Blog under construction...

This Blog is currently under construction-- hopefully a new face lift will bring my friends here to post. Don't be scared...I am trying new things out right now-- I'll notify when it's finally finished.

News...

I went to the doctor today and received some bad/good news. I have diabetes; however, it can be controlled with diet and exercise. I am starting some medication tomorrow that will help in all of this. I am more excited than down about the news. It is the swift kick in the rear that I needed to get my health life in order. We have to get this under control along with some other factors before trying to get pregnant again. Mostly, I look forward to getting back into all the clothes that have collected millions of dust bunnies in my closet. Yes, I used to have cute clothes--and I still do, I just haven't fit in them for awhile. Coby is going on the diet with me and I will join his already resurrected work out plan. Believe it or not, I used to be a work-out junkie-- that was prior to moving to St. George and getting swamped in my career, then marriage and then motherhood. Now I am glad to show Ben the best way to live-- healthy.
Speaking of Ben, he is such a big boy now. He helps me do laundry (putting clothes into the dryer for me, then closing the door) and he absolutely LOVES doing dishes with me. Although we long for the day we have a dishwasher, it's actually really nice to teach my son good old-fashioned work to build that ever important work ethic. I'll post some pics of him helping me around the house soon.
Coby has officially turned his application in to the Washington County Sheriff's Department. He has prepared himself to pass the physical and has passed the POST test. If this works out, we'll be staying in St. George for who knows how long. If it doesn't, I don't expect us to be here at the end of next year. We'll see.
Hope you are getting prepared for Thanksgiving. I know it's going to be hard not to gorge this year-- kind of a bad time to start dieting, but I also want to make sure I am committed and what better way than to (hopefully) stand strong at the most tempting time of the year. Yikes!

Keep blogging-- this site is so lonely for my friends.

I'm in now what? :)

Help Wanted

Wow!! What a powerful General Relief Society Conference we just experienced. I absolutely loved every talk, but I will admit that Sister Beck's was the most powerful, inspirational, call to repent talk I have heard in a long time--at least for me. President Monson also hammered it home for me as well.

I have decided to take the counsle to heart and like Sister Beck said, store up money, food and skills. The first two are easy, but I lack in so many skills I wish I had. Some of those are making clothes and quilting. I did a story on a quilt shop earlier Saturday afternoon, so that was fresh in my head. The pic is the name of the store.

For all my more skilled friends, what are some ways to get started in making clothes and blankets that you can share with me...the beginner. I know how to sew a button, barely...so I have a lot to learn.

Georgia vacation!!

We returned from our vacation back home (or my home) in Georgia and what an awesome time we had!! It was fun to have Aunt Kelli and Ben cuddle in the stands of Turner Field, watching the Braves play.

For more pictures and stuff from our trip visit our blog: cobyandjill.blogspot.com...or the link to the side will take you there as well.

Great news!!!

This past summer I worked very hard putting together a grant application for the Zions Bank Smart Women Smart Money Grant. They award only 5 grants a year, $3,000 each. The applicants are from Utah and Idaho and range from business grants to service-oriented grants.
I received the phone call this afternoon informing me I was one of those 5 winners! I will be awarded the grant on Sept. 27th at the Smart Women Smart Money Conference in Salt Lake City. They plan on doing a video about each of the winners to play at the conference--so that part will be interesting.
Part I of the application was to write a mission statement based off the Smart Women Smart Money theme. Here's what I submitted:

Mission Statement:

“Zions Bank’s Smart Women Grants help support the efforts of everyday heroines who strengthen women, children and their communities.”

My application for the Smart Women Grants is focused on the goal I have had to find a way to help the children who enter the walls of the Washington County Children’s Justice Center.

I first learned about the center when I moved to the St. George area two years ago. I worked as a reporter for the local newspaper and my coverage assignments were the cops beat and other municipality news. While working closely with the local law enforcement agencies, I quickly discovered that the community had a growing problem of child abuse.

When I first heard about the Children’s Justice Center I was appreciative to learn that there was a home environment created for children taken out of abusive situations that needed to be questioned by law personnel. What was alarming was how many children were being served in such a small place. Since the numbers of people coming in and out of the center were increasing, keeping their anonymity was becoming problematical.

The Children’s Justice Center has recently begun construction of a bigger home to accommodate the growing number of children being brought in. The expansion will help create an improved environment for the children who come to the center. There will be additional interview rooms built to help serve more children in a timely manner.

It is my goal to help strengthen the children who come to the center after experiencing horrific ordeals to feel that they are in a shelter of love, trust and support.

It is my mission to use the grant money to adopt an interview room at the Washington County Children’s Justice Center and create an environment that will help bring serenity to a tender soul.

The children of this community are the teachers, leaders, etc. of tomorrow. They are also the mothers and fathers of tomorrow. If we can create a place of love to help them through their terrible trial, we can help break the cycles of abuse and help them understand that a community loves them.

My Zions Bank Smart Women Grants application is the vision of the mission statement—this grant will impact thousands of children, influence hundreds of communities in which these children will live and will help mothers like myself give to those children what they need most—love.

Needless to say, I was more than elated to receive that phone call this afternoon. I have been wanting to find a way to be more involved in the community, especially with the Children's Justice Center. I look forward to making these rooms in the new center a very special place for the children who it will serve.

I also want to say a very special thankful to my sweet husband who supported me through this whole process and encouraged me to be involved with this passion of mine!

It's About time....

So since I finally figured out how to post things... I figured I would say Hi. In the mean time of figuring this thing out I created my own blog and when Jill teaches me how to share it, I will forward it on. So just an update on me. I have lived in St. George for a little over a year now. I work in a rehab center for the elderly as a physical therapy aide. I LOVE my job, so much so that I am considering going back to school for Physical Therapy, however that means moving and if ya know me ya know that its not my first choice! Well thats me...when something new and exciting happens I'll let ya know!

We're Moving...........

We're Moving..............
to

N 38 ° 22' 20.1"
W 122 ° 44' 14.3"

Book Club starting

Hello everyone!!

I have decided to start a book club through Time Out for Women, that is organized through Deseret Book Club. I need to have at least 8 people to start a group and need to know if you're interested. There are NO obligations for any of us to buy a book a month or "meet" once a month. We are allowed to "meet" virtually through e-mails and blogs. I will create a book club blog once I have enough people wanting to do it with me.

We will be able to receive 30% off the book of the month from Deseret Book-- either in their stores or online.

I know I love to read and know that I need to make sure I am always increasing (except in size!)

Let me know if you're interested!!

Ben's 1st b-day & July 4th

Headin' home...

Well...this is just a quick announcement that we are headed to Georgia for our yearly trip at the end of August. We will be out there from Aug. 25- Sept.1. We are anxious to see our growing family and to of course see all the fun summer Atlanta places to go to, like the Braves game!!
We are excited to see the new Aquarium that's out there, the Stone Mountain Laser Show, my pregnant sister-in-law and all of our family and friends.

Can't wait to see everyone!!!

Journalism awards

I just wanted to share some news that I have won two awards for a story that I did right before I had Ben. I actually worked on it for 5 months and was about to finish it when Ben came along. I finished it while he was in the NICU.

Here's a link from The Spectrum's Web site about the Regional award I won:

http://www.thespectrum.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070612/BUSINESS/706120336/1046/CUSTOMERSERVICE02

I won 2nd place for the region in investigative reporting and just received word yesterday that I won 1st place for Utah in investigative reporting.

The Utah Chapter of Society of Professional Journalists is who I will be receiving my 1st place award for the same story on Washington City. I was interviewed by the Ogden Standard Examiner for a column that will be in their Monday paper (and online).

I am thrilled with winning both awards; however, the SPJ award is even more special to me because I was up against all newspaper and television reporters in the state.

It feels so good to be noticed-- even though I don't write full-time anymore.

I am hoping for the same success for my book ventures!!!

Getting older...er- wiser!!!

I turned the ripe age of 29 this past week! Thanks for all the birthday wishes and songs... it feels great to be a little wiser!!!

Hunter's blog

danandnaea.blogspot.com

Janaea Checking In

Ok, I don't really know what I am doing here but I got an account set up for you Jill and I am going to have Dan play with it and then tell me how to work it, because that is how our married works. LOL So once he explains it to me I will be back.
Love ya all,
Naea

How to post...

Thanks for embarking on this new method of keeping up better with each other.

Here's how to post:
1. You have to create a Google Gmail account-- which is by far the best e-mail account out there. You don't have to make this your primary account, but if you want to it will teach you how to import all your e-mails and it will send a notification to your address book that your e-mail address has changed. If you don't want to use it like that-- you just need one to be able to sign into the blogger site.

2. When you log in it should take you to a screen that says, "Dashboard." It will list the name of the blog, called, "Forever Friends." You'll see some options below the name. Click on the New Post link to add your post. To view the post click on "View Blog."

3. The posting screen will pop up and you'll see a place to begin typing. You can make a title for your post--- like mine that says, "How to post..." You can change your fonts, colors and add a picture.

4. Add a picture by clicking on the tiny picture image next to spell check. It'll bring up a separate window where you'll browse for pics on your computer to post. You can add more than one at a time by clicking on "add another photo."

5. When you're done with your photos and text, click on "publish post" at the bottom.

You can then view the blog with your post added. If you see mistakes or want to make any changes you can click on edit post to do so.

Just take a few minutes and navigate around--- this is really easy to use and so fun once everyone posts regularly.Click on the link on the side under our birthday list to see my family's blog. If you create your own blog, I'll post the link here so we can all view those blogs as well.

Coby's siblings started one for all of us and it is a lot of fun!! You can create a separate blog for your self, family or whoever--- just remember to share with me!!

Love ya and happy posting!!

P.S. I have started a list of our birthdays on the side--- make sure yours is right and then if your date is missing... let me know so I can add it!!!