Residents may see ambulances, fire trucks and even a hearse at the Churchill County Fairgrounds Tuesday, but there is no reason to be alarmed, said De Vere Karlson, chief juvenile probation officer. The appearance of an emergency situation is a part of the national “Every 15 Minutes” event where students witness a mock car crash in an effort to fight drunk driving.“In the United States, statistically, unfortunately, every 15 minutes someone dies due to a drunk driver,” Karlson said.The event begins with a mock scene of a graphic car crash caused by a student driving drunk, Karlson said. Students from Churchill County High School will watch the scene beginning with the 911 call and ending with the removal of one or more bodies from the car.“It’s not real and you know it, but it’s the chance that it could happen,” said 18-year-old Meagan Winder, who helped plan the event.Afterwards the majority of students return to classes, but the 16 students playing out the scenario continue for the rest of the day, along with their parents Karlson said. Based on their roles, students go to the emergency room, the police station or mortuary. Karlson said it’s all filmed, so the entire student body can witness the various scenes at the mock funeral to be held during an assembly at CCHS on Wednesday morning. Before the funeral, however, the 16 students and their parents go to separate retreats to experience a mourning process, Karlson said.“We have kids break down and cry,” Karlson said. “Part of the retreat is that they write their parents a letter about how they died. It’s life-affecting for some kids.”Karlson said the experience is also dramatic for students who witness the scenes and videos because of how realistic they are. Karlson said planning began last September, and about 20 agencies are involved. She said, this year, a Hollywood make-up artist is even flying in to apply moulage simulating injuries.“We don’t make it so it’s gory, but it looks real enough so it gets the kids’ attention,” Karlson said.Karlson said DUIs drop every year they hold the event and they hope this year will have an even greater impact on students.“I hope it makes people realize that it could happen,” Winder said. “They shouldn’t throw their lives away over a drink.”

Back to Real Life

We are back from vacation, and had a wonderful time. This week has been busy, busy, with jetlag, getting a dandy cold, stake auxiliary meetings today, a dance tonight, ward conference tomorrow, add in 3 baseball games, a soccer, game, and the regular. So...I will be getting some pictures up soon, and a brief update of what we did. Some of the highlights were of course the food, meeting someone whom Greg knew on his mission, and just seeing all there was to see. We did lots of walking, and ate lots of gelato. What a great time we had!

Good things:
1. Vacationing with your family
2. Coming home to your own bed
3. Missing what or who is at home

Urges

I could never be the presidents wife! I am very active in the school system in our community, and have always been since my children started school. I have served on various committees, and been active in PTO. I believe this is what eventually led g to be on the school board. It is difficult to sit back and watch things happen when you feel someone needs to step forward and make a difference. I am in no way saying we make a difference, but we kind of feel like you can't sit back and complain if you aren't willing to do something about it.
That being said, G receives criticism all the time about what he said or did as a member of the school board. I often want to say lots about what is really going on, or how the story really went, etc. But try to most of the time keep my mouth shut, exception of being among friends. (sorry guys, I gotta vent somewhere.) But this morning I just could not control that urge to speak up and defend my husband. It happened at a PIC meeting.
And unfortunately, I probably didn't do it very adequately or effectively. What I really wanted and meant to say was this...
On a seven member board, he is the only one who currently has children in the school system. He is looking out for what is best for his children, but their are about 2500 other children just like his. He does know what goes on in the schools, he goes to parent teacher conference, back to school nights, sport events, PTO's, musical events, drama events, and also committee meetings, and school board meetings. All of those children are not the exact same as his, but he tries his best to do what is best for the majority of the students, and what will improve the school system, and hopefully eventually make responsible citizens out of these students.
Okay, that should suffice my urge for at least a little while. Thanks for listening.
Good things
1. short meetings
2. people who stand up for what they believe (that is why you ran again)
3. 6 days to Italy

13 days and counting...

Today there are a million (okay, probably not that many) things I should be doing right now instead of posting. Such as finishing costumes that really should have been done by now, cleaning out the restof my flower beds, making a list for our trip, and regular mom stuff. But I just realized we only have 13 days until we leave for our big trip. We are going to Rome for spring break. The kids are excited, and Davis has been reading about the colliseum, and gladiators. It seems so far away still. I think because there are still lots of things that need to happen before we go. I am sure it will go fast, and I haven't really given the list much thought, I think I better start one of those today.
Davis had his last pinewood derby last night. Although he didn't win, he said he thinks his car was faster than it has ever been. He had a really cool looking car. He had a friend block it and set the wheels, and he did everything else. I looked really great. Pictures will come later.
Good things:
1. homemade tortillas
2. thinking your kids are amazing
3. clean bath tub

Too Much to Do?

Although I do have an "almost perfect" life, there is always too much to do. But I do think that maybe that is what makes my life almost perfect. What would I do if I didn't have lots to do? Sit in my "office" and blog all day? Good thing I have "too much to do!"

Here are just a few things that have been or are happening in our home/ my life:

basketball games, dance competitions, sewing for "Hello Dolly," becoming part of the parent involvement committee at D's school, young women's of course, choir concerts, school board meetings, exercise, and then all the regular mom stuff.

But I wouldn't change it, any of it. Sometimes it is crazy and frustrating, and exciting, and happy, and irritating, and fun. But I think at some point, I signed up for all of this. I think I love having too much to do. But sometimes, I like to just sit in my "office" and meditate and blog.

Almost Perfect

I was behind an older gentleman at the recommend desk at the temple. The man checking recommends asked him how he was. His response, "almost perfect." I could not help but comment, so I said, "That's pretty good." He responded that most people don't believe him. So that got me thinking. . .
1. Why don't people believe him
Society tells us that nothing is ever perfect. There is always something better, and just when we get it, something else, and so on. If I, and each of us could just focus on what is great, maybe we would start thinking things are "almost perfect." And when we look for the positive, maybe it will shed a little light on what really matters, and what makes life almost perfect. It won't be what society tells us, but what is really important.
2. My life is pretty good, Almost perfect. I have actually been thinking alot about this the last few months. Now don't get me wrong, I have lots of things in my life that aren't perfect, but when I look at the things that are really important, almost perfect. I also don't want this to come across as bragging, I think many of you are in the same boat. And although our lives are different, I suspect you may feel like your life is, almost perfect as well. I sometimes wonder why I have it so good. I look around at others trials and or losses, and my own problems seem so small in comparison.
Why is it that other people have to deal with losing a spouse, or parent. Send a spouse or child to Iraq, or Afghanistan, lose a job, have financial difficulties, marital problems, children making less than ideal choices, and the list goes on and on.
I don't know the answer, but I do know that Heavenly Father is well aware of all of our needs, trials, triumphs, and sorrows. He knows what will strengthen us, crush us, and fortify us. He also knows that what works for you may not work for me. Just as parents, we know how to deal with each of our children differently.
So today, I am grateful to be "almost perfect." And hope that I will always remember just how "almost perfect" my life is, and thank those I love for being "almost perfect."

Good Things:
1. An almost perfect life
2. An almost perfect husband
3. A grateful heart

And I ask, "Do you feel your life is 'Almost perfect'?" Let me know.

Everyone is Okay...

Have your ever received a phone call that started with "Everyone is okay, but..." I received such a call last week while having lunch after a session at the temple. Apparently K and her friend H had a little mishap. Into each other! A hummer will always win when it collides with a jaguar. But, the kids were all okay, and things can be replaced. Kids, not so much.

Both were stopped at a stop light when it happened. Now, I am not really sure how two stationary vehicles can collide, but that is what they tell me. When I asked K's passenger T what happened, thinking okay he is a boy, he was paying attention he said, "the universe shrank."

G was out of town working, where there is no cell service to his phone, and I was an hour away. So H's mom JJ calmed everyone and took care of things until I got home. Thank goodness she was around, because she is usually hard to get a hold of. So that was the excitement at our house this week. I hope we don't have any more of that kind of excitement for a really long time.

Good Things:
1. Safe kids
2. JJ
3. insurance (even if it goes up)

"I knew it was bad when I looked at the hood and the jaguar was gone."

passenger in K's car