix.  We really want to go to Disneyland over spring break, but our money may have to go to Insurance deductibles instead.  Unbelievable!  (Well, and Eric won’t be up to a week of theme parks if he has to have surgery.)  So, if he does have to have surgery, I guess it will be a good year to have multiple medical procedures done, especially if we meet our deductibles in February! 

Because of Eric’s broken foot, he has to walk around in this beastly boot.  He complains about it, but I remind him that it could be worse.  He could have a plaster cast.  I have had one of those and they SUCK!  But, back to the boot.  He’s had to make two trips to Portland since he got this boot, and the airport security was a huge concern.  When he walks through the security, of course the metal in the boot sets off the alarms.  So, then he has to have a full body pat down, looking for dangerous weapons.  But here’s the deal,  he could be hiding a dangerous weapon down in that boot, and the full body pat down doesn’t even address the issue.  Honestly, if they were serious about security, they would make him take that boot off and inspect it.  Instead, they pat him down, which is much more humiliating than letting them search the boot.  I just don’t get it.  I’m starting to think that TSA is just a big joke, which isn’t really serious about security. 

So now that I’ve vented this all out, I hope it makes it a bit less painful when they charge my account $200 for a month supply of Advair.  Yeah, maybe, but probably not…  

Never say, “Never”

I don’t know how many times I’ve said “I will NEVER do something…” 

Classic examples include:

I will NEVER drink caffeinated soda,

I will NEVER go to a Book Club,

I will NEVER like Facebook,

I will NEVER move to Arizona,

I will NEVER start digital scrapbooking…

Well, you get the idea. 

Yeah, well, here I am to prove I keep doing things that I say I will never do…

Behold, my first digital scrapbook page!

Many thanks to my new BFF Lindsey, who convinced me to try this out.  The beautiful part about it, is that I already own a program that accommodates digital scrapbooking (Photoshop Elements), and she helped me find tons of free scrapbook kits to download (Shabby Princess kits are awesome!)  She even taught me some tricks of the trade that I may never have figured out on my own… like how to get the shadow behind the elements, and how to weave things through the other elements. 

So now that I’m over 4 years behind on my scrapbooking, I’ve come up with a new plan to get caught up.  I’m going to keep paper scrapbooking, and work forward in time from where I am currently on the paper books.  I’m also going to start digital scrapbooking my current pictures.  As I work, I will start working backwards on my digital scrapbooks.  Hopefully at some point paper will meet PC and I’ll have everything done!  (Once I get the hang of digital scrapbooking, I will be able to work MUCH faster!)   I expect  this to take a year or two, but I feel like it’s possible now.  Hooray!  And thanks again, Lindsey… you have been my photography/scrapbooking lifesaver!  I think I’ll have to bring you some brownies!

And if you are wondering what I’m going to do with that super expensive Cricut I bought 2 years ago… don’t worry, I am getting all kinds of use out of it making fun projects on glass blocks and t-shirts.

Help!

This week’s MCP photo challenge is “Shades of Grey”.  I took this picture at the Mesa Arts Center this morning while I was waiting for some repair work on my Suburban.  (That’s a story for a whole different post.)  The first one is the regular color version.

The second one is a black and white conversion of the above photo.  I’m really on the fence about which one I’m going to submit.  Leave a comment and let me know which one I should pick… I have until Friday to decide. 

MCP Project 52

Last week I stumbled across a blog that has a photography challenge that intrigued me.  So I took the plunge and signed up.  MCP Project 52 is a photo challenge that involves taking one photo a week based on a theme that the blog owner chooses.  I didn’t get in on it early enough to do the first week, but this is my photo for the Week 2 challenge.   I really had a hard time actually coming up with an idea.  The challenge was to “Illustrate a Song”.  If you are like me, you are thinking, “huh?”  That’s what I was thinking.  I spent all week trying to think of different songs I like and how I could take a picture that would relate to each song.  That line of thinking got me nothing.  Then this afternoon, on the last day of the challenge, I decided to just go for a walk around my neighborhood and take some pictures of whatever interested me.  I figured I could come home and Google ideas for songs that would go with the photo, after I’d found a good picture to use.  So, here it is… a tree that is actually dropping it’s leaves in mid January!  I picked the song, “Hazy Shade of Winter” by the Bangles.  Come check out what other photos have been uploaded here.  And let me know if you decided to sign up… I would love to have friend to brainstorm with!

2010 Books

This post is purely for my own benefit down the road… I want to clean up my side bar and start a book list for 2011, so I’m posting this list in case I need to refer back to it.   As far as I have kept track, I’ve read 35 books this year (aside from the JF books I read with my kids…)  I’m sure I’ve missed a book or two, since I’m not super organized in keeping up with my sidebar list.  My goal for 2011 is to read 40 books.  I started reading “The Chase” by Clive Cussler last month, but didn’t finish it until this month, so I’ll put it on my 2011 list.   I need some suggestions to take to my Book Club planning session next week, so send all your book suggestions my way!

• Wicked Appetite - J. Evanovich  (B+, fun fantasy cross-over)
• Snowflower and the Secret Fan - L. See  (B, amazing story about Chinese women and their bound feet)
• Memoirs of a Geisha - A. Golden (A, best fictional memoir I have read in a long time… when I was done, I couldn’t believe the main character was made up) 
• ChiRunning - D. Dreyer (A, great tips on running technique, exercise)
• Secrets of a Lady - T. Grant (B, enjoyable mix of Sherlock Holmes and Jane Austen)
• The Chamber - J. Grisham (B+, well written, make-you-think book, despite the heavy and somewhat depressing subject matter)
• Mockingjay - S. Collins  (C-, total disappointment, didn’t like character development in this one)
• Artemis Fowl: The Altlantis Complex - E. Colfer  (C, disappointing, anti-climatic ending)
• Empire - O. Card (A, excellent political thriller that makes you think)
• The Double Comfort Safari Club - A. Smith (B, fun, easy Detective read)
• Rain of Gold - V. Villasenor  (didn’t finish… had a hard time sticking with the story)
• The Overton Window - G. Beck  (B, interesting political thriller)
• The Last Olympian (PJ#5) - R. Riordan  (A, great way to end the Percy Jackson series)
• The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie - A. Bradley  (B+, fun detective story about a brainiac girl in Britain)
• The Battle of the Labrinth (PJ#4) - R. Riordan  (B+, great story, despite the cliff-hanger ending)
• The Glass Castle - J. Walls  (A, best memoir that proves you can be a normal adult despite your upbringing)
• Prayers for Sale - S. Dallas (B, nice, easy read about women, relationships, and quilts) 
• Love Walked In - M. de los Santos  (B+, loved this story about finding happiness in the least expected places)
• Belong to Me - M. de los Santos (B+, sequel to Love Walked In, just as good as the first)
• The Help - K. Stockett  (A, amazing tale about women in Mississippi during the 1960’s)
• City of Glass - C. Clare (A-, 3rd book in the Mortal Instruments)
• Fablehaven:  The Grip of the Shadow Plague – B. Mull (B, good storytelling, even though it’s clearly a middle filler book)
• Dragon Rider - C. Funke  (A, great JF read about dragons, etc.)
• Specials - S. Westerfeld (C, disappointing 3rd book in the Uglies series)
• The Great Gatsby - S. Fitzgerald (A, classic and timeless story)
• The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson #3) - R. Riordan (B-, my least favorite of the PJ series)
• Bravo Valentina - A. Trigiani (B+, I love this series about Italians, food and shoes!) 
• City of Ashes - C. Clare (B+, second in MI series, love all the extra characters they pull in)
• Pretties - S. Westerfeld  (B, interesting sequel to Uglies, but clearly a filler book)
• City of Bones - C. Clare (A-, awesome new story about shadowhunters, vamps, werewolves, etc.)
• Uglies - S. Westerfeld  (A, amazing story about what would happen in society if everyone was drop dead gorgeous)
• The Actor and the Housewife - S. Hale (A, pushed every boundary of appropriate mormon-girl behavior, and kept me riveted throughout) 
• Very Valentine - A. Trigiani  (A-, great story about Italians, food, shoes and love)
• Shades of Grey - J. Fforde  (A-, interesting story about a futuristic utopian society where everyone is color coded)
• Breaking Dawn - S. Meyer (B+, the ending to the Twilight saga is better the second time around)

On Ornaments and Church Callings

When I was a baby my grandma made me and my two cousins felt ornaments.  All three of her children had their first babies in 1973.  Thus began a tradition that mom mom and my aunt have carried on to this day for their own grandchildren.  Taking over the ornament business felt like big shoes to fill, and my mom in her effort to do so, went beyond the mark and has stepped up the craftsmanship to the next level.  (I was stressed about taking this on before my mom started making them bigger and better than ever… now I’m terrified!)

This year she made Ian a flag football guy.  It even has the league logo on the shirt.  Megan got a Twilight book with a book worm in it.  Twilight isn’t her most favorite series, but it’s the book series that really got her reading all things fantasy, which is her favorite genre by far.  YA fantasy… she reads them all!

            

There are a few leftover ornaments that were originally made by my grandma (that my mom has squirreled away for a rainy day) and this year was the year to pull them out.  These two Giants ornaments were perfect for two BIG Giants fans – especially since the G-Men won the World Series this year. 

                    

All of the kids have gotten schoolhouses at some point in their lives…Brayden got his this year since he started full day Kindergarten.  He loved it!  I was a bit worried that he would think his ornament was boring, but it was a hit.  He’s so funny about his ornaments.  He only wants to hang up the ones he deems to be cool right now… PotatoHead and Thomas the Train didn’t make the cut, so when he wasn’t looking I hung them on the back side of the tree where he wouldn’t notice them.

This ornament is the reason I have delayed posting these pictures.  Back in September my mom got the idea to make this for me, since I’m well into my 3rd year serving as our Ward’s Relief Society President.  As you may know, the positions in our church are voluntary and we don’t get paid salaries.  This job is one of the most difficult jobs in the church, and NO ONE in their right mind would volunteer for it, which is why our Bishop “calls” us to do the job. 

                                                                                                                 We usually serve 3-5 years and it’s like having a full-time job.  Every RS Pres fantasizes about the day they will be “released”. Three days before Christmas, I found out that I would be getting released from this position in early January.  Then two days later, my mom gave me this ornament.  I almost cried.  Honestly.  It’s gorgeous.  She cross-stitched the front in the tiniest aida I have ever seen!  She could not have picked anything more perfect!   The words around the edge are the motto of the RS:  Charity Never Faileth.

Yesterday, my release came.  Part of me feels sad, part of me feels relieved, and part of me feels guilty for the woman who is taking my place.  She will do a great job, though.  This year will bring a lot of changes for me… I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds!  And I think it’s about time I get a bigger Christmas tree for next year so I will have more room for all these beautiful ornaments!

The Best Gift You Can Give

This Christmas was extra exciting for us.  This was our first  Christmas in Arizona with house guests!  My parents and their dog, Charlie joined us this year, which was wonderful!  We had to really squish the stockings together to fit them all on the banister.  (December is the one month of the year, I really MISS having a fireplace!)

We have started a tradition that works well to keep our kids grounded and calm on Christmas morning.  Instead of reading Luke 2 before we go to bed on Christmas Eve, we read Luke 2 on Christmas morning before we open gifts.  It really helps the kids to remember why we give gifts as part of our Christmas celebration.

The next tradition we have started since moving here, is doing a home-made gift exchange.  We each draw and a name,  and then make that person a home-made gift.  We can’t spend more than $10 in materials.  This year, since my parents would be here, we included them in the draw.  I have to say, over the years, other gifts come and go, but we all treasure and keep our home-made gifts.  It makes me really happy that we do this for each other.  I hope it’s something my kids will keep going when they have their own families!

 

Taylor was my partner, and Eric helped him make me a giant lap desk to use when I’m on the couch and want to use my laptop.  My mom made Eric a wood caddy, that he can use for tv remotes or garage gadgets.

 

I helped Ian make Megan a personalized shirt.  Her gift is the only one I didn’t get a good picture of, but she loves it.  It says her name on it and it has little snowflakes around her name.  Ian also made her a cute popsicle stick door decoration.  Eric made Taylor this wood decoration for his room… looks very similar to our high school logo.  (He hand-drew the husky!)

 

I took a plain black apron and cut iron-on vinyl letter to make my dad a personalized version that says, “I’m not aging, I’m marinating!”  It turned out really cute, if I do say so myself!  My dad made Brayden a wood car, which he loves.  (My dad has not historically been into woodworking, but recently has discovered a new interest in taking it up.  I can’t see what he comes up with next!)

 

Megan crocheted this purple scarf for my mom, and even added her initials to one end and a heart to the other.  Someday, I really need to try again, and learn how to crochet.  And the color is so perfect for my mom… she loves all things purple!  I helped Brayden make another personalized t-shirt for Ian.  He loves his new shirt… since football is his new passion.  He can’t get enough of playing flag football and asks me almost every day when he will be able to try tackle.  I keep changing the subject.

This is probably my favorite Christmas photo… Ian hugging Brayden after opening his gift from his brother reminds me of what Christmas is all about.  Watching my children love, serve and give meaningful gifts to each other makes my momma-heart proud!

Goals

My sweet husband gave a really great talk on goal setting in church last Sunday.  He talked about S.M.A.R.T. goals.  S.M.A.R.T. is an acronym for:

S: specific

M: measurable

A: attainable

R: realistic

T: time-bound

It’s important that our goals fit all of these categories.  If they don’t, we are unlikely to succeed.  How often do we set goals that are unrealistic or impossible to achieve?

Another sister in the ward gave a talk about goal setting, too.  She talked about having goals in four categories, which go along with this scripture:  Luke 2:52.  The idea behind this is that we should set goals to be more like Jesus, since that is our ultimate goal, to be perfect, like our Father in Heaven is perfect.

“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.”

I plan to use both these principles to achieve my goals this year.  I hate when I make a list of goals, and stay focused for about 2 weeks before I let it slip away into oblivion and don’t even see the list again until November of that year.  I want this year to be different.  Here’s my list of goals, based around the four categories from the scripture and keeping the SMART goal principle in mind, as well.

Increase in Wisdom:  Learn how to digital scrapbook, improve my photography skills, expand photoshop knowledge, and blog more often.

Increase in Stature:  Train for and run the Pat Tillman Run in April 2011.  Find at least one more Triathlon to compete in besides the Casa Grande Triathlon in November, preferably in the spring.  Make sure the garbage can is full each week, as I dejunk, declutter and deep clean or do yard work.

Increase in Favor with God:  Finish reading the Book of Mormon together with the kids, study Sunday lesson materials in advance, attend Sunday School more regularly, read (or listen to) each Ensign monthly.

Increase in Favor with Man:  be a 100% visiting teacher, comment more on blogs, send thank you notes often, express more love and praise to my husband and children.

One point that really hit home with me is NOT to only make and/or set goals only on New Year’s Day.  We have many opportunities to set new goals or re-evaluate and re-structure current goals.  I typically re-evaluate when the kids start school in July, but I’m going to be looking for ways to stay on track even more frequently than that!