Briana Carr - Idaho's Miss Congeniality 2008!

If you haven't heard the news yet, Briana made top 10 last night and rocked the house with her incredible performance of "No Good Deed" from the broadway hit WICKED. We were so proud of her!! It was an amazing moment. She didn't make the final 7 but she did win the coveted award at the end...Miss Congeniality! Who couldn't have guessed that? We spent the night hearing how much EVERYONE loved her...including the stage hands, pageant board, parents, and contestants....what a great honor and priviledge to be her parents!

A big thanks to my family and friends who traveled so far to support and to all of the rest of you who were texting and calling throughout....we love you!

If you are interested in ordering the DVD or VHS of Saturday night, I will include the information below.

TAKE 1 VIDEO

200 N. 4th St., Suite #205 Boise, ID 83702

or call 208.344.9498 to order over the phone.

Cost is $50.00

Just include your name, address where you want the tapes or DVD mailed to and your phone no. also put:"JUST SATURDAY EVENING SHOW" and include whether you want VHS or DVD.

I'll post pics later....we only had a small camera that Steph had in her purse....she will send them to me when she gets home.

Love you all! It's off to BYU this week........watch out Cougars....here comes Briana Carr!!

GOOD LUCK BRIANA!!!

I love my family!

Miss Idaho Pageant

Briana just returned from the Miss Idaho Preliminary Weekend - she did great! You can view all the contestants at: http://www.missidaho.org/

BRIANA'S PROM

COLLEGE GRADUATES

We just got back from an amazing weekend witnessing the college graduation of Stephanie & Vanessa - We are soooooo PROUD of them and enjoyed visiting with all of you that came to their get together! Thank you for your cards, gifts and most of all your support to them and to us these past four years...actually...the past 21 years! We love you all and feel so blessed for all the joy and happiness we have experienced in this journey called life.

COLLEGE GRADUATION

TAGGED BY STEPHANIE

*Warning: If you don't want to read a whole bunch of pointless, random facts about me--skip this post*

10 YEARS AGO:

I was just starting my job at Weiser High School as the Attendance Secretary. I remember that I actually had to get up out of chair and walk around the high school picking up the attendance sheets that were hanging outside each teachers door. Then I would come back to the office and run the scantrons through the scanner where it would put the attendance into my program on the computer. It's funny to realize that only ten years ago not very many teachers even had a computer in their room...wow...have we come along way!

3 THINGS TO DO TODAY: (well, it's almost night time now)

1. Help Briana make some cookies for "thank-you's" to teachers that have written letters of recommendations for her scholarships.

2. Help Briana finish her scholarship applications.

3. Help Briana finish her Performance Resume for the BYU Young Ambassador Try-out this week.

JOBS I'VE HAD:

In 1979 Ontario recieved it's first major chain restaurant besides McDonalds - WENDY'S HAMBURGERS! It was "thee place" to work at in high school....and that is where I called home for the next several years and on into my first few years of marriage - >

The next job I had was handing out samples at grocery stores on the weekends while John was home with the twins...yes, you know those COSTCO workers...that was me except I was working at random little grocery stores like CUB FOODS, RALEY'S and some bigger one's like FRED MEYERS and ALBERTSONS.

Another job you might not know that I've had is working at Meir & Frank at Christmastime handing out samples of perfume or spraying it on people...this was lots of fun but boy were my feet tired later!

5 THINGS YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT ME:

1. I have to lay by the heater right before I jump into bed each night to get my feet warm...if my feet are cold, I cannot sleep!


2. I love popcorn! It's my new favorite treat....I don't like butter on it...just plain with salt. I guess I've become like my mother whom I know loves it too!


3. I don't like it when people swear or cuss - it makes me feel like they've lowered themselves.


4. I have to sleep with a feather pillow....I even take mine on trips now...because I will have a neckache if I don't use it.


5. I am really a brunette and I used to have lots of freckles on my nose!

I tag Christine & Caran next

Some fun pics of Briana's Senior Night

I just got these pics back from Briana's Senior Night for Cheerleading....I can't believe she is about to graduate! Only 8 weeks left! sigh.......

Sisters = FUN!

I just returned home from a FABULOUS time with my sister Christine and her wonderful family in Newberg, Oregon! Although there are 8 years of age difference between us, you can tell that we look alot alike...although wrinkles and weight defintely reveals which sister is older!!

We spent a week shopping at the outlets, eating out, having massages, bowling, watching movies, talking and giggling! The stress I've been under with all of my projects and deadlines left me as I slept through the night for the first time in 3 months.....yippee!

Although we didn't see much of the sun - I'm still basking in the sunlight from the love and kindess shown to me by the Beecher Family....I LOVE YOU ALL - Thank you!

Congratulations Mrs. Rucker!!!

Vanessa called us with the news today that she has officially been hired as a Sophomore History Teacher at TIMPVIEW HIGH SCHOOL in Provo Utah!!! We are so proud of her!!! She will finish out her student teaching there this month, graduate from UVSC in April and enjoy her summer off before she begins in August as MRS. RUCKER!!! I believe she is the first one in the family to follow after her grandpa - MR. PUTNAM!

"I'm Just a Girl Who Can't Say No"

I’m jist a girl who cain’t say no.
I’m in a turrible fix.
I always say, “Come on, let’s go,”
Jist when I orta say nix.
-Ado Annie, Oklahoma

For the past two months, I haven’t had a chance to really write much because I’ve been running a little faster than I can walk. Apparently, I have not mastered the word, “No.”

Teach a computer class? Sure…

Do a few more websites? Why not…

Head up Key-Club, Yearbook and Red Wave at the High School? I guess so…

Add these commitments to the everyday Church callings of Young Women’s 1st Counselor, Ward Organist, and Ward Website Specialist and throw in family obligations like getting Briana ready for BYU with scholarship applications, senior scrapbook, Young Ambassador’s Try-outs, high school graduation and Miss Idaho Pageant, and well, you have one stressed-out Cheri!

One morning in the midst of my mess, after listening to hundreds of songs from musicals (trying to help Briana pick a song for Miss Western Idaho and Young Ambassadors try outs) Annie’s song from the musical, Oklahoma, popped into my head. I laughed out loud, realizing the lyrics fit so well.

There was a time when I thought it was great to say, “yes” to everything. It meant I could handle whatever people needed me to handle. If there was a problem or an opportunity, well, count me in!Now, I don’t think saying, “yes” is such a good thing. In fact, I think often I say, “yes” because I’m not brave enough to say, “no.”I rationalize my inability to say, “no.” Some things sound fun or are great career/educational/spiritual opportunities. Other times, I feel like a task is my responsibility to do—even if no one else would think so.Or, I don’t want to say, “no” because I’ll feel guilty, I’ll disappoint someone, I’ll miss out on something great.Usually, I wait out the times I’m overcommitted. I get less sleep, I’m cranky at home with John and Briana, and I squeeze in that time to fulfill what I’ve signed on to do.

So, even though we are well past January, I’ve finally come up with my New Years Resolution – I’m going to be better at prioritizing my life. I’m going to say NO to those things that I really don’t want to do and focus on the tasks that I truly enjoy!

I often wonder if saying, “yes” is a part of Mormon culture (particularly among Mormon women)? Have you learned how to say no?