This is what happens when you try to serve....

This story happened to my friend, Karissa. It was so good, I had to share it with you. This is straight from her blog in her words. This is why you should never serve. (just kidding)

Karissa's Story:
So, I've had a LOT of time on my hands lately and I've been volunteering a lot with several different churches and companies. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to volunteer at the bishop's storehouse in the valley. I volunteered to drive and there were 2 other ladies coming with me. One, Deyonira, I know quite well because we take her to church and the other, Betty, I'd never met before. Betty lives in the projects (welfare complex) downtown. A lot of people who volunteer are people in need of assistance provided by the storehouse. I was assuming that Betty was in that category. After talking to her on the phone, we agreed on a time and she said she'd be waiting outside. I pictured a nice little old lady.

I pulled up to the housing complex and there was one woman waiting outside. Betty waved at me and I waved her into my car. She really didn't look like anything I had imagined. She had a huge tattoo on her forearm that read "RIO" a well known gang in here in Oxnard and she had another tattoo under her ear that said "805", which is our area code and the name of another gang here in town. She reeked of mary jane and vodka but I looked over it thinking to myself, "good for her...trying to turn her life around". When she got in the car she looked in the backseat and then looked at me and said, "where's Daniella?" I assumed she was talking about Deyonira (a lot of people mispronounce her name). I informed Betty that we were going to pick her up right now. I should have picked up Deyonira first but having never been to this part of town, I thought I would backtrack less if I picked up Betty first. Then Betty questioned, "why didn't you get Daniella first?" I told her I should have but I didn't know that she wouldn't be on our way. Seemingly content, Betty asked, "you got the stuff?" Thinking she was talking about her storehouse order form, I told her she'd get it when we got there. I told her I'd only been there once and I wasn't sure how things went down. "I'm sure they'll have a little orientation for us or something", I explained. "I don't need no damn orientation! I know how this s#!t goes down!" I was a little thrown off guard, "Well...I'm not sure how it works...we'll just see when we get there". Then Betty starts acting weird and asked me, "Why the hell didn't you get Daniella first?! How can I trust you without Daniella?!" "I'm sorry", I said, "I should have picked her up first, I didn't realize you guys were so close" (even though you don't know how to properly pronounce her name). I told her it was stupid of me. "How many people are gonna be there?" she asked. I told her I wasn't sure and we'd find out when we got there. Then she yells, "HOW IN THE HELL CAN I TRUST YOU?!" I had no idea what to say...I was pretty speechless, but I kept driving. As I turned a corner she yells, "This isn't the way to Daniellas!" I told her I wasn't sure the best way to get there...I was just following my GPS. I kept driving and she says, "I really don't think I can trust you without her here." A little confused, I apologized again and told her we'd get to her friends house soon. She screams, "YOU'RE GOING THE WRONG WAY!!" I was so confused and starting to get scared and I yelled back, "DO YOU KNOW A BETTER WAY?!" Then Betty starts breathing really fast and her eyes got really big and she screamed, "ARE YOU A COP?!?! ARE YOU A MOTHER F-ING COP?!?!" "What?! NO!" I yelled back (everything started to click into place...this was NOT Betty). Then she continues to scream, "DAMN DANIELLA THAT BITCH!!! SHE SET ME UP!!! THAT MOTHER F-ING BITCH!! I'M GONNA GET HER!!! DANIELLA GONNA BE SORRY!!! REEEEEAAAAL SORRY!!!" It was all happening so fast and I was coming to a stop at a light and was planning to make a U-turn to take her back home, I was breaking but still moving at about 15mph when suddenly she swings the door open, AS THE CAR IS MOVING, and bolts. I've never seen anyone run so fast in my life.
I like to talk a big game and put on a tough face but I seriously could have crapped my jeans after I realized what just happened. She totally disappeared and left me in the drivers seat in the middle of the road with my passenger door wide open. I was shaking so bad and had to get out of my car and walk around to close the door. I then thought to myself, "Holy crap...I just got accused of being an undercover cop by a hardcore drug dealing gang banger."
I then turned around and went back to the complex and was relieved when I saw a cute little old white haired lady with a cane waiting for me. When she walked toward my car I asked, "Are you Betty?" She said she was indeed and when she got in, she explained, "I'm glad you just pulled up, I felt bad for being late but I had to go to the bathroom...and when you're my age you GO when you gotta go."
I was here on time...you have no idea grandma...
I've had a lot of frightening moments in my life, but this one is right up there with the scariest. I ended up driving about 6 blocks with that hardcore gang banger in my passenger seat yelling at me. Thinking back, I realize how lucky I am that I didn't get shot right there after she realized I might be a cop.

I'm just hoping Daniella was equally as lucky...

Cancun Quotes

Ok, I admit it. I eavesdrop on people's conversation. But everyone does, right? It's hard not to hear what the person right next to you may be saying to someone, ya know. So we heard some pretty funny stuff while traveling to Cancun. On our flight to Dallas (for our layover) we were on a plane with about 25 missionaries going to Tulsa, OK. As the missionaries boarded the plane, they realized they were separated from their companion....still sitting within eye distance, but just not next to each other. They all seemed ok with it, that is, except for one...

Missionary 1: "Excuse me, but I'm suppose to sit next to my companion!"
Flight Attendent: "Please take your seat and we'll work on rearranging when everyone has boarded"
Missionary 1: "No, I mean, I HAVE to sit next to my companion!"
Lady sitting by missionary: "No worries, I'll switch once everyone has boarded."
Missionary 1: "Thanks. I'm just so nervous. This is my 2nd time flying. I was born and raised in Utah..."
(Lady Moves)
Missionary 1: "Hey, elder, you can sit next to me now!"
Companion: "Um, I'm ok right here, thanks."

Then as the plane was taking off, another missionary a few rows up raised his hands in the air (like riding a roller coaster) I busted up laughing.

Missionary 1: "Are you laughing at me?!?!"
Me: "No, I'm laughing at the missionary a few rows up."
Missionary 1: "Ok, because I'm really gullible. I mean, REALLY GULLIBLE."
Poor poor missionary is going to grow up very fast. Lets all hope he has a patient trainer!

In cancun:

Lady 1: "How do you say 'thank you' in Spanish?"
Lady 2: "I think it's grazi."
Lady 1: "No, that's how you say it in Italian...or German."

Waiter: "You need seating for 3?"
Me: "Um, no, just two please."
Waiter (Pointing to my belly): "No, THREE! hahahahahaha"

Back Home Again...

Mark and I had an opportunity to go back home this past weekend....home to the Caribbean that is! We went to Cancun for a few days last week. (Our 7th place to visit in the Caribbean). Mark earned a 4 night all expense paid trip to Cancun through a sales incentive at work. I'm so proud of him...it was an IMPOSSIBLE quotable that he had to obtain, and he did it! It was SO NICE to get away...even if it was cloudy and rainy the whole time we were there. oh well, ce la vie. Pictures to come soon...or eventually. Maybe. If you're lucky.

What not to watch...

Yesterday, there was a marathon on TLC of the show "I didn't know I was pregnant." Somehow I managed to get sucked into watching a couple episodes. Yeah, I really shouldn't watch that show, especially being pregnant. my thought process...

*What an idiot. How can you NOT KNOW you are PREGNANT!?!?!?! There are VERY CLEAR SIGNS to let you know.

*What a DOUBLE idiot. How can you NOT KNOW you are PREGNANT with TWINS!?!?!?!?!?! (Yes, there were TWO...not one, two....episodes of women who gave birth to twins that didn't know they were pregnant.)

*shoot, what if I'M pregnant with twins?!?!? I feel rather large right now...I really need to get in for that dang ultrasound...

*I don't care if the show says the babies are all healthy and fine with no lasting effects...in every episode, the mother had NO PRENATAL CARE and SMOKE and DRANK through her WHOLE pregnancy! There's gonna be some repercussions for that.

Yeah, I don't think I'll be watching that show again anytime soon.

The Power of Treats

I'm currently serving as a Beehive Adviser. (love it, ps) My first week teaching I noticed only a couple girls brought their scriptures. (hmmm, not ok with that.) Well, the next time I taught, I brought Reece's for the girls who brought their scriptures (again, only two girls). You can imagine their shock and disappointment when they didn't get a treat. (I did give them a piece of my "extra" gum to try "extra" hard to remember their scriptures next week.) And you know what...It worked! The girls have learned to definitely bring their scriptures...you never know the blessings you'll get from them!

So I'm going to court tomorrow...

yeah, that's right, I'm going to court. Here's a great story for you. About a month ago, I got pulled over by a cop. I wasn't speeding (in fact I was going 5 under thanks to the slow poke car in front of me.) So why did I get pulled over you ask...

Apparently, my registration had been revoked. Apparently the DMV is suppose to send me a notice to tell me, but Apparently they didn't! I was SHOCKED. BLOWN AWAY! Why was my registration revoked? Well, Apparently, my insurance company accidentally put in the wrong VIN # for my car and the DMV couldn't find any proof of insurance.

I showed the cop my proof of insurance AND proof of registration. I stayed very calm. (yeah, no crying!) I thanked the cop for bringing this very important issue to my attention and I would get it remedied first thing.

AND WHAT DID THE PUNK DO! He CITED me! He wrote me up for no proof of insurance (even though I SHOWED IT TO HIM) and no registration and told me I had to appear in court before a judge to prove that I really had it.

THEN to top it ALL OFF, he tells me that he has to impound my car and I can't drive it away because it's a liability b/c of no insurance (EVEN THOUGH I HAD INSURANCE). He told me I have to call my husband to pick me up. I calmly explained that it wasn't an option because Mark was out of town. THEN THE PUNK tells me that luckily I'm only 2 miles from home SO I CAN WALK!

At THAT point, I LOST IT! I started bawling and begging, "Please don't make me walk home. I'm pregnant and REALLY not feeling well."

Well he had a little empathy once he found out I had a bun in the oven. He said I was lucky he wasn't going to impound my car and he'd follow me home due to the liability. (Jeez, what a saint...)

I was able to get the whole matter cleared up with the DMV and my insurance company within a couple hours.

Now, I understand that cops have a job to do. I get that. Our taxes PAY for their job. But I also understand that cops are able to make judgment calls...please, let's send the real criminals to court, not pregnant women who were never notified that there was an issue.

Now I get to waste MY time and the Judge's time tomorrow.

Wish me luck!

Things I'm grateful for...

*I have THE BEST HUSBAND in the ENTIRE world! Ever since I was 6 weeks into my pregnancy, I've pretty much gone out of commission when it comes to the cooking and cleaning. I work a full day in my class and come home and crash. Mark has had to wait on me hand and foot and NOT ONCE has he EVER complained. He cooks me whatever I want to eat, and if we don't have it, he'll go out and get it. (and I've wanted to eat some pretty random stuff...)

*Although I've been sick, I've only thrown up first thing in the morning or at night. I haven't thrown up at work at all.

*I have the BEST coworkers. At work, I'm able to get in the game and I'm ok for the most part...but there are little things that make me squirm ever since my sense of smell has heighten to the tenth degree (changing diapers, being one...). I'll be going on maternity leave when the baby is born. Usually, I freak out if I miss a day of work, but I know that my kids are in GREAT HANDS and will be just fine without me there. (which kinda makes me sad to know I'm not needed as much)

* I have the BEST CLASS EVER. Seriously, my class is better than general ed. Yes, they are still autistic and have their quirks, but they are so sweet and so gentle. They are so happy and adorable and it's amazing. It makes it so much easier to go to work and to teach.

*I'm out of my first trimester, which means slowly but surely, I'm getting a little bit better.