NEW BLOG SITE

To Everyone that follows or likes to read my blog, I am changing my website.  This will be the last blog on this site.  My new site is gatheringhome.blogspot.com.  I'm sorry if this inconvenients anyone and I hope you will continue to read and leave your comments.  Love you all!

Creativity

Yesterday I had the opportunity to help my daughter-in-law tile a backsplash in their house. We also sealed the floor tiles we put in a few weeks ago.  It was so fun working with her.  She is very talented.  It was also fun just having the time to talk (we don't usually have too much of this with all that we both have going on) while the guys were outside tying rebar together for their new garage floor.  That project will begin in earnest on Monday, and we'll leave it to the guys. 

After we were done tiling, I saw some fabric flowers she was making.  They were so cute and she started showing me how she makes them.  Then we had the chance to look at a few of the blogs that she and I enjoy.  We had fun and it gave us both a ton of ideas that we want to do.  There are so many talented, crafty people out there.  I don't ever remember a time when I was as crafty as some of these new moms are.  They make such cute items and usually they are out of old clothes, shoes, or purses.  Somehow they can just visualize how to make them look new and usable again.  It is truly a talent. It reminds me of the saying that President Gordon B. Hinkley said, "Use it, mend it, wear it out, make it do, or do without!"  I usually have to have patterns and such explained to me - step-by-step.  Then if I'm lucky I will get something slightly resembling what it was that I was trying to make.

I am going to try harder to be better at re-making old clothes and such so that they are re-usable, and cute again.   I will still rely on others for their ideas an can't wait to try out some that I saw yesterday.  This is going to be a new adventure.  Who knows, maybe I'll have to really start a craft room in my house for all that I want to do.  Here's to the beginning of trying to be Creative!

Fall Break

I'm sitting enjoying the beautiful sunshine that is pouring out of the sky today.  I love fall days when there is not a cloud in the sky and there is that clean, crispness to everything.  Most of the farmers have harvested their fields and have been plowing.  You can smell the good, clean, earthy smells when you are outside.  My flowers are still blooming because the frost hasn't come yet and I feel that I am so surrounded by beauty.  I am grateful for a Heavenly Father that created this for me to enjoy.  I have such a gratitude for the bounties that he gives me and my family. 

This past year in our new house has brought many things to our lives.  Some are good, some are trying, and through it all, I realize I am growing in so many ways.  We are making friends, but I miss seeing our old friends.  We don't have the subdivision streets here to stroll around and so we can't just go out for an evening stroll and say Hi to those around us.  I miss that.  But we do have friends show up with the bounty of their gardens to share with us (and I love them for it) since we haven't gotten our yard in yet.  Hannah's bills from this year have side-tracked us from those plans.  Hopefully this next year we'll get the yard in as well as a garden.  But we are ever grateful for those bills, because it says we had help in getting her well.  She is doing so good and seems to be pretty well back to normal.  What a blessing that is for us and her.

My school is more trying than I ever thought it would be.  I see why it's so important to go when you are young.  My brain doesn't work like it used to.  Also, I'm not so eager to please those professor's I have like a younger person might be.  I'm not so easily impressed or intimidated by their status.  Being older than most if not all of them, I feel like I have as much or more life experience than they have and so, sometimes I feel like this is just as good as some of the things they are teaching the kids.  I also don't give into their agendas, and I know some of them don't like this.  I will finish this semester and am not sure if I want to continue on with my education as far as college.  I think I will continue to grow and learn, though I think I will do it more with the things I am most interested in and not worry what the world thinks I should be learning.

My calling is going good.  I am surrounded by wonderful women who are so talented.  They each bring so much to our ward.  I feel inadequate around them so often.  But I am trying to learn and grow and do what Heavenly Father would ask of me in serving them.  I hope I can continue to please Him most of all. 

So, as one of our friends always says, "It's a Beautiful Day, Life is Good!"  And I am blessed!!

Neon Nights Dance

Hannah was excited to go to the dance with Whyatt Garn.  He is one of her really great friends that she has made up here.


Hannah said they were going to El Paral - a local eatery, for dinner. Then they were going to the dance and after they were going to go to a haunted corn maze. It's so fun to watch Hannah getting old enough to have fun like this with good friends.

This is Hannah with Whyatt on the right and Travis a friend that they were doubling with on the left.  Travis's date hadn't turned up yet.  They all tie-died their T-shirts the night before.  They had a really good time.  I can't wait for her to get home tonight to hear all that they did.

Hannah's First Date

So here it is 10 minutes to midnight and we're waiting for Hannah's date to the dance to finish decorating her car.  They've been decorating for an hour now.  She asked him with a poem and a gallon of chocolate milk.  He had to take certain colored letters from the poem and unscramble them to find out her name.  He is such a fun young man and it will be a great first date.  It was a girl's choice dance and the theme is Neon Nights.  I'll be posting pictures of the pre-event next Saturday as I'm sure she won't want me tagging along to take pictures the whole night.  And as soon as I can get Sam out to take pictures of her car, I'll get them attached to this post.  I'm sitting here in my nightgown or I'd be right out there with them taking pictures.  It's so fun having Hannah get this opportunity.  It will be fun for her to go.  The young man's name that she will be going with is Whyatt Garn and they are really good friends and I'm sure they will have a great time together.  He is a really easy-going, fun-loving kid.  I don't think I've laughed so hard when someone gave a sacrament talk as I did when Whyatt spoke. 

I have mixed feelings as I look at Hannah growing up.  I know she won't be my baby girl for much longer and that makes me a little sad. Actually, I know she hasn't been my baby girl for quite sometime now and she likes it that way.  She keeps telling me how she's a big girl and how she can now handle life.  From past experience I know that this is the natural way that things have to go, but it doesn't make it any easier.  She has been such an easy-going child and I look forward to seeing her take on this new aspect with grace.  That's how she seems to do things - okay, well sometimes she stumbles right on through, but we all have a good time with it. 

Life Keeps on Going

Well, I've been in school now for about 5 weeks.  Talk about intimidating, but I'm hanging in there.  I did drop my history class because there was just too much reading involved and I didn't like the instructor.  She told us on the first day that if we brought any Glen Beck into her class she would shredd us to pieces.  Well, personally I like Glen Beck and I knew we would butt heads all semester.  So I cut the loss early and will take it another time. 

My math class is doing okay and so is my English class.  However, my psychology class really is not what I thought it would be.  I thought it would be a class on how people interacted and why they did what they do.  Not so.  It's a class on who invented it and why and all sorts of dates and how the brain works.  So I'm just planning on getting it out of the way and then being done with that sort of thing.  No more Social Worker misgivings.  I've decided that I wouldn't make a very good Social worker as I would take everyone's problems home with me and dwell on them each night. (not a good thing for a marriage). 

So I will continue to work and do my classes and then decide what I want to be when I grow up later on. 

In the meantime, Relief Society is going good and I'm learning alot.  The sisters are patient and loving.  Although I am having a hard time getting the Visiting Teaching to take off.  How do you instill a desire in the sisters to go and care about each other?  There are those that are so willing and then there are those that say they are just too busy.  How can you be too busy to take care of another's needs?  Isn't that what we're here to do?  Sometimes I just don't get it and it boggles my mind.  But it's all good and we're still plugging along at it.  I am learning to take it one day at a time.

Second Week

A short post just to say that yesterday went much better than last week.  The spirit was with me and I was totally more composed than before.  Had everything ready and that really made a difference.  I guess that scripture that says, "if ye are prepared ye shall not fear" really is true.  I really was able to enjoy the day and all that went with it. 

Thank you my friends for all of your support and Love!!

First Official Day

So yesterday was my first official day being RS President.  Let me tell you.  I was flying by the seat of my pants.  It seems I must have forgotten my brain.  I had forgotten to have the counselor that is over the teachers call and make sure we had a teacher for Sunday.  Luckily she remembered.  She called  late Saturday and said she was unable to get ahold of the lady that was to teach on Sunday.  We were never able to get ahold of her and so I got up early Sunday and read the lesson, just to make sure I knew what was going on just in case the teacher didn't show.  Then being used to doing the duties of RS meeting counselor, I was running around handing out all of the announcements to the rest of the organizations, while I should have been getting ready to conduct.  When I finally realized this, I remembered that I had forgotten to have my secretary get the prayers, I didn't know what songs we were singing, and had forgotten my book with my conducting agenda papers in it.  I asked some people going in if they would be willing to say the prayers. I copied the music numbers down, not knowing the names of the songs (they were actually ones that I had never heard of, just my luck). I looked up the practice and closing while the lesson was going on. And remembered a couple of things that were going on this week to announce.  Wow!  I was truly a mess.  However, the gals in the ward were wonderful!  They laughed and we finally got it all under control after a few tears and asking their patience and forgiveness (I must say it was a most truly humbling experience).   

Then in Sacrament meeting they got me a new Visiting Teaching Coordinator.  Well, it hadn't ended with Relief Society meeting.  I forgot to stay after for her being set apart.  Then 3 hours later, I remembered that I had forgotten to do this.  So I headed right over to her house to tell her I was sorry.  Luckily she also had forgotten. Whew!  I dodged the bullet there.  Guess we'll get that taken care of next week! (Thank Heavens!)

I'm really not used to being in charge. Can I say this again, I'm not used to being in charge!!!  I always hurry out of sacrament meeting and head home to get things ready for that most delicious meal of Sunday.  Needless to say I had a real learning day.  I know I must get out of the counselor mode!! I need to delegate, I need to get more organized and I've also asked the secretary to call ahead and get prayers.  

I can truly say that all things considered it wasn't as bad as it could have been.  I'm grateful for the ladies in our ward.  They will help make life better because they are so forgiving and fun-loving.  I know this calling is to help me grow more than it is for any other reason.  The ladies here will help me in doing this and I hope they will laugh along with me as we go.  What an adventure it is going to be.  I am grateful for a Loving Heavenly Father that gives us the opportunities to do this while helping serve one another.  I look forward to the coming months and years in this calling and hope that I will be able to serve and grow as He would want me to do. 

Crazy Happenings

Things are changing in our lives yet again.  It has been a couple of crazy weeks at our house.  What with getting ready for school to start again.  I even went out and got a new school outfit.  I never thought that after 30 years I'd ever shop for school clothes again.  I must admit that it was fun and I might even get a couple more.  I've got all of my books and a backpack.  I'm getting anxious.  I'm looking forward to it, but I'm still stressing - it's been a way long time since I took school this seriously. 

On top of everything else, our bishop called and asked me to serve as the new Relief Society President of our ward (what was he thinking???).  Wow talk about stress in your life!!!  I'm more than happy to serve, but I really enjoy being the counselor or secretary.  I like being told what to do and then doing it.  I'm not used to being in charge and having that responsibility on my shoulders.  I have some really great women to work with and I know I will be able to lean on them for council and help.  But it will be another big change.  However, one thing that I do know and that I've learned over the years is that if I do my best, Heavenly Father will help and bless me.  It will be a great way to get to know the sisters in my ward that I haven't gotten to know yet and I think that will be a blast!!  There are so many talented, sweet women in our ward.  I hope they will be patient with my bumbling as I get used to this new calling.  I'll just have to remind them that there is always a learning curve and hopefully they will smile and forgive my ignorance. 

I guess things never remain the same too long in our lives.  There is always a chance to grow and serve if we're willing to accept and move forward. 

Sixteen Candles Birthday Surprise

It was Hannah's birthday on Tuesday.  She really thought we were going to give her a surprise party then.  I wanted to do something, but she always catches me planning for her.  Well, I got one in on her!!  I went walking one morning to her friend Kimber's house and we planned a party for her.  Only we planned to do it a day early.  Hannah didn't even have a clue.

Sam and I took her out Monday to the local Taco Time just to grab dinner.  I then suggested we go bowling for FHE.  When we got to the bowling alley, there were a ton of cars in the parking lot.  I said, "I bet they have league night, we might not be able to get a lane."  So Sam said he would go and check.  He went in and then came back out and told us they had a lane we could have.  tee hee hee.

So we went in and Hannah didn't suspect anything at first until I told her to go down to the last lane.  There were all of her friends as well as a brother and 2 sisters.  They had balloons and presents and all yelled Surprise!!!  It was perfect.  She turned about 5 shades of red. 

After bowling we came back to our house and had a BBQ and Birthday cake.  The kids watched Elf (go figure.  I guess you have to be a teenager to watch this in the middle of summer) and had a good time. 

It was so fun to finally have a surprise party that she didn't figure out!!!

Together time

So since we've moved we've had a lot of together time.  Poor Hannah must think we're the most boring people in the world.  But I love the time that we have, because I know that before too long she will be gone off to college and we'll never get the time back like we have right now.  I know this from experience.  I thought when my boys got home from their missions that they would want to spend more time as a family - WRONG!  They were interested in starting their own lives (which is how it should be).  However at the time I felt totally dissed.  But now that Park is married and we love his wife, Mad is married and we love her husband, Log is gone to school and doing his own thing I realize that this is how life is.  We do get together at least once a month for a family dinner and game or movie night and we love that, but it will never be like it was.

Hannah went to the Temple with us last night and did baptisms while Mr. Cornaby and I did a session.  We found her talking to the Temple workers when we were done and she'd had a good time.  Although it started out a little rough, but alls well that ends well.  Anywho, after we all went to Farr's Ice Cream after and got a double scoop and enjoyed our drive home together.  It's fun to have this time.  I cherish it!!

4th of July

Every 4th of July my family gets together and we have a family B-B-Q.  We had a wonderful time talking and laughing.  However, this year our family was a little smaller in size.  My younger sister and her family have moved to Arizona.  My son is also in Arizona right now working (mostly playing, but on his off time working.) My neice and her husband are now living in Atlanta and her older brother and his wife were working.  My other nephew/son (we like to claim him as our own as often as we can) went home to spend time with his family in AZ, so we were fewer in number.  It is interesting to watch and see how family changes as time goes.  The kids grow up and everyone moves on with their lives.  I miss the old family get to-gethers.  I love when everyone is here.  We usually go to my aunt's house after our B-B-Q to watch fireworks, but we didn't this year as they had had them on Saturday.  I missed doing that and seeing my cousins and their families too!  This was a different year, but I really still enjoyed it.  I love the 4th of July.  I think it's one of (if not) my favorite holiday.  The weather cooperates in July and everyone always seems to be so happy.  This year, after we got home from our Family B-B-Q, we sat on our deck and watch fireworks.  They were beautiful against the twighlight sky as the stars were just coming out.  Just so relaxing!

Sam, Hannah, and I  were able to go to a rodeo that is nearby our house on Saturday night and it was a lot of fun. It was small but well worth it.  I loved how they always rever the flag and it seems much more patriotic than so many of the other things we've done.  Everyone seems to get into the spirit of things and we had a down right good time.

Sunday we enjoyed singing hymns that were patriotic and had a down day at home.  Totally loved this, although I missed seeing my kids.

On Monday we took Hannah golfing and started the day with an interesting game.  We played at a nearby course that is all on hills.  You golf up one hill and then down the next.  Hannah didn't have much fun, but we had a good time watching her and driving the carts up and down the hills, and the scenery was beautiful.  We were surrounded by wheat and safflower fields.  I lost my ball a couple of times and hope the farmers didn't mind me going out into their fields to get them.  All in all I'd have to say that it was a fun holiday and I loved being with family.

Counting Calories

Okay, I know it isn't a wonderful subject, especially during summer.  However, I've tried just about everything and still can't seem to lose the weight.  I've done the green smoothie thing, the protein diet thing, the salads for every meal thing, and anything else I can get my hands on.  So I finally went to see a friend's husband who is a dietitian.  He and I had a good talk and I am now counting calories.

What amazed me was how I thought I was eating so smart and taking in just fruits and vegies in the green smoothies, but boy do the calories add up.  And I was having at least 2 a day.  I do still think that eating more vegetables is good, however I think I will be cutting down on a lot of the fruits.  It seems that this is where most of the calories are coming from.

I also like the fact that although I'm counting calories, I can eat most whatever I want (within reason).  If I eat something high in calories this morning, then I have to really behave the rest of the day.  So needless to say, no pancakes and such.  I really enjoy just a couple of eggs and I'm good to go.  I was also short on my calories yesterday by 100 calories, so if I go over by a couple of calories today, then it all equals out in the long run.  I feel more in control and maybe this is what I've needed all along.  I will tell you that I am much more aware of what goes into my mouth and I don't seem to be mindlessly eating as I go through the day.   Hopefully this will help and I will let you all know how it is going as I walk this journey I call weight loss!!

I also got this cool new food scale and am excited to use it.  Pretty cool huh?!!!

Lazy Days of Summer

I've been enjoying having Hannah home for the last week and a half.  She attended EFY all last week and this week we've been hanging out together.  She is alot of fun.  Yesterday she walked my legs off, literally.  At her 6 foot 1 inch her stride is pretty good.  We went shopping and walked the equivalent of 2 malls.  I was so dog tired when we got home, but it was tons of fun. 

Today we decided to just hang out. (What that means), we had a movie marathon.  First she wanted to watch Monster House.  Cute show.  I've seen it before and it was just as cute the 2nd time.  Then we watched our favorite "Pride and Prejudice".  It seems like we watch this one at least a couple of times a month.  I had to laugh when Hannah commented on how she wishes society was a little more like it used to be.  She really likes how the women used to wear dresses and were feminine.  I can't picture it to be honest.  I guess I've spent too many years wearing jeans.  However, like her, I do wish society was a bit more courteous and well mannered. 

I like these lazy days just hanging out.  We don't have many big plans this summer and I'm kinda glad.  I won't have too many summers like this left with her.  Before you know it she will be off to college and doing her own thing.  I think I'll take advantage while I can!!

Memorial Day

I love Memorial Day.  It is a day to reminisce about family and those who have helped shape our lives.  I remember as a kid hating it though.  We always had to travel to Henefer then to Ogden, then to Brigham City to decorate the graves of my grandparents and great grandparents.  It seemed like it took all day.  What I wouldn't give to do it again with my brother and sisters.  (He's touching me - Are we there yet?, How much longer?)

We would go to Henefer to decorate the graves of my great-grandparents.  I never knew them.  My grandmother didn't even know them.  Her mother died when she was born and her father died when she was just 18 months old.  She had been raised by her grandparents with her aunt as her sibling.  They had a hard life on the farm, but a wonderful life.  She was a funny lady with a very dry wit.  She could sew anything.  She used to make her own patterns.  If her girls wanted a new fancy dress like the one's in the store window, she would make her pattern and they would get their dress, and it would be every bit as beautiful as the ones at the store.  She loved her grandparents that raised her and she would tell us stories about them.  I'm grateful she would bring them to life so that we could know them a little.

Her husband - my grandfather on my mother's side died of cancer when I was 10.  There are a few things I remember about him.  He walked with a waddle, because the small toe of one of his feet had been broken and never set right, so he waddled.  He would always watch the world series.  It was one of his favorite things to do.  He would bet us a nickel as to who would win.  I think he did this so we would be quiet and watch it with him, but we thought it was fun to do such a grown-up thing.  He also always had rum-flavored lifesavers for us to eat.  We would go to their house on the 24th of July and walk with all of my aunts and uncles and cousins to the Ogden City parade.  It was so fun!

My father's parents were also in our lives, though I didn't know them quite as well, and I am sorry for that.  I do remember that my grandmother was a gardener.  She could grow anything.  She even had a lemon tree that really produced in her kitchen along with a banana tree (I never saw any bananas on it).  That was quite a feat in Utah.  Her flower gardens were huge and beautiful.  She had so many kinds of flowers.   I remember going to their house and she would have ordering books out to order new bulbs for the next fall.  She also had so many books on her bookshelves.  I guess that's where I got my love of reading from.  I didn't get her talent for growing things.  I usually kill plants.  My sister got that talent.  My grandmother's house always smelled like perking coffee or burnt popcorn.  She used to pop her popcorn on the stove top in a cast iron frying pan.  I don't drink coffee, but to this day I love the smell.  I don't mind the smell of burnt pop corn either as they are wonderful memories.

She also helped with my great grandparents, and so I knew them before they died.  They were small, frail, and white haired before I knew them, but I always felt loved by them. 

My grandfather lost part of his leg when my father was in high school.  He was a very hard working man and I know that is where my father got his work ethic, which he has passed on to us his children.  My grandfather had deep red hair and freckles.  He was a kindly man and liked to work with motors and engines.  He could fix almost anything given time.  I got to know him a little better than my grandmother as he lived with my parents for a year or so before he died.  He was lonely for my grandmother and had decided he was done.  So he stopped eating and drinking and willed himself to die.  He was gone in 3 days.   

I was truly blessed in my life to have known these wonderful people that helped shape my life.  I love Memorial Day.  I like taking the time to remember.

Back to School????

I realize that my last post seemed a little whiny, so sorry.  I'm more upbeat today even though it's raining.  I've made up my mind and I feel at peace with what I am about to do.  I'm going back to school, there I've said it.  I'm a little (more like a whole lot) scared, but I think it will be fun too.  I talked to S about it and decided that I will never make the kind of money he does, no matter what I go into, but I can be a force for good in our society.  I heard a talk at Women's Conference once given by Sherri Dew about how once our kids are grown and on their way we need to contribute to society, so I think this is the way for me.

Once my mind was made up, I found a car - not the one I blogged about getting a few months ago, but one that will be a good commuter car.  We bought a used Toyota Corolla that I can use.  I will be selling my car that I am driving now and that way I will be cutting my car payment down a whole lot and I'll also be saving money on gas.  This money I can then put towards school.  I feel like I'm a kid again, having to sacrifice to make it through school.  But in the end it will be worth it, and I can really show my children that it can be done, not matter how old you are.

Right now I am leaning towards getting a Masters degree in Social Work so that I can go into Family Counseling.  I figure who better to do counseling than a mom.  I will have 4 years of getting my bachelor's degree and then if I get good enough grades, I can go to the UofU  into their one-year program and get my Masters degree.  I know it's a long time, but where else will I be in 5 years???  Sitting home reading books and looking at 4 walls (I don't think so).  Anyway that is the plan for now.  I will let you all know how it's going along the journey.

What an adventure this is going to be!!

Girlfriends. . . . .

Last night as I layed in bed talking to my husband, I came to realize that even though he is my best friend, I truly need girlfriends!!  Bless his heart, he tries, but since moving up here and not having girlfriends around I have come to depend on him more and more.  But I miss having someone I can vent to that can sympathizes and understands (how do you vent to your own husband when he's driving you nuts?).  Someone I can laugh with until I almost pee my pants, someone I can cry with and it's okay, because it doesn't have to be fixed.  Someone that knows exactly what I'm feeling, because she's been there or she's also going through it.  Someone that I can go and do girl things with.  A friend that will not judge too harshly when I make mistakes, and that will let me love her in return. 

We were taking Logan to the airport so he could return to Arizona after selling his car yesterday and we were talking.  I noticed that he (my kind husband) kept getting quieter and quieter.  Before I knew it, he was asleep and there I was talking away.  I had decided yesterday that finally and for reals I'm going back to school.  I can't see wasting time just sitting around the house without anything to do anymore.  I need to be a force for good in our society and one way to do that is by going back and getting a degree and then moving on.  Anyway, I was so excited and I kept going on and on about different things that would change because of this decision.  I asked his opinion, like I would have a girlfriend, and he would say "whatever you want" or "why do you need my opinion?" or "do you want me to make this decision for you?".  I just needed that sounding board that a girlfriend gives you and no matter how hard he tried (and I know he was doing his best, but) - it wasn't there.  I think this is the one thing that I've missed the most because of our move.  I had so many dear friends in South Weber I could talk to and I miss you all.  Hopefully I will make a close friend soon, but I know that these kinds of relationships take time.  But I also know that Heavenly Father knows our needs and I know he will bless me with a dear friend, I just need to be open to others and I will find her.

This was my vent session until I can find a girlfriend to talk to. . . Thanks for your understanding.

Spring - I think. . .

Well, here it is May 6th and it's snowing.  I woke up to beautiful sunshine, but I knew it wouldn't last too long.  There were rain clouds on the horizion and the wind was already blowing, but I sat at my front window looking at the beauty that I'm surrounded with.  The fields are getting green and all of the baby farm animals are being born.  It's so fun to see them running and playing with their mom's in the fields.

The blue sky is now gone and it is snowing.  Nothing is sticking, but it has turned cold again.  I love when the sunshine comes back. I know we need the rain though or our crops will be in trouble this summer.

Hannah has a new little piglet.  She decided to name him Charlie.  He is a cute little pig and he even ate out of her hand.  She needs to gain his trust so that he will do what she needs this fall at the fair.  Once she gains his trust, he will be able to walk with her and gain more muscle weight.  It will be an interesting summer watching this happen.  It will be a learning experience for them both.  I look forward to watching my daughter grow and learn.  It's amazing what having an animal does.  It not only teaches responsibility, but it teaches compassion amongst a whole lot of other things.  What fun for her.  I know she is already dreading the day she has to sale him at the county fair auction.  She said she will be crying - I'll be right next to her crying also. 

What a beautiful life I have been blessed with.

New Hobbie

Ok, so since my last post it has taken a couple of days to get moving again. To go up and down stairs was pure torture. However, I'm trying to get back at it so that I won't be so sore next time Hannah takes me for a run.

So, I'm so excited. I've got a new hobby. I'm selling Cake Platters on Etsy.com. I have a link to the left here so that anytime anyone wants to see what I'm selling it will be there. Here are just a few of the one's I've put together so far. It's been pretty fun putting these together and I'm hoping they sell (you know, the fun money and all.) Hannah helped pick out some of the colors and we

had fun just doing this together.

They make great wedding and shower gifts and are fun for those neighborhood parties. Anyway here's hoping that this will be a success! If anyone wants to contact me instead of buying off my site, just give me holler and I'll be glad to make one up for you!!

So Outta Shape

So we took Hannah to the specialist at the UofU on Friday. Her brain is healing, though not as quickly as we were hoping. Thus - no Spring soccer and no more hurdles (I can't say that I will miss her doing the hurdles.) He wants her to begin light running this is where I came in. Today she wanted to do a light run. To her this is around 2 or 3 miles. Oh my heck!! Can I just tell you I am sore already. I was able to run about a mile and I walked a mile and a half. Bless her heart, she just kept right on being positive even when I told her I was going to passout. She'd just say, come on mom you can do it. I thought by the time I got home I was going to die. Guess what I didn't and I'm pretty proud of what I did today. I think I'll keep trying and see how it goes. I've been reading a friend's blog and boy she's really been working out. I read and try to get inspired, but I think Hannah is going to be alot more inspiring. When I got really tired she got behind me and pushed. What a gal. You've got to love daughters like this. They believe in you and help you out. I'm so blessed to have her and maybe, just maybe I'll finally get back in shape!!

Spring has sprung. It's been fun seeing all of the sweet baby animals here. On Sunday we went to the neighbors and they had little baby lambs that weren't even 24 hours old. Hannah got to try and feed them with a bottle and had a great time. It was a new experience for her.

We will be starting on the yard soon and it will be nice to finally see something besides dirt. I hope we will get trees and flowers in soon too! I think this will be keeping us busy for awhile. It's amazing how starting over takes alot of energy, not to mention money. I forgot how nice it was to have everything done in a way we liked. Now - starting over. I just hope it doesn't take us quite as long as our last yard took. I think I must be getting old with this type of thinking. I will post pictures as we go.

8-Cow Woman

So last week we had our RS Birthday Party. It was alot of work, but truly it was alot of fun. We based it on becoming an 8-cow woman. We had 6 Speakers and they held their short 10-minute classes in different rooms.

Our first speaker was the HOLY COW. She spoke on Scripture study and gave us ideas on making Scripture study fun for the whole family. She re-wrote the Sam I Am book by Dr. Suess and made it Mr Snooks. It talked about how he didn't like to read those books. Really a well done job.

Our second speaker was COW TIPPING. She spoke on entertainment on a budget for your Honey-bee and New-bee dating. She had alot of good ideas for FHE fun and also things to do to keep the kids entertained when you can't make it out on dates. She talked about doing family show nights and making your livingroom into a theater. She had so many good ideas.

Our next speaker was the CASH COW. She spoke on living within your means. She had so many examples of how she had bartered at different times in her life. She even told of how they paid their baby doctor with half a beef and 2 quilts as payment for the delivery of her first son. And he isn't that old, so people are still willing to barter these days. I guess you just have to not be afraid of asking. She also told of how she has never paid for a hair cut - she barters for those also. What an inspiration. I think I need to find a talent I can barter with.

Our fourth speaker was THE COW THAT JUMPED OVER THE MOON. This sister talked on setting realistic goals and not trying to do more than is needful. I think we all tend to think we need to be super-woman and this really put that into perspective. I need to set better goals.

The next cow was DON'T BE A MAD COW. She talked on taking time for yourself. She gave several neat recipes (all natural) on facials and hair treatments. She talked on how we need to take time to renew ourselves so that we will be able to have the energy to take care of others. We need to restore the water in our wells so that we can give to others. I think this is something we all forget to do.

Our sixth cow was TIL THE COW'S COME HOME. She talked on taking each day at a time and enduring to the end. She is a sister in our ward that lost her husband 14 years ago. She is such an inspiration to me. She is always happy and doing for others. She bore her sweet testimony of the Gospel and how if we live the commandments we will be bless and be able to do what is necessary to endure until we are called home to live with our Heavenly Father once again.

Our last 2 cows we combined. They were GRAZING AND CHEWING THE CUD. This was our luncheon and visiting. We had a wonderful luncheon committee that put together pulled pork salads and along with it we had several flavors of milk as well as yogurt and for desert we had ice cream sandwiches. What alot of fun we had.

One of the neat things that also happened that we hadn't planned on was that our Bishopric got involved. We had asked them to wear overalls. Well that did much more than that. One of the councelors got up between speakers and talked about the difference of a herder and an shepard. He then told the sisters how he has a herd that will follow him and how our bishop is the shepard in our ward and that we need to follow him. They then sheparded us from room to room.

We had a fun filled night that was truly uplifting and alot of fun. It involved alot of people and everyone was so happy to help. I've truly been blessed in my calling to be surrounded by such wonderful people.

Just a Laugh

So, I try to read the blogs that are listed on my site, and today I just had to laugh. Some of the women who write these blogs don't know how much I look forward to hearing what they have to say. I don't have the talent that they seem to have for making small and simple things seem so interesting, and I've come to appreciate them so much!

One is talking about the make up she enjoys, while another talks about her favorite chocolate cupcakes and yet another is talking about how her body doesn't look anything like she wished it did, especially since she had her children. It is so nice to know that I'm not alone in being a woman and that there are others out there that have a knack of putting it all down so that it will bring joy to others. It really does make me laugh to the point of tears sometimes. I will think about these blogs all through the week at different times and they still bring a smile. Isn't it wonderful that we are all so diversified. I think we're pretty lucky and I just have to laugh!!

Our Weekend Getaway

So we went on a little get away this weekend as the weather here hasn't been the best. We took a trip to St. George and then headed down to see my little sister and her family in Page Arizona. We got to see some fun sites that they live close to. Here is Hannah on top of the world. We had fun hiking to Horse Shoe point. It is really beautiful. I'm afraid of heights, but this was too beautiful to hug the wall. I had to get out close to the edge and get some of this on camera. It was well worth it.



There is a boat down there and people were camping. It was a bit cold for me, but hey, more power to them.

Here is my sister, S, her husband and two little boys. And while I was taking this picture, I didn't realize that I had caught H sitting on the edge of a rock. I would have died had I known where she was. I didn't find out until I downloaded my pictures. No wonder I have gray hair!!

This is my nephew climbing on the rocks. He is in heaven at their new home. He is always on the go. My sis will get alot of hiking in with the 2 boys.

This is the whole crew. We went to Wawheap Marina - Lake Powell. They live really close to it also, so we couldn't miss that. It was so fun to have time to throw rocks and just play. It was also fun to see my sister. They moved in August and you'd think she's been gone for 10 years. I miss her a ton!!

H skipped a rock 5 times on the water. She's the bomb. She really knows how to have fun.

I was surprised at how low the water was. It is really down this year!!

My nephew is always treasure hunting. This time he found a feather from the ducks that live around this area of Lake Powell. My sister is really getting a collection of rocks, feathers, shells, etc. He is quite the kid and quite the adventurer!!

On Sunday we went to Snow Canyon and did some hiking. I realize it was the sabbath, and we tried to keep it to a nature walk, but we really enjoyed the warm weather. It was 60 degrees and sunny - something we haven't had in northern Utah for quite awhile. H kept pushing me and we finally made it to the ponds at the end of this hike. They were all empty due to it being winter - even though it felt like Spring.

S caught me at a weak moment and I let him take my picture with H. We were having fun!

We enjoyed the beautiful rocks and scenery that is down in the St. George area. I love the red rock. I think I could retire here someday!

It is a rugged beauty that only Heavenly Father could have created. What a fun weekend!!

New Year - New Attitude

Wow - it's here! I'm so glad to have a New Year and another New start!! We loved the Holidays and enjoyed them greatly!! It was so fun to have the kids up for Christmas and New Year's Eve. We had a blast playing the Wii and doing the Fondue with them and neighbor friends.

Now it's time to get back to the daily tasks. I must say that I'm happy with that too!! I talked with my husband the other day about whether I needed to go back to work, to school, or what it is that I need to do. I haven't been inspired as to what it is yet, but I'm trying to be prepard so when it comes I'll be ready. But we talked about how I'm so content. My whole attitude has changed. I know there are so many things I can't change that have happened in the past, but hopefully I've learned from them and can improve. I love where we are. I love what we're doing, and I love who I'm doing it all with. I know I'm meant to be where we are at this time. It's crazy and I know it sounds trite, but this is the time and place where I need to be right now.

I look at the past and the things that have brought me to where I am. I can't say I'd like to go through my past again, but I feel like someone is really watching out for me. I know they are. I'm so excited to have another year and the adventure it will all be. Here are some of the things I'm looking forward to:

• I'm looking forward to being a grandma this year! I think I'm most excited about that.
• To get my yard planted with the trees in and the flower pots growing.
• To spend this first whole year getting our house to be our house.
• I'm excited to be feeling better. I look forward to a year of healing physically! I really want to get strong again. I refuse to let this disease control me anymore! =)
• To spend more time with my children doing things that will bring us closer as a family.
• To just enjoying life and reflecting more often on how truly blessed I am!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!