3 things 2015

January
Consuelo passed away from complications that followed a fall that broke her hip.
Her three children put together a beautiful tribute to her life.
With President Cooke’s permission, we were able to place a special call to Kylee just after Consuelo passed.

February
The reality of Kylee returning home set in.
We received the travel itinerary from the Mission Home.
We made plans for her arrival and homecoming.

March
Kylee’s return date finally arrived.
Taylor went through the temple to receive her endowment.
As a family, we returned to Washington DC for a memorable visit.

April
General Conference and wonderful food.
Dad fell and became a member of the assisted walker club
We tore down the big tree in the front yard

May
Payson Temple open house
Warming up enough for morning walks outside
Memorial Day rock climbing

June
Sat with Dad so Mom could attend a granddaughters High School graduation
Payson Temple was dedicated
Got the boat out early this year

July
Fireworks at home on the 4th
Started a project in the backyard that is still incomplete
Fireworks and mishaps on the 24th

August
Newport Beach temple with the family
Disneyland
Taylor was in a car accident on the first day of school

September
Shrimp Boil for Labor day… a new tradition
Road trip to Afton, WY for nephews Eagle Court of Honor
Sang Nearer My God to Thee in the Paris, Idaho tabernacle

October
General Conference again… always uplifting!
Sunday drives to see the changing of the leaves
Thriller with the girls

November
28 year wedding anniversary
Thanksgiving with family… always a favorite time
Chester raided the pantry (again)

December
We moved dad into a Memory Care Center
Hot Chocolate Bar…Neighborhood fund raiser for dear friends
100 Enchiladas on Christmas Day

a list

1. walked 3 1/2 miles with the hubby
   (our Friday / Saturday morning tradition)
2. ate Blueberry Pancakes
   (homemade by Evan)
3. spray painted the back lawn
   (outlining the future fire pit that I am dreaming about)
4. stepped in dog poop
   (not a tradition, or a dream)
5. dug a trench for retaining wall
   (back fence line… meant to keep neighbors dogs from lurking under the fence)
6. got bitten by angry ants
   (after destroying their farm while digging a trench)
7. washed hands a million times
   (I don’t mind the dirt, just don’t like dirty hands)
8. took a well deserved shower
   (you’re welcome)
9. received an epiphany in the shower
   (we set the retaining wall blocks upside down)
10. called mom
    (dad answered the phone too)
11. talked to dad on the phone
    (asked a few questions, told him good bye, and listed to him try to hang up the phone)
    #alzheimers
12. forgot to wish mom happy birthday
    (it’s OK. taking her and dad to dinner later)
13. dug through the trash
    (to look for a missing receipt)
14. washed my hands a gain
    (you know why)
15. went to IKEA
    (bought another project to build)
16. went grocery shopping
    (because Saturday is a special day )
17. took mom and dad to dinner
    (Happy Birthday Mom! )
18. went to Wal-Mart with the family
    (movie night prep)
19. flipped a couple of retaining wall blocks
    (against my husband’s wishes. he said wait until Monday, but they are really bugging me!)
20. put the finishing touches on my primary lesson
    (parable of the Sheep & Goats )
21. thanked my Heavenly Father for another productive day
    (prayer)
22. when to bed
    (whew!)

10 Wishes

I wish
I was 10 pounds lighter.

I wish
I was fitter.
(More committed time at the gym should solve both!)

I wish
I had the awesome writing skills of my daughter, Kylee

I wish
I had the undeniable faith of my daughter, Taylor.

I wish
I had the social skills of my husband.
(25 years of wedded bliss!)

I wish
I had a cleaner, less cluttered house.

I wish
I had a complete and accurate pedigree chart.

I wish
I excelled at one of my hobbies (photography or cooking)
so much so that I could make a career out of it.

I wish
The dirty dishes would clean themselves.

I wish
It would never snow after Christmas.

Counting

3 weeks ago… I suffered a foot injury. No diagnosis. Still swollen and in pain today.

1 week ago… Kylee returned from India. Need details? Go HERE.

12 days from now… Girls trip! I am excited to spend a few days with my daughters in NYC.

17 days from now… Taylor returns back to Rexburg for another semester.

53 days from now… Evan turns 50. He is as sexy as ever. Enough said.

92 days from now… Our 25th wedding anniversary!

By the way… only 123 shopping days until Christmas.

10

Ten things I loved about today…

1. It was Friday.
2. I got to flirt with the bosses baby boy.
3. The boss bought lunch. (This happens every Friday!!)
4. It was a relatively quiet, uneventful day at work.
5. Both girls baked today and I got to sample some treats.
6. Both girls baked today and I came home to a clean kitchen.
7. It was warm enough to open the windows for a few hours.
8. I was thinking about someone today and sent them an email to tell them so.
9. I didn’t have to cook dinner, leftover night!!
10. My husband came home safe and sound from a business trip.

Best part

The best part of my day yesterday…

1. Waking up early and making birthday breakfast with my husband
2. Sharing breakfast with Evan’s sister and a couple of her kids.
3. My nephew Jacob, LOVING my homemade Blackberry Buttermilk Syrup.
4. Getting to know Michaela Smolíková from the Czech Republic.
5. A thoughtful, homemade gift from my oldest daughter.
6. A phone call and birthday wishes from my youngest daughter.
7. Being able to tell my youngest… you will be home in TWO WEEKS!
8. Grocery shopping with the hubby.
9. A birthday text from Tamra.
10. A text message from new friends… an invitation to join them in their traditional candy dipping.
11. A plateful of homemade chocolate dipped yumminess.
12. Still being the #1 pick of my daughter, to escort her on her errand.
13. A birthday text from Amy.
14. Birthday dinner at The Spaghetti Factory… never a disappointment.
15. Secretly video taping the “play by play” of the BYU game.
    
    
    
    
16. Laughing with my husband as I share the “secret video”.
17. Staying up late, discussing “life” with my husband.
18. Spending my day with people I love, and knowing they love me.

Emotions

It has been an exhausting week, emotionally speaking.

• BYU suffered a painful loss in football to the University of Utah. Sorrow (for Evan).
• My lesson in church received many compliments. Surprise.
• I have 4 more weeks until my next lesson. Relief.
• I ONLY have 4 weeks until my next lesson. Panic.
• Kylee received kudos from one of her teachers. Pride.
• Taylor started to experience uncomfortable, nearly unbearable, back pain. Worry.
• A call to her doctor produced a prescription for Physical Therapy. Hope.
• Mass mailing for the bridal shower that Kylee is giving for her best friend. Anticipation.
• Circumstances at work that created more (and seemingly unnecessary) projects. Stress.
• Taylor announced that she and her roommates will be in town for Conference. Excitement.
• Overheard Kylee turn down fun for homework. Impressed.
• 3 times this week: up at 4:45 am , to the gym by 5 am. Fatigued.

Bridges

I read a quote posted on a friends blog.
I immediately looked for the source so I could read the rest of the text.
I am so thankful I did.

In May, President Monson spoke at Dixie College
as they celebrated 100 years.

He spoke of three bridges:

1] the bridge of attitude

"Attitude can make all the difference in our lives, and we control our attitude," he said. "It can make us miserable or happy, content or dissatisfied. To a great degree, it can make us strong or weak."

It was the philosopher William James who developed the "as if" principle: If you want a virtue, act as if you already have it. If you want to be brave, act as if your are brave. If you want to be happy, act happy.

"Change your attitude by trying the 'as if" principle — it can work for all of us."

2] the bridge of integrity

"Being true to oneself is anything but easy if the moral standards of one's associates conflict with his or her own," he said. "The herd instinct is strong in the human animal, and the phrase 'Everybody else is doing it' has an insidious attraction. ...

"Nothing takes more strength than swimming against the current. You, my friends, are strong and must at times decide to swim against that current."

3] the bridge of service

"During your life you may achieve wealth or fame or social standing," he said. "Real success, however, comes from helping others."

All will have opportunities to serve.

"The blind and the handicapped need friendship; the aged are hungry for companionship; the young need understanding guidance; the gifted are starved for encouragement. These benefits can't be conferred by reaching for your checkbook. Personal service is direct and human."

… one's personal service may not be dramatic, but it can bolster human spirits, clothe cold bodies, feed hungry people, comfort grieving hearts and lift precious souls to new heights.

"My young friends, your life will be fuller, richer and happier if you seek for and find opportunities to be of service."

I find myself, again, full of short comings.
It seems, that the simplest things, are the most difficult to live by.
I believe my attitude and integrity are in line with His teachings,
but I struggle with the simple acts of service.
I tend to “pick and choose”.
I know I need to just “go and do”!

I think I will start with Visiting Teaching…

Perfect Balance…

Above, is a list I compiled for myself after today’s Relief Society lesson.
We talked about how we should

”take care of the essential things which will save and sanctify
us and the things which are necessary to make us personally
self-reliant and useful in the Lord’s kingdom.” Julie B. Beck

I believe, that as we focus on the essential’s, and prioritize that which is necessary,
those things that seem nice become less significant, less important.
I also believe in this irony: as we focus on the essential,
the necessary and nice fall into their appropriate place in our lives,
and we find ourselves, being able to manage (and enjoy) all of these things
in our crazy, busy lives.

I know that I have a lot of work to do!
As I review my list, I know that the least of my attention it on the essential.
I know that I must refocus my attention, and only then, will I find the
perfect balance.

How to trap a spider.

Not long after Kylee left for her anticipated end-of-school trip to sunny California
I received this text message…

“I caught a spider last night and put it in the computer room.
Please kill him”

I shared the message with Evan, we had a good laugh and then
I went downstairs, and found this…

She has this down to a science.

What amuses me the most is the process:
1] quickly find a cup. this must be completed before the spider runs away
2] firmly place the cup over the spider. you must be quicker than the spider
3] slip a sheet of paper under the cup, being certain that the paper is also under the spider
4] tape the cup to the paper. this will insure that the spider does not lift the cup up and escape
5] remove the spider from your room. this is a precaution, just in case he does get a way
6] sleep peacefully
7] send text to mom, pleading for extermination

Once again, I shared with Evan. After another laugh,
I declared Evan the grim reaper

Note to Kylee…
mission accomplished!

My ABC’s

About to crack open a Diet Coke for breakfast.
Boston bound this week as lead chaperone for my daughter’s Choir Tour.
Craving some of the brownies my daughter made yesterday.
Deciding that brownies and Diet Coke might be breakfast.
Excited for what lies ahead… 2 daughter’s in college, a new stage of live for all of us.
Finishing the last season of LOST on Netflix with  my daughter.
Glad that my husband made it home safely from his “Business Trip” in Vegas during the MWC Tournament.
High Cholesterol, UGH!
Inspired by my daughters. Their strength, their courage, their example.
Joining millions and watching General Conference in three weeks!
Kicking off “Birthday Week” for my oldest daughter with La Puente dinner on Monday.
Looking forward to the Homecoming for the missionary son of our dear friends.
Missing my oldest daughter’s 21’s birthday while I am out of town. :(
Needed a girls day out. Thanks Emily, for letting me tag along at the Expo.
Overwhelmed by the blessings in my life.
Prepared for Spring and Summer… hope they get here soon. I need the warm sun!!
Quickly realizing how lucky I am…
Relieved that my trip this week, prevents me from teaching next Sunday. (Although, it is getting easier…)
Still watching Chester limp around the house… weeks after the fall.
Thinking I need to take more pictures. Camera has not been out since Christmas.
Unbelievably in love with my husband and daughters!!
Vitamin D deficient, more pills… UGH!
Worried about packing the right things for the trip this week.
XTC - love the band, not the drug.
Youngest daughter’s “Birthday Week” is in April.
Zealous about my family and my faith.