I wish I could say I'm just a little behind on my blogging but after all the Christmas goodies, I'm a HUGE behind. Nothing little about it.
So, back in November, we flew to San Diego (on a private jet!) with friends. Scott and Nancy have a fabulous home on Coronado Island (one of my favorite places on earth...) and we went with Scott's sister and BIL (who own the plane)- and another couple. Everyone (but me) is very actively sports~minded so there was a lot of biking, long, long walks on the beaches and through fun neighborhoods. I love to watch the Navy Seals doing exercises and drills on the rocky beach there and there is also always a great sand sculptor. One day the girls hit the huge outlet mall in San Diego, situated right next to the Mexican border. Great mall. We also hit a few fabulous consignment warehouses that made me wish we had a truck with a trailer to haul things home. Another wonderful find- Extraordinary Desserts - the most amazing dessert shop in San Diego where we all shared a few things.We love Mexican at Miguel's on Coronado and also any Mexican restaurant in Old Town. A real highlight (and surprise) was the newly renovated Mormon Battalion interactive center bordering Old Town. It was really enjoyable.
David and I then flew to Portland- to stay with my folks for a few days. We had a great time with mom and dad....breakfast at Cameo's with my folks and brother, Gary and wife Cher and niece, Lisa.
Another day we got to tour Lisa's new home (dang! I missed the new secret room) but here are a few highlights from their home.
This little cottage is nestled up higher on their wooded property. Don't you want to live there?
View from the family room. You can see the cottage in the background.
This is a glass door into Lisa's pantry. She had an artist paint a Italian mural...then cut the mural into pieces to fit each of the window panes. I LOVED this idea!
She had the same artist paint the family tree in one of the hallways. What a great place to hang the family pictures~
I have dozens more pictures of her and Frank's new home but if I keep going, I'll never get caught up!
Home is where your heart is Even if You can't remember which box you packed it in!
(a little Facebook memory...)
Invaded
again!!!!! So, we are still a little antsy since our truck was stolen
out of our garage last week. I keep getting up in the middle of the
night for every noise and checking locks. David came in this morning
and said, "I think someone has been in the house several time!" I
freaked!!! I said, "Why do you think that?" He replied,
"Because every time I go into my den, there are chocolates missing out
of the See's box on my desk." Ohhhhhh. So busted......
I love best days. Yesterday was one.
A few weeks ago I sent a cryptic email to all my kids- something along the lines of "Christmas is coming. Just in case you didn't notice. And I would love ideas for the adults gifts. I know everyone is busy but I would love to have ideas soon, without weeks of begging, so that my Christmas can go more smoothly. (You all know I raised you on guilt....) I hate to beg. You hate me begging. Please answer."
I've only had to beg with a couple but Tanner (my baby, sigh....) is always so awesome and suggests we shop together. I'm so on top of that...and immediately called Ryan and yesterday I got to spend the morning with two of my boys, just them and me. David has been working on several things on my "to-do" list (retirement is amazing I've decided. I can't tell you how much I have appreciated his help- he's usually not a part of getting Christmas together) and he joined us for lunch. This was such a great gift to me. I think that is the hardest part of being a mom... to have your kids grow up and get married and your time with them is really a huge group affair shuffled between all their responsibilities and kiddos, etc. Love my boys. And girl. And I do love their other "halves" as well.
I even listened to some Christmas carols yesterday. And I only got up once to check in the garage for boogie men last night. I'm doing better. A best day.
If you look, you will find with some Certainty that Joy is in the spaces in-between. Curly Girl
"The week before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse."
THEN the phone rang! It was the police saying they had just found (stumbled across) our abandoned truck. It was in Murray ( two neighboring suburbs away.) It had been run out of fuel, the battery dead, a mirror broken and they had cleaned out the inside stuff (pawn shop, anyone?) - the fuel light is on but
did I mention, OUR TRUCK HAS BEEN FOUND!!!!!
We were "requested" ( in the middle of the night) to come and get it or it would be towed off. I think we got home about 2:30 p.m.) But did I mention OUR TRUCK IS HOME!
Such a happy day. David loves his horses and his truck and ...I come either before or after the ropes depending on how I'm behaving that day.
Now we can really tackle the "busys." Here is what is up!
Christmas is limping....I haven't wanted to decorate or listen to Christmas music (which I'm soooo the sooner-the-better on that, usually. Not this year...) My book for the children isn't going to happen but the jammie bottoms I had made actually have purchased tops now. I bought advents and books for each of the families and only two have been delivered. But Christmas is truly in my heart. He's the reason for the Season...and He matters to me immensely. I love the Lord and love that he hears and answers prayers in such personal ways. I've had some amazing ones lately....
This weekend I had an early Christmas present. Each year the Mormon Tabernacle Choir puts on the most amazing Christmas production in the amazing-in-its-self Conference center. The conf. center holds about 26,000 people- but about 1 million put in for the ticket lottery. I called several of my kids and no one, including myself, got tickets. Except Ben and Susie. Surprise! Love them. I got to go and take 3 friendies I won't tell about the concert until tomorrow because it was amazing....but had such a good time with Cathy, Brendalyn and Loretta. Lettuce wraps and honey walnut shrimp at Asian Star beforehand....and afterwards, driving in in WHITEOUT conditions all the way home. It was terrifying to say the least but whew! We made it. My friends were like cheerleaders with my driving ("You can do it! Good job, Marilyn!")...that it makes me smile just thinking about it. After taking Brendalyn and Loretta home, I did made Cathy drive down a hill by us...and then Kirk drove down their big hill and picked her up at our house. Because truly by that time I was a nervous wreck. But a happy nervous wreck since the spirit of the concert was still lingering. And I'm still thinking about it today!
Yesterday I got a place reserved for the wedding dinner and my catering friend reserved. Today OOMS is coming by (Our Own Martha Stewart- Lisa) to discuss decor for the dinner and the party. We are doing a party the night before at Jordan Commons. Things are coming together...finally, for what will be (whew!) a wonderful, wonderful day in our family.
Yesterday I met Tenille with Nash and Sadie to reserve the building for the dinner. When we came out, the wind was GUSTING like crazy....and so we all made wings and ran and swirled and laughed. I can't tell you how the kiddos laughter is just pure joy. Happiness giggling. Thanks Tenille and Sadie and Nash for giving me such a priceless moment. I love you.
I found a saying on a card the other day I love; basically it says "may your story have more heroes than villains, more adventure than drama, and may Love always, always win." Amen!
I had every good intention of truly blogging this morning. A Christmas to-do list a mile long, a wedding to get on the road in less than a month (and nothing reserved...), activities and festivities.....
but....
this morning David woke up early to go to the gym as usual. He came back and asked me if I had moved his truck. I'm not a truck gal so of course I said no.
Our truck was stolen out of our garage last night while we were sleeping. No one, not even a mouse was stirring.
The police didn't bother to come. A phone call let us know that they would "put it in the computer system." That is NOT what happens in the movies.
So, in spite of everything, the shooting at an elementary school in Conn. this morning quickly makes one realize that a truck is "stuff." It will be a hassle during an already crazy, hectic time but at the end of the day, it's still a truck. And I'm not a truck gal.
Feeling blessed.
David and I and Kirk and Cathy drove to Las Vegas last week. We had to take two separate vehicles since David wanted to stay longer. National Rodeo Finals is going on there (plus there is a big team roping event that David might have been roping in if he didn't almost lose his thumb this year)...and it is something we do each year. Kirk and Cathy don't always go with us...and when they don't, David and I usually stay with Lynn and Laurie Barnson (where David is staying right now.) I thought how when we were walking through a casino (to get from one place to another) I realize what a foreign world that is. People usually ask when you go to Vegas whether you won or lost...which is a moot issue since we don't gamble. But THIS year.....well-
It's really hard to get rodeo tickets. David usually stands in line forever at Sam's Town for unused tickets that have been turned in. Then we hit a few other places. Then there are the scalpers who stand outside of the Thomas and Mack Center (where the rodeo is held) and resell tickets. Lots of times that is where we usually get them.
Thursday night we didn't have a lot of luck. Much harder to get 4 tickets than 2. And David is a barterer. And a barterer. And did I mention a titch on the cheapskate side. I'll condense this story. Finally he decided that since it was almost time for the rodeo to start, the scalpers would start wanting to let go of their tickets. Sure enough, lower bowl tickets turned up....4 perfect tickets. Lower bowl is very expensive and I was surprised David would get them. $540! (okay, if you are gagging, think what 4 tickets to Celine Dion would be!) I was a little excited because it is fun to watch the rodeo from great seats. We got up to the ticket entrance...and bomb! The tickets we were sold had been flagged. Meaning people who had previously bought the tickets said their luggage had been stolen at the airport...with their tickets in them....and so they had been reissued these seats. Whether any of that was true, whether they were a part of the scam or whether the scalpers were part of it or just unknowingly bought stolen tickets or, or, or.....
So, in case you want to know if we won or lost in Vegas, both. Yes, we lost big bucks...but heh, the rodeo would just be a forgotten memory by now....but this story will live on and on. Good stories have to cost you something!
Las Vegas: all of the amenities of a modern society in a habitat unfit to grow a tomato. Jason Love
Sunday in church, someone tapped my shoulder and said they had been reading an old personal quote book and found my name- and that I had said I loved God winks in my life. She looked at me for a minute and said, "I can't remember what God winks are?"
I told her God winks are those special times when you know God is so aware of you that you can almost feel his wink. Mine usually come sometime at the end of the storm. I tell Him I really need a hug....really, really bad but I have learned the winks are pretty good.
So, a week ago, both Brandi's and Handy's homes went on the market. They can't get married until they both sell their houses and then they find a home to move their combined families into. The houses went on the multiple listing on Monday. Tuesday night at 7:30 was the first scheduled showing of Brandi's home (although she called me panicked from the Dr.'s with one of the kiddos that a realtor had just called- at 5 saying someone wanted to come at 6- so I made a mad dash across the valley to help her get ready. Whew!) Wed. she got an offer. Thursday she accepted. 3 days. Wink.
Poor Handy. He did have a few showings during the week...and actually had a low offering on the weekend....
Poor Handy....he didn't sell his house until yesterday. ONE WEEK!!!! One week, during the holidays, and BOTH HOUSES SOLD!!!!
I love the Lord.......
