Too Much Fun!

With all my sweet daughter, Cindy, has to do she chose to come down Monday night and bring all of the kids to sleep over and play at Grandma and Grandpa's! It was THE BEST! I had decided to clean out my playroom downstairs and get rid of the old toys that weren't being played with anymore (broken or outdated) and replace them with some new things! Many of our grand kids are loving LEGOS and are very talented at constructing amazing things with them! So while Legos were on sale, I stocked up! I had no idea how many hundreds of lego sets there are! I also purchased some new puzzles and games. So we had a party! Regan is always so happy that she can play the piano at Grandma's and she is so good to play games with the kids. Love that girl! Morgan LOVES legos and built the amazing log cabin included in the pictures below! Jordyn loves to dress up and play games, Kaleb loves LEGOS, too, and was in LEGO heaven! Porter played with the farm equipment and cars and Kami played Memory with Grandpa, and watched Tangled with me among other things.  The four younger kids still love to dress up and it is always fun to see what outfits they put together! We ate and played until late Tuesday afternoon! Just too much fun! Let's do it again!

It's Already the End of November?!!!

Yikes! It is November 29th today! 
We had a wonderful time over the last couple of weeks since I last blogged. We had a great time at the Cattle Convention and an even better time in Jackson if only for two days.  We ended up meeting Lori, Brad and family and the Tribes in the afternoon at Bubba's for a late lunch/early dinner and then took Todd shopping that afternoon for his 13th birthday. I can't tell you what a thrill it was to have all the kids come running when they saw us and especially for Todd to come unprompted to take my arm to help Grandpa help me  across the street, up the stairs and into Bubba's. And that's the way it was the whole time we were together. He was always there to help me in and out of the truck (if Grandpa didn't beat him!), take our belongings up and down the condo stairs and to help me on the slick steps. What a wonderful young man he is and how we love him! We told him he could go look for anything he wanted for this special birthday and we were surprised that he chose to go to Jack Dennis and look for some additional camping equipment for his scout outings. He ended up purchasing a fancy water bladder with pockets to hold other necessities on day hikes and a pretty high-tech compass. Pretty great choices for a 13-yr-old boy, I would say. Thank you, Todd, and we love you so much! We spent Wednesday evening visiting with Brad and Lori at our condo and then joining the whole group at Brad and Lori's condo. It was so fun to discuss the gospel and the handbook with them. Brad was recently ordained and set apart as Bishop of their ward in Rupert. We know he will do a great job because he is not afraid to take the sometimes very painful steps necessary to depart from generation-old traditions which are not in keeping with church policy. He has that beautiful combination of a great love for the members of the ward and a great love for doing things the Lord's way realizing that there are tremendous blessings that result from strict obedience. He is a good man and Lori will be a tremendous support to him.
We packed up Friday morning to come home (in a big snowstorm) and were so grateful we had decided to bring the truck. It took us a long time to get home but we made it safely thanks to my husband's driving skills. But he freely admits he detests driving on bad roads and in nasty conditions and will avoid it at every cost! We are not as young as we used to be and are certainly more cautious!

Anyway, we unpacked and headed to Brigham City to see Mom Rose in her new "home". We were surprised and VERY HAPPY to see how well she is doing and the progress she has made in just the last few days. She is capable of walking even without a walker, but she is supposed to use it! Just ask Grandpa! She recognized us and seems to be regaining at least some of her memory. The hallucinations and paranoia are gone, truly gone! We know that she was having panic attacks because she was unable to breath properly and the medicine prescribed to her for those attacks was causing her mental anguish. I just shudder to think what she has been through but am ever more grateful for those caregivers who realized she had a problem and got to the bottom of it. We have our dear Mom Rose back. Yes, she still has a form of dementia and gets very confused, but she is pleasant and happy most of the time and realizes that she is getting good care. Our hope is that if it is Heavenly Father's will that she can again return to Park Valley, her home. But that certainly remains to be seen.

I love this picture!

After a good long visit with Mom and Dad and some of the rest of the family, we headed to Tremonton for Natalie's reception. It was great to see the Jex family again! They will always be dear friends! Natalie looks so happy! It was a dicey drive home as far as Malad and then not too bad from there.
Saturday was Kate's ballet! What a beautiful little ballerina she is! The Hansel and Gretel ballet was so professional...amazing sets and gorgeous costumes! Kate was a town's girl and a ghost this year. I'll post the pictures I was able to get. We love this little girl so much...Katie Bug with her beautiful red hair and sweet, caring personality...Katie with her love for stuffed animals and dolls, Polly Pockets and Littlest Pet Shop...a little "red-bird"  with a twinkle in her eye and a smile that melts our hearts...a beauty with a talent and definite love for ballet!

Isn't she lovely?

6 Straight Days with Greg!

I'll not be posting for several days because Greg and I get to spend the next 7 days together traveling! Tomorrow very early in the morning we are leaving for Sun Valley and the Idaho Cattlemens' Convention where Greg's company always has a booth at the trade show. It is our turn to go. It is always a nice time...nice time with him...and nice time for me in a beautiful hotel room as I can just come and go as I please. Baxter Black is entertaining this year which should be lots of laughs! We're looking forward to going and just being together. Wednesday we'll leave for the Condo for a couple of days. We are going to meet Lori and Brad and kids and their friends, Mike and Amber Tribe and kids, at Bubba's for dinner Wednesday night! This is quickly becoming a tradition, one we really enjoy and look forward to. Todd's birthday was on the 9th and he had Young Men that night so there wasn't enough time to have a big party with him. We are, therefore, taking him to breakfast Thursday morning and shopping! Again, we are really looking forward to that! Can it really be that we have two teenage grandkids? We'll come back Friday morning sometime and do a little unpacking and organizing and then head to Brigham City to visit Greg's Mom in Willow Glen and then on to Tremonton for Natalie Jex's reception. We are so happy she is getting married and has found such a fine fellow. On Saturday we are looking forward to watching Kate dance in their annual Hansel and Gretel ballet. What a fun-filled week for many reasons...but reason #1, I get to be with the man of my dreams for 6 days! I love you, honey!

I'm Grateful today for:

• Sundays
• The Sacrament
• My Sunday School class
• Testimony Meeting
• My ward family
• Fasting
• Meatloaf, baked potato, green salad
• Heat on this blustery cold day!
• Greg opening the car door for me always (if I would just remember to let him). I really appreciate him for that!

On November 12th, I'm Grateful for:

Another reminder that we have remarkable grandchildren with diverse interests, each so fun to observe as they develop their talents. Morgan is on a robotics team at school that took 1st place in their presentation yesterday.  She is 9 years old and already learning how to make and program robots!  I think I'll list all of our grandkids'  interests that I can think of...and hope I don't leave any out.  These are in no particular order. Oh, how I love each one of these precious little people!

• Football
• Basketball
• Soccer
• Dancing
• Gymnastics
• Writing
• Acting and pretending
• Clogging
• Ballet
• Running
• Piano
• Scouting and Camping
• Academics
• Building things with imagination
• Percussion
• Fashion Design
• Sewing 
• Art 
• Wrestling
• Singing 
• Cooking
• Magic  
• Robotics 
• Skiing
• Snow Boarding
• Technology                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

11-11-11 Thankfulness

Today I am thankful for:

1. A (once again) increased trust in Heavenly Father who knew a better place for my mother-in-law to be. I am at the point in my life that I just don't worry any more (well, most of the time) and just watch things unfold. It is interesting to look back and acknowledge the step-at-a-time process involved in an answer to prayers. I'm learning to "be still" and know that He IS God!
2. That the love of my life (and the eternities) returned safely yesterday and had a GREAT time helping his brother, Dad and nephew ship the calves.
3. For a new and beautiful day.
4. Good friends.
5. My computer.
6. A picture I keep seeing in my mind that makes me wish I would have had a camera that night! It was the moment I watched Greg saying goodbye to his mom last Monday night. He was way down the hall and I was watching him through the glass of the locked doors that help keep the patients safe. He stood in front of her and bent down, took her face in his hands and talked to her, giving her kisses off and on as they visited. It brings tears to my eyes each time I picture it...perhaps this is the only I picture I was to have. I just don't want to forget it! He loves her so much...and with reason!
7. Can't believe I forgot to mention the veteran's we are honoring this day! I am so thankful my Dad was able to serve in the Pacific theater in WWII. He was a bombardier on 43 missions before returning home to see his 10-month old son for the very first time. I'm thankful for all those who have served or are serving abroad to protect the freedoms that we too frequently take for granted.

Nov 10th Gratitude

• My mother-in-law returning to the Care Center today.
• 31 pints of applesauce sitting on my counter completed!
• The energy to complete said project!
• My testimony that Jesus Christ is literally my Savior if I do my part!
• My husband's safe arrival in Park Valley...now just return home safely, honey!
• My food storage room and food on the shelves!
• Heat on a cold day.
• Transportation.
• My cell phone though it is archaic.
• Peace in my life thanks to a wonderful husband and great kids and grandkids.

I'm Thankful for Daughters Who Inspire Me to Record My Thankful Feelings!

My heart has been so full of gratitude that I am ashamed I have not taken the time to express my feelings.

• I'm grateful beyond words for three wonderful daughters who have grown into very amazing women and wives and mothers unequaled. I find great joy in being with them and feeling the love and respect they have for each other. They motivate me to do and be better.
• I am equally as grateful for a son who exceeds every desire we ever had for him. He is a man of great integrity, strength, and dedication to whatever he is called upon to do. He is a marvelous husband and father and a worthy priesthood holder.
• I am thankful for our sweet daughter-in-law, Sara, who is perfect for Matt in every way! She is our "4th" daughter and we are so grateful she graced our family with her through and through goodness! She, too, is the consummate mother. 
• I thank Heavenly Father regularly for three perfect sons-in-law who honor their priesthood and have the same goals and values as my daughters. They are amazing husbands and fathers and love me in spite of my quirks!
• I'm grateful for answers to fasting and prayer and a reaffirmation that Heavenly Father is there always, and in our extremities, opens the way for miracles to happen. 
• I'm so happy to have learned that even in what seem to be very small needs throughout the day that I can pray and receive answers on the spot! Like how to set a clock when the instructions have disappeared.
• I am thankful to have learned to trust Heavenly Father and my Savior completely...it has been years in the coming, but I think I'm there! 
• I'm so grateful that my sweet mother-in-law is experiencing peace and feeling love in her life again after so many months of misery.
• I'm thankful for a wonderful stake conference that renewed me spiritually and motivated me to set goals for myself again.
• I'm grateful for a husband who loves and respects me and expresses his love and appreciation every day. I'm thankful he takes his calling very seriously and though it weighs him down at times, is determined to do it in the Lord's way believing the promises that lives will be blessed in the process, including our own. I'm even more grateful for people who take the time to express how thankful they are for him and how much they love and appreciate council from Heavenly Father through him that has bettered their lives.
• I'm grateful for impending conference visitors that gave me the motivation to deep-clean my whole upstairs. I am so happy and feel so renewed! I'm also grateful for Greg who helped me in that process with heavy tasks I could not accomplish by myself!
• I am grateful for new friendships formed with those wonderful conference visitors from Salt Lake and their acceptance of us even after I answered the door in my grubbies and bedhead! Word to the wise...get up and ready for the day before you do your last minute chores. Your company might arrive a couple of hours early!
• I am thankful for my sweet Mom whom I enjoy being with so much. She is delightful, funny, social, and adaptive! She loves her new life in the retirement center and has taught me so much about just taking life as it comes and trusting Heavenly Father that He truly knows what is best for us.
• Can I say how much I love my warm, peaceful, beautiful home? I hope to stay here for the rest of our earthly lives! 
• I'm thankful for General Conference and technology that allows me to listen to talks during the day.
• I'm grateful for the Tabernacle Choir and the 150 songs I have recorded on my IPOD that I can set in the morning to play all day long. Their music calms me and brings me peace!
• I'm thankful for 17 perfect little grandkids! In just the last couple of days, I am thankful for a little Porter and Kaleb who ran out to the car to greet me and give me hugs and kisses and for a little Kami who came out barefoot in the cold to welcome me as well. I'm thankful for my little Cannon who asked if he could call me and then told me all about his Iron Man costume! I'm thankful for a long conversation with sweet Regan and her challenges at school and for wonderful Todd who turns 13 today.
• I'm thankful for a friend who gave me a box of beautiful Jonathan apples that I must now go make into applesauce!
• I'm grateful for the Book of Mormon that gives me clarity and understanding and helps me understand what I need to do to become more like the Savior.  I love Greg for desiring to read it and pray together every day.
• I love that families are the center of Heavenly Father's divine plan for His children and I am grateful for mine. I am so richly blessed!