Glenn Beck'sTribute to Pres. Hinckley

Any volleyball players out there?

Amanda Hall is looking for a couple more players to be on her womens recreational volleyball league team. The games are once a week on Thursday night in west Mesa. She did it last season and says it is a lot of fun! So, if you have previous volleyball experience and are interested in playing on her team, email her at amanda.hall85@gmail.com.

Gordon B. Hinckley, Dies at 97

I just got a call from my sister who told me the news. He just passed away about an hour ago. To read article, click below.

http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/beloved-church-president-gordon-b-hinckley-dies-at-97

Piano lessons

Amanda Hall is going to start teaching piano lessons for beginners at her house. If you are interested in signing your child(ren) up, contact her by email at amanda.hall85@gmail.com.

Bodies needed!

This comment was left and I wanted to make sure everyone could read it! Read this and then read my previous post about service! ; )

Some of you might know that on February 2nd, there are quite a few activities to help raise money for children with cancer. This event started three years ago when London Solomon from the Orchard Ranch ward died of cancer at the age of ten. Each year more and more families are sponsoring events that day to raise money. There is a fun run, a 1/2 marathon, a blood drive, a breakfast, a BBQ, a horse trail ride, and others that are being done in the name of London's Run. I talked to London's mom, Heather Solomon, and the committee has decided to donate all of the money raised at the breakfast and possibly some other events to go to Troy Wendt in our ward. In trade I was asked to "man" two of the water stations for the 1/2 marathon. All we have to supply is the bodies for the stations and the committee will supply the rest. If you would like to volunteer yourself and possibly your family to help man one of the stations, please let me know soon. It is a fun day and hopefully your family will participate in some of the other activities being sponsored that day. Here is the webpage http://www.londonsrun.org/index.html Thanks! Ray Turley

Service quote of the day

"Stretching our souls in service helps us to rise above our cares,concerns, and challenges. As we focus our energies on lifting the burdensof others, something miraculous happens. Our own burdens diminish. We become happier. There is more substance to our lives."

When I read this quote this morning, it hit me like a ton of bricks! It is so true. I know from personal experience that when I focus my time and energy on someone other then myself, I forget about my own trials and worries. They definately dont got away but they are easier to deal with.

LONDONS RUN-Feb. 2

Did you all sign up yet? It is coming up in 2 weeks! Even if you arent a runner or a walker, there are so many things to participate in and be involved with. They are having a breakfast AND a BBQ lunch, kids corner for little ones, mechanical bull to ride on, silent auction and blood drive. All of these will benefit Troy Wendt so bring the whole family and have a great time! For more info about this AWESOME day, go to http://www.londonsrun.org/. Any info you might need can be found on this site including prices for everything and how to register for the Half Marathon • 10k • 2 Mile Fun Walk/Run.

Bountiful Baskets

Do you know about Bountiful Baskets? It's amazing! You can go to http://www.bountifulbaskets.org/ and sign up. You get over $50 worth of produce every two weeks for $15! Its not only produce, they have bread and cheese available as well as granola and nuts sometimes. The website has all the details. Just click on East Valley. The pickup place is here in the neighborhood.

Voice lessons anyone?

Heather Wendt is looking for someone that teaches voice lessons for children. Anyone teach or know of someone that teaches? Contact her with more info. Thanks!

Send it my way

Anyone have something they want to post on here? Selling something? Looking for something? Favorite recipe or new toy? Email me at smurkov@aol.com and I will add it on here for you! (I am running out of ideas to blog about)

You HAVE to try it!

I am slowly but surely going ORGANIC. We all have our own thoughts and feelings about the subject but I had to tell everyone about this AWESOME product I recently discovered. It is called BATTER BLASTER and is all organic. It is pancakes/waffles in a can. Kinda weird, I thought so too at first, until I tried it. It is SUPER yummy, even Scott likes it! We had it for dinner last night and breakfast this morning. I cant get enough of this stuff. You can buy it at Costco, AJ's and Smart and Final. At Costco, I bought 3 cans for around $9. You get it in the cold foods section. Go to http://www.batterblaster.com/ for more info. about it and they have a super short demonstration video you can watch.

A GREAT cookbook!

This is my new favorite cookbook. I saw Jessica Seinfeld (Jerry's wife) on Oprah and that was the first time I had heard of this. It is a cookbook on how to incorporate pureed veggies into your food, desserts, main courses, snacks etc.! It is super easy and doesnt take long to do. AND, you know that even though your kids are eating brownies or pastas, they are getting something healthy too! The cheapest place I found this was at Costco for $14.50 (ish) but you can also get it at Target or online. Happy cooking!!

Great way to start the day!

Ever heard of the 'daily gems'? On lds.org you can sign up to receive daily emails (gems) with quotes & inspirational thoughts for your day. Click on www.lds.org , click on news and events, then click on free news, gems email subscription. It is super easy and a great way to start off the day!

Here is a great one from a recent email...."As we study and ponder, we are entitled to the promptings of theSpirit, and as we grow more attentive to these promptings, we come to recognize each day the workings of the Lord in our lives. We will find Him, as Elder Neal A. Maxwell stated, 'in the details of our lives'("Becoming a Disciple," Ensign, June 1996, 19). And when that recognition comes, we feel His peace and recognize that we are truly encircled in the arms of His love."

Seriously?

Since I posted my last post, I have talked to probably 7 or 8 people in the neighborhood who either read my post or heard about it and had something similar happen to them! Are you kidding me? What in the world is going on here? We have lived here for over 2 years and have NEVER had anything happen to us until now. Infact, I was just talking to JaNae today and she told me that they went for a walk for 20 minutes this past Saturday and came home to her big star on the front of her house GONE!!! PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE be more aware of your surroundings and who is around you. Not only for you but also for your neighbors. I am known as the 'Circle Watch' person because I am always looking out the window at what is going on in my frontyard as well as my neighbors. If I wake up in the middle of the night, I always look out the window and see if anything is going on. I just wanted everyone to know that the GRINCH is still around and to keep your eyes open!