Gathering Home

Siblings

2012-02-22T15:11:00.000-07:00

We have 4 children, and throughout the years I've wondered if they would be friends and realize that in the end all you have is family. This thought has come and gone as they played, teased, argued, fought, and then seemed to be inseparable again.

Now, jump forward 20+ years and again this morning that thought has been on my mind. We had an incident last night. One child reprimanded a relative on what he thought wasn't appropriate behavior. Now one of his siblings has taken it upon herself to talk her brother down. My heart broke as this happened!

It is so hard to see them struggle with issues that really don't matter. However, this pair of siblings has never really liked each other and I know as a parent the only thing I can do is try to kindly council and try to help them realize that one day the relationship they have with each other will depend on how much effort they put into it now and pray and pray that someday they will find a warm spot in their hearts for each other. I hope that this will someday happen. I guess I take heart that even our Heavenly Father had children that were rebelious and didn't get along. I guess that I had always hoped that our family wouldn't have to deal with these situations though.

I'm sorry to vent on my blog, but maybe someone out there will have the answer. . . .

Do they ever learn to love each other??

Update!

2012-02-13T14:05:00.000-07:00

My oldest daughter has been here for 3 weeks recovering from back surgery. We've also had our granddaughter here. Let me tell you, I can appreciate the fact that young women have children. It has taken me 3 weeks to finally get into a rhythm. Getting up with a 10-mo-old has not been as easy as I thought it would be. But it has been a blast! I have had so much fun with this little one! She is learning to crawl and teething and being such a sweet little angle.

It has also given me time with my oldest daughter that I will always cherish. Before she got married and had her little girl, she wanted to be independent and always wanted to be off on her own. She and I have been able to talk and spend precious time together. She is healing and getting better and I know the time will be short before she is back on her own doing her own thing with her family. But for now I am enjoying each and every minute of these two that I can.

My youngest daughter has been offered a full-ride scholarship in Iowa at Iowa Lakes Community College playing soccer for them. She has decided to take it and so I am going to take advantage of every minute I have with her too! Time flys way too fast and before you know it all of my girls will be off on their own. As a mom it's both gratifying and a little sad. You love to see your children become successful, but I truly miss them when they are gone.

I am a blessed mom and grandma!!

Life

2012-01-27T11:39:00.000-07:00

You know those days when you've been under so much stress and it finally gives somewhere. That is how my day has been today. I feel like I just want to let my tears go and wash all of the remainder of my stress away. But for some reason I continue to hold onto some of it. I read a friends blog and it brought the tears quickly. I guess it's because I know I'm not going through this life alone. Her problems are much different than mine. Her children are small and she is the wife of a husband that serves in his community at all hours. But yet when I read her words I feel a connection.

My girls are doing well. Maddi will be released from the hospital today and I will have her and the baby for a couple of weeks. A different kind of stress is relieved and a new type begins. I was so worried about her. They took a fragment of disc out of her back that was the size of a quarter. It had been pushing on her nerves to where she couldn't feel her leg or foot. Hopefully the damage will heal quickly. Now I hope I can give her the care that she so needs. I want to be the best mom that I can. They baby will be here and I hope that I can remember everything that I need to so that she enjoys her grandma. It's been so long.

My youngest son is getting married soon and we are working on an open house here for that. I want it to be what he desires it to be. He is marrying such as sweet, young woman. We love her already.

Work fits somewhere in between all of this. No wonder I am gray and I do tend to stress eat. But I am grateful to know there are others out there living life everyday in their own quiet way. Going around doing good and helping others, whether it is just by sharing a thought or a smile. I am grateful and blessed this day because someone shared her life!!

My Girls

2012-01-22T16:02:00.002-07:00

This past week my youngest daughter had to get her wisdom teeth out. Her top teeth were right up against her sinuses, so we had to have them taken out by an Oral Surgeon. He was so good. He had those babies out in 20 minutes. So she has been down the past couple of days. And as her mom it is my obligation to spoil her while she's down.

This week, my oldest daughter will be having back surgery. The day before Christmas she obliterated a disk in her back (that's what her MRI report said). She finally went to a neurosurgeon last week and he had an MRI done and wanted to get her right in. She had been on Ibuprofen and so had to wait a week for the surgery. So this week she will have that done and will be living with us again so we can help take care of the baby while she recovers. The doctors said she has to be down to 2 weeks and then 6 weeks on low-to-moderate activity. Again, as her mom this let's me spoil. I'm sad that both of the girls had to go through these procedures, but I'm so happy that I can spoil them again. It isn't very often I get to do this anymore and I've missed it.

I also get to spoil my grandbaby while she's here. I think that is the part I look forward to the most. I love my girls and fell blessed to be their mom and grandma!!

ROAD TRIP!!

2012-01-10T13:59:00.001-07:00

So this last week was a whirlwind adventure week. I've been looking at newer cars for the past couple of years - yearning for something a little larger than my Toyota Corolla. I've written before on how I'm a car gal and I really like to pick out what it is I want. I don't leave these things up to my husband, well because his attitude is that a car needs to get you from point A to point B. I agree with that, but I think you need to do it in comfort and if you also include the "Cool" factor then you need something more, definitely much, much more!!

So this past week, I found a car on Autotrader that was for sale in Reading, PA. It was about 6K less than I could get it anywhere around here (Utah). So, I showed it to my husband and he decided that it was a good deal and that we should go ahead and get it. Crazy I know. It's clear across the country! And the adventure began.

We talked to the dealership on Friday and then again on Monday. We took at chance and ordered plane tickets on Friday (that was scary) not know if we would really get to purchase the car, but having faith. We put a deposit down on it on Monday and it was going to be ours. So on Thursday night we flew to AZ and then on to PA. We arrived in PA at 6 a.m. A sweet older gentleman that works part-time for the dealership picked us up from the airport and took us to breakfast. He was so nice. And everyone else at the dealership was so courteous and kind. I'd do business with them anytime!! So those of you out east might think about stopping by Tom Masano Ford in Reading, PA they're great to work with. Anywho, by the time we drove to the dealership it was about 9 a.m. We filled out the paperwork and were on our way by around 10:30.

So we finally got out of PA around 2:00 p.m. and made it almost half way through Missouri by 1:00 a.m. the next morning. We stopped and slept for about 5 hours and then conitnued on. We passed through some of the most beautiful country. Granted it was stark and dry due to being winter, but it was beautiful nonetheless. Pennsylvania was rolling hills with trees everywhere. I would never have imagined that. Ohio was full of trees and gently rolling hills as well. There were less hills in Indiana and even less the closer we got to Nebraska. Then when we hit Wyoming there were the Rocky Mountains that we love so much. We started on I-70 and at Kansas City headed north to I-80. The weather was perfect and we didn't hit any bad weather. It had snowed a little in Nebraska near Lincoln. Then all through Wyoming it had snowed, but the roads were clear. We finally made it home Sunday at 4 a.m. It was a quick trip, but such an adventure. We traveled 2250 miles, and I got to do it all with my sweet husband. What a wonderful traveling companion he is. He was such a good sport about everything.

So now my sweet husband is driving my Toyota to work and I am driving a new-to-me Ford Edge. It doesn't get quite the same gas mileage, but I feel safer on the road and I really like the car. It's very comfortable and I plan on gettting a lot of use out of it for many years to come. It was a whirlwind weekend, but so, so much fun!! Thanks to a wonderful husband, many kind people and beautiful country!!

Ready for 2012

2011-12-31T17:44:00.001-07:00

Well, here it is New Year's eve. I'm ready for the new beginning of a new year. This year has been wonderful and full. This next year already promises wonderful things to come. Our youngest son is engaged and we will be having a wedding in March. And not to be too materialistic, but this week my sweet husband is going on an adventure with me. For a couple of years now I've been wanting a new vehicle. I would go online and research different SUV's and read about them. Well we found one online this past week in Pennsylvania. So we will be flying out there on Thursday night and then having a road-trip home hoping to make it home Saturday before my youngest daughter leaves for the Senior Hop (The Senior Prom). So if the rest of the year is anything like the beginning - look out because we're in for some fun!!

Happy New Year's to Everyone!!

Christmas blessings

2011-12-23T21:26:00.000-07:00

Christmas is a wonderful time of year. I love how you see the caring, giving, loving, kind side of people. As the Relief Society President in our ward I'm blessed to be a part of the giving and sharing that people do. I often get calls asking me to deliver gifts to families that are struggling from those who wish to remain anonymous. It really touches my life. It is incredible to see the love given and the gratitude from those that receive. This is truly one of the blessings of my calling and for that I am so grateful.

I hope you all are blessed with a very blessed Christmas!!

Failed at Being Superwoman

2011-12-22T20:11:00.000-07:00

Here it is 3 days before Christmas and I feel like the biggest failure. This is the time of year when you're supposed to be happy and cheerful and I just can't do it today. I had to tell my son's that I couldn't be their secretary anymore. I just can't do a 40-hour a week job with the other jobs that I have. I feel like I've totally let them down. They were so gracious about it, but as a mom I guess I feel like I should be able to do it all and I just can't. I've failed at being superwoman! I can no longer stake a claim to that name. I guess I'm getting old or something!!

Mindy Gledhill and my Sweetheart an evening to remember!

2011-12-16T14:50:00.002-07:00

So all this last week my husband has been planning and scheming. He wouldn't tell me what we were doing or where we were going. He just told me that Thursday night was our date night and to be prepared to leave at 4:00 p.m. Well, I was set and ready to go when he got here from work.

We headed north up into Idaho, (which isn't really very far from our home), but I was totally shocked because we usually head to Salt Lake or Ogden. So he told me that we were headed to Pocatello. That's only an hour from where we live and I've really never been there and so my adventure began.

Sam took me to dinner at Texas Roadhouse. That's one place I can eat gluten-free and that my sweetheart enjoys. It was fun and gave us time to wind down and talk. After dinner, he told me that we needed to go to Idaho State University. The campus is located in South Pocatello. I could not for the life of me guess where we were going. I had made several guesses, but they were all wrong. So when we walked into the Jensen Proformance Hall on campus, (which by the way is beautiful) I saw the sign pointing to the Mindy Gledhill concert with the Teton Orchestra and I was elated!! I can't tell you how excited I was. And then to top it all off, Sam had gotten tickets for 3rd row seats right in the middle. I felt like I could have reached out and touched Mindy! I've loved her music for a long time and couldn't wait for the concert to begin!!

Mindy came out in her famous red dress that was refurbished and you can read about that here. I couldn't believe it. I'd read about her dress and was so excited to see it in real life. Sometimes it seems like the things we read about online are just that online and not real. But here she was in real life. And she looked so cute!

She sang several of her new Chrismas songs off her new album Wintermoon. I love that CD. I've listened to it over and over. I don't tell my husband how often I listen to her music, because her already thinks I'm crazy.

I love that she talked about the songs she sang and the people behind them. She told how she'd been writing "It's all about your heart" when she heard about Stephanie Nielson of the Nienie dialogs and her accident. Being friends with Stephanie made it easy for Mindy to finish this song. When she started to sing it, I got teary eyed.

Mindy sings a song that one of my dear friends played while her son was in the hospital battling cancer and when she sang it - again I got tears in my eyes. Her songs touch a cord with me. They hold a place in my heart because I listen to them so often that I relate them to times in my life that have special meaning. I know this sounds stupid but I felt like one of those screaming, crying teenagers you see in videos when the beatles used to come out of a building! I didn't cry or scream, but I don't usually get emotional when I see someone I like perform and it was a strange sensation. It was a fun, enjoyable night!

The Teton orchestra did an amazing job playing for Mindy. They sounded beautiful and added to the great sounds of the evening. Her band members were cute too. They had all dressed in retro outfits and they were good at what they did.

Some things I found out at the concert - Mindy is married and has 3 little boys. I didn't know this and had always secretly harbored the fantasy that she would someday meet my son that is single and marry him! (Well that dream is dashed for two reasons - (1) Mindy is married and (2) my son just got engaged to a beautiful girl from Arizona) I couldn't be happier on both accounts! Life always seems to workout how it should. I also found out that Mindy is older than I always supposed she was. I thought she was this young teenage girl - thus the above fantasy. However, I think she's in her late 20's, but to her credit she is so vivacious that she still seems young and carefree!!

Now to end this post, because I think it's the longest one I've ever written, I must state that I was with the most amazing companion on earth!! I am so grateful for a loving husband that would make secret plans to do something that I would so totally love doing, even though it wasn't his thing. Though he did enjoy it too, he was willing to do that for me! I fell even further in love (if that's even possible) with him for his thoughtfulness and caring! I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful husband!! I Love him dearly!! It was a beautiful and thoughtful early Christmas present for me!!

My Life Gone Crazy

2011-12-10T07:57:00.000-07:00

This past week, my life has taken a crazy turn. A couple of weeks ago here in Utah we had a horrible wind storm. It wreaked havoc for many people, damaging their homes.

My son owns a roofing company called Cornaby Brothers Roofing. His brother lived in Arizona and was thinking about doing some work for his brother down there. Well, when this storm hit our son moved back from Arizona to help his brother here. After a week I got a call asking if I would help them out and do their scheduling and answering phones as they were both extremely busy and couldn't keep up. So I told them I'd love to be a part of their world.

Not only am I now processing loans for a mortgage company (Summit Lending Associates), I am doing secretarial work for Cornaby Brothers Roofing. So I have gone from a very part-time job to doing a job and a half. The processing work has been picking up also and soon I expect I'll be working more like two pretty busy jobs. Needless to say I really need to get my act together and get very organized. And one of my goals doing this job is to answer the phone with a smile so that people know that we really care and are here to help.

The first day I took phone calls for my son; I'd be on a call and I'd get 2 while I was on that one. There are so many people who's lives have been touched by this. Granted there are many people out there scamming and trying to take advantage of people and that makes my heart ache. But then there are great people like my son's out doing whatever it takes to get roofs back over the heads of people at a minimal cost. I'm proud to be a part of my son's team. It will be a challenge for awhile, but it will be so worth the effort. I'm glad we can make a difference in the lives of people. That is what this season is all about!!

Wonderful Weekends

2011-12-04T11:13:00.001-07:00

This weekend has been so enjoyable. Although it seems to be passing way to quick. Saturday began with my helping out at my daughter's school. Our school's Madrigal group does a Christmas program each year where they do a renaissance dinner. They do so much work putting so much effort into the acting and singing and they have a lot of fun doing it. So I was able to help in the kitchen and enjoy the spirit of the day.

Then I went to the baptism of my sweet niece Kennan. She is such a sweet girl. I talked on the gift of the Holy Ghost that we receive after our baptism. We then had a family dinner and had time to talk and enjoy each other. I love family. There is nothing like the support that we have and I totally enjoy being with my family. We got to hold and snuggle our grand baby there. I am so totally besotted by that little cherub. She has taken my heart and wrapped it about her little fist.

Today we will go to church and enjoy the sweet spirit of our Savior there. Then later this evening we will enjoy the message that our Prophet has to give us about this wonderful time of year. I love weekends like this. I love that I am so blessed and am able to enjoy these times!

Gearing Up for Christmas

2011-11-29T21:49:00.000-07:00

Picture by Liz Lemon Swindle

I know the title suggests that I am not really ready. And to tell you the truth, shopping wise I haven't even started. However, spiritually I am so totally ready for Christmas. I love that Christmas is all about the birth of our Savior, His life and the gift He has so freely give us. I am so truly blessed and love that at this time of year I can show my gratitude to Him in serving others in a more focused way. I guess that is why I'm not really in a panic about all of the shopping and commercialization. I know the gift buying will happen and I really do enjoy that part too. But for me it's more about the gift of giving that I really like to focus on.

We will put our Christmas decorations up this Saturday as a family. We've already started enjoying all of the Christmas music that we've accumulated over the years and then we will plan how and who we will be serving this year. We will begin the baking and making and I can't wait! I love the feelings that come with celebrating the birth and life of my Savior!

Picture by Liz Lemon Swindle

Snow

2011-11-18T17:12:00.000-07:00

Softly falling

Clouds of white,

Quiet continual silence,

Drifting,

Piling,

Days of whitness,

Winter has begun!

A Celiac's Night Out

2011-11-11T14:47:00.000-07:00

Last night was our daughter's High school girl's soccer banquet. I did the decorations for the tables and they turned out way better than I expected. I will post pictures when I learn how to download them from my phone.

But on to the subject at hand. When my husband and I usually go out to dinner, it is at the same old place eating the same old thing. I do this to ensure that I don't get gluten, or glutenized as we say around here. So imagine my surprise when the manager of the "Lodge" at Maddox in Brigham City, Utah told me that they were prepared to offer me a gluten-free substitute for most of the dinner items.

We had arrived early to decorate and the manager gave me a sampling of the rolls that were gluten-free. They were great. So when the rest of the team arrived and they started serving dinner, I got rolls just like everyone else. I even got cornbread muffins. Then they made me a turkey-steak dinner (Gluten-free of course) with all the trimmings. I was so stuffed, no pun intended. Then, one of the waiters asked if I wanted just a scoop of ice-cream for dessert and I told him "No" that I was okay with the meal I had eaten. Well, shortly after the manager brought me a cinnamon roll covered in a caramel sauce with whipped cream (all gluten-free!!). So of course I had to eat it. It was truly delightful and I felt so stuffed but wonderfully so!! It was so nice to go out for a special occasion and to be able to be treated so kindly! I can't say enough about this place. I can't wait to go back there again, it was wonderful!!

Oh, and my daughter was honored as an all region academic at the banquet. She was one of three girls that had high enough grades to get this award. She also lettered (this is her 3rd year lettering) and has done well this year and I'm proud of her. She has loved playing soccer with the Bear River Girl's soccer team. It has been a wonderful experience for her.

2011-11-02T21:18:00.000-06:00

Today I went crazy! It was a fun day!! I called a friend on Sunday and asked if she wanted to go to some quilting shops in Salt Lake with me today. I've got the bug. I did a quilt for Hannah and now am beginning another one. My son asked me to do one for him, so I was on the hunt for some lovely fabric.

As we entered our first quilt shop, I had no idea that there were such beautiful, vibrant colors! I was in heaven. I just wanted to stand and soak all of that color in. I want to do so many quilts and do them right now. I think it's called quilter's fever. However, I know that I am just a beginner and that I need to go slow. Being who I am if I make one that I don't like it will kill this desire and I don't want to do that. I tend to want perfection, but I am determined to make at least one quilt for each of my children. That way they will have something of me! Something that I made specifically for them. So that they will know how special they are to me. Not that they don't know that they are special to me, but it's just one of those mom things. Anywho, once I found the fabric for the new quilt, I started seeing lovely fabrics that would make darling, little girl clothes for my grandbaby. I had to get out of there quick!

Okay is it normal to want a room in your house just dedicated to fabric. I wish I had room to have it all layed out just like in the stores. Where all of the colors match and are arranged by color. I'm also on the hunt for a great deal on a quilting machine. I think I've found my new hobby! I'll let you know how it goes and post pictures as I do these quilts!!

I appreciated having a good friend want to spend the day doing this with me! We had so much fun just talking and laughing. I think everyone needs a friend to laugh with. We even planned what projects we needed to get done so that we can go on another outing together. I loved today!! Thank you my friend for spending time with me and being the inspiration for my next few projects!!

I'm No Granola

2011-10-24T16:43:00.001-06:00

So all my life I've made fun of people that were really naturalists. I'm now eating crow. No, I'm no tree hugger, but I do think there are things that we can do to help the environment. But even more so, I'm really getting into doing things that are better for me. I've gone to making my own laundry detergent. I started this about 6 months ago and we really like it. My whites are whiter and I feel like there aren't as many chemicals around. We stopped using dryer sheets and I use dryer balls that work great and we don't have grease spots all over our clothes anymore. (Thank heavens!! I got tired of throwing away perfectly good clothes because of the grease spots we couldn't get rid of.)

I was diagnosed with Celiac disease almost 4 years ago. I have been trying to be healthier since then. I am eating better. However, I do still like my sugar, but try not to eat it as much. I have decided that it's okay to indulge once in awhile with the family but I am trying not to have it in my diet as much. I think that since I am trying we are all doing better with how we eat.

Lastly, I went to a doterra essential oils meeting a month ago. I have always wanted to use essential oils as I think they have a place in helping us feel better mentally as well as their healing abilities. No I am not selling doterra, that was just my introduction to the oils. I think that there are many great companies out there and I will continue to do my research until I am satisfied that I have found the one I want to go with. However, at one of the meetings that I attended, they taught us to make a basic body cream. I've been using it and have loved it. However, the other day I ran out. So on Saturday night I tried making my own batch. I really botched it up!! It didn't blend together and was just a runny mess. I was determined to try it yet again. In my first batch I had substituted shea butter in the place of beeswax. So today I picked up some beeswax bars and tried again. It worked!! I was so excited. This body cream has helped my skin look and feel so much better and it's all natural. I can add essential oils if I want, but I don't have to if I don't feel its necessary.

So today I made my laundry detergent and my body cream as well as getting my other goals accomplished. I started working out today on my treadmill (the weather has been a little cold to go walk in the mornings here). I ran 3/4 of a mile and walked 1 and 1/4 miles. I also spent time on my weight lifting. It has been a good day and I feel like a success!! I like days like today!

Fall Hiking

2011-10-22T17:37:00.001-06:00

On Friday we took a day off and went hiking together as a family. We haven't had many days to do this, but with school out for UEA we took advantage. Here are some of the pictures that I took while we were out. The beauty that was in this area was fabulous! We went to Tony Grove up Logan canyon. Sam came here with some guys snowmobiling last winter and he was surprised to see it without everything being covered by snow. What a beautiful area!!

One of the First Lasts

2011-10-17T15:57:00.000-06:00

Hannah at warm-up's

So this last Saturday we drove to Cedar City to watch our daughter's High School soccer team play in a state play-off game. It was a five-hour drive and we were happy to do it to support her and the team. She has played with this team for the past 3 years. It has been a blessing in her life. She started playing soccer with the Bear River High girl's soccer team when we decided to move to Garland. She hadn't even started going to school there and had already made friends. It was so cool! Those girls took her in and she has had them as friends ever since.

Supporting the Team

Our team was not ranked as we were not in the top 5 in the state. However, we had won our first game against Payson High School and the girls were doing well. When we got there Hannah told us that the coach had decided that he wouldn't play her unless they were ahead by 2 points. (I knew she was a little disappointed in this, but was gracious about that decision.)

Watching Second Half and cheering them on!

Earlier in the season Hannah had received a concussion. This after her brain injury last year. So the coach didn't start her at all after that. He would let her play the second half of each game. I'm not sure of his logic as she had been his starting keeper for the past 2 years. However, we all tried to support him in this decision.

Well, in the game against Cedar Hills our team played beautifully! As a parent you couldn't have asked for more. They played their hearts out and it showed. We went in to the first over time. It lasted 10 minutes, and we held them. Then we went into the second over time and the clock was set for 10 minutes.

(So after the second over time the game would go to a shoot-out if it went that far and Hannah would then get to play. Coach had told her she was his go-to gal because he knew she would defend our goal against one-on-one shots because of her experience.)

We were into the second OT by 5 minutes when one of the girls on our team was called on a hand-ball (the ball bounced up and hit her hand.) Cedar Hill's got a kick at our goal from where the call was made and .... Yep, it skipped around our goalie and that was the end of the game. The crowd hushed! Hannah had been warming up and as I looked at her, her face fell and it was hard as a mom not to cry. She realized it was over. No more soccer. She didn't even get to play in her last soccer game as a senior. I felt so bad for her, but she was a wonderful sport about it. She cried for a minute, but then she was hugging everyone and trying to make them feel okay about how they had played. I was proud of her, very proud of her!!

Showing Great Sportsmanship!

Hannah thanking her coach for a great season!

She is a wonderful daughter and it has been wonderful following her for the past 12 years watching her skills grow and her mature into the beautiful youngwoman she is today.

My First Quilt

2011-10-04T16:24:00.000-06:00

Here in the small town where my daughter attends High School, they have a tradition. It is for the senior girls on the Girl's Soccer team. They have a recognition dinner at the end of the season and honor the seniors. It is fun and Hannah has looked forward to it since the beginning of the season. At that dinner the girls are given a quilt by their moms. A lot of the time it is a black, red and white quilt (the colors of the school). However when I asked my daughter what she wanted, she stated that she didn't want it the colors of the school because then it wouldn't match her room when she went to college. (She's so logical!) So knowing my daughter I began gathering bright materials. Here is the start of it. I will put borders on it and a bright back and show those pictures later. But today I finished sewing the last block of squares on it and I'm so excited I had to post. I can't wait to see her face when she sees it. I really hope she loves it!!

It really hasn't been as hard as I thought it would be. I used the technique of the disappearing 9 that I learned here. It has gone pretty fast. I have really only had to sew about 4 days on it to get it to this point.

Simple Pleasures

2011-10-03T19:55:00.000-06:00

So this is how I love spending some of my Fall days. Today was a wonderful day. I felt like I accomplished alot. At the time of this post my last batch of peaches was in the water bath. I canned a bushel and a half, that makes a total of 42 quarts and 5 pints (I ran out of quart bottles). They looked so beautiful and colorful sitting on my cupboard cooling. I will give some of them to my children and keep the rest. I like eating peaches and toast on Sunday evenings. It is one of my favorite things. It's simple, but that's how I like things. There's also a cricket somewhere behind those bottles. He snuck in with the peaches, but that didn't even seem to throw me. He's nice and cozy warm amongst those bottles tonight. I hope he enjoys his Fall day, because tomorrow I'll have to vacuum him up. I love these simple pleasures.

Rewards of a Mother

2011-09-17T13:51:00.002-06:00

I have a son that is living in another state. He has struggled in getting a job and getting on his feet. He is finally working for a company that he likes and is doing okay. He and I talk a couple of times a week and I'm glad that we have the relationship that we have.

So, today when he called we were talking and he said, "Mom I want to tell you about an experience that I had yesterday." He then proceeded to tell me about how while he was out doing sales he was approached by a woman. She asked him for some money and told him how she was struggling. He took her to a nearby store and bought diapers and wipes for her children. During their conversation, she told him that she had been to a funeral in the city in which he lives,but she needed to get back to her home in another city. He left her with food for her and the kids and then went on his way. He said he went and got himself some dinner and while he was eating he couldn't get this lady out of his mind. He said he thought to himself, "I've done enough." Then the story of the Good Samaritan came to his mind as well as the thought "When can we say we've done enough?" So he went back and gave her enough money to get her and her children back to their home. He told me how good he felt that he had been able to help her out. He is getting by okay, but not totally on top of his finances yet, but he was able to lift another's burden. I am proud of the man he has become.

I have wonderful children that think of others. This is one of the rewards that I've been able to enjoy and I feel blessed that Heavenly Father sent these children to my home for me to raise and love. It is so rewarding knowing that they listen to the Spirit. That the things that they were taught in our home have been kept in their hearts to be acted upon when they are inspired to do so! As a Mom I am truly blessed!

Boundries

2011-09-16T14:36:00.001-06:00

Yesterday and the day before were crazy! I am still trying to learn my job and it has been rather frustrating as the trainer has decided that he has trained enough and I am now on my own. However, I think this has been a blessing as I am turning to others and finding friends as well as people that are willing to help and make the going easier. But it's still hard.

As I reflected on yesterday, I smile. I worked hard in the morning, got my work done (now I'm waiting on others). I started on my daughters senior quilt, I attended a friend's mom's viewing, I got to attend my daughter's soccer game and then I went to a class with a dear friend. It was a busy day, but one that I totally enjoyed! I felt like I had accomplished something and then I was rewarded by being able to enjoy the talents of others. What a blessing!

I feel like I'm growing. It's hard to push the boundries that I'm comfortable in, but I'm growing and when I look back on how hard the beginnings were I will smile to see how I've grown!! It's all worth the struggle!!

Simple Truths

2011-09-07T12:38:00.000-06:00

Today I read something that made sense to me! You can also read it "here". You know when you read a simple truth and it just makes sense. It touches you heart and it becomes a part of you. That is how I felt when I read this daily thought. I've been in turmoil lately with some things going on in my family and this small thought spoke to my spirit. As I read it I felt a peace come over me that hadn't been mine for a time. I am grateful that I found this small bit of inspiration. I hope it helps someone else out there and gives them the peace I was able to attain today!

Sugar Free

2011-08-30T14:53:00.000-06:00

Okay so I'm at it again! I don't know if I'm a glutton for punishment or what, but I'm trying to go sugar-free again. It's day 3 and I'm dying!! I did okay the first day, yesterday was a little harder, but today I tell you the cravings are horrible! I could eat a whole cookie jar full of cookies, but then I'd feel guilty and my knees would ache and I'd be back in the same boat of starting over. I've been eating good, healthy stuff - mostly fruits, veggies, meats and nuts. But come afternoon around NOW, I get hit with cravings for sugary stuff. Hopefully it won't last too long, because if I have another day like today I think I may just cave.

So a few months ago a lady in our area gave me some guidelines to follow - okay it was a strict diet. My question is, who makes these things up? I mean for a liver cleanse it says to eat only veggies (no corn), meat (no red or pork), nuts (no peanuts, those come at level 3), and I can have almond milk for 2 weeks. Does this really cleanse your liver? What if I only went on it for a week and then moved to the next step which is adding fruit? Would that be bad? It just makes me wonder how they know that this will really cleanse my liver and help me get off sugar? Have they done studies? If so where are they, I'd like to read them.

Anyway, this is my dilemma. I really wonder if this will really work. I know I need to eat healthy and get off so much sugar, but to what extent? Do I miss out now on family dinners and birthday parties? Is this really worth it? I want to be healthy, but I also want to be normal (as normal as a person can be that has celiac). I want to enjoy family gatherings as much as the next person. So I ask you, what is a person to do? Do I follow the diet or do I fudge just a smidge here and there? Is that even healthy? It's a conundrum!

My Oh My

2011-08-19T22:21:00.000-06:00

Goodness gracious!! I tell you it has been a frantic couple of weeks. I finally got my mlo license and started working and I forgot what it's like to do that full-time. With the economy going south and interest rates dropping like a rock we have been totally overloaded, and I love it! I thought I'd like it when I began, but I so love doing this. It's alot of fun. And, I've been blessed with a sweet daughter that is so willing to help around the house. So it didn't even go to the dogs while I've been working. As time goes by I hope I can get better organized so that I have some more time to spend with my family and not so much time in front of the computer screen and reading files. But until then I know I have help and that's a wonderful feeling.

So my sweet daughter that has been helping around the house had another accident this week. She has started soccer at the High School. She's the varsity girl's soccer goalie and loves every minute of it. At her game on Tuesday night she had defended against a PK (Penalty Kick) and had done a good job. She was then diving for the rebound when a player on the opposing team kicked her in the head. She was kicked on the same side where she had a concussion with 5 small bleeds last year. Needless to say, she was knocked out for a minute and we were a bit worried. I took her to the doctor today and he said she can begin playing again on the 30th of this month. He wanted to make sure that she didn't play for at least 2 weeks. I've also ordered her soccer head gear. Hopefully this will help ensure that something like this won't happen again, or at least if it does that it won't cause further head trauma. We feel blessed that it wasn't worse that it was.

So that is how my last few weeks have been spent. I will try and blog more often so that at least I have a record of how my life is flying by!!

A Day of Reflection

2011-08-07T17:50:00.000-06:00

This week has been a blessed week. I've had the chance of passing my test so that i can begin work. I was able to see all of my children but the one that lives in AZ (and I talked to him several times on the phone). I got to hold my granddaughter and tell her how much I love her. I was able to sew and be a bit creative. I've been able to take time a read a book. I was blessed to go on a date with my husband to the Temple on Saturday morning. We were able to visit my in-laws. I visited my parents. I ate pizza (which for a celiac isn't very often) it was gluten-free. I had time to visit with neighbors and friends and as I thought on all of these things that I was able to do, I feel blessed. I've loved this week!

Tests and Blessings

2011-08-02T17:26:00.000-06:00

For the past few months I have been studying and studying and studying as well as taking tests and taking more tests. It has been a hard thing, but today I passed my final test for my Mortgage Loan Originator license. I am so delighted it is over. Once you take a test and fail, you have to wait a whole month before you can even sign up to take the test again. The waiting is a killer and the test is not easy! It took a whole lot of praying and studying to get this far, but I'm excited. Such a burden has been lifted off my shoulders. I feel very blessed today!

So now I can move forward in one of the things that I want to do with my life. I am going to work for my neighbor at Summit Lending Associates as a loan processor. I'm excited to be looking at working again. I've missed the sense of purpose it gives me. And with my children (all but one and she'll be going next year) gone, I feel like I can still accomplish so much. I want to contribute to the community and I feel like this is one way I can do that, by helping others. So today I am blessed in this way and hope to be a blessing to others in return.

I'm so Happy and Excited!! It's a beautiful day, life is good!!

Get Away

2011-07-21T19:24:00.000-06:00

We visited Cedar Breaks National Monument while we were away. I don't remember ever visitng there before and enjoyed the picturesque beauty that surrounded us there. In St. George the temperature was close to 100 degrees and when we got to Cedar Breaks it was 65.

We didn't have time to hike much as we needed to return to Cedar City for the Shakespearian plays that we had tickets for.

There were wild flowers everywhere and I totally loved seeing them. I think it's usually like this in early June, but with all of the water we got in Utah this year we were able to see them this far into July!

I don't know the name of this one, but they were everywhere and so pretty!

Then there were all of the yellow meadows! I really liked them too!

We weren't able to take pictures of the plays that we saw in Cedar City. We saw Richard the III on Tuesday night. On Wednesday we saw A Mid-Summer's Night Dream and Romeo and Juliette. The actor's did an incredible job in all of the plays. I think my favorite was A Mid-Summer's Night Dream. The actor's were totally hilarious and it made for a really fun time! I had a fabulous time and spent it all with my best friend (my husband)! We always seem to be able to have a good time together. Thanks Sweetheart for all that you do for me! I Love you Dearly!!

Friendship and Bookclubs

2011-07-18T14:59:00.000-06:00

I'm sneaking a post in before I leave on a short trip. I hadn't planned on posting until I returned, but I just had to get this one in.

In our area we have some ladies that have decided to get together once a month and read a book. It was my turn and we read the Hour Glass Door by Lisa Mangum. I chose this book because it was one of my daughters favorites and to tell you the truth I really enjoyed it too (enough so that I bought the other 2 books in the series just to see how it ended.) It is a fun read and we had Italian Ice as a treat to celebrate the nationality of one of the main characters.

Even more than the books, I'm getting to know these other ladies in the book club and I am having a ball. They are so thoughtful and sweet. We can chat and tell why we liked a book or disagree and not like a book, but the friendship is there and that is what it is all about for me. I love when we can sit and laugh and just visit and deepen these relationships. I haven't always had opportunities like this, so while I have this chance I'm grabbing on with both hands and enjoying it for all it is worth. The books are just the icing on the top of my cake and I'm loving this wonderful, rich cake that I am able to partake of at this moment in my life!

Summer is Flyng By!

2011-07-13T17:47:00.001-06:00

I can't believe how summer is flying by! I don't want it to. I want it to slow down. I feel like it only just began and I want it to stay longer! This week has been crazy and I think weeks like this make my summer go faster. I remember when I was little and we were able to sit and watch the clouds and how summer seemed like it would never end. Now with being a mom and doing all that I do it is gone in a moment. We had a wedding this week with 2 receptions for a nephew, a surprise 80th birthday party for my aunt, and then on Monday my mom had a total knee replacement. It has been a little on the wild side. But my dear sweet husband is taking me away for a small break and for my birthday. We are going to enjoy the Shakespearean festival in Cedar City Utah. It will be our first time doing this and I am excited to go and have some fun. I really am looking forward to time alone with the handsome man I married and to get re-acquainted. So I probably won't blog for awhile but when I do, I will try and have some pictures!!

Enjoy your summers!!

July 4th!

2011-07-02T16:34:00.000-06:00

I've got to tell you that this is my F.A.V.O.R.I.T.E. Holiday ever!! I like it better than Christmas, than my birthday (I don't know if you can count that as a holiday), than Thanksgiving, and even better than Halloween! I love that it is in the summer. I love that the sun is usually shining and that everybody is happy. I love that you can all get together without worrying about presents or stressing about if the weather will be good enough that everyone can make it. I love that it's a time to remember those that sacraficed that we could live in this free, wonderful country! I love the fireworks and bbq's, I love running into old friends at the parks. For me this is one of the times that I would say "BEST DAY EVER!". I just love it.

Anywho, I just wanted to get that out there! I hope that everyone have a fabulous Fourth!!

Service to Others

2011-06-15T15:52:00.000-06:00

The last couple of weeks have been really crazy in our neck of the woods. We've had 3 people die this past week and our ward has been done 2 of the funerals. We had a salad social with about 30 sisters and tomorrow I am baking 12 dozen cookies for Father's day! But as I came home from doing the luncheon for the funeral we had today, I couldn't help but feel like we've lifted the burden off of the family's shoulders and it makes me feel like I accomplished something great! No, I didn't do it alone and have so many to Thank!! We have wonderful people in our ward that are always so wonderful to donate food and help in the kitchen. We had people even offer to help in the kitchen that hadn't been asked to do so.

As I reflected on what has been done in our ward, I couldn't help but think that this is how our Heavenly Father wants us to be, serving others! It helps us to get outside of ourselves and also helps us to make new friends and visit with old friends as we work together.

Yes, it's been a bit hectic, but so well worth every minute!!!

Hardest Day on Diet (so far)!

2011-06-10T15:04:00.001-06:00

Now that I'm on my Liver Detox Diet along with a diet to cleanse the Candida out of my system I am feeling like I have more energy. I'm kind of shocked. However, I must say that yesterday was my hardest day so far! I was craving sugar so badly. I hope that now I'm over that bump in the road that I can continue without anymore harsh cravings. I was really good and didn't eat any sugar or anything with sugar in it, but I tell you I could have eaten a whole bag of tootsie rolls. But the thing that kept me from doing it was that I knew that I would only be hurting myself. I put some lime juice in water and drank that and it seemed to get me through. I am looking forward to being healthier and it seems to be happening. There will be more info to come.....

Iridology

2011-06-04T09:33:00.000-06:00

I went to an iridologist on Wednesday morning. I must say it was a very interesting meeting. This woman looked into my eyes with a magnifying glass and a bright light. She told me many things about my health. I had decided not to tell her any of my medical history to see what she would say. She mentioned each of the problems I hadn't told her about. I was amazed.

So this week I am starting on a new road. I am taking control of my health and will be making changes in the way I eat as well as things I do. We talked about how I needed to dry brush my skin to get my lymphatic system working again. She told me so many things that make sense when it comes to being healthier. We talked about breathing the right way. We talked about water intake and foods that are healthy and those that aren't.

I thought she would want to sell me vitamins and herbs, and that she'd want me back in a month. However, she didn't do any of that. She told me what herbs and minerals will help me and that I needed to find what brands would make me feel the best. She said that the people at the health food store would be able to help me do this. She also suggested that I do a liver detox diet and repeat it 3 times. That means I will be eating a very strigent diet for 6 months as it is an 8 week cycle. Then I am to drop to a maintenance type diet with minerals and herbs for another 5 months. Then after that if I need so see her, she said, "come back". She was so knowledgable about how the body works and what would help. To her, none of it was about the money or selling me something. I felt like she truly cared about me and what would help me become healthier.

I know some people don't believe in these types of things. I however believe that there are many natural ways to make our bodies feel better. I want to try and get my life more balanced, physically, mentally and spiritually. I believe that this is a step in that direction.

I am excited and scared all at the same time. I hope this works and will let you know as time goes on...

Gray or no Gray, That is the Question!

2011-05-31T18:42:00.000-06:00

So my younger sister came into town last Saturday and we've spent some time together! This sister has decided to let her hair grow out and no longer color it. She looks so cute with it natural. I on the other hand have been coloring my hair every 2 weeks for the past who knows how long and now I am questioning if I should let mine go and just get it over with and go aunatural.

A little history. My paternal grandmother colored her hair until she died. I didn't even know she had gray hair until I was sixteen and saw her hair once when it had grown out. It was a very rare event as she always kept it colored and in very nice condition. She always dyed her hair a dark brown. More recent, my own mother has colored her hair since I was very young. She is almost 70 and is still blonde. So I really come by coloring honestly.

My husband gets tired of me coloring and has asked me on various occasions to just let it go. I've just always felt that being as young as I am that gray hair would make me seem older and I didn't want to seem older than I am or than I felt.

So today I made the leap. I went to my hair stylist and she is helping me transition. We colored my hair back to my natural color and she did a lighter color weaving through my hair. She will continue to do the light weaving until my gray and the weaving blend and then I'll just let it finish growing out. I told her that there might be times that I panic and call her, but she laughed and said she will talk me out of coloring it so that I can go to my natural color. I'm excited and a little scared. Yet I feel it will be a bit more freeing not having to pretend that I'm something I'm not. However if things get out of hand and I can't handle it I will let you all know!!

So how do you feel about hair color??

Spring Colds

2011-05-25T11:46:00.000-06:00

I woke up yesterday with almost no voice and a stuffy head. I was hoping that this year I would get by without catching what everyone else in my family seems to have had. But no such luck! So today I am relaxing, and doing what I love when I'm ill. I'm watching Pride and Prejudice and drinking warm citrus drinks to soothe my throat. My husband would roll his eyes if he knew I was watching Pride and Prejudice as he seems to think I watch it way too often. I think I watch it about once every six or eight weeks. It is one of my favorite movies. I don't know if it's the manners they seem to show or just the lovely story of a unique family that I love so much.

I hope this will pass quickly as I have alot of projects that I want to begin now that the weather is cooperating. We will be putting in a new sprinkler system on Saturday and I want to get my garden in soon. I'm also going to re-paint my bedroom (I'll post pictures) soon. When we moved in a little under 2 years ago, I painted one of the walls in my bedroom red and put black and gold on top with glaze. It looks very vintage french, or perhaps old italian. Which would have been fine in a kitchen, but I don't know what I was thinking of putting it in a bedroom. So I am planning on more soothing colors. I also have alot of sewing to do. Thus I feel that there is a lot to get done and so I need to be feeling better quickly, but for now I'm going to enjoy the day and watching my favorite movie!

What is your favorite thing to do when you're not feeling well?

Girlfriends

2011-05-21T15:52:00.000-06:00

This has been a busy week. And I've enjoyed it. One thing I found out this week was how grateful I am for good friends (good girl friends!).

A few years ago, I had a friendship that went south. I can't blame the other person totally as I know it takes 2 to make a relationship work. But since that time, I've been very cautious as to who I talk to about my personal life and what I'm going through. I guess you could say I've become a more private person, but I've also not been the happy person that I used to be. I used to be totally outgoing and was friends with everyone. I've been very scared to do that again, because my heart was so hurt last time.

Well, this past week I had some disappointments in my life. They weren't earth shaking or devestating, but they were disappointments none the less and I was pretty stressed out about them. I went to bed on Tuesday night with a headache, (I never have headaches). When I woke up on Wednesday, I could barely open my eyes my headache was so bad. I hated it. I didn't want to move. Well, I finally pulled myself out of bed and got going for the day, but the pain persisted. Late in the afternoon, I received a phonecall from a recent friend. She told me that I had been on her mind and she wanted to check on me to make sure I was ok. What a blessing. I broke down and told her what had been going on this week. She was there for me. She knew what I needed to hear and let me vent. She didn't judge, she didn't think I was totally off the wall, she loved me for who I am. It helped to have someone to talk things over with and to feel safe in doing so. I've missed having a friend to talk to and I really have needed a good girlfriend in my life.

I hope that I can be a friend like this friend has been to me. She was a great example of a Christ-like friend showing Christ-like love. My life has been blessed because of her.

Next day, things were back to normal and I was back at life. Thanks to the stress relief of her friendship!! I am blessed!!

Last Minute Details

2011-05-14T20:40:00.000-06:00

Today began as a normal Saturday, doing odds and ends and running errands. Then my youngest daughter who had been asked to the last dance of the school year decided that she didn't have shoes that would match her dress.

Original shoes

My husband and I had errands in Ogden all day and so I just didn't know how we were going to find new shoes in time. Then I had an idea - why not refurbish her old shoes that were comfortable and wouldn't give her blisters. So while I was in Ogden, I went to Hobby Lobby and picked up some ribbon and this is what I did:

I took her original shoes and cut the bow off of the front. Then I took the ribbon and gathered 4 sections. I needed 2 for each shoe.

Then I hot glued these onto the shoes. I folded the gathered pieces to find the center and then I began in the middle and glued each piece moving to the outside. I did the top piece first and then added the second piece underneath it. That way I was able to see how much ribbon would show beneath the top one.

Then I added a bow that was made of black ribbon with pink polkadots to finish off the look.

They turned out to be just right for this dance and especially for a last minute fix!

Hannah and her date JJ!

She looked beautiful in her dress and the shoes matched perfectly!!

Sisters

2011-05-13T12:51:00.000-06:00

This last week has been a little hecktic. I've been playing catch up because we went to Page, AZ over the weekend and didn't come home until Monday night. So I missed a day this week, and that means adding to the other days to make up for it.

So the reason we went to Page was to see my sister and her family. She moved a little over 2 years ago to Page and boy can I tell you I sure miss her. It was wonderful to see her and the family. Her second oldest son just got home from an LDS mission in California and so we went to listen to him speak in their church. He did a wonderful job and was a great success.

We had a fun time talking and catching up and I can't wait for her to come up and visit us here in Utah. She is the kind of sister that has always been there for me. If I had a problem, she would listen and then she would help me by not fixing everything. She would let me figure it out - although if I needed she would help fix it. She's just that kind of sister. She is a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day!! She is always positive and happy, so it really makes me feel bad when she is saddened by anything.

On Sunday after our great visit, her oldest son and his fiance had to leave. I kinda took this for granted, because I see them all the time. They come and play games and have dinner at our house and we are able to be with them. So when they went to leave, it broke my heart to see her hang on him and cry because she wouldn't be seeing him for awhile. I got tears in my eyes and I wanted to fix this for her ( because that's the kind of sister I am. I try and fix everything), but knew I couldn't (but I so wanted to). He is getting married in a little over a month and so she will be coming up to help plan everything out in a couple of weeks and I can't wait. Maybe it will help lessen the heartache a little for her to see him again.

We had a wonderful weekend and I miss my sister. I was blessed with 2 beautiful sisters who are wonderful women that I am grateful to have them in my life. I can count on them for anything. They are better than best friends, because they are always there, no matter what! I am grateful and truly blessed!! And I have to say SISTERS ARE THE GREATEST EVER!!!!

Temple Blessings

2011-05-05T09:07:00.000-06:00

This morning I was up early. I got my exercise in, my scripture study, my breakfast and felt I was doing good. Then I went to my facebook account and my day got even better. I read an incredible blog post by a woman that made my day. You can read it here.

This past week was a struggle for me. I am the RS President in our ward and one of my counselor's had asked to be released. So on Tuesday I headed to the Temple to receive the inspiration I needed to know who my next counselor should be. (Being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I believe Heavenly Father will lead and guide us if we strive for His spirit to be with us.) So by going to the Temple I was seeking this guidance. I had asked the sister that serves as my secretary if she wanted to go with me as we often have gone to the Temple together with our husbands. So on the way over, she also asked to be released. What a shock! And yet as we talked, I knew that this was the right thing for her and her family. I'm so grateful for the Spirit that leads and guides us.

As I sat in the Celestial room at the Temple I was so blessed to feel the Spirit of our Heavenly Father there. I knew of His love for me and that He was aware of the struggles I was going through. I felt a calm assurance that everything would be okay and that it would go according to His will. That peace and calm that I felt was such a blessing to me. I was grateful that I had the Temple to go to as a place of refuge from the worldly cares that I had been bogged down by. I felt renewed and like I could face the world again. It's wonderful to have these Temple blessings.

Blessings

2011-05-02T21:00:00.000-06:00

So the last week has been a little crazy. I've been taking classes required by the state and nationally to get my Mortgage Originator's license. It's been a little overwhelming, but still it's been fun. I am trying to get my license so that I can work for a neighbor. I will be doing his loan processing and I think it will be a very good fit for me. I will be able to set my own hours (as long as I get the work done) and still be able to do my church calling and be a mom and grandma. This is what I've been looking for. I feel very blessed that my Heavenly Father is watching out for me. He seems to know when I need His watchful care. He opens doors and pours out his blessings.

I've also been blessed to go and spend time with my daughter and grand-daughter. It's been fun watching her grow. And my how she is growing. It seems like I see her and within just a couple of days she is changing. Today she was cooing at me and smiling. I love being a grandma. I never thought I'd like it this much but it's a blast. I can't wait to take her and do things with her it will be such fun and it's something I'm really looking forward to.

So for now, this is my life and I'm really enjoying it! I am blessed!

Beautiful Posts of Others

2011-04-15T13:21:00.000-06:00

I don't usually post the day after my last one, but today I read one of the most beautiful posts. It made me really think about my health and the way I treat my body. I thought it might help someone else like it helped me so you can read about it here. This post really gave clarity to why we need to remember who we are and why we have a body. It makes me want to take care of myself to be all that my Heavenly Father would have me be. A BIG Thank You to Julie who was the author of this post.

Committment

2011-04-14T10:20:00.004-06:00

Ok, it's time to get down to some serious committment. Spring is just around the corner where I live, hopefully where you live too. Last night we had a little snow and it will hopefully be the last until next year. So it's now time to get serious about getting my life in a much more healthy place. Not only mentally and spiritually, but also physically.

This being physically fit is one thing I really have a hard time with. I don't know why, I used to walk 4 miles a day with a friend and was always happy after we got home. I think it's because I had time to talk with another woman and also just getting out in the open air. However, since I got ill with celiac disease 3 years ago (oh wait, it's been 4) I haven't been as motivated. It's not that the celiac effects me in anyway that would make it hard for me to do physical activities, I just lost my motivation and I need to find it again. Sad thing is it's not like lost keys or change in the couch. It takes a lot more committment to find it.

So heres what I've decided. You know that old adage "early to bed, early to rise", guess we're going to give that a try. In the past people would have called me a morning person but now that I don't have to get children up and out of the house it's easier to just lay in bed longer. This definitely needs to change. Don't you love the mornings, especially now when you can hear the meadow larks singing through the windows.

A certain change that definitely needs to be made and that the sugar industry would try to stop is my SUGAR addiction. I know addiction is a hard word, but I really think I've become addicted. I have cravings morning, noon and night!! And after the goodies are consumed I don't generally feel as well. So even though I know this will be a really hard change and that there are going to be days of headaches and tiredness to begin with, I have great hopes of feel better in the long run. Not so sure about artificial sweetners as there are so many conflicting reports regarding them. But for now the change will be with sugar!

As for the physical activity. I'm having a hard time still finding motivation. When we moved there was no longer anyone to walk with. And I'm not sure if it's my age or that I'm a little more reserved than I used to be, but it's been hard to find anyone to walk with here. So even though it will be hard, I need to put on my sneakers and walk even if it's alone. This may be okay as I think about it, there might be time for some self contemplation and time to talk with my Heavenly Father. This really could be a good thing, I think I'm feel some motivation coming on. This could also help with the mental and spiritual health as well. I really think I'm feeling something here.....

I think I will begin with a walk this afternoon. I think I found some motivation, now if I can just stay committed!

This is the beginning of a new journey and as it goes, I will let you know how things are and what happens .....

Boring!!

2011-04-05T15:21:00.000-06:00

I've decided that I have the most boring life!! My life used to be full of chasing kids, working, painting, reading, doing housework, school, friends, etc. Now I do housework and sometimes read. I love to read blogs and do that most days, but as far as a good book it's only now and then.

I've come to the conclusion that stay-at-home moms should be that while their children are small. Now that mine are grown and gone, there's really no reason to be at home. It's crazy. I used to work all the time and I missed so much of my kids and what they were doing, and now that they're gone and grown I'm home and no one needs me. I think I really got it backwards!!

I think I need to find a life. The trouble is I just don't know what I want to do. For so long my life was defined by my work and my family. When we moved, I quit my job because of the commute and my kids got married and moved away - now no definition!! It's a hard adjustment.

So if you had the chance to do something - anything - what would you be or what would you do?

Bursting of Bubbles - Celiac Disease

2011-03-25T12:30:00.000-06:00

So in a previous post (here) I told about the possibility of getting a transfusion from my father because he had healed himself of Celiac Disease. Well the bubble was burst yesterday when we got a letter from the University of Utah. It stated that although they were okay with the procedure and that Dr. Zone (that's who my dad has been under study with) was also for the procedure. The Director of the Transfusion Department was not. He stated that they couldn't say for sure that I would be helped by this procedure as they don't really know how my father's disease was put into remission. He stated that he was concerned that some adverse event might occur. He was particularly concerned about the possibility of transfusion related and acute lung injury, which is a cause of death related to transfusions. He was very concerned that he could think of no reason why this treatment might be beneficial and that indeed there is a risk associated with it. He said "There are a lot of risks with this. Transfusion Associated graft-versus-host, alloimmunization to RBC and HLA antibodies, transfusion transmitted disease, etc. And he saw no justification for this, no upside, and many potential downsides.

So for now I will have to continue to live with the state of my disease. I will remain on a gluten-free diet in hopes that someday we may have a way to cure this disease.

Thanks to all for your thoughts and prayers!

Happy Spring

2011-03-23T18:06:00.000-06:00

We've had a happy Spring at our house! No it has nothing to do with the weather. Although days like today full of sunshine and warmer air are nice and I won't complain if we get more of them. But the happiness at our house has to do with the gift our daughter and her husband have given our family. We were given the sweetest gift and that is a grandchild.

She is adorable, but then I am biased. She has a sweet disposition and is about as cute as they get.

I've been asked if I feel different as a grandma. I must say that I really don't. I've been able to spend time with her and have loved every minute. But until I hear her utter the word "Grandma" I don't think it will feel different. I feel kind of like a big helper right now. I'm able to help my daughter and do what needs to be done, but I guess it hasn't sunk in yet or something. Anyway, this has been a wonderful Spring, snow or no snow. We have joy in our hearts and gratitude to a loving Heavenly Father for blessing our family in such a wonderful way!

Growing Old Gracefully?

2011-03-17T10:30:00.000-06:00

Okay, I have a confession to make. I have this thing about hair. Since the day I got married, I can't seem to find a hair style that I want to stay with. I will have it cut in one style and then about 3 months later I have to change it again. The only time that this schedule differs is perhaps when I cut it too short and have to grow it out so that I can cut it again in a different cute style. I drive my husband nuts! Anywho, now that I'm getting close to the big 50, not only am I changing the cut, but I'm changing the color quite a bit. I get so bored with just the same old thing. And, I've found these 2 new friends Clairol and Revlon. They are great. They make my life easier and funner. If I do by chance find a color of their's that I like, the next time I go to the store, I can't seem to find it again. Thus the cycle continues.

On Saturday, I was coloring my hair, because my hubby was in Salt Lake and I had plenty of me time. I got all of the color in and had waited the appropriate amount of time - well, I went over by 30 minutes because I was on facebook. But I figured that it would be well dyed by now. So I hopped in the shower and got ready for the day. Next thing I know after drying my newly dyed hair - I have skunk hair! The front 1/3 was one color and the rest was a totally different color. It wasn't a pretty sight. I wasn't really happy with Revlon at this point, so luckily I had Clairol. I again put the color on, doing the back 2/3 and leaving it on for 10 minutes and then added the rest to the front and waited another 20 minutes. It turned out good. I finally didn't have skunk hair.

I also have another new friend - her name is Jamie. She's a wiz at doing my hair. So yesterday she added blond and caramel highlights to my already twice dyed hair. (I wondered if I would feel like the little girl in the old Tony's Perm adds, where she's sitting on a tree stump crying with her hair in a friz ball), but no I'm finally feeling normal. I will however need to do a couple of hot oil treatments to get the dryness under control from Saturday's fiasco. Jamie also did a cute Spring hair cut and I'm ready to go for another few weeks before the need to change hits again! Oh, if only I could grow old gracefully - but no, I guess I'll be fighting it all the way! It's an adventure!

Waiting, Patiently Waiting!

2011-03-15T13:28:00.000-06:00

I think the title says it all. We are patiently waiting. It's long and hard, but nothing like what Maddi will be doing soon. However, I must say that I think the wait is harder for the grandma than even for the mom. At least she is able to enjoy feeling that little one still wiggle inside and know that all is well. While the rest of us are on pins and needles waiting. Don't get me wrong. I know that in your 9th month you are very ready to have that child. But as a grandparent you can't wait to see that sweet little child and know that someone else is responsible for it. Not that you wouldn't do everything you could for it, but this time it's different. You get to love and spoil it and just find the joy in it that you were too busy to see when you were raising your own. And now you get to see how your daughter does as a mom! I'm sure I will be proud. Maddi will be a great mom!

I never thought about how it affected others, this child birth thing. Now I know. Isn't it funny how we get a new perspective at different stages in our lives. Again, I must say I have gained a greater appreciation for both my mom and my mother-in-law. They were always fantastic when I had my babies. And I hope I can be as good a grandma as they were and have been. They were always willing to help out in times of need.

I hope this anticipation ends soon and that we get to meet this sweet little girl quickly. I think this is harder than waiting for Christmas morning when you're a kid! I'm so excited! It will be so fun to watch her grow and learn and become the wonderful person she is destined to be! This is going to be wonderful!

Procrastination

2011-03-07T16:25:00.001-07:00

I'm so glad last week is over. I had to teach the RS lesson and I have to admit that I did procrastinate. The lesson subject was one that I have a hard time with and so I guess I thought that if I put it off long enough that it might go away. Not so. In fact, I've learned a very valuable lesson. It just made it harder. I should have faced up to it and had it done early. That way, I could have had more time to study and perhaps improved myself more.

My lesson was on gaining strength by following the promptings of the Holy Spirit. As I stated in my lesson, I have a hard time sometimes when it's a still, small voice. I really need it to slap me or shake me and yell directly in my face to get me to listen. But I am trying to be better. I feel like I especially need it in my calling as the RS President. The 3 points I tried to make were from Elder Bednar's conference talk in 2010. Elder Bednar said that to have the Holy Spirit we must, 1) Sincerely Desire to have the spirit's companionship. This isn't hard for me. I desire it often. Then 2) we must Appropriately Invite the Spirit to be with us. I think this is where I sometimes fail. I forget to invite him to be with me as I get so distracted in my daily routine. I must remember to invite him with prayer. And lastly 3) we must obey the commandments. I think I do okay in this department, but there is always room for improvement in my life.

I'm glad my lesson is over, but I need to now start preparing for my next lesson. Although I do have a few months and that's good. I just have to remember not to wait too long!!!

On a not related note, we got word from the UofU that I now have to be approved for the transfusion of my father's blood by a new department. Who knows when that will happen, but I still have hope and it's only been six months that we've been working to get this done. But if it works for me (that my Celiac can be healed) it will open many doors for others. So I can't complain the wait will be well worth it if we can get it approved!

Prom

2011-02-22T20:06:00.000-07:00

So today was the day we needed to find a dress for Prom. Hannah was asked last Friday. Her Prom is on March 12. We went yesterday to a shop in Logan and it was a very nice shop, but very expensive. I wanted her to have something nice, without going bankrupt. Well, today we went to a different shop. These are the two dresses she liked (sorry the pictures aren't very good. They were taken from my phone). We decided on the blue one as it was $100 dollars less than the red one and we also found out that someone from her school had already bought the red one.

I think she looks great in both dresses, but with someone else already having bought the red one it made it easier to get the blue one. She is so excited to go and I think she will have alot of fun with the group she is going with. I'll write more when the big event happens.

Service

2011-02-20T14:52:00.001-07:00

That was the Lesson today in RS. Our teacher was so inspired and I so needed to hear what she had to say. She talked about 4 things that we need when serving others.

First, we need the desire to serve others. Without that desire, what is the purpose?
Second, we need to have love. We need to serve others with a Christ-like attitude and try to see them as our Heavenly Father sees them. We need to have Love. If you serve with love it is much more meaningful for both the server and the receiver. (But I think it really blesses the server).
Third, We need to heed the promptings of the Holy Spirit. This will lead and guide us to who it is that is in need of our special talents.
Fourth, DOn't waIT. (Do It). Don't fail to follow through on those promptings. First, what can it hurt if it wasn't really a prompting? And second, if it was, you will learn to become more discerning in listening to the Spirit.

I loved this lesson and hope I can become better at serving those around me. I need to learn to listen more closely as those promptings come and then not be afraid to act upon them.

I was so blessed to be there to hear this timely lesson that I needed.

Happenings - Celiac Disease

2011-02-15T10:35:00.000-07:00

As many of you know I have Celiac disease. I was diagnosed 3 years ago this month. It has been a definite trial, though not a devastating one. When I first was diagnosed, it seemed that there was nothing I could eat. Everything I loved, I could no longer eat. That was until I really started looking at what I could eat and that's where the change took place. I started to look at the other side of the coin and concentrate on the things that I could eat. And there are many.

When I was sixteen, my father was diagnosed with Celiac disease. At that time, there weren't many foods on the market that were gluten-free. My poor mom had to try and create her own. She did a wonderful job and really took good care of us. My dad started a different eating regimen and he began to heal. He was under a study at the UofU and has been since that time. About six months ago, his doctor contacted him and asked if they could have a unit of blood. He consented and they took his blood to study. It seems that he is one of a handful of people that have healed themselves of the Celiac disease. They have made several breakthroughs with his blood and hopefully it will bless the lives of many.

My dear parents in their concern for me talked with their doctor at the UofU to see if there was a way that I could benefit from my father's healing. They talked about me having a blood transfusion of my father's blood to see if the antibodies in his blood would heal my Celiac disease. It has been several months and meetings for this doctor, but he has gotten approval for this to happen.

We had to make sure that I had the same blood type as my father and it had to go before the ethics committee at the University Research Department. They have approved it and now I am just waiting for the phone call to come down. They will have to take my blood and my father's blood and cross-type and match it and if all goes well, I can have the transfusion then and there. We are hoping and praying that this happens soon. I know it's a long shot, but if this can happen it would be such a miracle in my life. I will let you know what happens when this happens. Keep your fingers crossed and say a prayer that this works.

Realizations!

2011-02-02T19:26:00.002-07:00

So I had a job interview this week. I had applied for a job that was posted as a part-time position. It would be working with the state. I was so excited and went to the interview looking very professional in a suit. The interview went very well, and then something happened! On my way home from the interview I found myself praying that they wouldn't call me back. I know, I know. Stupid thing to want, but as I drove home I contemplated what was revealed in the interview. It really wasn't a 20-hour a week job. During the interview I was told that it would be 20 hours minimum, but more like 30 to 40 hours a week.

As I continued to think about all that the job entailed, I realized I really have enjoyed having me time. I like being able to go with my friends when we want to go shopping, I like being able to go with my kids to lunch, I will love being able to go and hold my granddaughter (coming in March) when she comes, I love being able to do what I want to do when I want to do it.

It is crazy. For so long (most of my life) I was taught, maybe taught isn't the word. Maybe, instead of taught I should say, it was implied that a woman wasn't a succes unless she was a mom and a career woman and could be organized and do it all. Well, I'm here to tell you I've finally realized that this isn't so!! I can be a success as a wife and mother without the career! Don't get me wrong, I love to work and I've loved some of the jobs I've worked over the years, but truly, I don't need to work to be successful. I have 4 beautiful children and I think they've grown up to be pretty wonderful people. I have a super husband that is willing to support me in anything I want to do. I love being able to do things around my house that makes it a nice place to live for our family. I feel pretty special and pretty successful thus far.

I think I will want to continue to grow in my life with my education and I may possibly want to work at something sometime, but that is no longer the driving force in my life to feel successful. Isn't it sad that it's taken me so many years to finally figure this out. But I'm glad I finally have. I want to continue to be a positive force in the community, and I can do that without having to have a career. Maybe at sometime I'll want to work, BUT I DON'T FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO DO THIS TO BE A SUCCESS. What an Ah-ha moment!! I can enjoy and I will enjoy life so much more knowing that I can be successful without having to do it all! I can't tell you the peace I feel now that I've come to terms with this. It's one of those little (although to me it's BIG) tender mercies of our Heavenly Father. To help me come to terms with what I'm doing in my life! I love these moments of realization and am truly grateful!!

27 Years Ago!

2011-01-26T09:25:00.000-07:00

My name changed and a new story began 27 years ago today. I remember my husband (my fiance at the time) and his parents picking me up at my home early in the morning. They were driving us to the Logan Temple. We were meeting my parents there where we would be married.

It had been foggy for 3 weeks

and there was a beautiful frost that covered everything. Though at that time of the morning I hadn't seen that. I didn't take my veil or my bouquet, because there had been fog and I didn't think we would be taking any pictures, so why haul it all the way to Logan, just to haul it all back to Ogden - right?.

Well, we arrived at the Temple and it was a beautiful sight. There was snow and the lights were shining off of it all. Truly gorgeous! I was the only bride that day and was treated like a Queen.

As we came out of the Temple there was Sunshine everywhere! Not a speck of fog! So a friend took some snapshots of me and our family. I was all dressed in white with gray shoes peeking out. No flowers or wedding veil. But it was a beautiful day!

That was the beginning of our story - unexpected, surprising, and beautiful! It has continued and we have had so much happen in our years together. I look forward to many more beautiful events and many more surprises! I love my Sam and am grateful that we have become best friends! We have had to learn so much and at times it hasn't been easy, but we have truly been blessed and have worked together to make this story happen! I think it will be a fun read someday for our posterity! Thanks Sam for the beautiful life we have!

Giving Your All

2011-01-18T19:50:00.000-07:00

So on my last post, I mentioned the disappointment that I had found in the negativity at my workplace. I've decided that I need to give it my all and try my best before I can say it isn't for me. I think this is important in any aspect of our lives. We need to give our all before we give up! That way we can really know if what we are doing is right for us. A bit redundant, sorry...

Anyway today was so much better. I am trying to have a really good attitude, to smile and to be kind to everyone there. (I've always tried to do this, but I'm trying even harder). I hope if they aren't having a good day, that I can make it better. This is my plan. I hope it works, because like I said before this has always been my Dream Job! Maybe part of the problem was this, that I had very high expectations. A job is always that, a j.o.b. But I can make it what I want or at least try and give it my best shot!

So for now, I will keep smiling and keep trying! I'll let you know in awhile how it's going!!

Busy Weeks

2011-01-16T21:19:00.002-07:00

This week is becoming more and more busy as I sit and write down all that I will be doing. However, I love weeks that are busy. I tend to do better on weeks where I have alot to accomplish. I tend to stay on track better. With this weather, I'm also able to focus more on my tasks than the weather and it helps me get through on all of the days with no sunshine.

I also must admit that I do like a day off now and again. That is what my day tomorrow will be. Hannah wants me to help her work on a dress that we got her, and I also want to sew on some baby items that I want to make for Maddi. It will be a fun, very relaxed type of day. Who knows, maybe we'll even throw in Pride and Prejudice to watch while we work. (That's one of my favorite things to do).

This week will Rock and I can't wait. I'll let you all know how it goes!

New Year, New Ideas!

2011-01-10T13:11:00.001-07:00

I was so excited to begin this new year with a new job and enthusiasm for starting all things new. Well, I've not gotten off to such a great start. I'm not sure where to begin.

First off, my new job. Love the work, and I must say that I'm not afraid of hard work. And at the shop there's plenty of that to go around. We've been cleaning and taking down Christmas and getting ready for the Spring. However, not a day goes by there that I'm not hit with negativity. My co-workers are so dissatisified that most of the time they complain and I'm finding it really hard to enjoy the surroundings of that. I will try and give it a little more time, but I'm afraid if it continues I will be pressed into looking for something more positive to do with my time.

As far as other things, I really want to begin an exercise and weight loss program. My problem is finding the right one. We are in such a remote area that the only gym in town costs a fortune and I can't bring myself to pay the hefty fees that they charge. I have started reading alot about nutrition and will be making dietary changes, however I know that to truly lose and maintain my wieght loss I will have to exercise. As soon as the weather changes I will be able to get out and walk and ride my bike, but for now I need to find something inside. I thought about swimming at the local pool, but after hearing all of the horror stories that Maddi told each day when she came home after being a lifeguard I find it hard to even put my little toe in one of those. Sam teases me about being a germapobe, and I must admit I must be because of this! I do have some old videos and maybe that will be the exercise of choice for now until I find something better, but at least it will be something.

I'm excited to continue in my calling as the RS President in our ward. We have wonderful, talented, and kind sisters in our ward. We have alot planned for our Relief Society meetings and I think this will be alot of fun this year. So that is a really positive note.

I want to continue to support Hannah in her soccer and sports this year. She only has one year left before she graduates and I want to make sure I have every opportunity to do this until she is no longer living at home.

I will also be a grandma this year! Wahoo!! I truly cannot wait for this event. I am so excited to see this sweet, beautiful little girl! She will be such a wonderful addition to our family. Maddi is so good with children that I know she will be a great mom, and Chris will be a good dad. He is so patient and loving with Maddi. It will be fun to watch their small little family grow. I can't wait to begin this new era in my life.

I want to continue to support all of our other children in all that they do this year. I'd like to get fit enough to join my sweet daughter-in-law Jamie on one of her 1/2 marathons. We'll see how that goes. But at least it's a goal. She has been such a great addition to our family. She is so good for Parker and he truly does love her. It is good for a mother's heart to see.

Logan has lot's of plans this year and I hope we see some of him this year. He plans on traveling and I'm not sure where all it will take him. But we will be here at home cheering him on in his goals, waiting to see where he lands.

Sam has been so supportive of us all. I couldn't ask for a more loving husband and look forward to spending time with him as well. I love our snuggle time and when we have a chance to talk about our thoughts, dreams, and hopes. I look forward to our weekly date night and am grateful Hannah is so good to not put up a fuss when we leave her so often alone. She is so great to help around the house so Sam and I have this time together.

Love my family and look forward to our New Year and all that we will be doing together!!

New Year 2011!!

2011-01-07T14:40:00.001-07:00

So our New Year began in California. We spent the week between Christmas and New Year's there. I don't know that I would recommend it again anytime soon, but we had a wonderful time. It was a good get away from the stress and snow. Though it was cooler there than I thought it would be, it beats 12 degrees anyday!

Here we were at Sea World. The Christmas tree looked a little out of place, but it was decorated with sea shells and such and was fun!

This was a cool fish that Hannah and I saw at the acquarium there. They had so many neat fish to look at. The one really looked delicate because of the flowy fins. It almost looked like a beautiful dress all filmy and flowy!

These guys were really loving the sun! We did okay when we were in the sun too, but when you got into the shade things really cooled down.
I always think of Nemo when I see sea turtles.

They are always so relaxed. I'd like to learn to take it easy like they do.

Our day at Disneyland. It was so crowded that they closed the park by 10 am. Luckily we made it on most of the rides we wanted. We had fun going down the Mattahorn. It is always one of my favorite rides. I remember as a girl that Disney would have climbers climbing on the outside of the ride. I thought it was so cool.

The line for this ride was only an hour long. We felt lucky for that. It gave us a lot of talk time with our kids.

We'd heard about this ride from a friend. It was in the California Adventure side of Disneyland. It was the Toy Story Midway. So fun. It's like a shooting arcade on wheels. We waited for 1.5 hours for this ride, but was really fun!

I liked looking for the smiles in this the Happiest place on earth. I'm a people watcher and there were a lot of smiles, but there were also some really grumpy people.

One really cool thing that I found out about Disneyland and California; there are alot of places to get gluten-free food. It was so great not having to worry about that while we were there.

We saw a few shows toward's the end of the second day there. It was fun and the crowd really seemed to get into it. It was funny seeing Mickey try to bust a move. It was all in good fun.

We rode the Monsters Inc. ride. I love Mike! He's my favorite monster of all time! So when I saw this poster, I let Sam take a picture, which is unusual. I don't like having my picture taken, but I couldn't resist this one!

Our last day there, New Year's Eve we spent walking on the piers and beaches. It was a cool day, but we totally enjoyed ourselves. There is nothing better than being with family.

I did miss being with our other children on that night and can't wait to spend more time with them. We're planning on a get together soon and I can't wait for that.

It was a fun trip, and I'm glad to be home. I didn't realize what a home body I've become, but that's not such a bad thing. I feel blessed to have such a great family and being able to be with them! I look forward to the New Year and all that come with it. We will have our first grandbaby and I plan on being a grandma in every sense of the word!

I hope our family continues to grow and prosper in this our New Year!

Sunday Lesson

2010-12-05T16:37:00.001-07:00

I had to teach the lesson today in RS meeting. I wanted to teach something on the Savior, but not about his birth. I wanted it to be something different. So I planned a lesson based around a program we had done in our last ward. It's called a 14-Day Walk With Christ. I had several ladies in our ward tell their favorite story of the Savior and why it was so special to them. Then I told my favorite story. It was an amazing day. After I told my story, I went over six points to come closer to Christ. They were taken from a talk given by George W. Pace and are:

First: To know the Lord is to know that he is literally the Son of God.
Second: To know the Lord is to know that we can pray through him and converse in prayer as one converses with another.
Third: To know the Lord is to know in a personal way that he suffered for us.
Fourth: To know the Lord is to know that we can become like him.
Fifth: To know the Lord is to know that through him all of life’s problems can be solved.
Sixth: To know the Lord is to know that he loves us as a loving father.

After I had gone over these points, one last sister told her favorite story of the birth of our Savior. She had a video and a song and it was beautiful. I felt very bless to have the help with this lesson. Everyone was so gracious about helping and more than willing.

One thing that was truly special was in the closing prayer, the sister thanked our Heavenly Father that our Savior gave us the chance to live. As I enjoyed the spirit of what was being said, I felt a burning that our Savior really has blessed us that one day we can truly live and be with Him again. My spirit was lifted and I have been blessed! It was a great Sunday lesson and I didn't have a thing to do with it!

December

2010-12-03T13:47:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it. Fall is gone and winter is here. December has already turned out to be crazy. I usually put Christmas decorations up the day after or at least by the weekend after Thanksgiving, but not this year! I wanted to do it today, but am finishing up studies for Psychology. I will be taking my final tomorrow. But my dear sweet husband said he would help me get things up tonight! He is so wonderful. I couldn't ask for a better husband. He's been so willing to help since I started school. And at this rate if I don't get it up tonight it won't go up until 2 weeks before Christmas. And at that point I know I'd say, only 2 weeks, what's the point? So it's tonight and I'm glad.

Once I finish school, I will begin my Dream Job. And I really do mean my Dream Job. I have always, since I was little wanted to be like my friend Blanch Gibby and work in or own my own floral shop. Well, on December 13th I will begin working at Bowcut Floral in Tremonton. I will be working for a sweet lady named Suzanne Pierson. She is so sweet and it will be fun getting to know her and the other girls and making some new friends.

So I guess here we go another new adventure..... I'll keep you posted on how it goes!

Gratitude

2010-11-24T14:02:00.000-07:00

There are so many things for which I have to be Thankful for. I'm grateful for my loving family. That they put up with me and my many failings as a mother. They know I'm still in the process of trying to become.

I'm grateful for the friends that I have made in the new area that we live in, and for the one's we left that still know we are friends and are willing to keep in touch and love us.

I really am grateful for the Relief Society Presidency that I have to work with. They are a bunch of wonderful women that have made my life so much easier through this process.

I'm grateful for the men in our family. That they are worthy Priesthood holders and that they take it seriously and keep the commandments of our Heavenly Father.

I'm grateful that we'll be getting a new baby granddaughter in a few months. I really can't wait for that one.
I'm grateful for a daughter that is so willing to be a mom and walk those paths even though they haven't been easy so far and will be harder at times.

I'm grateful that I've been able to attend school. It has been difficult, but I've felt myself grow with the experience.

I'm grateful to know that I have a Loving Heavenly Father that cares about me and all of my needs, wants and desires. That He is patient with me and so tender in His loving care. He heals my wounded heart and is always there for me. I know I am never alone and for this knowledge I am grateful!

I've been posting my Thanksgivings for the past month. I hope I can continue to county my many blessings and forever show my gratitude to my Father in Heaven!

Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving!!

Opportunities for Growth

2010-11-21T16:10:00.000-07:00

This weekend I had the opportunity to go with friends to the local Time Out For Women. It was a wonderful experience. I had never been to one before. We left early Friday and had a fun day shopping (Window) and being together talking and having a fun time. We tried chocolate at Gygi's in Salt Lake City and that was really good. I also liked shopping here. I'm a gadget girl and had a hard time being good and not spending until we were broke. There was so many different kinds of gadgets, but I digress!

On Friday night we went to the first part of the TOFW. We listened to Sister Virginia Hinkley Pierce speak. Wow! I was so impressed by this woman. She talked about how we measure our success by our church callings and how we tend to judge others on that also. I'd never really thought about it, but we do and it's so wrong. No calling is greater than another. I've really learned that this year! Having been called to RS President, I know I'm in this calling purely for my benefit. I was called for my own personal growth and it is what Heavenly Father knew I needed. I don't think of this as success, but as a time to experience things that others before me have had the opportunity to experience. I only hope I don't hurt anyone in the time that I am growing and learning. Then someone else will have the chance to grow and I'll help somewhere else. That 's what it's all about, not the calling.

Then we had the chance to hear Sister Heidi Swinton speak on her assignment by Pres. Monson to write his biography. Holy cow, I would've been so overwhelmed. I think she was a little, but she is so amazing! She took this to heart and now we have a wonderful book that lets us see who the prophet was before he was called.

It was such a fun night and then the next day we had a fun time listening to others teach us and strengthen our testimonies. I really needed this weekend! I needed the time to be with friends and to grow. I hope I can take the things I learned and share and help other's grow now.

Today I feel very blessed by having made new and wonderful friends in our new area!! I also feel blessed from having my testimony strengthened this weekend by wonderful women who are so talented and willing to share!

Safety in Driving

2010-11-18T18:22:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, I travel quite a ways to go to school twice a week. Well, today on my way home I passed a car that had wrecked. It had totally rolled and the whole thing was really smashed up. I quickly became grateful for the safety that I have in my travels each day. I felt bad for whomever had been in that car and said a quick prayer that they were okay. But it really made me reflect on how I am so blessed every time I have to go somewhere, and from where we live it's always quite a drive. So today I am grateful for the blessing I've had of being safe while driving!

Little Old Ladies

2010-11-17T17:50:00.000-07:00

Today I am doing more homework and so must do a quick post. I have totally had a wonderful day though. We held a RS Meeting at a local assisted living home today. Let me tell you, those ladies are so totally awesome. They sang and participated and had a wonderful time. Our musical number sang songs from years ago. The songs that these sweet little ladies all knew and loved singing along with. There was such a wonderful spirit there. I felt totally blessed to be a part of this sweet experience. I really appreciated all of those that took part and made it a great morning with these little women. Not even one of them fell asleep today! They are so cute. Last week we had one that snored all the way through our meeting. Guess we hit it right today! Thanks to all of those sweet little ladies that made my day!! I was totally blessed by them!

Quick Blessing

2010-11-15T16:40:00.000-07:00

Today I am soooo so Thankful to be done with my Research paper for my English class. It has really been a pain and a worry. So today I sat down and made up my mind to get it done so that I no longer have to worry about it. Needless to say - IT IS OVER!! I am so happy! Now all I have to do for my English class is attend for 2 weeks and then I'm done.

What a blessing. A great learning experience, but a blessing none the less!

Spiritual Blessings

2010-11-14T21:48:00.000-07:00

So I realized that most of, if not all of my latest posts have been about the temporal things in my life. Today while enjoying the warmth of good friends in RS I decided that I needed to also post about the Spiritual things that I am grateful for. I have been blessed and would be very ungrateful if I didn't.

I was contemplating the many things I have been blessed with, and decided that there are so many that I can't list them all. The most important thing I am so grateful for is the relationship I have with my Savior. I know he loves me and I have felt his arms around me during the most trying times of my life. His comforter has been a constant companion at times. Because of this, I truly know he really knows my heart and cares about me and my life. That he really did give his life so that we could return to our Heavenly Father someday. I love Him and hope I can always be worthy of this blessing. For this I am forever grateful!

Trees Beautiful Trees

2010-11-13T19:51:00.000-07:00

So last week we went out and got 25 trees for our yard. I thought there wasn't going to be enough room to put them. How wrong I was. I have a hard time remembering that our yard is as big as it is. Anyway, we have had them in the yard tied together so they wouldn't blow down until we could get them in the ground. I've also been afraid that they would freeze, since it gets a bit colder up here than down in South Weber where we came from. I really hadn't planned on planting them today, but a man from down the street came over with his backhoe and dug all of our holes for us and we got all but 7 in the ground this evening. It was a bit exhausting, but well worth the trouble. I'm so excited as to what they will be this summer and when they get bigger. Our yard will be beautiful.

So today I am grateful for the beauty of trees and that I'm able to have it so close at hand.

Blessings of the Day

2010-11-12T12:02:00.000-07:00

Today I am grateful for friends. I was able to sit and talk with one of my friends yesterday that I hadn't talked to in awhile. It was like we'd never stopped seeing each other everyday. I love it when you can be comfortable with someone and that they know you so well. She is a dear friend and has been there for me through tough times and through happy times. She is always cheering me on to find in my life what it is that makes me happy. She gives great advice and is like the wise owl that is always quiet, but there with great wisdom. This is one thing I am very grateful for!

I am also grateful for my family. I was able to see my Maddi today. She is starting to show with her pregnancy. Her tummy is so small and I wonder if it will ever seem like she is really pregnant. It was so fun talking to her. She told me she is now feeling the baby move and that it likes to kick her bladder. I guess that's payback for all of the times she kicked mine (JK). It is just fun to see your daughter grow up and experience things that you did too. I feel like we have an even stronger bond and can share things that we couldn't before, because she didn't understand and hadn't experienced them. I love my children. I love to see them grow and become so much more than I was able to be! Love them so much!!

Beautiful White

2010-11-10T13:04:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning to a beautiful white yard. Yep, snow! It was so beautiful and quiet. It gave me time to enjoy the beauty I have been surrounded with the past year or so. I still have to pinch myself everytime I think about where we live. It seems like a dream. Truly we have been blessed by where Heavenly Father has put us. We live in a great little neighborhood, in a wonderful ward, in a beautiful area! My heart is so full of gratitude for what I have been blessed with.

I missed writing yesterday because of school, so I am adding that to this post. Yesterday I went to talk to my math professor - fully intending to drop the class because I thought I was failing. Well, to my astonishment, he told me I am passing. It isn't with an A, but if I continue to do what I have been, I will pass. I feel blessed in that I know I couldn't have come this far without my Heavenly Father's help and blessings. I know when I say a prayer before I go to class or before a test, he will help me to remember the things that I have studied. Again, I have been so blessed. I am grateful for a Loving Father!!

Re~evaluation

2010-11-08T13:05:00.001-07:00

So this weekend I've had much time to reflect on my life and where it's going and what I really want to be doing. To start things off, I had a math test on Friday. I had studied like no other to do well on this test. It hasn't been confirmed, but I have a feeling that I really bombed this test. It was like one of those times when you know you know something, but all you can pull from your mind is a total blank. Anyway it was a bust!

Then on Saturday, we spend alot of time with our kids. I totally love that. And I realized that since school began, all of my sparetime (is there really such a thing) has been spent studying. I leave school and study on those nights and then all the next day. Then I go back to school and study again that night and the next day. I usually do take time on Saturdays and Sundays to be with family, but then I'm studying again on Monday. I ask myself, "why am I doing this and is it really getting me anywhere?" I've decided that this will be it for the schooling. I would much rather work a part-time job and be able to leave it when I'm done and spend my spare time with family rather than on studying. Family time is so much more important to me. I think had I done this when I was younger or before I had children and Sam it would have been different, but being the age I am my priorities have definitely changed. So, once again, I will be beating the streets and looking for something part-time to just make a few extra bucks for those times we want something fun and leave the schooling for the younger ones.

Life is a constant re-evaluation and change. I think this is something that I am very grateful for. It's nice that there are opportunities to think about what we are doing and change direction if it isn't what is best for us! I'm grateful to a loving Heavenly Father that allows us to have these opportunities.

Children

2010-11-07T21:42:00.000-07:00

I missed again yesterday, but I totally have a great excuse. We went with our children, of which I am very grateful for, to take family pictures. It was so much fun and our photographer was totally great. She really did a good job. I would recommend her to everyone. It was Julie Hess. She is great and get's booked pretty quick, so calendar with her early. She was able to catch the personality of our family totally. The boys had a good time goofing off and us girls had a good time watching. It was a super fun day. I always love spending time with our family!

Today I am grateful for the wonderful fall weather that we have been experiencing. I know there is a change coming and will be sad to see the warmth go. But, when the snow flys I'll be glad for that beauty also. We were able to go and get trees for our yard yesterday. Hopefully the weather will become a little warmer later this week and we'll get them planted. That will give me more things to be grateful for, a yard!! It's slowly coming together and will be beautiful.

I am grateful!!

Gratitude

2010-11-05T11:16:00.000-06:00

Shoot! I can't believe I missed a day to say what I am grateful for. I will make amends and say 2 things that I am grateful for today.

First and fore most, I'm grateful that my math test will be over in about 3 hours. I can't tell you how hard this school thing has been for me. I just don't seem to retain things like I did when I was younger.

Okay with that out of the way, I have to say that today I am grateful for Technology. On Wednesday evening we found out that we will be having a sweet baby girl coming to our family around the end of March! I am so excited to hold that sweet little thing. Babies are such miracles. My daughter Maddi will be a wonderful mom. She is so very good with kids. It will be interesting to see what she learned from me and what she decides she doesn't like that I did as a mom. So fun to watch!

I will really be better tomorrow and make sure that I keep my list going. Such a wonderful way to remember the things we are grateful for!