My Christmas Joy!

 Oh I love these kiddos!  Love them from the top to the bottom!

Brandi and Doug's kiddos

 Ryan and Marci's kiddos

 Travis and Tenille's kiddos

and Tanner and Brooke's

Mary

I was looking through an old Christmas album I had put together when the kids were small and found a poem tucked in there that I thought I'd share.  It's simple but shows a mother's heart.


Mary,
When Jesus was a boy did he
Swing on the gates of Galilee,
Bring home foundling pups and kittens,
scuff his sandals, lose his mittens, 
Weight his pockets with a treasure
Adult eyes can never measure.
Scratch his hands and stub his toes
On rocky hills where cactus grows.
Set stones and quills and bits of thread
On the windowsill beside his bed
So that on waking he could see
All yesterday's bright prophecy?
Did he play tag with the boys next door,
Tease for sweets in the grocery store,
Whittle and smooth a spinning top
In his father's carpenter shop.
Run like wind to sail his kite,
Smile and sigh in his sleep at night.
Laugh with you in long-lost springs
About a thousand small, endearing things.
  Is he the one who said that you
Should always dye your dresses blue?
With eyes bright as cinnamon silk,
red lips ringed with a mist of milk.
Did he...lifting his earthen cup
Say: "Just wait until I grow up?"

    Mary O'Neill

Odds and Ends

Yes, I really am here.  Alive.  Enjoying a rather peaceful, uncomplicated Christmas season.  I love it.  I have had so many thoughts and experiences to share of my last month (for journaling sake, not that they matter to many others)- but you know how it is---you use it (or write it) or you lose it.  

David and I spent a wonderful week in St. George and Las Vegas at the first of the month.  It was just what we needed.  I love my husband.

The first 4 days we spent in St. George- our friends (and former next door neighbors) Penny and Tom were down there as well.  They had spent Thanksgiving with their family at Niki and Ross's amazing town home.  (remember Niki's "covet" decor....  
http://constantgrowingamazement.blogspot.com/2014/05/oh-beautiful.html )  We were in a use it or lose it timeshare.  We played with the Gwilliams for several days before they went home- lots of eating and game playing.  David was out at the track most mornings watching the race horses train. They really are beautiful.  And are pampered like no other.  I tease David that he's obviously joined the "horse of the month club" since he also got a new 3-year old quarter horse -Tonto- to train for a roping horse.  David and I were also able to go to the St. George temple.  I love this temple...it reminds me of a fairy tale.  

Then we headed to Las Vegas and met up with our friends, Laura and Lynn Barnson.  Several days at the convention center and Cowboy Christmas (where Laurie and I joke we've never seen so much decor made from barbed wire (lol)...or seen so much....cowboy STUFF.  I did have to send my high school friend Pam a picture of my spiffy boots with my too short pants (I should have listened to you, Pam.  If you're not walking on your jeans, they are too short for boots....)

We had 3 great days with the Barnsons, meeting up with friends/neighbors Cari and Nick for dinner one evening and great rodeo.  It actually goes for 9 days and David's (and Lynn's) dream to is go to 8.  (One is on Sunday and not our rodeo day).  Laurie and I could get some great shopping done in 8 days.  In fact, one evening we sent the guys off to the rodeo and we did some great Christmas shopping in Henderson and a nice dinner at Cheesecake Factory.  

All the way to St. George/Las Vegas (about 6 hours) and then halfway home, David and I listened to the book tape of Unbroken.....and we're only halfway done.  I feel like I've spent December living in World War 2.  Yesterday Mallorie and I went and finally saw Mockingjay.  I've seen and heard shooting up for the holidays.....I'm ready for a silent/ still,still.still Christmas.



Here's some odds and ends pictures-

~Some of my kiddos have chickens and gave me a great dozen of fresh eggs.  Look!  One was a twinner!  I don't know but it made me so happy.

 ~  have spent some fun time with various kiddos.  Watched my two little boys a couple of times.  You can tell when Annee visits because she has fun with my phone.  I love it all!

Made the most delicious cheeseburger soup.  I'm craving it again.  Really yum!  Recipe on the cooking blog.

~ I was talking to my son Ben, who lives up at Alta (on the mountain.)  He said, "Wow, the sunset is awesome."    I ran outside down here in the valley and it was so beautiful here as well.

I'm probably as excited as my Christmas gift to one of my grand doggies as anyone.....love Ben and Susie and their almost-like-a-kid doggy Bridger.

~Today in art class, somehow in a random conversation in class, I said I loved to put my hand under the air blower at the theater to dry my hands and see my skin jiggle all around.  Fellow painter, Betta, said "You always find joy in the simplest things."

I do.  Life is sweet.  I'll take it.

Mad Hatter Tea Party Mystery con't

I didn't have all my pictures of Gracie's Mad Hatter Mystery Tea Party.  Just wanted to include them here for the cute ideas that Brandi did.  It would be a fun theme for any party.

 Red Velvet cupcakes and a hot chocolate bar.

The following week Brandi did a party for Hallee Babe.  It was a movie theme and I didn't get one picture which was pretty funny since  I was part of the paparrazi at the beginning,.....several of us taking pictures as the girls entered.  Duh!  I'll tell you, my girl knows how to throw a party!

Tis the Season

Back from St. George and Las Vegas.  Had a great time but all the eating from these trips and the previous one has about put me over the edge.  But I don't think it is going to stop.....so, I guess I'll just enjoy.

I told myself I couldn't blog today since I don't have any Christmas up.  My goal today is the living room including the tree.  Bring it on!!!

Teeny Tiny Thanksgiving

Our Thanksgiving was teeny tiny this year.  Just 8 pilgrims and no wild Indians.  I tried really, really hard to be mature.  Thankfully Aunt Pat and Cousin Casey and Cousin Carter (who HATES it when I make him put on his pilgrim hat...) and his partner, Amy and our boy Ben.  Susie was on ski patrol Thursday so she didn't get to come.....but their doggie Bridger came ` decked out in his tuxedo collar.  Love this dog!

Here's my favorite pilgrim.

Above, Bridger in a tux!

These are the garlands Aunt Pat and I made.  Tenillie came later in the day so she finished hers.  Love them!

And I made this new dessert for Thanksgiving.  Pioneer Women makes a delicious pumpkin sheetcake
(which I noticed on t.v. this week while recovering from the flu.)  I topped with with the praline topping I make for our pumpkin crepes.  It was a winner.

  I would post the recipe immediately on the cooking blog but my husband is choppin' at the bit to get on the road to St. George.  We are going there until Thursday, then headed to Las Vegas for the National Rodeo Finals.  Home next week.  Hee-haw!

Evening of Excellence con't

 Evening of Excellence is a special night when the Young Women get to share some of the wonderful goals they have made this past year and what they've learned.  I was in charge (ha!) of the decorations.  Here was how things turned out.

 this picture is too dark and doesn't look that appetizing but really, it was lemon flavored water- so yum.  I think I have the recipe on the cooking blog.  It's my go-to drink.

Here are the wonderful women/friends I get to work with-  Janie Ward, Rachel Hansen, Angie Hall, Jen Barton and myself.

For little favors at each place setting, I got small sized Twix...covered them in yellow polka dot paper topped with a bee and a word strip...like Bee  Prayerful   Bee Thankful   Bee Kind   Bee Wonderful

It was a Bee-utiful kind of evening.  I love serving in Young Women.

Grateful

Out of Commission

My computer has been out over a week and my iPad doesn't let me post.  I've had so many wonderful

Smiling

A few things that made me smile today:

~Grouchy Lady's funeral.  What a lady!  Her sister who spoke called her "The General."  Her brother said, "She was mean!"  And we all laughed because we knew really she was a barking cupcake.  A dear heart.  Her brother said she could really hit him good when they were young...but it was nice when he was getting harassed by other people, that he could say "I'm going to tell my big sister on you!"  I loved this woman, as grouchy and irreverent as she could be.  We all did.  I took over the funeral potatoes and also the pickles the girls made.  I got a message on the phone that Reed was so touched when he went through the food line, that he had a friend "pile on the pickles!"  I also got a jar of Airheads in remembrance of Dorian.  Several people in the funeral mentioned her love of the Primary children and how she always had "airheads" for them (but they had to have their shirt tails tucked in.")  

~I finally got a new washing machine yesterday.  My old one died many months ago.  All this time, I have made the trek up and down the stairs with laundry (isn't my life so hard....) and trying to alternate with Mallorie using the washer downstairs.

My new washer is HUGE!  It is so big in fact that the lid bangs the cabinets above, and then clunks me on the head when I try to get the clothes out.  Did I mention it is HUGE?  So huge in fact, that I cannot reach down and get my clothes at the bottom of the drum.  I got the giggles the first time since I almost fell in the washer (yes, it is THAT huge!).  Then I got the kiddo's steppie stool.  I still can hardly reach.  I know someday I will end upside down in the washer- I just hope someone has a camera.

~Gracie turns 13 this weekend.  I think she may be 5' 6" or so.  When Brandi and the gang went to Mexico this summer, the guard at the custom gate wanted to know "why that woman sitting in the back" didn't have a passport.  Lol.  Her party is going on right now so I didn't get pictures of the final everything but look how cute this part is.  She is having a Murder Mystery Alice in Wonderland Tea Party.

The beautiful party girl in her Mad Hatter hat.

 When everyone comes in, they get their props and byline.

 Tea Party stuff.  Red Velvet Cupcakes and a Hot Chocolate Bar.

 Darling party favors.  Clever!

When I was downloading my photos from my phone, I ran across these two.  They made me smile.
When at the folks, I rent a room at their retirement center.  It really is quite lovely.  This is the window at the end of "my" hall....showing the beautiful magical fall leaves.

Lastly, Dad let me take one of his prized possessions so I can think of him at Lake Powell.  This hat has GOT to be it.  Just wearing it makes me happy.  

Cheshire Cat If I were looking for a white rabbit, I'd ask the Mad Hatter.
Alice: The Mad Hatter? Oh, no no no...
Cheshire Cat: Or, you could ask the March Hare, in that direction.
Alice: Oh, thank you. I think I'll see him...
Cheshire Cat: Of course, he's mad, too.
Alice: But I don't want to go among mad people.
Cheshire Cat: Oh, you can't help that. Most everyone's mad here.
[laughs maniacally; starts to disappear]
Cheshire Cat: You may have noticed that I'm not all there myself. 

Just Thoughts

~had a wonderful evening tonight as several of the Laurels (16-17 year old girls) came over with Jen Barton (the YW's president) to work on the banners and decorations for our big event coming up.  It was so fun to visit and craft and just get to know them better.  Oh, and we also made Dorian's pickles.  We made a big, big batch that we are going to take for the luncheon for the funeral with a love note to Dorian's (Grouchy Lady) family.


~when I went home to Washington, I finally got to read a book I've been carrying around with me for 2 months.  I just finished "The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet."  It was wonderful.  And heart-breaking.  And had a little personal meaning for me.  It was during the summers of college that I would go home and waitress at Smitty's Pancake House (now Perkins.)  I worked with a darling Japanese woman by the name of Sue Matsumura.  She was actually the mother of a girl my age.  We were talking about my going to school in Provo to BYU and she said that she had been interred in a camp near there during the war.  I said, "What?"  I didn't know what interred meant.  She said, "You know the prison camp there."  WHAT????  I had never heard in all my life about Japanese citizens being "interred" in POW camps throughout World War II.  I couldn't believe that this was America (and that it wasn't being taught in history classes.)  Now I wished  I could get a hold of her and ask her a million questions.  What an incredible lady.


~ I'm mentoring my grandson, Josh, in his writing class.  They are reading various books about great leaders, that were called on to take a stand in the midst of difficult times and then write a paper about them.  It's been a sweet thing for Josh and I to do together.  He's studied Lincoln and Martin Luther and John Brown (abolitionists) and lastly, Ghandi.    I'm probably forgetting some.  But they stood up for what they believed- regardless of the consequences.  There is a part in the book (Hotel on the Corner....) where the number of internees outnumbered the guards.  The main character wants to know why they don't overpower the guards. The dad says, "You know what keeps us from doing that?  Loyalty.  We're still loyal to the United States of America.  Why?  Because we too are Americans.  We don't agree, but we will show our loyalty by our obedience."


~so many thoughts.


~  I also found this quote that I've been tossing around in my mind by John Bytheway:


To those who are struggling with doubts, he says:  "Don't look for light in the dark.  You won't find it.  If you marinate in doubt and skepticism, don't be surprised if you become a doubting skeptic.  Some of the greatest minds and thinkers in the Church also wrestle, but they look for light in the light- they 'continue in God"- in other words.  They find more light, and what they know trumps what they don't know."

Pickles, In Memory

I'm home from Washington. Had such a wonderful time with my parents but I'll talk more about that later. I came home to find that my sweet onry friend, I affectionately call "The Grouchy Lady"- died Sunday night. I miss her already. I had my daughter sneak some diet coke (she's an avid fan) into the rehab center where Dorian was/and where my daughter works. I also put some smiles on a stick for when she didn't feel like smiling. I don't think she was coherent enough to get the joke. They took her home this weekend so she could pass in the place that she loved. I'm going to the store to pick up ingredients for funeral potatoes for the luncheon after the service. I think I will make up a big batch of Dorian's secret recipe pickles to serve as well. When I looked up the recipe on my blog, I found this tribute which is also bitter sweet since I was just with my parents as well.




July 2007
The Grouchy Lady's Pickles/Homesick


  So, there is this lady in the Ward. I’ll call her, affectionately, "The Grouchy Lady." When my parents visit from Washington and we drive by her house, my dad will say, "Is that where the grouchy lady lives?" Yes, it is. She is the Ward librarian and she barks at everyone (she isn’t selective) and all the kids in the Primary love her, because, although she grouches at all of them, they know she will feed them candy...except on Fast Sunday. I was afraid of her until I learned she’s a "barker" with not much of a bite. But if you go to her house at Christmastime, you'll see she has every animated thing-a-ma-gig you can imagine and know that she is a softie. I can’t let her or her husband tell me any jokes because they sometimes burn my ears (even when I plead with her that they have to be nice!) One time her husband got up in Testimony Meeting and said how much he loved his wife....they had just celebrated their anniversary and he said, "Forty years and for her, 40 pounds later...." All the wives just glared at their husbands, "If you EVER do that to me, I’ll kill you!" And I really doubt she has an extra 40 pounds....she’s a trim little, feisty thing! She prides herself about being the oldest member of our Ward. Her husband, who is the Ward historian, likes to get up each month on Testimony Meeting and chastise everyone for not turning in their monthly Ward histories. It’s a good little talkin’to each month that we anticipate and shake our heads but love him anyway. They are good, good people. So, last month, Debbie S. and our husbands signed up to do temple sealings. Mrs. Grouchy and Mr. Smiley Chastise are regulars on our monthly assignment. Although I love her to death (well, maybe not THAT much!), she said some pretty mumblie-grumblies during the session that I found myself getting a little un-spirited. Then, while waiting for our husbands out in the temple foyer afterwards, she said something (kiddingly) REALLY inappropriate! Debbie and I looked at each other wide-eyed, sure that a lightening bolt was gonna shoot down right through the temple! So, it was no surprise, when G.L. be-bopped into our Sunday nursery (Debbie and I along with Cheryl Curtis are comrades in there)(and next door to the library- her domain) and Grouchy Lady says, "You wouldn’t believe what happened when we got home from the temple. I had to go to the emergency room! My heart defibrillator started going crazy and I thought I was having a heart attack!" No kidding. It was just a little lightening bolt! G.L has signs all around the wrought iron gates in their front yard. Signs like "No Parking!" and another "Keep Out!" and another "No Parking!" I found a sign a little while ago that says, "Trespassers Will Be Shot. Survivors Will Be Shot Again!" I plan to sneak it on her fence here sometime soon. Isn’t it great to have characters in the neighborhood and Ward. It keeps things from getting boring. And because we know and love each other, warts and all, it makes it all the better. I know that G.L. and Mr. Smiley Chastise man would do anything for you in a pinch. They have hearts of gold.  So, one of the things I love best about G.L., is that she shared with me her "top secret family recipe." She said if I shared it with anyone, she’d have to kill me. And I believe her. Here’s the recipe...it is FABULOUS! (And my dad LOVES them as well. He always says, "Tell that Grouchy Lady thank you!)


Grouchy Ladies Fabulous Bread and Butter Pickles
(perfect for the hate-to-can- person like me!)


½ gal. Nalley’s Garlic Pickles (whole) (really- two 48 oz. Jars- a little more than a gallon)
2 garlic cloves, sliced (I also use strained garlic from the original brine over the store-bought pickles- throw juice away.) (I have also used garlic paste)
4 cups sugar
2 cups cider vinegar
12 whole cloves
2 sticks cinnamon


Slice or chunk pickles in bowl. G.L. slices, I chunk. In a pan, combine sugar, vinegar and spices (including garlic) Bring to a boil. Simmer 5 minutes. Pour over pickles in bowl and let cool. Stir once. (I’m not sure what happens if you stir twice. Maybe G.L. will come and get you!) When cool, take out cloves and pour the rest of syrup over pickles packed in jar. Put on lid. Keep in refrigerator. Good to eat the next day or later. Now, this recipe makes 2 large jars of pickles. So, as you could tell, you could easily divide the recipe in two. But they are so good, you’ll want two jars. And please don’t share this recipe with anyone...or at least with anyone who G.L. knows and would then figure out I told. That wouldn’t be good...




When I get homesick for my folks, I do funny things. Like I’ll go out and buy Jergen’s hand lotion and put it on and wear it to bed so I can go to sleep thinking/smelling of my mom. And last week, I bought one of those Vick’s Inhalers....those little pocket tubes that you stick in your nose and breathe deep. I grew up on those...my dad always had one around and I was missing him. When I saw one in the store, I about freaked. I love my dad. When I moved to Salt Lake, the year before I got married, I would get real homesick. Eight track players were big and I would drive around with my 8-track of Glen Campbell’s "Christmas Is For Children" playing full volume, with the windows rolled up, singing and crying. What made it worse was that would be in the middle of August. And there are certain foods that are comfort foods....that I cook or make, to take off the edge of homesickness (do you ever NOT miss your mommy or daddy?) I’ve been making a lot of meatloaf lately. David doesn’t like meatloaf really, so we haven’t had many during our married life. Except lately. I’m homesick! We had a saying in our home, "If it’s meatloaf, it must be Tuesday." Tuesday night was Mom’s bowling night and so I got to cook dinner. Meatloaf and baked potatoes every Tuesday night. It was the first meal I could make. But here is an even simpler homesick fix. Which brings me to G.L. pickles. My mom would make us a snack....a saltine cracker (or Ritz would do) topped with a wedge of cheese to fit, topped with a bread-and-butter pickle. Mmm-Mmm-good! A good way to help curb homesickness (and actually morning sickness which my husband thought was disgusting!) Another good way is to make plane reservations! I’m doing that today as well!

P.S.

I'm at my folks in Washington but I had this little quote/thought I used in my class I taught last week. 

One of my favorite speakers at a Stake Conference years ago was Larry Tippetts. He taught Institute for many years and I took classes from him years ago (before Michael Wilcox.) He began by posing the question from God we find in the scriptures, after Adam and Eve partook of the fruit, "Adam, where art thou?"


Now, God being God didn't have to ask where Adam was physically...the question was "Adam, where are you in your heart? Where is your loyalty? What path do you choose?" Bro. Tippetts said, " With God there are two directions "toward or away." He went on to talk about Christ being the only "living water" - that which truly fills. We try to fill ourselves with so much that won't sustain.


I need to remind myself of this often.

Busy Bee

Man, I am so getting out of the habit of journaling.  Much has been going on and I'm just not disciplining myself.  Frustrating, as always.

But:

I'm loving my calling in Young Women's.  I love the girls (although it just takes so long to really get to know them) and I totally love the other leaders.  We've got Evening of Excellence coming up and met together to plan it on Tuesday.  I found this darling theme on Pinterest and sold them on it....saying I would do all the decorations and invites (how could they pass that up? Heaven.)   Here's what we are doing:

You know me and Bees.  I have several other bee things up my sleeve.  Creative things just make me happy!

Thanksgiving is also coming up quickly.  This isn't my "year" (meaning I don't get first dubs on everyone for dinner) (and I'm trying to be mature) but I'm planning breakfast and also an afternoon simpler dinner for any that would like to come.  Here are the place cards for this year:

   I know- just call me crazy but give me scissors and glue sticks and an idea and it can keep me entertained for quite a while. (and no, we don't have a Laura, Maria or Jack.)

Oh, and I have been cutting yards and yards.  And yards- of Christmas fabrics to make tied rag garlands for a project for my girls to make Thanksgiving or whenever they can come.  Here is a Halloween one my Charm Girl's friend Fay taught us to do last year on our Park City trip.  I love them!

David flew off today with buddies to Nebraska pheasant hunting.  Help me, help me.  I don't want him to bring any home.  (Truly, I have eaten a lot of pheasant but it is too hard to eat and have faith you're not going to break a tooth on buckshot.)  Since David is going to be gone, I'm flying to my mom and dad's tomorrow.  I'm going to try and go every other month from now on.  Each time is precious.

Got a new car that I'm in heaven about.  I did learn to love the BMW that David surprised me with a couple of years ago...but really, it was way too much car for me ....and it didn't have a back-up camera.  I'm at the stage when truly I'm going to run over someone someday.  I need a camera and beeps and bells and whistles.  I thought I was going for a Lexus or Acura but found a Cadillac SRX- a light brown (color is important to me since I can't find a silver or white car in the parking lot at the store)....and I LOVE IT!!!!  It just makes me happy to drive.  I'm not really a car-oodie ( i.e. foodie only with cars)...but I am a happy camper.

We went this weekend to St. George with T and T's family to watch Boston play in a baseball tournament there.  4 games in 2 days.  Loved watching this cute grand....he's a great short stop and pitcher and made great plays and hit an awesome home run.  We were there for Halloween and the team had a Halloween party in a clubhouse there so we got to see the kids dressed and be a part of the fun.  Loved being with our family.  The kids loved riding in my new car (because it has DVD's on the back of the front seats so they each have their own plus headphones.  Talk about a quiet ride.  Well, maybe not quiet since we could hear all the lines of Matilda, which they watched about 8 times.  David's never even seen the movie and he can do a dozen quotes.  It's crazy but I love it. Okay- it is a little scary and the school principal is an ogre and the mother and father are terrible.....but Matilda I love.  And Miss Honey.)

We missed Halloween at home but a couple days before we went, we had our Ward's first annual trunk or treat.  It was a huge success and besides chili and mac and cheese, the Young Women did games before the treat or treating- face painting, fishing, a cupcake walk.   I adore the fun of Halloween.

(Toma Lee's trunk was amazing with all sorts of moving scary things!  Wow!)

While in St.George, we also got to go and see the (just shoot me) race horses that David has invested in. (sorry, PPP)  That's what happens when he goes off to horse shows in California with his friend Scott.  The horses are beautiful- thoroughbreds are so different from the quarter horses we have.


One of the race horses- look how tall he is for a yearling and how long and narrow the face.

 These are our quarter horses- much studier.  Brandi's two girls are off track AGAIN.  I swear (I don't really) that they are out of school more than they are in.  I've taken them twice a week and once a week they've brought two friends.  They've loved swimming and riding.  And we love having them!

We got home from St. George last Saturday night and Sunday I got to substitute teach Gospel Doctrine (adult Sunday School.)  I do love teaching and especially the Old Testament.  This week were Isaiah chapters so I started my lesson off with this question.  "Why did the blonde sit staring at the can of frozen orange juice?"  (because the label said- concentrate!)  (You can't just breeze through Isaiah...you have to concentrate to understand all his beautiful images.

Christmas is also coming up.  I've got the kids Christmas jammies ordered and they're delivered.  CHECK!  I feel like I am ahead of the game.  I just have to get our family book done.

In addition to my painting class on Thursday, that's what I've been up to.  Life is good.  Busy as a bee but good.

" Everyone is born, but not everyone is born the same. Some will grow to be butchers, or bakers, or candlestick makers. Some will only be really good at making Jell-O salad. One way or another, though, every human being is unique, for better or for worse."  quote from Matilda