Through Jens Lens

Well, it is that time of year...back to school. For most of you this means, the smell of freshly sharpened pencils, buying cute sweaters to stay warm, looking forward to the turning of the leaves and then soon after your first snow...... For us, it means hoping your crayons don't melt on the way to school, frozen water bottles so you don't get heatstroke at recess, that is if you can even play outside due to a possible heat advisory, wishing you could wear your bathing suit to school so you could plop yourself in the water fountain, and wishing the entree for the school lunch was a popsicle.....it is that time of year again.......back to school in the desert!!

All of the men in my life really are great fathers. My Grandpa, my Dad and Michael have all provided for, cared for, loved, and supported their children and grandchildren. I have wonderful memories with these men and they have helped form me into the person that I am. Fishing with Popo, running with my Dad and raising beautiful children with Michael. Obviously, I could name hundreds of other memories with these men (good and bad), but the common thread is that they have always been there for me, they are present, creating a security I could have never known without them. Thank you God, the number one man in my life, for providing me with so much fabulous testosterone!!

I have been gone a long time from the blogs...missing them very much!! Since I have a few months of my job under my belt I am hoping to get back to some of the things I really enjoy. So....here is an attempt to bring back the blogging baby!! Now if I can just get past this writer's block.........

Last Monday Sophie and I cleaned and organized her room, because it was atrocious! When I put her to bed she was pretty quiet so I thought, "I am going to get to watch the Bachelor in peace". Sophie is known for taking a good 1-2 hours to fall asleep with numerous requests for drinks, food, medication...as well as walking downstairs with night light and blanket in hand claiming she is sleepwalking, or she almost heard a dog bark. So, last night after about 40 minutes into the process she calls me up and I am like Sophie, "what is wrong, I thought you were asleep". So, she tells me the usual "I'm scared". And I say, "Scared of what?" and she says, "well,my room is so clean it is scaring me!!" Bad Mom.....

It is easy to look to God and ask, "Why is there so much poverty in the world? Why is there so much hurt, so much inequality and unfairness, so much destitution?" I bet He would ask us the same thing. -Katie-kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com

I loved this book, it was one of my all time favorites so, I can't wait to read her new one...... I will let you know what I think!

There are things in my life that I enjoy and love to pass onto others: names of good books, movies I loved, great running songs, and my most important obsession, fabulous blogs and websites!! The Pioneer Woman has held the esteemed position of my favorite to pass onto others, especially women....she is funny and we can relate to her in some crazy fashion, although I often find myself saying, "Is this woman on crack, how does one have so much energy in a day". To this, Michael says, "it's called a staff Jen"....which of course shatters my entire self deprecating act of wondering why I can't be as great as her?! Anyway.....I have found a blog (and I am late on this bandwagon let me tell you) that makes me happy...just gives me a smile and a good laugh. I have been holding off on putting it in my links section due to, well lets just say, some controversial Mormon opinions....but, if I could pull this woman out of her living room (not her kitchen because she onl...