Tenille tagged me this morning, so here goes:
1. The best thing you cooked last week? Sophia Corbridge’s Hamburger Soup (with a twist) This is the recipe in Sophia's words:
Tomato-Macaroni SoupBrown hamburger, 2 stalks of chopped celery and 1 chopped onion in stockpot. Add 1 large can of V-8 juice, 1/4-1/2 of the can of water, 1/2 - 3/4 cup brown sugar (I like it very sweet and usually add more), salt and pepper to taste. Simmer slowly for an hour, then bring to a boil right before serving. Add 2 cups of macaroni noodles. Boil until pasta cooked. (If you add the pasta at the beginning, it becomes too starchy.) It's great with fresh corn bread!
2. If money, time and babysitting were no object, where would you go and with who?Well, thankfully I save tons of money not having to pay for a babysitter (how about a horse sitter? or a husband sitter?) But my dreams right now are going to France with girlfriends and to Tuscany with my husband and Kirk and Cathy Olsen. And babysitters would be an issue since I'd love to go on a trip with my girls-Brandi, Tenille and Marci
3. When was the last time you cried?
Hmmm...I think when I finished reading "These Is My Words" a couple of months ago. But I know I’m going to probably cry as soon as I see one of my babies (deer)...David told me one must have been hit by a car since it has a broken front leg. It will never survive. It breaks my heart!
4. 5 things you were doing this month 10 years ago
I don’t know about the month, but during this year, my husband was the Bishop and I think I was doing the music in Primary. Travis had just left a few months before to his mission to Minnesota and one of our sons was just starting to descend on his different path, taking us all on a horrific ride. Brandi and Ryan were in New Jersey and I was missing her horribly. My book of poetry, "The Red Rooster Café" was hot off the presses and October was my big "book concert" where it was presented and read. My mom and dad AND my brother (who surprised me) flew in from Washington. (and 11 months earlier, I used a computer for the first time.)
5. 5 things on your to-do list today
1. Watch the kiddos 2. A huge phone call list since we have Creative Cooking on Wed. and we didn’t have church Sunday to remind people. 3. Clean the kitchen and do some laundry 4. Read 5 chapters of the Book of Mormon 5. Make a few more Halloween favors for Creative Cooking (okay, and mail a box to David's folks with their will in it, get a dentist appointment for Tanner who called from work with a hurt tooth, get new inkjets for my printer, edit some material for our old Stake's book they are printing, call and organize some people to be in a funny happy birthday video, pick up David's shirts at the laundry....you know, you don't ever just have 5 things!)
6. 5 favorite snacks
"How do I love snacks, let me count the ways." A couple of things I would not be able to resist- brownies (no nuts please) or chocolate cake with white cream cheese frosting. But maybe they are more "dessert" than snack. For snacks, M & M’s, movie popcorn, Baked chips and salsa/dip, any Diet drinks (well, I wish they weren’t diet), any good chocolate (milk chocolate not dark).
7. 5 Bad Habits
All of the answers to #6. Over eating
Sleeping later (but I’m not sorry)
procrastinating/impatient (isn't that a twist)
Not folding laundry as soon as it is done
talking too much
8. 5 favorite foods
Wow, more food! Hmm....love a good hamburger (like Hires or Eat A Burger), good french fries (fat ones- real ones) a good salad, shrimp or prawns, corn on the cob.
9. 5 Places I've beenGermany (with a little Switzerland and Austria)
Costa Rico
Mexico (many places-)
Alaska (it seems like a foreign country)
Guatemala and Belize
Caribbean- Jamaica and Grand Cayman Islands (notice how I can't count either.)
10. 5 Favorite Memories
1. Falling in love with David
2. Going to the temple for the first time and also when my children were married
3. One Christmas in Hawaii with all our kids. Brandi and Ryan were newlyweds so Ryan was there as well. Lake Powell with our family and friends.
4. Just everything with any of the kiddos. Grandchildren are beyond description.
5. Wendy W. reminded me of a fun memory. Wendy is my daughter’s sister-in-law, but she is closer to my age than Brandi’s and lived in our Stake. I was the Stake Young Women’s President, and Wendy was a Ward YW president. It was our Stake Auxiliary Training and Brendalyn (my counselor and dear friend) and I had worked so hard on our department. During the middle of it, a friend ran in to tell me that the homecoming royalty was just announced at Alta High school and that Brandi won for the Junior class and they were having a parade right then....everyone in our department just shouted for me to leave (and my counselors carried on) and I ran to the high school to see my girl waving in the homecoming parade. Now you might think that this was no big deal but it represented much more. Brandi started school as a 4 yr. old because of school overcrowding. That meant that she didn’t turn 16 until her Junior year of high school. In her sophomore year, most of her friends started to date (even if they weren’t 16.) It was a hard, hard year. Especially when she was Morp princess...(Morp is a crazy-dress-up dance)...and she went at halftime and got her crown, then went out to dinner with some girlfriends. So, THIS homecoming was Brandi’s first date. It represented to me all the good choices she continually made in her life. I knew that she was a winner in Heavenly Father’s eyes...and a great example to all who knew her. She was one loved girl. And that is why Wendy was so excited years later that Brandi would marry her little brother, Ryan! Wendy is Cassie-rella's mom.
Okay- Now I'm suppose to tag 5 people....that would be:
Brandi, Sophia C., Marilyn "Hot Bawden", Heidi L. and Ann S.
Showing posts with label Favorites. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Favorites. Show all posts
Monday, October 8, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Ten-At-A-Time
Okay, I saw Sophia do a top 100 list of things that make her happy. I thought that might be hard to do. No, I got the 100 down in less than a half-an-hour. The funny thing is, you know me, I can't just say a word. Or two. I have to write a whole term paper on each entry. So I decided I would do Ten-At-A-Time. My own, made-up Meme. A hundred or more things that make me happy. Ten-At-A-Time.
1. New bed sheets with a high thread count. I will not spend $125 for one sheet of 800- thread count, like I saw today at Macy’s but I will dream of them on my new 400-thread count sheets (on sale- a complete king set with two pillow cases for $75 plus another 10 percent off.) 400 works. I don’t buy sheets often so this is okay. It still takes my breath away. I won’t mention to David how much they cost because he’d have a cow. And we already have 10 cows. We don’t need another mouth to feed. Today’s purchase just cuts into my Happy Meal/Grammie budget. My current sheets woke up yesterday with big tears in them. You know, rips as opposed to crocodile teardrops. I don’t know where they came from. The tears. Maybe something snagged them in the dryer. But I also woke up (along with the sheets waking up) with 3 GIANT bites on my leg. They were proof-positive to David that, indeed, mosquitoes eat me alive during the night when we sleep with our french doors open! Being the cagey lawyer that he is, he declared they didn’t look like mosquito bites to him. I would post a picture of them for your consideration but then I’d have to, you know, shave the legs, then put good smelly lotion on so the legs would look camera-ready. But the Lake Powell tan has already faded to a sullen-malaria-looking-yellow (since we’re talking mosquitoes....)...not a pretty site even in a best case scenario so I’ll have to defend my own case. Without pictures. And in this case, I’ll dream with a new pillow case, on gorgeous gold-colored, 400-thread count sheets. With the french doors closed, thank you very much.
2. A soft, marshmallow pillow (not full or firm.) David’s mom used to take one feather pillow, then make two pillows out of one. One for each of us. David and I were both happy campers. I have the most amazing mother-in-law. She is love in action. When I had my babies, she would come and stay with us, hear the babies cry in the night, get up and change their diapers, bring them to me in bed, wait in the other room until I was done feeding them, then change their diapers again and rock them back to sleep. She’s a saint. Saint Darlene. If I were Catholic, I would pray to her. She’s that good. (I just re-read this entry. It sounds like I had multiply births. No, just one at a time. It was my daughter-in-law, Tenille, whose mom had quadruplets. Yikes!
3. Big bath towels- I love the Hotel Collection at Macy’s. Gee, I’m sounding like a commercial for Macy’s today. It must be because I went shopping there today and I was already thinking this morning about things I am grateful for. These bath towels are expensive. You have to wait until they are on sale and even then, you have to sell a kiddo for them. $19.99 on sale! You might think of a second mortgage on your house. It would be worth it and besides, the interest on second mortgages is tax-deductible. I am a self-confessed laundry massacruist (I think I made up that word) and the towels still come out fluffy for me. It’s a miracle. Even after a million washings. They are so plush you could get lost in them for a week. Take a good book with you. And some chocolate. I didn’t pick up any today but I paused and stroked their plush pile. That’s enough to make me happy. And it didn't cost a cent.
4. Pez’s...because they remind me of when Ben was little. It was a gentler time. And Heather, I laughed when I saw that you bought a friend the set of Elvis Pez’s. I had bought them earlier! For Ben’s collection. The collection that Ben doesn’t really care about anymore but I still buy for because when I see them, I think about Ben. What a darling little boy he was. Our hearts were connected. They still are. So, I buy Pez’s. That’s what mommies do. No matter how big their babies get....
5 . Duets- I love the new Reba Duets CD I just bought. Saw just a smidgen of Oprah and Reba was on and talked about it. It made me ponder who I would choose to sing a duet with....she picked some of my favorites...Kelly Clarkson, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney, Ronnie Dunn. Oh, and Carole King! I love her voice. She was my young-married favorite. ("I feel the earth move, under my feet...I feel the sky...falling down..." Radio stations play that song whenever we get a little earthquake tremor.) I would also choose James Taylor, Enrique Inglesia, Gwen Stefani. I want to be one of Gwen’s "doo-wopp" girls. I want to sing with a Betty Boop voice. I want platinum hair once again and to wear funky shoes. I used to think I could sing. Just like I used to think I was athletic. My roommates paid me to quit singing. Not so hot. I was also first runner-up EVERY year for cheerleader in high school. I thought I was coordinated. Thank heaven for unanswered prayers....
6. Air fresheners- I’ve already shared that I have a fetish for air fresheners and confessed that I have even climbed up on toilets in gas stations to see what company makes that particular freshener and to get a better whiff. I know how sick that must sound. I do scour my hands afterwards. But I love Glade plug-ins also. My favorite scent is "Tropical Mist." I buy them by the dozens. I get it in spray as well. Spray, spray, spray. It makes me happy. My latest car air freshener is by "Sensy"...have you smelled those new candles? It is a citrus one and almost makes me high in the car.....love at first sniff..... For candles, I love Salt City Candles...my favorite scent is Woodberry. It isn’t for everyone but I love it. One time Cousin Zella came over and loved the smell so I bought her a candle. She had her house smelling good when Charles came home and said, "Yuck! What’s that terrible smell?" So, that just goes to show you, that you can be called as General Young Men’s President of the Church and still have a bad sense of smell. Sorry, Zella! You can come to my house and sniff!
7. Having deer for pets- I love that my 3 babies are growing up so strong. But one is still nursing, for Pete’s Sake. The poor mom was high-centered the other day trying to stand on its tippie-toes for the baby to feed. "Enough, La Leche mommy, enough!" If your baby is old enough to eat apples, they are old enough to be weaned!
8. The friendships I’ve made through Visiting Teaching throughout my life. My life is so much richer for all of these women. Today Marilyn B. (Mama Bawden) and I visited. She is so lovely inside and out and I love that we can share our hearts. Today we discussed how really the biggest hurdle in our lives is finding peace. Do I really "trust" in the Lord when the storms are raging, when bad things happen to good people I love, when things seem out of our control, when life isn't fair. I have a long way to go in trusting. And I think that is the key to finding peace on a higher level than we do. I loved, loved, loved, as I shared last week, the V.T. quote from Elder Maxwell. "How can we sincerely pray to be an instrument in His hands if the instrument seeks to do the instructing." If I truly submit my will to His, if I truly understand that He will "make up the difference" and "make all things right", then I would be a greater partaker in His peace. Peace has been on my mind. And I love that Marilyn B. and I can share as friends.
9. Bees. I don’t like necessarily the real thing...I love to read about them and study them and to think about them. My master bathroom is my bee room. I honestly read a whole book about bee-keeping. Who else do you know who would do that? I have a neighbor that is a beekeeper and he invites me to come beeing with him. I would love to but I feel a little awkward "beeing" with him. Is that kosher?
10. A new yummy recipe- yes! They make me happy! Today on "Good Things Utah", they published the recipe for my favorite breakfast dish at Mimi’s Café. It is so good, you want to lick the plate afterwards. Oh wait, I think I "did" lick my plate afterwards. Sorry, Cousin Zella and friend, Patty L. We usually go to Mimi’s to celebrate our birthdays. I hope I really didn’t lick my plate....
Mimi’s Cafe’s Pain Perdu(8 servings)
Balboa Mix Ingredients:
12 oz. Cream cheese
½ c. orange marmalade
Preparation:
Cut cream cheese into smaller pieces and place in mixer. Add marmalade and mix approximately 10 minutes on medium speed, scraping the sides frequently.
Perdue Ingredients:
16 pieces egg-white bread
Preparation:
Trim crusts off egg-white bread; add scoop of balboa mix to center of a slice of bread. Do not press together. Top with another slice of bread to form sandwich.
French Toast batter ingredients:
3 eggs, whisked
1/2 cup Half and Half
1 ½ TBS Sugar ¼ TSP Salt
¼ TSP Vanilla
¼ TSP Cinnamon
¼ TSP Nutmeg
Zest of ¼ Orange
Preparation: Add eggs, Half and Half, sugar and spices together and mix; add orange zest.
Grilling: Dip Pain Perdu "sandwich" in French toast batter. Cook on flat griddle to a golden brown on both sides. Slice diagonally.
Add strawberries, blueberries and raspberry puree across entire center. Dust with powdered sugar.
Okay. I understand this might sound too complicated. So just hop in the car and head to the closest Mimi's Cafe. I love the decor. It's all about roosters. And don't forget to lick your plate.
1. New bed sheets with a high thread count. I will not spend $125 for one sheet of 800- thread count, like I saw today at Macy’s but I will dream of them on my new 400-thread count sheets (on sale- a complete king set with two pillow cases for $75 plus another 10 percent off.) 400 works. I don’t buy sheets often so this is okay. It still takes my breath away. I won’t mention to David how much they cost because he’d have a cow. And we already have 10 cows. We don’t need another mouth to feed. Today’s purchase just cuts into my Happy Meal/Grammie budget. My current sheets woke up yesterday with big tears in them. You know, rips as opposed to crocodile teardrops. I don’t know where they came from. The tears. Maybe something snagged them in the dryer. But I also woke up (along with the sheets waking up) with 3 GIANT bites on my leg. They were proof-positive to David that, indeed, mosquitoes eat me alive during the night when we sleep with our french doors open! Being the cagey lawyer that he is, he declared they didn’t look like mosquito bites to him. I would post a picture of them for your consideration but then I’d have to, you know, shave the legs, then put good smelly lotion on so the legs would look camera-ready. But the Lake Powell tan has already faded to a sullen-malaria-looking-yellow (since we’re talking mosquitoes....)...not a pretty site even in a best case scenario so I’ll have to defend my own case. Without pictures. And in this case, I’ll dream with a new pillow case, on gorgeous gold-colored, 400-thread count sheets. With the french doors closed, thank you very much.
2. A soft, marshmallow pillow (not full or firm.) David’s mom used to take one feather pillow, then make two pillows out of one. One for each of us. David and I were both happy campers. I have the most amazing mother-in-law. She is love in action. When I had my babies, she would come and stay with us, hear the babies cry in the night, get up and change their diapers, bring them to me in bed, wait in the other room until I was done feeding them, then change their diapers again and rock them back to sleep. She’s a saint. Saint Darlene. If I were Catholic, I would pray to her. She’s that good. (I just re-read this entry. It sounds like I had multiply births. No, just one at a time. It was my daughter-in-law, Tenille, whose mom had quadruplets. Yikes!
3. Big bath towels- I love the Hotel Collection at Macy’s. Gee, I’m sounding like a commercial for Macy’s today. It must be because I went shopping there today and I was already thinking this morning about things I am grateful for. These bath towels are expensive. You have to wait until they are on sale and even then, you have to sell a kiddo for them. $19.99 on sale! You might think of a second mortgage on your house. It would be worth it and besides, the interest on second mortgages is tax-deductible. I am a self-confessed laundry massacruist (I think I made up that word) and the towels still come out fluffy for me. It’s a miracle. Even after a million washings. They are so plush you could get lost in them for a week. Take a good book with you. And some chocolate. I didn’t pick up any today but I paused and stroked their plush pile. That’s enough to make me happy. And it didn't cost a cent.
4. Pez’s...because they remind me of when Ben was little. It was a gentler time. And Heather, I laughed when I saw that you bought a friend the set of Elvis Pez’s. I had bought them earlier! For Ben’s collection. The collection that Ben doesn’t really care about anymore but I still buy for because when I see them, I think about Ben. What a darling little boy he was. Our hearts were connected. They still are. So, I buy Pez’s. That’s what mommies do. No matter how big their babies get....
5 . Duets- I love the new Reba Duets CD I just bought. Saw just a smidgen of Oprah and Reba was on and talked about it. It made me ponder who I would choose to sing a duet with....she picked some of my favorites...Kelly Clarkson, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney, Ronnie Dunn. Oh, and Carole King! I love her voice. She was my young-married favorite. ("I feel the earth move, under my feet...I feel the sky...falling down..." Radio stations play that song whenever we get a little earthquake tremor.) I would also choose James Taylor, Enrique Inglesia, Gwen Stefani. I want to be one of Gwen’s "doo-wopp" girls. I want to sing with a Betty Boop voice. I want platinum hair once again and to wear funky shoes. I used to think I could sing. Just like I used to think I was athletic. My roommates paid me to quit singing. Not so hot. I was also first runner-up EVERY year for cheerleader in high school. I thought I was coordinated. Thank heaven for unanswered prayers....
6. Air fresheners- I’ve already shared that I have a fetish for air fresheners and confessed that I have even climbed up on toilets in gas stations to see what company makes that particular freshener and to get a better whiff. I know how sick that must sound. I do scour my hands afterwards. But I love Glade plug-ins also. My favorite scent is "Tropical Mist." I buy them by the dozens. I get it in spray as well. Spray, spray, spray. It makes me happy. My latest car air freshener is by "Sensy"...have you smelled those new candles? It is a citrus one and almost makes me high in the car.....love at first sniff..... For candles, I love Salt City Candles...my favorite scent is Woodberry. It isn’t for everyone but I love it. One time Cousin Zella came over and loved the smell so I bought her a candle. She had her house smelling good when Charles came home and said, "Yuck! What’s that terrible smell?" So, that just goes to show you, that you can be called as General Young Men’s President of the Church and still have a bad sense of smell. Sorry, Zella! You can come to my house and sniff!
7. Having deer for pets- I love that my 3 babies are growing up so strong. But one is still nursing, for Pete’s Sake. The poor mom was high-centered the other day trying to stand on its tippie-toes for the baby to feed. "Enough, La Leche mommy, enough!" If your baby is old enough to eat apples, they are old enough to be weaned!
8. The friendships I’ve made through Visiting Teaching throughout my life. My life is so much richer for all of these women. Today Marilyn B. (Mama Bawden) and I visited. She is so lovely inside and out and I love that we can share our hearts. Today we discussed how really the biggest hurdle in our lives is finding peace. Do I really "trust" in the Lord when the storms are raging, when bad things happen to good people I love, when things seem out of our control, when life isn't fair. I have a long way to go in trusting. And I think that is the key to finding peace on a higher level than we do. I loved, loved, loved, as I shared last week, the V.T. quote from Elder Maxwell. "How can we sincerely pray to be an instrument in His hands if the instrument seeks to do the instructing." If I truly submit my will to His, if I truly understand that He will "make up the difference" and "make all things right", then I would be a greater partaker in His peace. Peace has been on my mind. And I love that Marilyn B. and I can share as friends.
9. Bees. I don’t like necessarily the real thing...I love to read about them and study them and to think about them. My master bathroom is my bee room. I honestly read a whole book about bee-keeping. Who else do you know who would do that? I have a neighbor that is a beekeeper and he invites me to come beeing with him. I would love to but I feel a little awkward "beeing" with him. Is that kosher?
10. A new yummy recipe- yes! They make me happy! Today on "Good Things Utah", they published the recipe for my favorite breakfast dish at Mimi’s Café. It is so good, you want to lick the plate afterwards. Oh wait, I think I "did" lick my plate afterwards. Sorry, Cousin Zella and friend, Patty L. We usually go to Mimi’s to celebrate our birthdays. I hope I really didn’t lick my plate....
Mimi’s Cafe’s Pain Perdu(8 servings)
Balboa Mix Ingredients:
12 oz. Cream cheese
½ c. orange marmalade
Preparation:
Cut cream cheese into smaller pieces and place in mixer. Add marmalade and mix approximately 10 minutes on medium speed, scraping the sides frequently.
Perdue Ingredients:
16 pieces egg-white bread
Preparation:
Trim crusts off egg-white bread; add scoop of balboa mix to center of a slice of bread. Do not press together. Top with another slice of bread to form sandwich.
French Toast batter ingredients:
3 eggs, whisked
1/2 cup Half and Half
1 ½ TBS Sugar ¼ TSP Salt
¼ TSP Vanilla
¼ TSP Cinnamon
¼ TSP Nutmeg
Zest of ¼ Orange
Preparation: Add eggs, Half and Half, sugar and spices together and mix; add orange zest.
Grilling: Dip Pain Perdu "sandwich" in French toast batter. Cook on flat griddle to a golden brown on both sides. Slice diagonally.
Add strawberries, blueberries and raspberry puree across entire center. Dust with powdered sugar.
Okay. I understand this might sound too complicated. So just hop in the car and head to the closest Mimi's Cafe. I love the decor. It's all about roosters. And don't forget to lick your plate.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Just The Facts
I get many emails with mimes, tags, question/answer things. They may seem like trivial things but since I teach lots of journaling classes, I think they are really good at hitting information you might not share in an everyday journal or life story. So here's my pick from many I've received. Anyone, reading this, answer these questions for yourself. I'd love to hear your answers! Anyone?
What zodiac sign are you? Aquarius
Do you regularly read a horoscope? Nope
If not, why not? Have the scriptures and prayer
Married or single? Definitely married. Happily-ever-after married.
What do you like to do with your spare time? Family, friends, journal, poetry, paint, eat, gab, read or study , cook up a storm
Is your life worse, better or about the same as you imagined it would be someday? Oh, much, much better.
Is your family larger or smaller than you expected? Maybe larger
What do you collect? Years ago I collected angels, paper dolls, Santas. I do collect Pez candy thingies for Ben, who no longer collects them since he has me. Probably the only thing I really collect now is retold fairy tales- I have a whole collection of The Three Little Pigs (like "The Three Little Hawaiian Pigs and The Magic Shark, "The Three Little Wolves and the Big, Bad Pig," etc) and variations on Cinderella and also The Princess and the Pea.
What are three major turning points in your life? testimony, attending Rick’s College, marrying my husband
What do you think your greatest talents are? I "love" easily, I’m creative,I'm a good "idea" person, I desire and seek for the Spirit in my life, I’m happy, I forgive.
What do you think your greatest weaknesses are? Struggle to stay on task with things I’m not interested in, a little undisciplined (with things I’m not interested in), when I was younger- I was too concerned with how much I weighed. And although I am a good listener, I still jabber too much.
What books have affected you the most? Besides the scriptures, Magnificent Obsession (which was the original "play it forward"), The Peacegiver, Follow The River (because it was about human determination) and Shell Seekers (because it was about a woman making hard choices) I know I’m missing out on others, but I’ll have to ponder this some more. The Secret Life of Bees is one of my favorite books although it hasn't really affected my life. And I love Barbara Kingsolver's The Bean Trees and "Pigs In Heaven." Laugh out loud. Great dialogue. Loved the book "Gideon" although not everyone does. I just finished "Twilight" and I loved it so much, I want to run out and bite someone’s neck.
Are you left- or right- brained? Totally right. Without one left-brain cell. That is why I married David. Together we are a full brain.
What magazines do you subscribe to, if any? You’ll be sorry you asked this one. Ensign, New Era, The Friend, Cottage Living, Mary Engelbreit Home Companion, American Art Collections and The Garden Gate. My mother sends me A Taste of Home each year for Christmas. I used to subscribe to Martha Stewart Living, and I loved the pictures but seldom loved the recipes (and I love to cook!) I usually buy her holiday editions, and usually Country Living. I buy a lot of gardening magazines. When my friend, Pretty Patty Petty comes, I always put chocolates and a People magazine (I call it a trashy magazine) on her pillow. It’s an inside joke/tradition.
What’s playing on your C.D. player right now? See my "about me" list, but I like a variety of music. I like current music, like Jack Johnson, Coldplay, John Mayer, Foo Fighters and my favorite song right now is, I know this is weird, Gwen Stephani’s "Sweet Escape." I like a lot of sound tracks. Love all the semi-classical-pop guys out there like Josh Groban, Mario Frangoulis, El Divo, Andre Bocelli, Michael Buble. For painting, I love Tim Janis. I love to listen to Sounds of the Sabbath and love contemporary LDS musicians (especially my daughter-in-law, Marci.) Like new country like Shania, Brooks and Dunn, G. Strait, Carrie Underwood, Allyson Krauss, Sara Evans, Rascal Flatts. My husband torments me in the car with old country, like Chris LeDeux and the real old guys. David wants "Copenhagen Angel" sung at his funeral, and it’s not talking about heavenly angels. He thinks he’s funny. My dad likes to bug me whenever I get in his car, so he’ll have a yodeling tape on for me to enjoy. Now, I like, even love a good yodel. I wish I could yodel. I wish I had learned to yodel. But one or two yodeling songs is enough. Unless you are at Swiss Days in Midway or Leavenworth, WA. or Switzerland. But my dad has several whole yodeling CDS. That is over-the-top, head-banging crazy!
What are some of your accomplishment you’re most proud of? Besides my kids and marriage, I would say having a book of poetry published and poems published in magazines or journals, the many guest speaking opportunities I’ve been given, decorating a happy home, many assignments through the Church, "getting over" some stuff. Being a good friend. Learning to make my bed everyday.
What are some things you still want to accomplish? Publish a novel. Get ahead of the laundry instead of chasing it all the time. Mission (how can I leave my kiddo’s?!) Traveling. I really would love to speak Spanish but I doubt I’ll ever really do it. I speak "un poco." Maybe finish my degree at BYU (I’m sooo close!) And to become a good painter. Have a collection of spiritual poems. Take a name of an ancestor, that I uncovered, to the temple. Learn to tell the difference between a string bean and a pole bean, a girl bean and a boy bean. Okay, I just made that last one up. (Well, not really. I think it was Ogden Nash....)
What kind of athletic activity do you like? Well, I used to be athletic when I was young. I don’t know what happened. I was surprised at a later age to realize I’m kind of a spaz. I can hit a ball pretty good, but I can’t catch worth beans. (There are those "beans" again....) My husband excels at all sports but I’m pretty clueless about the rules of any game except baseball. I wish I could find a raquetball partner. It was a happy day when I gave up water skiing (my aneurysm- inside family joke) (and I have water skied since I was a kid) but I DO love snow skiing! But I ski just the years I can fit in my ski clothes which is usually every other year. I was a bowling babe when I was young. Heh! I grew up in a small town and there wasn’t much else to do! I do love walking, but not running, floating in the pool or doing exercises in the water to music turned really loud. I’m sure I’m quite comical. An athlete, I’m not.
What zodiac sign are you? Aquarius
Do you regularly read a horoscope? Nope
If not, why not? Have the scriptures and prayer
Married or single? Definitely married. Happily-ever-after married.
What do you like to do with your spare time? Family, friends, journal, poetry, paint, eat, gab, read or study , cook up a storm
Is your life worse, better or about the same as you imagined it would be someday? Oh, much, much better.
Is your family larger or smaller than you expected? Maybe larger
What do you collect? Years ago I collected angels, paper dolls, Santas. I do collect Pez candy thingies for Ben, who no longer collects them since he has me. Probably the only thing I really collect now is retold fairy tales- I have a whole collection of The Three Little Pigs (like "The Three Little Hawaiian Pigs and The Magic Shark, "The Three Little Wolves and the Big, Bad Pig," etc) and variations on Cinderella and also The Princess and the Pea.
What are three major turning points in your life? testimony, attending Rick’s College, marrying my husband
What do you think your greatest talents are? I "love" easily, I’m creative,I'm a good "idea" person, I desire and seek for the Spirit in my life, I’m happy, I forgive.
What do you think your greatest weaknesses are? Struggle to stay on task with things I’m not interested in, a little undisciplined (with things I’m not interested in), when I was younger- I was too concerned with how much I weighed. And although I am a good listener, I still jabber too much.
What books have affected you the most? Besides the scriptures, Magnificent Obsession (which was the original "play it forward"), The Peacegiver, Follow The River (because it was about human determination) and Shell Seekers (because it was about a woman making hard choices) I know I’m missing out on others, but I’ll have to ponder this some more. The Secret Life of Bees is one of my favorite books although it hasn't really affected my life. And I love Barbara Kingsolver's The Bean Trees and "Pigs In Heaven." Laugh out loud. Great dialogue. Loved the book "Gideon" although not everyone does. I just finished "Twilight" and I loved it so much, I want to run out and bite someone’s neck.
Are you left- or right- brained? Totally right. Without one left-brain cell. That is why I married David. Together we are a full brain.
What magazines do you subscribe to, if any? You’ll be sorry you asked this one. Ensign, New Era, The Friend, Cottage Living, Mary Engelbreit Home Companion, American Art Collections and The Garden Gate. My mother sends me A Taste of Home each year for Christmas. I used to subscribe to Martha Stewart Living, and I loved the pictures but seldom loved the recipes (and I love to cook!) I usually buy her holiday editions, and usually Country Living. I buy a lot of gardening magazines. When my friend, Pretty Patty Petty comes, I always put chocolates and a People magazine (I call it a trashy magazine) on her pillow. It’s an inside joke/tradition.
What’s playing on your C.D. player right now? See my "about me" list, but I like a variety of music. I like current music, like Jack Johnson, Coldplay, John Mayer, Foo Fighters and my favorite song right now is, I know this is weird, Gwen Stephani’s "Sweet Escape." I like a lot of sound tracks. Love all the semi-classical-pop guys out there like Josh Groban, Mario Frangoulis, El Divo, Andre Bocelli, Michael Buble. For painting, I love Tim Janis. I love to listen to Sounds of the Sabbath and love contemporary LDS musicians (especially my daughter-in-law, Marci.) Like new country like Shania, Brooks and Dunn, G. Strait, Carrie Underwood, Allyson Krauss, Sara Evans, Rascal Flatts. My husband torments me in the car with old country, like Chris LeDeux and the real old guys. David wants "Copenhagen Angel" sung at his funeral, and it’s not talking about heavenly angels. He thinks he’s funny. My dad likes to bug me whenever I get in his car, so he’ll have a yodeling tape on for me to enjoy. Now, I like, even love a good yodel. I wish I could yodel. I wish I had learned to yodel. But one or two yodeling songs is enough. Unless you are at Swiss Days in Midway or Leavenworth, WA. or Switzerland. But my dad has several whole yodeling CDS. That is over-the-top, head-banging crazy!
What are some of your accomplishment you’re most proud of? Besides my kids and marriage, I would say having a book of poetry published and poems published in magazines or journals, the many guest speaking opportunities I’ve been given, decorating a happy home, many assignments through the Church, "getting over" some stuff. Being a good friend. Learning to make my bed everyday.
What are some things you still want to accomplish? Publish a novel. Get ahead of the laundry instead of chasing it all the time. Mission (how can I leave my kiddo’s?!) Traveling. I really would love to speak Spanish but I doubt I’ll ever really do it. I speak "un poco." Maybe finish my degree at BYU (I’m sooo close!) And to become a good painter. Have a collection of spiritual poems. Take a name of an ancestor, that I uncovered, to the temple. Learn to tell the difference between a string bean and a pole bean, a girl bean and a boy bean. Okay, I just made that last one up. (Well, not really. I think it was Ogden Nash....)
What kind of athletic activity do you like? Well, I used to be athletic when I was young. I don’t know what happened. I was surprised at a later age to realize I’m kind of a spaz. I can hit a ball pretty good, but I can’t catch worth beans. (There are those "beans" again....) My husband excels at all sports but I’m pretty clueless about the rules of any game except baseball. I wish I could find a raquetball partner. It was a happy day when I gave up water skiing (my aneurysm- inside family joke) (and I have water skied since I was a kid) but I DO love snow skiing! But I ski just the years I can fit in my ski clothes which is usually every other year. I was a bowling babe when I was young. Heh! I grew up in a small town and there wasn’t much else to do! I do love walking, but not running, floating in the pool or doing exercises in the water to music turned really loud. I’m sure I’m quite comical. An athlete, I’m not.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Raindrops on Roses and Whiskers on Kittens
Cream colored ponies and crisp apple streudels
This past week, our Relief Society had an evening of "favorite things." Each sister was asked to bring something (couldn’t be pictures of kids or husband) to share during the evening. I couldn’t decide on what to take because I’m a girl of a million favorite things. Which was okay, because then I remembered that was the evening of Rylee’s dance performance. But I’ve loved asking people what they took, which has varied from someone’s favorite "chopper" (like for veggies or salsa) or a book containing love letters from her husband. It is a fun exercise in gratitude....so besides hubbie, kids and kiddo’s, friends, fam, all the normal stuff, here’s my top ten list at this moment:
I’m grateful for, because I love,
1. My new green, which is really blue, garbage can! I know that sounds weird, but we haven’t been green. It is hard to be green when one member of the family doesn’t see the need. I faithfully recycle newspapers (boxing them up and hauling them to the elementary school drop box) and, if you have readTHE LAST FEW DAYS April 29,2007 You know I’ve collected those pesky pop cans. But now I can just dump them in my blue (but green) can, plus plastic and tin cans. I feel so....I don’t know, patriotic? So new enviromentalist? I hope the fever lasts but I know there will be "issues." As Kermit used to say, "It ain’t easy being green!"
4. Baby deer. I love them. I love their mommas too. We have never been "pet" people. I know that seems sad but David was raised on a ranch and pets weren’t really needed because they had horses (or what pets they had were "outside" pets.) And we have horses....4 and ½ (the half is another story) plus friends leave their horses here as well. But I was so traumatized by my dog’s death as a teenager, and David didn’t li
ke the idea of a dog in the house and I could hardly keep up after my kiddos so it has made sense for us. Tenille, as a teenager, gave a bunny to Travis for Easter. What are kids thinking? Travis could have cared less about the bunny but I fell in love. And the bunny LOVED me so unconditionally. Unfortunately, the reason he was the runt of the litter and so tiny and cute was there was something wrong. His little horrible death about put me into the ground. I had to practice calling vets, because I couldn’t just ask if they accepted bunnies as patients without sobbing hysterically. I finally found a bunny doctor and was crying so hard in the waiting room, they invited me into a private room because I was upsetting the other people and animals. So, now I have deer. Cute little deer and cute big deer. I talk to them each day. I used to love the squirrels but now I just tolerate them. They are kind of juvenile delinquents. And I do love Freddie, the giant frog that lives in our pool greenhouse. Last night, after we all swam (Marci and Ryan and the kids came), Marci went back to the pool to find something and it was dark except someone hadn’t turned off the pool lights so just the inside of the pool was lit. There was Freddie, just doing the backstroke across the pool. Any day I see Freddie, is a day of good luck.
5. My computer and the internet. Can I just say, it is my classroom, my friend, my free time. It has accepted my poetry, helped me make lists, invitations, lets me crop pictures, keep in touch with friends, work on family history and my journals, find interesting stuff, lets me shop in my jammies, makes me laugh (or makes me frustrated...grrr!), entertains. I can hardly function without it. It’s my buddy. Another best friend.
6. My trumpet vine tree. It is so glorious in the backyard and will bloom until September. People are always stunned by it and want to know what kind of tree it is. They are surprised when I tell them it’s a dead tree! It is a dead tree, totally covered in trumpet vine with glorious brilliant flowers. It is the favorite tree in my Eden.
9. Food. I love to read about it. Love to fix it. Love to eat it. Love to share it. Enough said!
10. Sleep. I know I overdo but I feel like it is make-up time for all the years of sleep deprivation I felt as a young mother (and a mother of teenagers!) I need, love, relish, delight in 8 ½ hours of sleep a night!
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things(second verse, These Are a Few of My Favorite Things)
This past week, our Relief Society had an evening of "favorite things." Each sister was asked to bring something (couldn’t be pictures of kids or husband) to share during the evening. I couldn’t decide on what to take because I’m a girl of a million favorite things. Which was okay, because then I remembered that was the evening of Rylee’s dance performance. But I’ve loved asking people what they took, which has varied from someone’s favorite "chopper" (like for veggies or salsa) or a book containing love letters from her husband. It is a fun exercise in gratitude....so besides hubbie, kids and kiddo’s, friends, fam, all the normal stuff, here’s my top ten list at this moment:
I’m grateful for, because I love,
1. My new green, which is really blue, garbage can! I know that sounds weird, but we haven’t been green. It is hard to be green when one member of the family doesn’t see the need. I faithfully recycle newspapers (boxing them up and hauling them to the elementary school drop box) and, if you have readTHE LAST FEW DAYS April 29,2007 You know I’ve collected those pesky pop cans. But now I can just dump them in my blue (but green) can, plus plastic and tin cans. I feel so....I don’t know, patriotic? So new enviromentalist? I hope the fever lasts but I know there will be "issues." As Kermit used to say, "It ain’t easy being green!"
2. Pond’s Nightime Rejuvenation lotion. I use it all the time. I have used Mary Kay mositurizer for years but then, when I was in a pinch, bought Pond’s (and it is at a fraction of the cost). My skin is so happy when I put it on, it actually slurps then burps. Grateful to have happy skin!
3. Mr. Clean Eraser sponge. What can I say. I think it is the greatest cleaning product on the market. I would even write a fan letter, but I think they would just erase it!
4. Baby deer. I love them. I love their mommas too. We have never been "pet" people. I know that seems sad but David was raised on a ranch and pets weren’t really needed because they had horses (or what pets they had were "outside" pets.) And we have horses....4 and ½ (the half is another story) plus friends leave their horses here as well. But I was so traumatized by my dog’s death as a teenager, and David didn’t li
ke the idea of a dog in the house and I could hardly keep up after my kiddos so it has made sense for us. Tenille, as a teenager, gave a bunny to Travis for Easter. What are kids thinking? Travis could have cared less about the bunny but I fell in love. And the bunny LOVED me so unconditionally. Unfortunately, the reason he was the runt of the litter and so tiny and cute was there was something wrong. His little horrible death about put me into the ground. I had to practice calling vets, because I couldn’t just ask if they accepted bunnies as patients without sobbing hysterically. I finally found a bunny doctor and was crying so hard in the waiting room, they invited me into a private room because I was upsetting the other people and animals. So, now I have deer. Cute little deer and cute big deer. I talk to them each day. I used to love the squirrels but now I just tolerate them. They are kind of juvenile delinquents. And I do love Freddie, the giant frog that lives in our pool greenhouse. Last night, after we all swam (Marci and Ryan and the kids came), Marci went back to the pool to find something and it was dark except someone hadn’t turned off the pool lights so just the inside of the pool was lit. There was Freddie, just doing the backstroke across the pool. Any day I see Freddie, is a day of good luck. 5. My computer and the internet. Can I just say, it is my classroom, my friend, my free time. It has accepted my poetry, helped me make lists, invitations, lets me crop pictures, keep in touch with friends, work on family history and my journals, find interesting stuff, lets me shop in my jammies, makes me laugh (or makes me frustrated...grrr!), entertains. I can hardly function without it. It’s my buddy. Another best friend.
6. My trumpet vine tree. It is so glorious in the backyard and will bloom until September. People are always stunned by it and want to know what kind of tree it is. They are surprised when I tell them it’s a dead tree! It is a dead tree, totally covered in trumpet vine with glorious brilliant flowers. It is the favorite tree in my Eden.
7. My digital camera! It has been out of commission, but last night my son,Ryan (back from a successful trip to Brazil and several other countries....) figured out the problem and fixed it. I’m back in business. I love to snap, snap, snap away, then crop, and fix or delete. I love it when I take a picture, and without fail, the kiddo’s say, "Let me see it." I’ve been using a disposable for months and "seeing it" doesn’t work!
8. The scriptures. I can’t imagine my life without them. I was stunned when a friend blurted out the other day that she didn’t believe in God. It was like a stab to 
my heart and I also felt such sorrow for my friend, that she misses out on the wonderful relationship with the Spirit, to lead and guide and comfort and enlighten.
my heart and I also felt such sorrow for my friend, that she misses out on the wonderful relationship with the Spirit, to lead and guide and comfort and enlighten. 
9. Food. I love to read about it. Love to fix it. Love to eat it. Love to share it. Enough said!
10. Sleep. I know I overdo but I feel like it is make-up time for all the years of sleep deprivation I felt as a young mother (and a mother of teenagers!) I need, love, relish, delight in 8 ½ hours of sleep a night!
Saturday, May 26, 2007
A Few of My Favorite Things...
Husband: I always tell mine he's the best I've ever had!
Favorite dessert:
Banana Cake from The Garden Path restaurant in Draper
or chocolate pudding cake (I have a great and easy recipe-see below)
or the raspberry almond torte from Market Street Grill
or any really good bread pudding with to-die-for-sauce
or chocolate Texas sheetcake
or anything with cream cheese (you’re starting to get the idea)
EASY MOLTEN CAKES
8 oz. milk chocolate chips
4 T. butter, softened
1/3 cup sugar
pinch of salt
3 eggs
1/3 cup flour
Melt chocolate in glass bowl in microwave,
cooking for 30 second intervals and mixing
until smooth.
Cream butter, sugar and salt together. Add eggs,
one at a time, stirring until mixed. Add flour
gradually while mixing. You don’t mix this batter
too much. Fold in the melted chocolate.
Spray 6 small ramekins with Pam and divide
batter into dishes. Bake on cookie sheet at 400 degrees
for 10-12 minutes.
The center should look moist or undercooked. If you
overcook these, even just minutes, you’ll have a brownie instead of molten cake.
Allow to sit for a couple of minutes then cut around
cake with knife to separate from bowl and place saucer
on top of ramekin, flip and cake will drop out. Serve warm
with vanilla bean ice cream or whipped cream and
raspberries.
Favorite cologne: Juicy Couture (pricey but sweet!) (Recently this really cute GQ looking boy asked me what I was wearing cause he wanted to get it for his girlfriend......)
Favorite color: My signature color is YELLOW! It makes me happy.
Favorite shoes: flip flops (I have rather peasant feet. Some of my friends have these dainty, china doll feet. Mine look like I had a career of stomping grapes or stomping out fires. And they looked like they have walked to China as well. They are not a pretty sight.....sigh...)
Favorite Son-in-Law story: My son-in-law, Ryan, does wonderful kitchen design work and designed my fabulous kitchen. One day he was at work and they were having a meeting and one of the other designers was having problems visualizing what his client had in mind. As he was trying to describe the island, my son-in-law piped in, "Oh, I know what you want...you want fat, chunky legs like my mother-in-laws!" Everyone started laughing.....( I love this story!) (and we HOPE he was taking about the legs on my island!)
Favorite name: I answer to many: Marilyn, Honey, Mom, Mother, "On-The-Mountain-Grandma" (you never know what your grandkids are going to call you...who would’ve thought up this one! But Parker did and all the kids call me this), Grandma Lillums (Rylee can’t say her "w’s") Sweetie Pie, Mair-Bear (or is it Mair- Bare?) Mrs. W........ or Sister W......... or frequently, "Hey you....." One of my WORST days was being called "Ma'am" by a kid at the grocery store. I remember I came home and cried!
Favorite joke on myself: We do have some classic stories in the family...mostly about me....or Tanner. We do the dumbest things. My best one is this.
I had gone to a garden store and this nice young man (maybe late twenties) was so helpful dragging around my little wagon and heaving heavy pots for me. He had this really cute accent and so I said, (and you have to almost hear my voice because I don’t say it, I act it-and use my best "foreign" accent) "So...what is this accent we speak with?" To which he replied, "No accent, just a speech impediment....." (Okay, I am dying now....but can I leave it alone....nooooo.) I say, "Well, it sounds French...I’d play it up!"
Duh! What a twit! My family LOVES to mock me with this one!
Favorite restaurant: in Salt Lake Valley- Harry’s or Ruby River Steak House
Favorite anywhere restaurant: hands down- Shrimp Scampi at The Cheesecake Factory. If I lived within 5 hours of a Cheesecake Factory, I would NEVER find a bathing suit to fit. But I would Not HAVE any vampires after me since the scampi is loaded with sweet garlic....yummmm
Latest confession: You know how I said that about the GQ boy telling me he loved my perfume. I just made that up. I was afraid if I just said "Juicy Couture", you really wouldn’t know how good it was.....since I don't know how to do a "scratch and sniff here on my blog and I WANTED you to know how good it is.... (can you tell I love creative writing....)
Favorite dessert:
Banana Cake from The Garden Path restaurant in Draper
or chocolate pudding cake (I have a great and easy recipe-see below)
or the raspberry almond torte from Market Street Grill
or any really good bread pudding with to-die-for-sauce
or chocolate Texas sheetcake
or anything with cream cheese (you’re starting to get the idea)
EASY MOLTEN CAKES
8 oz. milk chocolate chips
4 T. butter, softened
1/3 cup sugar
pinch of salt
3 eggs
1/3 cup flour
Melt chocolate in glass bowl in microwave,
cooking for 30 second intervals and mixing
until smooth.
Cream butter, sugar and salt together. Add eggs,
one at a time, stirring until mixed. Add flour
gradually while mixing. You don’t mix this batter
too much. Fold in the melted chocolate.
Spray 6 small ramekins with Pam and divide
batter into dishes. Bake on cookie sheet at 400 degrees
for 10-12 minutes.
The center should look moist or undercooked. If you
overcook these, even just minutes, you’ll have a brownie instead of molten cake.
Allow to sit for a couple of minutes then cut around
cake with knife to separate from bowl and place saucer
on top of ramekin, flip and cake will drop out. Serve warm
with vanilla bean ice cream or whipped cream and
raspberries.
Favorite cologne: Juicy Couture (pricey but sweet!) (Recently this really cute GQ looking boy asked me what I was wearing cause he wanted to get it for his girlfriend......)
Favorite color: My signature color is YELLOW! It makes me happy.
Favorite shoes: flip flops (I have rather peasant feet. Some of my friends have these dainty, china doll feet. Mine look like I had a career of stomping grapes or stomping out fires. And they looked like they have walked to China as well. They are not a pretty sight.....sigh...)
Favorite Son-in-Law story: My son-in-law, Ryan, does wonderful kitchen design work and designed my fabulous kitchen. One day he was at work and they were having a meeting and one of the other designers was having problems visualizing what his client had in mind. As he was trying to describe the island, my son-in-law piped in, "Oh, I know what you want...you want fat, chunky legs like my mother-in-laws!" Everyone started laughing.....( I love this story!) (and we HOPE he was taking about the legs on my island!)
Favorite name: I answer to many: Marilyn, Honey, Mom, Mother, "On-The-Mountain-Grandma" (you never know what your grandkids are going to call you...who would’ve thought up this one! But Parker did and all the kids call me this), Grandma Lillums (Rylee can’t say her "w’s") Sweetie Pie, Mair-Bear (or is it Mair- Bare?) Mrs. W........ or Sister W......... or frequently, "Hey you....." One of my WORST days was being called "Ma'am" by a kid at the grocery store. I remember I came home and cried!
Favorite joke on myself: We do have some classic stories in the family...mostly about me....or Tanner. We do the dumbest things. My best one is this.
I had gone to a garden store and this nice young man (maybe late twenties) was so helpful dragging around my little wagon and heaving heavy pots for me. He had this really cute accent and so I said, (and you have to almost hear my voice because I don’t say it, I act it-and use my best "foreign" accent) "So...what is this accent we speak with?" To which he replied, "No accent, just a speech impediment....." (Okay, I am dying now....but can I leave it alone....nooooo.) I say, "Well, it sounds French...I’d play it up!"
Duh! What a twit! My family LOVES to mock me with this one!
Favorite restaurant: in Salt Lake Valley- Harry’s or Ruby River Steak House
Favorite anywhere restaurant: hands down- Shrimp Scampi at The Cheesecake Factory. If I lived within 5 hours of a Cheesecake Factory, I would NEVER find a bathing suit to fit. But I would Not HAVE any vampires after me since the scampi is loaded with sweet garlic....yummmm
Latest confession: You know how I said that about the GQ boy telling me he loved my perfume. I just made that up. I was afraid if I just said "Juicy Couture", you really wouldn’t know how good it was.....since I don't know how to do a "scratch and sniff here on my blog and I WANTED you to know how good it is.... (can you tell I love creative writing....)
Sunday, April 29, 2007
THE TOP TEN LIST
Ten Reasons To Be Happy Today (well, really 11)
1. Parker- age 8 (who made me a Grandma!)
2. Joshua- age 6, almost 7
3. Gracie- age 5
4. Rylee-age 4 almost 5
5. Hallee- age 3
6. Heidi- age 3
7. Boston- almost 2
8. Elijah- almost 2
9. Addison- age 1
10. Noah- almost born (within two weeks)
11. Baby no-name (Devon or Nash?)- almost born (within the month)
Nine OTHER really good reasons-
1. My cute pool boy, David, with great legs. I always said I married him for his legs. Once, when we were newly weds, we were skiing at Sundance Ski Resort. I was sitting on the passenger side of the car, putting on my boots when I looked up, and Robert Redford was standing just about 15 feet from me. My first thought wasn’t, "Oh my gosh, he’s so handsome! My first thought was, "Wow, David’s legs are much better looking than Robert Redford’s!" True story.
2. My only daughter, Brandi, my joy and my example
3. And her cute husband, Ryan (who is always smiling)
4. My son Ryan ( referred to as "our Ryan" as opposed to Ryan Campbell, Brandi’s Ryan) (There should be rules about marrying a boy with the same name as your brother.....) anyway, my boy full of surprises and opportunities.
5. And his talented, very pregnant, sings-like-an-angel wife, Marci
6. Travis- who gave me the most gray hairs, who is our fireball of fun, who turns 30 tomorrow!
7. And his beautiful almost-ready-to-pop wife, Tenille, who sometimes makes Grandpa Williams clog with her at Lake Powell (just the thought of it makes me laugh!)
8. Ben, my mountain boy on his way to Alaska, who (the family always says) is "cuter than Brad Pitt", who turned my gray hairs white,
and
9. Tanner, my baby, my recently-returned missionary, who REALLY NEEDS A DATE!
Yep, pretty much 9 and 10 reasons to get up each day!
Eight ridiculous comments my family made today, in response to my trying to educate them on the perils of Electromagnetic Pulse. (If you have never heard of this, look it up on the Internet...it will scare the whoop-t-doo out of you!) Basically, if another country shoots a nuclear missile over the United States, it causes all electric currents, wiring, conduits to melt. So, no communications, no transportation, no production of food, no nothing and the United States immediately being reduced to a third world country. Iran has said it will do this to bring the U.S. to its knees.... The Deseret News had a two page article on this a couple of months ago and I’m still shaking. So, it’s been on my mind and thought it might be a worthy discussion around the kitchen counter.(Those involved: myself, David the skeptic, Tanner and Cousin Casey who had to add their two cents worth!)
1. "They have also been saying that we are going to have an earthquake and it hasn’t happened. I would be more worried about an earthquake." (Oh, I guess we can just worry or prepare for one thing.)
2. "Well, at least I wouldn’t have to get a job!"(Tanner)
3. "Or keep going to work." (Cousin Casey)
4. David said, "I’ve done my part. That’s why I have horses. They don’t have any electrical parts."
5. "We could do a lot more golfing if we didn’t have to go to work." (Both Tanner and Casey) "That doesn’t take electricity!"
6. "No," replied David, "you two wouldn’t go golfing if you didn’t have a golf cart!" "Good point," the two boys acknowledged.
7. (I’m starting to get frustrated) "Okay, you guys, I can tell no one is serious about this but it IS a serious issue and I think we need to formulate a plan!"
8. David: "I think I am going to have to cut off your Internet privileges......"
Seven things I "ate" today:
1. Bowl of Honeynut Cherrios with skim milk
2. Nums/nums in nursery (translated: fruit chews and gold fish crackers)
3. Baked ripple potato chips with dip left over from party last night (the chips had no fat/ the dip was total fat... they cancel each other out in my book....)
4. Caffeine-free Diet Coke. Okay, two.
5. Seasoned chicken for Chicken Alfredo. By the time the noodles were cooked, I was already full from nibbling on the chicken and chips and Coke......so no fettucini or Alfredo. Makes me want to look up "Alfredo" on the Internet to find out more about him. I know, I AM that weird..... (I really DID Google "Alfredo"- " Who was Alfredo then? Alfredo di Lelio, this was his full name, was an inspired cook who proposed this new exciting dish in the restaurant he opened in Rome in 1914" So, now you know....)
6. One Reese’s Peanut Butter cookie bar....I made them for David to take to one of the families he home teaches since the wife had a birthday this month. They are no- bake and really delicious. I’ll make them again.
7. Okay, now I am really freaked out. It is only 4:25 in the afternoon and I can only eat one more thing?!!!
Six notes to write or cards to send...
1. To some who spoke in Church today...their talks touched me.
2. To Tiffany Pardoe, whom I really don’t know in our Ward. She came into nursery to drop her little girl off and saw that I was alone (the two other people didn’t show) and said, "I’ll be back after my little boy’s talk to help you." You can tell a lot about someone when they don’t say "Let me know if I can help" but rather see the need and do it.
3. Money to Leisa Root for picking up the "fire-starters" for me for my 72-hour kits.
4. A birthday note to Trish Morrison to send with the book I got her for her birthday.
I was Trish’s Visiting Teacher about 12 years ago. I always give her a book for her birthday even though I haven’t taught her for years and for some of those years, didn’t even live in the same Ward. We may not even see each other forever, but she knows I will send her a book for her birthday. It is usually a children’s book...something funny. This year it is "The Gift of Nothing"...pretty cute. Trish moved away this year so I'll need to track down her address.
5. Pay bills before going out of town.
6. Mother’s Day Cards?!!!
Five things to do tomorrow: (oh, I wish there were only five!)
1. Do the above.
2. Read at least 3 chapters of the Book of Mormon
3. Watch kiddo’s in the morning (while Visiting Teachers are here)
4. Have some down time with Cathy and find out all about the funeral, etc.
5. Clean the pantry...it is driving me crazy!
Four spiritual thoughts I heard today:
1. "Never let your faith be difficult to detect." J. Reuben Clark
2. "I always know when I am speaking under the influence of the Holy Ghost because I always learn something from what I have said." Marion G. Romney
3. "You can’t give what you haven’t got, any more than you can come back from a place you haven’t been.
4. "No greater responsibility rests upon any man or woman than to be a teacher of little children."
Three traits I need to work on in my life:
1. Don’t be so needy. Why do I need constant affirmation?
2. Exercise. Can I just say I’m not interested?
3. Eating. Can I just say I’m TOO interested?
Two of my favorite words:
"Thank you....."
One word that describes me.
"Blessed....."
The End
1. Parker- age 8 (who made me a Grandma!)
2. Joshua- age 6, almost 7
3. Gracie- age 5
4. Rylee-age 4 almost 5
5. Hallee- age 3
6. Heidi- age 3
7. Boston- almost 2
8. Elijah- almost 2
9. Addison- age 1
10. Noah- almost born (within two weeks)
11. Baby no-name (Devon or Nash?)- almost born (within the month)
Nine OTHER really good reasons-
1. My cute pool boy, David, with great legs. I always said I married him for his legs. Once, when we were newly weds, we were skiing at Sundance Ski Resort. I was sitting on the passenger side of the car, putting on my boots when I looked up, and Robert Redford was standing just about 15 feet from me. My first thought wasn’t, "Oh my gosh, he’s so handsome! My first thought was, "Wow, David’s legs are much better looking than Robert Redford’s!" True story.
2. My only daughter, Brandi, my joy and my example
3. And her cute husband, Ryan (who is always smiling)
4. My son Ryan ( referred to as "our Ryan" as opposed to Ryan Campbell, Brandi’s Ryan) (There should be rules about marrying a boy with the same name as your brother.....) anyway, my boy full of surprises and opportunities.
5. And his talented, very pregnant, sings-like-an-angel wife, Marci
6. Travis- who gave me the most gray hairs, who is our fireball of fun, who turns 30 tomorrow!
7. And his beautiful almost-ready-to-pop wife, Tenille, who sometimes makes Grandpa Williams clog with her at Lake Powell (just the thought of it makes me laugh!)
8. Ben, my mountain boy on his way to Alaska, who (the family always says) is "cuter than Brad Pitt", who turned my gray hairs white,
and
9. Tanner, my baby, my recently-returned missionary, who REALLY NEEDS A DATE!
Yep, pretty much 9 and 10 reasons to get up each day!
Eight ridiculous comments my family made today, in response to my trying to educate them on the perils of Electromagnetic Pulse. (If you have never heard of this, look it up on the Internet...it will scare the whoop-t-doo out of you!) Basically, if another country shoots a nuclear missile over the United States, it causes all electric currents, wiring, conduits to melt. So, no communications, no transportation, no production of food, no nothing and the United States immediately being reduced to a third world country. Iran has said it will do this to bring the U.S. to its knees.... The Deseret News had a two page article on this a couple of months ago and I’m still shaking. So, it’s been on my mind and thought it might be a worthy discussion around the kitchen counter.(Those involved: myself, David the skeptic, Tanner and Cousin Casey who had to add their two cents worth!)
1. "They have also been saying that we are going to have an earthquake and it hasn’t happened. I would be more worried about an earthquake." (Oh, I guess we can just worry or prepare for one thing.)
2. "Well, at least I wouldn’t have to get a job!"(Tanner)
3. "Or keep going to work." (Cousin Casey)
4. David said, "I’ve done my part. That’s why I have horses. They don’t have any electrical parts."
5. "We could do a lot more golfing if we didn’t have to go to work." (Both Tanner and Casey) "That doesn’t take electricity!"
6. "No," replied David, "you two wouldn’t go golfing if you didn’t have a golf cart!" "Good point," the two boys acknowledged.
7. (I’m starting to get frustrated) "Okay, you guys, I can tell no one is serious about this but it IS a serious issue and I think we need to formulate a plan!"
8. David: "I think I am going to have to cut off your Internet privileges......"
Seven things I "ate" today:
1. Bowl of Honeynut Cherrios with skim milk
2. Nums/nums in nursery (translated: fruit chews and gold fish crackers)
3. Baked ripple potato chips with dip left over from party last night (the chips had no fat/ the dip was total fat... they cancel each other out in my book....)
4. Caffeine-free Diet Coke. Okay, two.
5. Seasoned chicken for Chicken Alfredo. By the time the noodles were cooked, I was already full from nibbling on the chicken and chips and Coke......so no fettucini or Alfredo. Makes me want to look up "Alfredo" on the Internet to find out more about him. I know, I AM that weird..... (I really DID Google "Alfredo"- " Who was Alfredo then? Alfredo di Lelio, this was his full name, was an inspired cook who proposed this new exciting dish in the restaurant he opened in Rome in 1914" So, now you know....)
6. One Reese’s Peanut Butter cookie bar....I made them for David to take to one of the families he home teaches since the wife had a birthday this month. They are no- bake and really delicious. I’ll make them again.
7. Okay, now I am really freaked out. It is only 4:25 in the afternoon and I can only eat one more thing?!!!
Six notes to write or cards to send...
1. To some who spoke in Church today...their talks touched me.
2. To Tiffany Pardoe, whom I really don’t know in our Ward. She came into nursery to drop her little girl off and saw that I was alone (the two other people didn’t show) and said, "I’ll be back after my little boy’s talk to help you." You can tell a lot about someone when they don’t say "Let me know if I can help" but rather see the need and do it.
3. Money to Leisa Root for picking up the "fire-starters" for me for my 72-hour kits.
4. A birthday note to Trish Morrison to send with the book I got her for her birthday.
I was Trish’s Visiting Teacher about 12 years ago. I always give her a book for her birthday even though I haven’t taught her for years and for some of those years, didn’t even live in the same Ward. We may not even see each other forever, but she knows I will send her a book for her birthday. It is usually a children’s book...something funny. This year it is "The Gift of Nothing"...pretty cute. Trish moved away this year so I'll need to track down her address.
5. Pay bills before going out of town.
6. Mother’s Day Cards?!!!
Five things to do tomorrow: (oh, I wish there were only five!)
1. Do the above.
2. Read at least 3 chapters of the Book of Mormon
3. Watch kiddo’s in the morning (while Visiting Teachers are here)
4. Have some down time with Cathy and find out all about the funeral, etc.
5. Clean the pantry...it is driving me crazy!
Four spiritual thoughts I heard today:
1. "Never let your faith be difficult to detect." J. Reuben Clark
2. "I always know when I am speaking under the influence of the Holy Ghost because I always learn something from what I have said." Marion G. Romney
3. "You can’t give what you haven’t got, any more than you can come back from a place you haven’t been.
4. "No greater responsibility rests upon any man or woman than to be a teacher of little children."
Three traits I need to work on in my life:
1. Don’t be so needy. Why do I need constant affirmation?
2. Exercise. Can I just say I’m not interested?
3. Eating. Can I just say I’m TOO interested?
Two of my favorite words:
"Thank you....."
One word that describes me.
"Blessed....."
The End
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Top Ten List That Made Me Happy This Week!
"Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek his grace. The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved - loved for ourselves....or rather, loved in spite of ourselves. " - Victor Hugo
1. Coming home from the Stake Preparedness Fair absolutely pooped but high because all went so well.
1. Coming home from the Stake Preparedness Fair absolutely pooped but high because all went so well.
2. Coming home pooped to find Ryan W, and the kiddos and David playing on the swing set (the kiddos call the grassy area across the street where the swings are "the park.") Even though I was so tired, it made me happy just to see them. I had been thinking I wanted a good crisp salad from Rock Creek Pizza so it was great that we could all go together.
3. Church was awesome, as always. Our Relief Society Presidency was released and a new one called. I felt mixed emotions...love and gratitude for Ruthie S., working with Diane Bigger (who kept "ME" on my toes since I was her Stake counterpart) and Helga, then Geneil. But I can also see God’s hand at work. Nancy Tillotson was called as the new President with Michelle Parkinson and Lisa Davies as counselors and Toni Bunnell as secretary. What a wonderful presidency this will be! I loved my association with Nancy for the last Humanitarian project and was touched by her willingness to work, her compassion, her vision. She helped me on a slide show project, when, because of set-backs on my part, it was the last minute and she graciously stepped up to the plate and helped me even though she was extremely busy at the time. Other people would have said "no." I can see how Nancy has been "groomed" to this calling. Being chairperson for our Stake RS Humanitarian project, I feel, put her in a position to grow and also shine. She did such a fabulous job and had a neat spiritual experience with it. It was awesome to see.
4. I love it when Cathy’s in town and not so busy so we can gab on the phone, complain about needing to lose weight, and then decide to go out to lunch. We’re 
such close friends, I can say, "Should we share that and that?" and we either do or she’s say, "Nah- I want something else." And that’s okay. Best friends are the best! Thursday we shared the House Salad and Penne Pasta with Shrimp and Spinach. Delish!
such close friends, I can say, "Should we share that and that?" and we either do or she’s say, "Nah- I want something else." And that’s okay. Best friends are the best! Thursday we shared the House Salad and Penne Pasta with Shrimp and Spinach. Delish!
5. I’ve had lots of people either call me or seek me out because they wanted to talk to me about my talk on the atonement (Easter Sunday.) I figure that we all go through similar things...struggling how to come to forgiveness when we’ve been hurt, or taken advantage of, or unfairly accused. I’m thankful I am continuing to learn so much about the great gift of the atonement.
6. Loved getting together with my two writing friends (or eating friends!)- Carolyn and Linda on Wed. I forgot to mention in their own blog, that Linda made Pavlova! She made individual baked meringue shells, then filled them with fresh whipped cream and strawberries! SOOO good! Then on the way home, Ryan W. called to see if I could watch their kiddos that night. so they could go to the Jazz game. I don’t get to see Joshie, Heidi and Elijah as much as the other kiddos so I was happy to have them. They are all so darling!
7. I called up Koti (Tongan), who has laid my carpet for me over and over....both in the last house when it flooded twice and now three times in this house. And he said, "I’ll be over today!" That NEVER happens. I love him! But what is it with us and floods? Koti says, "Your husband is a lawyer and made this mess?" (Meaning how the carpet was cut and pulled up for Koti to fix) I guess everyone carries a bug-a-boo somewhere and ours is FLOODING. But I digress...this is about happy thoughts. Koti made me VERY happy when he said he’d be right over!
8. Ben and Susie are getting ready to head back to Alaska so everyone except David, who was off branding cattle in Circleville with the Barnson’s and David’s Dad - and Parker who had two social engagements (for an 8-year-old on a Friday night...Tanner should take some lessons!) and Tanner, who was going to a Blaze game....the rest of us went to Wingers for dinner. We had two corner booths and then two tables pushed together so we could kind of corral the kiddos in a booth all together and they had a ball. I’m so glad all of the kids love to get together and I’m glad, after all, that no one could get babysitters, because the kiddos did great! We love having Ben with us...we’re always so sorry to see him go.... 
9. My nephew came today (Sat.) to weld my pergolas. I’ve been excited about this for some time...since last summer when I was designing them. My nephew, Jared, is a sweetie. I’ve adored him since he was born. And he and I had a cool experience 
together. I always said that he if went on a mission, I would find him his wife. He didn’t come back around to the gospel until he was about 25 and thought it was too late to go on a mission then, so I finally realized I should quit bringing it up. On Thanksgiving, he sat down next to me for dinner. I had already promised myself I wouldn’t bring up the mission. So, making chit-chat, I asked him if he was working or going to school. He said both but thought he needed to put his schooling on hold. I asked why and he answered, "Because I’m going on a mission!" I just lost it! And his whole family had just been waiting for him to tell me the news! But just before he left, I had a DREAM! It was all about Jared and his wife. I could see that because of his mission, he would meet his wife but that she wouldn’t be "in" his mission, but tied closely to his mission. I told it to him before he left for Brazil. And that was the end of that. Two years passed...and he got on the plane...and somewhere on the line, the airlines picked up (or maybe they had already picked up) missionaries from Argentina. There was a cute missionary sister from Layton that served in Argentina....and they talked all the way home.....and they are now VERY happily married. It is kind of a legend in our family album! Just thinking about it makes me happy!
together. I always said that he if went on a mission, I would find him his wife. He didn’t come back around to the gospel until he was about 25 and thought it was too late to go on a mission then, so I finally realized I should quit bringing it up. On Thanksgiving, he sat down next to me for dinner. I had already promised myself I wouldn’t bring up the mission. So, making chit-chat, I asked him if he was working or going to school. He said both but thought he needed to put his schooling on hold. I asked why and he answered, "Because I’m going on a mission!" I just lost it! And his whole family had just been waiting for him to tell me the news! But just before he left, I had a DREAM! It was all about Jared and his wife. I could see that because of his mission, he would meet his wife but that she wouldn’t be "in" his mission, but tied closely to his mission. I told it to him before he left for Brazil. And that was the end of that. Two years passed...and he got on the plane...and somewhere on the line, the airlines picked up (or maybe they had already picked up) missionaries from Argentina. There was a cute missionary sister from Layton that served in Argentina....and they talked all the way home.....and they are now VERY happily married. It is kind of a legend in our family album! Just thinking about it makes me happy!
Jenny (Jared's wife) and the kids, Amelia, Esther and Isaac came - and they played outside and inside. I fixed them a little "egg" hunt like I did the kiddos this week when I babysat them. I put quarters in the eggs...and each kid gets just one color of eggs (so everyone has equal.) After the eggs are found, they can either keep the money for their piggy banks or "buy" a prize from the prize tub. It is always so fun! And the pergolas are awesome! Yeah!
10. David got home from Circleville in good time today since we have Sat. Evening Stake Conference tonight. It will be a highlight and the perfect ending to a GREAT week!
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