blog cleanse day 3: I am a new woman!!!

the scriptures have changed my life recently (everyday food by martha as well, but i've mentioned that before). Remember my new year's resolutions? Scripture and prayer were the first on the list. I decided that I was not going to miss one day this year of reading the scriptures (specifically the book of mormon). I started out just thinking I will read two pages, and I will do it first thing, before anything else and combine it of course with prayer and pondering. T say I have been blown away by the results, would be an understatement.

Why as humans are we so easy to forget what we already know! At least I am.

I feel like.....hmmm...like.....like the embodiment of wisdom and order! I know you are shaking your heads, thinking it can't be true, and you are kinda right. You see my wisdom and order isn't necessarily others wisdom and order, but for me it is nothing short of miraculous.

I am not only doing all of my goals, but I have without thinking picked up some other things that I have struggled with all my life, Like a budget. Yes, I have struggled to even have the desire to live by a budget, let alone the discipline. I mean, I did, but it was last on the list. And you know how often the item last on the list gets done. I realize it has only been three weeks (because I know you are laughing, and thinking how long will this last), but it isn't the time that I am talking about. It is where my heart it, where my mind is at. I have this new found strength, and I know who it is coming from.

Also, I have struggled forever to not lose it with my kids. To control my tongue. I have read every book, tried every program, every mind trick. I would wake with resolve every day, only to failure again and again. So frustrating and disheartening. I have begged for help, and forgiveness over and over, but still no change.

Case in point. That wasn't even on my goal list. Just doing "the basics" first. The basics or the "small and simple things" that Heavenly Father has told us to do. And because I have, all of the sudden, I have an increased ability to overcome my weaknesses. Of course, Heavenly Father has also shown me a few more that I need to work on. That's ok. I'll take it!

The scriptures have truly become delicious to me, and I can't get enough. Today, I got in the mail the second season of "Lark Rise to Candelford." I was so excited. I told myself it I do all of my chores fast, I can watch an episode before the kids get home. When the time came and my house was so clean and tidy, just how i like it, and ammon in bed for a nap. I wanted to read my scriptures instead. I was even surprised. I read a couple of juicy chapters, and cuddled up for a short nap.

So if you are struggling with something, and you have tried everything, and nothing works. You can't seem to find the courage,strength, discipline, humility, or whatever holds you back, take a looksie at this promise by Ezra Taft Benson (a prophet)

"There is a power in the Book of Mormon which will begin to flow into your lives the minute you begin a serious study of the book."

So I ask you again, what power are you seeking?

Because I am ready to make myself a super hero costume, in all humility of course (ha ha). Most likely it will resemble my current one. That of pajamas. and now I leave you with....

To eternity and beyondddddd!!!

(get it. ha ha.)

Day 2 of the blog cleanse: Shabu Shabu

So here is the gang gathered for Shabu Shabu. This was the coolest restaurant and yummy food. I can't wait to take dave back. It was like a big log cabin inside and nestled on the side of a hill with woods all around. It was fun, but it will be prettier when it isn't winter and is more green. What is Shabu Shabu you ask?.........

Kim will show you how it is done. You have a boiling pot of broth over the stove. Ours is divided in two. One side is spicy, one not. They bring you plates of meat, and veggies to put in and cook. I loved combining the cooked meat with the rice wrapped in lettuce (bottom left hand corner) and then dip it in one of the yummy sauces.

That is the fun thing about Korean food. There are always tons of little dishes with all kinds of treats. Some good, some not so good. It's an adventure for the palate.

this is tashina trying the octopus. She

decided not so good.

up close for your viewing pleasure.

So there you have it. Shabu Shabu is a mystery to you no longer.

Why don't you have an adventure of your own, and try to find it where you live.

Let me know how it goes!!!

Although, I must say this will probably cost way more in the states. Here it was a mere $10 for really all you could eat. Love that!

Talk to you tomorrow!

I go into seoul tomorrow for their branch conference, last week was Daegu. fun fun.

1st day of the seven day blog cleanse: Korean Sauna

In the cleansing spirit. I thought I would start with my experience at the Korean Sauna that is literally across the street from my house. Just a walk down the hill. For $5 you can come for as long as you want and it is open 24 hours. Could really be a cheap hotel. ha.

I must caution you. There are some pretty frightening pictures of us (don't worry, not naked) and they are taken with Jihyun's phone, so not the best quality, but you'll get the picture.

So, when you walk in on the first floor, you pay, and are given a key for a locker that is right there to put your shoes in. There is someone also sitting by the door who will polish up your shoes for you while you are gone. After you put your shoes away, you take that key up to the changing room attendant who gives you another key in exchange for the one you have for a locker in the dressing room. There are of course separate dressing rooms for men and women. The attendant also gives you these fetching outfits above, two towels for bathing, and a little one that we made these cool princess leah bun head hats with. The Korean Sauna is really just like a big huge house to hang out in with your family and friends. In the dressing room there is a tv area to hang out and drinks, then an attached huge bathing/soaking/massage area. In this are a(you are naked. ha) and they have showers and the little stools with mirrors in front that you can scrub yourself down, do whatever. Then there are all kinds of different temperature soaking tubs, and Jacuzzis. Also, a little lap pool that is way too cold to go in. yikes. They have an area that for $10 you can get a serious scrub down. It looked to me more like a form of torture to be honest. I mean I hate to paint a picture in your mind, but you are laying out flat on a table while they do a deep scrub of every inch of your body. I think I would have to wear a bathing suit to protect myself. Which would get a lot of looks, and laughs from everyone else. ha.
But after you get changed in your cute PE outfit you can go up to the next floor which is like a huge giant living room. There are mats all around that you can use to lay on and watch tv, read, eat. There is a kitchen where you can order hot food and get drinks and snacks. The whole family can be on this floor and hang out together. It was so funny, while we were there the big drama show that is on every night came on and everyone was gathered on their mats in front of the big tv to watch it. Also, there were some coin operated massage chairs that Tashina and I are sitting on in the picture above and below.

Off of this big room are many different rooms that have different saunas to try. They are mostly hot rooms with different types of natural minerals, woods, or whatever that I guess have different health benefits. One room is a cold room with ice on the walls, and a fan in it. There was also a room that had a couple of treadmills in it.

Here we are sitting in the sauna room that had big chunks of salt on the ground with just a big blanket to sit on. Jihyun brought these oil of olay masks that we put on. We were laughing so hard.

I am on the left here and I think that I look like the elephant man. But my face felt great afterwards.

Mostly, we just sat around and talked. Some got some baked eggs, which apparently are the big thing to get there. They bake the eggs in the shell, and then you crack them open and eat. No thanks. It was 10pm before we knew it. Everyone else changed and went home. I stayed a few more minutes and soaked in a hot tub. It would be fun to bring all my girls. I don't know if they could do the naked thing though. It takes some getting used to.

So there you have it. A korean experience in a nutshell.

This Korean Sauna was older and not super nice, but the one that I went to at the hotel we stayed at for my birthday was A-Mazing! It had shower experiences like "thunderstorm" etc. And if you know me at all, you know how important a good shower experience is. ha ha.

but there were so many showers to chose from at this hotel, I didn't even do the sauna.

So, I think that will have to be day two of the blog cleanse. The banyan tree experience.

Just thinking about that place makes me relax. Until tomorrow my friends.

PS. did anyone else notice how many times I used the word "huge" in this post. funny.

I need to do a blog cleanse.

Seriously, I am so backed up! It is an uncomfortable feeling. ha ha. There are so many things that I am just waiting to share. Waiting for what you might ask? The time to take, download, edit pictures. The time to be able to focus my thoughts for just 2 seconds. I get crazy when I have too many thoughts floating around in my head that need to get out in an organized way. It calms me and makes me feel like I am in control of my life in some way when I blog these thoughts. And that things that are happening in my life are documented and not lost a long the way.

So what is the answer?

Could I possibly add one more daily item to my routine? Did you see my new year's resolutions? But, you know that lesson about putting the rocks in first in a jar and then all the sand you pour in fits. Whereas, if you put in the sand first, the rocks don't fit. It really is true. As I have put the most important things first. I have felt increased ability to do everything else. It really has been a miracle. In fact a lot of miracles have been happening to me lately. My heart is incredibly full. I must share. So, I must blog. Do I dare say that I will blog every day? Let's try it for one week. See how I do. Anything to get rid of this backed up feeling. Seriously, I couldn't sleep last night. That and ammon was straddling my neck, pulling my hair and giggling all the while in the dark (that's a whole other issue). So here it goes. Day one of the 7 day cleanse. Hope it is as good for you as it is for me. Now i am sounding gross. I always go too far. It is part of my charm. or not. ha ha

lark rise to candleford: is my one weakness

Kelly, your birthday is in a week, and this is what you should ask for above anything else. I sat and watched it with a smile of pure delight on my face the whole time. At the time I thought it was a mini series. When I learned that it was only season one of at least four seasons I almost cried for joy.

You may be thinking, "why doesn't my dear sister just buy me this for my birthday?

Your answer is another gift is already on it's way, and do not open until

January 25th!

For all my dear friends......

It is also available on netflix, and perhaps the library. But even if it isn't your birthday this week, I am sure you deserve it. right?

P.S. You will understand the post title after you have watched it.

katie to the rescue!

woke up and looked out my window to a cold snowy morning. Michelle had left the night before and I didn't want to think about it, because I didn't want to get myself so sad. But really how can I be sad when I am surrounded by so many other amazing people.

So I called up my dear, fun friend katie. In fact, she is everyone in my families fun friend. In fact, she is everyone who knows her, fun friend. My kids are always trying to spend the night at her house. Even I have. ha ha. I was laughing when I was over there last time lizzie spent the night at the last minute so she didn't bring anything. Lizzie was brushing her teeth and had a toothbrush with her name written on it. My kids even have assigned tooth brushes over there! She teaches seminary and is jacob and rachel's best friend here in korea (I am not kidding). Today is half day at school and they are going over after to have an "Avatar" (the anime) marathon. They have been working on it since christmas vacation, and need to finish. Leah and Lizzie (who is now called Elizabeth by everyone at school. She is loving her new identity. It is so funny) are going after school to play too. I guess Ammon and I will head over since our whole family is there. Her poor husband! I asked him about it. He said it sometimes can be difficult to get past her entourage, but Katie always asks him first if he needs family alone time.

So here is miss fun!

Luckily, she is miss organize too, and her two children are both in school and she will help me with any organizational project especially when I throw in taking her out to lunch for Thai food, which is her favorite.

I explained that I have been putting off and dreading to organize my tiny little laundry room, and only storage area in the house. You literally could not even walk in. We have 30 bags of luggage, and I had to find a place to put all the holiday stuff I bought. What to do?

Katie to the rescue!!

She helped me not only organize and put everything away in here, but do laundry, my dishes and organize messy cupboards in the kitchen. She is so quick and efficient, plus makes it fun too! I am so slow and easily distracted. How can you thank someone enough for something like this?

Well, the answer is to after lunch also challenge her to a game of quirkle. We are obsessed with this game. It is our favorite right now. I highly recommend it.

I have a feeling there will be some quirkle going on this afternoon as well.

I have to tell you one more really cool thing about Katie. She actually is Korean. Her Dad was stationed here in the 70's and went down with his fellow serviceman to an orphanage, and picked her out all by himself. She actually has pictures of her with her dad at the orphanage. She went back to the orphanage with her parents when she was 16 I think, and the same lady was still there working from when she was a baby. She has pictures of that as well. Isn't that so cool? Now it is close to impossible to adopt from Korea. The don't call the facilities that they have orphanages. They are "group homes" where the children live and family ideally could come and visit them. But they don't. So, they can't be adopted unless the family name is not put on the birth certificate, which is rare. So they are kept in these homes indefinitely with no family every coming. It is very sad. I would love to adopt a korean baby. They are so beautiful. Especially if the baby turns out like katie! smile.

It is really funny when we go out and people will start speaking to her in korean and in her perfect english she apologetically explains that she can't speak korean. Only Kansas. ha.

So there is my shout out to katie, who is so very wonderful!

It will be very rude of her when she leaves in 6 months. But that is how it goes here.

That's the hard part. Saying goodbye.

P.S. We love you too trav, kason, and kayla. You will see many more pictures of all of the Stephensen family. As we do everything together. fun fun.

Michelle's last day in korea.

The first time i met michelle ( the blonde) I was picking her up at the terminal on base here in Osan last september driving her van. I hadn't even met her yet and she was letting us drive her van while she was in the States. That's the kind of sisterhood we share here in korea. I knew from the second that I met her that she was a kindred spirit. We have only known each other four months, and it feels like we have known each other forever. Our kids love to get together and laugh talking about how we are so much alike. So it was with many tears that I said goodbye to her on Tuesday after eating one last dinner at chilis together. It was snowing when we went outside and so beautiful. It was the perfect farewell. But let's start at the beginning of the day shall we?

Michelle is a natural beauty as you can see, but she was mortified knowing i would post pictures of her without make-up on. She had just had eye surgery a few days earlier, and couldn't wear eye make-up yet. So just know that she is even way more gorgeous normally. smile. I know she will appreciate my making that disclaimer.

So, left to right here is kim, michelle, me, katie, and jihyun. Kim, michelle, and I all turned 40 within a few weeks. I will have to post later what we each did for our birthday. smile. Also, all three of us have a son named jacob. interesting.

that's kim's son jacob running by.

i love these ladies so much.

Don't they just glow with goodness?

Oh, I didn't even explain. We are at the bowling alley. You can bowl free from 11-1, so you know we are there often. Since it was the Russell's last day we let the other older kids out of school to hang with David (far left) one last time. The night before they were up late playing pinochle at our house, because of course Jacob and Rachel have had to teach everyone here how to play pinochle, and get them hooked.
This bowling alley on base is so cool. They have little kids lanes with big couches and a fun play area right by it. So the little kids bowl and we all sit around eating and talking. so fun.

oh, and trying to keep ammon from running down the lanes to knock the pins down himself! Thanks Kadon (michelle's son that is around Leah and lizzie's age) for helping. We were really sad to never meet michelle (and matt's) two other older daughters. They are 17, and 19 and in utah with grandparents.

he's so naughty at the bowling alley, but so so sweet!

oh my gosh, this little girl has more personality than you believe possible in such a little package. Everyone just loves her. This is her face that she makes when she is posing and really trying to look cute. We will miss you ava!!
After bowling and dropping off kids. Michelle and I go for one last fun little jaunt off base. We parked my van at the main gate and emptied out our purses so they wouldn't be so heavy. I was laughing so hard, I had to take a picture. We each have a pile full of junk on each of our seats.

Notice on the middle seat is a basket. That is what I keep my make-up in. Wherever I go now, I just put my make-up on in the car while I am driving. I don't know why I haven't done this before. It saves me so much time. Actually, I do know why. The lighting in my bathroom is horrible, and there are eleven lights in a three mile drive from my house to the base.
So michelle really wanted to get one last fun purse before she left that night, and I had never been purse shopping. I did not know the best places to go and what to say to get the good stuff. ha ha.

The word should be open sesame. Look how this back wall of the store pulls open to show a whole room behind. Actually the magic word is "prada, coach, jimmy choo etc.
To be honest, I don't really like any of these brands, but I did like what she decided on.

The wallet looked a lot cuter with the jimmy choo emblem on it as well. I didn't buy one because I had just given the honesty lesson to my family for family home evening the night before and asked jihyun if it was illegal in korea to sell all of these copys of things in korea. She said yes, but it is hard because it is so much a part of the korean culture. So we will be throwing out a lot of dvds and I am making my kids delete all of their copied music on their ipods. I thought I was an honest person until I read that lesson in the new "gospel principles" manual. Yikes!! Of course, I didn't say any of this to michelle until later so she could enjoy her last day in korea, and she was so looking forward to finding on last fun purse to take home. And before she read that lesson. It is brutal, but I like it.
Onto puffins. Remember I told you that this restaurant has the best hot chocolate ever?!!

It's a big old house, and is decorated like a grandma's house. I didn't get a picture of the big room in back that looks like a library. It is a cozy little place. It was super cute decorated for christmas. I'll get pictures next year.

As soon as I walk in they know just what I want. I'm a regular. They are so nice to me. He told me last time that I am always so happy. Well of course I am, what is not to be happy about when I am able to sneak away with a friend or a husband, or a daughter or son to puffins for a little treat.

mmmmm. look at how cozy. It was snowing outside too, and was the icing on the cake. Couldn't you just talk for hours here? We could, except michelle had a plane to catch. ha.

doesn't it look delightful?

It is all frothy and homemade, and has real whipped cream with drizzled chocolate.

heaven.

this happens to me every time. whipped cream on the nose.

so cute, and quirky. There is stuff like this everywhere.

When we left, my friend asked me to send him the pictures. I don't even know his name. Shame on me. I will have to go back to ask him. smile.

Walking back to the base, but now she has walked right out of my life. so poetic, i know. That is the one hard thing about here. You become close to people so quickly, and then people are always leaving. Michelle was only here for one year. They came like we did, not sponsored by the air force. I am now diligently recruiting more families to come here. I think already two are coming for sure this summer that I have been emailing. People are so nervous to come here and they don't need to be. It is so amazing, both the country and the people you meet. I know that Michelle and the whole Russell family will be life long friends now. In fact they will all eternity long friends. That is if she can't stop buying all those illegal purses. ha ha. I love you Michelle. I am so thankful for your whole families friendship, love, service, and fun. You have blessed our lives so much, in such a short time. Wish you were here because tomorrow the kids have half day, and there is so much fun to be had. I can't think about you being gone or I will cry again. So, I will just say..."see you this summer. Let's do seven peaks!"