A weekend that will be long remembered.

What an emotional weekend this has been for Maren's family. Neal and I got a call last night about 9:00 p.m. from Maren telling us that they were being evacuated from their home. There was a fire that had started at Camp Williams from machine gun fire and a spark had set off a brush fire that burned out of control and because of the strong winds came up over the mountain headed right for Herriman City. Maren said they had been watching the fire since about 3 p.m. and saw it getting closer and closer. They moved their cars in the garage and gathered pictures and important papers and went to Greg's sister home to spend the night. Maren called this morning and said that Greg had decided to spend the night at the house. Maren took the kids to Lori's house and put them down for the night and then went back to the house to stay with Greg. The police have now let most of the people back in their homes this morning and the fire seems now to be under control and the winds have stopped moving it forward. There were four home burned to the ground. Maren said the fire had come within 20' of their neighbors home.

We love you Maren, Greg and family and are grateful to our Heavenly Father that all is well with your family and your home!

Maren sounded exhausted when she called this morning. I didn't realize how emotional I was until I hung up from getting the news that all was well and the tears welled up in my eyes. I got up at 3:30 a.m. and prayed that all would be well with, especially Maren and her family, but all the other people in that area as well. I feel our family was blessed and taken care of and I am so thankful for that.

Neal and I tried to get some pictures but the distance was too great for my little camera so I took some off the news.

I laughed so hard I couldn't breathe!

This cartoon has to be my all time favorite cartoon . There have been so many times in my life, and sadly seems to be more and more of them, where I think, "Did I miss that?", "Was I supposed to be somewhere?"

I'm not now and never have been a calendar keeper. I don't make lists of things I need to do and put them in priority and keep them in a planner. I've tried that and it just doesn't work for me because more than half the time my planner isn't with me! I don't write down my 'have to do's' and 'going to do's' today, tomorrow, next week or next month. I some how am usually able to keep them filed in my brain and be where I need to be and have done what I need to have done!

My children have learned that I like a heads up notice and I will often ask them to give me a call the day before or the day of to make sure I don't miss out on something they or the grandchildren are doing. I'm afraid I have to admit that some times I am a bit scattered. The amazing thing is that most of the time I'm able to keep track of what needs to be done and am pretty good about accomplishing assignments or needs on time and being where I'm supposed to be.

I have noticed that since I've been made the stake relief society president I have found it necessary to keep a 'church' calendar of the meetings , what time, where and also what wards I'm supposed to be visiting on any given Sunday or what relief society activity I have been invited to attend during the week. My mind just can't possibly keep all that organized!

But all that aside - I love this posted cartoon and hope that when you look at it, you will also catch the humor in it as I did.

The Scouter

The scouter returning home from a over night camp.

You have to see this coin in person to catch the beauty and detail. Sorry the top picture is sideways. I need more tutoring from Jamie! :-)

We all know how much Neal loves scouting. He breathes, eats and lives scouting. His greatest joy is working with the young boys and getting them excited about getting merit badges that will lead them to their eagle project and eventually their eagle scout award. All four of our boys received their eagle scout whether they wanted to or not!

Ron Stanfield came by our home the other night with an early birthday present for Neal. This year is the 100 years of scouting celebration. Ron found out that there was a dollar coin being minted in celebration of this event in the scouting world. I don't know the whole story but he had to pull some strings, even contacting someone in Las Vegas to get one of these coins and probably had to pay a nice price. He knows Neal and knows of his great love for scouting. So Neal's early birthday present was the scout coin. Needless to say Neal was as excited, surprised and most grateful. What a thoughtful gift from a thoughtful friend to a guru scouter. Thank you Ron!!!

Bella

Now seriously, isn't that the cutest picture ever?

I know that blogging about my dog probably isn't the most interesting thing that someone would want to read about nor would there be any words of wisdom to come out of this entry about my dog. But, I have to say that she is such a part of mine and Neal's life and home that once in a while it seems appropriate and OK to add her to my journal of entries.

The other day, I noticed that I hadn't seen her for quite some time, so I called for her but got no response. So began the search. I had to stop and think for a moment if I had let her out and maybe forgot she was out there and just maybe she had wandered off or was sitting by the back door patiently waiting for someone to let her in. But that wasn't the case this time. I started looking through the house and remembered that the last place I had seen her was going into our walk in closet. As I walked into the closet, I noticed a slight movement from under my clothes and there lay Bella taking a very peaceful nap. I had to run and get my camera because she looked so cute laying under my dresses and on top my shoes. I've now become aware that she will often go in there to sleep when she knows that I am leaving and not taking her with me.

Relief Society Craft Night

Me being very excited that I accomplished all I did without the help of Annie. Annie, aren't you proud of me?

I don't know that Relief Society Craft Night is really the proper name but that is what I came up with for now. I don't usually attend those for obvious reasons to those who know me well. But they had a couple of projects that I thought I might be able to do and with my new calling I felt like I need to support my home ward when I can. I signed up for three different things. Two were sewing machine projects which I can always do with confidence. The other was questionable but surprisingly enough it turned out quite well. Annie would be proud of me. However she would probably notice that some of the names are not quite centered, but that's OK. All in all it was a fun night and I was able to complete two of the projects completely and the third one I brought home to finish here. P.S. I can't tell you what they are because some of them are Christmas presents.

Football Saturday

Jaden and Pa
Greg and Neal

Neal and I were able to attend Jaden's football game out in Stansbury. He was fun to watch. He was aggressive, made a number of tackles, carried the ball and really stayed focused in the game. He has the potential of becoming a good athlete if that is where his interest take him. Way to go Jaden. We loved watching you play.

A Walk Down Memory Lane

7 years old

Fall is absolutely my favorite season of the year. I love the cool nights, the beautiful colors of nature bringing in the winter season and the wonderful memories the season always brings with it. Coming home from work today I felt the crisp fall air and noticed a couple bushes on Mt. Olympus already beginning to turn red. My mind took be back in time to those fall days when I was a little girl full of imagination and make believe. One of my fondest memories was playing in the fall leaves that had drifted to the ground. I would design a house out of the leaves by raking them into rows representing walls of my imaginary house. I would have quite a house plan by the time I was finished even having door ways between rooms and a front and back door. Then I would get all my doll furniture and my dolls and haul them outside placing the furniture in the appropriate room. Then the dolls would be put in their beds or on a chair, or the high chair. I would play for hours in my pretend house of leaves being the mother taking care of all my 'children'. (Who, by the way, all had names.) My dolls were very real to me.

I have to add that raking the leaves into rows also proved a win/win situation for my mother because it made it very easy to bag them and leave them out for the garbage pick up. We had huge trees along the front of our home so there never seemed to be a shortage of leaves and they always seem to last until the first snow fall. I would love to have a picture of one of my leaf houses but the picture will only have to be in my memory.

Another Hayley moment

Emmi on her kind of new bike that her Aunt Lila Mae gave her.

This is the skirt I made for Hayley. And while out to their home I heard another Hayley story.

Jeff was watching the movie The Patriot. Hayley walked in and asked her dad what he was doing. Jeff tells her that he is watching The Patriot. Hayley says, "Oh, that must be about the Revolutionary War." Jeff looked at her and said, "I know it is about the Revolutionary War but, how do you know that?" Hayley says, "Well because we were called Patriots during the Revolutionary War." So Jeff thought for a minute and said, "Do you even know what the Revolutionary War was all about? Hayley said, " Yes, that is when we were fighting for our freedom." By this time Jeff is totally amazed and says, "Well who were we trying to get freedom from?" Hayley very matter of fact said "England" and turned around and walked out of the room. This is our little Einstein 2nd grader.

Sunday

Sunday was one of those days when you come away with your soul touched, your testimony increased and your well filled to the top. For some reason, I have really been missing my mother lately. I think partly because of this new calling and wishing I could run to Provo and talk to her about it. I greatly miss her words of solace, wisdom and understanding and mostly sensing and accepting the mood I happen to be in. It has been seven years this last July that she passed away. One of the sisters in our ward stood up and talked about her mother and how she missed her. It was a sweet moment for me to relate to her words and feel with her the loss of a mother. I thought about my five younger children and wondered how often they have moments of sadness that their mother was taken from them so early in their lives. I've thought about my roll in their lives as the 'new mother' and wondered (as I often do) if I have come close to being the mother Judy would have been. I am grateful for memories, for pictures, for journals. Those to me, are the little mercies, the small gifts given to us as we experience our lonely moments. It is nice to know that the sun is always there behind those clouds and the sunshine will appear after the storm.

Then in Gospel Doctrine our lesson was on Jonah. Remember the story? Jonah was called by the Lord to go preach to the people of Nineveh. Remember what a wicked, wicked people they were. Jonah runs as far as he can in the other direction, even getting on a ship to take him across the waters. A storm comes up and he is swallowed by a great whale and three days later is cast upon the shores. I couldn't help but think of the times when I have received callings in my life when I've wanted to run as fast as I could in another direction but after much soul searching, prayer and going to the temple, like Jonah, I repent, accept the calling and am cast upon the shore to do the Lords will. Why do we doubt our abilities? Why do we have to swallowed in doubt before we humble ourselves and trust that whatever help or talents we may need, the Lord will provide. I love that Bible story.

Yes, Sunday was a great day!!

Music - a wonderful gift!

Me and Annette - taken after one of our performances. Annette was 5 years older than I.

Hey Abby, this is what Gam looked like without wrinkles! :-)
This last Sunday was Fast Day. As a presidency we decided that we would always be in our home ward for our three hour block. It was nice to actually go in the same car with Neal to our meetings and be able to sit together and enjoy the meeting. Neal likes to sit at the front of the chapel and like most people we have a particular area that we usually gravitate to. As the meeting began, I noticed that there was no one sitting up on the stand to lead the singing. The opening announcements were made and Brother Elder sat down. I looked at the Bishop who had just noticed that Pat (our chorister) was not there. We caught each others look of panic. He nodded to me and I pointed to myself with the question; you want me to go up there and lead?" It was a definite "Yes" nod. So I quickly grabbed a hymn book and stepped up to the front just as the intro for the hymn was completed. I led the singing for the opening song and as we were singing the last phrase of the last verse in walked Pat. As I sat back down I was grateful for the many hours of music lessons my mother paid for by working an extra job at night cleaning an office. She wanted my sister, Annette, and I to have music a part of our lives. Working the second job she was able to buy a piano and pay for piano lessons for me and singing lessons for Annette. If there was one bond that held Annette and I together through our growing up years it was music. I cannot begin to speculate the hours and hours we spent at the piano with me playing and her singing. Since Annette passed away I haven't kept up on my piano skills but music continually comes to play in my life. Singing in the choir, singing in duets and quartets, leading the singing and even when we go to Mexico there are ample opportunities to play for Sacrament meeting. I continue to marvel at the wisdom and sacrifice made by my mother and how it has benefited my life over and over again.

The Mockingjay

I finished the last of the series of three. I called Emmi to discuss the book with her. She had finished it before I did. We both loved it but agreed that we like the first book the very best. I was curious to see how the author was going to pull all the characters together and have the book end with the author and the reader feeling good. But as the last page is read - all is resolved and the book is closed. I couldn't help but think, that is kind of like our lives. It is a journey full stories of up and downs and set backs but if we keep pushing forward and relying on help from our Author then we should also feel fulfilled and good when we turn the last page of our life's novel.

Cutler's for a swim and visit at Gam and Pa's

Taylor wanted show me that she had learned to do a back bend and a round off. I vaguely remember that I used to be able to get my body to bend like that - but oh so long ago!

Out by the pool watching the kids swim and talking with Maren. Notice Jaden in the back ground.

Boston and Neal watching the BYU / Washington Football game. BYU won! GO COUGARS!!

Is this not the cutest baby?!

Maren came by last night to let the kids swim. I was watching the BYU / Washington football game and told her I would keep Boston with me while she went out to the pool with Jaden, Taylor and Brock. What a huggable, kissable baby he is. Loved playing with him.

Midway Swiss Days

I forgot to mention that we stopped at Cowboy Grub for some great food.

Left to right - Neal, me, Midge and Jim

Jim and Midge, Neal and I as we were leaving Swiss Days
Neal helping out the Relief Society!

Midge, Jim and Neal

Swiss Days is an annual event in Midway, Utah. The town square is lined with rented booths, occupied by people selling every thing possible. Mostly home made products. It would be like going to Quilted Bear only multiply that four or five times. It used to be that the booths covered the perimiter of the square, now every inch of the square is covered plus it has spilled over to the adjoining town property. People from all over Utah come to Swiss Days to sell their wares. The event lasts for the Friday and Saturday preceeding Labor Day Weekend.

Neal had never been so we decided to go on Friday. Midge and Jim gave us a call as we were about the leave and said they wanted to play bridge that evening. When we mentioned that we were going to Swiss Days they asked if they could come along for the adventure. We parked at Lila Mae's and then had Julie's husband shuttle us over. We wandered about four or five rows of booths for about an hour or so and then Midge and Jim were done. We could have kept going for another three hours and still not made it to every booth. Seriously, it is that big. Neal and I ended up buying a couple of puzzles and lots of goodies from the Relief Society baked goods booth.

We went back to Lila Mae's, visited with her for a few minutes and then headed home. We did make a stop at the Park City outlets. Neal wanted to stop in Tommy Bahama's. They were having a 50% off every item in the store for the Labor Day weekend and he just coulding resist.

We ended the day by playing bridge until midnight. It was a very fun day!

Stake Relief Society Presidency

From left to right: Linda - secretary, Emily - 1st Counselor, Lisa - 2nd Counselor and me - President. Organized sustained on Mother's Day.

When the Stake Clerk called our home a week prior to meeting with the Stake President I knew immediately that I was going to be called as the Stake Relief Society President. I had know idea that the current presidency was being released so the thought was total inspiration. I have to acknowledge that the Holy Ghost is giving us time to prepare to accept the callings. There have been so many times in my life when I have been asked to serve and I already knew what I was being called for. I certainly needed a little preparation time for this one. The Lord and I had some lengthy discussions and after going to the temple - I was convinced. After the calling was extended, I went home with a very humble and prayerful heart. Now, I needed to choose my counselors and secretary and President Parry asked me to consider sisters that were not in my home ward. I was given a roster of all the current temple endowed sisters in the stake. The process for me was humbling, enlightening and in some ways, a miracle. The Lord certainly had a hand in helping me choose the sisters that were to be called. That was very evident. We have now been serving a little over three months and have grown together as a unified presidency. Each one brings their own strengths and when you combine those strengths it is amazing what can be accomplished. How grateful I am for this calling and the spiritual growth that I can see happening.

Lynda Ann called me last night and said that she had finally finished getting things ready for a baby shower she was hosting. I told her to take pictures of her creations and send them to me. I always love her ideas and creations. I will be hosting a baby shower in October so I told her she might as well plan on making the same things for me. She also made sugar cookies in the shape of little baby feet and frosted them. Can you believe how cute that bear is? If I tried creating that it would end up looking like a bunch of baby towels all rolled up resembling rolled up baby towels! I clearly remember going to a relief society work day with Lynda Ann. We were making Christmas decorations. They were wood ones and needed to be painted. Well I picked up one of the trees and started painting it green. Now we are talking about just the base coat, nothing elaborate mind you. Lynda was sitting next to me doing hers. She glanced over and said, "Mom, why don't you put that down and you just go visit with all the ladies and I'll do our decorations." I just smiled and did just that. I had a grand time visiting with everyone while Lynda Ann did all the work. You see, crafts are just not my forte' and Lynda Ann is well aware of that. Thanks, Lynda, for taking such good care of me and always making me look good (and crafty)!

River James Goss

Of course every grandchild must play a tune on the piano. River was making up some song for his bunny.

River sniffing the flowers just after Bella did.

River and Cuddly Bunny

I was tending River for a few hours and when I picked him up from the day care he had his bunny with him that he so fondly refers to as Cuddly Bunny. I ask him why he called his bunny cuddly and he said it was because he is cuddly. Good enough for me.

I took River with me while I walked Bella and it was intersting to watch his mind and imagination working. He tried to do everything that he saw Bella doing. If Bella walked along the curb, River did the same. If Bella stopped to sniff the flowers, River would stoop down and sniff the flowers. If Bella started to run, River would run. If Bella just stopped to sniff the air, River would do the same. It was priceless. I just had to hope that River didn't try and 'go' on the lawn. I love to watch children play and use their imaginations. My childhood was full of wonderful adventures.

Ah, those glorious days of high school!

This is Emmi at 14 and just beginning her 4 year high school career.

This is myProvo High School Sophmore picture - 1959

I just received an email from our eldest granddaughter, Emmi. Her email so reminded me of my first year of high school. Anticpation, anxiety, excitement and, of course, the greatest fears of not finding you locker or your classroom and/or not being able to get your combination to work. Like most things in life, once you get the routine mastered then it is all so easy and you look back and wonder what the nerves were all about. Didn't we all have dreams where we couldn't find our locker or we would find it but nothing would work. Also the dreams of getting to school and finding you are not completely dressed! Or trying to get ready for school and not being able to find your slip or even worse, your dress! I look back with fond memories and loved those years. But, I love where I am in my life now and have no desire to go back and repeat them. And, of course, the question always seems to come up, "Would I do the same thing again if I had it to do over?" Yes, absolutely. I wouldn't change anything.

Here is Emmi's email:

"Hey GAM! I just read you blog, it is very nice. I have started High School, and I couldn't be happier. I have Seminary first thing in the morning on my B-Day, and English on the S-Day. Yeah, our schedule is the B-S schedule. I really don't think they thought that one through all the way, it's like they are trying to have students mock them. I absolutely love my Seminary class. I have a few friends in there and a few people from Young Women's in there. My first day there, the seminary student body president came up to me and was very nice. Then, a teacher came up to me. He asked what my name was, I told him Emmi, and he said, " Oh, like the Academy Award?" . I told him that I was named after my great grandmother, but I always feel special when they announce the Emmy awards on TV. I am also taking all honors classes. I have noticed that a lot of the people that were at the charter school are in most of my honors classes. The only problem that I have is that there are way to many people. We have over 2000 people, nearly 2500 is what I heard a couple of times. We also have over 500 Freshman! It takes me a long time to get to a class that is right across the hall from my locker. But, overall, I really like it there. Love you tons, see you soon, Emmi Girl"

As I've looked back at my report cards from high school, I have to smile. I must have been quite the 'Chatty-Kathy'. My report cards were full of A-'s and B+'s. Apparently they would have been higher but comments by my grades were: "Grade lowered for talking too much in class", "Jeannie needs to learn to not talk in class", etc. I honestly don't remember being such a little socialite but apparently I was. Even some of my seminary grades were lowered just a bit for talking. I think Emmi will be a great student and continue to do very well and I'm sure will not be prone to be as talkative as her gam was.

Hayley Anne

Each one of my grandchildren has come to our family with their own unique personality and have each been given special gifts and talents. I enjoy each one and will probably at one time or another write about them. Right now I want to focus on Hayley. Her Uncle Tucker lovingly calls her 'Jeffrina' because she looks just like her dad. Like her dad, she is left handed, has brown eyes, wears glasses and is extremely intelligent. Her mind is going a mile a minute and she doesn't miss much when there is an adult conversation going on. She listens intently and will always have some input if allowed. Her dad, Jeff, called me with a perfect example of what I'm trying to say. I hope I can repeat the story accurately.

Jeff said he had just arrived home from work and was telling Lynda Ann about an incident that had happened and had been on going at work. Apparently a lady (we will call her Ethel) at his office was taking food out of the office refrigerator (that didn't belong to her) and taking it home to her children. This had been going on for a while. There was an email from HR addressing the issue, but not naming names. Jeff told Annie that one of co-workers kept a big bowl of fruit on her desk for the office personnel to help themselves to (kind of like having a candy dish only she preferred fruit). She had witnessed Ethel taking the fruit, when she thought no one was watching, and putting it in her back pack to take home to her kids. Ethel would also grab any food left over from presentations and take it home; even taking a whole pizza that was left over rather than leaving it for the office to share the next day. As Jeff finished telling Annie he noticed that Hayley was sitting there listening and had raised her hand. Jeff smiled and said, "Yes, Hayley, did you have something you wanted to say?" Hayley looked at Jeff and said, "I know how to solve that problem." Jeff just smiled and asked her what she would do. Hayley said, "Well, I think the lady should just just bring her kids to the office to eat the food !" Out of the mouth of babes.

Another darling story about Hayley happened toward the end of the school year. The teacher was lecturing on math. She noticed that Hayley had her hand up the whole time she was talking and finally at the end of her comments she said, "Yes, Hayley, did you have a question?" Hayley said, "No, I just had my hand up in case you asked a question because I knew I would know the answer!" How's that for confidence.

The last and best of all (I think). Hayley came home with some spelling words that she had to use in a sentence. One of her spelling words was 'think'. Jeff had been giving her a bad time about something and teasing her a bit. So she wrote this sentence: "I think my dad is obnockshus." Is that not priceless and phonetically spelled right.

Hayley, you are priceless to me and I love you!

If you look really close you can just see the second rainbow just above the first one. And if you look even closer you will notice the colors in the second one are reversed! Another sign of God's miracles!

I love Rainbows

I absolutely love rainbows! These are pictures taken after a rain storm from our back patio. Can you believe that beautiful view of Mt. Olympus (which I climbed to the top of last year) with that gorgeous rainbow arching over the top. What a magestic picture and evidence of God's work. What I couldn't get a complete picture of was the fact that the rainbow was complete to the other side. My camera just couldn't get the whole rainbow in one shot. There is actually a double rainbow that you can just barely see. How can one look at a rainbow and not acknowlege that there is a God, that he loves us and that he created this beautiful world for us.

Good friends are some of the gems of life

Jim and Midge Frye

Last night we got together with Fryes and had dinner and played bridge. Neal and I love getting together with these two great people. Jim is the kind of person who can always make you laugh. He knows just the right quote or joke for just the right moment. His timing is explicit. Often times when he starts telling a joke, I'm laughing hard before he even gets to the punch line. Midge is the perfect match for Jim. I'm sure she has heard most of his sayings many times over but she always laughs along with the rest of us. She adds her own little tid-bits every now and then. We have been to St. George, Mexico and Scofield with them and numerous evenings of getting together for a light dinner and bridge. They are GREAT friends and we love them!

Ye old tobacco staff!

From left to right: Emily, Chelsea, Brittney, Tiffany, Andrea, Brianna, and me.

Every now and again the group gets together for lunch, to reminise old times, catch up on our lives and renew our friendships. This was one of those rare groups that worked together in an office, shared common values and genuinely loved each other. As we picniced I couldn't help but notice the contrast in age between me and all of them. Probably on the average of 30+ years that I am older. Age is an interesting thing. I used to hear my mother say, "My get up and go has got up and went" or "My mind is still young but my body is old and the two are not agreeing." I'm slowly beginning to understand exactly what she meant. Sitting with all those young girls didn't make me feel older, it made me feel as if I were the same age in body but with the added years of experience and wisdom. I don't feel like I've slowed down at all, but have I? Is aging something so gradual that you don't notice it until all of a sudden you are aware that you can't walk as fast as you used to or you can't take the stairs two at a time, or it is harder to get up and down off the floor? I remember Lynda Ann telling me, a few years back, that Abby (my granddaughter) asked, "I wonder what Gam looked like without any wrinkles?" We laughed about it but I remember going to the mirror and realizing that I do have wrinkles. When did they show up? Sigh . . . But, I am very healthy and I'm so grateful for that. I have a zest and a love for life and even though I may be older in age and even (have to admit) look older, I am still young at heart and feel I have all the energy to keep up with a full time job, my church calling and all my many interests and projects.

The work place

I work at the Salt Lake County Environmental Health Division in the Water Quality/ Hazardous Waste Bureau. It is a wonderful place to work and I love my job. That said, the other day one of our supervisors, Kevin, made the comment that a new employee needed to be fitted with a hard hat. One of the secretaries said, "We don't have hard hats." Kevin very innocently said, "Well you're just support staff and you don't need them." Well, that little word "just" got him into a lot of grief and teasing. Of course he tried to back track but to no avail. After a couple of days he brought each of the secretaries a little steel toed boot (that is another required item for our inspectors) with a cute little saying attached to it to say he was sorry about his use of words. (He did admit that his wife helped him with the idea and the note.) We all had a good laugh. We still have to give him a bad time every now and then.

Never ending sewing projects

And cute Peyton chose blue and pink. She couldn't decide on just one color. The light purple trimming was much more flattering than the blue or pink so I am hoping she is OK with the purple trim.

Lexi chose tourquois. I think her skirt is my favorite.

Jordyn Lyn chose red. I wonder if she really likes red or chooses red because her dad LOVES red! Humm, wonder if that has something to do with "Go Utes?!"

Hayley chose purple and couldn't believe that I even had to ask because purple is her color! I thought it was orange. Silly me.

Abby chose pink
It is certainly my favorite color.


I always manage to have a couple of projects waiting as I'm finishing one. I have a good friend, Sally, who loves to do projects like I do and what she doesn't come up with, I do. She called me last Friday night all excited about some darling skirts she had just made for her two granddaughters and was sure that when I saw them, I would want to make some. Well, she was right. I went to the fabric store and bought enough material to make five of them. One for the following granddaughters: Abby, Hayley, Jordyn Lyn, Lexi and Peyton. They are specifically designed for little girls so that eliminates the older granddaughters. I made two on Saturday and made the other three tonight. I need to put the elastic in the top of three of them and I'm waiting for my daughter-in-law to send me their waist measurements so I can finish them. Sally wants to show them this Sunday to the sisters in the ward and see if there is any interest for the craft day coming up in October.

I love to read

I have loved to read ever since I can remember. I think my great love for reading was taught to me by my sister, Lila Mae. I would stay with her every summer and she always had me reading. My very favorite books were, "A Wagon To A Star", "Polly What's Her Name", "Daddy Long Legs" and of course, "Anne of Green Gables". The biggest problem with me reading is when I get my nose in a good book, I can't put it down. The world spins around me and I am oblivious. Then when the last page is read I have to play 'catch up' on my house work and other projects that have been set aside. I've just finished re-reading two great books that come in a series of three. The third one is due to hit the book stores next week. I wanted to re-read the first two so that I would be reminded of the characters and the happenings as the second book ended. The book is called "The Hunger Games" and "Catching Fire". If you want a really good, fast reading book grab this one off the book shelf or at the library and plan on spending the next 12 hours reading. It is absolutely a page turner.

My daughter-in-law Mindy

My daughter-in-law, Mindy, is a classic. I really do love her. She can make me laugh no matter what mood I happen to be in. She teaches students who have violated school rules for things such as drugs and/or weapons. The schools send them to her and she tries to help them get an education and hopefully get back in to the school they were expelled from. Every once in a while she will send me an email that usually puts me on the floor, I'm laughing so hard. I keep telling her that she needs to write a book of her experiences. Here is a little glimps into one of her emails:

"I’ve got a classroom full of thugs and pot heads right now. They are mostly 9th graders, and a couple of 10th graders. It makes me laugh how they try to lie to me the first couple of days. Like I’m stupid and I’ve never done this before. Sheesh. And I already have two questions on my top 10 list of stupid questions this year…

I handed a girl her work and she looked up and me and said, “So…um… do I have to do this, like, right now?” No sweetheart, why don’t you wait until you’re locked up in DT? That sounds good, huh?

I was talking to a boy about his work and noticed that he had skipped about 20 pages, so I told him to go back and do the pages he hadn’t yet done. He said, “So, I can’t skip pages?” Hmmm… All I can do is shake my head sometimes.

Talk to you later!
Hugs,
Mindy"

I love her emails. They are always so descriptive of what she is dealing with on a day to day basis. Thanks Mindy for always making my day a 'laughing' one. Remember the song from Brear Rabbit and the Tar Baby? Brear Rabbit sings, "Everybody's got a laughing place." Well, you are my laughing place!

Bella

I have to admit that I love dogs. I don't remember a time in my life when we didn't have a dog. Two vivid memories come to mind. One was when we lived in Seattle and I was around the age of 5 or 6. We had a huge black lab. He would come in and lay right between the archway of the dinning room and the living room. I would get one of my picture books and lay on my back with my head on his tummy and read for what seemed like hours. He was very gentle and didn't mind me using his tummy as a pillow.

The other memory was of a little black dog named Cubby. When we moved to Provo, the first thing we did was find some stray dog to call our own. Growing up, I slept in an upstairs bedroom with no heat and in the winter months and believe me, it was really cold. I would fill a hot water bottle full of hot water and put it under the sheets at the bottom of my bed, kneel down and say my prayers (probably the fastest prayers ever) and quickly jump into bed to get warm. Cubby would jump up on the bed and cuddle right next to my back. Between the hot water bottle and Cubby, I slept quite comfortably. I don't know why she always chose to follow me up to that cold room when there were two warm bedrooms downstairs. Maybe she knew I needed her to stay warm.

Now we have Bella and what a delight she is. All dogs have their own little personalities that endear their owners to them. Bella has certainly endeared herself to Neal and I. I caught her sleeping on the bed the other day and just had to take a picture of her. Notice that her head is on the little pillow.