Let myself sink into the cesspool of self pity yesterday. Don't know why or even what that was about. If you could see my eyes rolling you would be dizzy. Finally let myself sit down and edit a few pages and thought; his stuff is good,what are you being such a boob about.

Feeling like I needed a break; I suggested to Rick that we watch a movie after dinner. Let me back up a bit. When my daughter was coming down for a visit, I had her scour the Wal Mart $5 bin for some of my favorite movies. We were on the phone while she was scouring. She found a movie that I had only seen once along time ago- The Other Side of Heaven ( look at that I got that italic thing backwards, since evil blogger won't let me fix it as easy as Word, we'll just let it go, you get the idea). ANYWAY...That's what we watched last night The Other Side of Heaven. Really put my life in perspective. It doesn't hurt, that I have met the real person who is the main character. I think I will have to add this movie to my list of WATCH THIS MOVIE AT LEAST EVERY 90 DAYS. So far that list includes Parenthood and Captain Ron - don't ask.

Rick just called and said he is on his way home, the job site was shut down today. It seems OSHA is on the island and owner didn't want to be risk a visit. That's comforting. Anyway... he'll probably have to work Saturday, so we're goin' to the beach today. YES!!!

Sorry. I have been AWOL again. Working so hard on the edit of my book and I can only spend so many hours a day in the horrible chair at my computer. It frosts me to think that I have two "Executive Office Chairs" in a storage locker in Idaho. Better not go there.

Ran into a situation yesterday that got me to thinking (I know that's dangerous). Anyway, is it right to do something, just because you can. Some people have so much money. The folks I'm talking about really want to make a difference and do something good, but they don't seem to think their ideas through. One more reason to be grateful for poverty, it makes you think and think again about decisions involving money. In the long run, it has made me think and think again about most decisions, especially when they involve somebody's life other than your own.. It's not always good.

I better shut this down. I'm having a "blue" Wednesday. One of those "Stranger in a Strange Land", kind of days. I'll get over it, but for right now, it stinks.

Had a fun visit on the phone last night with a friend from Idaho. Thanks Pam. You make me laugh.

Back to the editing process. I'm starting to get impatient with it. I want the book to be done. I want to send it off to others to read. This is the most tedious part of writing. Actually it'snot writing it correcting your own mistakes. My head might pop off.

Maybe I need to go to the pool first thing this morning and drift away. Too much facing me here at home, like laundry, "the edit" and a very messy house. Wish I could go to the beach. Maybe Rick will be up for it after work.

Focus, focus, focus.

The baptism of Nikki Turner was spectacular. Aren't they all? There was a crowd. Most of the Branch stayed in support of her. Her parents came and I really believe they were touched by the Spirit. Her father in particular had a lot of questions. It would be so wonderful, if they could join her in being baptized. We'll have to pray about that.

I had a great class in YW today. Brandon, a friend of Nikki's, who is not a member, but who had been attending Seminary, came to support her. He didn't want to go to Priesthood and I didn't have the heart to throw him out of YW. Our lesson was on the Blessing of being a part of the House of Israel. It was a great discussion, with Brandon taking the lead on many of the topics. There just might be one more young person almost ready for baptism.

There is also a lady who has come to church two weeks in a row. She is from UVI and claims that she was doing some research on religion and came across the church on the computer. She came last week to check it out and came back this week because she felt good about it. Now if our Mission President can get this message and leave the young Sister Missionaries here for a few months. Great things can happen. Have to pray about that too.

The treatment that the Branch President has decided to punish both Rick and I with is very stressful. This morning I had severe stomach cramps before going to church and a terrific headache while there. Once we left, it felt like a ton of bricks had been lifted off my shoulders. I have got to find a better way to cope. I am so grateful I did not let it stop me from being there to teach and be a part of this very special baptism, but it is still stressful. I know this is my problem and I have to find a way to deal. The Branch President will have to find his own way to deal with his stuff.

I still say Thank Goodness for Sundays!

Hey,hey,hey. Two days in a row. finally had a nice relaxing day. We didn't get out of bed until almost nine o'clock. For two people who have the alarm set for 5:30AM each morning, this was pretty good. We really didn't do much. A little work on the edit. Rick did some minor car maintenance. Couple hours at the pool. Rick even took a nap while I read. It felt wonderful.

Got a pleasant call from a friend in Idaho last night. She and her husband were on their way home from the Rexburg Idaho Temple where they had just been Sealed for Time and all Eternity. About eighteen months ago I spoke at this woman's baptism. I wish I could have been there with her in the Temple, but I was so pleased that she thought to call and let us know just how happy they were.

Tomorrow I have the honor to speak at the baptism of a young woman here on St. Croix who has faithfully been attending church and our Young Woman activities for almost a year now. She made the decision to be baptized and the Mission sent to young Sister Missionaries over from Puerto Rico to teach her. Nikki is a special Young Woman and I hope one day to be able to stand in the Temple with her and see her sealed (married) to her Eternal companion. Knowing us, we'll behalf way around the world somewhere when that time comes, but maybe she will remember me and call the way my good friend Birgit did yesterday. (Elder and Sister Babcock this part of the post in particularly for you!)

You know your Cruzan when it's 79 degrees out and you are freezing. Seriously, I have acclimated so well that today when I got out of the pool and walked back home, I was shivering. Don't think I'm cut out for cold climates anymore.

Trying hard to get into the swing of things. So much to catch up on. The days just keep careening by. Work on the edit of my book is tedious to say the least. Rick is now going through it. He's taking his time and working hard on my grammar (that would be because I have none). I have gotten the house back in order (for the most part) and am finally caught up on bill paying and getting everything entered in my checkbook. Wow, we really ran through the money when the girls were here. Oh well, that's what it's for, Right?

Having a hard time getting back into the routine of things at church. Seems some of the programs are going by the wayside. Some of the people do not want to change and do the things we are being told to do. I'm tired to working so hard to keep them coming along. Some of then want to fight about everything. I'm not going to do that.

One of the young women is supposed to be baptized a week from tomorrow. I know she wants to be baptized in the ocean, but the Branch President and his wife don't want that to happen. They seem to have a hard time "really" loving the people. I know they think that they love them, but it's more like the love of a disapproving parent. I have got to keep my mouth shut and ride this out.

I have no doubt that the Lord is in charge of his church and things will straighten out. It is not my job to work everything out. I do not want to be a part of any of the contention that seems to swirl around at our little Branch.

I am missing having the girls here. We had a good time together (at least I had a good time with them). It is particularly lonely in the mornings. Macy will start school in about three weeks. I can hardly believe it. Rozi is eight months old today, can't believe that either. Time sure is flying by.

I was supposed to get back on the HCG Protocol today and I did not. I am anxious to start again, but I guess I have to psych myself up to it. We'll see what tomorrow brings.

I have been way out of touch. The girls are still here and we have been off doing stuff almost every day. Even when we are not off doing stuff, I have been otherwise occupied.

Finally Rozi is getting used to us. She is still pretty attached to her Mommy, but I can generally get her to take a nap. At night, it's Mom and Mom only.

Rachel and I went to see Harry Potter on Thursday night (yeah that's right. Thursday. That's when it opened here in the VI). It is incredibly good, can't wait to go see it again. Rick and I are going on Monday night. Lucky me!

Got through the first round of edits on the book. Rachel read it and said she really liked it. Not sure if that's a really good review (I mean, would she tell me if she thought it was horrible). Rick is up next and then I'll go through and put their edits in. Rachel's are mostly suggestions, hopefully Rick will help me with grammar. Mine stinks. I'll be back hard at it, on Monday after the girl are gone (they have an early flight out Monday morning).

Friday morning I start back on my HCG Protocol and I have to say I can't hardly wait. We have been eating way too much. for the most part I feel miserable.

Monday, I promise and I have a lot on my mind to blog about.

Daughter and her daughters have been here 1 week now. Having a good time. I think daughter is disappointed with me. I'm happy to help outwith the children,but I'm not willing to take over and have her sit around and do nothing. When she went diving I watched the kids and we had fun, but when she's here,I believe it's her primary responsibility. Trying to see that she has a good time and feeling like I'm failing miserably. Oh well,what else is new.

DIET BLOG

I had to give up on my HCG Protocol. When I got sick, I was told that if I was off the product for no more than 3 days, I could go along and start taking it again. Well, It took me more like 6 days to get things working well enough to take the product and eat the way I should. By that time,my daughter was here and it seemed prudent to wait until she left to "start over". Working hard to keep what I lost off, not sure how that is working out, but so far so good. I will plan to get back up and running again next Wednesday. Hope I can work this out and stay at it for the required time. Until then. Let me know how your doing.

Once the family leave, I'll be back,but for now this is the best I can do.

Last Thursday, 7 July,my daughter and her daughters came for a visit. We are having a great time. Glad you're not here ( I don't like to share my time with them with anyone else). Spending mucho time at the beach (is there any place else to be).

Sunday was a total bummer. Had my daughter and granddaughters in church and someone who should know better was intentionally mean to me. I want to be angry, but it really makes me sad.
This is the one time year that I can bring my daughter to church and hope that she will be able to feel the Spirit. Oh well,it will be on this particular person's head. It's something I have seen them do to others, so I'm not shocked. What is wrong with some people?

One more thing. For anyone interested in the HCG Protocol that I am following: go to hcgbyrevele.com read EVERYTHING, then if you decide to purchase enter PARADISE2011 in the promo code or coupon code (whichever it says) and you will receive a 10% discount. I know you can buy HCG in some of the Health Food Stores cheaper,but be sure you are comparing apples to apples. They are not all created the same, and some simply do not work. If you decide to do it,let me know. I will be happy to help in any way that I can and talk you through the rough times, if you have them. So far I haven't.

I posted yesterday that a realtor was showing the place, so I've had questions about us moving. This place has been for sale since we moved in. The economy isn't much better here than in the States, especially with respect to real estate, so we're not too worried. We get 24 hours notice when they want to show it and sometimes it's a pain.

I thought I was feeling better and I am better than I was Monday, but only about 60%, so I'm moving kind of slow. I am laying low today and tomorrow, cancelled out on my meeting, because I am not going to be sick when my girls are here. Going to get some fresh "coconut water" later today. It is amazing stuff, really helps.

DIET BLOG

Today is the end of week 2 on the HCG Protocol for me. I am sad to report that since Monday I have not been able to take the HCG (well I probably could have taken it, but since everything that went in came out rather swiftly, it didn't make any sense). I have not eaten much since Sunday, but I have not been able to gag down vegetables and protein. I ate a few crackers and some rice pudding yesterday. I know, not on the Protocol but it was what I needed. Hope I haven't screwed this up too badly. I need to get with my mentor and see what I should do. If I can just go right back on or if I need to start over. Anyway, there is some GOOD NEWS, I have continued to lose and am now down a total of 26.8 LBS. I did not have the energy to measure myself this morning, but will do that later or first thing tomorrow. So, that's it there in a nutshell. I was hoping to make it a 30 lb. lose by the 2 week mark and I might have made it, if I hadn't gotten sick. Whatever it takes, I'm getting back on track, as soon as my system will allow it. It's working.

For those of you naysayers, who want to think I got sick because of this, all I can say; not true. This particular brand of flu is going around the island. Unfortunately, I know several people who have had it and I was not smart enough to stay far away from them.

There was a lot of sad news yesterday, globally,locally and personally. Be grateful for what you have. Hold your loved ones a little closer. Tell those people that you love, that you love them. Smile at everyone. Be Cruzan; tell everyone you see (yes everyone, even those you pass on the street) Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Night, whichever applies.

I hope to post more later. I have had no Internet service since 30 June. July 3 and 4, I had my quarterly bout of Cruzan flu. Sicker than a dog. Today is catch up. Realtor showing the place tomorrow and it's a wreck. Kids coming Thursday(refer to last sentence). Meetings Thursday morning and emergencies happening all over the place. Situation normal (complete as you wish).