Cute picture of Jeff, Mindy and family

The kids came over for a swim and I snapped a shot of them as they were getting ready to head for home.  Cute family and a great picture!  I love Grayson trying to put his arms around everyone.  (Just because I’m posting this on Sunday, doesn’t mean they were over for a swim on Sunday – nope – it was Saturday.) 

A beautiful Sunday

Today was one of those Sundays when I want to shout my happiness and feeling of love for my Savior and the gospel from the tops of the mountains.  I’m not sure just what chain of events brings about these extra ordinary days where one is filled with the love of the gospel, but I’m glad when it happens to me.

I attended two relief society meetings today and both lessons were entirely different but the spirit was so strong in both.  I had an opportunity to share my testimony in both wards and the love I felt was almost overwhelming.  As I drove home and looked up at beautiful and majestic Mt. Olympus the words of a primary song filled my being.  “Whenever I hear the song of a bird or look at the blue blue sky, whenever I feel the sun on my face or the wind as it rushes by.  Whenever I touch a velvet rose or walk by a lilac tree, I’m glad that I live in this beautiful world, Heavenly Father created for me.” 

I just can’t let this day go by without expressing to my children and my grandchildren how much I love this gospel and our Savior, Jesus Christ.  To think about the atonement and what he did and scarified for each one of us is beyond expression.  I want you all to know that I know this gospel is true and that we are loved and blessed individually as well as a family.  The Lord cares about us and will bless us and take care of us if we but follow the guidelines in the gospel that He has so clearly laid out for us.   

My birthday continues

I think I mentioned that Neal had all my counted cross stitchery framed.  I was thrilled with how they all turned out.  I was excited to have Maren see her work of art.  She made the “America” embroidery art a few years ago and I loved it.  I had it cleaned and pressed ready for framing and then put it in the closet with the rest of my stitchery to be framed.  I feel badly that it took so long to get it done but finally we can hang it on a wall and enjoy it.  Maren, didn’t even remember at first that she had made this for me.  I love it and it turned out perfect.

Maren and the kids came by last night and brought me a beautiful bouquet of flowers and a necklace.  I loved both and am wearing the necklace right now.  I’ve already had compliments on it.  Thank you, Cutler’s, for the remembrance, the gifts but mostly for your love. 

I had to add this picture of Taylor’s ears.  You will notice that they are pierced.  She was very excited about it.  I also found out that Jaden now has contacts.  He said it is so much better for playing sports.  He doesn’t have to worry about breaking his glasses or losing them and he says he can see better.  My grandchildren are fast turning into the tween years.  Maren said that Jaden past the sacrament for the first time last Sunday and was completely focused on his task.  Maren tried to catch his eye but he wouldn’t look at her.  We are proud of you Jaden.  You are setting a great example for your younger brothers and your younger cousins.

Birthday celebration at work.

At work, when it is your birthday, you bring your birthday treats.  I made the 7-layer dip along with a large batch of brownies.  I set everything out when I got there at 8:00 a.m. and by 9:00 a.m. everything was eaten up.  It always amazes me how quickly food disappears in a work place.  You would think no one had eaten for days!  I’m glad they enjoyed it.  The picture above shows the banner that was hung above my desk.  The gift certificate came from Ashley.  I have a couple books in mind that I want to get so the gift certificate will certainly come in handy.

I would add here that Nita sent me a check for $25.00.  That money will be put with my gift certificate at Deseret Book.  I can always find plenty to buy at that store.  Love to go and browse around in there.

August 3–My birthday began

I woke up this morning to this beautiful sunrise.  I knew the rest of the day was going to be fabulous!  And it was.

Susan and Lila Mae took me to lunch and gave me the first four season of NCIS.  Susan also gave me two decks of bridge cards.  They were very cute and typical of a fun gift from Susan.

Jamie surprised me with a paper towel holder.  I’ve wanted one for some time and was thrilled!  Thank you Jamie, I love it and have already put it to use – as you can see.

Neal surprised me with this roll top desk.  Something I have wanted for ever.  I don’t know what the fascination is with a roll top desk but they are intriguing to me.  I have to think that somewhere in my childhood I saw one and have wanted one ever sense. 

Lyndsy called me this morning and wished me a Happy Birthday.  Then Jeff G. called along with Andrew who sang “Happy Birthday” to me over the phone.  That certainly was a treat.  I also got birthday wishes from Emmi, Mallory, Abby and Lynda Ann. 

From birth to 67! What a ride!!

I turn 67 tomorrow and found myself at the Driver’s License Division this morning at 7 a.m. to get my license renewed.  It was painless and quick.  Two nice things happened.  The lady said, “OK, we have everything.  That will be $25.00.”  She paused for a moment and looked at me and back at her computer and said, “Oh, it will only be $13.00. You sure don’t look that old.”  I just smiled, thanked her for the compliment, paid my $13.00 and walked out to my car, all the way reflecting on the comment "look that old”.  Just what is ‘that old’?  I suppose to anyone younger than 45 or 50, I would qualify for  ‘that old'.  That old or not, I am happy and healthy and loving my life at this stage. 

Just had my yearly check up and all is well.  I have one thing left to do and that is get my temple recommend renewed and then I will be all set for another few years. 

21 Years of an interesting journey

I’m still very much in love with Neal after all these years.  He is a good man who works hard to provide for my needs.  We’ve certainly had our share of bumps in the road, but in retrospect, they have been very minor bumps.  I love Neal and I love ALL my children.  It has been a ‘wonderful life’. 

Our family has grown  from a group of 7 children to 7 + 5 in-laws and 19 grandchildren.  It is so interesting to look back at the pictures and see how much we have all changed.  I love the picture of CJ and Justin. 

It has been a journey of ups and downs as only life’s journey can provide.  I think of the challenges we have all had in making our combined family one.  I love when people ask me, “Now which are your children and which are Neal’s?”  I smile and say, “It’s been so long that I can’t remember any more.”  That about sums it up. 

Hosting the missionaries from the Salt Lake Mission who were headed home.

One of these pictures is not like the other.  Hummm, anyone want to guess why one of these two pictures of   our presidency has a hint of Tucker in it?  We asked a missionary who happened to be going down the hall if he would take a picture of us.  After he took the first picture, he smiled and said, “I think we’d better take another picture just in case you don’t like the first one.”  So we smiled again for the second shot.  It wasn’t until I got home that I saw why the second picture.  Yup, exactly like something Tucker would do if he had a chance.

Quilting and cleaning

Lynda Ann came over to have me help her do two quilts.  She found out about a family in her area that was adopting a little Downs boy.  Annie is always touched by adoption stories and especially when the adoptions involve special needs children.  She wanted to do something special for this family and decided that they could use some blankets for the little boy.  While we were quilting, I put Emmi and Abby to work.  Emmi dusted every book and shelf in Pa’s office and Abby dusted pretty much the whole house.  It was a win win evening! 

The pictures you are looking at are a Dove’s nest in our neighbor’s tree.

Apparently this dove comes back every year and lays her eggs in the same nest and diligently tends those eggs until they have hatched and left the nest.  The interesting thing is that she has built her nest in the perfect spot in the tree but is rather low.  She is probably about 6’ above the ground and right in front of the neighbor’s front door.  I had Lynda Ann take the pictures.  Annie was quite close to the mother but she didn’t stir or make any noise.  She apparently is used to people passing by her nest on a daily basis.  I wish I had known about this tiny miracle of nature when Jordyn Lyn, Lexi and Peyton were here.  It would have been fun to show them.  They will have to help me remember to show them next year when they come.

What can I say–the picture tells it all!

Time for freezer jam once again.

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I think I love this time of year most of all.  It always brings me close to memories of my mother who so diligently bottled and canned everything she could afford to buy or was given to her.  The bent up and well used metal funnel is one of the items that I wanted of mothers. This funnel was used for everything:  peaches, pears, apricots, tomatoes, grape juice and jam.  We never had a freezer so mother didn’t do frozen jams she always did the cooked kind and then sealed the top with hot wax, which I remember digging out.  Mother never allowed me to help with most of the canning and especially the hot wax.  She was always afraid I would get scalded by the hot water or burned with the wax.  So I would have to admit that I was more the observer of the process, not the helper.  I loved watching her and more loved the talks that always took place as I sat at the bar helping my self to the freshly sliced and peeled fruit before it went into the canners.

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I also tended River that evening.  He played with the Legos and kept putting Bella’s toy on the edge of the table so Bella would have to stand on her two back feet to get her toy.

Our first grandson to be ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood. Congratulations, Jaden, we are so proud of you!

Neal and I were invited over to Maren and Greg’s ward to be a part of Jaden’s ordination into the Aaron Priesthood.  After the meeting we went over the their home and had a nice visit along with a delicious dinner hosted by Sylvia and Dan.  We are so proud of you Jaden and for setting such a great example for your younger cousins.  We love you!