Oh so Beautiful!

Summertime

~ Son Ryan's company Partner Fusion was honored by Fast 50- which honors and recognizes the 50 fastest growing businesses in the state. They rated them 8th in the State.    Woot!  Woot!

(Utah Business magazine hosted its annual Fast 50 event, honoring the 50 fastest-growing businesses in the state, based on five years of compound annual growth, with a revenue component. The event recognizes the companies for "their entrepreneurialism and innovative business tactics.")


~ I know, I can't believe it myself.  Travis popped in the other morning and said  "Come ride with me!"  I surprised myself and said okay.  Actually, he came at 10:00 and I was still in my jammies.  He looked me up and down and asked, puzzled, what I was doing.  We actually had a great ride (until coming back and the horse jammed my knee into the last gate.  Can I say OUCH real loud here?)  Beautiful day.  I love my son.  Sons.  All of them and Brandi too!  And their "others."

~ although Hallee and Addi were only in school for 3 weeks of their new year (off track for another week)- both were chosen from their class (grades?) of being student of the month.  They got to have breakfast with the principal.  They were chosen for leadership and kindness.  That they are!!!

~Mom is sounding better in her new rehab and is determined to be home when I go in a couple of weeks.  Yeah!


~I can't believe summer is over.  I'm not ready for it to be.  When I think of this summer, I'll think of our wonderful time at Lake Powell with the kiddos  and their self-portrait tee-shirts, getting rid of 3,000 plus eggs for the Eggstravaganza that never happened, trip to Washington over and over to see my sick mommy, our precious Summer AshLin, concerts at Sundance (we went again last night with Penny and Tom)-Nash getting baptized in our pool and the 4th of July on steroids.

Song of the Summer- Embark in the Service of the Lord      We sang this every week in YW's in preparation for girl's camp.  I rolled my eyes and complained because it is a tricky song and...well, it didn't sound that great.  BUT- it is a fabulous song and by the end, even we sounded....better.  (google it- the song and video are lovely)

Movie of the Summer-  Once I Was a Beehive.
Took BFF Cathy today (for her birthday) to see it.  Saw it Wed. night with our YW.  They nailed it.
Loved it.

Recipe of the Summer- our salad from our last Bucket luncheon- the Chicken and Shrimp fruit salad with chilis and lime.  I love how fresh and different it is.

What I didn't get enough of this Summer- watermelon and fresh corn.  I don't know exactly how that happened.... 

Book of the Summer- that would have to be books!  I read all of the Maisie Dobbs books by Jacqueline Winspear.  I learned of them on a Good Reads site...had never heard of them and got hooked.  The first one is Maisie Dobbs then read the rest in order.   It takes place during the 1st World War and a bit of the time period of later Downton Abbey with the class shifting and women's rights.  I learned so much about the war and saw many things with a different perspective.

Best Summer Surprise- that we now have a Bruges in Draper!!!!  Yes!  Last night David and I took Penny and Tom there for dinner before we went to an outdoor concert at Sundance.  I think they all loved it.  (David would never say he "loved" it but he certainly couldn't not like it! lol)

Now I can have European waffles with strawberries and pommes frites with andoulouse sauce any ol'time I want!  (and yes, I am not talking about butters anymore.....)

Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability. ~Sam Keen

Total Randomness

Random things-

Happy thought-  My only sibling had a birthday last week.  He's 18 months older than me.  I'm a little slow but it took me until about 6 years ago to figure out and confront my mother if I was an "Oops" baby.  I was!  I cried and cried until I got over it.  But I just had a thought and I can't wait to ask my mother.  WHAT if my BROTHER was an Oops as well?  Somehow that would make me happy.  Happier.  Okay, it really doesn't matter but it just reminds me that I'm so happy I can still ask my mom things- even if they are really dumb things.


She got moved out of the hospital into Rehab yesterday.  Yeah!!!


Good friend- the other night David and I were coming home from the Olsen's- it was late and dark...and our headlights flashed on a HUGE animal waddling on our yard.  David thought it was a raccoon...but it was a PORCUPINE!  It was a GIANT Porcupine.  I was telling a friend about it later and I said, "It's bottom was even bigger than MINE!"  and without a hitch, she said, "Oh, that small?"

(imagine him above- times 10!!!)(porcupines chew and kill trees.  We have trees.  We don't want a GIANT porcupine wandering around.  He'll have to be "quilled"-  ha-ha, that was a joke....)

Can't Wait- tonight our Young Women's is going to the movies to see "Once I Was a Beehive."   Girl's Camp changed my life (not girl's camp but the spirit there.  Even when The Charm Girls and I were re-enacting Lord of the Flies.  Even when we were pelting other Ward's tents with eggs.  The blessing from all of that was when I was first sent to Girl's Camp as a leader....I knew there was NOTHING these girls could do at camp that was worse than what we did....  I love that the Spirit will manifest even in naughty chaos!)

Funny Beehive memory- I heard a new convert to the church sharing how difficult it was when she first joined the church, to understand the lingo.  She said the first testimony meeting she went to, a lady got up and started crying saying it was going to be so hard to not work with the beehives anymore.  She LOVED her beehives and they had taught her so much. They had so many wonderful memories together..... (imagine crying harder and harder.)  This new lady was thinking, "What the heck?"

Speaking of Charm Girls- our trip to Seaside is coming up.  Almost to finger countdown time.  I've made our book from last year and it's already arrived. (and can I mention, AGAIN- that I already have the new witchy skirts for this year and ALSO the kiddos Christmas jammies....oh WHAT to do with myself....) (I'm sooo never on top of things so this is HUGE!)


Lonestar Taqueria-  went there with Roy and Hortencia today and David.  It had been raining but stopped so we could eat outside (good thing cause the place was packed and we had no where else to sit).  My shrimp taco was delicious...  the company even better. 


I want it to rain, rain, rain to clear our air.  The smoke has come all the way from my home State- which is burning like crazy.  So sad.  I wish it would rain, rain, rain in Washington.


Things I'm horrified by- Planned Parenthood's abortion/selling baby parts.  Obama's nuclear deal with Iran.  My cab driver the last time I went to Washington was from Iran and I asked him what he thought.  He said, "Obama's insane!  What is he thinking? You don't make treaties with these terrorists!"


Grateful- that the last of the Easter on-sale-M and M's is almost gone.  I have 10 lbs. to show they were here......

Really, REALLY sad- Niece Mallory just called...and they ran up to Idaho and popped in to see Grandma. (David's mom.)  She said she was totally out of it...couldn't really carry on a conversation....and that her room is all packed up....even her bedside table drawer.  This is just so hard!  I hope God and my FIL and her parents and siblings are all conversing with her in her heart.  I just want her to "please, peace be still."


Slacker- okay, I've had a paint can sitting out on the tennis court...planning every day to get out and paint a pickle ball court on the (un-used) tennis court.  I truly can come up with a million excuses.  The lines are there....just need to fill them in.  I need to commit.


Last thing I pinned- Okay, I don't look at Pinterest very much (actually I still love it...I just forget about it until I'm doing a project).  But I AM trying to think of reasons to get out of painting the pickle ball court.  So I'm thinking this:  Chunky Monkey Brownies- bananas, chocolate chips, chocolate, ooey-gooey.

I think I'd better get that court painted before I become the chunky monkey.  Well, I'm already chunky's cousin, fluffy monkey, but still.....

Baby Love- this little girl is so precious.  Love our Summer baby.

What's New

Summer AshLin- total baby love!


Sunday was Ryker's birthday.  Last night we all celebrated at a water park.  Love this little guy that always has a frowny face/looking puzzled.

Loved watching my baby and my daughter water fighting at the park.

 Ryker held hands with his cousin all night.

 Love these cupcakes that Brooke made....little bears at the beach on a beach towel under the umbrella.  

Rylee's birthday was a few days ago as well.  Finally a teenager.  Yep, she's beautiful!

~Had Hallee and Addi yesterday and today.  I think all the rest of the kids have started school (except the home schoolers.)  We do lunch, and crafts and swim and watch movies.  I've never seen the Bee Movie but I've listened to it in the car all the way to and from their house....funny stuff.  Funny Addi-ism today.  We were checking out a RedBox movie and Addi said, "I've seen the Mc-mercial (commercial) of that....."

~my mom is still in the hospital.  Still in isolation.  Feeling better but not up and around.  When I'm stressed, I get this permanent hard ache in my stomach.  It's there.  I just want her better and HOME!

Vanessa: It's very hard to concentrate with that panicky tone in your voice.
Barry B. Benson: It's not a tone, I'm PANICKING!  (Bee Movie) 


P.S. Mom just got moved to a new Rehab!!!!  So happy.  That means improvement!  Yes!

Armor

(handout  credit goes to marcicoombs.com- thank you!)

Today in Young Women's- I get to teach on Why Chastity Matters?  I actually taught this same lesson last year (the presidency thinks it's funny they assign ME the HARD lessons! lol)- so I wanted to come up with a new way to talk about it.  IT.  That thing that is so hard to talk about.  

But thankfully I found this emphasis:

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:


What amazing confidence we wear when we have the armor of God on.  We talked about how we get it....that it needs to be put on each morning as a protection.  I showed them an orange...all nicely protected by its peel.  I put it in a large vase of water and it floats!  Our armor can elevate us and we can rise above the problems of the world.  Then I took the orange out and asked them the things that take away our armor-dishonesty, lying, immodesty (which we talked about as a state of  mind....we project what we feel inside.), immorality, etc.  I peeled the orange including the core.  When it went into the water, it sank.  We need God's protective armor to keep us afloat.

I also gave everyone a small cup filled with orange juice to drink and talked about how sweet and delicious it was.  Afterwards I gave them each a powerful mint.  It immediately changed the aftertaste of the orange juice into something that wasn't pleasant.  Morality and Chastity are given to us to have life's sweetest experience ....as husband and wife and families.

The day actually became even better.  Our grand- kiddo Nash, was getting baptized....in our pool!  (special permission was needed and granted)

I LOVE THIS LITTLE GUY!!!

Travis and Tenille gave wonderful talks- sharing tender stories about Nash.  Nash is a ball player- he plays it all.  And Travis says he a great team player and coaches love to coach him.  Now he will be on the best team ever- Heavenly Father's team- and we expect great things from him!

 We had a wonderful dinner afterwards- tacos, sweet pork burritos, chips and fresh salsa, fruit and yummy desserts.

What a day rich in the goodness of God and family!

I Loved Her When She was Little....

 One of my BFFs- Brendalyn- has a daughter Ashlee (since I've known in the womb) getting married next month.  When she was teen, one year she used to ride the bus home with Tanner and stay with us until Brendalyn got home from work.  I used to say, "Ashlee, when you grow up I want you to marry Tanner."
She'd smile and blush.

Well, she is.  Marrying Tanner...just not MY Tanner!

I still love her.

Months ago when Brendalyn and I were doing our Saturday errands, I found these cute fan kits at JoAnns.  

 On the other side is the happy couple.

 Then, this is the invitation I did....

Today was the brunch and  so fun to be with friends...and Linda M. decorates everything so amazingly and we all worked together.....Valene, Funny Kathy, Cathy, Linda and I.

BRUNCH MENU:

BREAKFAST ENCHILADAS WITH CHEESE SAUCE

BLACKBERRY SALAD WITH FETA

HAM ROLLS

FRUIT PLATTER WITH STRAWBERRY CREAM CHEESE

CINNAMON ROLLS WITH PEARLS

FRUIT SLUSH

COOKIES/CANDY

 

LOVE THIS ASHLEE GIRL AND WISH HER THE BEST!

Today

Today was art class.  I almost finished my fruit bowl.  It's not a jump up and down but it looks like something I would like to cook with.....

My art instructor's birthday is this week so we had a little birthday lunch for her in class today.  I made this salad that I've posted before- it's called a Corn and Avocado Salad with Chili Lime Dressing.  I make double of the dressing and marinate chicken in it...then grill or bake the chicken.  One of my favorite salads and love that it is a bit different.  (recipe on the cooking blog.)

This little girl of mine turned 13 today!  I love her tons and she always makes me laugh.  Happy birthday, Ryls!!!!

Attended a wedding reception tonight for a darling girl in our Ward.  Loved her decor and food ideas.

 What a beautiful crepe bar- with all sorts of fabulous fillings-apple pie, chocolate mousse, cheesecake mousse, strawberries and whipped cream.

 Love Chalk board art.  

There were baskets of favors- candy bars or cookie bars wrapped in paper of a classic book and tied with hearts.  So Pride and Prejudice!  Sigh....