Thanksgiving - has come and gone so quickly.  It seemed like a whirlwind this year.  Our daughter Kristie and her hubby Jared and their children just moved into a new home.  It is lovely and they had extra room so we had Thanksgiving dinner at their home..  It was so nice, plenty of room and the food was delicious.  Our daughters arranged the menu between them and it all turned out very nice, in fact we had so much food after we ate, one had to wonder if anyone had eaten very much. 

At first I was feeling a little lost because I have pretty much done the dinner myself and all I did this year was pies, cranberries and candied yams.  But to see our daughters working together to accomplish this was so wonderful and helped me to see how things can and should change as we grow older. 

My Mom is 94 years young and she was able to be there.  She is having a few problems getting around but Nan and Steph jumped in and helped her every time she needed to move from one place to another.  Gene, Sue and Nik also helped out so much, they ran up to pick her up  and bring her down to Kristie's place.  Glen and Nik took her home and helped her with her evening preparations.  Others helped her if she even looked like she needed something.  All and all she had a delightful day and was very tired by evening but the glow was still there several days after.  So thank  you all for your help and love shown.

We had the opportunity to go down to see our Salt Lake Grizzlies hockey team in action.  Jared arranged that for all of us which was so nice of him to do.  There were 19 of us.  After the game they had an "open" skate and most of the kids were able to go down and try their luck on the ice.  It was fun to watch them all trying so hard to stand up.  There were a couple that were able to do more than that but fun was had by all of them.  After they closed the skating down, Jared brought his young son out on his ice skates and invited all of us out there without our skates and we watch some of our group playing on the ice together.  We all had such a fun time and were nice and tired at the end of the night.

When it was time for Sue, Gene and their family to go home we were so sad because they had come such a long way and we didn't want them to leave.  We so enjoyed having them.  Nan, Russ and their family didn't leave until Sunday so we had a little more time with them, which was nice.  With our family so scattered so far away it is difficult to get together but I really appreciate their efforts to bring their families and the food they prepared and everything else to be with us.  I know it was a great effort and expense but thank you.

Now to the reason for Thanksgiving - to give thanks for all that we have been given and for our fore fathers and their sacrifices to come to America.  I am so grateful for the many, many blessings we have been given,  first being our children, their spouses and our grandchildren.  The joys that come from seeing each and everyone of them as they grow and become what they desire and to make their lives so special.  Each has their own view of what is needed and it's wonderful to see these things mature.  I guess what I'm trying to say is I love our children, their husbands and grandchildren so much.  Each has a special place in my heart, life would not be the same without each of them.  Thank you Father for each of them they are truly a blessing in our lives and family.


I so enjoyed having all but our one daughter home for the holidays.  We missed her and wished she could have been with us.  Our grandchildren are growing up so much and we had a lovely surprise announced we have another grandchild coming into this world next year. 

Family

Life is so simple when you are a child. You cry when you are hurt or upset and you laugh when you are happy. But at times things get in the way of a child's simple life.

A child is a gift to us all, he or she brings a touch of the Lord into our homes and lives. The sweetness they have, their willingness to smile, to run, to giggle, to sing, to talk, the innocence they bring into our lives. What joy it is to see and watch a child as they innocently go on their way learning. The question is what are we teaching them? Is it good? Does it help them as they grow up into their teen and adult years?

I have watched our young grandchildren as they are growing up and what a joy it is to talk to them and see their joy. They jump, they giggle, they run and they chatter, and tell what is going on in their lives.

They are beautiful and sweet. Yes, they have their moments just like we do that perhaps they are not as fun to be around but the fun ones far out weigh the difficult ones.

Thank you Lord for these beautiful and sweet children you have sent to our family. Some of them have grown up and into or close to adulthood but they still have that sweet innocence that is such a joy to see and be around. I am so grateful for our grandchildren and our children that are raising them. How did I ever get so blessed?

9/11 - 10 Years later

I waited to post this until now as for some reason I was so caught up in the feelings I had at that time. Other years have come and gone and yes I have felt sad but not this overwhelming sadness and hopelessness. I have worked through these feelings and realize I really haven't allowed myself to think through this tragedy since it happened. It seemed I did so much thinking, wondering, asking my self how could someone hate so much that they wanted to kill so many innocent people.

They say it's an act of war but how can that be if you are focusing on people who are not able to defend themselves. Who are not fighters like these individuals, who have not been trained.

I give respect to other religions and faiths even though they are much different than I believe but to have a "faith" or "religion" that encourages people to hate, to kill, to "get even" for past offenses is beyond my understanding or willingness to accept.

Yes, I admit it I am a peace loving individual. I want others to find a way to work things out, no matter the problem. I am not saying that is an easy statement to follow through on but feel it is worth the effort.

No I am not a "Pollyanna" type of person that sees everyone and everything in a sunny, happy light. Many times I wished I did and at times I thought I was very cynical individual but when this ugly, tragic, act of violence occurred it caused me to realize I really do expect the best in others and when they don't always act the way I would want I usually am able to understand that yes, we are human and have frailties or that we all make mistakes. But this was not just a mistake it was planned act of only one thing - Satan's plan to destroy mankind. The evil that was felt at that time could only have a basis from Satan's plan. When we come to this earth we aren't evil or desire evil things but what we are taught or the company we choose to keep many times allows these ideas to germinate in our souls.

I love this country for the freedoms we enjoy, for the reason to get up each day, for the ability to speak our thoughts, for not having to use a "passport" to travel from one city to another. For the rights we enjoy and that so many others want but do not want to give what this freedoms costs. They want it for free. But that is another blog.

To those that think and believe as the individuals did who perpetrated these unthinkable acts, you are cowards, you complain about somethings that you feel you have been put upon by and feel your only recourse is to kill - I say "you are a sorry bunch of humanity". I believe God - both yours and mine looks down and is saddened. The God I know preaches love and kindness and understanding wanting us to emulate the very best He has shown to us. I pray each day for peace among all of us who are so different from one another. I pray for understanding to why these things happen. I give thanks for the men and women who take on the job of protecting our freedoms in this country - and sometimes even giving up their lives for it. I thank the families of those who have given their everything. For the great job they did raising their children and teaching them such moral standards. I know your pain is great but please take my sincere and loving prayers to heart and know many of us weep with you and pray for you.

Thank you God for this country and the people that are striving to make it a better place. Thank you God for bringing peace to my broken heart from the terrible things this Nation witnessed 10 years ago.

Freedom

The 4th of July has passed and the fireworks have been shot off and we all survived. I was thinking what we celebrate the 4th for. I am extremely grateful for those men and women that have made our freedom a priority and have fought and even given their lives so we might have celebrations here at home and shoot off fireworks and watch parades etc.

What do I sacrifice for this freedom? Perhaps it's the fact that I weep for those loved ones that have been left behind and ache for their sacrifices and those that do come home but are maimed in some way. I pray for you all and support our troops and their families. Thank you men and women for all you give and have given on my behalf. I honor all of you!

Catch Up

So much has happened since I last wrote - I am so inconsistent at times. Others not so bad - oh well! Anyway, in the past while, our second daughter and her family were evacuated from the Monument fire in AZ. They were one of the first to be evacuated and were out for over 2 1/2 weeks. They lived with good people willing to share their homes for all of that time. When they were finally allowed back in the Dad went because our daughter and her two kids took a trip up to St. George to have a respite with her sister's family. The kids really needed a break from not knowing what was happening with their lives for a short while and just be kids again. The medicine worked, they both bloomed back into the lovely young ones they were all along. Our daughter also needed some down time to be allowed to assimilate all that was going on and that her home really was saved. They only took a few clothes and some pictures and their lap top computer. They walked out the door and left everything they had. Oh except they took their dog, fish and lizard. For payment, they were blessed with their home being saved along with one other one and a couple that were only partially damaged and the rest of the homes were burned to the ground. Just saying that makes me want to cry for all of those that have to start over, but they have such a great attitude about how lucky they are to have all of their loved ones out and some for neighbors getting their beloved cars (collection) out and to safety as the family was on vacation out of the state. Thank you Father that no person was lost during this fire. Such devastation over neglect to put out a camp fire.

I was thinking how grateful I am for our family and loved ones and the fact that they are taking on life's many challenges and forging onward. Some challenges are great ones and some are, in others views small, but they are still stumbling blocks for us to overcome and grow.

There is a lady in our ward that is without a doubt one of the kindest, sweetest and most caring (especially for children, she's a great teacher) I know. She has not been blessed with a mate or children and her heart is really taking a beating. How I wish I had the knowledge to help her through this heartache. She has remained stalwart in the Church even though family is such a BIG part of it all. But every once in a while it is just too much for her to bear. Please say a prayer for this lady because she needs us to help her in her times of difficulty. I guess I feel so much more for her because of our oldest daughter who is facing much the same circumstances except she has left the Church and even God because of it. There are times when I feel like it's too much for me to bear the heart ache for our daughter but then I remind myself this is her journey and I am only a bystander but being her mother makes me want to make it all better for her. I can't imagine how our Heavenly Father felt watching His Son go through the awful things HE had to face while in this mortal state. Thank you for the sacrifices and showing us the way.

Rain

Rain, Rain go away and come back another day. Yes, we sang that as children and I find myself singing that again. A couple nights ago, the weather gal said we had just under 12 inches of rain for the months of March, April and May. Doesn't the weather person in the sky know - we live in a desert? The really sad part of all of this is the flooding that is going on all over Northern Utah. Homes that have become flooded and farms that are flooded. These provide for the animals but for humans also. But what about our fresh corn, beans, tomatoes, squash, you know the good things of summer? Everyone loses in this. But we aren't the only ones that are having a difficult spring. The tornadoes that have struck the mid west are so devastating. It seems when the news is on we hear about more and more destruction by Mother Nature. She is truly the "boss" and we are mere humans. Really makes us look at things in a different light. Are we prepared for what is ahead? I hope so! I worry about our children, grandchildren, brothers and their families, my Mom. We have our 72 hours kits ready and try to go through them twice a year but this usually happens only once a year. To change out medications and clothes and such. But we are trying.

On a happier note - the sun was out yesterday morning and it was a glorious sight! And the outside plants are really enjoying all of the cool wet weather. I guess the whole thought here is - we need to look at the good with the bad and realize we wouldn't appreciate the good without the bad.

Escape

We just returned last week from a much needed "get away". We were able to take some time and stop our life so to speak here on the home front and go south to visit with another Daughter, Son and their family. We also got to go to our "dentist" who is our Son. He very kindly has offered to do our dental work. We feel so grateful for this "GIFT" from him as this is his living and he helps us which at this time in our life is really appreciated. When we were working we had dental benefits but since retiring that has all gone away. We can't find dental insurance for our time in life (not important enough for us seniors) but even if we could we couldn't afford it. Anyway, thank you Russ we SO appreciate all you do for us.

When we first left, we both were so done in we were shocked at how tired we were. Mostly what we did for a great deal of the time we were gone was just veg. As we started to feel better we took little trips around the area and saw some incredible things. A place called Warm Springs where out in the middle of the desert you find a paradise so to speak of palm trees and warm water. The day we went out we did have one disappointment, there had been a big fire last July which burned an incredible path through the beauty. We were unable to go onto some land the LDS church owns because of reconstruction but it is a trip we will make in the future. The things we saw where the fire had devastated was so sad because there had been homes where people were living and it looks like it took everything they had. That broke my heart to see what they had endured and continue to endure.

Onto a happier note, the road to warm springs is a quiet little two lane road but on the road about 1/2 mile before getting to the LDS property they are building a road side rest stop. It is just lovely, they have brick walk ways and covered picnic areas but as we ventured further we also found hiking trails and some information built around the warm springs. It seems there was a fish that was to distinction. We read the information on this and we very interested in this fish they were bringing back. It is called a Dace. Well, along with the information signs we found on the other side of the walk way was a Plexiglas wall that was one side of the warm springs ditch running through this area. There we could look at the "side" of the ditch and see this fish that was at most two inches long and there was also some snails that lived there. It was very interesting to be able to see down into the ditch from the side and see the way the water was interacting with the plants and such. All and all we really enjoyed venturing into this little area and finding all of this beauty (well it was at one time before the fire and will again, I'm sure). The one thing that really struck me was the peace and quiet of the country life. I have missed this which I grew up knowing and enjoying.

There is so much around us that we really don't stop and enjoy, so I am glad we took the time to see all of this.

A Wakeup Call

Friday a very sad thing happened in our family. A beloved nephew was killed in an off road motorcycle accident. This man was so special to our family, he was kind, loving, thoughtful, friendly and all of the adjectives that describe a person everyone would like to know. We are so sadden at his passing and will miss him terribly but we know we'll see him again someday.

But the thing that I wanted to write about was, you never know when someone we love will be taken in a blink of an eye. I find myself many times "wishing" my life away, such as when we can get our kitchen redone, when the kids move out, when we don't have all of the responsibility we know now. With this happening, which seems way to soon for this young man, it dawned on me, we can't wish on tomorrows but need to enjoy and live each day to the fullest. I have shed so many tears over this as we thought so highly of him and I know how I would feel if it were one of my children, our adoptive children (sons) grandchildren, on and on. I do believe we'll see one another again in the here after but it still hurts to let them go now. I guess I'm really selfish as I want "my cake and eat it too" so to speak.

This has made me realize how much I love my husband, my family, our extended family, etc. We are so blessed and I thank my Father in Heaven each and every day for each of them but I guess I don't have enough faith to let them go even for a little while. Of course, I won't or don't have any say in this but I still keep trying.

I guess what I'm saying is we should take the time to "really" enjoy our days, even the bad parts so someday when it's time we can say, I have lived life to the fullest and I'm ready to let go.

Birthday

Saturday, January 22 my Mom was 94 years young. Wow, can't hardly believe she made it this far. Well, I take it back, I can believe it, she has always taken such good care of herself. She eats really well. She is down to where she doesn't eat a lot anymore but what she eats is so well balanced and good for her. I wonder where I went wrong? Hummmm!

On Saturday we took her out to dinner to celebrate her birthday. She was thrilled to be able to go but we had to walk a long distance into the restaurant but she made it both ways but when we got her back to her home, which by the way she is living alone in her own place, she was done in. She stopped at a chair right by the door. Not her usual spot but you could tell she was glad she made it that far. She has had quite a week, on Wednesday we took her shopping to get a new washer machine and coat. Then on Friday we took her grocery shopping and to lunch with her daughter in law, granddaughter and two great granddaughters. She really enjoyed that and then we went to another grocery store, so that was a really BIG day. Then on Saturday we took her out. Usually she only goes on Fridays and if we have a special holiday or she needs to go to the doctor. So this week was really a "killer" week for her and yet it was a good one. I know she really enjoyed it as she is really a social person.

I look at her and realize how long she has lived and the things she has seen come to pass. The changes in our world have been great in my life time but she has lived a good 25 years longer. Wow!

She has had hardships beyond our imagination. In her lifetime she has had three husbands, three children, seen all of her husbands die and one of her sons. That in itself is difficult but she has also seen all of her siblings except her youngest pass on along with her parents and most of her close cousins and so many friends. I know there are times when she wonders why she is still here but if it comes down to it, she will fight to stay. That is the way she is and I think the reason she is still here. She has fought hard all of her life to accomplish many things. To see her children raised and doing well to see 10 grandchildren, many, many great grandchildren and great great grandchildren be born and grow up.

Life is not easy but we were willing to take on the opportunity to come here and do all of the things that would come to us. Thank you Father for my Mom and the many things she has taught me. For the sacrifices she has made for me and my brothers. Thank you.

Happy New Year

A New Year for all of us - what are we going to do this year that is different from last year. Are we going to make the same mistakes, follow the same trail that we've done in the past? Or are we going to stop and take stock of ourselves and how we can change for the better. This can be something that will benefit each of us and our families. It has been proven that we can't stay the same, we either progress and grow and learn or we become stagnant and go down hill (so to speak). WHAT WILL BE YOUR DESIRE AND DECISION - GO FORWARD OR DOWNWARD?

I want to change my life and take control of it back. At this time I am not sure what that means but I certainly hope to find out.

Happy New year to each of you!