10 days to Christmas

So last night I was sitting down to read a bit in my book when my sweetheart asked if I was going to mail out Christmas cards this year. I am thinking in my head that I have plenty of time. Then he lets me know it is only 10 days away. I am like "WHAT?" Then it hit me. Christmas is only 10 days away. So last evening I prepared half of the Christmas cards. Wow! This year has gone by way too fast. I had to thank him for reminding me because I truly thought I had a lot more time to go.

Patchy Pants

I have a pair of pants that I use for gardening. They are old and soft and the denim is worn so that they are finally feeling comfortable. You know, where they are like an old friend. I LOVE MY PATCHY PANTS. I would wear them everywhere except that I would embarrass everyone I know. Well. The bottom on these patchy pants has worn out. Holes huge holes. So I took some fabric that I love from my fabric drawer and put patches on my bottom. Hence the name Patchy Pants. They are adorable. How many people can say that they have butterflies, Christmas angels, Christmas teddy bears, and more butterflies on their rear end.

Patchy Pants rule!

Family Talk Plan

So this last week has been filled with a family talk plan.

On Monday, December 6, 2010 Little Dude called and we talked and laughed for over 1 hour. It was fun and I hope he calls every week like we discussed. I have missed talking to him. He is doing very well and enjoying the job corp. Learning painting of roads and taking paint off etc.

Talked with Lil Sister and family and had the pleasant opportunity to talk to each of the children. I love that!

Talked with Mom and Dad on Saturday and enjoyed a fun conversation.

Talk talk talk. I might be all talked out but then again is that really possible for me. Um, I don't think so.

Heard from Little Dude

One of the great blessings for me this weekend is that I got to hear from Little Dude. He left a short message on my phone at work. I have not heard from him via phone or facebook since probably May or June 2010. I have not had the means to reach him so I turned him over to the Lord for protection and care. It was good to hear his voice and to know that the Lord is taking good care of my boy.

Feeling Almost Human Again

This last weekend was the physical inventory at work. It is all consuming for about a week before until a few days after. Both body, mind, and spirit. So I am just now starting to feel human again. Saturday was a blur of time. Leave house 5:45 a.m. and get back after 6:00 p.m. Sunday up and out and back at work by 8:00 a.m. and home again after 4:00 p.m. Quite the roller coaster. Body exhausted. Mind numb. Glad it is over for 2010. I will try not to think about the twice a year program for 2011. 2010 was hard enough to recover from.

Glad I have a job. It is such a blessing in these days and times. So mixed blessing this weekend for sure.

My Simple Pleasures List

finding shapes in clouds, kaleidescopes, music, dancing with abandon, ponytails, stuffed animals, coloring, watching tv or movies, collecting pennies for pennies are powerful, smiles, laughter, wearing pink lipstick, ice-cream cones, melty chocolate, talking with friends, snuggling with my MR.

SIMPLICITY is SWEET

The following article appeared in Monday's edition of the Leftist Journal here in Louisville, Ky. It really touched me because of the wisdom and sincerity of the article. The author(ess) Jessica McClain, is a junior at Eastern High School. Please take time to read it, it is very well written and holds a very valuable life lesson.

"The joy of a lawnmower"
Remember when we were little, and something as simple as a trip to the playground was the best thing in the world? A trip to the ice cream parlor made us shriek with joy, and seeing your parents after school was the highlight of your day? As we grow up, we lose sight of the joy in the simple things. Now going to the park while babysitting is a chore, the ice cream cone that would make us unbelievably happy as a child has too many calories, and seeing our parents is not exactly the highlight of our day. We lost sight of what is really important. Why can't we all learn a small lesson from who we used to be, the ones who were content with what we had, the ones who simply loved being alive?
This summer, my cousin came to visit from Minnesota. She has two sons, Jackson, a 2 year old, and Sullivan, who is 18 months. Jackson absolutely lights up my life. When he visited this summer, I took him down to the park. On the way there, we had to walk under a rather low-hanging tree. The leaves brushed his head and he immediately started laughing and shrieking with joy. I asked him why he was so happy and he said in his adorable little toddler voice: "I just love trees Jessica!" I started laughing, my brother started laughing, and I realized how the simple things should make you smile.
It was then that I started wondering about the joy that fills a toddler. Why can they be so pleased with the simple things, when older people are supposed to be so wise with the years? Honestly, I believe the opposite is true. Toddlers have such an insight that the rest of us lose with time. They don't live to please anyone, and they just live and roll with the punches. A scraped knee is the worst thing that could happen to them, and the trauma of that is brushed off with the next simple pleasure that enters their life. Why do we insist on dwelling on how someone stole our boyfriend, or heaven forbid someone says something about us behind our backs? It's my goal to find the joy that a toddler finds in everything I do.
I went to Florida with my family for Christmas last year. Of course, Jackson and Sullivan were there. The day that their family was going to the airport, it was my job to keep Jackson out of the way. We found one of the giant rolls of paper, and Jackson laid down on it and I outlined him. We drew his face, his clothes, and his hair on it, but I still needed to keep him distracted for a little while longer, so we decided to make a list of what he likes on the side of the paper. Besides the obvious things he told me he likes, like "baby Van", and mommy and daddy, he told me he loved lawnmowers. Jackson has a little bit of an obsession with lawnmowers. He was actually a lawnmower for Halloween last year.
Every time I am with this kid, I intentionally look for lawnmowers. I see it first, and immediately turn to Jackson. Slowly, he realizes what the roaring sound is, and his face lights up as he screams about how yes, there is a lawnmower! Now, when I see a lawnmower, I immediately think of Jackson, and how I wish I could get that excited over something so simple.
I really have been trying to get that mentality back. I think if people could keep that mentality through their lives, our tidbits of truly pathetic drama as teenagers would be laughable. If we were all like toddlers, a hug would fix any sadness, a kiss would mean all was forgiven, and simply laughing would make all the other things fade away. End.

GRATITUDE ABC's

apples, ants, acorns, babies, butterflies, bed, baths, cats, coziness, crocheting, crosstiching, butter, dandelions, dads, dirt, dragonflies, daizies, ears, eyes, eggs, flowers, fishing, camping, fluffy things, garden, gifts, atonement, girlfriends, husband, hands, home, ice-cream, insects, inchworms, jam, Jim, joking, kindness, kids, goats, kites, land, love, life, living, dentists, doctors, money, making things, medicine, magic, moms, family, friends, napes, noses, needles, ocean, oven, movies, books, baking, oddities, peace, pies, church, potatoes, pumpkins, quilts, quiet, quirks, reading, raking, riding, safety, solace, speach, trying new things, turkey, time, unicorns, universe, child, son, Tobi, uniforms, victory, voice, singing, violins, worms, waking, sleeping, work, xrays, xena, xylophones, zebras, zees, zoos, animals, dogs, etc.

Gratitude Helps Insomnia

If I wake in the middle of the night and cannot go back to sleep, I usually spend those dark hours with personal beratings. I won't go into details. Very depressing!!! So last night I woke up and started the routine of blah blah blah. It would be less painful to be on the rack or receive a whipping. Out of the blue my mind took a different turn. I decided to focus on a new blog post about GRATITUDE and all of the things I am thankful for. So I started with A and decided I needed to find at least 3 things for each letter of the alphabet. Let's just say this worked better than counting sheep. By the letter L I was out like a light. That being said, I will do my next post as an alphabet counting journal. Now you know the method behind the madness.........

NEVADA VACATION

In October we were able to go to Nevada and see Mom and Dad S. It is always fun to go and see them and make sure that they are doing well. We arrived on a Saturday stopped in to see the parents and then checked in at the hotel. We relaxed and got ready for the rest of the week. I love the television stations in the hotel room. They have one called classic tv and we get to see reruns of shows like "The Rockford Files" and other 70 and 80 greats. It is a lot of fun!

Sunday we went and picked up Mom and Dad. Got them checked in and spent the rest of the day talking and walking and lazing around.

Monday: Sam's Club run. All morning at Sam's club and toting things back to Mom and Dad's. They live on the second floor so then we get good excercise toting things upstairs and into the apartment. Afternoon was sports (World Series) and Football. I brought some books on CD so I listened to my books and crosstiched at the same time.

Tuesday: Walmart Run. Same as Monday just a different store. Afternoon is the same with football games, Book and crosstich for me.

Wednesday: Thunderstorm with lightening and rain!!! We were glad for these storms because the overcast skies followed us to NV. It lowered the temps from an expected 85 to 90 day to a cool and comfortable 65 to 70 a day. NICE!! It was fun to watch too. POURED rain a few times.
I woke with a migraine on this day so the stay inside was a blessing for me to recover.

Thursday: Went on some walks and to the "mall". They have a little outlet mall where we can pick up some things for our kitchens. We usually also peruse the dollar store. They have "Dad's" rootbeer and we count that as our treat for the day.

Friday: SAD DAY!!! We leave around 9 a.m. It is always bitter sweet to leave. We hit some rain on the Cajon pass and got home around 3 p.m. Mini Moo was very happy to see us. We had a dear friend check on her and the home while we were gone. We are so grateful for friends to look in on our Mini Moo so we don't have to stress or worry.

Saturday: Laundry, grocery shopping, etc. It is good to be HOME!!!

Sunday: Relaxed and rejuvenated soul and body. Stayed home from church with my sweetheart to recoup and get ready for the upcoming week.

LEG CRAMP-OUCH

This morning the muscles in my left leg are sore. Oh you must have worked out and did a good thing right? NO NO NO.

Last night I received not one but two extreme muscle cramp charley horses in my left leg. One right after the other. Today my leg is sore to even walk on. I keep trying to stretch out the calf muscles to give them some relief.

Age can bring wisdom which is wonderful but it can also bring all of these weird episodes like cramping and stuff. Woke me up out of a sound sleep. Weird but interesting.

So my left leg had a great work out. I will have to actually excercise my right leg to even it out. :-) Hee hee hee!

THE Way of the CROWS or An Attitude of GRATITUDE

Okay so besides feeling like I was in an Alfred Hitchcock movie yesterday, there was a great learning experience from watching some crows. First off, crows are not my favorite animal/bird. Have you ever noticed that they always portend evil and great doom. They are represented in every horror film or book as the thing used to communicate to the evil person the goings on of the intended victim (aka good person(s)). The witch in Snow White had a crow for a companion. The Lord of the Rings had a whole flock of them as look outs and birds of communication for Saruman. They have huge ugly beaks that can tear flesh. They are scavenger birds. Necessary but not a choice for pet of the year.

On the way to taking my sweetheart to work, we noticed a lot of crows flying inland. A few of them flew right in front of my car, like they wanted me to hit them and cause a dent or broken window. It was very foggy so maybe something was going on near the ocean. Birds tend to come inland when there is an unstable ocean. So maybe.....but I don't like giving them the benefit of the doubt. They are not nice.

On my way home from work, I stopped at a red light (always a good idea) and was watching several crows in a nearby field. At first I thought there must be something for them to scavenge such as a dead animal or something. They were all surrounding a certain bush. Then some of them would shoo away their fellow feasters and those crows would go to another bush. Then it was clear that they were gleaning seeds or nuts of somekind in the field. There were plenty of the bushes with the seeds and yet the ones eating at one bush would stop and look at the crows eating from a different bush and before you know it, they are all surrounding the same bush again. During this few moments, there were more crows flying into the field from afar. I totalled nine before the light changed to green. They would all be feasting and then out of the blue some of the crows would attack and shoo their fellows away. So the circle went.

The light changed to green around this time. So as I am toodling home I was pondering the crow experience. Heavenly Father has given us enough and to spare. He has also commanded us to not envy or covet. If we choose to not heed these wonderful words of council, we too may go the way of the crow. I have at times envied what someone else had and it never makes one feel good. Even if I save and save and obtain the same or similar object, not once has it made me "happy". Oft times, it ends up not working for me and ends up as a waste. So I hope I will avoid the way of the crow in the future. Sharing is good. There is enough for all and there is no reason to shoo someone away from a good seed because I think it is better than the one right in front of me. So I try really hard to be happy with what and who I am now, at this moment.

An Attitude of Gratitude will keep me away from the way of the crow.

Attitude Check Ride

Note: I found this in the Relief Society room while I was setting up on Sunday. I love it.....


Put a check next to the ones that apply to you.

I often count my blessings or I often think about the things I do not have
I am comfortable when I have enough money and possessions for necessities or I often wish for great wealth and many possessions
I am happy when I am busy or I often complain that I have too much to do
I treat everyone with respect or I feel I am better than others
I am willing to accept and follow through with responsibilities or I would rather have others take responsibility
I enjoy serving others or I am too busy to help others
I try to find the good in others or I often criticize and find fault
I try to develop my gifts and talents or I often feel sorry for myself
I have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ or I am not sure Jesus Christ is important to me personally
The gospel of Jesus Christ guides my life or I don't think the gospel of Jesus Christ has any effect on my life.

Good points to ask myself once in a while to stay or get back on track!

GOOD WORKS

So right now I am working on my good works value in the Young Women's Personal Progress Book. I am using my IAOMAI humanitarian project as my 10 hour project for this one.

I am very excited!

IAOMAI donations for Guatemala 2010

IAOMAI donations for GUATEMALA 2010

Coloring Books 32
Crayons
Boxes of 24-69 1,656
Boxes of 64-1 64
Boxes of 8-7 56
________________________________
Total Crayons 1,776

Colored Pencils 24
Puzzle 1
Glue Sticks 6
Child Scissors 3
Bibs 9
Burp Cloths 7
Draw String Bags 96
Blankets 2

Iaomai Medical Ministries

Our Relief Society was instructed the other day that we cannot officially use Iaomai Medical Ministries as an official humanitarian project. I understand the reasons and the Bishop agrees that I can use it as a personal good works project. Because they cannot be confirmed as legitimate (they don't have enough years of tax filings to do this), the church cannot accept them for a RS project. The Stake President says that other wards have been involved in projects only to find out a few years later that the organization was not on the up and up.

That is so sad to me that people use humanitarian projects to use and take advantage of good people. I personally know that Iaomai is good and I will continue to do what I can for them. I will just have to be patient a few more years and then they will have the report on the website that filters these organizations if they are good and bad. Then I can present it again to the Bishop and Stake President for official church approval.

I guess that is why the scriptures tell us to not be instructed in all things but to do many good things on our own.

Sun at last

It has been cloudy and overcast here for a few months now. I am glad that the sun is finally coming out the last couple of weeks. HOT, YES!!! Plants growing YES!!! They have needed to have the sun so that they can produce. I am hoping my tomatoe plants have survived and with again start to produce fruit that is edible. I know the beans are starting to produce better. We lost one of the plants on the hillside. We have a huge sweet pea plant that has died due to lack of sunshine.

So I think summer is here at last. I hope it hangs around for a while.

Good Deed

Mom and Dad S were at a restaurant and noticed a gentleman with a child. The man had on his Air Force uniform. Dad motioned the waitress over and offered to pay the man's meal ticket. The waitress brought the ticket over. It was for .89. Dad asked why it was so small. The waitress said that the man had just brought the child in for some french fries. Dad took that ticket and then told the waitress to go over to the man and tell him to order anything on the menu and it was covered. With tears in her eyes she explained that it was her boyfriend and her son sitting there. The man ordered a breakfast and thanked mom and dad. Dad just indicated that he doesn't feel like he does enough for the men and women in the military.

Thought I would share this. This is what quiet service is all about.

Special Moments

As I was on my way to work today, the Book of Mormon CD was on King Benjamin's address to the people. I am always touched by his sermon at the temple. I am grateful that he was such a great leader for the people. He talks about how the "natural man" is an enemy to God and that we need to give our lives over to the Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. Very touching address.

As I left the car and headed to my building, the hymn Dare to do right , Dare to be True came to my mind. In today's world where the lines are not black white or sometimes even gray anymore, we MUST DARE to do RIGHT. When I was a youth and we sang this song I always wondered why we would have to dare to do right. Now I know. Sometimes the hardest thing to do today in the world is the right thing. But do the right thing we must. The Lord with be there to help and guide us and protect us.

Follow the Prophet?

In Sunday School, we were talking about following the prophet. The discussion led to talk about how if we just follow him in faith are we blind followers.

I have also been reading the "Work and the Glory" series. I just got finished with the section on the Haun's Mill Masacre. It was enlightening to me that the Prophet Joseph forewarned those citizens to leave Haun's Mill and retreat to other places. Those people that stayed behind felt like they could defend themselves alright and didn't need to listen to the prophet. So many terrible and horrific things happened. How many lives lost, purity taken, etc. I know many miracles also happpened like with Alma Smith and etc. but how many lives were lost because they DID NOT HEED THE PROPHET!

Then to think of the prophets in the Book of Mormon and Bible and even Today. I have never received guidance that would be considered immoral. Uncomfortable and taking me out of my personal comfort zone. ABSOLUTELY!!! Does following their command help me grow? WITHOUT A DOUBT!

I would rather follow the prophet blindly and take the consequence than to not heed and to not follow and see the destruction that could happen. Anyone remember NOAH! I certainly cannot swim that well.

I do not feel like I follow blindly either. I PRAY and feel the warmth and assurance from the Holy Spirit that these are words to follow and I feel the blessings from obedience. I have much to work on in this area but I know I am trying my best every day. I feel the peace from this. That is worth it all on its own merit.

FABLEHAVEN SERIES-WOW

Last week I finished book 5 in the Fablehaven Series. I just need to thank Brandon Mull for this beautifully fantastic world that he created. If you want a good fun and youthful series, this is it! It is in the Youth Section of the library. There are a total of 5 books in the series and each one gets better and better. For adults these are pretty quick reads. 1) Youth book and 2) You cannot put them down!

I wish I could talk more about it but then the Golum might have to take me away and I could be attacked by an imp. Hopefully a unicorn would come to the rescue but you never know when the Sphynx might be up to some shinanigans and a dragon might carry me off to a dungeon with wraiths and narcoblixes. With my luck the fairies would think I am an enemy and I could go to the fairy queen shrine but I know I would be turned into dandelion fluff or worse, A CHICKEN! That might be the last knot in the rope........Sometimes it would just be helpful to be fairy kind wouldn't it?

Have Fun!!!!

13 YEARS and GOING STRONG

On August 9 my sweetheart and I celebrated 13 years of marriage together. I am happier now in my marriage than EVER!! I certainly married a keeper.

As I was pondering the anniversary of my marriage to this wonderful man, I was caught off guard by the feelings of LOVE that just permeate my whole being. He completes me and yet allows me to be an individual me. I started thinking of how many things I have become since I met him. My self worth has become a real thing to me. My confidence has grown beyond proportions. Even when I fail at something he is my steady rock to wipe the tears and rub my back and remind me that when you fall it is an opportunity to learn a lesson or to try again until you are better at whatever it is.

He listens to me without complaint and jokingly moans when I say "I have an idea" then supports whatever crazy creative idea I am trying to get from brain to reality.

He is a steady hand and a light to me when everywhere and everyone seem bent on making the path rocky and dark.

So I love this man with my whole being and pray for the day when our marriage becomes ETERNAL.......SOMEDAY it has to be because I honestly can't picture an eternity without him by my side. I am so grateful for my blessings. I can honestly say I don't know who I would be without him.

Thank you my SWEETHEART, you will always be my MR BUG!

The HOLY GHOST will guide and teach and comfort

So our church starts at 1 p.m. The teacher for RS called my home at 10 minutes to 11 and says she cannot come and teach because she has a sinus headache. My first reaction "natural man" was panic. Two hours to prepare a lesson!! UGH!!

If I had listened to the Holy Ghost it would have been done earlier in the week but when I felt the prompting I honestly thought I was just being paranoid about the teacher not showing up. Goes to show ya!

So then when I got over the panic phase, I realized that this is the Lord's lesson and if I do my best, the Holy Ghost will teach the lesson. He did. It was a beautiful moment and the lesson was probably the best I have ever been able to present to the class. Class participation was awesome and there were many spiritual truths taught.

I was afraid there would not be enough material and I actually had to condense the lesson as there was way too much material to present.

What a loving teaching/learning moment for me from my Heavenly Father

Being an Adult VERSUS Being a Grown Up

I consider myself an Adult. I pay my bills on time, I try to stay out of debt, I work to provide for my family, I meet my obligations of time, money, etc.

However, I refuse to be a grown up. Grown Ups are very boring people. You have to conform to all kinds of weird inane rules when you are a grown up. So I refuse to be A GROWN UP. I will wear my hair in little girl styles, I will wear my butterfly EVERYTHING and my piglet earrings. I will dance and play whenever the joy of it enters my heart. I will find pictures in clouds (saw a huge very detailed dragon in the clouds the other day. With full face detail and claws and wings. AWESOME!). I will love peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and ice cream sandwiches with equal abandon. I will enjoy playing with earthworms, inch worms and other non creepy worms. I will stop and smell my orange blossoms and have fun watching butterflies, flying hawks, and hummingbirds with equal enthusiasm. I will enjoy naptime and bedtime and bedtime stories.

I LOVE BEING A NON GROWN UP. I think we need more ADULTS that are NON GROWN UPS in the world......

Bad Weekend, depressed, and grumpy then Beautiful Hymn Breakthrough

Bad weekend. I won't bore anyone with the lousy self pittying details. People problems, house problems, tired, grumpy, pain, etc. Bad Weekend. Turned into a bad Monday. So last night I got to talk to a great girlfriend and she helped cheer me up. I took two Aleve for the pain and went to bed.

This morning I woke up with a tune in my head and the words "And the Lord will lead thee by the hand". I just kept repeating that over and over. I could tell it was a hymn and then the title came to me "Be thou Humble".

What a blessing the hymns are to us. I felt the love of my Heavenly Father for me through the words of that hymn.

Then in the car on the way to work, I was listening to my Book of Mormon CD and it was 2nd Nephi chapter 31. What a powerful message for each of us. ENDURE TO THE END. We all just need to keep trying our hardest to do our best.

Here is to a new beautiful day!

As Luck would Have it

We discovered a sprinkler problem the other day. The zone mechanism in the yard for one of the zones is very badly broken and leaking and a pool is happening next to the house and it could impact our foundation and and and.

So we turn off the sprinkler system until we can resolve the problem. We went to Home Depot and purchased a sprinkler head to put on the hose and move around the yard. Needed one of those anyway.

We decided that we could just turn on the zone for the front yard. As soon as my sweetheart turned on the zone and headed back out to the back yard I had to start laughing. HARD laughing. The front zone also includes the two sprinkler heads right next to the leaking mechanism and contributes to the pool that is happening next to the house.

So to summarize, the only zone we didn't really need to turn on is connected to the front zone, the front zone is connected to the ......you get the picture. Too FUNNY!

Monday, July 20, 2010 HOMEWARD BOUND

6 a.m. up and at 'em. I get ready for the plane trip and try not to wake the whole household. 14 year old is going to drive Skinny Sister and me to the airport.

Eat a quick breakfast and off we go. We get to the airport and get my bag checked and ticket in hand. We talk a little just before I have to get in line for the security. HUGS and more HUGS!! I will miss everyone here in Idaho but I am soooooooooooooooooooo glad to be headed HOME.

The plane trips are pretty uneventful. There are stories but I am too tired for the telling of them. The gist of it is that I make it back home. I sleep most of the way home. My body and mind are EXHAUSTED!

I get off the plane in San Diego, call my shuttle, and get my car! Driving home. Pass the temple. Should have planned a stopover there. NEXT time.

I am starving so I stop to get a bite to eat. I head on home and my sweetheart and I are VERY glad to see each other. I suggest that I might need to take tomorrow off from work. He agrees. I call work and make the arrangement.

I fall asleep at 9 p.m. and sleep hard and sound. No movement from me for at least 5 or 6 hours. I am a log!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wake up on Tuesday morning and watch my sweetheart leave for work. I take it easy today being quiet and restful. I unpack and just watch some television and rest rest rest.

I AM HOME! "There's no place like home" Dorothy has it right!

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Sunday morning! Church starts at 9 a.m. in this ward. We get to church a little early and it is nice to sit quietly listening to the prelude music. I get a chance to read some of my Relief Society manual. It is very nice. The speakers are the temple president and his wife from the Idaho Falls Temple. That is where my family was sealed and it was very special. The Young Women (including my 17 year old niece) sing a beautiful song on virtue. It makes me cry. It was a very special moment. 2 of my nephews help with the priesthood duties. It makes an aunt very proud to see this. I go to Primary with Skinny Sister. I love music time and then my 5 year old niece gives a talk in primary. A great day to attend this ward! Skinny Sister gives a great lesson and handles the children in her class wonderfully.

After church we head home and have a lunch and then we make some brownies and cookies and take some over to Little Sister. We get there just before they get home from church. We help make her and the kids some lunch as she is not feeling well today. We stay and chat for over 3 hours and then head back to Skinny Sister's house. Little Sister and family will be coming over for a family dinner :-)

We have the family dinner and it goes really well. It was so comfortable to have the women folk cutting fruits and preparing everything. It was fun!

The tarantula is molting and creates the excitement for the afternoon. We watch it and when it is all over, 14 year old brings down the molted exoskeleton for us to touch and see and gross out and be fascinated over. I am glad I get to touch this as I am not brave enough to hold the real thing. It is very soft.

Little Sister and family pack it up and head for home. Hugs are served all around.

I call my sweetheart and we are both excited that I will be homeward bound tomorrow morning.

I pack my suitcase and get all things ready for my early morning rising.

We have family prayer and the children go off to bed.

We watch a movie and then it is lights out for us as well.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

"That's all I got to say about that"

Friday, July 16, 2010

Some of the planned activities were rearranged for today but it ended up being a good thing.

Skinny Sister, her husband, and 7 of the 8 children went to a ward pioneer primary campout overnight. My oldest niece and I stayed behind. We wanted to spend some one on one time together and go see "a movie". I start a load of laundry.

My oldest niece and I drove over and spent the morning and early afternoon hours at Little Sister's house with her kids, playing, singing and reading books. Little Sister was shopping and when she got home we got to talk with her for a bit.

I had some personal errands to run and so mid-afternoon my niece drove me to town so I could go to the credit union and deseret book.

Then at 4 p.m. she and I went to see Eclipse. WOW!!! The movie was awesome and they did a fantastic job with it. It was great to get to see this with my niece. She is really into the twilight series of books too and so it was a lot of fun. We splurged and got soda and candy too!

After the movie we went back to the house and made some sandwiches for dinner. We just hung out. We finish the laundry and do a cursery cleaning in the house.

I called my sweetheart for a little while.

Then we slept in Skinny Sister's bed (with permission). We watched the movie Johnny Lingo (new edition). It was great! I had not seen this version before. Then it was 11:15 p.m. That is about all of the slumber party action these old bones could handle.

Nighty Night zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Thursday, July 15, 2010

We go down and eat breakfast in the hotel. Again, very very YUMMY!!!

Pack up the van and we are on our way back HOME......

The trip was long and you could tell we were all ready to be back in a more normal atmosphere. Everyone was good just a little bit grumpy. We made the usual potty stops and this time we stopped in Riggins for a lunch break. We parked in the LDS church parking lot and used the picnic benches there. We saw a deer up on the hillside.

After lunch we went to a gas station. Before we left Elk City, Skinny Sister and I had talked about checking the radiator fluid but we both forgot. The needle was still on cool so we didn't worry about it. In Riggins, Skinny Sister decided to check the fluid. BONE DRY!!!!! So she bought some fluid we put it in the van. Then we said a prayer of THANK YOU to our HEAVENLY FATHER for watching out for us and keeping us safe. It is only by DIVINE help that we went down the major pass and did not have an overheated van!!!

Back on the road. We stop in a place that sells rocks, geodes, gems, etc. This is a little shop inside of a little old lady's home. She has the store section and the rest is her home. No Bathroom Facilities for people buying stuff. I totally can understand this. HOWEVER, one of the little ones had to go potty really bad. Skinny Sister took her outside and I didn't think much of it. Then all of a sudden, I am in really bad shape. GOTTA GO NOW!!! RIGHT NOW!!! Skinny Sister drove me and we hauled it 1/2 mile back the way we came. I barely made it. Skinny Sister was a gem for doing that for me. She also threw away the results of the little one having to go outside. Apparently it was number 2 and not just number 1. ooh yuck! So all of the gastro intestinal items taken care of we go back to the rock place. We all get a few items.

Back on the road.

About 1/2 to 1 hour from home. One of the medium boys has to go #1. We finally just move EVERYTHING especially pillows out of the way and he gets to GO in a Gatorade bottle. Kind of funny!!! Everything worked out okay.

HOME!!!! If we were on a ship or airplane I would get down and kiss the ground!!! We make dinner. I think this was the night that skinny sister makes steak and she and I get some stuffed mushrooms to go with it. YUMMY!

I call my sweetheart and let him know that we are back. It is a short call. We are all very tired and just want a chance to relax for a while.

We all settle the little ones to bed and us older folks start to watch a movie.

Little Sister calls. She is grumpy because we didn't call. All I can say is I am so sorry. We are exhausted and we really didn't think about it. Didn't mean to hurt any feelings. HONEST!

After the movie we all go to bed. I am grateful for the air mattress. It is comfortable and soothes my aching back and sciatic nerve. They are both YELLING at me pretty loudly by this time. The mattress conforms to my body like a hammock. VERY NICE!

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

When we get up in the morning, we all get ready to go and then head down to the free breakfast offered by the hotel. It is quite yummy! Waffles, muffins, bagels, fresh fruit, juices, cereal, milk. Seems like endless choices. We get all of the children fed and then eat some waffles. During this time, the front desk lady comes to make sure we have enough of everything. We do and she calls Skinny Sister a saint. I agree. She is a great mom and has everything down to a science. The kidlets are great kids too so it works all the way around.

We head back up to the room for potty breaks and to grab what we will need for the picnic in the park.

We go and pick up grandma and go to the park for the morning. We sit and talk for a while and skinny sister and I take turns either taking children to the potty or pushing people on the swing for a while.

We enjoy grandma's stories. We all enjoy some sandwiches and chips. The little ones try to share their fruit snacks with Great Grandma. Grandma feels the snack and remarks that they feel like rubber. Quite a similarity actually when you think about it. I thought it was funny. There are a few funny moments in the park about bees. 14 year old catches a butterfly in flight! He doesn't even squeeze it or ruin it's wings. The little ones love it and then we let it fly away.

We drive grandma back to her home for a rest.

When we get back to the hotel, it is FINALLY time for SWIMMING!!! The kids have been so patient.

After we don swimming suits and lather up in sun screen, off we go to the pool. Skinny Sister and I don't really want to get all the way in. We are OLD, the water is COLD!! It is probably 100 degrees outside but we thought it would be a heated pool. She says she will go in if I do. OH how I love dares. So in I go and then as she waffles, one of the boys just pushes her in. Probably not the best approach but now we are both in and wet and acclimating.

I am not sure how long we stayed out but it was a FUN FUN FUN afternoon. We are all pruning up. Baby Bug is slurping water out of the pool. UGH!!! Oh well. Then she starts dipping her towel in and sucking the water from the towel. Icky! We decide that the next time she says she has to go potty, we better listen :-) Lots of fun is had by all!!

We go in and heat up some corn dogs for dinner. We play some card games and just try to relax for a few moments. We start a load of laundry in the hotel laundromat.

After the children are settled, skinny sister and I head back over to spend a few hours with grandma. We made some copies of stuff for her and look at some old things of hers. We get to see hers and grandpa's enlistment and discharge papers from the military, their Paris wedding documents. Apparently they were married in French and again in English. There is an old will and some other interesting papers. It was fun! We got to see some foreign coins and her wedding ring from Grandpa. She found some other documents that she needed copied so we took off and got her copies and ourselves some copies of some items and then went back to her room in the home. We spent a few more minutes with her and then hugged, kisses, and promises to lose weight. We are saying good bye and it is time to go.

On the way back to the hotel, we stop and get the kids some icecream cones for being so good today. We also get some treats for the trip back home tomorrow. We put some more quarters in for the laundry to dry.

The kidlets LOVE the icecream. I call my sweetheart. Skinny Sister and I go down to get the laundry. We fold it and put it in the appropriate suit cases.

We say good night. We all fall into bed and try to get some rest before our return trip home tomorrow. Quite a whirlwind trip so far. We have tried to have fun and fill every moment with meaning. I am exhausted but happy!!

Tuesday, July 13, 2010 Part II

The trip to Lewiston is about 2 to 3 hours. The kids are getting a bit restless. We left quite a bit later than we had hoped from mom and dad's so the promised swimming in the pool will not happen tonight :-(

I don't even remember the time we got to Lewiston. We stop at a McDonalds to grab some dinner for everyone. This is quite a treat for all of us. We checked into the hotel and got everyone settled.

I call my sweetheart and fill him in on the adventure.

Then Skinny Sister and I took a trip to see Grandma and say a brief hello.

It was good to see her. She is just as I remembered as a child. Full of vim and vigor. For a 90 year old she is in good health and her mind is more remarkable than mine at 43.

We make plans to visit her tomorrow and take her to the park and then we bid her a good evening and we all hope for a good night's rest.

Back to the hotel room where we get everyone settled and we all get some much needed and deserved sleep.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010 Part I

Sometime during this part of the adventure we take mountain mama's trash to the "dump". The dump is really just 5 or 6 big huge garbage dumpsters. We also get to do this with mom as well. It is a different way of doing things and in actuality, I think it is very efficient.

We have eggs sausage and muffins for breakfast. Dad takes the 14 year old nephew off to do some river/salmon fishing. We are going to take a trip up to see mountain mama and then take the little ones to a planted pond for some "fishing".

We have a blast in the back of the truck making up songs and being silly. We stop off and get the youngest child of mountain mama to come with us for some fishing fun! When we get to the pond, the children have a blast catching fish. The 12 year old nephew makes the first and last catch of the day while we are there. The little ones are so excited but when the 5 year old catches a fish and it comes out of the water, she drops the pole and runs away screaming. It was too funny!!!! We take lots of pictures. We are all there for about an hour. It was fun!

I let Skinny Sister take the back of the truck with the kiddos on the journey back and I take her seat in the cab with mom. My rear end is not young anymore!

We stop at a running creek along the way and clean the fish. I slice and pull out the entrails, skinny sister finishes the job and rinses the fish in the creek water. I don't realize until it is too late that I have fish stuff all over my shirt and tennis shoes. Guess this shirt is a yardening shirt now. That is fine because every time I wear it, it will remind me of our trip.

We talk all the way back to the house. It is a bit of a drive but it is beautiful scenery and I love it. We hang around and wait for the guys to get back. They have caught a trout and they did catch a salmon but it was not a keeper due to regulations so they had to throw it back. BUMMER!!!!

At least everyone had a great time. 14 year old even got to drive the stick truck with his grandpa.

Skinny Sister fries up the fish for us (Thank you by the way). They are perfectly done. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO YUMMMY!

Dad takes me out to the smoker and I taste some of his smoked fish. He sends us some to take on the trip as well. I ask for the family secret recipe but the stinker said I have to have a smoker and some salmon to smoke before he will give it to me. We will see. I actually have plans to get a smoker so it may not be as long as he thinks :-)

Around 4 in the afternoon we load the van, say our good byes. Hugs, kisses, hugs all the way around.

Back on the road to see Great Grandma for the kids, Grandma for skinny sister and me.

Monday, July 12, 2010 Part II

After dinner, dad wants to take me to the lakes on his land. I am up for that and since I am a bit clumsy, mountain mama offers to take me down on her 4 wheeler. Dad one ups her with the idea that I get to take one of the 4 wheelers.

In one split second my mind goes from flabergastered, to mortified, to hey I have never done that and I should. So we find me a helmet, I get a 2 minutes beginners course training and off we go.

I am following moutain mama and she is stopping every now and then to give me more pointers. We follow some mountain roads and get to the lakes. The lakes are beautiful and it is fun to see my dad so excited about his land. We take some pictures. My camera dies but at least I have a picture of my dad and me together at the lake.

So off we go on the 4 wheelers. I did not see the big R for reverse and I thought I could only go forward. That was quite funny and then I am much relieved to realize there is a reverse on this thing. Dad suggests a couple of trails and when we get to a certain point there is really no more trail so we need to do a three point turn to get pointed in the right direction to go back down the hill. Good thing there is reverse hee hee hee.

We get down on the main "drag" where I can relax a bit and let her roar. I pass mountain mama and have a blast.

She then takes me up a different road. She stops and points. I look and there are a couple of Elk in a small glen. We go a little further up the path and I am so sad that my camera died. A whole herd of Elk. Daddies, Mommies, and babies all covering a hilltop. They are magnificent and awe inspiring. Later when I see a deer, it just doesn't have the same feeling to it as the herd of elk. Poor deer (get it poor dear/deer) Oh well, on with the story.

So we go back to mom and dad's. I turn over the parking of the 4 wheeler to dad. It was a great time and a lot of fun.

Mountain Mama, me and Skinny Sister hop in the truck hoping that Skinny Sister will get to see the elk. They are not there anymore and it is frustrating. Skinny Sister said that happened the last time she visitied too.

Sometime during the day, Mountain Mama, me and Skinny Sister drove over to mountain mama's new home that is in the works to be theirs soon. She gave us a tour. The home is magnificent inside and outside. The view from all angles is absolutely breathtaking. There is also a room with shelves that will be absolutely perfect for food storage. I have to admit that I was a bit envious about that room.

When we are all back at mom and dad's for the night, we all sit and chat for a while and then it is ready and off to bed. Liz and I are lucky and get to share a real bed with one child each. The other children have to opt for the floor or couch.

Snooze time. We have all had quite the day.

Monday, July 12, 2010 Part I

Let the road trip begin..............................

Skinny Sister and I and the 7 children that will be going on the road trip get up. We have a good breakfast of eggs, bacon, and muffins. YUMMY!

We pack the van and skinny sister has this mastered beautifully. There is food aplenty, clothing and all of the fun essentials. We are running a little bit behing our self imposed schedule but it is all going to be fine. The nephew with his learners permit starts out behind the wheel. I should revise and say the jokester nephew with his learners permit. We are only about a block from the house when jokester says he forgot his contacts. I am thinking great, we are very close to home. At least we are not half way there. But skinny sister knows him well. She verifies that it is a joke and we are still on our way. No return for forgotten items. WHEW!!!

I enjoy this scenery. It has been a while since I have seen fields of green and gold. Vegetables, corn, sugar beets, beans, wheat. Very nice! We get going and I think nephew is doing great but the kids are watching a movie that I think he wants to see. My turn behind the wheel. Yeah!!!!!!!!!!

Okay for folks that don't know me, I drive the speed limit. I have discovered that this obedience to the LAW is very perterbing to people that ride with me. Both in CA and now in ID. Skinny Sister threatens me on several occasions that if I don't at least drive the speed limit, I will be banned from driving. So on one of the first opportunities (rest stop) she takes over behind the wheel. I think it is VERY FUNNY!!! (side note: I have a friend in CA that won't go out to lunch or anything if I am driving. She thinks I drive like a granny :-))

We stop in a little town I can't remember the name for a potty break. There is a small playground. We stay for about 15 mins. Then back on the road. Later we stop in Grangeville and have lunch, potty breaks and playground time for about 1/2 hour. Then back on the road.

The mountain and river scenery is a treat and I am enjoying in immensely. The kids are doing great. As expected there are a few irritating moments between them but it is a long road trip in a very confined space. They are doing awesome!

We arrive in Elk City in the early afternoon. Dad is out on a mail run. So Mom suggests that we take the kids to the "park". The "park" is a veteran's memorial and there is a stream that we can all play in. We have a lot of fun getting wet and cooled off. The kids enjoy letting out some energy. I find a periwinkle in the stream. I take a picture of it and when it starts coming out of its shell I scream. They really are UGLY critters. So my sweet Elk City nephew holds it for me to take a picture of the periwinkle coming out of it's shell. He throws it back into the river for me. We find an empty shell and I keep it as a souvenier. Back into the stream to try to catch some minnows. One of my sweet nephews catches a minnow in a plastic container. I take some pictures and we let him go back to his home in the stream.

Unfortunately, one of my sweet nieces stepped on a piece of glass or a sharp rock or something. The cut on her foot is pretty deep. She is sad and in pain. I wish there was something to do for her. Luckily for us, my brother in law in Elk City is an EMT. We take her to him. He sterilizes it and puts a butterfly bandage on it. Then my sister has some pet bandage to wrap it all up. It is good for now with some aspirin for the pain.

We all pile in the back of mom's truck and go up the main road to see Mountain Mama (Twin Sister of Skinny Sister). It was great to see where she works. Beautiful vistas everywhere.

Back in the truck and we make it back to mom and dad's home to see dad and start getting ready for dinner. Dinner is at the fire pit out back. It is a beautiful fire pit with stones around it. The only concern for me is all of the little ones. I really get nervous with little ones around fire pits. Always have and probably always will. We roast hotdogs, hamburgers, and turkey burgers. Skinny Sister made a pasta salad that we brought with us to share. There are chips and soda. I mention that it would be great if we had some marshmallows.

One of my wonderful nephews surprised us by going to the store and getting all of the fixings for SMORES!!!! How wonderful was that?!!! YUMMY YUMMY. A true roasting feast!

Taking Dinner In-An Adventure

We have a sister in our ward that is very sick with bronchitis. I received the opportunity to take a meal in to her. I called her and she could hardly talk for coughing. I decided chicken noodle soup and some rolls. So in the morning I took some rolls out of the freezer to defrost. At lunch I went to the grocery store and bought some chunky chicken noodle soup and a container that doesn't need to be returned. When I got home from work, I heated the soup, grabbed the rolls and a few homemade cookies. I had been given the apartment number 101 by the sister that asked me to take the dinner. I had called the sister and told her I was on my way. She told me her door was unlocked and to come on in. I finally found apartment 101 and started to walk in. A barking dog met me at the door. Then a man and his wife jumped up from the sofa. I thought "I am so glad her children have come to help her". The man did not look like he was expecting anyone and the woman looked a little frightened. I asked them if the sister lived there. They said no. I was so embarrassed. I told them I had been given the wrong apartment number to take a dinner to someone who is sick. HOW EMBARRASSING. They were so nice, they said not to worry about it. I traipsed back to my car. Called the sister and found out that she is in apartment number 104!!!!!! I then found my way back to number 104, found the sister and gave her the dinner. She was very excited about the cookies. It made her smile. I sat and visited for about 15 minutes. It was enjoyable, I know she appreciated it and I gave another family something to talk about for years to come.

ALWAYS AN ADVENTURE!!!!!

Sunday, July 11, 2010

The girls and I wake up and the boys are already awake. We "quietly" make the beds and go downstairs. Little sister is in bed with a bad headache. We all grab a bowl of cereal, eat, and start getting ready for church.

Luckily church begins at 11 a.m. in their ward. Little sister gets up, gets ready for church, finishes getting the children ready and we are off. I hope little sister is feeling better. She seems okay so that is good.

It is always a treat to attend the ward with my sister and her children.

After church it is back home. The van is parked in the garage. There is only one way around the van from my side. Walk to the back and around. When I get to the end of the van, there is a spider hanging from the garage door right in my face. I actually got quite scared of the stupid spider. This is not normal for me but I think I have a greater fear of these creatures after the swelling in my leg that lasted for over a week. I do not know what bit me but my guess is it was a spider. So I freak out until Little Sister gets a broom to get the spider down and steps on it. Spider adventure to the fullest and I am saved. Yea! No more spider. We all make it into the house alive and unbitten.

We have lunch and play a board game and read some books and talk. Later in the afternoon, I am painting the girls' toe and finger nails and putting stickers on them. It was so much fun!

We make a birthday card for my mother's birthday. We will have all of her girls sign it as a special birthday present. It has been a long time since she received a card with all of her girls' signatures.

I leave a special card and bookmark on my sister's bed. One of the girls will have a birthday while I am out of town and I want her to have this special gift on her special day!

The afternoon delight is broken when we hear the dad of the house come home. I can tell he is mad and the baby is crying. Apparently the 2 year old walked outside with a sibling and burned his feet on the hot sidewalk. They were waiting for dad to come in the house. I wish I had noticed the little one go outside to have prevented the pain. Dad soaks his feet in cold water and then mom cuddles and soothes. I am glad his little feet are going to be okay.

A little more talking and then my 17 year old niece picks me up for the next leg of the journey.

I go to skinny sister's home for dinner. Jenn is there. It is nice to meet her. We have only ever met on the phone, emailing, and blogging. After dinner, we play some games.

I call my sweetheart to let him know he is always forefront in my mind.

Time for bed. I have an air mattress in the room with the 3 and 5 year old. We get along really well and although I don't know what that says for my mental status. It is quite a treat. They make me feel young and youthful! The air mattress looks very inviting. It is a twin size and is one that is about 2 feet tall. I will have to give a report tomorrow. For now it is time for ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Families, Husband, Friend, ETERNAL COMPANION

"From the beginning Relief Society has had a charge to strengthen families and homes. The Prophet Joseph taught sisters at an early Relief Society meeting, “When you go home, never give a cross or unkind word to your husbands, but let kindness, charity and love crown your works henceforward.”
In 1914 President Joseph F. Smith told Relief Society sisters, “Wherever there is ignorance or at least a lack of understanding in regard to the family, … there this organization exists or is near at hand, and by the natural endowments and inspiration that belongs to the organization they are prepared and ready to impart instruction with reference to those important duties.”"

I loved the Visiting Teaching lesson in July. It gave me a lot to ponder regarding my duties as a wife and mother. I am grateful for the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. They help me be a better person and make the home a sacred and special place to be. I am grateful that I have a husband that guides and directs me and keeps me grounded and my life balanced (when I listen to him and act on his council). I would do anything for him as I know he will do anything for me.

It is wonderful when the man you married is the one person on earth you want to spend every single moment with. He is my BEST friend............

In a Sunday school lesson we were asked to list the attributes of a friend. I immediately thought of my sweetheart and listed the things I love best about him. The one that touched the woman sitting next to me was "when we are sitting together and it is silent and no words are spoken, I can feel the love between us and nothing really needs to be said." Something to that effect anyway.

He lets me be me and I let him be him and it is a wonderful mixture that we are hoping to blend into ETERNITY!

Saturday July 10, 2010 continued

Hugs all around when I get to the car. Little sis had been driving in circles around the airport to get us. The little one does not recognize me. Sad but okay. I will have lots of time to get reacquainted with him. First order of business. STARVING.... Off we go to Sonic. It was on my to do list in Boise. A junior cheeseburger, onion rings, tater tots and a couple of fruit smoothies are ordered. There is much discussion (as we wait for food) about the people on roller skates zooming in and out delivering food. I am much amazed and in awe at their abilities. Yummy food arrives and we share it as we drive to skinny sister's home to see her children. BRAIN FREEZE!!! the fruit smoothies are sooooooooooooooooo cold. I haven't had a brain freeze since I was a kid. Tip that skinny sis passes on and it works really well is to push your tongue on the roof of your mouth. WORKS!!!!

Arrive at skinny sister's home. Get to see everyone and hold the rat! Big step for me to hold it and let it climb all over my neck and shoulders. Rats are actually in the creepy critter for pet category for me. Then I get to hold some little kittens. Too cute!

Brief visit over and it is off to little sister's home. We arrive and all of my nieces and nephews seem very happy to see me. The evening is quite a blur of activity. Reading to little ones, playing of board games, and talking. Preparing and eating dinner.

Then the 3 sisters get together to chat. Lovely evening. Arrive back to little sister's home after 10 sometime.

Bedtime. I get the lower bunk on the girls bunkbed. Only bad sides to sleeping on a bunk bed. 1)I am way too tall and 2) every time top bunk girl moves it jiggles the lower bunk just enough for this California babe to feel like an earthquake is occurring. Sleep, not so much! Next time I will opt for the mattress on the floor.

I do think it was very sweet of the girls to be so considerate to give their Aunt Nee the bed. Their room is very cute and girlie and it was a lot of fun! Tommorrow the adventure continues.......

Idaho Trip begins, Saturday, July 10, 2010

The alarm is set for 5 a.m. I have slept little and kept one eye on it the whole night. Now I try to awaken before it goes off. I am up a few minutes before it goes off. My sweetheart turns it off while I am dressing. I get ready to go. My sweetheart carries my bags down to the car for me. Mini Moo is in wonder at her parents and why oh why are they up at 5:00 a.m. on a Saturday?!

The car is loaded, kisses, hugs, kisses, hugs. Start to the car. Run back to my Mr. Kisses and Hugs. Okay, must go now!

Breakfast in the Jack in the Box parking lot. Can't remember what I got for myself but I did get a medium drink with caffeine so I will make the trip down to the airport okay.

I get to the Laurel Travel agency to park the car. They are very helpful! A very nice staff. I park my car in spot 375. The shuttle takes me to the airport. I make a friend in line to check in my bags. Wish she is on my flight but hers is the one right before mine. Check in is a piece of cake. I go through security with no problems. I ask the security guard why he is running a red light over my driver's license. He says "security ma'am". Okey Dokey then. Someone needs a funny bone makeover :-)

Get on the plane and I have 2 whole seats to myself. I take the window seat. There is a gentleman on the aisle seat. I need an extension belt after all. Off by about 1 inch. NEXT TIME!!!! Last time I flew it was off by about 6 inches. This time the two ends can touch but not enough to get the buckle together. SHUCKS!

Fly to Vegas without a problem. Listen to my CDs and read my book. It is a great flight. My sweetheart warned me about the sharp turn into the airport so I am not nervous about the jerky movements on the plane.

VEGAS airport. Nice. Think about getting a piece of fried chicken. $8 dollars. So okay, I can nibble on the snacks in my big blue bag, thank you very much!

Call my sweetheart. Make a friend with a woman in the terminal. She was very nice. I meet some people from Hawaii. They are going to Boise for a convention. One of the men is on the main land for the first time EVER!

We get on the plane. All of the window seats are taken. First I try for the emergency exit seat and can't because of the extension belt. How EMBARRASSING!!! NEXT TIME!

I choose an aisle seat. The man from Hawaii has the window seat. I ask if I can share and he says that anyone who has family in Hawaii is welcome. He is very nice. The flight is full so a gentleman sits in the middle. It is a bit squishy. Not too bad. He is very nice and the three of us talk most of the way to Boise. There is a young man behind us and he thinks we are picking on Boise and defends it adamantly. He says "Hey, I live in Idaho". I reply that I grew up in Idaho. We talk for a while. He is nice and friendly and calms down when he finds out we are not really making fun of Idaho. How sweet to stand up for your homeland.

Arrive in Boise airport. Walk down to baggage claim and there is skinny sister waiting for a hug. We wait for and get the bags and thus the adventure begins........................................

Packing for Idaho trip-Friday, July 9, 2010

I pack for the trip. Do I need two suitcases or one. One will be easier to handle than two. This is the decision. The bag is pretty full. Will this come back to haunt me? We will have to wait and see. This is the decision. It has been made. I have a denim carry on bag. I like to call it my "Mary Poppins bag". I can fit all kinds of stuff in it. It is awesome. I have my CD's and my book. All is well! I sleep fitfully this night. I will miss my sweetheart while I am gone. That part is really sad. I will miss my Mini Moo. I know she will cry for me and look for me. That part is really sad. I will worry about them both. I will leave them in Father in Heaven's hands and they will be in my heart. All is Well!!

BEAUTIFUL WEEKEND

This last weekend was a true delight. First off, it was a 3 day weekend. Gotta love that!!! I did some crocheting while watching some of my favorite movies. Made a couple of loaves of bread in the bread maker my sweetheart got for me. We decided to get the bread maker as my bread making skills are definately not classified as a talent that I have. I did make homemade pizza dough and pizza. Delightfully Delicious. We went shopping at Walmart where I was able to get two CD's I have been waiting and saving for. Then I filled my sweetheart's cookie bucket. I made him chocolate chip with peanut M&M cookies. Then if that were not enough I got to work out in my yarden. I mowed the lawn, picked some weeds and watered. Not everything I wanted to get done got done but that is the way my weekend always goes. I spent some extra special time snuggling with my sweetheart during the fire works display on TV. I am glad we got to spend so much time together. It was a real treat!

Don't Forget to Pray

Daily Rules from God

1. Wake Up!! Decide to have a good day. "Today is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalms 118:24
2. Dress Up!! The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance; but the Lord looks at the heart." I Samuel 16:7
3. Shut Up!! Say nice things and learn to listen. God gave us two ears and one mouth, so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking. "He who guards his lips guards his soul." Proverbs 13:3
4. Stand Up!!... For what you believe in. Stand for something or you will fall for anything.. "Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good..." Galatians 6:9-10
5. Look Up!!... To the Lord. "I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me..." Phillippians 4:13
6. Reach Up!!... For something higher. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your w ays, acknowledge Him, And He will direct your path." Proverbs 3:5-6
7. Lift Up!!... Your Prayers. "Do not worry about anything; instead PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING." Philippians 4:6
God answers Knee-Mail.

Blessed Temple

This week has been full of temple blessings. I so appreciate that the temple is less than an hour's drive from home. I had an initiatory assignment on Tuesday and our ward endowment session was on Wednesday. How great to do those two assignments in succession like that. Oh the promised blessings. I just need to do my part and live worthy and keep my covenants. I will strive to do better at all of that. I am so thankful for our ward temple night car pool. The 3 other sisters that I ride with are all so very different and yet the love I feel for them is overwhelming at times. We are all going through our different struggles, health, divorce, wayward children, never being married, etc. So even though our trials are so very different, it is a comfort to know that the gospel of Jesus Christ helps each of us. The atonement is applied to each of us. We can support and sustain each other in friendship and sisterhood. We were talking with some of the other sisters at the temple and a story was related. As a different carpool was heading out to come to the temple, a sister called her visiting teacher in the carpool. She felt like she needed to go directly to urgent care. As the sister volunteered the driver of the carpool to this task without even thinking about it. Of course the decision was made to take her. She called back shortly and said the moment had passed and she wouldn't need to go after all. She was so thankful that the sisters would drop everthing, even a temple trip, to help her. We all decided this is exactly what Relief Society is all about.

FATHER'S DAY

Let me just start by saying how special my sweetheart is. I absolutely adore this man and love him to pieces!!!!

So for father's day, he got a cholesterol special from the breakfast in bed menu. Scrambled eggs with bacon and cheese, toast with plenty of margarine, sausage links, cheesy hashbrowns, and orange juice.

Before I left for church I filled up his football drink mug with his favorite soda. He was all set for his day of sports....

Upon my return home, I made him dinner. Well he defrosted it and helped me put it all together. Porky's pulled pork sandwiches with Corky's BBQ sauce and chips. Well he did not have chips because that was his lunch snack with his favorite french onion dip.

Then for dessert. I asked him what kind of chips he wanted in his cookies. Peanut butter of course. So I made him a batch of chocolate chip and peanut butter chip cookies. Delightful if I do say so myself.

Then I rubbed his back for him. All in all I think I spoiled him rotten. He deserves it. He is always spoiling me and this was a great opportunity to return the favor!

I LOVE YOU MY SWEETHEART!!!!

Weekend Bliss

What a wonderful weekend! I was actually able to work in my yarden. I enjoyed every blessed moment. I mowed the lawn. My lawn is probably in shock for all of the attention it is receiving of late :-) Weedwacked the edges. Pulled some weeds. Trimmed some plants. Watered. I still have much to do out there. For family home evening I intend to start where I left off.

Tired and Sick

So a flu/cold bug has flown in and settled into our home. We are not feeling our best. I took a day off of work, left early a few times. I did make it to book club and now rue the decision. I hope it did not cause illness for any of the other participants. I stayed home from church on Sunday do to the urgings of mother in law, husband, and friend. I journeyed to Middle Earth and enjoyed the journey once again while crocheting edgings on baby bibs and burp cloths. I did read my Sunday school and Relief Society lessons. Right now the engergies are focused on showering, eating, working, and resting. I will not go to the Relief Society Meeting this Wednesday. I am learning that I need to recover before I have left over to give. I am trying to learn that this is not selfish but the opposite is true. If I selfishly go in the desire to serve I may actually do more harm than good by giving my illness to others. I do not think they want me to share that with them.

So in the meantime, my sweetheart and I are going to heal and get better and rest and relax. Do what is necessary and let the rest wait until our strength is renewed. This too shall pass. I must remember that I usually only get these really bad things when I have allowed myself to do too much too fast. It is a good reminder to slow down and take things slow and steady. The scriptures admonish as much and I need to follow this prophetic council regardless of the church peer pressure to do otherwise.

The thought I prepared for the Relief Society June newsletter

JUNE 2010 –THE YEAR OF CHANGE
VISTA 5th WARD RELIEF SOCIETY NEWSLETTER

“We are beloved spirit daughters of God, and our lives have meaning, purpose, and direction…” Relief Society theme. “We are daughters of our Heavenly Father, who loves us, and we love Him…” Young Women value theme. As we move into summer and celebrate father’s day I hope we can all take a moment and remember our Heavenly Father. He loves us so much. “For behold, this is my work and my glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” Moses 1:39. Our Heavenly Father wants us to have joy here during our mortal journey. “And the Lord God hath sent his holy prophets among all the children of men, to declare these things to every kindred, nation, and tongue, that thereby whosoever should believe that Christ should come, the same might receive remission of their sins, and rejoice with exceedingly great joy….” Mosiah 3:13 Our Heavenly Father wants us to return to live with Him again. He listens to our prayers. He answers our prayers. He has not left us alone during our journey. “But the comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name…” John 14:26 Our Heavenly Father knows each of us individually. He knows you personally. Never forget that He loves you and that you are NEVER alone.
Love to you all, Renee Stuckrad, 1st Counselor

Points from my lesson in Relief Society

The following quotes are from Spencer W Kimball.....

1) Seek excellence in all your righteous endeavors, and in all aspects of your lives.

2) Remember, too, as we focus on the glories and importance of family life here, that all of us belong to the eternal family of our Father in Heaven.

3) Sometimes to be tested and proved requires that we be temporarily deprived-but righteous women and men will one day receive all-think of it, sisters—all that our Father has! It is not only worth waiting for; it is worth living for!

4) Meanwhile, one does not need to be married or a mother in order to keep the first and second great commandments—those of loving God and our fellowmen—on which Jesus said hang all the law and the prophets.

5) Again, you must be wise in the choices that you make, but we do not desire the women of the Church to be uninformed or ineffective. You will be better mothers and wives, both in this life and in eternity, if you sharpen the skills you have been given and use the talents with which God has blessed you.

Garlic Harvest

I harvested the garlic this evening. I got 14 bulbs of various sizes. They smell very fragrant. Hopefully they will taste very yummy too!

They are on a towel right now drying. I will then get the cloves and put them in a jar and put the jar in the fridge so that we can use them for a few months. It is just so interesting growing them.

SNAILS and SLUGS

Okay so some of the snails are making it across my copper tape. This is not very nice. So now I am collecting each evening, all of the snails I can find and putting them in the yard waste bin with the lid on tight so that they cannot escape. I am finding a plethora of slugs this year too! YUCK!! What is going on? I don't like these critters. At least the snails each have different patterns on their shells and there is a weird beauty to them and their feathery looking undersides. I just don't like that they eat my stuff! Cilantro, almost all gone. At least the beanlings are still around and the new ones in the six packs are starting to sprout.

Any ideas.....I may need to resort to buying the cannibal snails at the garden center. These creeping snails actually eat other snails but not veggies. Too weird and that would be my last resort. Because, where are they during the day. That is just icky!

Accomplishments

Given the correct tools, we can accomplish correct things.

I LOVE MY NEW LAWN MOWER. I absolutely love it. I mowed the lawn on Saturday and enjoyed every second of it. I actually mowed longer than necessary just to keep doing it :-)

Then I LOVE MY KITCHENAID mixer. I made homemade stromboli on Saturday for dinner. Can anyone say YUMMY in my TUMMY! It was such a big batch of dough I made two strombolis so we had one for dinner on Saturday and the second one for lunch on Memorial Day!

I also tried my hand at cinnamon bread today. Still learning on the bread front. I am not very good at it but at least it looked like an actual loaf this time. :-)

I LOVE MY WASHER AND DRYER. For some reason I have been very reflective of my ancestors this weekend. I was doing laundry and I just had to think that I bet my ancestors are both jealous and grateful that I have such beautiful machines to make that chore so much easier than they had it. I mean, how long would it take to do laundry by pounding the clothes on a rock, wringing them by hand and then hanging them to dry. Okay, I actually wish I had a clothes line to hang them outside, but 1) against HOA rules (why I don't know), and 2) not really enough room to do this properly in my yard. So for now I will just be extra grateful for my big dryer.

I LOVE MY YARDEN. So I got the two trellises that we got put together. I had a brainiac moment and I screwed them together. I have tried nailing them before and the hammer literally just bounces off of the wood. I needed the two on top of each other to make it tall enough. I first drilled a hole through the wood and then put screws in to hold them together. It is actually quite magical in my opinion. So now the grape vine is on a trellis. Still keeping my fingers crossed. Although the planting instructions said to put mulch on top of the dirt and my new lawn mower catches the clippings in a bag so the mulch was right at my fingertips. So the grape vine is also mulched. AWESOME!

Beanlings are coming along fine now that the pesky little snails and slugs are not bothering them any more. We planted an Early Girl tomatoe plant. The tomatoes are plentiful but very very small. Just a bit bigger than cherry. A little bit disappointing but live, try, and learn. The cilantro is doing well as is the basil and our little pepperlings. The orange tree is still loaded with little babies. Some are still as small as my little fingernail and some are now as big as my ring finger nail. So they are growing!!! New life outside is so exciting.

We are thinking about getting a pressure canner this fall. I am looking forward to canning some veggies. I will be blanching and freezing until we get enough for a canning batch. I am also looking forward to buying bulk pizza and spaghetti sauce from the store and canning it in smaller two people portions as well.

Always something new and interesting on the home front.

Domestically this weekend, I took down Spring (Easter, I just love my Easter stuff so I keep it up as long as I can) decorations and put up the Patriotic and Summer decorations. These will now last through September with one change in August. I will take down my fake rununculus and put up my fake sunflowers. Love to decorate and I love that my sweetheart puts up with it and takes down boxes and puts up boxes for me.

Then I actually was able to do a bib and burp cloth edging with crochet. I am so far behind on this project. I am already two babies behind in the ward with a new one due in 1 month. So after this set, I am now one baby behind and one on the way.

I am just feeling very blessed and thankful for everything and everyone today :-)

Memorial Day

I just need to express my thanks to all of the armed forces service men and women. I am so grateful for their service and warrior spirit that helps preserve the freedoms I enjoy and often take for granted every single day. May they and their families know that I appreciate them and I pray for them. Is it just me or do the pictures from Iraq show the young men younger and younger. They just look like kids to me now. So may Heavenly Father bestow His protective blessings on these young and older warriors.

I am also grateful for the brothers and sisters from ancient and latter days that have sacrificed so much for the cause of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. My thoughts return to Adam and Eve, Lehi and Sariah, Moses, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their sweet wives. I think of Ruth and Naomi. My thoughts turn to the apostles of the New Testament, for some reason I have a special love for Paul. Nephi, Alma, Helaman, Mormon, Moroni, Ether, etc. from the Book of Mormon. To Joseph, Hyrum, Emma, and all of the other pioneer men and women. These blessed souls sacrificed, toiled, labored, driven, persecuted and yes, even martyred for the cause of Jesus Christ.

I am proud to be called a Christian and hope someday to give these brave men and women a hug in gratitude for letting me see the love of the Savior of the World. I especially hope to be able to wash His feet with my tears if I am found worthy to do so.

COPPER TAPE VS SNAILS

So we put the copper tape around our containers. I planted my beanlings, lettuce, and cilantro. The next morning, all veggies were unmolested and unharmed. How could I know if the snails really tried during the night. Not a good litmus test in my opinion.

The litmus test:

Take a snail (if you can find one, does any one else see the irony that when I need to find a snail, they are nowhere to be found). So wait for snails to come out while starting the watering. Finally see a snail. Pick up said snail. Apologize to the snail that he is the unfortunate participant in a copper tape experiment. Put the snail on the copper tape. Watch the snail go as far as he can into his shell. Okay, so did he go in because of the copper tape or because I picked him up, one asks oneself.

Next test. Take same snail. Again apologize to snail that he is the brunt of this experiment and apologize if the copper tape hurt in any way. Place snail next to container with beanlings. Hope he can smell the beanlings or something so he will try to climb the container up to the copper tape.

Keep watering while periodically checking on snail.

Finally notice that snail is creeping up the side of the container. YEA!!! Go over and watch snail come to the copper tape. Watch snail stop dead in his tracks. Now snail stretches his neck out of shell as far as he can and tries to see if he can reach across the 1.5 inch tape to the other side of said tape. Nope cannot reach across. Watch snail slink along the tape and periodically checking with his feelers to see if tape is still there.

WOW!!! COPPER TAPE WINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am no longer a snail killer! Just a snail repeller. We may actually be able to enjoy most if not all of our delicious fruits and veggies this summer!

YARDEN YARDEN YARDEN

It has been a while since I posted. I am at a stopping point today at work and before I start a new project I am going to quickly update on the yarden.

So since my beanlings were totally devoured to the dirt by snails, I got angry. You don't want to see me when I'm angry. (hee hee hee)

So I took out my six packs, put dirt in them, put new bean seeds in them and put the packets on our patio table. The snails are too lazy to maneuver the table legs.

Then what to do when they need to be planted in the containers. So my sweetheart and I went to one of our favorite stores. Armstrong gardens. They are so knowledgeable. They talked us into copper tape to repel snails and slugs. So we bought some. Update later.

We also bought a Concord grape vine. Keeping fingers crossed. We want the grape vine to do two things. 1) cover the back fence, 2) give us grapes so I can make grape jelly. YUMMY!

Getting Better

So after the second night of Benedryl the hard lumps in my leg are finally disipating to smaller lumps. The lower part of my calf is not nearly as tender. There is still redness on the skin and near the bite area the redness circle is larger but a lighter red than it has been. It is probably the venom starting to leave the lumps. I could actually take a small walk at lunch today without too much problem. There are no streaks of red going up my leg. I am very careful about that. I will probably take the Benedryl every evening until this is gone.

Good Sleep....

The Benedryl should have a "caution, dead to the world" sign on it. Honestly, medication hits me hard which is why I try to limit the amounts I use or need. I was so sound asleep that I did not even waken for an accident that happened just a couple of blocks from our home. A 19 year old hit a light pole by the high school. Then life flight was hovering over the house before it landed. No word yet on how sever the injuries were to the 19 year old. Hope the person is okay. It took a while for the firefighters to get him out of his car.

Anyway, my sweetheart was watching me because I normally would have jerked awake. But no, I slept through it!!!! This stuff is good that it helps but bad that anything could have happened and I would have been clueless!

Good news is that I am getting terrific sleep at night!

Bite Update

So last evening I took some dreaded Benadryl. It is what the pharmacist recommended. Since there are no OTC medications that actually say, "for use when you are having an allergic reaction to a spider bite."

Okay, so only 1 hour after taking the medication, the leg still hurt but I was sooooooooooo happy and sleepy. So I was giggling at EVERYTHING and was zonkered out by 8:30 p.m.

Note to self: Take Benadryl right before you lay down to go to sleep. Otherwise nothing else will get accomplished.

The knot in my leg has lessoned somewhat but my leg still hurts when I walk on it. Sure hope this thing hurries and heals. I am not a patient with patience.

SHEESH!

Yarden work

So I think I know how I got the spider bite. I am always playing in my yarden and such. I crawl with abandonment. I don't ever worry about the nature in my yarden, except for the wasps. I have been stung several times. Not fun, Not fun, Not fun!!!!

Anyway, the crab grass "stalks" got out of hand from the last rain. My push mower just rolls over them and bends them down. The weedwacker is tired of me using it to "mow" the entire lawn. So it has the battery retention of a flea now. So I was not to be left with crab grass stalks in my yard. I sat on the yard and slowly I have been scooching all over it cutting the stalks or pulling them by hand.

My sweetheart really believes and so do I that I probably got bitten when I was doing that crazy stunt.

So now we are off to buy an actual honest to goodness lawn mower this weekend. My sweetheart says he does not like the idea of losing me to a spider bite.

He is so sweet! I was hoping to hold out another year but I guess the spiders have spoken and I must obey.

Spider BITE

On Friday evening I thought hmmmm how did I strain my leg muscle so badly. Night Night....Nothing new for me.

On Saturday evening, I thought hmmmmmm must be a muscle bruise. This really really hurts. Night Night....Nothing new for me.

On Sunday evening, I was thinking wow, this really hurts. I am not sleeping well, and I can't even touch it. There is no bruise in sight and if it was a muscle strain it should be starting to feel better. Let me take a look.

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

right behing my left knee, (why is it always behind the knee where it is really hard to see), is a big red blotch and what looks like a very small puncture wound. I push on it, OUCH, and it is hard as a rock underneath. Also the pain and rock hardness is traveling down the front of my calf muscle. It is really painful.

I think it is a spider bite. All of the internet sights say in 24 hours if this does not get better see a doctor. Okay, so 96 hours later, I figure if it was that poisonous I would either have a gaping wound (aka brown recluse bite) or be dead or comatose. I am non of those things, thank you Heavenly Father.

So now I will just try to take some antihistamine, don't like how they make me feel, and see if that can try to lure the poison out of my leg.

Life is an adventure!!!!!

Hide the Kitty?

Funny story....

I went to our utility closet and got out some stain stick, put the stick on the stain, then put the stick back in the closet and shut the closet door.

A while later, my sweetheart asked where Mini Moo was. I said I didn't know, probably down stairs in some sunshine on the floor. Didn't think anything about it.

About an hour later, I went to the utility closet to get some cleaning supplies to clean a bathroom. Out meandered Mini Moo. No meow no nothing. She came meandering out from behind the vacuum cleaner.

I hollered out to my sweetheart that I found Mini Moo. We laughed and laughed at that one.

Silly Mini Moo!!!!!

Happy Birthday to Me

What a glorious day for a birthday! I received many happy birthday posts from my friends on facebook. One of my sisters in ID sent me a beautiful necklace. The people I work with signed a card for me. It was very special to me. I got a happy birthday card and call from Mom and Dad S and they sang to me. Then each of my other sisters and their children and husbands called and sang happy birthday songs to me! A friend at church gave me a beautiful plaque and another friend gave me some ranunculas in a vase. That is not including the well wishes I received from many others. Addition to blog: Mountain Mama and my mom and dad called me later in the evening. I also received a facebook happy birthday from little dude and his sweet girlfriend, little dudette. What a plethora of blessings, my heart can hardly hold it in.....

My Sweetheart made me breakfast in bed and then made me a wonderful dinner that included ribs, salad, and cheesecake with chocolate sauce.

I feel EXTREMELY loved and spoiled today!

So Happy Birthday to ME!!! My personal NEW YEAR has started with a bang!

Temple Angels

In our ward conference, a sister from the Stake Relief Society Presidency left this thought with us.

"The work we do in the temple is witnessed by angels. Angels that witness our ordinances, like sealings, are not random angels passing by. The angels that witness these are our families, our future children and families."

Brother Olsen
San Diego Temple President

Continuance of the Theme

A man was exploring caves by the seashore. In one of the caves he found a canvas bag with a bunch of hardened clay balls. It was like someone had rolled clay balls and left them out in the sun to bake. They didn't look like much, but they intrigued the man, so he took the bag out of the cave with him. As he strolled along the beach, he would throw the clay balls one at a time out into the ocean as far as he could. He thought little about it, until he dropped one of the clay balls and it cracked open on a rock. Inside was a beautiful, precious stone!Excited, the man started breaking open the remaining clay balls. Each contained a similar treasure. He found thousands of dollars worth of jewels in the 20 or so clay balls he had left. Then it struck him.He had been on the beach a long time. He had thrown maybe 50 or 60 of the clay balls with their hidden treasure into the ocean waves. Instead of thousands of dollars in treasure, he could have taken home tens of thousands, but he had just thrown it away!It's like that with people. We look at someone, maybe even ourselves, and we see the external clay vessel. It doesn't look like much from the outside. It isn't always beautiful or sparkling, so we discount it. We see that person as less important
than someone more beautiful or stylish or well known or wealthy. But we have not taken the time to find the treasure hidden inside that person.There is a treasure in each and every one of us. If we take the time to get to know that person, and if we ask God to show us that person the way He sees them, then the clay begins to peel away and the brilliant gem begins to shine forth.May we not come to the end of our lives and find out that we have thrown away a fortune in friendships because the gems were hidden in bits of clay. May we see the people in our world as God sees them. I am so blessed by the gems of friendship I have with you. Thank you for looking beyond my clay vessel.~~author unknown~~

The Lord sees not as man sees.....

Here are some thoughts from our Stake Leadership Training Meeting last night.

The theme was "The Woman at the Well" Found in St John. The Lord did not search out the queen of Samaria, He revealed himself as the Messiah to the everyday woman at the well.

Reference scripture Alma 8:13-14 "Lift up your head and rejoice"

The Lord accepts us and sees us as perfect women. He sees us as exalted because He sees us through His perfect atonement. The Lord knows who we were in the pre mortal realm, who we are here, and who we will become. That is how He sees us and loves us.

"Be Still and know that I am God"

We need to fill ourselves "vessels" with the living waters of Jesus Christ so that we can be ready to share those waters with those that come to us and need some of that water to help them. We need to make sure we replenish our wells often through scripture study, prayers, patriartical blessings, temple attendance, meditation and pondering so that we can feel the Holy Spirit guide and direct our lives for good. We need to recognize that we are trying and that it is good and acceptable to the Lord.

Needless to say it left me with much to ponder and reflect on.

WILD WEST ANYONE?!

There is a hotel called the pioneer. I took many pictures at this location. They have old wagons like these pictures. Authentic and now used as tourist attractions. More on this later!