tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71278746146882212902024-03-12T21:04:49.161-07:00Just wait.....okeydokeyifinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201993774293459821noreply@blogger.comBlogger85125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127874614688221290.post-8514925503365655932016-07-27T13:48:00.003-07:002016-07-27T13:48:49.702-07:00I guess I was about 12 when our ward participated in the Stake Road Show. We did a farm scene and we all dressed up as vegetables. I was one of the tomatoes and we wore red round costumes with green hats and our faces were painted green. We danced on stage when it was our turn to the tune of the Sugar Plum Fairies. Once all the vegetables had gotten on stage we talked about how we all wanted to be picked (specially chosen) for the veggies of the day. Off stage we heard a tired "Ho Ho Ho", then one of the smallest boys our age came on stage dressed as the Jolly Green Giant. One of the veggies asked, "What's the matter Green Giant?" He answered, " I've been sick..." The audience laughed a lot. Then we proceeded on with the show and danced and sang and had our 10 to 15 minutes of fame. We had a good time performing and I can remember the Pea section singing "Peas, Peas, Peas, Peas, Plump and Tender Peas?" Ah, wish they had Road Shows today, or even Stake Plays, but alas, those are bygone days. We are lucky if they even have a talent show any more. I guess that is why I am glad we have a talent show at our reunions. It reminds me of when my brothers and sisters would put on a show at family gatherings, and of when I was in shows in my youth. <br />
Just a walk down memory lane.okeydokeyifinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201993774293459821noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127874614688221290.post-22064837211565203412014-01-14T09:47:00.001-08:002014-01-14T09:47:32.358-08:00The dogs I knew and lovedWhen I was a very little girl, many, many years ago my family had a border collie named Friskie. She was a great dog. She loved peanut butter sandwiches and made funny faces as she tried to lick the peanut butter from the roof of her mouth. Friskie was a great companion and listened intently as I confided in her all the things a wee one can confide while sitting on the front stoop. She guarded me as I played in the front yard and stood by me when others would pass by. I loved her so very much.<br />
I do not know what happened to her. I suppose she went to doggy heaven, but children were not kept up to breast of things such as that, at least not in my family.<br />
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We then had a little black dog with white feet called Boots. Boots was a sweet little pup and I can not honestly say if Boots was a he or a she, but a great friend none-the-less. Boots was so little I could hold 'him' on my lap and frazzle 'his' fur and then comb it back down with my hands. Then one day after Dad went fishing he brought in this huge stray dog that he found down by the river, a boxer. Dad said the dog had fish hooks stuck in his lips and look so hungry. Mother said the dog was so big and did not follow commands. So Dad fed the dog and made arrangements to take him to obedient school, but I think the dog was like me and had trouble learning things.<br />
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Duke was so big that we could ride him. My brother would go to the back door and I would get on Duke by the front door. My brother would call Duke to go out the back and then just as we got close, my brother shut the door. Then I would run to the front door and by brother would sit on Duke for the ride back. I would open the front door and call for Duke to go out and off the dog would galumph through the house. We rode from the front door, through the entry way, through the open kitchen door, and to the back alcove. It was a grand ride. At least until Mother would yell at us asking "what on earth are you two doing?" We promptly stopped our shenanigans and answered, "nothing".<br />
<br />
Boots was Duke's little pal. Then one day Boots was no more and we only had Duke. He was strictly an outside dog and played in the fenced back yard until the neighborhood kids started running sticks along the fence and yelling at him. Duke jumped the fence a few times and chased the kids. Then there was no more Duke. <br />
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It wasn't until I was married and lived in Middlebury that I got the next dog. It was a puppy and my oldest daughter said "pop-eye" meaning to say puppy. So Pop-Eye lived with us for a while. The children would play outside on the swing set and Pop-Eye would be their protector, just as Friskie was to me. Pop-Eye barked and barked one day alerting us to the snake that came into the yard and had bitten the thing in half to protect the children.<br />
I believe Pop-Eye's life ended with us when he ran down the road and got hit by a car. <br />
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When we moved to Bristol we had a dog named Half-pint that was a German Shepard-Collie mix. She had a litter of pups and was such a great watch dog. No one came near the children, or the house for that matter, that wasn't announced by barking, growling, and showing of teeth. <br />
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I would have loved to have kept Half-pint but we were moving to a rental house that did not allow pets. So she was given to a woman in a wheel chair that needed a good watch dog. <br />
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Once we bought the rental house I got care of a Shitzsu. His "parents" were in the service over-seas. He was my protector and my friend. Puppy Chow followed me everywhere. He slept at my feet on top of the covers. He was even a surrogate mother for an orphaned kitten we inherited from the neighbor lady. Puppy Chow would lick and groom the kitten, and even let the kitten snuggle up with him to sleep. I do not know if that made him more protective and aggressive, but his end of living with us was when my husband came near me to give me a greeting kiss and got bit on the ankle by the dog. The owners could not take him back and hence Puppy Chow was given to another to care for. <br />
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Since that time we have had grand-dogs that have come into our lives. One grand-dog, Otis, even stayed with us for a while when his family was transitioning into our area and stayed with us for a bit. <br />
<br />
The only puppy now that I have in my home is a little mechanical pup that sleeps all the time in his bed. It is a little Lab pup. If I put batteries in him it looks like he is breathing as his chest rises and falls . No mess, no fuss, but furry and can be held (which one little grand daughter especially likes to do) and brushed. <br />
<br />
I won't say I will never have a dog again. It will probably be a little furry lap dog, and I will feed him and love him and take care of him and he will be the best dog ever. okeydokeyifinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201993774293459821noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127874614688221290.post-90384594326922697112013-01-22T16:33:00.001-08:002013-01-22T16:49:30.248-08:00story Easter Surprise! by Leone Castell AndersonAs usual, Mrs McGillicuddy is so absentminded that her Easter gifts turn out to be bigger surprises than she means them to be. The missing words from this story are listed below. Copy them onto slips of paper, mix them up, and put them in a pile. Then as you read the story, fill in each blank with a word picked at random from the pile.<br />
<br />
rubber boots <br />
a mustache and beard<br />
potato peelings<br />
long pink ears<br />
flannel underwear<br />
feather grass<br />
green foil wrapping paper<br />
dandelion greens<br />
a dab of perfume<br />
old nylon stockings<br />
her yellow Easter dress<br />
a bag of cracker crumbs<br />
her flowered bonnet<br />
walnut shells<br />
a striped umbrella<br />
onion skins<br />
marshmallows<br />
a fat duck<br />
Dutchman's breeches<br />
<br />
<br />
It was the day before Easter and Mrs. Aloysius McGillicuddy had been busy, busy, busy as usual, making Easter dinner for all her friends. Suddenly she stopped. There was something else she had meant to do. "Oh, thumpnoodle!" she said, thumping her forehead with her finger to clear her thoughts. "Now I remember," she declared. "I must dye some eggs." So she set some eggs to boil.<br />
"Now what can I use to dye the eggs some absolutely scrumptious colors?" she asked herself. "Oh, thumpnoodle!" she said and rummaged about in her pantry and cupboards and closets and back yard. She set four pots of water on to boil. Into one she stirred ________. "That will make a beautiful dye," she said.<br />
Into the next pot she threw ___________. "Bubble, bubble, " she saing. "I can just see how lovely the eggs will look dipped in that color."<br />
Into the third pot she put ___________. "Now there's something that will turn out pretty eggs," said Mrs McGillicuddy.<br />
And when the last pot was boiling she tossed in ________. "What an elegant color that will make," she said beaming. <br />
Mrs McGillicuddy finished dyeing her eggs. Then she decorated the eggs extra nice for each of her friends.<br />
For little Martha Mathilda, she drew a face on the egg and added ____________. She glued __________Jeremiah Jones' egg. "That'll tickle him," she chuckled.<br />
She wanted the eggs for the Terwiliger twins to look especially pretty, so she spent some time wrapping them in ____________. "Now they're really handsome." she declared.<br />
There were so many eggs for all the members of the Frazzlefrump family--severn boys, six girls, four dogs, ten cats, two gerbils, and a tarantula spider in a glass jar--that she put their eggs int ________so they wouldn't crack. "That will keep them safe," she said. <br />
By this time she was running short of eggs, and she still had friends to remember. "Oh, thumpnoodle!" she exclaimed as she began a search through her cupboards. "Ah, just the thing," she said and added ______________ to another family's basket. "I just hope they don't eat too much of it and get a stomachache," she said with a worried frown.<br />
Mrs McGillicuddy thought a long time before she came up with an idea for Sam Snoof. She decided to make something different for him. She put together _____________ and stuffed it with ____________. <em>He'll enjoy that</em>, she thought happily, <em>particularly when he knows I made it with my own hands.</em><br />
To Sam's parrot Goof who always cried out, "<em>Arrrrr</em>, you goofed!" she decided to give ___________. <em>Maybe he'll stop saying I goofed</em>, she thought. <br />
Then at the last minute Mrs McGillicuddy remembered the family down the street and quickly filled a bowl with ___________. <em>That will look nice on their dining room table</em>, she decided.<br />
The next morning Mrs McGillicuddy hurried to dress and join her friends on their way to Sunday School. All the fussing and preparing the day before had left Mrs McGillicuddy so flustery and breathy that she didn't pay much attention to how she dressed, for that was Mrs McGillicuddy's way. <br />
First she put on _____________. <em>That will keep me warm</em>, she decided. <br />
Then she donned _____________. "For I do want to look pretty!" she declared. She decided to add<br />
_________________ behind her ears. <em> There! Now I feel like spring</em>, she thought. <br />
And at last she put on _______________. "So I will <em>look</em> like spring," she said. She decided to carry<br />
______________. "For you never know when it might rain," she said.<br />
Just as Mrs McGillicuddy was going out the door, she exclaimed, "Oh, thumpnoodle!" and hurried back in and pulled on ______________ over her shoes.<em> For I do want to keep my feet dry</em>, she told herself. <br />
She thought she looked as pretty as a speckled pup and she joined all her friends marching down the street in their bright spring clothes. But no one really cared what she wore, for everyone loved Mrs McGillicuddy. okeydokeyifinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201993774293459821noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127874614688221290.post-32479465652787898002012-02-25T08:21:00.002-08:002012-02-25T08:28:28.036-08:00UGH!Here I thought I was tough. Guess it is just a front. So I am publicly admitting that I am a wimp. I wish I was all healed and pain free, and not sleep deprived. I just want it to all go away. Is that too much to ask?<br />Let me see....Have I had to endure tough times before? YES. Did I get through them? YES. So what makes me whine this time? Beats me. I just know I want to be all better.<br />Whew! Thanks for letting me vent. Now that I have that all out of my system perhaps I can focus on a year from now when all this will just be a memory. I am strong, I am basically healthy, I have faith that I am being helped through this, and many are rooting for me.<br />Thanks for the prayers, kind thoughts, and well-wishes.<br />Now back to life!okeydokeyifinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201993774293459821noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127874614688221290.post-60527319525077518622011-12-24T06:43:00.000-08:002011-12-24T07:10:33.577-08:00Memories of Christmas PastDad would take us to get a tree. It was always a HUGE tree. It stood in the corner of the living room. We all helped to decorate it. The needles always stung me when I tried to put on the pretty things. We had bulb lights, and bubble lights. We had glass balls in many colors, and one usually got broken. We had stars and tinsle and garlands and whatever we had made in school and anything else they could find to put on it. It seemed to me that once we were done, you could not even see the green from the tree any more. The tree topper was a star with a picture of Jesus in it.<br /><br />Aunt Nonny made our big flannel stockings with our names on them. We hung them on the mantle. They stayed emptied until Christmas morning. Then we found them filled with candy, oranges, and nuts. Sometimes we would find pencils, erasers, a hankie, etc. in them too.<br /><br />Bud made candles that we used to decorate the room and placed some on the mantle. He also made a sign that stood on the porch roof that glistened in the wind and said MERRY CHRISTMAS.<br /><br />Glenda painted a winter scene on the picture window on the porch. She did one every year. Then she had to scrape it off after the holidays.<br /><br />Mother put up the many-pieced Nativity. It took up the whole table. Sheep, cattle, horses, many people, The Holy Family, a stable, fences, shepherds, wise men, camels, and angels. I loved to look at the scene when she was done.<br /><br />On Christmas Eve Mother would make hot chocolate, light a fire, and tell the Christmas Story from the bible. We would watch the fire sparkle as she told us about the birth of the Savior. Later we went to church, as a most families did back then. The older kids took part in the presentation with hymns and speaking parts. I was an angel and had to stand very still. I looked so cute with my shiny halo and wings.<br /><br />We we got home we went to bed. Then the older kids would awaken my brother and I very early in the morning. We would sneak into our parents bedroom. One of the older kids would count to 3, then my brother and I Jumped on the bed and we all yelled " Merry Christmas".<br />We headed down the stairs and I remember the first look of the lit tree as I rounded the landing. The tree was stuffed with presents under it. We gathered around the tree and the presents were handed out and then began the frenzy of wrapping papper flying and ohs and ahs being heard.<br /><br />We ate stuff from our stocking and played with our new toys until the grandparents and aunts, uncles, and cousins came. We had a huge meal for lunch. Boy, it was great. We had skits and games,etc.<br /><br />The tree was the finishing touch. After it was bare, it was chopped up and we burned it in the fireplace. The house smelled so nice. It gave it's life so we could have a nice holiday. Kinda like the Savior...giving His life so I could have such a nice one. Thank you and Happy Birthday!okeydokeyifinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201993774293459821noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127874614688221290.post-49427677733195433192011-11-08T09:14:00.000-08:002011-11-08T09:28:37.243-08:00I must be getting olderSince my trip this summer things just are not bouncing back like they usually do. And I HAVE to get better. I have more trips coming up. GRRRR.<br /><br />I have only missed a few days of work and the rest I manage to plug through. I end up resting a lot and taking pain meds the rest of the time. The chiropractor and the massage therapist are getting me able to work and that indeed is a blessing. I have a "real" doctor appt in Jan. and suppose if I am not all better by then she will give me an earfull.<br /><br />So as one of my daughters recently reminded me...I CAN do hard things. Sometimes I feel like crying because the pain is so bad, but I do not give in. Besides there is no one home to comfort me. (sigh)<br /><br />When my hubby is home, he spoils me rotten. He does the dishes and tells me to rest and go lie down. He tolerates the noise from the massage machine while he is watching tv. He doesn't mind my tossing and turning to try to get comfortable, nor the up and down in bed for pain cream applications or pain med. What a guy!<br /><br />So with that all being whined about... I am grateful for good health and know that I will enjoy it again. After all, it could be worse. I know that Heavenly Father loves me and will give me the guidance I need to get better. Oh, and don't forget...I believe in miracles.okeydokeyifinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201993774293459821noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127874614688221290.post-70973531400261591442011-09-26T20:08:00.000-07:002011-09-26T20:14:06.141-07:005 Random ThingsThe Challenge: Post 5 things that people do not already know about you.<br /><br />1. I am shy.<br /><br />2. I have many fears.<br /><br />3. I am quick to anger.<br /><br />4. I have to force myself to read.<br /><br />5. I like the sunshine even though I am a night owl.okeydokeyifinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201993774293459821noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127874614688221290.post-91275192711526574822011-09-06T09:28:00.000-07:002011-09-06T09:42:36.568-07:00Chore ChartsA long time ago I wondered why my sister-in-law got so much done in her day, while my day just seemed to vanish without much accomplished. It was then that I learned she planned her work and worked her plan.<br />Hence, chore charts. The children had a new thing in their lives: the chart on the fridge. Plus individual cards were made listing the tasks required for each chore. So for Kitchen it might say<br />1. set the table 2. clear the table 3. wash & dry dishes 4. put dishes away. 5. wipe the counters and the stove. 6. sweep the floor.<br />For bathroom it might say: 1. wipe mirror 2. clean sink and tub. 3. clean toilet 4. sweep floor<br />5. add toilet paper roll if needed.<br />Anyway, you get the picture. We had 7 children so we had 7 chores. The kitchen one was divided so 2 people could work that one job.<br />Yeah, they complained and did not want to really do their chores. I explained that their cousins who lived on a farm had far greater chores than these. That this was their home and they needed to care for it.<br />The other thing I added was when they were 12 they got to do their own laundry. This way they might take care of it better. It showed them they could be responsible for more things.<br />To all this I might add that this was the plan. They really did not do this whole-heartedly. It was a chore for me to get them to do this.<br />Our house always looked "lived-in". I did not expect a magazie picture house. But I wanted it so it could be "picked up" fast if we got company.<br />I kinda have that look of being "lived-in" now. And I also have a chore chart for myself.<br />I get more done when I follow it. Let's see today is tuesday, so it is laundry day. Gotta go. C-U-Later.okeydokeyifinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201993774293459821noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127874614688221290.post-81506311663353801582011-06-16T08:20:00.000-07:002011-06-16T08:30:10.078-07:00I'm trying to get into a size 2I watched a tv movie the other day and a couple was on a date. The man asked the woman if she was going to eat (something good) and she answered, "No, I am trying to get back into a size 2."<br />I wanted to smack the tv. Size 2, Huh!<br /><br />REAL women are not a size 2. REAL women have curves and "pillows" for little ones' heads. REAL women are sturdy. I don't even think I know any size 2 women.<br /><br />I told someone recently that I do not think Heavenly Father wants his daughters to be SEXY...I think He would say that He wants us to be lovely, beautiful, strong, healthy, etc.<br /><br />So to all you REAL women out there...Love the skin you're in. Even though it may be a little more than a size 2.okeydokeyifinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201993774293459821noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127874614688221290.post-32323000823626299202011-05-24T09:05:00.000-07:002011-05-24T09:10:40.420-07:00Sew, SewWell, since I cannot wear blue on Sundays anymore, I decided it is time to make summer jumpers out of other colors. I bought some material and thread and started in. I made 2 already and have 3 to go. Problem is, I don't REALLY know how to sew. I play at it. I make a lot of mistakes and shudder that a real sewer would even think of looking at my work. It is good enough for me, but not for others- kind of stuff.<br /><br />With that being said, I did make dresses for Ruth and Emmy. Mistakes and all, they don't seem to mind. The patterns are cute and look nice on them. Just wish I was a better seamstress.<br /><br />So now my motto is " My Sew-Sew is so-so". Cute, eh?okeydokeyifinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201993774293459821noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127874614688221290.post-89093625847323334402010-12-27T06:35:00.000-08:002011-01-07T12:31:34.303-08:00Christmas<div>We started off this season by going to Indiana for our First Christams with the children. We saw the 2 kids there and the little children. Got tons of presents, for which we are grateful, ate great food by which we got stuffed, but more importantly we got to See them and visit with them. Then we traveled to Utah for our Second Christmas. We enjoyed ourselves there as well, again seeing the 2 kids there and the children. Again, a ton of gifts and a ton of food. Then we headed back home to wait a week for our Third Christmas with the kids and the children. We once again had an enjoyable time as we visited and and got our ton of presents. (this was on Old Christmas day... the 26th)</div>
<br /><div>Since we are getting old (older) and have everything we need, I am sure it is hard for the children to think of what to get us. But they always come up with something great. Some times it is edible, some times it smells good, some times it is beautiful, but always just the right thing. </div>
<br /><div>This year I had a dilema of what to get my hubby. He seems to have everything he needs. And what I don't know about tools could fill volumns. So I decided to give him a note that says how much I appreciate him. Then the more I thought about it, I decided to ask the children to write something about Dad. It did not have to be long, but just to write something. Well, they did and then I got it all together and put a little cover on it and wrapped it up. I knew he would never guess what it could be. He opened it up when we had our Third Christmas. He started to read it and then sneaked off to the back room to read the whole thing. When he came back he said he enjoyed it and that it made him cry. I told him that one of the children called it his eulogy. </div>
<br /><div>I am glad he liked it and that the children could take a moment from their schedules to think about him. This man puts up with a lot from me...I mean what man in his right mind would tolerate a grown woman jumping on the bed saying, "It's Christmas, It's Christmas".</div>okeydokeyifinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201993774293459821noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127874614688221290.post-27842926736355063762010-08-10T10:12:00.000-07:002010-08-10T10:21:35.454-07:00Laughter is the best medicineThe other night while lying in bed, ready to settle in for the night, my husband said something funny. What made it funnier is that it was perfect timing. And to top it off, one does not expect to hear such funny things come from him. He has a dry wit. Most people don't expect him to be funny. He just cracks me up. So I laughed out loud and then the more I thought of it, I laughed again. Then he laughed at how he had "gotten" me. So we laughed and laughed and it was such a choice moment. I love to laugh and I love to laugh with him. I guess it would not be appropriate for him to put Ha Ha on my tombstone though, would it?<br />I love how the children have weird senses of humor. Finding humor a comfort at times. I guess one could say "the joke is on me" and I would love that. I love to see them smile and hear them laugh, I love to see them make fun of themselves to get others to laugh. I love how they run with a gag and go the distance. Makes me smile and feel happy just to type all this.<br />Now go have a smile on me. Free of charge.okeydokeyifinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201993774293459821noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127874614688221290.post-21556304164334472562010-07-05T08:50:00.000-07:002010-07-05T09:06:29.087-07:00I Love A Parade....Now that I have your attention....This has nothing to do with parades. But it does have to do with holiday and crowds.<br />I have always enjoyed going to watch Fireworks on the 4th of July. Sparklers, snakes, etc. in the front yard. Traditionally we have gotten together with friends and family and had a cook out and then watched the skies light up together. This year was different.<br />Being on sunday we went to all our church meetings and did not get home until 3:30pm (long-story). Then we ate and relaxed and I watched some MO TAB on patriotic themes while the man took a nap. Then I made chocolate cup cakes from the Family Favorite Recipe. And we took our lawn chairs and blankets and headed for the church lawn.<br />We met up with the other 2 daughters and their families and enjoyed Oohing and Ahhing together. I sure enjoyed that. Sharing a moment of pure satisfaction with those I love.<br />Then the bubble burst. The man says, "now I remember why I hate crowds and traffic". Shame on him. It only happens once a year, and it does not cost a penny, and I enjoy it so much. Then he had to admit that he enjoys watching the display, he just wishes it were not such a hastle. So now I have a whole year to figure out how to De-hastle the event.<br />Oh, Well.....Hope you all had a wonderful and safe 4th.<br />PS I could not sing the national anthem in church without having to stop for the tears in my eyes and the crack in my voice. I love the land that Heavenly Father has so richly blessed. I love that I am an American. I love that we have a democracy for government and that we have the freedom to change things. I love that our country helps the downtrodden. I love it that we are not These United States but The United States, as a whole. That we are One Nation, under God.<br />I love the 4th and all that it stands for and for the belief in Freedom so strong that several gave their lives so that it can Ring.okeydokeyifinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201993774293459821noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127874614688221290.post-68545493443969389902010-06-29T11:05:00.000-07:002010-06-29T11:37:27.562-07:00"click, click, click....No place like home, no place like home"We are back home from our travels. Long days on the road...ugh!<br />Funny thing though, it was not as bad as I had anticipated. Before we (my daughter and I) started our trip I was Really not looking forward to it. I do not like to travel long distant by car and choose to sleep it off rather than to enjoy the scenery. Wake me when we get there type of traveling. And I do not like the roads and traffic and what if we have bad traveling weather and so on and so forth.<br />So to make a long story short, too late..., before we left I asked my hubby for a blessing. He did give me a blessing and then left town himself. A sister and brother in our ward asked my daughter and I on sunday if there was anything they could do for our trip. (she is both of our VT and he is my daughter's HT) I could not think of anything and neither could my daughter. Then the couple talked about a GPS. I did not want to bother them and told them we had maps, but they would not hear of that and dropped off the GPS at my daughter's house.<br />On the day of departure I woke up and got ready for the trip and did not feel apprehensive. I picked up my daughter at 4 am and we were off. I drove the first part and she worked the GPS.<br />It was quite helpful and reassuring as we made our way through the towns and states.<br />After we had gotten to our cross country destination I told my hubby about my not feeling apprehensive and gave the credit to the blessing he had given me. Then he said that having the GPS could also be an answer because of the blessing.<br />Blessings come in many forms. Answers to prayers come in many ways. Recognizeng them and giving thanks is so very important.<br />We made our trip with good roads, good traffic, good weather. We did all the work we needed to do at our destination, had a good visit with family and friends, helped another daughter in the midwest, and was very grateful for the wonderful help from a busy son. We taxed our muscles and our backs, and did many good works. I was surprised at the stamina that I seemed to have through all this. Yes, I am old and have bad knees and taxed all the muscles but I kept on going. My daughter and son taxed their muscles and backs and took it to another level (they are younger and stronger). This strength and stamina I attribute to the blessing as well.<br />My daughter was going to have a yard sale on saturday to clean out her storage unit and get rid of some things she was not taking back home. On the morning of the sale it was raining lightly. I knew we wanted to put things in the yard and now the grass was all wet. And who would come out in the rain to a yard sale. I said a prayer. Then I got to thinking about it. Did I think that all I had to do was ask and my prayer would be answered? Did I have a special IN with God?<br />So I said a second prayer petitioning for the needed good weather. I still felt it was not enough. In the third prayer I poored my heart into it. I knew that Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers and cares about us. And that we could do nothing without His help. The rain stopped and the weather cleard and it was a beautiful bright hot sunny day. I did not complain about the heat because I had already asked for this kind of day. We had the sale and took the leftovers to the good will store drop box. Hot and tired and sticky but truly blessed.<br />Now it was time for the trip home. I still did not feel Dread. We got an early start and had good weather (except a really brief rain), good roads and good traffic (for the most part- I hate construction areas) We made it home and felt good about that. Exhaustion has now set in and I am feeling my age. I am grateful to have been able to help 2 daughters with their differing projects. I am grateful for the answers to prayers and for the tender mercies of a loving and caring Heavenly Father. I am grateful for family and friends. And I am grateful to be safely home.okeydokeyifinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201993774293459821noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127874614688221290.post-75307671736037152362010-05-31T06:17:00.000-07:002010-05-31T06:28:50.876-07:00It's the small thingsMy daughter and I recently visited other family members in another state. We had a nice visit and all went well, for the most part.<br />On the day we were to leave for home it started to snow great big flakes. She did not have a scraper and just as we got a few blocks from home my daughter rolled her window down half way to look for traffic. Then the electric window did not want to go back up. I told her to pull over and try to jiggle the window while using the electic button. She did this a few times but the window would not move.<br />I told her to use 2 hands to wiggle the window, then use the button. She did but still no go.<br />I could not think of another thing to do and while I was contemplating this she said, "why don't you pray while I work on this?"<br />Well, with her faith in the power of prayer I quickly said a silent prayer. I thought about doing the jiggling from the outside. Without saying anything I got out of the car and went to her window. I said to push the button while I jiggled the window. It worked, I got back into the car and buckled up.<br />Then my daughter asked if I had prayed. I answered I did. She said she wondered because all of a sudden I was jumping out of the car and around to her side.<br />It was indeed a miracle to me and an answer to pray. I could not think of anything to do differently, but after the prayer I thought of "outside". Why did going outside make a difference? I don't know. All I know is that I got an immediate impression after I prayed. I had faith in her faith in the power of prayer.okeydokeyifinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201993774293459821noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127874614688221290.post-55310212101910690192010-05-25T12:19:00.000-07:002010-05-25T12:33:45.880-07:00Was My Face Red....Well, if you are of the sweemish sort, I suggest you stop reading, because to get the full affect I will detail the info.<br />Last friday night I was at my daughter's house in Utah. Her family was there plus my daughter from Nevada and her two children. The little ones were off playing, and the teens were busy with their friends. The "adults" were at the kitchen table playing a game. We are known for uncontrollable laughter. We had eaten a bunch of food and had pop and snacks. Needless to say I felt bloated but had not heard or felt any rumblings.<br />Something that was said struck my funny bone and I started to laugh, and hard. Then I heard myself Ripp a loud one. My son-in-law shoved his chair back fast, as if it was going to get on him. Then the quote from the Simpson's came to my mind, "Well, that shut me up!" I began to laugh more and even started to shake because I could not get ahold of the gas attack. Spurt, Splort, Sputter! My son-in-law said, "I believe we have lift-off." And I laughed all the more. I was sooooo embarrassed.<br />We did calm down and I went to the bathroom to relieve any further gas and everytime I thought about the whole thing I laughed again. I am so glad and sorry at the same time, that it happened around family. On the one hand family will just chalk it up to Old People. On the other hand I will probably never live it down.<br />On Saturday we all gathered at another daughter's house and the first daughter brought along a can of room deodorizer. Funny.....<br />We all had a good chuckle at that, at my expense. I still feel so embarrassed at the whole thing and yet when I recall it I laugh all over again.<br />So my apologies to those of you who experienced this first hand, and my apologies to those of you who read this and are shaking your heads.<br />I shall go down in history as Rip Van Stinkle......okeydokeyifinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201993774293459821noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127874614688221290.post-58382582736352624572010-05-11T07:44:00.000-07:002010-05-11T08:01:37.560-07:00favorite cerealWhen I was little we ate oatmeal and cooked grits for cereal, pancakes and bacon, eggs and toast, french toast....and while all these are still good I remember my favorote Store Bought cereal. My choice was Frosted Flakes, the tony the tiger one, because they're Great!<br />My brother chose between Sugar Smacks and Sugar Pops. I liked those too, but they weren't as good as Tony's. My dad's favorite was Wheaties. He ate so many of them that I am surprised they never put his picture on the box. These were special cereals. Back in the day it was the oddity, not the normalcy to have store bought cereal. And there were not many choices either.<br />Today eating cereal out of the box is the norm. We eat it for breakfast, lunch, and supper. Snack time too. The variety is so tremendous that I am sure you can find Something you will like.<br />Recently a family member came home with the Old Shredded Wheat in the Big Chunks. My hubby was surprised they still made it. Speaking of hubby, he was a farm boy so he had hot cereal and eggs a lot. He still likes those today. He will eat a cold cereal sometimes, but not too often. And when he does it is like this shredded wheat thing.<br />I bought boxed cereal for my little ones and also had hot cereals of oatmeal, mush, and Cocoa Wheats. Cocoa Wheats are made in Indiana. We can find them at the Walmart in the west though. The Big Walmart, not the Small one.<br />The cereals I bought were the generics of their day. Captain Crunch and the like. Occasionally we would buy the Real cereal for them, the kind with the commercials on tv. I am sure they had their favorites too. It seems like each child sat with a box infront of them.<br />And that thought brings me back to my childhood. I remember my brother and I sitting at the kitchen table with our little cowboy hat bowls and boot cups eating our cereal. Mine was red and his was yellow. Each with our favorite cereal box infront of us.<br />How about you, what was your favorite cereal?okeydokeyifinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201993774293459821noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127874614688221290.post-42074720639070873882010-04-25T07:33:00.000-07:002010-04-25T07:42:09.080-07:00Found HerWith the help of my niece and her husband I was able to re-connect with a high school friend. She does not have facebook but her daughter does and I have been following her. Sadly my friend's spouse died of a trucking accident a few years ago. Her mother is still alive and she is enjoying being with her. My friend has children and grandchildren and it will be nice to catch up with her after all these many years. <br />She was my best friend and she got me through a lot of tough years by just being there and being my friend. I was part of her wedding party and saw her first child as part of her family. Then we lost contact and I have been unable to find her through the years. My moving and her moving did not help very much. <br />We had a nice long phone conversation. We laughed and just enjoyed the moment. I look forward to visiting her in the near future.<br />Why don't you reach out and touch someone today. Let your fingers do the walking. It will lighten your spirits..okeydokeyifinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201993774293459821noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127874614688221290.post-88605551832490665472010-04-05T09:46:00.000-07:002010-04-05T09:59:43.275-07:00I think I can, I think I can, I think I canThe other day the garage door did not work. It was frustrating. It went up part way and then went down again. I could not get my car out and had to make arrangements to get to work. I tried to respice the wires, no go. I tried to unlatch the automatic latch so I could open it up manually. The latch was hard to pull and it took all my strength. Finally it came down but it made no difference. I was not able to open the door manually. Talk about frustration now. So I had tried everything I know and nothing was working. It had taken me quite a while with the wire work because it was old and brittle and kept breaking as I endeavored to strip it.<br />So I decided to put the manual latch back into place and then my hubby could look at it when he came home. The stupid latch would not go back into place. Ugh!!!!! I was up and down the ladder several times. I tried to put it in by hand and then by hammer. No go. Double Ugh!!! So I asked myself "why don't you pray about it? you are always asking your hubby that/"<br />I stopped what I was doing and said a short prayer asking for the strength to put the latch back in place. I took my trusty hammer and climbed the ladder. Voila! Latch went back in to place.<br />I remember another time I said a 2 word prayer and was immediately helped.<br />Prayers can be for anything, anytime, anywhere we need help. I pray fully expecting to receive an answer....even if the answer is no. I trust that I am only a "prayer" away from the Father's help.<br />There are not enough words to express my belief in prayer. The only thing I can say is that with God all things are possible.okeydokeyifinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201993774293459821noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127874614688221290.post-46862035962955228302010-03-27T11:23:00.000-07:002010-03-27T11:34:37.986-07:00You want fries with that?Little granddaughter was over and she was pretending to be a waitress. She brought her pencil and pad of paper over and asked what I wanted. I told her a hamburger, She said "we're out of that" so I said "chicken" and she scribbled it down. Now since she is only 3 it really was a scribble. Then she asked what else I wanted. I answered "french fries". She echoed "fries" as she scribbled that down. Then she asked what else I wanted. I answered "chocolate mild shake". She scribbled that down. Then she asked what her dolly, which was sitting beside me wanted. I told her "a chocolate milkshake". She echoed " a small chocolate milk shake". Now I had to smile because she processed that since her dolly was small she gets a small shake.<br />Then she went over by the couch and held out her hands for the order and said "thank you" and brought me my imaginary order.<br />Then she went over to her mom and asked what she wanted. Her mom started to say what she wanted but then the grand daughter says "we're out of that". Then the mom asks "what do you have?" The grand daighter says she has chicken and the mommy answers that she will take that and the other things she will have. Then the grand daughter walks over to the couch to retreive the order and the mom says "oh, that must be the kitchen". I answered, "yeah, what do you think? these things just appear out of thin air?" We laughed at that. Grand daughter will make a good waitress some day.okeydokeyifinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201993774293459821noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127874614688221290.post-40951306071634015832010-03-19T10:40:00.000-07:002010-03-19T10:43:19.084-07:00We laughed and laughedSo I came home this morning and the man randomly says, " either someone has been eating chocolate on my side of the bed or I poopied my pants in my sleep." I snorted and chortled and almost could not catch my breath. He laughed and I said that will be my next blog, so here it is.<br />While he was gone I ate a few chocolate chips in the bed and a couple must have gotten away from me. Sorry about that. If his jammies were stained it was from the outside, not the inside. I though Sweet Sassy Molassy would like to know that.okeydokeyifinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201993774293459821noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127874614688221290.post-64603966928436308442010-03-15T06:14:00.000-07:002010-03-15T06:25:14.538-07:00To Dye or Not to Dye<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LQKvvGJ7ALM/S541JHYL8GI/AAAAAAAAAFo/IT3MWxBoaAg/s1600-h/mom%27s+hair+011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448851029880467554" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LQKvvGJ7ALM/S541JHYL8GI/AAAAAAAAAFo/IT3MWxBoaAg/s320/mom%27s+hair+011.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LQKvvGJ7ALM/S541I-3FrNI/AAAAAAAAAFg/L1qYW5zVIwo/s1600-h/mom%27s+hair+008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448851027594161362" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LQKvvGJ7ALM/S541I-3FrNI/AAAAAAAAAFg/L1qYW5zVIwo/s320/mom%27s+hair+008.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>So the question was whether to be nostalgic and go red again or stay mousy brown with gray. Well it is short enough and will continue to be short, so go ahead and have fun was the answer. My youngest colored my hair the color it was since I was 16, and before I went Natural. It looks good and unless you think about it the color doesn't pop out at you. It almost looks natural. I guess I wear it well. If I can figure out how this machine works I may add a photo. If not, oh well. I might just send a photo to the children. Anyhoo. I will enjoy it while it lasts. I don't want to be an 80 y.o. still coloring my hair. I want to enjoy growing older and looking the part. </div></div>okeydokeyifinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201993774293459821noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127874614688221290.post-74809913976523212602010-02-20T10:23:00.000-08:002010-02-20T10:43:27.432-08:00time"There was a time....or once upon a time....this one time...." I am sure you have said something similar to this or maybe even these words. So what is time anyway? It is a measurable thing. I can see it on the clock and on the calendar. I can measure time used wisely and time wasted. I am surprised by hours I can waste by watching movies on tv or dvd, and how fast it flies when I am in the middle of a project.<br />I have stayed up all night doing sewing or painting projects. I have forgotten time when engrosses in doing things. And I have discovered that I couple time with tasks. I know that I am task oriented and like to accomplish things in a timely manner. I do this at work. I have medicine to give patients before they go to sleep and I know that I should be done with those medicines and treatments by 10:30pm at the latest. Anything later than that and I feel that I am interrupting their sleep time. When I have been delayed or interrupted in my work and it is after 10:30 then I know the rest of the night I will be behind and try to play "catch up".<br />At home I look at the big mess ahead of me and that is when this coupling of time and task come in handy. I say to myself "cleaning the kitchen will only take a half an hour and then it will be done". So I do the kitchen and it only takes 20 minutes because I have a dish washer and only have to do the big items by hand. Then I say " the bathroom will only take me 20 minutes", which really only takes 15 and then I am off to other rooms. See what I mean? I break each task down to the time in which I think I accomplish it. If I look at the overall picture of the mess I get overwhelmed and don't do anything. I can get it done faster if I play music. A good fast beat helps me to forget the task and hum or sing along. I like 40's and 50's music the best for this.<br />One thing I must mention is that I can clean it up faster by myself. If you have the children helping it will slow you down, but it is good for them to learn to clean, so add extra minutes to your alotted time.<br />Time will and does go by... so use it to your best advantage. In time all good things will come to pass. Time will tell. Time after time I have regretted not using my time wisely. And right now it is time I get moving and clean the house. Thank you for your time.okeydokeyifinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201993774293459821noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127874614688221290.post-43936242304656312552010-02-01T13:51:00.001-08:002010-02-01T14:17:40.829-08:00How To Totally Gross Out The ChildrenI am going to tell you all about my love life.<br />I have a lover that is so totally wonderful. When he holds my hand, he holds my heart. I melt when he sits next to me and lets me cuddle up and just be there in the moment. Or when I warm my cold feet against his in bed. He also sacrifices his time, talent, and energy in doing things for me. He does things around the house, he builds things, he never raises his voice in a cross word to me, he watches chick flicks with me, and even will take me dancing sometimes. I guess you say I am Wild about him.<br />Is he perfect? No, I can't say that he is. Does he expect me to be perfect? I hope not, because I am far from it.<br />We have a mutual respect and love for each other which is hard to explain. Infact I cannot really figure it out. I am not easy to live with. Those who know me are also probably surprised that I have such a nice fella in my life.<br />I could go on and into great detail of all that I love about him, but that would really gross out the children. So suffice it to say that I have a great man in my life and he is wonderful in all respects.<br />He is one in a million and I am grateful that I am the one that he is with. Thank you so much and I will miss you while you are gone and will count the days until your return.okeydokeyifinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201993774293459821noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7127874614688221290.post-87729750724524365392010-01-23T20:21:00.000-08:002010-01-23T20:29:08.932-08:00Teach, Testify, Touch lives<div>We went to a training meeting and Bro. Leatham talked about teaching, testifying, and touching lives of those we teach. What an interesting thought. Sometimes when we teach we know that we are just imparting knowledge. Some times we know that the students or converts, etc are ready to hear our testimony. And then there are times when we actually touch the lives of others and feel we are doing Christ's service. </div>
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<br /><div>It is that way in our families as well. We want to teach, testify, and touch the lives of our children and grandchildren. I am hoping I do that. I want to spare them trouble and anguish. I want to keep them from making the same mistakes I did. </div>
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<br /><div>So listen to the spirit and follow the promptings. And remember that you too are an example to others. </div>okeydokeyifinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201993774293459821noreply@blogger.com5