Lost my job, gained a summer.

June 20th after the company I had worked for merged with another company I was laid off.  I have been actively searching for a new position (currently have a job offer) but with the market as it is and my salary as it was it hasn't been as easy as it has in the past to find a new job.... but and this is really the reason I am posting... I have loved the time I have had with my family.    We went to a family reunion, played at the outside pool with our ward, watched some movies, just hung out. 

I love my family!

Bailey and Weston have been in school for a month now and Sara and Eric started back today.  I have two in High School and two in Elementary School.  Next year will be one in each again (2 in HS)

Ed took a week vacation that he planned on going up to scout camp with the boys, but they didnt need him so he went fishing.  And the rivers and his poles kicked his butt. LOL He broke two poles, fell in and only caught a few fish the whole week.   Oh and it rained so hard one day he couldn't go fishing - so we went to see Cowboys and Aliens.  Captain America was better.

This summer I also submitted a story I wrote last year to Deseret Book.  I know the odds :)  soo..... I am waiting for the letter.  95% expecting a rejection letter and 5% with a tiny bit of hope that they may want to publish it.

I will let you know how it works out.

Independence Day! (a little late)

Happy Indepence Day!  May freedom always ring here in America.  Growing up in the Fausett household we were flag waivers.  When we attended a parade we were taught from the time we could stand, to stand and pay respects to the Stars and Stripes as it passed by.  We knew what it represented.  We knew about the men (and women) who pledged their lives and their sacred honor to establishing and defending the right of America to be a free and independent state.  We knew that once the War of Independence was won, the real work of creating the Constitution began.  I grew up believing that America was good and it was long before my forties when I was first proud of our country.

As a missionary, I had the privelege of living in Costa Rica, a country with many of the same ideals that we enjoy.  Freedom, participatory govenment, the right to vote, the right to create your own business.  It made me appreciate America even more.  Not only do we have the gov't that we do, but we enjoy a life of opportunity. 

Currently America is struggling.  We have high unemployment (including me) We have an outrageous debt with leaders who want to keep adding to it (on both sides of the aisle) We are at war on a number of fronts with an enemy that is hard to find and even tougher to defeat.  Some may wonder what we have to celebrate.  I am not one of those people.

I still believe in the sacred documents created by our founding fathers.  I know that America and many of its citizens are good.  Freedom still rings. Opportunity still abounds. So does our responsibility to keep these things alive. 

We have a participatory governement - so my challenge:  PARTICIPATE!!  

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY AKA INDEPENDENCE DAY!

We have a budding chef...

My sweet daughter Bailey brought home a Recipe contest entry a few weeks ago. She filled it out with a Bailey creation and turned it in the day at school.  Well.... She is a finalist!!!!  On February 25th she will compete with other Elementry students from around the district.  If she wins she gets entered into a national competition.  She is so thrilled.

She has to make several display plates and then 50 samples for the judges to try.  She and I are going to rehearse over the next few weeks so she will feel comfy during the competition.

The fun thing is she has talked about owning a restaurant with her sister for a while.  The Saddler Family Steak House.  She even has the name picked out.  She does have the Saddler genes when it comes to cooking.  (There is a reason I am not a skinny girl)

I wont post her recipe yet... We will when she wins.  Until then wish Ms. Bailey luck and look for our little chef in 10 years or so.

Weight loss accountability post

Ed and I joined Weight Watchers about 3 weeks ago.  So far I have lost 11.5 pounds.  Ed has lost 13.  When we reach our goal weight we are going to schedule a cruise.  I only have about 45 lbs to go.  Ed has "alot" to go. (Those are his words)   It has been interesting changing our diets so radically.  I love veggies and fruit, but you can only eat so many bananas before they start not being delicious. 

My willpower is pretty strong this time around.  I believe I will make it to my goal in 6-12 months. Hopefully closer to the 6.  When the weather warms up it will be easier to be active outdoors.  I am not much for cold weather outdoor activities,  me being an icicle and all.

Anyway.... wish us luck and healthy eating.

So the blog begins....

Hey everyone, I decided to joing the world of blogging.  I enjoy writing and sometimes my life is interesting.  What a better combination to start a blog right?  By way of introduction my name is Shirene.  I am married to Ed and we have 4 kids.  Sara almost 16. Eric almost 15. Weston almost 11 and Bailey almost 10 birthdays are 1-2 months away.  For me its in a couple weeks.  I will be double 4's.

My number one hobby is politics.  This past summer I jumped in with both feet as a candidate for the State House of Representatives.  I lost by 600 votes.  But it was an interesting ride.  I met alot of people and developed some good friendships. 

Second hobby is acting.. or at least pretending to.  My kids and I enjoy community theater.  We have been fortunate enough to have a cute little theater nearby and we have "played" in a number of plays.

3rd favorite hobby is watching movies - yep we LOVE it. 

We do the whole camping fishing hunting thing.  We like being in the great outdoors.

With a daughter in High School, a son in Jr High  and two kiddos in elementry school our lives are never dull. 

Our third child has some special needs and he definitely has his own challenges.  But he is a very patient kid and we are blessed to have him (and all his siblings) in our family. 

So boring intro over..... on with the fun :)