Fall is such a gorgeous time of the year. I have to admit that even though winter fallows close behind I do enjoy the Fall colors and the lower temperatures. Neal and I were out feeding the critters and Sprout found some Fall flowers that he started playing with. It was one of those Kodak moments for me.
Abby gave me these darling salt and pepper shakers for my birthday. I actually think Lynda Ann has had them for a while and kept forgetting to give them to me. But it is always fun to get a present no matter when it happens. I just love them! Thanks Abby.
A week ago as I was preparing dinner, I opened a can of olives to put on the table. We all know how very sharp the lids are and any can you open with a can opener. As I was going to pour the olives into the dish, the can began to slip from my hand. I, of course, tried to catch it from falling and in doing so the lids sliced my little finger. When I looked down and saw how long and how deep the cut was I got light headed and needed to sit down. Lynda Ann and Mallory were quickly cleaning up the olives and the blood. Annie had me wrap a towel around my little finger and put pressure on it while she ran out to her car and got her first aide kit. We determined that we didn't need to visit the ER for stitches. Annie wrapped it good and we put a splint on it to keep it perfectly straight. I had a little CTR ring that was impossible to get off at this point. I finally had to go down to Phillips & Co. to get the ring cut off my little finger. There was no way I was going to get it off on my own and because of the swelling, it was very tight on my finger. Well, a week and a half later, my finger is healing nicely. Thanks to Annie for being such a great nurse and taking care of me. So, so, so glad that I didn't have to have stitches. I probably would have past out for sure!
Healing nicely. You can still see the ring indent.
I will never cease to be amazed at the beauty and majesty of God's creations. And I never drive up our street that I don't glance up at the majestic Mount Olympus and thank Heavenly Father for our gorgeous Wasatch Mountain Range. The other night I just happened to step outside and saw the moon just hanging up in the sky. Then, the next night I went outside at dark, just as the moon was peeking over Mt. Olympus.
I've been very unhappy with the mess in our storage room under the front porch. I've wanted to clean it and rearrange everything down there and yes, take some stuff to DI. I finally got Neal enrolled in helping me and we were able to clean it all up. Neal had to buy some boards to strengthen the back shelves that he put in years ago. They were starting to sag a little in the middle so he built supports and installed them under each shelf. Lynda Ann also told me about how she stores some of her holiday china. She puts them in crates which makes them much easier to haul and you can see what dishes you have in the crates. While Neal was fixing the support for the shelves, I was off to Walmart to buy 9 crates for the dishes. I should have taken a picture of before so you could appreciate the after!
Neal and Tucker have been trying to go to all the Utah Football home games this year. It is fun for Neal to have Tucker around who love football and the U of U. Lynda Ann was able to get them tickets at a discount for the first home game of the season. They took the bus from our house to the stadium. They had a fun time and Utah won the game, which makes it even more exciting for them. they said they had great seats. Nice picture of father and son enjoying the excitement of the game.
My family is becoming smaller and smaller. My oldest sister, Nita's youngest daughter Charlene has been suffering with Alzheimer's for a few years and she passed away two weeks ago. It was sad but actually also happy. She won't have to suffer any more. Nor will the family. It would be so hard having a family member not recognize who you are.
This is a picture of Charlene's two older sisters. Barbara Kay is the one on the left in bright pink. Shirlee Rae is the one in the middle. Nita only had the three daughters. Barbara is two years younger than I and Shirlee is seven years younger.
I love this:
"The gift of aging is something we don't always recognize while we're young. We spend so much time worrying about the lines on our faces, the gray in our hair, or the slower steps we take - that we forget what they truly mean.
Wrinkles aren't flaws; they're proof that we've smiled, laughed, and cried through a lifetime of moments. Gray hair isn't something to hide; it's a crown of wisdom earned through years of experience. Slower steps don't mean weakness; they mean we've walked far enough to know that life isn't a race, it's a journey.
The hardest part of growing older is saying goodbye to certain chapters - the noise of children running through the house, the energy of youth, the people we've loved who are no longer here. But the beauty of aging is realizing how rich those chapters were, and how much love we still carry forward.
Aging is not losing time - it is gaining perspective. It is the privilege of seeing the seasons change, of watching children grown into parents, and of knowing that your presence has shaped lives in ways that will last long after you're gone.
The truth is, not everyone gets the gift of aging. Every birthday is not a burden, but a blessing. Every year is another chance to love, to laugh, and to leave behind a legacy of kindness.
Because the gift of aging is simple: It means you were given time. And time is the most precious gift of all."
I just got this picture and text from Maren. Taylor did a 56 mile gravel race and came in first. Unbelievable what that girl can do and what she has accomplished and continues to achieve every day. You are a rock star, Taylor!! Congratulations!
Almost from Salt Lake to Brigham City. Brigham City is a bit further, but only by about 10 miles. That puts things in perspective.
