Merry Christmas!

We did not get Christmas cards out this year! It has been a crazy season and something had to slide, so I chose Christmas cards. We had a wonderful Christmas. Although we were blessed to have many presents under the tree, that isn't what I will remember and I hope it isn't what the kids will remember. I hope they will remember the times we spent together as a family . I hope they will remember the Savior.

So in place of my traditional Christmas letter, I wanted to take a minute and write of my feelings of Christ today. For of all my blessings, and great moments of the past year, what is most important to me, is my family, faith and beliefs. I take so much time on this blog recounting the silly, humorous day to day happenings. While humor and lightheartedness has a big part in my life, it isn't my entire life. At the end of the day, I want to leave no doubt in the minds of my children and friends that I have deep feelings about many things, especially Jesus Christ.

My thoughts often turn toward my Savior during December, but a lesson in church today made me realize how much I need to think of Christ during the rest of the year. I haven't written down my testimony about my Savior in a long time, and as this is my journal of sorts I wanted to take the opportunity to do so today.

I know He lives. Although I have not seen him with my earthly eyes, I have no doubt of His existence and presence in my life. I know He came to earth and walked the dusty roads teaching and blessing the lives of all who crossed his path. I know He freely chose to sacrifice his perfect life for my imperfect one. I know because of this great sacrifice, I can not only live forever but have the opportunity to live with my Savior and my Heavenly Father again-- More importantly, I can do so with my family.

I have no doubt of Christ's compassion. I know His suffering in Gethsemane wasn't only for my sins, but for all the hardships, trials, doubts, struggles and pain I would go through. I know His atonement makes it possible for him to have true empathy for me in whatever situation I find myself. There have been many times I have found peace in difficult circumstances. I know that peace has come from Him who has gone through all. There is no earthly reason during the darkest times, I have found comfort. That reason comes from above.

I know my Savior is profoundly aware of me personally, not just generally. I know I can increase my relationship with Him through study of His words and thoughtful prayer. I know I take for granted so many things in my life, many times, the most important things. I fall short so much of the time. But because of my Savior, even when I fall short, all is not lost. He brings hope.

So as this Christmas season draws to a close, I wanted to take a minute and declare my testimony of Jesus Christ. That perhaps in the months ahead, as life gets hectic and problems arise, I can reflect back on these words and refocus on what truly is important. I think the greatest gift of the Christmas season isn't something beautifully wrapped under a tree; but it's in each positive step we make in our life, that brings us closer to Him whose birth we celebrate. I hope I take advantage of this great gift throughout each month of the coming year.

Christmas Traditions!

Last Sunday we made Christmas sugar cookies. This is one of our favorite traditions as a family. Cassie and Josh were having fun making each one of theirs unique. My favorite part during the experience was when Cassie said, "Look, we are all getting along!" Everyone paused around the table and then we started laughing. I am not sure what it says about our family when the "getting along" part is so rare that it is actually noticed.

We also had a memorable week playing games, watching old home movies, attending the Carl Bloch exhibit at BYU, eating at our favorite restaurant Brick Oven, seeing the lights at Thanksgiving point, attending an extended family Christmas party and a BYU basketball game! It's been fun to have our family together so much this week. Some of the kids had a hard time leaving their friends for family time, but hopefully everyone felt it was worthwhile in the end.

Happy Birthday Ryan!!

Ryan turned 18 a few days ago. Good grief, I'm not that old! He enjoyed getting an ipod touch and I thought that would be the highlight of his night until four of his friends showed up to surprise him. Ryan has always been blessed with such great friends. As a parent, good friends for your teenagers is so important, and I am grateful of the caliber of friends he associates with. He has always had more friends that are girls than guys. Who can blame him with all these beautiful young women. It was fun to hear the giggles and laughs as they visited. Thanks to Keslee, Michelle, Heather and Beth who made his birthday so memorable.

I wrote a poem for him, and it made me cry writing it, but the best reward was seeing him get a bit choked up and being the recipient of one of his big bear hugs. Once again I get a gift on someone else's birthday. Hugs from teenagers are far too rare, especially for sappy mom's.

Happy 18th Birthday Ryan

I can't believe the day has finally arrived;
My oldest child turned 18 and I survived!
As I think back through the past many years,
many memories bring smiles and happy tears.

I remember the early days of jaundice and lights;
It seemed to last forever till I could hold my baby tight.
Then there was his early love of water and sprints to the bath;
Little did I know years of being a swimmer, lay in his path.

Who knew that the terrible twos could be so dramatic,
vomiting on demand became very problematic.
(Although it did get me out of a ticket once)
He wanted his first artistic talents to last awhile;
so using permanent markers became his style.

Then an interest in science began when he was four or five--
surprising experiments appeared frequently, which he contrived.
He loved Bill Nye, the science guy, whom he idolized,
and soon started wearing lab coats and red bow ties as his disguise.

His stature increased so quickly and it seemed it would not stop.
At 12 he passed his mom up despite how she would hop.
His brain grew with his body and he loved absorbing facts;
He kept us on our toes, every truth to be exact.

During the teenage years, some people feared his size;
But little did they know, a gentle giant would arise.
His heart has always been as large as his mind and frame;
A fact anyone who knows him, would readily acclaim.

His faith and knowledge of the scriptures is so profound;
We have learned from his example and knowledge all around.
Many times, walking into his room, you might pause for a bit,
And notice he is on his knees praying instead of in a sit.

His hard work and studious efforts for years on end,
paid off in a full tuition scholarship, for which we all commend.
His has been frugal in his spending, saving half of what he earns;
With eyes on an LDS mission, always been a chief concern.

So happy wonderful birthday, to this great big son of mine;
He has and always will, make this mom proud and sublime.
Dreading the time he will leave this house he has called home;
To go and make his way, and a life all his own.

Although the tears fall quickly, contemplating that day,
I will treasure these months ahead as memories to replay.
I love you Ryan, for who you are and who you will be;
and for the fact you'll always have a big bear hug, just for me.

Preference 2010

At the early part of December, Ryan attended the Preference Dance at Pleasant Grove High School. His sweet friend Beth asked him. Don't they look great? Beth's mom made her beautiful dress and she looks gorgeous. They had a great time.

count my many blessings...

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it. ~William Arthur Ward

I do not express my gratitude nearly enough. I have a lot of wrapped presents in my closet that need to be given, so I thought I would take a minute tonight, and give a few away.

I am so grateful for:

An incredible family who has a front row seat to all my mistakes and weaknesses and yet loves me anyway.

A home, although covered in scratches and dents, keeps us warm and safe.

A full pantry and fridge that contains chocolate as well as vegetables.

A scar on my neck that shows the miracles of modern medicine and serves as a daily reminder of the blessing of health and strength.

This old body of mine, that has more creaks than an old floor, but still gets me where I want to go.

A mind that occasionally misplaces things, but can compute sales in a flash.

Sunshine, after a day of storms.

A hug from my little guy and a high five from my teenager.

My children, my greatest teachers.

A good book and a bathfull of bubbles.

A vacuum cleaner, washing machine, dishwasher all in working order.

The many hands who continually reach out in small and large ways and make such a profound difference in my life.

The seasons, which change right before you get tired of each one.

A new pair of shoes (that were on sale!)

My faith and beliefs which strengthen me through hard times, and gives me hope in a world where it is hard to find.

A Savior who bestows true empathy and compassion.

My Heavenly Father who loves me even when I forget to be grateful.

You know it's going to be a long day

when you:

Put the clean clothes that just came out of the dryer, in the washer; put dirty clothes in the dryer; turn them both on and walk away.

Put leftover lasagna in the microwave for ten minutes instead of one and not realize it until after there is an explosion.

Clean out the microwave after a lasagna explosion.

Collect your mail on a very windy day, then not hold on to it tightly.

Run after bills as they zip across the cul de sac.

Remove all shelving and storage containers from the fridge to clean it, then struggle with reassembly. (Ok, so it's been awhile since I did this particular task!)

Lose patience with the kids as they leave socks and backpacks on the floor, destroy the kitchen, refuse to clean their rooms and do homework and then say, "Jeez mom, why are you angry today?"

Out of chocolate and bubble bath.

Yesterday was a looong day and as you can see I didn't fare very well. Today is going better, although the house is still peaceful and quiet for three more minutes, then I will be invaded with more dirty socks, back packs and dishes. On the bright side, the lasagna is gone so the microwave is still clean!

Happy Birthday Kelly!!

Top Ten Reasons why I'm Glad Kelly is a year older....

10. He always gets to get older first, and if I like how he does it, I'll follow.

9. As you age, your eyes start to go...that means the older he gets, the better I look!

8. As we age our memory weakens, so he won't remember all the stuff I do wrong!

(are we sensing a pattern here?)

7. Banana Cream Pie is easier than decorating barbie and race car birthday cakes!

6. I get an excuse to buy him a power tool to use later in a honey do project.

5. We get to go out to eat so I don't have to cook!

4. I have someone to fix the garbage disposal after I get through breaking it, or kill creepy crawly, scurrying things.

3. I have a shoulder to cry on when I'm having a mom pity party!

2. I get to hold a hand during scary parts in a movie, or just any darn time I want!

1. I get another year of unlimited hugs, kisses, smiles, laughter and winks from an incredible man.

As you can see, I am very selfish about Kelly having birthdays. I know I get more presents than he does! Kelly I love you so much and I'm grateful for every year we get to celebrate wrinkles, gray hair and uncooperative joints together (as long as you always have them first)!!

wisdom comes with age....really?

There is a saying that goes something like this:
with age comes wisdom, but that is completely amiss.
For the older I get in this aging body of mine;
the more my mind seems to go into a decline!

Can you be wise and not remember? I wonder some days;
for at times I wander around in a bit of a haze.
Why did I come in this room after all?
Is there a reason a child’s name I can’t recall?

The calendar once was my helper and salvation,
important reminders all at one location!
But lately even things written in black and white,
can vacate my memory without even a fight.

This past week proved one good example after another;
forgotten carpools, church meetings and who knows what other.
In the past, my brain would take small vacations at times;
but it’s now taking long leave of absences , am I past my prime?

So, here I am back at my original question-
Can you be wise while your brain is in a recession?
I can only hope that if some small insight I express;

stays in the mind of a child, then I might be a success.

the self check out line....

Now that is the most ironic name known to man. All the self check out line means, is when you get stuck on something while checking out, you are on your own, all by your "self" to solve it. Last night I had to run to Walmart for a couple quick things to help with a school project for one of my kids. I hurried and grabbed the items and made it to the checkout lines in record time. All two regular lines were backed up (I think all the cashiers take their breaks at the same time) and so I decided to brave the "are you smarter than a talking computer" line. I am totally not a risk taker, but decided to chance it. You can probably foresee that this story does not have a happy ending, all I can say is, where were you to tell me the self check out gamble is never worth it. (I am going to write a book entitled "self check out lines for dummies!" I could make a bundle and buy my own check out line in the future.)

Needless to say, as soon as it was my turn to try my luck with the ever unpredictable machine, I took a deep breath and went for it. I pressed the start button and nothing happened; it wasn't allowing me to scan my items. I tried pressing the button again and I must have hit something else by mistake because the darn machine started speaking to me in Spanish. I had no idea how to get it back to my native language and so eyeing the long line of mom's in the same rushed situation behind me, I decided to take the gamble (stupid stupid stupid...shoot we aren't supposed to say that "s" word at our house). I should have cut my losses right there.

While scanning my three items, the computer obviously didn't like what I was doing so it started to speak to me again. Not having a translator handy, I had no idea what it was saying. Do I rescan? Take the item out of the bag? It's hard enough to figure out what you did wrong when it actually speaks something you recognize. Great! Now I had to wait for the teenage kid to get me out of my mess. Trouble is, when he finally got there, he didn't speak Spanish either so he had to go recruit someone. I didn't dare look at the line behind me to see the faces of the exasperated moms. I finally got someone to figure out my problem, trouble is, they didn't stay by my side long enough to help with other translation issues. Fifteen minutes and two more rescue sessions later, I was out of the store.

I am determined to either take Spanish classes or never EVER try my luck at the "speedy" line again. (To any mom who might have been behind me last night and is reading this, I AM SO SORRY!)

fuzzy pink socks....

It's always surprising what triggers memories. Today it was a pair of bright pink fuzzy socks. My toes were cold and I went digging in my sock drawer and came upon these bright fuzzy socks. A year ago today I was recovering from my thyroid surgery. A gift bag was dropped off from some of Kelly's work associates and it had these hot pink soft socks in them. I am typically not a sock person, but I remember as I was secluded during my radiation treatment how cold my feet got and how I wore these socks often. They have been tucked at the back of my drawer for the better part of a year, but today I saw them and so many memories of a year ago returned.

I glanced at my dining room table and saw the orchid that was given to me last October and is miraculously still alive (Plants are an endangered species at my house). It was somehow important that this plant didn't meet the typical demise of most and although there have been touch and go moments, it is still there delicate, fragile yet strong. A plush bathrobe hangs in my closet, a book on my bedside table, a note tucked away in a desk. All reminders of my blessings and the thoughtfulness of others.

Some things trigger unhappy memories, but these few reminders I have don't bring back the fear and anxiety of last year; but feelings of love and appreciation of the many hands that served and offered support during a challenging time. One of the greatest blessings my Heavenly Father has given me is a loving family and friends who, without fireworks and fanfare, reach out and give service in simple, quiet ways. I am so grateful that the peace and comfort I felt a year ago was brought to my remembrance today through a simple pair of fuzzy pink socks.

Homecoming 2010

Look at this good looking couple! Looks like they had a fun group. Kelly did a good job taking pictures of the group before the dance. I love seeing modest, beautiful young women with these great guys.

search and rescue...

We tackled the basement last Saturday. This is a big feat considering it has become the family black hole. Things that go down there rarely are seen again. Our basement isn't finished, so it's used mostly for storage. But we do have some remnant carpet thrown down with a couch, tv and some toys so it does get some use from the kids when it's not too cold.

Saturday we decided a major purge session was in order, so off we went. One big pile for Deseret Industries, and one for garbage. Three hours later, we were finally seeing progress. Ryan took the DI stuff out to the back of the truck. Cassie, who was playing with a cousin, came down to discover operation declutter. Since she has a strong emotional attachment to everything, she began secret search and rescue missions to and from the truck. We finally apprehended her red handed and put a stop to it. However, how many things she was able to save and hide is still a mystery. I think we made a mistake in taking her to Toy Story 3 this summer!

and the answer is....

I love how the teenagers ask each other to dances. That is one thing that hasn't changed over time. I remember always wracking my brain trying to come up with some creative way to ask a guy to the dance, then waiting for an equally creative answer.

This past week Ryan asked a girl to Homecoming. He bought a package of butter, opened one cube carefully and hid a note inside the cube, then rewrapped it, put it back and resealed the package. He put her name on the outside and dropped it off on her door. After going through the package and disecting four cubes of butter, the note inside said, "look on your front porch". On the front porch was a package of microwave popcorn and a note that said, "now that I've "buttered" you up will you go to Homecoming with me?"

(I was soooo grateful eggs were not involved at this venture! ) see previous post http://kellyandvaloriechristensen.blogspot.com/2010/04/easter-egg-fiasco.html

Several days and a doorbell ring later, we found a ginormous bag of popcorn on our front porch. We spread out a tablecloth on the family room rug and dumped it out. It had some mini butterfingers in it and on one of the candy bars was a note that said, "I'd be a butterfinger not to go with you to Homecoming." Pretty creative answer to go with how he asked her. These teenagers amaze me these days! I will post dance pictures at a future date.

end of summer....

I am late getting these pictures up, but Labor Day weekend we hit the lake for some fun. The kids had a blast playing with their cousins. Josh gave Mark his first lesson on the wake board, Ryan was the honorary flag holder, Cassie had a blast with her cousins and rode the knee board (although I don't have any pictures of that). Big thanks to my sister Rach and her husband Jeff who brought their boat. They are so generous with their time and their great big toy.

minivan with a sense of humor.....

I love my minivan. I know many mom's and especially dad's wouldn't be caught dead in one, but I am a minivan lover and sit proudly behind the wheel of this mom-mobile. Mine is a sandy dirt color, which works great for the biannual cleanings it receives. The windows at first seem to have a frosted glass appearance, but upon closer inspection, you'll find it's just hand prints on steroids. If I were ever in an emergency in my van, I'd be fine. The seventy-two hour food supply is already there. Just lift up any seat and you will have dehydrated french fries, chicken nuggets and even a stray m&m for dessert.

I am writing about my van today not because of any of the above reasons, but about a new talent it seems to have. My van has a sense of humor. On random occasions without any reason at all, my van will just honk. My hands can be no where near the horn and we will be driving along peacefully (well, as peacefully as a carpool of six elementary school boys can be) and suddenly it honks. My kids get a kick out of this, but it seems to always happen at inopportune moments.

One time I was sitting alone in a parking lot waiting for yet another carpool and a man walked by. He turned and looked at me upon hearing the horn and I wondered what I should do. Is their proper etiquette for this? What would Dear Abby say, smile and wave and pretend you are some crazy women trying to get attention? Or should you ignore it and pretend you have no idea who honked the horn (did I mention I'm the only car aournd?)

Another time, this happened in the drive through line when I was behind a very large truck with a large burly man at the wheel, placing his order. He stuck his head out the window and glared at me... the smiling and waving thing didn't seem to work so well that time. The worse instance occurred where I was stopped at a crosswalk and an elderly gentleman was walking across slowly with his cane. He looked startled at the rude noise emanating from my car. I felt awful. I rolled down my window and said sorry, but it didn't seem to be enough. Should I have tried to explain that it wasn't my fault, it was my car; I really was a nice person and loved older people or maybe try to see if he liked The Walt Disney movies about Herbie. I need some bumper sticker that explains the situation so I can just point to it and be on my way.

I don't know if any of you are Brian Regan fans, but he has a joke about a car with a similar problem. When I first heard it I thought, "Yes, I'm not alone!" So I just need to be behind him when my horn has a rebellious moment, and I won't have to explain. Someone will understand. (it's just the first couple minutes of this clip)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrwvNa2M_GU

man of the house....

Ry, Josh and Kelly have had busy schedules and were gone last night when I headed out to mow the lawn. After a few rows, Mark comes hopping out while tugging on his last shoe and announced, "Mom, I am the man of the house tonight so you go sit down and I'll mow the lawn!"

After watching him wrestle with the heavy mower for a few minutes and seeing the water breaks extending with each pass on the lawn, I took over and finished. What a cutie.

yet another crochet posting.....

I took a departure from scarfs, hats and bags and decided to try some little stuffed animals. Got to love free patterns you find on the internent.

love a boy in uniform.....

Mark earned his wolf, four arrow points and some belt loops at our last pack meeting. He worked so hard and I'm proud of him! Congratulation Mark!

fast sunday funny.....

Mark made us laugh today around the dinner table. As per typical Sunday, conversation around the table revolved around the lessons taught at church. Mark has been making vast improvements over past weeks with understanding and explaining his primary class to us. However, today he struggled and had lots of memory lapses. When asked why he didn't listen as well today he said, "It's fast sunday and when I don't get food, my brain doesn't work!"

anyone have a cow I can buy?

I have decided maybe I need to live on a farm. A cow would come in handy about now. Mark would be excited and think steak was finally in season! (joke from earlier post http://kellyandvaloriechristensen.blogspot.com/2010/03/in-season.html) But, no, I would use it for daily sustenance.

I went to the grocery store for milk today and bought 8 gallons, that might seem like I am stock piling in case cows decide to picket, but no....in a few days I will be back for eight more! Every time I go through the checkout, they inquire with shock and awe on their faces, ..."how many milk did you say you have?"

If I didn't get so tired of lugging in it one session and I had another fridge, I would buy 16! Think of the looks I would get then! Since I am not an attention getter nor do I have enduring biceps, I will settle for a couple trips a week. I guess on a positive note, in the past nearly eighteen years, only one bone has been broken in our family, despite the fact that I have three energetic, brawn before brains, boys!

signs of the end of summer....

Tired of fighting the unwinable battle of morning glory, you give up and appreciate it's now blooming state in its natural habitat.

Fresh peach shakes start at Taco Amigo

The rare quiet house doesn't signal mischievous children, simply absent ones.

You are amazed and almost giddy that every time you walk into the kitchen between the hours of 8 and 2, it's still pristine! You walk in often just to make sure it's not your imagination having a heyday.

You long for the opportunity to dust off a jacket and experience a crisp morning or cool evening, signaling the beginning of yet another beautiful season here in Utah.

First Day of School!

The first day of school and I could only get the youngest two to pose. I wasn't covert enough to get some of the older boys . Another year of school is here again and I can't believe it!

Mark's Birthday!

My baby is nine! He is getting so tall and growing up so fast. My favorite thing about Mark is that despite his advancing years, he still gives me hugs and reaches up to hold my hand when we go places. I love his smile and silly smirks. He is getting a quick witt and says things that brings laughter to our family. We had a fun birthday with him. Ate at Brick Oven, his favorite place and came home to open presents and have cake. Cassie, made and decorated his cake this year. I thought she did a great job! Mark consulted,it was one of the few occassions where they actually got along! Happy Birthday Mark, I love you and you will always be my baby. (picture him rolling his eyes as I call him that!)

Girls Camp 2010

I just found the camera Cassie took to Girls Camp and uploaded the photo's. As you can see, they had a great time! It was at Aspen Lakes in Heber. The theme was Survivor. Each tent was a tribe, and througout the week there were competitions and they even had an area for treemail. It was well organized and planned. I had the opportunity to go up one night to bring dinner with the Relief Society presidency. I couldn't believe how much I missed it! I am so grateful she had the opportunity to be around great young women and leaders.

will time stop already!!

I can't believe this summer is almost over! It seems like just a couple weeks ago I was wondering how I was going to survive. I have not been a great picture taker, but I thought I'd take a moment and journal about what everyone has been up to.

Ryan, I think that is his name, we don't see much. He has been so busy taking a class online this summer, spending all kinds of crazy hours planning the next year with the Seminary Council, working two jobs and trying to find a few minutes here and there to talk to his mom. He is growing up so fast and getting more independent every day. I have started to freak out a little less at the thought that this is his last year in high school. Tomorrow, my sister, her daughter, Ryan and I are heading south to check out a University. Then next week we are going up north for a tour of another one. Eek! Ok, maybe I am still freaking out! I am so proud of this big guy of mine, he works hard, has a great head on his shoulders and helps me here when he can.

Josh, the constant comedian, has been keeping busy too. He and two of his friends decided months ago that they wanted to try out for the high school golf team. They practiced every week and every chance they got and all three made the team. Josh is so excited! I am proud of them for setting a goal and working towards it. He has been trying to earn money to fund this new adventure and is wishing he had a regular job. We are grateful for a great neighbor who has had him work with him on a couple of roofing jobs. Josh's new golf shoes, size 15, yes I did say size 15 arrived yesterday. When you have feet that big you have to special order all footwear. Thank goodness his heart and sense of humor are as big as his feet. Josh is also Mr. Social and doesn't think our house is the cool house. He is constantly at one of his friends and I am grateful that he has such wonderful friends. As a mom of a teenager, good friends for your kids is so important.

Cassidy turned twelve last month and started a whole new social schedule. She will be going to Jr. High this fall and is in Young Women's. She went to camp and youth conference just after her birthday. She paints her nails and toenails every other day, loves to talk on the phone for hours and hang out with her best friend Aubry. She is learning to be a great cookie and brownie baker and Josh and his friends are using that skill whenever they happen to stay at our house long enough. So I am extremely grateful when she bakes.

Mark got to play baseball earlier this summer and had a blast. He loves baseball. He and Kelly went to an Owls game last Sat. night and I am still hearing about their great seats and all the fun plays. He has loved cub scouts and is about to earn his wolf badge. He has had fun hanging out with his friends and cousins this summer. He will have his nine year old birthday just before school stars. My baby is nine! I think I feel another freak out moment around the corner.

This has been a fun summer and I can't believe school is just a couple weeks away. I know I will blink and Christmas will be here and then sneeze and Ry will be graduating and another summer will be starting. I don't know when life started to go in fast forward mode, but I would like it to rewind or at least pause sometime soon. If someone has the secret to slowing things down, I would love to have it.

isn't it ironic...

You are always wearing a white shirt when you open a can of tomato sauce and it leaps out to greet you.

A gallon of orange juice always falls on the just mopped kitchen floor.

Homemade ice cream, swimsuits and non camouflage clothing fall in the same season!

The pattern socks are always the ones that get lost in the laundry.

You run into someone you haven't seen in decades only when you go to the grocery store in sweats, frizzy hair and no makeup.

Company shows up only when your house is a mess! ( I need an enter at your risk sign instead of a welcome sign on my front door.)

smile, it's contagious.....

I have had the wonderful opportunity to be around some elderly people recently. They make me smile even though I only spend a few minutes with each one. One couple is especially my favorite. They have been married for 63 years. She is delightful, always so happy and cheery. Although her health isn't that great, she is probably the happiest person I have ever met. She doesn't just radiate, she sparkles!

Today she told me that God's greatest creation was a human being and she would like to meet each one and say hello. She sits on a glider in her carport with her oxygen tank and walker nearby and calls out a greeting to each person that passes by. She says she is surprised that people keep coming back. I have only known her for a few weeks and I feel like an adopted part of her family. She told me today that the first time she met me she knew I had a good heart. "It's all in the eyes, you have kind eyes and so I knew we'd be friends"

I told her today that every time I leave her house I have a smile on my face. She responded, "is it because I told you a joke?" I said, "no, tell me a joke" She smiled all the way to her eyes and replied, "oh sorry, I don't know one!" Then she just slapped her leg and chuckled. She told me her husband is such a wonderful man and don't I think he is so handsome for an old guy? Apparently she is making a list of all her friends who want to marry him if she goes before he does. She laughed and told me, "I always tell them, you better be nice to me or else you are off my list!" I am just smiling while I type this.

So many times today, people don't make contact with other people. We are always in a rush, and sometimes, even rude to those around us. I know I rarely make eye contact with people I meet. I'm always thinking ahead of what I want to buy, or the things I need to do. I might get impatient in a checkout line instead of smiling and saying hello to the person in front of me who is using a hundred coupons. I wonder why we rush. There is a favorite scripture of mine in Psalms. "Be still and know that I am God" I am not still enough. I don't take time to appreciate what is around me or even take a moment for a smile and a hello once in awhile.

Edna has taught me to do that. Today I smiled and said hi to a couple of people I walked by. They looked a bit surprised but returned the greeting. Just doing that small thing made me slow down a bit and appreciate the fact that little gestures can bring big changes. So this sweet woman might not know any jokes but her words of wisdom and sparkling disposition will always make me smile.

scout camp 2010

Click on the link below to see the great pictures Kelly took of Josh at Yuba Lake this past week!

http://www.kizoa.com/slideshow/d986700kP23906412o4/yuba-lake

another great book....

My amazing sister Rachael is out with her second book! I am even mentioned in the acknowlegements, so I must be almost famous now! :) Seriously, this is a great book and I highly recommend it. It's fun, it's witty, it will make you smile. Check it out. You can find it on amazon now, and soon it will be in bookstores.

http://www.amazon.com/Luck-Draw-Rachael-Renee-Anderson/dp/1599554437/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279425643&sr=8-1

Cassidy's Birthday!

Cassidy's official birthday was yesterday. She turned 12 and is headed into Young Women's. She gets to go to girls camp next week, and I'm sad I won't be there with her. She had a party with her friends yesterday and today we celebrated as a family tonight when Josh and Kelly got home from scout camp. We went to her favorite restaurant, Brick Oven, and she stood on a chair while the servers sang to her

We came home and she opened her presents and had lemon cake with ice cream. Poor girl has been sick with a big bad cold this week so she didn't want to contaminate her cake. So she just got one candle on her piece to blow out. Just that sent her into a coughing fit. The last present was the beautiful nightstand Kelly made. Josh put a big gift bag on her head while it was brought into the room. She loves it! I am so grateful for Kelly and his talents. Now she has a beautiful piece of furniture custom made from her dad.

I love this little girl of mine. She is so happy and cheerful and makes everyone smile who is around her. She loves to babysit and play with younger kids. She takes such time and attention with them and they love her. She is a big help around the house and likes to learn how to cook, crochet and do crafts. She is a delight and I am so grateful she is part of our family. The girls have to stick together around here. :)

overachiever....

I have discovered I am an overachiever! At least when it comes to painting. Most people when they paint, are very stingy and exclusive. They ONLY get it on the wall or project they are working on. Not me! I go the extra mile to make sure nothing feels left out. My hair, skin, clothing and anything even remotely near or far gets paint! It's just the way I am, I have a gift. Go ahead, be envious, even hate me a little!

I would post a picture, but the vain part of me just won't allow it! Kelly made a beautiful nightstand for Cassie for her birthday to replace a folding chair she has been using. Her other bedroom furniture is white so I got the job to paint it to match. Who would have ever thought such a small project could be so difficult! Too many nooks and crannies! Hopefully Kelly won't hide the paint brushes with the hedge trimmers, although that might get me out of painting in the future! I will post a picture of his sweet gift as soon as I get my camera back from scout camp!

new crochet projects...

These are some of the new crochet projects I have recently finished. For the summer I have moved on from hats, scarfs and mittens to baseball caps, flower bags and purses. I am amazed how much I love to crochet! I hope it's not a sign of my increasing years. :) I am always looking for new patterns so if anyone has any, send them over. My little nephew Max is my favorite to make little hats for. Isn't he adorable?

which way do we go....

It took 45 minutes, lots of U turns, running in and out of buildings, following signs that changed directions and finally we reached our destination! (Which ended up being less than a half mile from our house!)

Tonight we wanted to go to an open house for some incredible neighbors who are currently serving as temple president and matron at a small temple in southern Brazil. We love this couple so much and were looking forward to seeing them. They left seven months ago and are home for a couple weeks while their temple is closed.

In my middle aged mind, I assumed I knew the location of the church. (note to self: after age 40 never trust the mind). The building we arrived at was closed for some maintenence and we didn't see any note telling of a change of location. We decided to try other buildings in the nearby area, sending Ry in at each one to see if we had reached the right place. Three buildings later we weren't any closer to our destination. As we were driving down a road, we spotted a sign with balloons. We meticulously followed the arrow, only to find it didn't lead to the right place. (I am starting to see a really good object lesson coming out of this experience)

Not willing to give up easily, we turned around and found the sign again. This time the arrow was pointed in a different direction. We changed course yet again until we found another sign. We were wise to the tricky signs now and decided to follow our intuition. Tada! Around the next corner we met with success! It was like a treasure hunt and our friends were definitely a wonderful treasure at the end of our long silly trip. We found it interesting that the church building was less than a half mile from our house, it was just in a neighboring stake so we didn't think of it at the beginning.

Seeing them again brought tears to my eyes. They are like second parents to Kelly and I, and it was such a joy to see them and listen to their experiences. I am amazed and humbled at the sacrifices of the people there. All the distance they travel just to attend a temple. I live less than two miles from one, and don't make it there as often as I should. I felt such peace and love for the Knightons, their service and example. If I ever get lost again, I hope it is their faces I see at the end of the journey!

need a haircut?

I have a sister who is a year younger than I am. When I was a toddler I had lots of curly hair, she happened to be bald. By the time she was two there was just enough hair on the top of her head to make a little pony tail. I decided to play "barber shop" one day and took some scissors and chopped off her little pony tail, bow and all. That should have been some sign that I should never handle a pair of scissors again. It was not to be. I remember as a preteen trying to cut my own bangs. First one side was too short then the other; before I knew it I had bangs that were a quarter inch long. Ask Kelly about the first time I cut his hair. He ran to a professional afterward and responded to the shocked look of the stylist, "just don't ask".

Well today I decided to tackle some overgrown shrubs and trees in my yard. I grabbed the hand held clippers and started one branch at a time. First was an evergreen tree. I love these trees as they remind me of Christmas all year long. However, this one was a little shaggy and overgrown. I honestly tried to keep it's holiday shape. I started on one side, than slowly moved around the tree. As I stepped back to analyze the results, I realized the symmetry was off. I continued again around the tree and began to have flashbacks of my bangs when I was twelve. Some voice inside my head was saying, "put the clippers down, and step away from the tree." Maybe it was the tree police. I should have listened. As gaps started to appear I began to try to manipulate the branches like I do on my artificial Christmas trees. Nature is not so flexible. I was wondering how to reattach the branches. Aren't there tree surgeons? I was reflecting on the allegory of the olive tree in the scriptures and wondering how the grafting process works. Maybe they make pine colored duct tape?

Needless to say, I will have some explaining to do when Kelly gets home this evening. Although as he's been married to me for the past nineteen years, he will probably just shake his head and say, "I won't even ask." Then he will find all the sharp objects in the house and lock them up in his wood shop.

at home spa...

Who needs to spend all that money to have a relaxing day at the spa when you can get the same benefits at home!

Facial: Ironing a dozen of my husbands shirts with extra steam; cucumbers from the dinner salad are optional.

Mud Bath: Weeding after the sprinklers had their turn, then having balance issues.

Body Wrap: Wrestling with a box of inexpensive plastic wrap and having it win.

Exfoliating: Scrubbing floors on hands and knees

Massage: Feeling the vibrations of a teenager's stereo sub woofer during an especially long musical arrangement.

When doing laundry, don't forget to make use of the hot towels you fold straight out of the dryer. To increase the ambiance of your spa home day, simply carry a candle around with you with an aromatic scent, an i pod with relaxing music and wear a plush white bathrobe and you're set!

cousin fun.........

My sister and her family invited us out on their boat Monday. They are always so generous with their fun toys. The kids had fun playing in the water. Kelly got some great pictures. Thanks Rach and Jeff!!

happy father's day....

Kelly, this is my first poem to you,

and it seemed appropriate on father's day -
Surprisingly, it’s difficult
to find the words I want to convey.
Which is really quite amazing,
as I am never at a loss of those;
so please be patient as I search
for something worthy to compose.

How do you describe a father
that is so compassionate and true;
who never let a new baby out of his sight
for even a moment or two.
How about a dad when left in charge
of the toddlers for awhile;
instead of TV, would make a giant fort,
just to see them smile.
A father who worked long hours
at church and work to be precise;
then turn around and find time to play catch
and to give homework advice.
You are the father, who'd protect little Cassie
as she'd crawl up on your lap;
and snuggle in with a smile
just to avoid going upstairs for a nap.
All the times over the years,
when I thought an earthquake had come about;
it was just water fights and wrestling
that would shake throughout the house.
And who would be leading
the noisy boisterous brigade?
Surely not my husband
in his wisdom and and grown up age?
But there you would be around the corner
with a shrug and a silly smirk;
Armed with a water gun,
just waiting to go berserk.
How do you describe a man
that does dishes, housework and laundry,
whenever I was absent, sick
or just in a quandary.
You taught the kids that hard work
is always good to do;
And not just at times
when someone was feeling blue.
You took time to teach them
how to build in your wood shop;
And only cringed a moment
when something happened to drop!
There were times when your patience
was pushed to it’s very limit;
perhaps from your children,
or a stubborn wife could do it.
Your never raised your voice,
usually only an eyebrow;
Then you’d bring peace and quiet to the scene,
no temper did you allow.
You worked hard to help your boys
become strong Eagle Scouts
And could always be the only one
to tease Cassie out of a pout.
I treasure the moments
you gave blessings to one and all;
and were always worthy,
no matter what time of day you’d get a call.
Kelly I hope you know, you mean more to me
than simple words can say.
You are an incredible husband and father
and I love you in every way.
Thank you for standing by my side
through every strife;
And making a family with our children
that will last long past this life.
Happy Father’s Day.