Jellyfish

Off Track Love

Hallee and Addie are off track AGAIN.  And that is bonus time for me.  I picked them up yesterday morning, picked up lunch for later, then brought them home for a day of funshine.  First of all, David took them for a several hour horseback ride.  They are riding so great and it is fun Grandpa time.  When they got back, I told them I had a job I needed them to help me with and that I was going to teach them a new word. The word was DEADHEAD.

I told them a deadhead was a person who was just along for the ride but didn't do any helping. (I wasn't referring to them!)   They let me know that Grandpa wasn't a deadhead because he was always so good to take them horseback riding.  Their mom isn't a deadhead because she's always working so hard for them and to help other people....

I told them you could use "deadheading" for flowers too.  All my dozens of geraniums have glorious blooms...but it is still too iffy to plant them outside yet.  I asked them if they would help.  I told them if we cut off the pretty flowers now, the plant could concentrate on making lots of new flowers when it is ready outside.

And they went to work....helping me what would have taken hours to do by myself.  We had such a good time working together.

AFTERWARD,  the girls got to make their fairy gardens.  We got out all the supplies and fairy stuff I've been collecting and they went to town.

 When Addi was carrying her fairy garden out to the greenhouse (where they are going to live)- she accidently dropped it.  The fairy crashed.  I told her it was okay, I could hot glue it together.  Hallee and I went out to the greenhouse and Addi didn't come out.  I went back in to find her crying and saying she was so sorry for breaking the fairy.

Time for big hugs and another lesson.  Little girls are ALWAYS more important than fairies.

Lovely Week

I hosted Girl's Night Out last Thursday.  Since Elaine is in Mexico FOR A MONTH and Terri is in Hawaii and BFF Cathy in Colorado, I decided that we wouldn't be left behind.  I made "California Dreaming" gift bags for each of us...and said we were going on a road trip to California.  The gift bags had sunscreen, goggles, sunglasses, a cd of California beach music, treats and sunscreen lip gloss.  And we headed to California.....Pizza Kitchen, that is.  Imagination is a very good thing.  We laughed so hard and our waitress said we were her funnest table in all her working there.    Love these friends.

The very next day, Funny Kathy and Valene and I got to spend the day together (it was our birthday outing.)  We went to Temple Square to see the flowers and the new visitors center, had a magnificent lunch at the Hotel Monaco, went to a few funky stores and of course, talked a million miles an hour.  It was a day of happy.

I did want to share some new grand calf pictures!  Isn't he (she?) the cutest?  When David leases the steers for roping, of course, we never get babies.  But last year David and Scott bought some steers to carry over and trade so we have two new babies (the black baby bull isn't as cute) and one on the way.  This one melts me.  (but I worry all night when I hear the coyotes yelping down there.  We've had one cruising in the yard.  Coyotes rank right up there with magpies for me.)

And the geese are ranking right down there too.  These guys start early in the morning and honk for HOURS (usually on top of the house so it echos all through the house.)  It is like that terrible noise toy you bought for your child and then they kept blowing it until you about crack!

(no surprise I can download the video but not the obnoxious sound....)


Stake conference was this weekend which meant we always go out after the Saturday Night session with Brendalyn and Joe and Cathy and Kirk.  Just a nice little time together.  We missed the Sunday session because we got a text from son Ryan saying that it was their Ward conference and WE MIGHT want to come and hear Heidi sing.  Well, THE MIGHT was emphasized.....

and Heidi sang beautifully........but Ryan was called as the Bishop of their Ward!  It was so awesome and the spirit was incredible. It brings me such joy that Ryan and Marci and family are just so committed to service and goodness.  Love them all.

This and That

The good news!  I was at Target and they had all their Easter candy at 70% off!!!!  And they had M & M's!

The bad news:  I've already filled my Eggstravaganza eggs. 

The good news!  I bought them anyway....because, truly, at 70 cents for a whole bag of wrapped M & M's- I'd be ungrateful not to buy them.  (What I always say when I buy something on sale.)

The bad news:  I LOVE M & M's....

The good news!  If you mix them with almonds, then you have a carb and a protein.

The bad news:  M & M's plus almonds = butters
(how does that happen?)

Funny Kathy text me these adorable pictures of their fun Relief Society activity celebrating children.  Linda Madsen, the most creative person I know, was in charge.  Everything she does is over the top fun.  We used to go to the LA gift show with her and she'd let us buy things at her cost.  She would do all the travel arrangements plus have little gift bags for each of us on the plane with treats and a soundtrack of whatever Broadway show we would see there)- yah, just dang amazing!

   For the activity they shared children's books, apps, activities, food, etc.  She said it was unreal.  (Linda is the one that threw a shower for a friend's daughter- with an Oscar theme.  Google that on my blog and be blown away by what she did.)

My bestie from high school, Debbie, posted this picture on Facebook today- showing what our weather looks like here:

A friend of hers posted:  I think they are calling this season "Sprinter."  Ha!  Good one!


Art class today.  It's my favorite in the middle of the week activity.  I finished a picture today.  Yeah!  I loved painting this one.  I'm pretty sure art is funner (yes, that is a word) than yoga...and I don't have to sweat.

When asked what gift he wanted for his birthday, the yogi replied "I wish no gifts, only presence" 

Oh my Goodness Wind!!!!

This is what our home/area/town/state looked like today!  I cannot believe the force of wind...and the terrible mess it makes.  Thankfully, in this case, it was the precursor to a much needed storm.  The ground is actually covered with snow and it is still falling.  So happy about that.  I won't think of all the tree branches and mess that lies under the snow.

David drove to Hurricane Utah today.  It is by Saint George- about a 3 1/2 hour trip.  He said he has never driven in such wind before.  He said he could hardly keep his truck on the road.  Whoosh!

My sweet mother-in-law had a beautiful home in Hurricane.  She and Dad retired there shortly before Dad died 7 years ago.  When he died, we immediately scooped her up and brought her home to live with us.  That was hard for her to lose her husband, lose her home, independence, etc.  But she hadn't driven for years and was already getting forgetful.

We're rented the home out for a couple of years now.  Recently we had to tell the renters that they needed to leave.....having missed 2 months rent.  David tried to work things out with them but it seemed like they had one sad tale after another.  I am not criticizing that.  Their life wasn't looking too good.  We've tried really hard to be lenient with them.

We got the call that they were moved out, which is why David went down today.

We should have opened up the doors and let the "hurricane" do its business!  David said easily he bagged up 3 truck loads of garbage left in the house. Behind the house were left several soiled mattresses. Floor were filthy and ripped in several places.  Window coverings were hanging.  Towel racks and rods were hanging as well. The yard was full of weeds.  We won't talk about the refrigerator. David was planning on staying there tonight but it was so bad, he went to a hotel.  When these people first moved in, there were problems with the dishwasher.  When they let us know, we told them to get a new one and we'd deduct it from their rent.  You guessed it.  No dishwasher.

It will be tricky trying to get the house cleaned, painted, floors redone, yard work, etc. because of the distance.  It will be a lot of lost money for my mother-in-law and a lot of work for David.  I've been pondering today about this situation.  I have felt compassion for these people as we have had set-backs with them before....but it has been hard to reconcile that anyone would not only live this way but do this kind of damage...without regard to others.  This is probably just a manifestation of how people get into one mess after another.  It's hard to progress when you lose integrity in how you live (and leave) your life.

I don't feel angry.....just really sad that people anywhere feel that this is okay.  It seems indecent to me.  I'm almost thankful my MIL doesn't really know what's going on (when we told her "the renters were moving" she said, "Oh, that's too bad.  They've been such good people.") - she would be broken hearted to see what her lovely home looks like now.

Thankfully we can fix it.  We know that is a blessing.  And we know we just have to let go of any personal feelings to these people.  Their lives will continue as it may and so will ours.  The winds may blow but material things are temporary.  I love this quote by President Hinckley:

May God help us to be a little kinder, showing forth greater forbearance, to be more forgiving, more willing to walk the second mile, to reach down and lift up those who may have sinned but have brought forth the fruits of repentance, to lay aside old grudges and nurture them no more.

And that definitely applies to us...

Conference Thoughts

Some of my very favorite Conference thoughts:

Just Today

 Even though it is a beautiful spring day, we did get (much needed) snow this week.  I bought a lovely bone-in ham for Easter and today finally made some ham and bean soup.  The pressure cooker made it so easy......wonderful carrots and onions and ham and two kinds of beans.  Perfect.

Geese always make me think of my parents.  I grew up living for many years on a lake....and with an acre to roam, the geese found it the perfect sunbathing lawn.  My dad would always say, "If you're walking down to the boat dock, don't step in the goose poop."  He also called his hair cream goosepoop.

I must be getting homesick again.  Every morning the geese are alive around us.  Dozen's flying over (about 7:00 a.m.!) honking their heads off.  Thankfully none are nesting at our house but at several of our neighbors to the north.  I just went out to the children's play area and found a couple of fat waddlers stumbling around. Oh boy, they make me homesick.....

I went outside to take farewell pictures of some of my kiddos.  Not my "real" kiddos but these trees, finally getting dug and balled.  They were just babies when they were planted, about the size of pencils.  They are so thick, it will be impossible to have the kids run through them looking for eggs at this year's Eggstravaganza.  Time is moving on.....

I got David to take me in his new truck to the garden store for my geraniums this year.  They are so beautiful but I'm not going to get them planted anytime soon.  I learned that last year trying to outguess the crazy weather.  Right now they are nesting all snug in the greenhouse.  I'm pretty sure I'll be begging to go back for just one more truckload..... 

Book I'm currently reading:  The Rent Collector by Camron Wright.  Here's a quote from it~

“Words provide a voice to our deepest feelings. I tell you, words have started and stopped wars. Words have built and lost fortunes. Words have saved and taken lives. Words have won and lost great kingdoms. Even Buddha said, 'Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care, for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill.”

An old friend-  got a phone call this week from a dear friend, Karen.  Why does life get so busy we can't keep up with all the people we love.  Her husband, Jim, is the mayor of Farmington, Utah (a town to the north of Salt Lake.)  For Easter, they had 22,000 eggs at their annual city Easter egg hunt!!!!  My 3,000 looks pretty paltry compared to that.  I love being remembered by friends from my past.    Funny how words can utterly make your day!

And lastly, today is National Sibling Day.  I have to say Sibling, not Silings, since it was just my brother and me.  Although I always yearned for sisters, I have the ones I need through my wonderful friends.  And my brother was and is, simply the best!  Love him dearly!

Easter

Easter weekend was just perfect....with two days of General conference for edifying and family over so a house filled with love....and of course, yummy food.  This year was wonderful because Aunt Pat came and Cousin Casey....with his new girlfriend....that we fell in love with.  Fingers crossed!

Spiral ham, cheesy potatoes, rolls, spinach dip, shrimp and dip, bruschetta, artichoke dip and crackers and chips and veggies (well, celery...that is a family joke....the veggie platter got left at home in a refrigerator) and carrot cake and lemon cake and rice krispy nests with Cadberry eggs.  I had to welcome a few menacing "butters" after all this.  Wow!

Monday, David and I- along with Aunt Pat and Aunt Laraine (neither of whom are my aunts but my kid's aunts) all went to Idaho Falls for a graveside service of David's last aunt on his dad's side of the family.  That makes my sweet MIL the last man standing.  We picked her up and took her to the services.  She's even more frail (and as sweet as ever) and very confused but we were happy to be together and all went out to lunch afterwards.  (thanks, Ashlee for coming to the services...you looked so beautiful!)

Easter truly is the most important holiday...even more so than Christmas and I'm truly grateful for God in my life, for His sacrifice and direction.  What a beautiful weekend reminder of how blessed we are!

Succoring

I've always thought about succoring as the gift we receive from God's atonement...where He suffered all things that he might know how to truly succor us in our trials and needs.  I had not thought of my succoring the Lord until this Conference address this past weekend.  Henry B. Eyring explained it beautifully in this address (just part of his talk). Each month we fast and have the opportunity to contribute fast offerings.  I remember as a young teenager, the deacons coming to our home (in the country) with the fast offering envelope and my father, although he was not active in the church, always putting a few dollars in the envelope.  That is a beautiful image to me.  (I love my dad!)  Last week, although David was out of town, I took my turn on Saturday helping to clean the church.  I know I've mentioned this before that I love one of the Hebrew word definitions of worship which is to serve...so while I am polishing windows I think about that I am serving God...which also means that I am succoring him.  This whole talk inspires me to want to fast more diligently.

(and I love Isaiah's promise at the end......pure poetry to my soul!!!)

(President Eyring)

When we offer succor to anyone, the Savior feels it as if we reached out to succor Him.

He told us that was true when He described a future moment we all will have when we see Him after our life in this world is complete.

The Lord’s description of that future interview was given to His disciples, and it describes what we want with all our hearts to be true for us as well:

“Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

“For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

“Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

“Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

“When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

“Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

You and I want that warm welcome from the Savior. But how can we deserve it? There are more hungry, homeless, and lonely children of Heavenly Father than we can possibly reach. And the numbers grow ever farther from our reach.

So the Lord has given us something that we each can do. It is a commandment so simple that a child can understand it. It is a commandment with a wonderful promise for those in need and for us.

It is the law of the fast. The words in the book of Isaiah are the Lord’s description of the commandment and the blessing available to those of us in His Church:

“Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?

“Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

“Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward.

“Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;

“And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:

“And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.”

Techie Bucketeers

Today Funny Kathy hosted Bucket and she asked each of us to bring a couple of phone/ipad tech stuff that we could teach each other. We shared different apps, 3-way calling, family history, kid games, music, etc.  It was amazing how we all had different things to share.  Loved all the info.  (I had to ask my grands for ideas on things to share!)  Loved the salmon dish that Kathy prepared as well.  Recipe on the cooking blog.


          Salmon and Asparagus Pasta 
          with White Wine Lemon Sauce

One of the things I shared was an App. called FunCam.  I think it is free.  I took an old picture of Peyton and in seconds did these:

And just because of all the "techie" stuff I do not know/understand/get/-

Our Beauty

A few weeks ago we got to go see Addi in a local/neighborhood production of Beauty and the Beast.  WOW!!!!  What a great musical production that one of Brandi's neighbors puts on each year (a different musical) with soundtracks and scenery and the works.  I loved that there wasn't just one Belle/one beast/one Gaston but many.  It totally worked!  Addi did great on her speaking, dancing and her solo.  Hopefully next year the other two girls are in it as well.  Loved that David went as well.  We love this Miss Addi-tude.  She's growing up so fast!

 How can you read this? There's no picture?  Gaston

 Well some people use their imaginations. -Belle

I'm especially good at expectorating...
Gaston