Survivor of Seven

COOLING OFF

2012-01-16T17:36:00.000-07:00

Kaitlin and her new companion, Sister Boud. Kaitlin says it is really hot and the fleas are really bad.

COUNTING DOWN

2012-01-13T17:43:00.002-07:00

Kaitlin reached her half way mark last week. It seems like she has been gone forever, but it is also crazy to think that she has less than 9 months left. It was great to talk to her with Skype on Christmas! She is happy!

A New Favorite

2012-01-12T13:08:00.003-07:00

Tristan gave me a Clarisonic for Christmas (with some help from Chelsey, thank you). At first, I thought it would something I would have to work at to make using it a habit. It is so easy, however, and leaves my face feeling so tingly and smooth. I love it. I use it every night! How did I ever wash my face all these years without it?

Cutest Shepherds Ever

2012-01-06T20:06:00.003-07:00

We were a little short on people for our Christmas nativity on Christmas Eve. But what we lacked in numbers, we made up for in cuteness!

Mama Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys

2012-01-06T18:15:00.004-07:00

Tyler wants to be a farmer when he grows up. This is what he looks like after going to the fields with grandpa to water the horses. I think he had better think of another career. Like maybe an allergy specialist?

Fairy Tales Do Come True

2011-12-21T20:17:00.007-07:00

When a marriage begins like this, it just has to be the one where they live happily ever after. Although Mike and JaKelle weren't actually married until two days later, they actually did get married in a dream castle. (San Diego LDS Temple) What a way to start out!

COMPLETE WITH LITTLE FAIRY SLIPPERS! Thanks for wearing them, Emma and Ella!

No Animals or Children Were Harmed In This Production

2011-11-27T23:51:00.004-07:00

FORGET THE HOTDOGS! KETCHUP MAKES GREAT BLOOD

We had a great time this Thanksgiving in Rockville. A few years ago, Michael created a short video of the boys chasing him down as he acted the part of the monster. "We seen it, we seen it" makes us laugh every time we watch it. This year Mike shot preliminary scenes for an even bigger production including all of the grandkids who were there for Thanksgiving. He is so busy with wedding plans that it may be a while before the actual movie makes it to the big screen. Just in case, here are some pictures to whet your appetite.

A Merry and BRIGHT Christmas

2011-11-21T17:39:00.003-07:00

It's fun to have the sun room where I can use my imagination.

Food Storage

2011-10-07T09:37:00.005-06:00

Last weekend Emma, Ella, and Kate came for a visit. They love to play in the playhouse in the backyard. This morning while I was talking on the phone, I happened to look outside and noticed something special about the playhouse. Please look closely at the corners. In each notch on all four corners of the playhouse, they placed apples they picked off the tree into the spaces! How creative is that!

Introducing Autumn

2011-10-03T09:41:00.003-06:00

Last week was summer. On Saturday Fall arrived. The mornings are cooler and it just feels different. Time to put away the capris and see if I can fit into my levis. I'm not quite ready to stuff my feet into shoes and socks yet, however. And, on Saturday between sessions of General Conference, we had a great trip to the pumpkin field, complete with a ride on the hay wagon. It's so nice to live in a location where we can enjoy changing seasons!

IT HAS BEEN A REALLY LONG DAY

2011-08-23T20:40:00.003-06:00

It's 8:30 p.m. and I just ran to the grocery store for some eggs. I happened to look down... Have you ever tried to walk with your feet under the grocery cart?

FOURTH OF JULY FUN

2011-07-07T10:00:00.007-06:00

Richfield may be a small town, but it is the place to be for the Fourth of July! Here are some pictures of our fun

BEDS WERE EVERYWHERE!!!

Too Much Information

2011-06-29T09:26:00.003-06:00

I don't think I have OCD, but I do have a thing for neatly folded sheets, towels, and blankets. I was folding my sheets from the dryer this morning. I didn't get the corners to match so when the sheet was folded it didn't turn out flat and smooth without the edges showing. I had to undo it and start over. That made me think I might have a problem? Sometimes when the kids are in Rockville and wash and fold up the sheets, towels, or even blankets I have to unfold them and make them smooth and neat looking. I just can't help myself. They look so nice when they are folded evenly! A thing of beauty! And I am crazy.

And She's There....

2011-06-08T23:31:00.003-06:00

She made it safe and sound. Chile and Hermana DeMille look beautiful.

And She's Off....

2011-06-06T20:38:00.004-06:00

Here's to another one of those days that I hate and love all in the same moment. Kaitlin left the MTC and flew to Chile today. We got to talk to her briefly on the phone while she was at the SLC airport, and then for another few minutes on her layover in Atlanta before she flew out of the country. She is flying high with anticipation and nerves. I'm grounded with a lump in my throat. Don't get me wrong, I am SO happy she gets to serve a mission, but the mother in me is having a little struggle tonight. I'm feeling a little shade of Hannah giving her son, Samuel, to the Lord at the temple.

I try not to be proud, but I can't help being proud of the choices all of my children have made to serve missions. I am so proud of them. While it can be tough at home when I am lonesome for them, their missions have had filled and blessed their lives and the lives of their spouses. I am so grateful for this surprise blessing of Kaitlin choosing to serve.

So I guess I will just go to bed and sleep. My throat has a lump. My heart is uncomfortably full of joy, and my eyes just won't stop watering.

The Creepy Crawlies

2011-05-10T12:57:00.006-06:00

LOOK CLOSELY AND YOU CAN SEE COCOONS IN EVERY INDENTATION

GIANT COCOON NESTS IN EVERY COTTONWOOD TREE

We were at the house in Rockville last weekend. I don't know if it is because it was a really wet winter or what, but there are THOUSANDS (no exaggeration) of caterpillars everywhere. They are crawling across the road, they are in the grass, they are on our porch and they are crawling up the walls of our house. We went to church on Sunday and you had to watch where you stepped in the parking lot so you didn't carry in squished caterpillars on your shoes into the church. It is GROSS. This army of crawlers is on the march to find a place to build their cocoons. There are as many cocoons already spun on the house as there are caterpillars crawling to make a cocoon. Cocoons on the door casings, cocoons in the fold of the barbeque grill cover, cocoons in every tread of the tires on the four wheeler, and cocoons in every indentation of the aluminium on the eaves of the house. We took a four wheeler ride to Grafton. When we stopped for a while, caterpillars started crawling out from where they were hidden on the four wheeler tires. I couldn't believe they could hang on while we were going that fast. I don't think they are going to hatch into beautiful butterflies either. They will probably be more of those pesky moths that dart into the house every time we open the door.

On a happier note, we also celebrated Michael's graduation this past weekend. It was lots of fun to be together and we had a great time at the Supercross finals in Las Vegas, lots more fun than attending graduation ceremonies. I could become a fan if they would take me to more of those things. Congratulations, Michael!!! We are proud of you!!!

Life Changers

2011-04-24T18:13:00.004-06:00

On Friday we were fortunate to attend Chelsey's graduation at BYU. She is a bright STAR and graduated Summa Cum Laude. (We're always so glad to get those good genetic infusions into our family) It was a fun day. Her future is a sweet and ripe fruit waiting to be picked off the tree. BYU graduation day is also a day that makes me think back to my own graduation.

When you are a college student, the sky is the limit! You think nothing is impossible and that you will make a significant contribution and be important and famous someday. Maybe you will write a novel, invent a gismo that will change the world, or become a famous artist/politician/celebrity/scientist/General Authority. You are an important somebody and will be even a more important somebody someday! And it is good to think that way.

But actually, President Hinckley understood it the best when he said, “Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed. The fact is that most putts don’t drop, most beef is tough, most children grow up to be just ordinary people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration, and most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. Life is just like an old time rail journey … delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.”

Graduation day reminds me of that. I turned out to just be an ordinary person after all. I'm not famous, I didn't write a book, I don't use math very much, and some days my kids don't even like me. Graduation reminds me of lost dreams and makes me a little wistful at times. But graduation also reminds me of the full life Heavenly Father has given me, blessings more numerous than I ever hoped for. Joys more joyful than I imagined. Graduation day reminds me to thank Him for letting me have the ride of my life.

Congratulations Chelsey! Good luck on figuring it all out!

A Letter to my Mouth

2011-04-18T10:59:00.003-06:00

Dear Mouth,

Why do you always tell me to put potato chips in you? Why can't you ever be a healthy mouth and ask me for apples and carrots when you are hungry? Why do you always YELL at me when we are at the grocery store, "GO DOWN THE CHIP AISLE. STOP!!! GET KETTLE CHIPS!" When we are traveling why do you always make me stop at Walkers and get a caramel popcorn ball and chips? Don't you think I can stay awake without them? Why do you think everything is better with chips, especially ice cream?

You are so bossy! I am tired of you being the boss. Miss Bum says you are making her embarrassed at how big she is getting. Miss Waist is disappearing because of you!

Enough! Get a grip and button your lip! You can no longer be so loud and impatient. You may want chips every day, but from now on, keep it to yourself!

The Longest Days

2011-04-10T15:28:00.003-06:00

The days that drag by the most slowly for me are the days waiting and anticipating a letter from our missionary children. Even though we barely saw them, it seemed like the longest time ever before we got that first letter from the MTC. When Chris flew out to Mexico, it was close to six weeks before we heard anything from him because his mail went through the pouch mail system of the Church. It was an anxious time. I was always grateful for mission presidents and their wives who quickly wrote, emailed, or even one time called us to say that our missionary arrived safely. I was so grateful. And although I have driven through Provo three times since dropping Kaitlin off at the MTC and have looked up at the spire of the temple and knew she was living right below it, we haven't received a letter yet and it makes me ANXIOUS.

In this day and age of instant communication through cell phones and texting, I knew it would be a big adjustment for Kaitlin to leave it behind as she began her mission. I just didn't realize I would have such a hard adjustment of not being able to call or text her. Can't wait for that first letter!

The last look as Kaitlin enters the MTC escorted by her missionary greeters

A Sure Sign of Spring

2011-04-01T14:54:00.002-06:00

It's 73 warm degrees outside and after a cold, gray winter, it is a very welcome day. Kaitlin and I were running errands to get ready for her mission. We were enjoying the sun so much that we decided it was time to get our first slush of the season (and her last before the MTC). Pina Colada for me, and Tiger's Blood for her. And ice cream on top. And we drove home slurping them with the windows down. What could be better?

Missionaries

2011-03-21T09:33:00.002-06:00

You would think that sending a child off on a mission would get easier each time you do it. I should be practiced and efficient after six trips to the MTC. But sending this seventh missionary is still a pull on the heart strings. And even though she has been off to school and out of our home for a while, sending one of your children on a mission is still saying farewell for some time. I know, I know, that the blessings are great. I know, I know, that it will be a life changing opportunity for her and the people she will teach. I know, I know, that I can give my child up to the care of the Lord. He knows how to take care of her better than I. I know, I know that I wouldn't have it any other way. But still. The number seven trip to the MTC won't be any easier than number one. Even if we just drop her off at the curb. Love you Hermana DeMille.

A Family IS Forever

2011-02-21T12:35:00.002-07:00

Since Christmas we have had grandma DeMille's funeral, Kellyn's baby blessing, Christopher's calling to the bishopric, birthdays, and other opportunities to be together as a family. Each time we gather, I am reminded of how much I love my family. Today I found this paper that I had tucked into the back of my journal. Kaitlin used to write and draw things and leave them on my pillow all the time when she was little. I miss that. But I had fun today when I found this. I love her and all my family.

A Secret Life

2011-01-24T14:54:00.002-07:00

Last Wednesday, Tristan's mom, Alta, passed away peacefully. She fought a hard fight in her last few years. She survived two broken hips and more recently a bout with pneumonia that would have taken down almost anyone else her age. Shauna, Tristan and I sat by her bedside day and night the last few days of her life. It was an honor and a blessing to be there with her.

In preparation for her funeral, we shuffled through a pile of old photographs. We found this one. Not one of her children had seen it before and it surprised us all. We also found a couple of letters that she had written to her boyfriend-not-yet-husband who was serving in the Army in Italy during World War II. They began with, "My Darling Donald."

That night before I went to sleep, I couldn't get Alta out of my thoughts. The Alta I knew was never very outwardly affectionate, yet the letters were proof that she had been that way during the earlier years of her life. The picture is so cute, a picture of a girl with life in her eyes, a hope for all that was ahead of her. I began to think that I didn't ever really get to know Alta. I only knew her as Tristan's mom, my mother-in-law, and my children's grandmother. I think she had a secret life that none of us really understood. A life that made Alta who she was. A life that made her happy and dream. A life where she loved. A life where she danced away her cares. A life that later handed her more than she thought she was capable of living. I hope someday to get to know and enjoy that secret Alta.

It also made me think about my relationship with my children. Have I laughed enough with them that they know I love to laugh and have fun? Have I been affectionate enough that they know I love to be affectionate? Have I pushed them hard enough that they know how good it feels to me to achieve a goal? Have I apologized enough that they know I didn't really know how to be a mother and had to experiment on them? Have I shown my gratitude enough that they know I am really so thankful for the overabundance of blessings I have been given? Have I born my testimony and lived a good enough life so that they know I love and trust Heavenly Father? Have I been obedient enough so they know that obedience is important to me in this life? I think I have lots of things to really work on.

I think all mothers carry a secret life somewhere deep inside them. After all, they were not always a mother to someone, but they were once young girls with secret dreams and aspirations.

I'm sorry, and I apologize that I never took the time to know the secret you, Alta. I will miss you. And I look forward to the eternities of getting to know who you really were.

Was Christmas FUN, or What?!

2011-01-09T22:40:00.002-07:00

REALITY

2011-01-09T18:33:00.005-07:00

Sad, really sad, but true...you can't live in a home show "picture perfect" home for long. Real life pounds too loudly on my door and I ALWAYS let him in. It's too much work to make him stay outside.

BEFORE and AFTER proof.

Dream House

2010-12-07T21:31:00.003-07:00

Tristan and I built our house not too long after we graduated from college. It was a basic starter home. When I say that we built it, I mean that literally. I helped shovel out dirt around the garage foundation just days before David was born. It was never meant to be our one and only, permanent home. But here we are over 30 years later, still living in it. Of course, we have added on, torn down walls, recarpeted, repainted, and remodeled. Secretly, I always dreamed of a home with a grand staircase, spacious foyer, and a large upstairs to wander around in.
A few days ago we participated in the annual Christmas home show to benefit the Women's shelter. We worked on the house for a couple of months cleaning and decorating. It is amazing how nice your old house can look when you declutter and clean it up! For two nights our home looked like a dream as people came to walk through it. Maybe not my dream house, but it felt cozy and beautiful and I don't want to live anywhere else. Until it gets dirty again.
When I get home from helping David and Alison with their new baby, I will post some pictures. Until then, I hope Tristan is keeping it clean!

"It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year"

2010-11-29T19:57:00.003-07:00

We spent Thanksgiving weekend in Rockville with family. It was a great time. One day Lara ventured upstairs and heard Tyler singing to himself, "It's the most wonderful time of the year...." She came downstairs chuckling and told me about it. Tyler is so cute and is such a free little spirit. He says and does the cutest things. We get a smile and a laugh from his antics quite often. But this time he nailed it. It really is the most wonderful time of the year. I have been cleaning and decorating today and I can't get that song out of my head. It IS such a wonderful time when we can prepare our homes and ourselves to celebrate the birth of the Savior. It is fun to shop for others. It is fun to see special decorations going up everywhere. I wish everyone an early Merry Christmas. I hope you all enjoy the whole season.

Trophy Room

2010-11-15T22:30:00.002-07:00

When Mike gets his own home, he is going to have to build a trophy room for all his motorcycle racing trophies. Tristan and I were able to attend the Rocky Mountain Raceway end of the season awards banquet. Mike accumulated enough points to coast into a first place win in the intermediate class he raced in. He didn't even race in some of the last races as he was busy in school. It was a really fun night and the trophy is so large it will definitely be a conversation piece for years to come. They dressed him and the other winners in tuxedos and had a really nice catered dinner. It was a lot of fun. Way to go Mike! I think we should put your picture in the Reaper???

Hey Girlfriend

2010-11-12T10:40:00.003-07:00

Since I have only brothers and no sisters in my family, I have appreciated lots of good girlfriends. I have great walking buddies, good neighbors, Relief Society sisters in my ward, and many times my daughters and daughters-in-law are my girlfriends. A few years ago when we were contemplating replacing our countertops in the the kitchen, I convinced Tristan to go see what they were putting in new homes in the Utah Valley Parade of Homes. I told him that I needed him to be my girlfriend for the day. He laughed and went with me and we had a really fun time. Since then, when there is something important to me, I tell him I need him to be my girlfriend and he knows exactly what I mean.
Last night we worked hard on getting ready for the Christmas home show. (I should tell you about that in another blog...) We were tired and Tristan headed off to bed. I stayed up longer to finish my project. Much to my amazement when I went to bed, Tristan had turned on the Christmas tree lights in our bedroom and was fast asleep. It was a cozy and peaceful scene.
I thought I would have to battle him to get a tree in there. But he likes it! I thought he would balk when it wasn't the traditional red and green (which he thinks is the only way to decorate a tree.) But he likes it! I thought we would wait until closer to Christmas to start turning on the lights. But he likes them on now! I think he is having as much fun as I am decorating and enjoying the effects! He is a really GOOD girlfriend!!! Who knew???

Good Friends and Good Laughs

2010-11-05T09:23:00.004-06:00

The other day, I was thinking about my blessings. I decided that one of the best blessings I have been given is that of good friends to help me along my way. They are such good examples and I hope I grow up someday to be just like them. Kathy, Teresa and I started jogging almost 30 years ago. Now we just walk, although we are still able to walk at a fast pace. Others have joined us through the years. I love the exercise, and I love the visiting. We have talked about EVERYTHING all these years, from gospel topics to dieting to the latest joke we have heard.

This morning Kathy and Teresa gave me this card. Maybe you would have to have been there with us for the last 30 years to appreciate the humor, but when I opened it, we laughed and laughed. I think it is the most hilarious card I have had in a long time.

Dearly Departed Friends

2010-10-27T09:04:00.002-06:00

This blog is for those of you on the "other side." If you have time to read blogs in heaven, I hope you will read this one. On my way home from walking this morning, I began to think about all of you sisters who have departed from this life who blessed my life so much as a young mother and wife.

Beth Applegate, you taught me about kindness and thoughtfulness. I remember the first baby I had after we moved into this ward. You crocheted a baby blanket of pure white for us. We used it when the baby was blessed and for years after. You always built me up and made me feel like I was smart.

Nelda Spencer, you taught me about serving with a flair. When you were my visiting teacher and I had a baby, you brought the nicest chicken dinner to us. It was served on silver platters and serving dishes. You weren't worried that I wouldn't return them, you just wanted it to look special for us. I remember and cringe every time I take dinner to someone in disposable containers.

Theo Mortensen, you are my dear, sweet, kind friend who always took the time to talk to me. One fun memory of you is when you taught us how to make homemade noodles one night for a mother and daughter Relief Society. Lara was a little girl there with me and you bagged her noodles for her to take home. Sometime that night she misplaced them. You went all over looking for them telling everyone, "This little girl has lost her noodles!" not even realizing what a funny thing you were saying.

Rhoda Winkel, you were the best cook ever. You taught me how to make baking powder biscuits and every time I make them, I think of you. You taught me to remember to always take the time to look nice. You were a classy woman and always a lady.

Mabel Jorgensen, you must have been one of my best friends in the pre-existence who just got to come to earth a few years earlier than I did. Age differences didn't seem to matter with us, we were able to laugh and enjoy so many things together. I really miss you in the fall when we used to do Boutique together. I miss your caramels. I walk past your grave and think of you often.

Devona Jensen, I miss being able to bring my little family over on Christmas eve for a visit. You became a grandma away from home for me. I miss seeing your cute companionship with your husband, Evan.

Thanks for all the kindness and love all of you gave me. I'm not sure I deserved it all, but you gave it freely anyway. And that is really the best thing I learned from all of you. I miss you all. I hope you are having a wonderful time in Heaven spoiling someone else who needs it.

Seasons's Greetings...

2010-10-25T08:53:00.002-06:00

Tristan and I committed to letting the Women's Shelter show our home for their annual Christmas Home Show fund raiser in December. So far, we have both had fun getting ready for it by finishing some home repair projects that we have put off for a long time. But soon, we need to start decorating. This morning, I looked out the window and saw that it is snowing! It is not that white fluffy kind of snow, but sleety and rainy snow. It won't stick, but it does remind me how fast the holidays are approaching. Maybe I will stay home with some hot chocolate and decorate a tree today........

The Good (Bad) Old Days

2010-10-04T11:45:00.004-06:00

I was digging through a closet Saturday and found these pictures. Thought you would all enjoy a laugh!
With my mom, dad and Robert. Also Ed, Karen and Brittney (on my lap).
Parker is the baby on my lap
Kaitlin is added to the family...
The last one taken
I think we should all meet at Lagoon and do it again!

Expanding

2010-10-03T18:03:00.004-06:00

Sometimes your business grows and you expand into a new building. Sometimes your waistline grows and you buy bigger pants. Sometimes you add onto your house. And one time you even tried a little car which you really loved, but your husband needed something bigger for his legs. Good bye little blue Honda CRV. Hello Toyota Highlander.

Wicked(ness) Must Be Happiness!

2010-09-07T23:11:00.007-06:00

Just returned from our long awaited trip to New York City. Surely it must be a sin to have so much FUN! We laughed, we shopped, we saw the sights, we shopped, we stood in lines, we shopped, we ate good food, we shopped, we ate bad food, we shopped, we walked, we shopped, we saw Wicked, we shopped, we went to the U.S. Open, and yes, we did a little shopping. It was truly a dream trip for the girls with nary a man to say "whoa". (Maybe they should have).

We braved hair drooping heat, blistered feet, hidden doors in shops that led to back room purse deals, a midnight mob and view? off the Empire State Building (not on purpose), Lady Liberty (who said, "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. The wretched refuse of your teeming shore....and she was just talking about those of us in line for the ferry), and we even found Moroni in the midst of Manhatten. What a trip. It was so much fun it was just Wicked!

Century 21 Department Store--A budget blowing sight that was much enjoyed!
Brooklyn Bridge
Lara getting her chocolate fix
Amazing, isn't it?

Moroni could surely be missed unless you learn to look up!

Guilty pleasures...

Kaitlin would like to assure us it was just a fruit smoothie.....
We lucked out and got to see Andy Murray, Venus Williams and Rafael Nadal play!
In front of Arthur Ashe Stadium at the U.S. Open
Swatch watches for good memories from the 80's

Who Are All Those Old Guys?

2010-08-29T20:00:00.007-06:00

In a couple of weeks my high school, Olympus, is holding our class reunion. (I won't say what year) I was really excited to go until I realized it is the same week we return home from New York City and then go back to Salt Lake for Lion King on Thursday. I don't think I will have the energy to make the drive another time that week. There were 830 kids in my graduating class. Needless to say, I didn't know all of them and haven't kept in touch with very many since I have been living in Richfield.

Anyway, I don't know who has spent all the time, but someone made an incredible web site where we can sign in and read a short bio of those who entered their information. It has been really fun to read what happened to the friends I knew. There are a lot of really great people in my class. Some of them have even posted their pictures. (I think that was really brave of them...they must have better self esteem than I do.) But those pictures are of really old people! No one even close to my age!!! Someone must be pulling some pranks. I can't even see any resemblance in those pictures to who they used to be. Surely those people are WAY older than I am!

I Just Love It!

2010-08-23T09:55:00.005-06:00

Last Thursday, some friends and I drove up to Provo and attended Education Week for a day on BYU campus. We didn't have enough time to discover great classes all over campus, so we just stayed at the Marriott Center. What a treat! A day with great friends, feeling a great spirit, and enjoying some great treats! I don't know why I don't put this on my calendar and schedule around it so I can go the whole week. I love Education Week. I love the feeling of learning. I love feeling the Holy Ghost teaching me. I love walking on BYU campus again. I love my good friends.

BRIBERY!!!

2010-07-31T16:02:00.003-06:00

There is a store in Richfield where I really haven't gone much to shop. Until lately. Bad, bad me! In the back of the Diamond Store, there is a little clothing and jewelry boutique. I went in a couple of weeks ago looking for a present for my friend. They have the cutest jewelry and TONS to choose from. Today I went in there looking for something to wear with a bright pink sweater. Didn't find my favorite in hot pink jewelry (but there was a lot to look at), but I did find this pretty. They had gotten new stock since I was in there and had just put it out this morning. I was there for so long trying on this and trying on that. Hard to choose! All of it is priced from $14.00 to $20.00. I kept thinking, I wish my girls were all here and I would buy everyone a necklace. (The matching earrings are included) Come one, come all! We will grab Ashley and have some fun! Bling! Bling!

In case you can't see it, the beads are all strung and covered with very fine netting. Can't wait to wear this during the holidays this year.

FEAR!!!!

2010-07-26T12:31:00.011-06:00

Many years ago when Parker was small, we hiked Angel's Landing in Zion National Park with another family. Parker ran off ahead with other kids. We really didn't mind that he went ahead until we reached the top and could see him heading out to the very top of the hike where you have to hold on to chains so you won't slip off the steep edge of the cliff. There he was, jumping from rock to rock, unaware of the great danger and risk he was taking. I kept Kaitlin with me on Scout's Landing and sent Tristan on ahead to stop Parker. I was as sick to my stomach as I have ever felt. My fear for Parker was so intense that I nearly threw up. I sat down in the dirt and held on to Kaitlin so she could hardly wiggle until Tristan brought Parker back safely.

I had hiked Angel's Landing before, but never with my kids. To see Parker out there jumping from rock to rock brought about the worst kind of fear---a parent's fear for their kids.

This weekend, we went to Mike's race to see him race his motorcycle. He has been doing really well and we have wanted to watch him before, but he has been hesitant to have us come. (Now I know why.) It was exciting and thrilling for everyone. Mike is talented and skillful. He assures me that he is being careful. But on his first race when he came around a turn at the top of the hill, I could see him struggle to keep his bike in control. It scared me the Angel's Landing kind of fear. This time it didn't make me sick, but it made me cry. I tried really hard to keep my emotions to myself because I knew it would upset everyone. But I couldn't help it. Mike may be an adult. He may be the most skilled rider on the track. He may be the most safe rider on the track. He may be the most practiced rider in the race. He may have the strongest muscles to wrestle his bike into control. I don't care. For a minute there, he was still my little Mike that I have loved and protected for so many years. A mom just can't ever throw away her fear for her family. It's my job to be the scared one.

Nevertheless, the race was fun and exciting. He won the second race also, and mom won the ability to enjoy it.

A little bit.

Here's a link to one of his practice rounds. He does make it look easy. http://www.pinkbike.com/video/146980/

It Was There All Along....

2010-07-20T17:54:00.008-06:00

I was cleaning the laundry room this afternoon and I had such a powerful thought hit me about happiness. I had to sit down and write it out so that I won't forget it. Here it is, a sermon to myself.

The key to a happy life....people search for it everywhere and spend all sorts of money in its' pursuit. The key is found in a silly tune that we have sung since we were almost babies. The key has been there all along, but I never realized what a powerful little song it really is.

IF YOU CHANCE TO MEET A FROWN -- implies that it is our nature to be happy, not unhappy. But there are times when we may stumble onto a frown.

DO NOT LET IT STAY -- Do NOT, do NOT, let that frown persist! Make a conscientious effort to send that frown packing! No Trespassing!!!

QUICKLY TURN IT UPSIDE DOWN -- You have the ABILITY to make yourself happy. Make lemonade out of your lemons!! Make mud pies out of your mud. Quickly banish that frown from your life. No one else can do it for you.

AND SMILE THAT FROWN AWAY -- Good things in life don't come automatically, they take an active persistence in our lives. A smile uses different muscles in our faces than does frowning, and requires some exercise in strengthening those muscles.

Force. That. Frown. From. Off. Your. Face. No matter how hard it may be!

NO ONE LIKES A FROWNING FACE -- Boy, is that ever the truth. Friends may sympathize for a while because they are nice, but no one, NO ONE likes an unhappy person. (Well, maybe a psychiatrist) If you want to lose friends and alienate family, keep complaining about how miserable you feel. Just watch everyone edge away from you!

CHANGE IT FOR A SMILE -- It is our choice to choose to be happy or to choose to be sad. Circumstances come and go, but happiness is our choice. We can change our frowns into smiles. Sometimes the only way to put a smile in the place of our frowns is in the kneeling position as we humbly hand over those frowns to the Lord for His care. Living a righteous life will create happiness. Wickedness never EVER was happiness.

MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE -- If you ever wonder what one person can do to make a difference in this world, it is this...Be Happy! Happiness promotes love. And we all know love makes the world go round!

BY SMILING ALL THE WHILE -- There certainly are times when it is really hard to smile, but work at being happy no matter what lot you have in life. And do it all the while. Not just once. No matter what comes your way. Make it your habit.

Proverbs 17:22 "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine; but a broken spirit drieth the bones."

Ta-Da!

2010-07-15T21:37:00.002-06:00

Here's a look at the cupboards Carson made for the Rockville house. They were finished and installed over a month ago, but we had to order some additional handles and install them. Now they are complete. Love them! Thanks, Carson. You done good!

A Boo-ti-Full Day

2010-07-04T21:51:00.003-06:00

This morning I was practicing some Primary songs before I left for church. I finished playing one of my favorites, "I Know That My Savior Loves Me," when my little two year old grandson, Grant, quietly came in and stood by the piano. When I played the last note, he said, "That was just boo-ti-full, granma." It was so sweet, unexpected, and sincere. It really made me smile all day today.

It's Officially Summer

2010-06-27T16:16:00.005-06:00

It has been such a cold, wet spring that I haven't even had thoughts about getting the boat out of storage. Chris and MiKell invited us to go to Lake Powell, however. Good thing they approached Tristan first, because he was ready to go. I kept asking, "Are you sure you want to go?" But it was so fun AND it was warm. I guess I am ready to take my socks off and start wearing my sandals finally! Thanks for letting us tag along, Chris and MiKell.

Comatose?

2010-06-20T18:50:00.004-06:00

Sometimes when I look back on my life of raising seven kids, it seems like it happened to someone else. Now that I am on this end of that experience, it seems like it just whizzed by so quickly and that I was in a daze for most of it. Or maybe I was unconscious and I am just now coming into a conscious state. I don't know, but sometimes it all seems like it was a dream.

This past week I had my grandson, Tyler, staying with us while his parents were away. It was so fun. On Friday, his three brothers joined him and we took them all down to Rockville. Tristan's sister was there visiting with her four kids who stayed at our house and played all day long on Saturday. Eight kids in a little house all day! At first, I was aware of the extra noise and kept picking up all the clutter. It didn't take long, however, to find I had re-entered my unconscious state: unless you screamed like you were hurt, I didn't notice. Unless I stepped on the Legos, I didn't know they were ALL OVER the house. I did get grossed out by someone's bug smeared on the wall. It was so fun, but I decided that being in a daze or unconscious made it all a lot more fun.

Your opinion, Please!

2010-06-07T20:39:00.003-06:00

Ta Da! Here's a picture of the new outside of our Rockville house. It used to be a lighter tan. We had forest green shutters on the two front windows. (the roof shingles are a black, dull green shade) I think it still needs shutters, but I am going to get vinyl ones this time instead of the wood ones I made for the original house. The vinyl will hold up better on the window that is outside the porch. I still want to have board and batten shutters, but what color would you put on? The choices are: black, Federal brown (dark brown), Moss green, or the old Forest green again. I don't really want white ones. And, which do you like the best, separated boards or the joined boards? Please give me your opinion, I have made too many decisions lately!

Parker and Chelsey's Wedding Day

2010-05-14T12:03:00.003-06:00

Parker and Chelsey's wedding days dreams came true on Wednesday, May 12, 2010. It was a long awaited and much planned for day which was well attended by everyone EXCEPT Mr. Warm Weather. BRRR!!! Consequently, the pictures were a little rushed and not too great, but an exciting day nevertheless. The big event was preceded by wedding parties in Sparks (May 1,) and Richfield (May 8,) The night before the wedding, we had a "get acquainted" pizza and bowling party so the two families could meet and have some fun. The sealing was capped off with a dinner at La Caille where we enjoyed the food and festivities.

I Looked Out The Window And What Did I See?

2010-04-20T11:28:00.004-06:00

I don't have any time to post on this blog, let alone breathe or comb my hair right now with all the construction and wedding plans. But this morning I looked out the window and just like the song says, "What did I see? Popcorn (beautiful PINK candied popcorn) popping on the apricot (nectarine) tree!" Spring has indeed brought me such "a great surprise." A peaceful reminder (in my frenzied state) from my Heavenly Father of His beautiful creations. What a treat to take a minute to enjoy the beauty of this world He has given us.

It's Coming...

2010-02-27T23:28:00.004-07:00

We were in Rockville today checking up on the house. You can get a feel of what it is going to be like when it gets finished. Slowly, but surely, it's coming along.

This is where the TV will go in the new family room. It is a strange configuration because it is the back of the fireplace and covering the stovepipe which vents out to the side. It took us forever to figure out how to make it work. We were disappointed it took out so much space in the room, but it will make a nice shelf to put the TV on and great shelves on the side for the DVD player, etc. The closet on the right is the furnace closet.

This is the upstairs room. I love it because of the ceiling angles and all the light from the windows. I always wanted a room like this when I was growing up.

AND, THE UPSTAIRS ROOM HAS A HUT!!!!! It will have a door and there will be lights on the inside. Get ready for fun Jacob, David, Ethan, Tyler, Emma, Ella, Kate, Ryan, Grant, Jaxon and Madi!!! Here is the little doorway that will be the hut entrance.

Here is what it looks like on one side of the hut. Remember, it isn't finished yet and this is only half of the hut.

Here are some views of the opening from the old kitchen into the new addition.

Hang On Tightly

2010-02-17T15:51:00.004-07:00

A few years ago David took all of our Christmas movies and put them onto a DVD. Tristan tried to watch one recently, but it wouldn't work in our DVD player. Today I tried them on my computer where they worked perfectly. I don't know why they won't work in the DVD player, but I know that as soon as they came on my computer screen, I couldn't stop watching them. I watched them for several years' worth of Christmases before I could pry myself away. The kids were so little. They said the cutest things. Their smiles made me smile and smile and then cry.

Sometimes I forget just how much Heavenly Father loves me and blesses me. He has given me the most wonderful gift He could have ever given me by allowing seven of His children to come into our home. When I was in the thick of raising children I didn't always feel that love and sometimes even felt like I was picked on.

The hardest thing about watching these movies today was watching myself with my kids. I didn't act badly or anything, but I know that watching myself back then I didn't really appreciate what a blessing I had like I realize it today. That time went by so quickly. What a shame that when I was in the middle of all the chaos I didn't realize how temporary it was, how fleeting it was.

If I could go back knowing what I know now, I would pay more attention. I would hug more often. I would read more books with someone on my lap or shoulder. I would find more humor. I would take more pictures. I would marvel more at their miracle and worry less about finding some time for myself. I would hang on tightly to the gift of having them in our home.

ROCKVILLE UPDATE

2010-02-06T21:29:00.007-07:00

Here are the newest views of the progress on the house at Rockville. Every time we go there, it rains buckets. It was a big mud hole today. Good thing I took these pictures yesterday.

The windows aren't cut the to right size yet and there are windows on the end and back that haven't been cut out.

The electrician is pretty much done with the rough in wiring. The furnace should be installed this week and then the insulation will go up.

Stay tuned!

Chicken Noodle Soup Day

2010-01-27T13:31:00.003-07:00

I was visiting with Lara this morning about how cold it is today. Memories of snowy childhood days came back to me and I can't get them out of my head.

Until I was 12 or 13 years old, we lived in a different house than my mom lives in now. It was at the edge of a gully. In the summertime, we hung ropes from the trees and swung tarzan-like over the steep slopes. In the winter, the slopes were fashioned into sledding trails where we would gather with our friends and spend hours flying down the hill. When we would get too cold or wet, we would trundle on home. We had those old fashioned galoshes that you pulled on over your shoes. They had no insulation, just a rubbery coating to keep you dry. They were hard enough to tug on over your shoes, but even harder to pull off when your fingers were numb and stiff from the cold.

I remember what fun we had when there was fresh snow, like today. I also remember how cold and wet we were when we went home. We had a furnace vent on the floor in the kitchen. I would sit down on the floor next to it and let the warm air defrost me. Mom would heat up a can of my favorite...Chicken Noodle Soup...and I would sit on the floor and suck in the noodles and drink the broth.

It's really cold and snowy outside today. I am trying to resist the urge to sit on the floor next to the heater vent and slurp some soup.

Where Our Money Goes...

2010-01-24T18:22:00.003-07:00

Here are a couple of pictures of the house in Rockville. We are adding some space so we can have lots of people for dinner. It will also give us a bonus room above where we will be able to put the four new mattress sets that we just bought at Costco. It will be fun to see it progress.

A Little Late, But Happy New Year

2010-01-24T17:59:00.004-07:00

Some pictures of our New Year's Day fun.

The End of A Good Snow Day

2009-12-30T19:39:00.004-07:00

I just swept the last dusting of snow off our treacherous north-side sidewalk before I call it a day. (After Kaitlin and I spent an hour shoveling it earlier.) It was just so beautiful that I had to take some more pictures. Nothing more breath-taking than fresh snow and Christmas lights.

A Good Day To Stay Home

2009-12-30T09:42:00.003-07:00

It's one of those days for a good book and a bowl of soup. My camera can't quite capture how hard it is snowing. I'm thankful for a warm home. Now I just wish I had a good book....and some time to read it!

White Christmas

2009-12-24T08:00:00.005-07:00

Don't have to dream about it this year, we have a white Christmas. Richfield doesn't usually get that much snow, but this week we had a good storm. One of my favorite things is to go walking while it is snowing. It is so quiet and seems so clean and pure. For a minute nothing is polluted by dirt or noise. Love it.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ME

2009-12-07T11:07:00.004-07:00

It does sound selfish to give yourself a Christmas present doesn't it?

Every year for the last 17 years (with two exceptions) I have sung Handel's "Messiah" with a local choir. The choir started out as a small choir formed by friends, then expanded to a bi-stake Richfield choir, then to a regional stake choir, and now as the Sevier Oratorio Society which includes participants from all religious affiliations in Sevier County. We used to invite Snow College orchestra to come from Ephraim to play for us, but now we have our own musicians from the county. With the orchestra and the choir combined, we have over 145 participants this year.

A friend and I had missed all the practices this year and had decided that it was a year we would sit out. Yesterday in Church I told her I was going to go crash the last practice just so I could sing through it once this year. She went with me. We were a little nervous that the group wouldn't be too happy to see us show up at the end, but they were so welcoming to us and encouraged us to come perform it next week. We were a little skeptical, but at the end of the first song we both looked at each other with teary eyes and said, "That's It! We're doing it!"

Unless you have ever sung this oratorio, I can't tell you of the emotions that it makes you feel. It is a time when you can sing with your whole heart, the loudest you can manage, that you KNOW that there is a Savior who came to rescue us from our sins of this life. It is a time to shout, "Hallelujah!" It is a time to know that "Surely, surely, He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows." It is almost painful to sing, "He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities."

Singing "The Messiah" each year has become my Christmas present to myself. Singing "The Messiah" makes Christmas CHRISTmas for me.

Holidazed

2009-12-01T17:38:00.004-07:00

How did it get to be December so quickly? All of a sudden, I am feeling the panic gear kick in. No lights on the outside of the house, no trees in the house, no decorations in the house, no presents bought to bring in the house and here it is, December 1st already. We haven't had any time to do all these things because we have been having too much fun doing other things. Two weekends ago, we enjoyed an afternoon cutting down Christmas trees. Last weekend, we enjoyed family at Rockville for Thanksgiving. I guess I had better quit having so much fun and get to work....

Here are some pictures of our Thanksgiving fun:

Happy Birthday, Baby

2009-11-18T06:57:00.004-07:00

My baby is having a birthday today. She isn't a newborn anymore looking at me with bright wondering eyes. She isn't a toddler of 11 months spilling the garbage can and pulling out old spaghetti noodles to decorate her head. She isn't the 13 year old feisty, boy-crazed middle schooler, or even the 17 year old high school tennis champion. Today she is 21. A full-fledged adult taking charge of her own life, growing into a beautiful woman inside and out. How did that happen so quickly?

No matter, she will ALWAYS be my baby and hold that particular spot in my heart. Happy Birthday, baby.

A Week-long Birthday

2009-11-09T18:23:00.002-07:00

Last Tuesday was my birthday. It seemed like I got to celebrate all week long. Tristan had meetings in Salt Lake until Thursday night, so we got to spend the week with family. Tuesday night we all met at Olive Garden and had a birthday dinner together. Wednesday, I spent the afternoon with mom. Thursday, after Tristan's meetings, we shopped at the mall for some clothes he needed and then we went home. I got up on Friday morning and drove back to SLC where I met Lara, Kaitlin, MiKell, Alison, Ashley and mom. We had a girl's get-a-way at Park City. We went out to dinner and then made Christmas tags in the condo that night. The next day we shopped at the outlets and then returned to SLC. That night Kaitlin and I were treated by Michael, Parker and Chelsey to the "So You Think You Can Dance" concert for my birthday and her birthday (which is next week). It was so fun and so entertaining! I returned home early, early Sunday morning to the most wonderful Regional Stake Conference. It was such a great week. I am spoiled by my family. I love and appreciate them so much and they were so nice to me. It was a drag to have to stay home and clean house today!

A Halloween Treat

2009-10-29T17:30:00.002-06:00

Every once in while I find a thought that I love. Just when you thought there couldn't possibly be a gospel message in Halloween!

"What is it like to be a child of God? It is like being a pumpkin. God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off of you. Then He cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff. He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, and greed. Then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see." Richard Miller

PAINFUL CHOICES!!!

2009-10-26T10:00:00.009-06:00

I am on a diet (again). I think dieting is one of the hardest things I have to do in my life, but I am determined to get back into shape. It is not so much what I look like (yes that is part of it), but how awful I have been feeling. And, I am AFRAID of diabetes. I am on a strict, but healthy and well rounded diet. It is painful and just plain hard work! I have been doing it for a little over a month now. Lara told me about this wonderful site on the internet that has helped me so much. It is a free site that aids with a diet (or you can do your own like I do), and tracks your food intake, water intake, weight loss, and exercise. It also will connect you with others via blogging to get encouragement. I don't participate in that, but the rest of the site has been so helpful to me to see visually what I am doing. When you register, it even will set a date for you of when you will weigh your goal weight if you stay on their diet. That helped me so much to have an actual date to shoot for! It gave me hope! But to do it I will have to be good through the holidays. Anyway, I just wanted to pass it along to anyone who could use this tool. It takes a little time every day to track, but it is well worth it. And it is FREE! ---- www. sparkpeople.com

A Firm Foundation

2009-10-18T16:31:00.004-06:00

I spent a lot of my life dreading ever having to work in Primary. It's a good thing you grow up and learn lots of things. I have had a calling in Primary for more than seven years now. And amazingly, I really like it there! There are times when the Holy Ghost teaches me just as much as if I were listening in Gospel Doctrine class. Today was our Primary program. I didn't feel like we were as prepared as we have been for other past programs and I was overly nervous. Plus that "Baptism" song is pretty tedious to keep your fingers on the right keys! But as I was playing and the kids were singing, "How Firm A Foundation," the Spirit really hit me during the third verse.

Fear not, I am with thee, oh be not dismayed.

For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.

I'll strenthen thee, help thee and cause thee to stand

Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

It is really true. I had to fight the tears (hard to read music with them). The kids sang it so powerfully. I felt Heavenly Father's smile on all of us.

Love from Above

2009-10-12T12:24:00.002-06:00

This is over a week late, but I just had to write about how much I loved General Conference. I don't know if it is because I am getting older and listen better, or if the messages just keep getting stronger and better every time, but it was so thrilling to listen to the messages of our prophets and general authorities. Then, this weekend, on the back of the Church News, it stated, "General Conference is further evidence of the love the Lord has for His children, and that He does not intend to leave them wandering alone during difficult times." I don't know about you, but that is very comforting to me. Thank you, thank you, Heavenly Father. I know that you are there watching over all of us.

Also, yesterday in the singles ward during Fast and Testimony Meeting, a young deaf girl stood up to bear her testimony. There was not a word spoken, it was all done in sign language, but the Holy Ghost was there translating for all of us. We understood her sincerity, we understood what she was saying, and we felt the spirit testify to all of us. It was the most powerful testimony of the day. I appreciate her courage in standing in front of all of us to do that. It was a powerful experience that I feel lucky to have witnessed.

Fall Equinox

2009-09-22T11:18:00.003-06:00

Last night on the news the broadcaster announced that it was the official last day of summer. This morning it was cold outside and the weather forecast is that tonight it may freeze. The calendar and temperature may let us know it is fall, but I know it is fall when I can peaches. My friend J'Lee gave us a couple of boxes of the most beautiful peaches from her tree in her backyard. I canned 21 quarts yesterday and have about 7 more to do today. Lots of work and my sore foot throbbed all night long after standing on it all day, but what a satisfying feeling! Look at this beautiful fall picture!

A Weekend With the Boys

2009-09-21T21:16:00.006-06:00

I got to spend last weekend with Tristan and the boys at Brian Head Ski Resort. They were on a biking trip. I enjoyed driving the truck to meet them at the bottom of the hill and seeing the beautiful scenery. They actually got me out on a hill on my bike, but it was really a narrow, rocky single trail that traversed a steep slope of the hill. Every time I hit a rock it jerked my front wheel downhill. It was scary to me and I was really slow. I was frustrated because I knew I was holding them up. Finally they took off and Tristan and I walked our bikes down the hill to the road where we rode a mile uphill back to the truck. It was 11,000 ft. elevation and it really made us huff and puff! When we arrived at the truck Tristan happened to look down in the gravel of the parking lot and found some keys. They were Parker's car keys which had fallen out of his backpack. If we hadn't accidentally found them, he would have thought he had lost them somewhere going down the mountain on his bike and who knows how he would have driven his car back to school. I credit our prayers that morning. It was a fun time! My boys have grown up to be great men and I am proud of them.

It Must Be Heaven

2009-09-14T09:21:00.004-06:00

This has been an eventful week. We spent a few days in Salt Lake for business meetings. On Friday (September 11) we met at the Cheesecake factory where we had lunch and celebrated the birthdays of my mom, (Stella) my daughter, (Lara) and my granddaughter (Ella). Quite amazing to have so many birthdays on one day, especially on 9/11.

I also found a new (to me) store called "Smart Cookie". Oh my goodness, their sugar cookies were to die for. They were soft and had cream cheese frosting. (Notice that this description is all in the past tense..... YUM!) They have a store in Sandy and one in American Fork. Sugar cookies are my favorite cookie!

On Sunday after church, we drove up and back from Richfield to Farmington to hear our granddaughter, Emma, give her solo harp recital. She is six and has completed the first Suzuki book for harp and played all 21 songs. She looked and sounded like a little angel. It is so amazing to watch her play so well at such a young age.

Anyway, it was a wonderful and busy week. Experiences like this must be close to Heaven...family, harps and sugar cookies!

Angel's Landing

2009-09-08T09:36:00.004-06:00

We went to Rockville this weekend for Labor Day. On Friday we hiked up Angel's Landing in Zion National Park with Parker and Chelsey. This was my fourth? trip up. I wasn't sure I would make it since I am a lot older and fatter than I used to be. It is only 2.5 miles one way, but about 2.0 of those miles are vertical miles. Tristan and I took it slow, but we did it! I had to go slower than him on the way up, but he had to go slower than me on the way down because it hurt his knee. We are a good combination. It was a fun accomplishment. But I am too old to look over the edge!

2009-09-01T09:45:00.002-06:00

My goodness! When will this feeling of loss get better? I think that I am getting control of my emotions and then my throat chokes up and I just sob for a while. I used to think that Murphy was the kid's dog. Now I know how attached to him I was and I am having a harder time to let him go than they are. This is painful and NOT FUN.

MURPHY

2009-08-31T14:37:00.013-06:00

We are missing our little Murphy more than words can convey. The house seems so still because I can't hear his dog tags rattling as he walked in or turned over in his bed. I miss his scratching on the door. I miss him standing between my legs as I washed dishes or fixed dinner. I find myself checking his bed to see if he is inside or out whenever I go somewhere. (I can't get rid of his bed yet, it is still comforting to see it there on the floor.) I thought I was used to being alone when the kids were at college last year, but now I realize what an important and amazing presence Murphy was. I was never really alone while he was here. Now I feel so lonesome. I miss worrying whether he got his insulin shot or not. I keep checking his water bowl to make sure it is full. I also miss hearing Tristan coming into the house after work talking to Murphy and hearing the love he had for his dog.

I think Heavenly Father created loving pets to bless our lives. Murphy was never mad at us. He always greeted us with a happy wag of his tail and when he was younger, he would jump up with his front paws on our legs. He had a big heart of wanting to please us. He had perfect innocence and happiness. Heavenly Father created him to give us joy, and as I think back on all the memories, we were all happier and more loving because of Murphy. Now that he is gone, I see that clearly. He was one of Heavenly Father's tender mercies with which he blessed our family.

I talked with our vet today and he thinks Murphy's heart wore out. He also thinks we are really blessed that he went so peacefully and didn't suffer a long time before he died. I think that was Murphy's last way of telling us he loved us too, that he didn't want to be too much of a bother to us.

I hope he is feeling better and younger and is happy in heaven chasing dog leashes like he used to with Parker.

We miss you and love you Murph. It just won't be the same without you.

"Dogs are not our whole life; but they make our lives whole." Roger Caras

A Really Sad Day

2009-08-28T15:23:00.003-06:00

Last night Kaitlin and Parker moved back to BYU. This morning I got up and left for Salt Lake to tend Lara's boys while they are at Lake Powell. I left just after Tristan had gone to work. He called me this afternoon and told me that when he went home he found that Murphy had died. He was lying on the carpet in the garage where he usually takes a nap. He was all alone at home by himself. We are so sad. Tristan is having a really hard time as he is the only one home to take care of him. What a faithful, loving companion he has been to us for just short of fifteen years. We really feel the loss. When I get home, I'll have to post some pictures of him. It is a hard, sad and emotional day.

Lake Powell!

2009-08-26T13:17:00.010-06:00

Tristan and I decided to take Kaitlin and Parker for a quick, last get-a-way before school starts next week. We left early last Friday morning and were out on Lake Powell by noon. We had a great day with amazing water.

My little baby Kaitlin...

Parker and Chelsey jumping off a cliff

Tristan looks young with his spiked hair!

Parker riding high

We stayed in a hotel and got up Saturday morning and headed back to the lake. The water wasn't as smooth as it was on Friday. We finally anchored the boat in a secluded cove, got off on the beach and started playing some card games. Shortly after we began, we looked over the rocks and saw a huge sand storm approaching. We took down the canopy, folded up the chairs and ran to grab the boat. The wind and waves were so strong that the anchor wouldn't hold. As bad as it was in our little cove, it was even worse out in the main part of the bay.

Sandstorm approaching our cove!

There were some really nice people from California in a houseboat parked next to us. They were worried about us and came over and offered us a big sea anchor. They helped us set it and secure the boat and then invited us in for dinner! They were SO NICE! We loved visiting with them. Finally, it was after 8:00 p.m. and the winds had calmed so we decided that we had better head for the ramp. We were about an hour up the lake so we were kind of nervous knowing that we would be on the lake when night fell.

We followed the lighted buoys all the way back. We were so grateful for those little specks of light to guide us. They were few and far between, so we had to watch closely for them. As soon as we would pass one, we were on the lookout for the next one. It reminded me of how we should be living the gospel, clinging to that iron rod, using the scriptures, listening to the Holy Ghost, and listening to the prophet.

When we got back to within sight of the lights on the shore, the water was really smooth. Parker is a really good wake boarder and we often tell him that he looks like he is dancing on the moonlight when he is out there (and we also play the song.... :) Anyway, when we hit that smooth water, even though it was almost dark of night, he had to get out there and try it. We were the only boat on the lake and it was really fun to watch him get one last smooth "dance" ...and it really was in the moonlight.

Can you see his white wakeboard out there in the water as he gets ready to go???

Tie to the Past

2009-08-10T11:46:00.003-06:00

I just had a really emotional experience and anyone who reads this will just think I am nuts. The organist in our ward is always asking me to get ready to play the organ and help her. She called a couple of weeks ago and needs a substitute the last week of August. She called far in advance to give me plenty of time to practice. I took a deep breath and finally told her yes. I met her at the church this morning where she showed me how to operate the new organ there. I was so nervous. Then she left me and I started playing. It has been so many years since I have touched an organ. Maybe it was my nerves, but tears welled up in my eyes so that I could hardly read the music. IT FELT SO GOOD! I didn't realize how much I love the organ and how much I have missed it. There is nothing like playing those foot petals and hearing that deep bass. It has been years and years and years since I last played. I am so scared to try it again especially in front of our ward. But practicing it made me so emotional (in a good way). It took me back and connected me to myself from the past. It made me feel like ME again, not someone's wife, someone's mother, or someone's friend. It was just the old ME and the now ME up there on that bench.

I used to play the organ in my ward when I was growing up. My official calling was Sunday School organist, but every summer the sacrament meeting organist took off for the summer so I would play for him in Sacrament Meeting and in Priesthood meeting (back when there wasn't a three hour block.) I also played for the Primary and Young Women. I was never as nervous then or afraid. Today I have no confidence of my youth and I am scared to death! I practiced a whole hour (probably never did that before either) and had to drag myself away. My foot was going numb. I am so rusty, but it felt so good. Anyway, I went to the grocery store afterwards and had to make myself quit crying. Do you think I am crazy??? Crazy or not, I have had a wonderful morning.

Bragging Rights

2009-08-08T22:04:00.004-06:00

Yesterday Tristan and I drove up to Provo so we could be there early this morning to watch Lara, Mike, and Kaitlin run a half marathon. Last night we all stayed in a hotel and this morning they left at 4:45 a.m. to be bused up Provo Canyon for the start of the race. Mike showed up last night with old shoes (non-running casual shoes). Lara and I had a fit and ran to the K-MART(!!! only store open!!!) across the street at 9:30 pm and bought him some shoes to run in. They were on sale for $13.95!!! Half price!!! HA! Still better than the old ones he planned on running in. The shoes were the least of our worries for Mike. He just decided to do the race yesterday and hadn't even done a practice run or any kind of run as his knee has been bothering him. He said he just wanted to support his sisters. I even told him last night if he couldn't make it to tell someone and they would bring him down off the mountain.

Kaitlin had the flu a couple of weeks ago and was barely back into running. I worried she would have a hard time, also. Lara was prepared, however, and rarin' to go.

Tristan and I got to the finish line to greet them as they ran across. Mike had ALREADY come in and was there to greet us. We were so amazed! And he loved his shoes. HA! Then a few minutes later Lara and her friend crossed the line BEFORE their goal time. Then just a few minutes later, here came Kaitlin way BEFORE her goal time!!!

It was a fun day. Mike said he will have to get KMart to sponsor him as he runs :) They all have bragging rights about the day, but I have the most bragging rights because I am their mother and love them all and am so proud of them! Isn't it fun that they can do all the work and I can enjoy bragging about it!

Reincarnation

2009-08-03T18:49:00.007-06:00

Is it possible to have one life and then have another life and then another? I have always thought reincarnation was baloney, but lately I may be changing my mind. A couple of weeks ago, I found some pictures of myself and my roommates at college. The pictures were taken on those old cameras that had flash cubes and are grainy, faded, and discolored. I decided to scan them and make a little DVD of them to send to my roommates. I had such great fun spending time with wonderful college memories. Sometimes, however, when I look at those pictures of myself, it seems like it was someone else. I can hardly remember being that person. It feels like it was a life before I was reincarnated to who I am now. How does that happen? Sometimes when I look at pictures of me with our young children, I can hardly remember being that person, either. Maybe there is something to reincarnation???

Moonwalking

2009-07-20T09:09:00.002-06:00

Today is the 40th anniversary celebration of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walking on the moon. Most of you are young enough to only associate moonwalking with Michael Jackson. Before his kind of moonwalking, however, there was the actual event of walking on the moon. There are events that mark time in your life and this is one of those for me. Forty years ago, I was in Paris, France watching this event take place on television with French announcers. I brought a French newspaper home with headlines that marked the event (which I still have). It was truly a worldwide celebration of science fiction proportions. Hard to imagine that all those years have slipped by since I was a young 17 year old girl in Paris. What a day to remember!

News Flash!!!

2009-07-10T15:26:00.004-06:00

Wednesday we received our weekly edition of the Richfield Reaper. Lo and Behold! There was Chelsey (Parker's girlfriend) running across the finish line. She's famous and doesn't even know it yet! We'll have to send her a copy. Thought you would all like to see.

4th of July Excitement

2009-07-05T15:58:00.008-06:00

It's Sunday evening and one by one the kids have returned to their homes. There are a couple of stragglers here, but it seems oddly quiet. Richfield is the place to be for the fourth. It seems everyone who has lived here at some point in their life comes home to celebrate and be with family. The population must triple (at least). Like Easter, children are dressed in their new clothes to watch the parade and collect the candy that is thrown to them. There are races, concerts and fun at the park. It is the time for class reunions and family reunions. It truly is a hometown celebration.
We had a great time with all of our family here except Carson and his family. My mom and Parker's friend were also here making a total of 22 of us staying together in our home. It was hectic and fun all at once. On Friday, Jacob fell off the monkey bars in the back yard and hurt his arm. He seemed ok after a little while. An hour or two later, three year old Ryan also tried out the monkey bars and fell. He ended up in the emergency room where we discovered he had broken both bones in his little arm. It was the saddest thing to see him lying so still. They had to hook him up to an IV to sedate him while they aligned the bones. He has a temporary cast until his doctor at home checks him to determine if the bones are still aligned after a few days. On Saturday morning, Jacob's arm was still hurting, so his dad took him to the emergency room while we all went to the parade. His arm was X-rayed, but it was sprained. He came back to the parade with an ACE bandage and a sling. It was a rough time to be at grandma and grandpa's house this weekend!
Here are some pictures of the racers (Parker's friend Chelsey took 1st place overall in the race for the women and Ethan took 1st place in his age division, 7th place overall), some pictures of the injured, some happy faces and Parker and Ella (age 4) worn out on the floor. Happy Fourth of July everyone!

Emotional Turmoil

2009-06-21T15:43:00.008-06:00

We had a great weekend. Friday night we drove up to Salt Lake and watched Michael race. It was such a fun night. He raced and we tailgated hamburgers in the parking lot and visited with his friends. It was really fun to be there and it was fun to see him race. But, when he was racing my heart was pounding like crazy and I wanted to cry. It isn't so much that he scares me, but it does scare me seeing all those other riders out there with him jumping and riding as fast as they can. If one crashes, then there is a pile up of the others right behind him. On one hand, it was thrilling. Mike was in the lead for all of the first race and we were cheering like crazy. On the other hand, it scared me because there can't be much defensive driving and there are lots of accidents.

On Saturday, we went to the Oquirrah Mountain Temple open house. It is really close by Lara's house. It was sprinkling when we left her house, but by the time we drove over there and had to get out of the car, it was a torrential downpour. We ran into the first tent as fast as we could, but we were dripping wet. As we watched the introductory video presentation, I wanted to feel the spirit of the temple. Thunder and lightening were crashing around us and the tent was billowing in and out. I kept thinking about Moroni on top of the temple who had been struck by lighting a few days before and currently has a black head, arm and trump. I didn't want to be next. It made it difficult to prepare to feel the peace of the temple. The great thing is that when we entered the temple, we left the storm outside and it was peaceful and beautiful inside.

I guess we have to have the fear to appreciate the thrill; the storm to appreciate the peace. Whatever, it was a great weekend.

Dear Brothers and Sisters

2009-05-23T10:05:00.004-06:00

No, this is not a talk for church, but a reflection on family relationships. This morning Tristan and all of our kids except for Lara left together for a four wheeler adventure. They all were here last night getting ready to go, other than Carson, who stayed at his own home. Once your kids leave home for marriage, schooling, or careers, it isn't often that you get to have them back home without their families or friends. What a treat it was for me to watch them relating to each other. Never before have tin foil dinners been assembled with so much laughter and artwork on the foil. Just as when they were younger, the name calling was flying back and forth. This time, however, it was in an affectionate manner and made me laugh instead of making me frustrated. This morning when Carson arrived, I couldn't help but smile when the name calling focused in on him. It was great to see them as kids again, going off on their adventure. They insisted that I come with them, even loaded a wheeler for me, but it seemed to me that there was magic in their being together and not having their mother around to worry over them.
When my mom had her heart surgery this past fall, my brothers and I spent the whole day together running errands, waiting out the surgery, and talking non-stop for all those hours. It was a rare time when none of our spouses or families were there. It was a day that reminded me of how much I love my brothers.
I hope my kids and Tristan have a good time on their ride today. I hope they really enjoy being brothers and sisters.

Kicking Coconuts in the Cemetery

2009-05-22T16:18:00.006-06:00

Last week I watched Lara and Kirk's boys while they were out of town. Tyler (age 4) is pretty talkative, but I don't always understand him. Every day after he had been outside he would tell me that he wanted to bring something inside. It sounded like "coconut," but as we have no palm trees I couldn't figure out what he wanted. Finally, I asked him what coconut he was talking about. He took me outside and showed me a pine cone he had found in the yard and told me it was his coconut. So cute! Now every morning when we walk in the cemetery there are pine cones scattered everywhere. As we walk, sometimes I kick them out of the way. I will never be able to kick another "coconut" without thinking of Tyler.

BEAUTIFUL LEGS

2009-05-17T10:35:00.002-06:00

I am in that middle age stage of life where my mind still feels like it is in college, but my body is beginning to tell me that I am fooling myself. More frequently than I would like, the younger sisters in my ward let it slip that I am the same age as their mother (or even older). It can be depressing!

All my life I have wanted skinny legs and small ankles. I have always admired women with beautiful legs. I have great pioneer stock legs, in other words, heavy duty legs and ankles that could have easily walked me across the plains. I am grateful for them in that they are very functional. They have helped me carry seven babies and have walked me through many miles of morning walks with my walking buddies. However, I have always longed for thin, beautiful legs. Unfortunately, as the years go by, my legs let me know I am getting older as they become more discolored with veins and squishy with extra fat.

Recently I had a pedicure. Someone gave me a gift certificate for my birthday. I am not always comfortable doing things like pedicures, where someone is fussing over some part of my body. While I sat nervously and self-consciously in the chair, an older woman came in and sat down in the chair next to me. As they worked on our feet, she was very talkative to everyone in the shop. It was fun to listen to her and I admired how friendly and relaxed she was. Suddenly, she said to me, “You have very beautiful legs!” I had to look twice to see that she was talking to me. I laughed, thanked her and told her, “Not really!” But then I looked over at her legs. She was 88. She did have those thin legs and ankles that I admire, but her legs were very blotched and wrinkled with age. I looked back at my legs. Sturdy as they are, they were beautiful in comparison.

It was a good moment for me to appreciate what God has given me. Sometimes when I see a picture of myself, I am discouraged to see how awful I may appear, how bad my hair was that day, how fat I think I look, or how old I seem. I am learning to simply put that picture away, then take it out and look at it again in five or ten years. It is amazing how great you look when you look backwards.

What a grand lesson I am learning, to always look back on myself and evaluate where I have come from and how far I have progressed. Sometimes in the middle of busy things, I don’t feel like I have grown or moved forward. As women, we can be especially hard on ourselves. Sometimes it takes looking back and evaluating to really measure ourselves. As we do this, we can find perspective, peace and contentment in our lives. Maybe someday, when I am 88, I will look back and think, “What beautiful legs you had!”

Disneyland

2009-05-14T08:35:00.003-06:00

Here are a few pictures. We had a great time!

Zoom, Zoom

2009-05-11T10:58:00.005-06:00

No, this is not a blog about the new Mazda. Zoom, zoom is a statement of my life lately. Once Lara asked me what I would do with all my time when Kaitlin went to college. Would I get a job? HA! no time for that! Chris once asked me what I did all day long with no kids at home. I couldn't even think of anything specifically that I do that keeps me so busy, but I know at the end of the day I don't get everything done on my list.

Last Tuesday night, we drove to California for a Disneyland vacation with the whole family. It was great! Yesterday we drove back home and arrived about 8:45 p.m. Today I am washing clothes like a crazy woman so that we can leave at 1:00 for SLC for Tristan's back therapy. We stay overnight, have another appointment first thing in the morning and then pick up Lara's boys to bring home with us while she goes to Japan with Kirk. We are back by 1:00 so Tristan can go back to work. Then we do the whole thing again next Monday (except not the California part!) (except we drop off the boys this time). We are half way done with about 12 weeks of back therapy. It keeps us on the road. Zoom, zoom!

GRATITUDE

2009-04-16T16:39:00.005-06:00

This afternoon the mirror for my bathroom was delivered and installed. Other than some decorative touches we are FINISHED!!! Hurrah, hurrah! I am so grateful for my new bedroom and bathroom. Our old one was so little and cluttered. It has really made me grateful for my new one. Almost every night when we climb into bed, I thank Tristan for being so good to me to let me remodel. And yesterday I got to soak in the tub. It was so relaxing and comfortable and I just kept thinking how lucky I am to have such a wonderful bathroom, bedroom and closet. I feel like the Queen of Everything!

Where Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone, Oh Where Oh Where Can He Be?

2009-04-13T09:53:00.005-06:00

This morning I was walking in the cemetery with my friends. As we came around the corner, I could see Murphy running down the street outside the cemetery fence. For years, I have had to shut him in the garage when I go walking so he wouldn't follow me because there is a "No Dogs" sign posted at the cemetery. He has gotten so old and worn out that for the last year he hasn't even tried to follow me. So when we saw him this morning we were all surprised. He has cataracts and doesn't hear very well. We watched him cross the street and squeeze through the gate and start running through the cemetery. I started yelling and whistling at him, but he didn't see us or hear us. We followed him, but since he was running he got too far ahead of us. It was so strange to see him running! We watched him as he crossed the old bridge over the canal and ran across Main Street and disappeared by Lins. I had driven my car to the cemetery so that I could run some errands after I walked, so I got the car and drove over to find him. I looked for 30 minutes and couldn't see him. I came home pretty worried. When I looked at my phone messages I could see that Tristan had called me three times and Richfield City offices had also called. I called the city back and they said that Rich Persons was driving on Main Street and saw him cross the road and then later saw him up by the Chevron at the freeway entrance. So, he loaded Murphy up and drove him to the city offices, where they looked up his dog tags and called me. When they couldn't get in touch with me (since I was out looking for Murphy!), they called Jones and DeMille. Tristan was in meetings so they got in touch with Carson. Anyway, the city wouldn't keep Murphy, so Rich Persons took him to his house and I just went and picked him up. Rich said that Murphy was all tuckered out. I bet! He was glad to see me and now he sticks to me like glue. Besides cataracts and loss of hearing, now I worry that he has alzheimers and will take to wandering the streets like my grandma. What an eventful morning!

EASTER

2009-04-12T14:54:00.003-06:00

Today is Easter. Our ward choir sang two songs. Music always brings a strong spirit to me and I know the words we sang are true. I am grateful for the atonement and for the resurrection. What a wonderful day to be grateful to our Savior.

This is possibly the first Easter I have ever spent without family. Except Tristan. It is the first Easter I have celebrated without candy Easter eggs, new Easter clothes, or Easter baskets and family activities. Those things are silly things when you think about the true meaning of Easter, but I realized something about them today. Those silly things help us to set this day apart from others. They make it festive and fun and they mark it a special day. Spending the time with family on Easter weekend makes it a special weekend. Maybe the activities fall short of the meaning of the day, but they set it apart as special. I really missed those things this year. I don't want to be away from them or my family another year if we don't have to. I was jealous of all the families at church who were together today. I missed being able to buy my girls a new Easter dress. All those cute girls at church in their new Easter dresses remind me that Easter is a day to signal new beginnings...spring, the resurrection, and becoming clean through the atonement.

Temptation is for the birds

2009-04-11T09:40:00.003-06:00

For the last few weeks there has been a robin trying to get into our house. She keeps flying into the window by my computer in the laundry room. I have had to knock on the window to scare her away because she keeps at it all day long. You can hear her hitting the window even when you are in other parts of the house. I told Tristan about it and he could hear her doing it too. Yesterday, when Tristan came home from work, I was using the computer. As he was talking to me and the robin was hitting the window, he noticed my little bowl of glass cherries sitting on the window sill. All of a sudden he realized that the bird was trying to get at the cherries! Poor little bird, we have been tempting her with plump, ripe cherries for three weeks! We moved the cherries to another spot...

"Gray skies are gonna clear up, put on a happy SKIRT"

2009-04-10T16:34:00.004-06:00

Another day of gray skies and wind. I am grateful, however, because it means it is snowing or raining somewhere and we can use the moisture. Can't wait for a nice sunny day to wear my new skirt I found at Christensens. Even better, it was on sale. That makes you put on a happy face for sure!

There Is Hope Smiling Brightly Before Us

2009-04-05T16:40:00.003-06:00

Conference just ended. I hate for it to be over. I hate for that feeling to gradually subside. I am so thankful for prophets who remind us that in troubled times if we follow Christ we can be safe and happy and nothing else will really matter. Oh, to think that President Monson is the prophet for our whole world and so many do not allow themselves to find the comfort and direction in his words! What a great weekend. It is nice to fill up the gas tank and get going again.

COUNT MY MANY BLESSINGS

2009-03-30T10:06:00.003-06:00

One of the very many blessings that Heavenly Father has sent my way was the gift of twin grandsons for our very first grandchildren. Saturday, they were baptized and confirmed. As I watched them, I couldn't help but marvel at how prepared they are and what valiant spirits they are. They have good parents that are teaching them and helping them along the way. My heart was full to bursting!

My Downfall

2009-03-25T10:12:00.005-06:00

A couple of weeks ago I was shopping for groceries at Lins. I saw my favorite Easter candy, Peeps! I bought a package. They were so good because they were not as fresh as the ones at Walmart. The marshmellow had shrunk up a little. I LOVE them that way. So every time I have gotten groceries I keep buying their old Peeps. I think I have cleaned them out. Good thing they are gone. I am looking like a marshmellow peep after eating so many.

I'm Cracking Up!

2009-03-22T14:56:00.004-06:00

On Saturday, Tristan and I moved out Lara's old daybed from the upstairs loft in the Rockville house. We had gone up and down the stairs so many times hauling the new bed in and the bedding out, that Tristan said, "let's just put ropes on it and hang it over the balcony and lower it into the trailer." Well, one of the legs got caught in the railing. When we kicked it loose, the bed dropped and something snapped in my wrist. This morning we went to the emergency room here in Richfield. My wrist is not broken, but they think it may be cracked. Cracks sometimes don't show up for a couple of days on the x-rays. It hurts like crazy when it gets moved, so they put me in this honkin' big splint. Another adventure!

I Think I Am Just Too Tired

2009-03-19T14:13:00.003-06:00

Is it just me, or do any of you get so tired that you can't do anything? My flood house is such a disaster and things are still out of place from the bedroom construction upstairs. I just wander from room to room. It overwhelms me. I can't even think of things that I need to do anymore. I can hardly face putting all the Christmas decorations away. Again. Or washing all the sheets for all those beds downstairs. Or moving all that furniture back someday. I have certainly lost my focus! Ugh!

Cheer Up!

2009-03-13T17:24:00.006-06:00

This week has been a rough week for Kaitlin and I. She came home for the weekend, so today we took advantage of the shoe sale at Christensens. It is amazing how some new summer sandals can cheer you up! We look forward to warm weather.

P.S. I got the orange Borns and Kaitlin got the yellow Maddens, .... bet you couldn't guess that!

NOAH'S ARK

2009-03-07T10:24:00.003-07:00

Just when I thought we were about done with the big mess in our house... Last night just before we were going to bed, Tristan could hear a noise in the basement. He went down to investigate and found three inches of water everywhere. It seems the plumber had hooked up the sink in the bathroom downstairs and it wasn't tightened and it burst. It had been running for hours. At 10:30 we placed a frantic call to the plumber, got the carpet cleaner here with his pumps, and called neighbors and Carson to help us move furniture out. It was a soggy, wet, experience. They pumped out 100 gallons of water in just minutes and pumped out another 200 after that. Tristan believes there are still 100-200 gallons left in the pads and carpet. Today they are coming to pull out the pads in the bedrooms to see if we can't save the carpet. We have furniture everywhere. It looks like it ruined the new cabinet in the bathroom downstairs. Maybe it will dry out. Anyway, no pictures to show you, it isn't a pretty sight.

Bathroom Jewelry

2009-03-06T12:52:00.002-07:00

The plumber has been installing the fixtures this week. Just as a diamond adds a sparkle to your hand, these fixtures are just the right touch to finish off the bathroom. Unfortunately, they cost more than the diamond on my finger!

Creeping Towards the End

2009-03-02T15:34:00.003-07:00

Wow! Something besides tile actually got done in the bedroom remodel today. Our closet has been installed and it is beautiful to behold. Too bad we have to hang clothes in it and ruin the effect! They are also installing the electrical outlets, switches and light fixtures today. Unfortunately, the wrong ceiling fan came and the right one is on back order...isn't that how it always goes?

One of My Favorite Things

2009-02-28T10:32:00.005-07:00

We got to tend Jaxon and Madi last night while Carson and Ashley are out of town. It reminded me that one of my very most favorite things is to cuddle a baby after their bath. I miss that part of raising kids.

A Reason Why I Look The Way I Do

2009-02-27T12:17:00.003-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I sat beside a friend who was visiting our ward for a missionary homecoming. She is always dressed up, looking her best whenever you see her. Her hair and makeup are flawless, even when the wind blows...her clothes are fashionable and when she washes her windows she still looks good. As I sat beside her that day, I looked down at our feet. She had stylish pointed-toe shoes with heels. I had flat, rounded toe shoes. I felt flat and rounded sitting there beside her. Today I tore off this page on a calendar another friend gave me. I had to laugh out loud because now I may have a reason why I look the way I do...