Back to my Blog Again

Wow, it has been a long time since I took time to "blog"! I recently came home from visiting daughter #2 and her family in Newark Valley, NY. Newark Valley is a small old fashioned village in upstate New York. Beautiful and quaint -- almost like stepping back in time. Old friendly looking houses, narrow streets, beautifully green. The homes sit very close to the sidewalks and most have large porches perfect for sitting and watching life go by.

Each day there would be a parade of characters (the locals) walking or jogging past. There was the weird, creepy guy that made you want go inside and lock the doors. (I'm sure he is perfectly harmless and even nodded once when I said "hi" to him.) There was old Mr. Smith, the friendly neighborhood farmer who works in his yard and garden every day -- just like the Mr. Smith that lives next door to me in Utah. The young couple who walk with their two little kids the little boy dressed just like his daddy in cammo pants and no shirt. (Both mom and dad have tattoos. I never saw so many tattooed people, male & female, than I did during this trip. Of course my previous trips were in the winter and people had more clothes on!)

One day I was outside with Dan --I was on the porch and Dan was in the tree-- when a teen girl came by walking a dog. I could see that the dog was part pug. I asked her about her dog and she told me it was a pug-jack Russell mix. I told her about my grandpugs and asked her if she minded if I petted her dog. I bent down and put my hand out for the dog to smell and went to pet the dog's head. Big mistake the dog back stepped like it been shocked. I said I was sorry that I scared the dog. Good 'ol Dan, always quick on the draw says, "Grandma, you probably scared it with your wrinkles!" Hahaha, real funny Danny!

Another day all of the little kids were outside and the girl came by with her dog again. We talked to her again and learned that her dog's name is "Miley"--probably because of the Jack Russel permanent smile. The boys asked if she was friendly and were told she was. (Friendly, my eye!) They asked if they could pet her. That darn dog stood there patiently for over half and hour while the boys, one by one, bravely bent to pet Miley. She played with sticks and licked them and had a grand time with the brave boys.

Nathan said that everyone but Grandma had petted Miley. So I confidently approached the dog-- who had been so friendly and playful with the boys-- and reached down to give Miley a pat on the head. That Darn Dog backed up, growled and did a power rake with both her hind and front legs. Good 'ol Dan pipes up, "Grandma your wrinkles scared her again!" Needless to say I did not approach that dog again!

It was wonderful to visit and see how the grand kids are growing and developing. Seth plays the guitar (both acoustic and electric) really well and composed his own songs. Jake has his own guitar and is learning to play. Megan can play Jake's and wants one of her own. They all play by ear, a talent that must have come from JD since no one in our family has that ability.

Lori is counting down the days until her "Donny" comes home from his mission to Utah. She is trying to decide if she will go to Alabama when he comes home or if she will wait for him to come to NY. They are hoping to marry soon. It will be different visiting the family without Lori and Rachel. (Rachel moved to Utah last year).

Seth will be turning 18 on Friday, the 20th. He thinks this will be freedom for him --HA --it's just the beginning of a lifetime of adult responsibilities. I hope he will get a job so that the tense situation his attitude causes will ease some.

Jennifer got a Wii Fit for Mother's Day and is faithfully using it. Lori and the others use it too. Megan is especially good at hula hoop--Go, Megan!

I can't wait to visit again even though it is always good to come home.

Pennies

You always hear the usual stories of pennies on the sidewalk being good luck, gifts from angels, etc. This is the first time I've ever heard this twist on the story. Gives you something to think about. Several years ago, a friend of mine and her husband were invited to spend the weekend at the husband's employer's home. My friend, Arlene, was nervous about the weekend. The boss was very wealthy, with a fine home on the waterway, and cars costing more than their house. The first day and evening went well, and Arlene was delighted to have this rare glimpse into how the very wealthy live. The husband's employer was quite generous as a host, and took them to the finest restaurants. Arlene knew she would never have the opportunity to indulge in this kind of extravagance again, so was enjoyin g herself immensely. As the three of them w ere about to enter an exclusive restaurant that evening, the boss was walking slightly ahead of Arlene and her husband. He stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement for a long, silent moment. Arlene wondered if she was supposed to pass him. There was nothing on the ground except a single darkened penny that someone had dropped, and a few cigarette butts Still silent, the man reached down and picked up the penny. He held it up and smiled, then put it in his pocket as if he had found a great treasure. How absurd! What need did this man have for a single penny? Why would he even take the time to stop and pick it up? Throughout dinner, the entire scene nagged at her. Finally, she could stand it no longer. She casually mentioned that her daughter once had a coin collection, and asked if the penny he had found had been of some value A smile crept across the man's face as he reached into his
pocket for the penny and held it out for her to see. She had seen many pennies before! What was the point of this? 'Look at it.' He said. 'Read what it says.' She read the words ' United States of America ' 'No, not that; read further.' 'One cent?' 'No, keep reading.' 'In God we Trust?' 'Yes!' 'And?' 'And if I trust in God, the name of God is holy, even on a coin. Whenever I find a coin I see that inscription. It is written on every single United States coin, but we never seem to notice it! God drops a message right in front of me telling me to trust Him? Who am I to pass it by? When I see a coin, I pray, I stop to see if my trust IS in God at that moment. I pick the coin up as a response to God; that I do trust in Him. For a short time, at least, I cherish it as if it were gold. I think it is God's way of starting a conversation with me. Lucky for me, God is patient and pennies are plentiful! When I was out shopping today, I found a penny on the sidewalk. I stopped and picked it up, and realized that I had been worrying and fretting in my mind about things I cannot change. I read the words, 'In God We Trust,' and had to laugh. Yes, God, I get the message. It seems that I have been finding an inordinate number of pennies in the last few months, but then, pennies are plentiful! And, God is patient..

Thought for the Day:

If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.

If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it.

He sends you flowers every spring.

He sends you a sunrise every morning Face it, friend - He is crazy about you!

Send this to every 'beautiful person' you wish to bless.

God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way.

Read this line very slowly and let it sink in...

If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

Happy Birthday To Mom!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Jennifer asked me yesterday if I felt any different being 60 instead of 59. I told her I didn't feel any different being 61 instead of 60. She couldn't believe that I had turned 60 on my last birthday. I mentioned this to Terressa and she said that she thought I was turning 60 as well. Funny!? While Tess was shopping yesterday the lady helping her wondered if Tess & I were twins--now THAT was funny!!!

Anyway, I had a wonderful birthday yesterday. I had a sweet call from Nathan in New York. He told me about going to school and then he sang "Happy Birthday" to me. I talked to Jennifer for a few minutes and she was excited because she said she knew what I was getting for my birthday.

Jim took me to the Sizzler for late lunch/early dinner --I was craving steak and didn't want to go to Lone Star. (They don't serve my favorite combo anymore--Salmon & petite sirloin steak & sweet potato--besides I get too full there). I had the Steak lunch with a side salad and a drink--Pepsi of course! Jim had the same with the salad bar. By the time he made 2 trips to the salad bar and had 2 sodas he was too full to eat his steak and baked potato so we brought that home and he ate it after everyone went home last night.

Boy, was I surprised by my gift from Jim! A brand new computer system with a flat screen monitor. I can watch & record television programs. It has a CD/DVD burner player, 4 unused USB ports, lots of memory ( 2 Gigs, I think), very fast, VISTA operating system. It will probably take me forever to learn how to use it it is so different from XP. I need Mike to help me some more setting everything up like I want it to look and run. Mike videod my reaction when I saw it and as soon as I figure how to post the video I will put it on this blog.

Tess, Lacy, Jeff, Rachel, Mike, Cherylee, Landon, &Lileean were here to spend the evening with me last night. Rachel called Jenn and her bunch in New York and put them on speaker phone to sing "Happy Birthday". Lileean helped me blow out my candles.

Jim got a cake from Dick's bakery that was twice as large as we needed. Chocolate cake with raspberry filling and white frosting with pastel colored roses. He said they asked if he wanted chocolate or white frosting, he said my wife would probably like chocolate but he wanted white. Didn't matter to me, I love Dick's bakery whatever!!

Today I have been going through all of the papers, lists, notebooks, etc. that Mike had to move out of the way to set up my new computer system. I trashed papers that I had been moving from one place to another for years. Thanks for the push Mike!

Solemn Assembly

Another General Conference began this morning Saturday, April 5, 2008. The first session of general conference is always an opportunity to sustain the leadership of the Church. This morning was different than most conference sessions because it was a "Solemn Assembly" we had the opportunity to sustain our new prophet and first presidency. Different groups of members were asked to stand and sustain by the uplifted hand--all in attendance personally or watching 0r listening at other locations. I felt chills, and the hairs on my arms, legs, and neck stood on end when in our turn, all Relief Society sisters were asked to stand and bring arms to the square in sustaining vote of Thomas S Monson, Henry Eyring, and Deiter Uchdorf .

I was blessed at that moment to have the Holy Ghost reaffirm the testimony I already had that the Lord had called these good men as well as the other General Authorities. I am so grateful to live at this time and to have had this opportunity to again witness the perfect organization of the Lord's Church on Earth in operation.

Sad News/Happy News

Our friend and neighbor Bob had surgery for his bladder cancer. Doctor thinks that they caught it early. His bladder was scraped clean and he was told that he would need to go in for scoping every three months to check for reoccurance. Bob is already back to normal--out working morning til night in his own yard and working on the flower beds at the church.

Thoughts on Growning Older

I was thinking just the other day
how fun it would be to once again play,
run, and jump like when I was five...
I felt so alive!

But now I contemplate as I sit on my chair
the life I imagined would go on forever, isn't there.
Where once I would run, now shuffling I go;
And as for jumping...
I just say, "No!"

At ten I ran, and twirled, and skipped,
Played hide n seek and crack the whip
When twenty I could turn and bend
Even at thirty I couldn't see...
Energy's end

My thirties, forties, and fifties came
with many changes and...
physical pain.
Not skipping, or jumping, or running in races
now smiling with joy at my grandchildren's faces.

My spirit is willing to try something fun
My body is groaning wanting this "fun" to be done.
Playing with grandkids while down on the floor
Has my joints creaking and screaming...
"No more!"

I'm now in my sixties and not very spry
I do less and less and don't even try
To meet expectations wild--I had as a...
Child.


Not as active as once I thought;
Not as quick as I think I ought.
Each day when I rise and get out of bed
I count myself blessed that I am not...
Dead!

Spring!

My favorite season changed this year...why?
Who knows :)
Fall has been my favorite season for decades;
however,
this year my favorite season is:
SPRING!
It is new life
It is resurrection
It is birth
It is hope
It is light
It is warmth (NOT heat!)
It is beauty
It is babies
It is gentleness
It is wild violets in the lawn
It is lily of the valley
It is crocus
It is an empty tomb
It causes my heart to swell
It causes my soul to sing
It is a promise kept through the death of winter
It is a bright Sunday following a dark Friday
It is green grass growing
It is baby birds hatching
It is newborn lambs with soft white fuzz
I WILL see those I love again
Winter is not the end
Death is not the end
They are only doors leading to a bright new day!
I LOVE Spring!

HaPpY EaStEr!!!!

I love this time of year!
Such good memories of Easter Sunday.
Going to Grandma's.
Sharing baskets with cousins.

My favorite basket memories were: one year Tess and I got these cute big stuffed lambs. I loved that lamb! and another year we each got this huge bottle of baby lotion---yum! I love the smell of baby lotion...I believe it was baby magic baby lotion.

And the egg hunts in the back yard! WoW!
Thank you Easter Bunny!

Love you Mom and Dad! thanks for the great memories and Happy Easter!

Love,
Jen