Tuesday's Day

Tonight, while Brendalyn and I were swimming, I told her I couldn't wait until tomorrow...because I didn't have one thing I HAD to do....nowhere I HAD to be. It seems like I haven't had one of those lately. Every day is filled with lists. I have a whole blog I can't wait to write tomorrow Oh wait....I just remembered I have M. Wilcox's class tomorrow. Okay, I have the WHOLE morning free. And I can't wait to blog about last week's class and Sat. night's Women's Conference. I loved both but haven't had time to write about them.


Just a few free cell thoughts running through my mind-


I had a wonderful phone call from someone today that shared that a thought I had written in a previous blog....about suffering from depression....and defining what the issue was (experiencing losses in our lives and going through the grieving steps) had really been an answer to her prayers. Then Calli called, long distance, and said, "I MISS you! The women I hang out with are TOO SERIOUS! I need you to laugh with me!" Both phone calls "be-bigged" me (remember I shared how M. Wilcox talked about how the Savior "be-bigs" rather than "belittles.") and made me feel so good.



Yesterday I went to Grouchy Lady's house, who lives in our Ward, and picked grapes. Like I need more grapes. I have grapes growing all around the tennis court....tons and tons of grapes. But for some reason, when I heard hers were purple (I have both green and purple) and I knew Valene needed some....but then couldn't come, I still went and picked....then David and Tanner picked two big bags for me at our house...and Mom W. and I canned grape juice. Okay, imagine 3 large garbage bags over halfway full each of luscious grapes. Guess how many jars of juice that many grapes do? 14 quarts is all! Nuts! And I don't even drink it but David loves it so it is my service to him. And it is wonderful to have David's mom helping me. I'm excited because in the morning Valene and her younger sister, Voila from France (Janet) are coming to pick grapes. And I just remembered that hopefully I'll be able to meet a new friend from Liberty, Utah (Mary Ann) at M. Wilcox's class! Happy day!


I have been working my tail off for the past few weeks, trying to find clothes for everyone for family pictures (not EVERYone but a lot.) Really, I've put in the time. So, yesterday I reminded David that family pictures are next week....and he said, "Next week? I think I'm out of town all next week." #$%#$%$%$%!!! So....now I am trying to reschedule AGAIN. I'm telling you....having family pictures taken is paramount to major surgery. Quite the production. And several members of the family act like it is as bad as a root canal! Our last complete family picture was taken just before Tanner left on his mission. 5 of the kiddos weren't even born. It is time!

Thursday I have two writing friends coming for lunch...Linda Midgley and Carolyn Campbell. We get together about every 3-4 months. Always fun. Friday is art...we had to cancel last week and I'm anxious to start a new picture. Saturday is the first two sessions of General Conference....which I love...and afterwards, I'm throwing a baby shower for one of my nieces in Idaho at my house...with a little super-Sat. craft time before. A fun weekend!

These past few days I have been so happy to see God's hand working in the lives of some of my friend's families. Miracles, truly miracles. And I have felt a few myself. So today I want to say thank you. For answered prayers. For prayers still in progress. For the beautiful Fall weather. For the turning of leaves and hearts. For David's mom living with us. For Tanner who is in love. For the opportunity to watch a couple of my grand kiddos that I usually don't get to spend time with this past week. For a husband I adore. For my daughter, with whom I talk everyday...several times. I'm thankful for her ability to tread water in the middle of the storm. I'm thankful for parents I love. I'm thankful I'm done canning grapes. And salsa. And just shoot me if I decide to do more chili sauce. I got a wonderful email from my wonderful friend, Marilyn Bawden, in Guatemala...sharing a heart wrenching experience where her life could have been taken. I couldn't have handled it. She and her husband, Dean, were invited by another couple to fly to an area where they are doing humanitarian work. Dean said they would drive since they couldn't spend the whole week there. The plane went down....and the other couple was killed. How heartbreaking for the little family of that couple. How thankful I am that my friend's life and her husband were preserved! I have a full heart of thankfulness tonight for goodness that is extended to me and my family. For our beautiful world. Goodnight!

Birdee: Beginnings are scary. Endings are usually sad, but it's what's in the middle that counts. So, when you find yourself at the beginning, just give hope a chance to float up. And it will. (Hope Floats)

Taxi Drivers

A pastor and a taxi driver both died and went to heaven. St. Peter was at the Pearly gates waiting for them. 'Come with me', said St. Peter to the taxi driver. The taxi driver did as he was told and followed St. Peter to a mansion. It had anything you could imagine from a bowling alley to an Olympic-size pool. 'Wow, thank you', said the taxi driver. Next, St. Peter led the pastor to a rugged old shack with a bunk bed and a little old television set. 'Wait, I think you are a little mixed up', said the pastor. 'Shouldn't I be the one who gets the mansion? After all I was a pastor, went to church every day, and preached God's word.' 'Yes, that's true. But during your sermons people slept. When the taxi driver drove, everyone prayed.'

I read this joke the other day and it reminded me of a story that Valene shared when we went to California. Her son, Justin and his wife, April and their two (almost three) daughters live in Japan. (I hope I tell this story right but it is too late to call Valene while I am writing...so I may have to edit it tomorrow...)
Apparently, the embassy is close by where they live...and there are tons of taxi drivers just parked outside, waiting their turn to drive. Apparently these drivers work several days in a row, 24 hours a day. They are exhausted and often take cap naps while waiting for their next fare. April and the girls got into a cab and April could tell that the woman cabdriver was totally exhausted. As they drove along, her two little girls softly started to sing, in Japanese, "I Am A Child of God." The cabdriver listened, and then she wept and afterwards thanked them over and over.

Such a little thing. Lifting one another's spirits. Just a little thing to make another smile. Such a little thing....but I was so touched when Valene shared this story....I just wanted to keep it here in my heart forever.

Happy birthday, Tenillie!

Today is my daughter-in-law, Tenille's birthday. Love, love, love her!!! Happy birthday, cutie pie!

The Economy

Does the economy just scare you to death? My word....I see a hunk of our retirement flushing down the toilet every day.....big banks are failing. Businesses going bankrupt put smaller businesses out of business when they can't pay their bills. It is enough to make you cry. My feelings? Read on:


A businessman was in a great deal of trouble. His business was failing, he had put everything he had into the business, he owed everybody it was so bad he was even contemplating suicide. As a last resort he went to a pastor and poured out his story of tears and woe.
When he had finished, the pastor said, "Here's what I want you to do, put a beach chair and your Bible in your car and drive down to the beach. Take the beach chair and the Bible to the water's edge, sit down in the beach chair, and put the Bible in your lap. Open the Bible; the wind will rifle the pages, but finally the open Bible will come to rest on a page. Look down at the page and read the first thing you see. That will be your answer, that will tell you what to do."
A year later the businessman went back to the pastor and brought his wife and children with him. The man was in a new custom- tailored suit, his wife in a mink coat, the children shining. The businessman pulled an envelope stuffed with money out of his pocket and gave it to the pastor as a donation in thanks for his advice.
The pastor recognized the benefactor, and was curious. "You did as I suggested?" he asked.
"Absolutely," replied the businessman.
"You went to the beach?"
"Absolutely."
"You sat in a beach chair with the Bible in your lap?"
"Absolutely."
"You let the pages rifle until they stopped?"
"Absolutely."
"And what were the first words you saw?"
"Chapter 11."

Just to make you smile....

I just emailed a friend from my high school days that I've recently connected with. She has a traveling espresso business and goes to roping and horse events....and we've commented on how mixed up we were....that I married a cowboy and she married a guy that doesn't like to get his hands dirty! I told her I thought I needed to go help her out on the road.....but that I didn't know beans about coffee (although my parents and extended family can't start the day without it!)....but that if she added hot dogs and donuts, I was her girl! I read this cute joke today and it made me smile....just wanted you to smile too!

A blonde was recently hired at an office. Her first task was to go out for coffee. Eager to do well her first day on the job, she grabbed a large thermos and hurried to a nearby coffee shop. She held up the thermos and the coffee shop worker quickly came over to take her order. She asked, "Is this big enough to hold six cups of coffee?" The coffee shop worker looked at the thermos, hesitated a few seconds, then finally replied, "Yeah. It looks like about six cups to me." "Oh good!" the blonde sighed in relief. "Then give me two regular, two black, and two decaf."

Tag from Ann

It was really suppose to be 8 things of each category but I'm pooped from watching two little guys today...and I have a feeling morning will come soon! So I shortened things.

7 Words or Phrases I Say Often:

1. Yes, I would LOVE to go to lunch.
2. Where are you off to? (To Tanner)
3. Do you want to play Nertz or bowl? (To David)
4. Heh, punkin, how are you? (To kiddos) or "Choco-milk?"
5. It’s your body, you can do what you want to. (To my aerobics comrades)
6. Love you too!
7. Thanks!

6 Things I am Passionate About:
my family-husband, kids/spouses, kiddos, my folks and David’s mom and extended family

God/gospel/faith/- striving to have the Spirit with me

Service

Anything to do with food (cooking, reading about, eating) except putting away groceries

art- learning about it, doing it, thinking about it (actually, anything creative or right brained.)

Pondering and Studying the Scriptures

5 things that I do consistently
1.water aerobics
2.read scriptures/attend religion classes
3.over eat
4.play games with my husband
5. blog

4 Things I Have Learned From my Past:
1. Every decade of my life just gets better-hard to believe, isn’t it? But it’s true!
2. It feels so much better to be more concerned about nice insides instead of looking good outside.
3. It is true that some things can grow on you...like broccoli and cauliflower. But Brussels sprouts never do.
4. That old dogs can learn a few tricks. But not as fast as an old dog forgets or misplaces things...
3 Things I want to do before I Die:1. live awhile longer (!)
2. fill all my staircase with kiddo’s names
3. Get more physically fit. Be a physically fit slug!
2 Places I Would Love to Go or See:1. Italy
2. New England

1 Thing I Currently Need or Want:1. Mostly happiness,health, peace and security for my kids and their families
I actually tag anyone reading this and want you to comment here with your answers. If you are reading my thoughts, I certainly want to read your thoughts! Tag, you're it!

Is it just me or...

Or does Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad look like McDreamy (Patrick Dempsey)?

More Budda/Zen/Ka-Noodle

I know no one thinks this stuff is as funny as I think this stuff is...but please, just humor me along.


"The Lesser Vehicle is the way to attain Enlightenment for one's self. The Greater Vehicle is the way to attain Enlightenment for all people. The Sport Utility Vehicle is the way to attain four-wheel drive."


"Those who live according to the teachings escape affliction and cross over to the farther shore. Those who do not, simple remain on this shore. Those who have truly achieved Nirvana do not remain on either this shore or the farther shore but forever leave both shores. These are not beach people."


"If you practice Zen meditation for long periods of time, you may be criticized by friends and relatives who feel you are shutting them out. Ignore these people."

"Accept misfortune as a blessing. Do not wish for perfect health or a life without problems. What would you talk about?"

David Badar

Oh Sweet Sadi

When is a boutique not a boutique but more of an event? If you live in the Salt Lake Valley, this is where you need to go this weekend. I was suppose to be there this morning with Brandi but instead, I am waiting for our Direct TV installer to be here. He was suppose to be here at 8:00a.m. When I made the appointment, the representative asked if he could come at 8:00. I said that would work if he really came at 8:00. She acted surprised like I would even suggest that he wouldn't be here when she said. Two days later, "the computer" called me to tell me that my serviceman would be here between "8 and 12." While we were in California, Kirk and Cathy were having Direct TV installed....same thing.....they showed up about 12:30. And didn't speak English. It was a nightmare. So, here I am.....10:17 a.m. Waiting. Missing oh sweet Sadi....missing hanging out with my daughter. So I have to be content to look at their website that doesn't even TOUCH the real thing......

http://ohsweetsadie.blogspot.com/

The end of the day...

Tonight was a bridal shower for Nicole Funk....daughter of our Bishop and also my friend, Pam. Pam had mentioned to me that Nicole loved old fashioned things....so we went back in time and had an old fashioned tea party. I took a million pictures because everything turned out so cute...from the food table to the table settings to all the guests in their funky hats. But I have lost them while downloading on my computer. They pull up as shortcuts and a message comes up that the computer is unable to unable to find the orginal pictures...which have also been erased from my camera. Drats!!! That's what I get for wanting to show off. My computer is so much like my brain....confused, not using even a tenth of its capacity, forgetful...constantly misplacing things. My life....

Tonight I've been feeling so blessed, as I do often, about the good friends in my life that jump in at a moment's notice to help. Debbie Stowell is the person in our Ward who is ALWAYS there for me. Whenever I need something she's always quick to say "What can I do to help?" and "let me do more." Valene, who doesn't know any of the people involved with this shower, shows up today with tea cups and hats for people who didn't wear them. I'm stymied when getting ready to make the canapes (with the pink and green bread I ordered from Reams)....Marilyn Mikesell calls about something else.........and runs over to help. The RS presidency called the other day to see if they could help in any way....and came over and set up and decorated three tea party tables. Others came early and just went to work. My sweet mother-in-law pitches in and cleans up all my messes. I feel like I have this HUGE support system and it means so much to me. Blessed, heaped up and over.

So many things have been going on this week that I haven't had a chance to write about. I had Elijah and Noah on Sunday and Monday and will pick them up again tomorrow from Marcia's sister, Chelsey...and keep them until we pick Ryan and Marcia up from the plane on Sat. night. I don't watch these grandkiddos very much and so it has been a treat to get to spend more time with them.

Michael Wilcox's class Wed. was amazing, as usual. Hopefully this weekend I can share some of my notes.

Oh, and several people asked about the picture collages that I did for my California trip. There are several programs that have templates for collages but the one that I used was through Shutterfly. Just go to shutterfly.com , sign in, import pictures from your picture files, click on the bottom left hand corner for collages....choose how many pictures you want on a page and there are tons of options as well as options to add text. Shutterfly is such a great resource...if you haven't checked them out, do so.

It is almost midnight...after a loooonnngg day (Brendalyn and I actually did water aerobics after the shower) .... but I wanted to leave on a profound note. I've mentioned the little book I picked up at the airport in California....a Jewish take on Buddism and other ism's. Here's a little bedtime thought:

"To study the Way of the Buddha is to study the self. To study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to experience the complete dropping away of body and mind. The difficult part is keeping body and mind off after you've dropped them. Many people gain back body, mind, and an additional fifteen pounds. You must then study the Way of Jenny Craig." David Bader

Amen!!!

Tea Party tonight!

Marilyn Williams says:
blackberry lemonade done. Check. Froze blackberries in lemonade last night to float in the bowl.
Marilyn Williams says:
ribbon sandwiches done. Check. (thank you, Marilyn M. for rescuing me!) (and Valene!)
Marilyn Williams says:
deviled ham spread made. Hearts cut out of pink and green bread. Check.
Marilyn Williams says:
Food table decorated. Check.
Marilyn Williams says:
Tea party tables set up and decorated. (thank you RS presidency! xo) Check.
Marilyn Williams says:
strawberries and grapes dipped in chocolate. Check.
Marilyn Williams says:
Fudge cut in little heart shapes. (thank you, friend Jan for making the fudge and helping as always!) Check.
Marilyn Williams says:
Carrots and cucumbers cut in tiny hearts to put on top of deviled ham sandwiches. Check.
Marilyn Williams says:
Extra hats for ladies that don't wear them. Check. Bought my cool hat on Balboa Island...sigh...
Marilyn Williams says:
Go to Roberts for little silk flowers to put in the middle of the little bundt's. Then bath time. Check.
Marilyn Williams says:
Oh, and gift wrapped, ready to go.
Marilyn Williams says:
I think I'm done.
Marilyn Williams says:
Or almost.
Marilyn Williams says:
Just wanted to report. Pictures later!

Watch Studio 5 Thursday Morning!!!!

I forgot to let people know that Thursday morning, on Channel 5.....the program called Studio 5 ....which starts at 11:00 a.m. in Salt Lake......my fun friend, Loretta and her daughter, Seneca will be on.....premiering their new business called "PartyBoxers".....which is a party kit you can order all ready to go! If anyone sees Loretta on the show, please comment here so I know you did! Isn't she darling? Just picture her in her swim suit during our water aerobics. She'll love that I told you that!

check out more of their stuff at http://partyboxers.com/

California Girl's Trip Sept. 2008

Okay, it was heaven! Traveling with 3 dear friends, none of which are high maintenance, laughing and chilling and getting lost and loving to do the same things. Each of us took a day to "be in charge" and plan the days activities. Our only disagreement was that I like to take Pacific Coast highway and Valene likes the freeway...but since neither of us were driving, Cathy basically went wherever she wanted! Really, that's how easy it is!

The beach was divine. I've actually never been to the beach in California when it has been hot.... we did several days of beach time and one day I even got a red nose and browned up a bit. Just what I always wanted!

We usually stay in Newport Beach but this time we stayed in a condo in Oceanside. We weren't sure what it was going to be like but it turned out to be lovely. Right on the beach. Great pool and hot tub. We started most days with a brisk walk on the beach, then water aerobics in the pool, then thawing out in the hot tub. Monday was getting settled and finding the best fish tacos ever (Senor Pancho's drive-in.) Tuesday we went to the San Diego temple...only 10 in the session so we got to wander around inside afterwards. We also did sealings there. I'm just in awe of that beautiful place...the glass, the flowers, the artwork, the spirit. So incredible. We also did Balboa Park....a place I had never been before. I was amazed! It is like the Smithsonian.....with a ton of museums for different things. Tuesday they have free admission to several events so we hit several including an interesting Georgia O'Keefe and other women exhibit. We took the trolley that drives around the whole park and it was great. Wed. was our chill at the beach day. Ruby's Diner was at the end of our pier and we had the most incredible hickory burger I've ever had. We were so stuffed....and dinner was planned at my favorite California restaurant, Davino's Grill (Carlsbad or El Cid?) (honey chipolte shrimp) right on Pacific Coast highway....and I was still so full from lunch, that I couldn't eat any dinner! After lunch we were driving somewhere and I was moaning in the backseat and said to Kathy Wilson "Kathy, keep your eyes open for a medical center. I really think I need to get my stomach pumped." (joking) About ten minutes later, Kathy said, "Marilyn, I'm so worried about you. I don't see a hospital anywhere. Have you ever HAD your stomach pumped before?" She totally was serious...had been looking for a hospital....had been wondering how painful getting your stomach pumped would be. Okay, this doesn't sound funny when I've just written it....I guess you'd have to be there....



Kathy just cracks me up! Catch phrases were "Cathy with a C" or "Kathy with a K" to differenitate. "It's your body, you can do what you want to." Cathy with a C was really good on her diet.....except when she would spot a See's candy store. We laughed and laughed because one day, all her and Kathy with a K's chocolate melted in the bag in the car....and then they ended up squeezing out the melted chocolate into their mouths, then licking up the wrappers! Valene and I just rolled out eyes...

Thursday was another best day. After walks, pool, hot tub, we headed for the Crab Cooker for lunch, then rented bikes in Balboa and rode all along the boardwalks, taking the ferry across to Balboa Island.....cruising around on our pink beach cruisers.....shopping a great street and biking some more. Heavenly! Then we changed our clothes in the car and headed to the Newport Beach temple...which is a newer, smaller temple. Cathy Olsen's mother's cousin (named Oveson) is the temple president there and it was nice to meet him and his wife, who took us around and showed us a few interesting things. I loved the architecture, the wood, the windows. They have a donated original Minerva Tiggart painting in the entry foyer that is just magnificent! We were able to do initiatories there and had a wonderful experience. Friday was another beach day...lunch at Ruby's again (walking distance) where we loved watching a little boy feeding fish to a pelican....but no dolphins out the window of Ruby's today, Mum. We all got massages in the afternoon. In the evenings, we watched a few movies or made cards. We loved running into people that we met at the beach and we talked and talked and played "do you know who" with the MANY people that were there from Salt Lake or Gilbert, Az. When I was trying to describe my week to a friend, I said how awesome my friends are...never a dull moment or inappropriate conversation. Just fun, edifying, hysterical and relaxing. Loved every single minute. Girlfriends. The sun. Great food. The best.

Halloween Contest Winner!

I’m sorry that I’ve been behind on announcing the winner. I came back from my RELAXING trip, hit the ground running and I'm still trying to come up for air. But, yeah! I’m here. Let’s talk.

First of all, I LOVED hearing about different Halloween experiences. I, too, carried a pillow case and never had to worry about razor blades being in candy or going to people’s door that you didn’t know and candy didn’t have to be wrapped. But, boy, I had rules for my kids! My time was "before" miniature candies so when you got a Snickers bar, it was full size. I loved popcorn balls and homemade sugar cookies. How scary, Deanna, that you once met thugs on your route....that’s Rupert, Idaho for ya! Terror! Sophia, I would love to be invited to your "fun" friends party...but I’ll be content to be at home watching t.v. (not) with the boring folk (since I know you don’t like to "mix" friends...) The number of trick-or-treaters at our house is a big fat nothing unless Travis and Tenille bring their kiddos by. I think I’m going to Brandi’s to help with a FUN project there.

Everyone should have to (get to) go to a Halloween dress up party. David doesn’t like to dress up so I have to "low-key" him (how many times can he be a.....guess....cowboy...) But one time I dressed up like a sparkly spider and gave him a bug sprayer and shirt that said "Orca Exterminator." Ann, I loved the hot scones and cider idea. Fabulous! I have lots and lots of ideas and memories that I want to talk about but decided I had bettered wait until next month. Halloween will be here soon!

Ashley S., why does it not surprise me that you got engaged on Halloween? Ashley is the best friend of Kevin’s wife, Lori. Kevin is my best’s friend Cathy’s son, who was Tanner’s best friend until he ditched him for Lori. Got that all straight? Quiz at the end. Ashley and I have bonded since she is the only person I know besides me that sometimes glances out the window of a car and imagines places where bodies could be hidden. Strange but true. And surprise! Annee drew your name out of the bowl so email me and tell me where you would like your gift certificate and your address.

Ashley Sanderson.....the winner!

And One Winner is......

For the just post three contest (and SOOOO like me that on the first one I say five, then three...what a ditz!)......

The winner is Christine!!!! from Victor, Idaho!!!! Tell me where you want your gift certificate to and email me your address. (mdwillpoet@msn.com) We don't know WHERE you are!!!!! We need an update! So...suggestions for a gift certificate might be to Barnes and Noble or Target or Walmart or Old Navy or Chili's or ???? you tell me!

I have wanted to start telling all about our trip....but I got in last night...spent time with my hubby.....busy this morning with church things, then the Primary program (my kiddos were awesome) and then when we got home from church, BEN AND SUSIE were here! Back from gallivanting during the summer to some dude ranch in Idaho. They stayed for dinner and we got them hooked on Wii everything. Tanner and girlfriend Brooke and Annee also came and we played and played. Then, my son, Ryan and his wife, Marci are on vacation in Bacalar, Mexico....and have their kids farmed out. We got the two little ones, Elijah (who likes to be called "Nuke" since his middle name is Luke and he can't say his "l's) and Noah (No-way Jose.) Just got them down to bed....and company is all gone....except Cousin Casey, who isn't really company but just lives here. I will write later in the week but I wanted to thank you for all your great suggestions for Ipod listening. I bet I had half of every one's picks already but I got some more great suggestions that I'm sure Itunes will be a happy camper! I laughed about Vicki's "Old MacDonald" (and good luck with your move! Your Ward will miss your family!)..... And Mum, we DID go to Ruby's! We were right by Ruby's at the end of the pier. Wonderful! Wonderful! I'm so sorry that I didn't have a computer to read your suggestion for hamburgers, Lisa, because we were right across the street at the Crab Cooker....which was fun but we agreed that next time we didn't have to go there. My IPOD died just before our trip...so I ran into a store at the last minute and all they had left was a Zune. He assured me it was just like an IPOD but I am a one trick pony and will take it back this week. Tanner loves his Zune but I would have to read the instruction book before I would love mine....aren't I pathetic? But thank you, thank you, for all the great suggestions. And books too! And hearing about your goals.....Voila...I REALLY want to take you to lunch now that you are home from France....and you can see my picture book I did of my visit there (with you!).....and I LOVED that my son actually entered this contest which meant that he actually READ my blog.....and made me laugh....goal 1) get engaged! Love it! He might change his mind since Annee drew the winner and it wasn't him!

I got the greatest little book in California called "Zen Judaism" by David M. Bader...who is inspired "by centuries-old Eastern meditation techniques and traditional Jewish lower back pain." I read it all the way home on the plane and laughed and laughed. In describing himself, he says that through Zen meditation he has managed to achieve complete and perfect Emptiness, although two hours later he often feels full again. Funny. I'll leave with one of his quotes.

"Let your mind be as a floating cloud. Let your stillness be as the wooded glen. And sit up straight. You'll never meet the Budda with posture like that." David Bader

Hello Again!

Time's up for the contests. I'll post the winners in the morning.

I'm home! I can't wait to tell you about the wonderful trip. It was amazing.

Tomorrow is our Primary program....about a month earlier than usual because of Stake and General Conferences and UEA. I keep saying that if I can get through tomorrow, I may survive. I love my little Sunbeams. But 3 hours is a LOOONNNG time!

Contest Time-Halloween

It's easy stuff. Win a $25 gift certificate to wherever you choose (if I can get a gift certificate there!).....



Just tell me your favorite Halloween memory. Can't wait to hear!


Okay, by now I can't zip up my pants. Although my stomach muscles are tight from laughing. The weather is breezy and perfect. (How do I know...I'm writing this from Sandy on Sunday?) The company is perfect. The temples were beautiful. I am just about played out. But not quite!

Have a happy day!

Top Three List Contest

Okay, just answer these 3 questions and you'll be entered into a drawing for a $25 gift certificate to Target or Barnes and Noble or Chili's....you choose!

1. What 5 songs would HAVE to be on your Ipod list? (you don't have to have an Ipod list...just tell me your 3 favorite songs to listen to. It can be a workout list, an easy listening list, a housecleaning list, a Sunday list.)



2. What are three goals that you want to accomplish before the end of the year?

3. List three books that you can't wait to read.


That's it. So easy you could do them in your sleep. Just picture me now....walking the beach with sand in my toes. Ocean breezes. Shrimp in my belly. Ahhhh...life is good.


"Think where man's glory most begins and ends, And say my glory was I had such friends." ~ William Butler Yeats

Contest on Wed. and Friday!!!

I forgot to mention....a little contest on Wed. and Friday. Stay tuned!

California Dreaming

I'm leaving in the morning for a girlfriend trip to Newport Beach, California...with Cathy, Kathy and Valene. You know how awful the night is before you leave on a trip? Well, it is that right now....
but TOMORROW is going to be wonderful.


We plan to:
-rent bikes and bike along the boardwalks, take a ferry to Balboa for lunch, Marilyn will take a taxi home while the rest of the girls ride (just kidding)
-go to both the Newport Beach and San Diego temples

-Kathy and I have both put together card packets...to spend evenings if we want making fun cards....VERY cute!

-Everyone is suppose to bring a movie. I'm bringing "The Inheritance"....a Jane Austin (?) film I like.
-We will eat ourselves into oblivion
-We will laugh ourselves silly
-We will talk and talk and talk...
and analyze and analyze
and cry a little
and walk the beaches
and eat honey chipolte shrimp in tortilla's at David's Grill
and eat some more shrimp
and eat fish tacos
and I'm taking painting supplies
did I mention we are staying in a beach house?
it could be good. it could be bad.
But either way it will still be fun.

Can't wait.

Hope I can go to sleep tonight!!!

Wonderful! Wonderful! Wonderful!

Thursday we got the sweetest surprise in the mail. It was a awesome card from Travis and Tenille. Sorry the crop didn't work. But isn't this family just darling?!!!

Just a little note from the Williams crew,
We hope your life is full & wonderful too.
We have some excitement to share with you,
Our family is growing, yes it is true.
A new little sibling will soon be here,
Coming March of the next year.
Our house is full, but there is room for another,
Whether it be a sister or a brother.
With love,

Travis, Tenille, Rylee, Boston & Nash

Recipes for Two Freezer Meals

Simply Lasagna

½ cup Italian sausage, cooked and drained
3/4 cup hamburger, cooked and drained
1 cup cottage cheese
1 cup ricotta cheese
egg, slightly beaten
1 T. dried parsley flakes
2 T. grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese
1 ½ cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
3 cups spaghetti sauce (canned, bottled or homemade)
12 lasagna noodles

Combine the cottage cheese, ricotta, egg, parsley and Parmesan cheese. Mix your two meats with the spaghetti sauce of your choice. Cover the bottom of a greased lasagna foil baking pan with spaghetti sauce, using half the sauce. Layer uncooked noodles, sauce, half the Mozzarella and half the Jack cheese. Top with another layer of noodles, then all the cottage cheese mixture. Top with another layer of noodles, then the remaining Mozzarella and Jack cheeses and cover with a thick layer of spaghetti sauce. Cover with press and seal paper then extra heavy foil. Label and freeze. 12 servings.

To serve: Thaw. Bake covered for 45-60 minutes at 375. Uncover, top with more Mozzarella cheese and bake an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Smothered Sweet Pork Burritos

2 ½ lb. pork ½ c. brown sugar
salt and pepper to taste 1/3 c. water
½ cup green chili sauce garlic salt

Cut pork into large cubes and place in slow cooker with water. Season with salt and pepper and garlic salt. Cook on high tempertaure for 4 hours or low for 8 until meat is well done. Remove from cooker and drain. Shred meat and place in a bowl. Stir in a the green chili sauce and brown sugar.

Burritos:
1 (15 oz.) can black beans, well drained
1 can chili beans
1 bunch cilantro, chopped
2 cups cooked rice
1/3 c. Monterey Jack cheese, grated
2 (15 oz.) cans mild green chili sauce, divided
1 (10 count) pkg. flour tortillas
Garnishes:
chopped tomatoes sour cream
salsa guacamole
lettuce

Heat oven to 350. Spray a 9 x 13 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Warm the tortillas in a microwave to make them easier to roll. Pour ½ c. green chili sauce into prepared pan. Place 1/3 c. meat mixture down the middle of each tortilla. Sprinkle 1 to 2 T. of black beans, then chili beans, 1/4 c. rice and 1 to 2 tsp. of chopped cilantro. Roll burrito and place seam side down in a baking dish. Repeat with remaining tortillas. Pour 1- ½ to 2 cups of green chili sauce over burritos and sprinkle with Monterey Jack cheese. Cover with foil and bake 25 to 30 minutes or until cheese is melted and burritos are warmed through. Serve with desired garnishes. Makes 6 to 8 servings. Or- after assembling, cover with press and seal paper, heavy tin foil, label and freeze. To use, thaw, remove sealing paper, replace tin foil, bake about 45 minutes at 350 degrees.
(I found 6 large burritos were all that fit comfortably in a 9 x 13 pan. And you know me, I like all my burritos comfortable.)

Oh Happy Day!

The other day my best friend, Peggy, from college (lives in Nyssa, Oregon) called to say she was coming to town and could we play today? Of course! My favorite thing in the world! And TODAY is finally here. I'm waiting for her at this very moment. I have chocolates and a magazine on her bed and a little giftie basket. I called her last night and asked her what her toes looked like. She said terrible. I said, "Great! Pedicures it is!" After the pedicures (which may be before or after lunch, depending on if she has eaten)...we'll head out to Dear Lizzie's to quicken our heartbeats. Not that she and I need anything to quicken our heartbeats OR our mouths! Really, NO ONE can out talk us! Old friends are the best friends!

Tomorrow morning is art.....love it, love it. Then I got invited out to 5 Men and a Burger....is that what it is called? with my neighbor-young-Martha-Stewart, Lisa, and my-hero-in-charge-of-our-1,000-dresses-to-Africa project, Debra! I can't WAIT to hear all about it!

And tomorrow night? Tomorrow night I'm going to blanch and chop and stir and boil and make a big old huge mess in my kitchen. It's salsa time! I have complained so much about it that Aunt Pat (you know, not really "my" aunt) wrote me and said she had just finished her salsa and did me some so I could stop complaining. Actually, she's too nice to say that about the complaining...and Pat, I STILL WANT YOUR SALSA! But I also have tomatoes on the vine...and tomatoes I'm hoping to get from our neighbors, Cody and Alana, who have an organic garden (not that it matters to me...I LOVE pesticide...) (kidding)....and sometimes you just have to grow up and bite the bullet.

So I am.

I am anxious to share about yesterday's cooking "Make it and Freeze It" class which was fabulous but I'll share tomorrow. Also, Bro. Wilcox's class was life changing. Or thought changing. Or heart changing. I needed all three. We'll try that one on Sunday. (Mary Anne-were you there?)

Can I just leave on a little friend note. I feel like one of the most blessed people in the world...for many, many reasons but honestly, I have a HUGE corral (cowboy talk to impress David....who never reads this blog anyway, but I still like to try and impress him.) of the most incredible friends. Last night in the pool with Brendalyn and Loretta and Maniac Rose was just over-the-top hysterical! We are all laughing and yelling to be overhead and it is soooo crazy...we think we are dang funny, and honestly, if you were there, you would think so too. I told them about you, Ann, in Nebraska.....my friend I've never met.....and how you used to be in competitive synchronized swimming...and they are SOOO in! We laughed ourselves silly because we are going to choreograph "Thriller" for us in the pool! And video it! Just to help the world be a funnier place. Just imagine it..... perfect for Halloween! (Aren't you "thrilled?")

Thank goodness for Grey's Anatomy...

Monica just informed me the former title of this post or topic freaked her out....let me clarify this. I am just giving a little nod to one of my favorite movies, My Big Fat Greek Wedding. The Greek father in the movie had a "thing" for the "roots" of words. All "roots" come from Greece. Well, apparently he was right. When I googled tracheotomy, to make sure I spelled it right in the last post, this is what I found:

Tracheotomy, from the Greek root tom- meaning "to cut," refers to the procedure of cutting into the trachea and is an emergency procedure.
A tracheostomy, from the root stom- meaning "mouth," refers to the making of a semipermanent or permanent opening, and to the opening itself.

The purpose of this was in reference to our conversation at last night's GNO.....of how educated we all are in medical procedures. I wonder how many people actually attempt these procedures armed with only McDreamy's example! Sigh....

So, smile if you've never been trached! (you have to read the trach reference below for this even to make sense. And then after you read the trach reference, it still won't make any sense. But there you go. Now you know...sorry for giving you a heart attack, Monica! )

Wednesday

Last night was Girl’s Night Out. Lois, from Idaho Falls now, hosted. She and Val completed a Family History mission for the past 6 months and so she is back into commission. We had a small group...Lois, Tauna, BF Cathy, Brendalyn, Loretta, Elaine and I. Lois told of a story of Ron, her son-in-law that is finally out of schooling and training as a surgeon. Fourteen years of schooling....he was actually in Brandi’s high school class and married one of her friends, Jenny Meikle. He will be practicing in Twin Falls. He was recently working in the ER when a little girl was brought in from a car accident with a broken arm. While he was working on her, her blood pressure started dropping and dropping and he hurried and got some pictures to see what was going on inside of her...and her chest cavity was filling up with blood. Then her heart quit beating and she died. Ron sprang into action, broke open her chest cavity, started massaging her heart, felt a spurt of blood coming out from a leak, stitched it up, brought her back to life. She’s doing okay now! Whew! They haven't had a chest broken open in 15 years in Twin Falls! But the rest of us were enthralled and jumping up and down in our seats, excited, squealing, "We know how to do that! We know how to do that! We watched them do that on Grey’s Anatomy!" Funny! I for one am sooo glad I know how to do an emergency tracheotomy with a dinner knife and straw from my drink! (I have actually only watched Grey's a few times. Couldn't handle the ongoing story lines....)

And let me say there is no incentive to go to school for 14 years for a government/socialized medical system. However....what should be done about our medical system that doesn’t work the way it is either? Medical coverage is impossible for most families...co-pays are off the chart .and people are so sue happy that it really adds to the costs...Enough about this happy topic.

Today will be busy. It would really be our first Creative Cooking class after the summer but we are instead having a "Make It and Freeze It" focus group kick-off. We are meeting at Nancy Tillotson’s and doing three meals, as much as you signed up for. Then, if there is interest, a new focus group will begin. I love how our Ward really understands the concept and purpose of focus groups. We have Creative Cooking, Utah Field Trips, both a beginning Spanish and intermediate Spanish class, Creative Sewing (they’ve done retro aprons, different kinds of quilts, Christmas stockings, table toppers, etc.), book club, tap dancing!!! Isn’t that fabulous. Plus many, many more short term classes- computers, scrapbooking etc.

After Creative Cooking, I will be heading out to Michael Wilcox’s class. Have several other, not as fun, things on the calendar today.

Last night I was having a little trouble sleeping so I got up and read some quotes. Here are a few that I would like to share with you.

How I Feel About You!
"You have been my friend. That in itself is a tremendous thing. I wove my webs for you because I liked you. After all, what's a life, anyway? We're born, we live a little while, we die. A spider's life can't help being something of a mess, with all this trapping and eating flies. By helping you, perhaps I was trying to lift up my life a trifle. Heaven knows anyone's life can stand a little of that." -E.B. White, From Charlotte's Web

A Good Mantra to Repeat to Yourself Everyday-
"Enjoy the little things, because someday you might realize that those were the big things." -Author Unknown

How I Feel About Those Who Surround Me-
"The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best." -Epictetus

Summer Wrap-Up

Friend Sophia did a meme capturing the best of the summer. I’ve jabbered on and on about each of these but since I don’t have a thought in my head today (surprise!) I thought I would do a run-down.



Memorial Day- Can’t even remember. I know it was a Monday. Every day in May, Izzie (my calendar girl) has things recorded. Except May 26th. I think we were plum worn out from birthday partying in May. We did Tanner’s and Nash’s and No-Way Jose’s (Noah Joseph) and my dad’s and my friend, Debbie Stowell and Boston’s- and Susie’s was the day before. The pool wasn’t re-painted yet so there wasn’t swimming. It was a no-event day....shocking that I can’t even remember what I ate!

Labor Day: Okay, this one was just last week so I think I can remember that even without Izzie. That weekend, on Friday, Cathy’s birthday, Cathy and I hit Swiss Days. Then we spent the weekend with Kirk and Cathy at their cabin in Joe’s Valley. (Joe’s Valley is kind of by Price, by Huntington, by where the mine disaster’s have been.) We had a wonderful weekend except for the "shortcut" that Kirk told us about. Two hours on the worst roads I’ve ever been on in my life. Gut-wrenching, lose-your-whole wagon-train-in-a-rut kind of roads. It was some shortcut. We came home Sunday night. It would have been Sunday afternoon but you had to figure in the shortcut. On Monday, all the kids and families came to play...the usual- swimming, horses, pizza. Crazy family fun.

Best Moment of the Summer- hmmmm...laying on an air mattress at Lake Powell with a pina colada in hand (you know that is just metaphorical...it is the whole Lake Powell experience....with friends and family) or having my folks here for two whole weeks or the family reunions or picking my first red tomato on June 30th? Or a fun weekend with blogger friend, Sophia? Awesome!

Worst Moment of the Summer- can’t even go there.
Places I Went- Lake Powell. Bear Lake. That’s it. Fall is the time to go places!
Success of the Summer- that would be water aerobics. Blogger friend, Ann, challenged me to a walking duel in April. I had to walk at least 2 miles a day, 5 days a week until the end of May...or I would have to post a picture of me in my bathing suit on my blog. She had to do something equally as embarrassing. But Brendalyn and I (I'm always conning her into my projects) got so good at faithfully walking....then she sprained her ankle...but then our pool got repainted and refilled and I cranked the temperature up pretending it was a giant hot tub....and I can report that we have been faithfully jumping around (with Loretta and Maniac Rose) since June. 5-6 days a week! That's a whole lot'a jumping. The word tsunami somes to mind...

Best Movie of the Summer- I’ve actually only seen one movie, Mamma Mia! Everyone I know and their dog LOVES this movie! I liked it. I liked the colors. I liked the funky music (I wasn’t ever an Abba fan) I loved the dance number with the flippers. I loved the song Meryl Streep sings while braiding her daughter’s hair. But I haven’t gone to see it 3 trillion times like people I know. I liked it....I’m not rushing out to buy the video. How can you say you loved something when the story line is so raunchy? But I REALLY loved the flipper number...have I mentioned that? I really, really, really wanted to see "Get Smart"....Casey, you KNOW it was on my spreadsheet...but haven’t seen it. Still on my to-see list.

Best read of the summer: I’ve only read 4 books this summer. "The Holy Secret" at Lake Powell. "The Host" and "Breaking Dawn" by Stephanie Meyers. And I just finished "Eat Pray Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert. It is like comparing a brownie, yummy french fries with dip, sweet watermelon and raspberry lemonade. I liked them all for different reasons. There were a few parts of Eat Pray Love that I didn’t like but for the most part, I was fascinated.

My summer shoes: Black rubber flip flops. I keep going back to them. Black sparkly flip flops for dress. What can I say...I’m a flip-flop girl.

Best buy of the summer: No contest here. Wii! I bought it for David and I for our anniversary. We Wii bowl almost everyday. I try to play tennis but I’ve only actually gotten two points in about a dozen games....I’m even uncoordinated in our living room! I love Wii. I love Wii. I love Wii.

Vegetable garden or flowers or both? Well, you have all heard enough about my tomatoes. You may not have realized that I really haven’t talked too much about them lately. Have I said that I have a short attention span? Have I mentioned I get bored easily? I loved, loved, loved the tomatoes in June and July. In August I forgot about them. I quit fertilizing them. I had already eaten enough BLT sandwiches and bruschetta to buy a size bigger pants. My skin was turning red/orange. Thank goodness my MIL keeps them watered. But the vines are anemic and saggy. Here it is September and everyday I see them when I am in the pool, screaming "pick me, pick me, pick me!" but I just turn and look the other way. I hate being made to feel guilty by a tomato. I really AM going to make salsa this week. Did I tell you I HATE to can? But I’m going to do it. Sometime. Soon.
Maybe.

And the flowers? Ho-hum. Again, I’ve LOVED the flowers in the greenhouse...but outside...other than planting a truck full of red geraniums and some blue salvia, some poppies, some more bushes and a few other things (all of which was done with a burst of energy in April and May) I really didn’t do much in my flower beds. There are just so many things you can love at once.

Family reunions? One in July for my mom’s family. Highlights are my cousins...love them all. Love my cousin’s kids. Loved being with my folks. Then August was our mini-reunion/birthday for my mother-in-law. 68 people came...most of them driving from Idaho for the day! It meant so much to Mom W. and meant so much to me. I love my nieces and nephews and their spouses and friends. Loved seeing my ex-sister-in-law that made a HUGE emotional effort to come to this gathering. That was the best!

Okay....I started writing this, this morning. Since then I’ve been to lunch with my friend, Lynda, that recently lost her husband and Bertie (she and Lynda are my Visiting Teachers) and Debbie Stowell.....went to Stella’s....we had just the best time! Lynda will just keep doing things like this to break through her grief and we will just keep trying to make her laugh. I gave her lime green hair slime and hot pink spiking gel...in case she ever just needs a good laugh. I REALLY want to see that!
(She’s dignified and reserved.) Then Debbie and I stopped at a care center where a lady (Kay Duvall) in our Ward currently is after falling and breaking her hip. Tonight is a Sandy City Council meeting where we are fighting for our neighborhood (with a city that just wants tax dollars), then off to an early Girl’s Night Out. I love September. Izzie is keeping me hopping!

Reflective

Yesterday, for the first time, I saw a smudge of color on the mountain. I love how chilly it gets at night....we love the cold air coming in while we are sleeping under warm covers. I hope Fall, one of my favorite, favorite times of the year goes slowly. I want to savor each fall day and night. We did get a whiff of snow on Sept. 1st on the tippy tops of our mountains but that was just to get me excited for Ben and Susie to come home for the winter. I think they are coming next week, while I am gone to California. They are taking off right away for a friend’s wedding in New Hampshire so they will be in and out but I just like knowing that they will be around.



I wrote an entire blog yesterday that wouldn’t post...you always wonder if you shouldn’t have said what you said....or just being reminded that the person working the computer is a ditz. Maybe both. Sunday was wonderful, hard, reflective, inspiring. Being the first Sunday of the month, it is our Fast Sunday...where the entire congregation that can, fasts or goes without 2 meals....and donates money to world wide humanitarian work. This is one way that the Church can provide millions of dollars of aid and money worldwide during any disaster or crisis. Which they do. When the children were young or TEENAGERS, the joke was that "Fast Sunday" was the "slowest Sunday" of the month! And it can be....if you are just not eating. In the scriptures, fasting is usually synonymous with prayer. Fasting and prayer. If prayer is not a major part of the fasting process, there is no spiritual growth, no additional insight, no harnessing the worldly passions. It’s just not eating. There is a big difference.

Some things were said during Sacrament meeting (testimony meeting) that touched my soul. My kids in Sunbeams were adorable (although I DO get tired after 1 1/2 hours together!) I took them outside on the lawn since it was so beautiful and the lesson was on being a friend and what being a friend means. A big part of friendship is sharing. The lesson used as reference the story in John about the feeding of the 5 thousand. How a young man shared his basket of bread and fishes...which Jesus blessed.....and the miracle occurred, and the 5 thousand were fed. I had never thought about "sharing" as being part of this story but I liked it. I always think about the people, who were hungry, hungry for physical food rather than the "bread of life" or spiritual food that Jesus had to offer them. And with Fast Sunday being yesterday, it is a good reminder of the question, "What do we hunger for?" Do we really hunger for spiritual things or do we just go through the motions and experience physical hunger and leave the Sabbath or Fast day without the feast?

My friend, Lynda is on my mind. She actually looks shell-shocked and you know that grief over losing her husband is a minute-by-minute heartache. I don’t know how to minister to her. I remember when my sweet sister-in-law, Angie, lost her baby. The baby was up in the NICU at Primary Children’s hospital. Angie was staying at our house, husband Tim had just been told by the hospital that they thought the baby could be weaned off the life support machines successfully so he hopped in his truck to rush to Idaho where he had a crop that had to be harvested immediately before the frost came. I’m sure I’ve shared this tender story before. But we got a call that night that the baby wasn’t going to make it. I remember David and I driving Angie up to the hospital in the middle of the night and her tears. We had a spiritual experience at the hospital where we all got to say our goodbyes (gut wrenching but tender).....and held her after she passed. Probably the hardest part of that experience was that then we had to take Angie home with us. Alone, without her baby or her husband. She slept in Brandi’s room in the basement...we were two floors up and I could hear her cries. It was the most painful sound I’ve ever heard. At one point I asked David if he thought I should go down and be with her. In his wisdom he answered, "I think this something just between Angie and God." And it was.

I feel like that with Lynda and with my sweet mother-in-law, who sobs each morning when she wakes up and she realizes that her husband is gone...and we usually tear up several times during the day. Yesterday at church I learned that our friend, Scoop, lost his granddaughter, someone that I have mentioned has been in the hospital for a month with blood clots, last week. I hadn’t heard. This girl was a Sterling scholar, a go-getter, a college student on a National Merit scholarship. I don’t know how families deal with that loss. My brother and sister-in-law lost Cher’s dad the week before last and they are mourning as well. We know that loss. I can’t imagine losing any of my children or grandchildren or my spouse. I do know of personal mourning that goes on in individual lives. It is an intimate conversation with the Lord. It is painful and spiritual. I just keep all these people I love in my prayers.

This isn’t at ALL what I planned on writing about today but I realize that there are many difficult things weighing heavily on my heart right now. I am having my own personal crisis of faith concerning a family matter that doesn’t seem to find relief. But it is always something that we have to work through...that statement of "Not my will, but Thine be done."

What was the darling quote that Marjorie Hinckley used to say? Be nice to everyone you meet because everyone is fighting their own battles? That isn’t stated right but the main idea. So, today rather than ramble on about the dailiness of my life, I’ll just remind myself, and my great-great-greats, that we "mourn with those who mourn"....and never take happiness or family or friends for granted.

The Weekend

Yesterday I made a run out to Brandi's to help paint the second coat of the girl's room. It is going to look so cute! We are trying to transform Parker's cowboy bedroom into the girl's cowgirl bedroom. We are keeping it western since Ryan made a beautiful dresser with western hardware for Parker and we wanted to use it. Parker is now wanting a sport's room. The former western window valance was denim with a red bandanna trim...rolled up and tied with rope. We found some gorgeous fabric that has a coral pink and sagie-lime green, burnt red with a few other colors in it...that we will replace the trim on the valance with. We are painting the walls the coral pink...and the bunkbeds, formerly brown stain, with the sagie-lime color with red metal stars nailed in the sides. I'm already thinking funky picture frames and pillows. Fun project! I love these little girls.


I stopped by Robert's Craft on the way home to pick out some more fun card materials and ran into Brendalyn. We had already seen each other for aerobics in the morning but she was picking out card stuff as well so she ended up coming home with me and we did cards. I'm doing packets to take to California for our girlie trip....and Brendalyn and I designed some cute holders for gift cards.


Kirk and Cathy came over last night, bringing dinner from take-out and after we ate, we planned our trip to New England. We are only going for 5 days so we won't get to see everything. But we will fly into New York, and drive to the coast, meandering our way up Route One. Maine and Vermont are our main destinations. We are doing the coast for a few days...staying somewhere around Portland, Maine the second night...then we'll head into central Vermont and stay at a Bread and Breakfast inn for a couple of nights and make day trips...to Sharon, Vermont and Palmyra. Can't believe no one was interested in seeing Woodstock! We are hoping to visit a maple syrup place, see seaport villages, a cranberry bog is on my wish list ... and we're hoping the leaves wait for us! If anyone reading this has any "must-sees" in the areas that we are traveling, please let me know!


This afternoon, I am going to the bridal expo with Brooke and her mom. Anyone wondering about that? I didn't dare mention anything previously because my mom got her computer fixed and I hadn't mentioned to her yet that we may have a wedding in January. The ring isn't on the finger but they are narrowing down choices. I'm already checking out bridal dinner places for the night before. I'm thinking Market Street Grill. Hope we see some fun stuff today!



That's the weekend. Happy birthday-day late to Lisa...my young Martha Stewart neighbor. I hope you found your giftie on your front porch yesterday. And happy birthday to my wonderful forever friend, Joy, in Denver, tomorrow. I REMEMBERED finally!!!!!


The Utah State Fair is currently going on and tonight we're going out with Joe and Brendalyn to check it out. I'm already wondering what my fair indulgence will be....a scone? A corn dog? Caramel apple? Kettle corn and lemonade? Yummmm...can't wait!

I'm Not a Good Farmer

David came in last night and told me we have a sick steer. It is sicker this morning and the vet is busy. I can't even think about it because it makes me sick to my stomach. I feel totally helpless to help.

Kind of like politics. I don't love one side or the other or have confidence in either. The Democrats blame everything on the Bush Administration but we have a majority of Democrats in the House and Senate....so what does that mean? So cows have been on my mind this morning. I don't think our cow is going to make it. I say "our" cow loosely since we are in the business of "rent-a-cow." That means the "rent" will go up significantly. Sounds familiar.

Cows & Politics Explained-

A CHRISTIAN DEMOCRAT: You have two cows. You keep one and give one to your neighbor.

A SOCIALIST: You have two cows. The government takes one and gives it to your neighbor.

AN AMERICAN REPUBLICAN: You have two cows. Your neighbor has none. So what?

AN AMERICAN DEMOCRAT: You have two cows. Your neighbor has none. You feel guilty for being successful. You vote people into office who tax your cows, forcing you to sell one to raise money to pay the tax. The people you voted for then take the tax money and buy a cow and give it to your neighbor. You feel righteous.

A COMMUNIST: You have two cows. The government seizes both and provides you with milk.

A FASCIST: You have two cows. The government seizes both and sells you the milk. You join the underground and start a campaign of sabotage.

DEMOCRACY, AMERICAN STYLE: You have two cows. The government taxes you to the point you have to sell both to support a man in a foreign country who has only one cow, which was a gift from your government.

CAPITALISM, AMERICAN STYLE: You have two cows. You sell one, buy a bull, and build a herd of cows.

BUREAUCRACY, AMERICAN STYLE: You have two cows. The government takes them both, shoots one, milks the other, pays you for the milk, then pours the milk down the drain.

AN AMERICAN CORPORATION: You have two cows. You sell one, and force the other to produce the milk of four cows. You are surprised when the cow drops dead.

A FRENCH CORPORATION: You have two cows. You go on strike because you want three cows.

A JAPANESE CORPORATION: You have two cows. You redesign them so they are one-tenth the size of an ordinary cow and produce twenty times the milk. You then create clever cow cartoon images called Cowkimon and market them World-Wide.

A GERMAN CORPORATION: You have two cows. You reengineer them so they live for 100 years, eat once a month, and milk themselves.

A BRITISH CORPORATION: You have two cows. They are mad. They die. Pass the shepherd's pie, please.

AN ITALIAN CORPORATION: You have two cows, but you don't know where they are. You break for lunch.

A RUSSIAN CORPORATION: You have two cows. You count them and learn you have five cows. You count them again and learn you have 42 cows. You count them again and learn you have 12 cows. You stop counting cows and open another bottle of vodka.

A SWISS CORPORATION: You have 5000 cows, none of which belong to you. You charge others for storing them.

A BRAZILIAN CORPORATION: You have two cows. You enter into a partnership with an American corporation. Soon you have 1000 cows and the American corporation declares bankruptcy.

AN INDIAN CORPORATION: You have two cows. You worship both of them.

A CHINESE CORPORATION: You have two cows. You have 300 people milking them. You claim full employment, high bovine productivity, and arrest the newsman who reported on them.

AN ISRAELI CORPORATION: There are these two Jewish cows, right? They open a milk factory, an ice cream store, and then sell the movie rights. They send their calves to Harvard to become doctors. So, who needs people?

AN ARKANSAS CORPORATION: You have two cows. That one on the left is kinda cute.

Texas Three Kick Rule

So, besides the happy, wonderful things that go on in a life, there are always hard, uncontrollable things as well. A while ago, I had enough. After a particular experience, I sobbed and sobbed and sobbed. Then when I realized that no one else was here, I screamed. I haven't screamed forever. So I screamed and screamed at the top of my lungs. Then I settled down.

Tuesday was Bucket Group. My cousin, Zella, and I took a minute to talk and she asked me how life was going. I told her good except for some things...and laughingly told her about my cry fest and screaming match. The next day, I found a gift book on my doorstep called "Furry Logic." She had marked one page inside. (Sorry my computer for some reason didn't let me edit the scan...) (MAYBE, just maybe, it was the dodo working the computer.....)


So, maybe when things go wrong, you cry. If you are lucky and no one is home, scream big. Or, if you live in Texas, or if you ever wanted to visit Texas or if you know how to spell Texas, maybe you could try this:

Texas Three Kick Rule -

A big-city California lawyer went duck hunting in rural Texas. He shot and dropped a bird, but it fell into a farmer's field on the other side of a fence.... As the lawyer climbed over the fence, an elderly farmer drove up on his tractor and asked him what he was doing. The litigator responded, "I shot a duck and it fell into this field, and now I'm going to retrieve it." The old farmer replied, "This is my property, and you are not coming over here." The indignant lawyer said, "I am one of the best trial attorneys in the U.S. and, if you don't let me get that duck, I'll sue you and take everything you own." The old farmer smiled and said, "Apparently, you don't know how we do things in Texas. We settle small disagreements like this with the Texas Three-Kick-Rule." The lawyer asked, What is the Texas Three-Kick-Rule?." The farmer replied, "Well, first I kick you three times and then you kick me three times, and so on, back and forth, until someone gives up." The attorney quickly thought about the proposed contest and decided that he could easily take the old codger. He agreed to abide by the local custom. The old farmer slowly climbed down from the tractor and walked up to the city feller. His first kick planted the toe of his heavy work boot into the lawyer's groin and dropped him to his knees. His second kick nearly wiped the man's nose off his face. The barrister was flat on this belly when the farmer's third kick to a kidney nearly caused him to give up. The lawyer summoned every bit of his will and managed to get to his feet and said, "OK, you old coot! Now, it's my turn." The old farmer smiled and said, "No, I give up, you can have the duck.

What's In A Name

Last week when David and I went to a fund raising dinner at La Caille, David came and got me at our table to say someone "wanted to see me." I didn’t recognize the face, but I did the name. Sue AnnPetersen. We were in the same Ward many, many years ago. She was so darling and said she remembered many of the talks I had given and still used the filing system that I used to teach to keep track of teaching stuff (ha! The one thing I was organized in!)....and even how I had taught them to make hectographs. I made them in a cookie sheet ...it was kind of a gelatin mixture that you could use for a copy machine. Funny! We talked for awhile and then I asked her how Kelly was doing. She couldn’t believe that I could remember her daughter’s name....but I was her nursery teacher a gazillion years ago...when my Travis was nursery age. It was so fun to hear about her all grown up.


Monday morning I woke up and for some reason I was wondering how Kamryn......one of my nursery kids that moved away about 4 months ago, was doing. I didn’t even know they were moving and she was just gone. I just adored this little girl. I thought of remembering Kelly’s name after all these years and I thought to myself, "I need to write a note to Kamryn and tell her that I will never forget her name." About a month ago, Kamryn’s mom, Erin sent me the most darling picture of Kamryn with a note that I will treasure forever. She said: Sister Williams, Thank you for being an exceptional primary teacher for Kamryn. She loves you and will miss you. I miss you already and I wish I could have said a better goodbye than this and I wish I would have done it sooner, as well. Thank you for making me and Kamryn feel safe. I was so glad you were the one I was leaving her with each week. We will both miss you and want to say thank you and goodbye. You make such a difference in your calling. Your personality is so great with the kids and they feel safe and have so much fun with you. Kamryn feels comfortable in Primary and I know it was because of her easy transition with you that she is now able to do this. I want to thank you for always making me feel comfortable in this Ward. I still remember the 1st time I met you and you called me "Alisha Keyes." Ha-ha. I will always smile when I think of you and I am sure I am not the only one. Thank you! Love Erin and Kamryn Keyes
Note: When I met Erin, I told her other people might call her Erin but I would just call her Alisha. If you don’t know who Alisha Keyes is, then this wouldn’t be funny... So I always called her Alisha and it would make her laugh.

Monday afternoon we needed to drive to Layton to pick up David’s mom from his sister’s home. She went there for the weekend since we went to Joe’s Valley with Kirk and Cathy. It was past lunchtime so I mentioned to David that maybe we could stop and get a bite to eat. He kept driving by exits, really about 20 exits....when he finally got off...about 30-40 minutes away from where we live (Sandy) ... in Centerville. It is way north of Salt Lake and we are way south. There were several fast food places along the frontage road but I saw one....Jake’s , that I had never heard of before so I suggested we eat there. He pulled up to the restaurant and I looked through the car window, through the restaurant window....and who should be sitting there but the Keyes family! I couldn’t believe it! What are the odds of that happening? Especially when Kamryn was on my mind that morning! I got a wonderful hug and kiss from my little girl and it was fun to visit with her folks.

Yesterday was my first class back with Michel Wilcox. We will be studying the Pearl of Great Price. Bro. Wilcox mentions how Christ always lifts and wants us to see ourselves in the best light. He often renames people as a sign of affection and love. To bond with them. He calls John- the Beloved. Peter- the Rock. We are His children! It is a quality of godliness to lift. Because God is secure in himself, he can lift others. Maybe because we are not secure, we tend to demean. Almost all comedy is based on put-downs. Many belittle those closest to them.. But Bro. Wilcox suggested that God "be-bigs" instead of belittles. I love that term.

So, I think I’m still going to rename people when I meet them. I have called my friend (as you know and have read) "Pretty Patty Petty" since the moment I met her, over 30 years! I call one girl Brittany in our Ward (her name is Janessa) because she looks just like Brittany Murphy. She just rolls her eyes...but I know she likes it.

I’m thankful for a wonderful thank-you note that totally "be-bigged" me. I hope today and every day, I will "be-big" others as well.

And Kamryn? I promise, I will NEVER forget your name......xoxo