That's the difference between the McWilliams campground on Mt. Charleston and our house on a Saturday night in late Sept.
I just returned from the first "Big Ol Family Camp out" planned and put together by the Darrington clan of Las Vegas. It was great! Cold & windy, but great! By my count there were about 42 people who were there for the weekend, off and on.
Most got there Friday afternoon, but I got there around 7:15 on Friday night. Dinner was on.
"Big Ol" THANKS to Nathan who had set up my tent complete with air mattress before I arrived. And, for unloading my car for me. And, for driving down and calling David and waiting up for him to arrive. And, finally, driving me back to my car in the parking lot. A cold front had blown through (blown being the operative word, here) and it was cold and windy. But, in my tent, as long as I kept my head covered, I survived. Not the greatest night sleep I've ever had, but good. Not everyone else fared as well. Some ended up in their cars sleeping through the night. I don't know how cold it was Friday night, but it was cold.
I was awake this AM @ 6:10, thanks to some chatty girls in the neighboring campsite and my forgetting my ear plugs. The day warmed up some and by the end of the day the wind had died down. When I got in my car to leave tonight it was 34. When I pulled into my driveway, it was 74!
HUGE KUDOS to Tyler B who cooked all the meals. Extraordinary meals. Not hamburgers/hot dogs stuff. Meatball sandwiches, enchiladas, stuffed burritos, dutch oven chicken, peach cobbler and caramel/apple pie a la dutch oven. He is amazing. And Sarah for all the food buying, packing, preparing too. Thanks, thanks, thanks to you both.
David was able to come up and spend last night, and today and tonight there. He'll return with everyone else tomorrow. He is a phenom to behold with little children. He took so many kids on walks, played with them, occupied them, laughed with them, you name it He is pretty much the favorite uncle/cousin to the little kids! And the big kids!
Others will be posting of their experiences there, so I'll stop for now. But, it's amazing how much fun and good times we have as a family when we get together. We are all pretty much our favorite people, I think. I know the people I spent the weekend are MY favorites! I think Grandma Garrard had to be smiling to see so many of her grand kids and great grand kids enjoying themselves so much. Looking forward to next year. Maybe in August!
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Woo-Hoo
I'm excited about the family camp out. HUGE Thanks for Nate & Stacy for setting up my tent/air mattress for me before I get there!!! For the first time in a long time, after work, I felt like I had some energy. Enough to stop at the store and get a few things. Maybe its the excitement of tomorrow night/Saturday. Maybe it's the "Simply Sleep" I took last night that ensured a good night's sleep. Whatever the reason, it feels good to not feel exhausted @ 5:00 PM and ready to collapse into bed, given the chance. I'm actually going to make dinner!
Most of you know we got an email from Michael this week. He's in Roanoke, Va. and as he put it, "they don't believe in flat ground here". Funny. Well, not funny if you're the one on the bike. He sounds good and like he's staying busy. Seems to like his trainer and the elders in his Zone which is good. I have no idea how far reaching his Zone is, though.
I see on the news that a crazy man, fighting with his wife, punched the principal at the school where the fight was happening. School dance for an ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. Maybe I'm just a little old (I know!), but seriously, school dances for elementary students??? Can't they just be kids and look forward to school dances when they're old enough to date??? Not that the dance has anything to do with the punching of the principal. He reportedly just got in his car and drove away. They are looking for him. And, the police are saying that the principal shouldn't have gotten involved. Kind of sounds like blame-the-victim to me. There aren't enough people willing to step up and call people on their behavior if you ask me. But, it's totally sad that the FEMALE principal got punched in the FACE by the IDIOT husband.
Most of you know we got an email from Michael this week. He's in Roanoke, Va. and as he put it, "they don't believe in flat ground here". Funny. Well, not funny if you're the one on the bike. He sounds good and like he's staying busy. Seems to like his trainer and the elders in his Zone which is good. I have no idea how far reaching his Zone is, though.
I see on the news that a crazy man, fighting with his wife, punched the principal at the school where the fight was happening. School dance for an ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. Maybe I'm just a little old (I know!), but seriously, school dances for elementary students??? Can't they just be kids and look forward to school dances when they're old enough to date??? Not that the dance has anything to do with the punching of the principal. He reportedly just got in his car and drove away. They are looking for him. And, the police are saying that the principal shouldn't have gotten involved. Kind of sounds like blame-the-victim to me. There aren't enough people willing to step up and call people on their behavior if you ask me. But, it's totally sad that the FEMALE principal got punched in the FACE by the IDIOT husband.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
I'm Proud To Be An American
I watched a show tonight on PBS, called "The War". It is an EXCELLENT account of WWII. Ken Burns puts it on, and if you know about Ken Burns, he's a great historian of our times. It's narrated by Mike Wallace and is on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights, still. Record it if you can't watch it. Tonight's show was 21/2 hours, but I don't know how long the other shows will be. It highlights 4 American towns and some of the soldiers that served in the Armed Forces from those town. Just excellent! I know WWII was 66 years ago, but the events of that war and the aftermath of it, shaped the world we live in today. I learned things I didn't know, like the German submarines sank lots of American oil tankers and other merchant ships off the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. One submarine sunk 7 in one night, able to do so because large cities like New York, Boston and Miami didn't want to have blackouts, which they eventually succumbed to. I learned more about the American's trapped in the Phillipines and the Bataan Death March. And, after watching just one night, I have such a renewed sense of appreciation for the soldiers, sailors & marines that fought, were wounded and died in that and other wars.
I wonder how the soldiers that endured such hardships, nearly dying from starvation and disease, feel about God. Do they feel he doesn't care, or did they come out with a stronger belief in Him? Did they become bitter? How did they adjust? Surely all didn't. All the services that exist now for PTSD didn't exist then. They just came home, got a job, went to work and lived their lives. Raised their families. Built America.
And, it makes me a little ashamed that my dad didn't enlist. He was certainly the right age. I asked him once why it was that he didn't serve or get drafted. I don't remember now what he said, but it was a pretty vague answer. My aunt indicated one time that he was pretty chicken about enlisting and somehow managed to keep from going in. That's something I'd like to know when I see him again. I hope he had a good reason. Of course, if he had fought, and died, where would that leave me???
Anyway, I love America and am so grateful that I live where I live. And when I live here. I'm glad I wasn't born in 1782 or 1829 or 1906. Odd number that it is, 1955 was a good year. After all, Disneyland and I were born in the same year!
I wonder how the soldiers that endured such hardships, nearly dying from starvation and disease, feel about God. Do they feel he doesn't care, or did they come out with a stronger belief in Him? Did they become bitter? How did they adjust? Surely all didn't. All the services that exist now for PTSD didn't exist then. They just came home, got a job, went to work and lived their lives. Raised their families. Built America.
And, it makes me a little ashamed that my dad didn't enlist. He was certainly the right age. I asked him once why it was that he didn't serve or get drafted. I don't remember now what he said, but it was a pretty vague answer. My aunt indicated one time that he was pretty chicken about enlisting and somehow managed to keep from going in. That's something I'd like to know when I see him again. I hope he had a good reason. Of course, if he had fought, and died, where would that leave me???
Anyway, I love America and am so grateful that I live where I live. And when I live here. I'm glad I wasn't born in 1782 or 1829 or 1906. Odd number that it is, 1955 was a good year. After all, Disneyland and I were born in the same year!
Thursday, September 20, 2007
THIF
I have had SOMEwhere to go EVERY day this week after work. Couple that with waking up at outrageous times of day (3:50 this morning) and I'm tired. Beyond tired. Wiped. But, I couldn't go to bed without reading the obligatory list of posts from 1) Sarah, 2) Jerolyn, 3) Julina, 4) Erin, 5) Tyler, 6)Kourtney, & 7) Rick. And, of course, all the comments. I was supposed to have a dentist appointment tomorrow AM @ 7:00 but found out last night @ 7:45 that they can't take me. They could have taken me this morning @ 7:00, but it was too late for me to get the time switch cleared for work. So, I need to rescheule the cleaning. And, speaking of dentists, good luck tomorrow, Erin, with the braces. Let me know if you need more soft pudding or anything else soft.
Mike wrote really short emails today, but it was really great to hear from him. I hope things settle down a bit and next week we can get a nice, newsy email and he can respond to some of the mail he's gotten. Really, I can't believe how much I think of him all the time.
Mike wrote really short emails today, but it was really great to hear from him. I hope things settle down a bit and next week we can get a nice, newsy email and he can respond to some of the mail he's gotten. Really, I can't believe how much I think of him all the time.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Mike's adress
We got the 5 day awaited letter from Mike.
His address is: Elder Michael Garrard
2212 Montauk Rd. #3,
Roanoke, VA 24017
He didn't say much, other than he got there ok. And he's "still pretty pumped abou Sarah being pregnant. Now Gus will have someone his age to play with :)". Got a photo of him and the mission pres & wife and another one of him and his trainer, Elder Lewis. Howard got home before I did and was already on the computer looking up all there is about Roanoke. It's a town of about 90,000 and has been voted as on of America's Most Liveable Cities. Whatever that means, it sounds nice. It's in a nice big valley. The weather is in the 70s in the days right now and lows are in the 50s. It gets 20+ inches of snow a year, although I would imagine he'll only be there a few months before transfers.
And, on an unrelated note...There is a new coffee outlet called Saxby's at the corner of Wigwam & Paradise. They have THE BEST Peach Smoothies EVER!!! I recommend them. Just ask for a frequent buyer card. When you buy 10, you get the 11th one free. They have Strawberry and another flavor, but all I've ever had is the peach. Good stuff!
His address is: Elder Michael Garrard
2212 Montauk Rd. #3,
Roanoke, VA 24017
He didn't say much, other than he got there ok. And he's "still pretty pumped abou Sarah being pregnant. Now Gus will have someone his age to play with :)". Got a photo of him and the mission pres & wife and another one of him and his trainer, Elder Lewis. Howard got home before I did and was already on the computer looking up all there is about Roanoke. It's a town of about 90,000 and has been voted as on of America's Most Liveable Cities. Whatever that means, it sounds nice. It's in a nice big valley. The weather is in the 70s in the days right now and lows are in the 50s. It gets 20+ inches of snow a year, although I would imagine he'll only be there a few months before transfers.
And, on an unrelated note...There is a new coffee outlet called Saxby's at the corner of Wigwam & Paradise. They have THE BEST Peach Smoothies EVER!!! I recommend them. Just ask for a frequent buyer card. When you buy 10, you get the 11th one free. They have Strawberry and another flavor, but all I've ever had is the peach. Good stuff!
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Journal
I just posted and then decided I should check my Joural jar and see if I could find something I felt like writing about. So, here's another journal post:
What are your favorite things about your brother, Gary?
Well, I don't remember life without him because he's older than me. He's always been there. As a kid, I thought he was IT. He was good looking and smart. He had good friends; I really didn't until I was 12. He just KNEW stuff. Because he was older. Then, we grew up. He looked out for me. Our parent's marriage was crap. After he joined the military, he came home one time on emergency leave, in part because I needed him. Later, when I ran away my one and only time of doing that, I went to Gary's. Unfortunately, he was not able to allow me to stay with him, but again, he took leave and took me home and helped figure out what would happen with me. He's the first person I remember that talked to me and listened to me and treated me like an adult. Even when I wasn't yet. (One time, when I was 14 and he was 19, he took me with his girlfriend to a club. I looked older than I was). He shouldn't have done that, I suppose, but it shows that he treated me like an adult. I think he's a really smart man. He is a good husband and dad. His wife has lots of health issues, (many are serious ones) and he has stepped up and really done what a good husband does. He has a son that has taken him down a path no parent ever wants to go. And he still loves him and tries to be a good dad. He is talkative. I like that. He can converse with pretty much anyone. He got that from our dad. He has a sense of humor. We share a history. He likes to cook. As a matter of fact, he does most of the cooking. And ENJOYS it. He's always looking for new things to make or make old things in a new way. I'm getting to that place where if I don't cook anymore I can't be sad about it. He's happy to see me. He loves me. And, I am CONVINCED that we were meant to be together as siblings from the pre-earth existence. I can't explain how much I love him. I always want to help him. These are some of the things I like about my brother.
What are your favorite things about your brother, Gary?
Well, I don't remember life without him because he's older than me. He's always been there. As a kid, I thought he was IT. He was good looking and smart. He had good friends; I really didn't until I was 12. He just KNEW stuff. Because he was older. Then, we grew up. He looked out for me. Our parent's marriage was crap. After he joined the military, he came home one time on emergency leave, in part because I needed him. Later, when I ran away my one and only time of doing that, I went to Gary's. Unfortunately, he was not able to allow me to stay with him, but again, he took leave and took me home and helped figure out what would happen with me. He's the first person I remember that talked to me and listened to me and treated me like an adult. Even when I wasn't yet. (One time, when I was 14 and he was 19, he took me with his girlfriend to a club. I looked older than I was). He shouldn't have done that, I suppose, but it shows that he treated me like an adult. I think he's a really smart man. He is a good husband and dad. His wife has lots of health issues, (many are serious ones) and he has stepped up and really done what a good husband does. He has a son that has taken him down a path no parent ever wants to go. And he still loves him and tries to be a good dad. He is talkative. I like that. He can converse with pretty much anyone. He got that from our dad. He has a sense of humor. We share a history. He likes to cook. As a matter of fact, he does most of the cooking. And ENJOYS it. He's always looking for new things to make or make old things in a new way. I'm getting to that place where if I don't cook anymore I can't be sad about it. He's happy to see me. He loves me. And, I am CONVINCED that we were meant to be together as siblings from the pre-earth existence. I can't explain how much I love him. I always want to help him. These are some of the things I like about my brother.
In case you were wondering...
I got exactly 7 & 2 halfs items of my list done yesterday. #1,2,4, half of 6, 7,9,half of 12 & 19. That equals 8 doesn't it? I didn't even count and stop when I got to 8, it just worked out that way. I was just guessing the odds!
When Mike spoke in church before he left, Sydney, Mackenzie and Erin performed a musical number. The little girls felt that with a little more practice they might could do it again, only this time in Sydney & Erin's ward. So, this morning, I excused myself from our ward and went to church in Erin's ward. The girls all did a great job. They got lots of compliments. I had a tender moment, because Dodie Barlow was there (Kenzie's other grandma) and she is the one that taught Erin piano for many years, years ago. It was kind of a full circle moment. Sydney is now taking lessons, though not from Dodie or Erin, but still, it was sweet to see the two of them at the piano. And, Mackenzie is so great on the violin, after only 1 year of lessons, I think.
Going to church in another ward is interesting. I enjoyed it. It was high council week and I really enjoyed the speakers. Both of them. Especially Bro. Wharter. Sunday school by Bro. Lyman was interesting. It's plain that he is a really intelligent man. Like he could tell you which book of the new testament certain topics are discussed. I can't do that. I can remember the words to a scripture, but not which book or chapter it is. I think I know the Stripling Warrior account is in Helaman, and I know the appearance of Jesus is in 3 Nephi, but not which book circumcision is discussed or things like that. I need to read more, I suppose. Relief Society was a treat. The teacher was really good. And, Erin conducted. That was nice for me to see. She did a good job, by the way.
That's it for today.
When Mike spoke in church before he left, Sydney, Mackenzie and Erin performed a musical number. The little girls felt that with a little more practice they might could do it again, only this time in Sydney & Erin's ward. So, this morning, I excused myself from our ward and went to church in Erin's ward. The girls all did a great job. They got lots of compliments. I had a tender moment, because Dodie Barlow was there (Kenzie's other grandma) and she is the one that taught Erin piano for many years, years ago. It was kind of a full circle moment. Sydney is now taking lessons, though not from Dodie or Erin, but still, it was sweet to see the two of them at the piano. And, Mackenzie is so great on the violin, after only 1 year of lessons, I think.
Going to church in another ward is interesting. I enjoyed it. It was high council week and I really enjoyed the speakers. Both of them. Especially Bro. Wharter. Sunday school by Bro. Lyman was interesting. It's plain that he is a really intelligent man. Like he could tell you which book of the new testament certain topics are discussed. I can't do that. I can remember the words to a scripture, but not which book or chapter it is. I think I know the Stripling Warrior account is in Helaman, and I know the appearance of Jesus is in 3 Nephi, but not which book circumcision is discussed or things like that. I need to read more, I suppose. Relief Society was a treat. The teacher was really good. And, Erin conducted. That was nice for me to see. She did a good job, by the way.
That's it for today.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Motivation
Or the lack of...I woke up this Saturday morning at 6:40 or so. It was so great to "sleep in". I didn't get to bed until almost midnight, so I guess it's about the same amount of sleep I usually get. Anyway, most Saturdays begin like this one did. I, before I even open my eyes, try to determine what time it is by sensing how much light is in the room. I pretty much called it today. Then, I calculate what time it is in West Virginia, figure out what Mike will be doing about now and pray for him. Then, I decide if it's worth even trying to go back to sleep or will it just be a 20 minute waste of time while my head spins with things to do. So, giving up on that idea, but with the head still spinning, I decide to make a list (Sarah, aren't you proud of me?) of all the things I want/could/need to do today. These aren't prioritized at all. That gives me leverage to not do some of them!
1. Buy groceries (My FAVORITE thing to do---NOT)
2. Write A. Shirley a letter since today is her birthday and she won't speak to me anymore.
3. Mail A. Shirley & U. Dick's 4 boxes of crystal and cut glass heirlooms back to them. I had said I wouldn't until they sent me the $$, but I've decided it's worth the $$ to get it out of the garage.
4. Buy birthday gifts for Brevin, Brock and Brooklyn (don't you love the alliteration in that?)
5. Cut out dresses for Caylee & Zoee
6. Put photos in my photo album & Scrapbook.
7. Frame a cross stitch project.
8. Buy me some perfume I have been out of.
9. Go check out the enclosed toe Birkenstocks I had sent to the store near me and see if I would want them.
10. Write a tribute to our former Bishop.
11. Go to Catherines and see if I can find something new to wear to work, now that it's "long pant season".
12. Lube & wash my car--not me personally, but take it to have it done.
13. Hang a kitchen window valance I've had for 2 months.
14. Return some things to a store.
15. Finish tying some quilts to send to Elaine to take to Mexico.
16. Make some chili from my dad's recipe.
17. Make some zucinni bread.
18. Find the grater attachment to my new Cuisinart food processor so when I grate the zuccini thats OBSCENELY big, it won't be an all day project. WHERE did I put that sucker????
19. Go to the bank and deposit some checks.
20. Read my scriptures.
21. Work on a Christmas cross stitch I started in February.
22. Work on a quilt.
23. Figure out how I'm going to get my new sewing machine cabinet put together.
It's now 8:20. I haven't done any of them. Can't tell you how many I will do. Maybe 8. That sounds good. I'll let you know later. Because here's what happens. I know I need to do these things (need being a relative term, of course). Certainly CAN do them. WANT to have them done. Know I'd feel great at the end of the day to know they were done. But I can't get excited about doing any of them. I think it's because these will be solitary tasks for me. What do I really want to do? Do something WITH someone. . .Take a trip. Go to lunch with friends. Whatever.
On a lighter note...pretty sure today is the day we might get a letter from Mike telling us WHERE IN THE WORLD HE IS!!! How can he have sent an email and not told us the town he's in?????? It's pretty weird to spend the past 3 days not knowing where he's living. West Virginia? Virginia? And, I hope it's a nice, long, newsy letter.
And, I found a GREAT price on a ticket to Louisville, KY. I'm going to see my brother in November. $150.00. Round trip. Pretty good. Non stop, both ways. I'm excited about that. It's been over 2 years since I saw him.
Well, it's now 8:37 and I need to get going on that list!
1. Buy groceries (My FAVORITE thing to do---NOT)
2. Write A. Shirley a letter since today is her birthday and she won't speak to me anymore.
3. Mail A. Shirley & U. Dick's 4 boxes of crystal and cut glass heirlooms back to them. I had said I wouldn't until they sent me the $$, but I've decided it's worth the $$ to get it out of the garage.
4. Buy birthday gifts for Brevin, Brock and Brooklyn (don't you love the alliteration in that?)
5. Cut out dresses for Caylee & Zoee
6. Put photos in my photo album & Scrapbook.
7. Frame a cross stitch project.
8. Buy me some perfume I have been out of.
9. Go check out the enclosed toe Birkenstocks I had sent to the store near me and see if I would want them.
10. Write a tribute to our former Bishop.
11. Go to Catherines and see if I can find something new to wear to work, now that it's "long pant season".
12. Lube & wash my car--not me personally, but take it to have it done.
13. Hang a kitchen window valance I've had for 2 months.
14. Return some things to a store.
15. Finish tying some quilts to send to Elaine to take to Mexico.
16. Make some chili from my dad's recipe.
17. Make some zucinni bread.
18. Find the grater attachment to my new Cuisinart food processor so when I grate the zuccini thats OBSCENELY big, it won't be an all day project. WHERE did I put that sucker????
19. Go to the bank and deposit some checks.
20. Read my scriptures.
21. Work on a Christmas cross stitch I started in February.
22. Work on a quilt.
23. Figure out how I'm going to get my new sewing machine cabinet put together.
It's now 8:20. I haven't done any of them. Can't tell you how many I will do. Maybe 8. That sounds good. I'll let you know later. Because here's what happens. I know I need to do these things (need being a relative term, of course). Certainly CAN do them. WANT to have them done. Know I'd feel great at the end of the day to know they were done. But I can't get excited about doing any of them. I think it's because these will be solitary tasks for me. What do I really want to do? Do something WITH someone. . .Take a trip. Go to lunch with friends. Whatever.
On a lighter note...pretty sure today is the day we might get a letter from Mike telling us WHERE IN THE WORLD HE IS!!! How can he have sent an email and not told us the town he's in?????? It's pretty weird to spend the past 3 days not knowing where he's living. West Virginia? Virginia? And, I hope it's a nice, long, newsy letter.
And, I found a GREAT price on a ticket to Louisville, KY. I'm going to see my brother in November. $150.00. Round trip. Pretty good. Non stop, both ways. I'm excited about that. It's been over 2 years since I saw him.
Well, it's now 8:37 and I need to get going on that list!
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Got a short call
Mike called today from the airport in SLC, but had only put in enough $$ for a 3 minute call. When, 2 minutes into it he got the announcement that he only had 1 minute left, I told told him to call back in 45 minutes. Try to call collect to my cel phone. Turns out my cel phone didn't accept collect calls. So, he called again when he was in Cincinatti. This time he had 5 minutes. But, he only got to talk about 3 minutes because the entire zone was motioning to him that it was time to go and get on the plane. So, not long convos. But, he sounded good and was glad to be on his way. I'm assuming he's sleeping in the Mission Home tonight and will be assigned to his trainer and get to his new area tomorrow. Can't wait to hear from him. He had to spend $150 in the MTC for immunization boosters. Can you believe that? If I had known he needed shots, he could have gotten them here before he left, but no one or anything ever indicated he neeeded that. So, I have a missionary. Not a missionary-in-training, a real, bonifide missionary. It's great!
9/11
9/11. Isn't that date just frozen in our memories? Today, 9/11/07 is significant for me for another reason than commemorating the terrorist attacks of 2001. Today, Michael leaves the MTC and heads off to Charleston. I'll be thinking of him all day, wondering where he is along the way. Someone asked me at church on Sunday if he'll be able to call from the airport. Gosh, I hope so! That would be awesome. But, if not, I know that sometime around 3:00 this afternoon, Las Vegas time, he should be arriving at the Charleston airport and will be on his way to the rest of his mission.
It still makes me so sad to review the events of 9/11/01. I was teaching Seminary and a boy came in just as class started and gave the opening prayer and asked that the Lord would bless the people in the plane that crashed. I asked him what he was talking about. He said he had heard on the radio that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. Well, I immediately thought a small, private plane. Probably 1 or two people. How could I have imagined what really had happened. Then, I got home and turned on the news. Nathan was home and he came downstairs and we watched for a bit before I had to go to work. All morning we just watched the TV. Not a lot of Routing or Scheduling was happening that day. I guess it's just a sign of the times we live in that this and other atrocities occur. I am reading a book by John Bytheway and in it he quotes someone as saying the best way to prepare for death is to live life each day with purpose. How often do we just float through our day? How often do we wonder, "if this was my last day on earth, would I do different things? Say different things? Think different things?" But, really, who wants to go around acting and feeling like there's no tomorrow? So, we go on with our "normal" day-to-day lives. Wasting a lot of time, sometimes. Making some serious difference other times. In the end, we just hope that what ever we did mattered.
Happy Tuesday!!!
It still makes me so sad to review the events of 9/11/01. I was teaching Seminary and a boy came in just as class started and gave the opening prayer and asked that the Lord would bless the people in the plane that crashed. I asked him what he was talking about. He said he had heard on the radio that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. Well, I immediately thought a small, private plane. Probably 1 or two people. How could I have imagined what really had happened. Then, I got home and turned on the news. Nathan was home and he came downstairs and we watched for a bit before I had to go to work. All morning we just watched the TV. Not a lot of Routing or Scheduling was happening that day. I guess it's just a sign of the times we live in that this and other atrocities occur. I am reading a book by John Bytheway and in it he quotes someone as saying the best way to prepare for death is to live life each day with purpose. How often do we just float through our day? How often do we wonder, "if this was my last day on earth, would I do different things? Say different things? Think different things?" But, really, who wants to go around acting and feeling like there's no tomorrow? So, we go on with our "normal" day-to-day lives. Wasting a lot of time, sometimes. Making some serious difference other times. In the end, we just hope that what ever we did mattered.
Happy Tuesday!!!
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Wow!!!
Most of you probably already know this, but Sarah and Tyler surprised us last night by announcing they are pregnant again! I am really surprised because I wasn't privvy to all the Swiss Days conversation about the whole thing, but am very happy. I do relate to the shock it is to Sarah, having gone through a shock of my own about 20 years ago. Anyway, the nice, round number 10 grandbaby in January will be changed to a very un-round 11! Yay for all of us. I'm kind of sad for Michael that he'll be missing the birth of TWO of his niece?/nephew?s. At least one nephew we know of, anyway. But, it's all good. Sarah and Tyler are great parents and pretty much have it all together so it's no mistake this is happening, I'm convinced.
My BFF sent me this and I thought I'd pass it along.
Two names you go by:
1.Beth Ann
2.Grandma
Two things you are wearing right now:
1. Blue shorts
2. White (even after Labor Day) Birkestocks
Two of your favorite things to do
1. Watch a movie
2. Visit with my kids
Two things you want very badly at the moment
1. To have my sewing machine cabinet and it put together
2. Another Saturday before work
Two favorite pets you have had/have
1. My dog, Patty
2. My cat, Princess Dustianna
Two people who will fill this out
1. Erin
2. Sarah
Two things you did last night
1. Watched a TV movie on Lifetime
2. Cross stitched
Two things you ate today
1. Cheerios & a banana for breakfast
2. Lasagna Hamburger Helper for lunch
Two people you've talked to today
1. Sarah
2. Erin
Two things you're doing tomorrow
1. Working
2. Calling and making an appointment for a massage
Two longest Car Rides you've been on
1. To Louisiana from Idaho with Howard for my mothers funeral
2. Moving to Idaho from Louisiana in 1975
Your favorite holidays
1. Chistmas
2. Christmas
Two favorite beverages:
1. Caffeine Free Diet Coke or Dr. Pepper
2. Chocolate milk
Two of your most recent purchases
1. New skirt
2. Picture frames
Now, I tag you all to do this!
My BFF sent me this and I thought I'd pass it along.
Two names you go by:
1.Beth Ann
2.Grandma
Two things you are wearing right now:
1. Blue shorts
2. White (even after Labor Day) Birkestocks
Two of your favorite things to do
1. Watch a movie
2. Visit with my kids
Two things you want very badly at the moment
1. To have my sewing machine cabinet and it put together
2. Another Saturday before work
Two favorite pets you have had/have
1. My dog, Patty
2. My cat, Princess Dustianna
Two people who will fill this out
1. Erin
2. Sarah
Two things you did last night
1. Watched a TV movie on Lifetime
2. Cross stitched
Two things you ate today
1. Cheerios & a banana for breakfast
2. Lasagna Hamburger Helper for lunch
Two people you've talked to today
1. Sarah
2. Erin
Two things you're doing tomorrow
1. Working
2. Calling and making an appointment for a massage
Two longest Car Rides you've been on
1. To Louisiana from Idaho with Howard for my mothers funeral
2. Moving to Idaho from Louisiana in 1975
Your favorite holidays
1. Chistmas
2. Christmas
Two favorite beverages:
1. Caffeine Free Diet Coke or Dr. Pepper
2. Chocolate milk
Two of your most recent purchases
1. New skirt
2. Picture frames
Now, I tag you all to do this!
Monday, September 3, 2007
Sometimes it takes some time
I'm not usually too "churchy" on the blog, at least not so blatantly, but I felt like I should post this.
Over the years, I've served in the Young Women's program of our church a number of times (5, I think) serving as advisor, counsellor and President. Anyone who knows about that program, especially the program 15 years ago is familiar with "The Values" focused on in the program. Janice Kapp Perry and Joy Lundberg wrote a set of songs to focus on the values and I loved the music. Still do. There is a song called "I Am of Infinite Worth" that corresponds to the value of Individual Worth. I had listened to that song at least probably 50 times when one day, I was listening to it in my family room. I was sitting in our old Bentwood rocker and folding laundry. Suddenly, the lyrics hit home to me in a way they never had before.
"All I need do is remember if ever I wonder if I am of worth, remember my Savior; what he did for me when he walked among men on this earth. Pain and unspeakable sorrow he bore for my sins there, in Gethsemane, then he gave up his life as he hung on the cross AND HE DID IT ALL FOR ME! Yes, I am of worth, of infinite worth, my Savior, Redeemer loves me. Yes, I am of worth, of infinite worth, I'll be all he wants me to be... Lovingly, Jesus is watching. He knows I am worth all he suffered for me. Now I must fulfill my own mission in life, ever following him faithfully...".
I was raised in a church that taught me that Jesus died for me, but I never understood that He didn't HAVE to die, he could have gone on living forever on (or off) the cross if He chose to. He WAS half God, after all. I interpreted the teaching that "he died for me" more as "he was killed for me". Not the same thing. And, thank goodness he did, because if he never died, he wouldn't have been resurrected. And, if he was never resurrected, we wouldn't be able to be resurrected. And, if there is no resurrection, then what is the reason for life here? So, what I'm trying to get to is that we really are worth a whole lot to him---- individually---not just as a part of the mass of humanity for him to have done what he did. For me. For you. For all of us.
And, while I have my days that I have a hard time seeing what difference I'm making here thankfully, those days are few and far between. And, I know like I never knew before that I'm worth a lot!!!!! And I try to remember that about everyone I meet. Sometimes I forget that. But, I really do know it. Knowing and forgetting is different than not knowing.
Thank you JoyLundberg.
Over the years, I've served in the Young Women's program of our church a number of times (5, I think) serving as advisor, counsellor and President. Anyone who knows about that program, especially the program 15 years ago is familiar with "The Values" focused on in the program. Janice Kapp Perry and Joy Lundberg wrote a set of songs to focus on the values and I loved the music. Still do. There is a song called "I Am of Infinite Worth" that corresponds to the value of Individual Worth. I had listened to that song at least probably 50 times when one day, I was listening to it in my family room. I was sitting in our old Bentwood rocker and folding laundry. Suddenly, the lyrics hit home to me in a way they never had before.
"All I need do is remember if ever I wonder if I am of worth, remember my Savior; what he did for me when he walked among men on this earth. Pain and unspeakable sorrow he bore for my sins there, in Gethsemane, then he gave up his life as he hung on the cross AND HE DID IT ALL FOR ME! Yes, I am of worth, of infinite worth, my Savior, Redeemer loves me. Yes, I am of worth, of infinite worth, I'll be all he wants me to be... Lovingly, Jesus is watching. He knows I am worth all he suffered for me. Now I must fulfill my own mission in life, ever following him faithfully...".
I was raised in a church that taught me that Jesus died for me, but I never understood that He didn't HAVE to die, he could have gone on living forever on (or off) the cross if He chose to. He WAS half God, after all. I interpreted the teaching that "he died for me" more as "he was killed for me". Not the same thing. And, thank goodness he did, because if he never died, he wouldn't have been resurrected. And, if he was never resurrected, we wouldn't be able to be resurrected. And, if there is no resurrection, then what is the reason for life here? So, what I'm trying to get to is that we really are worth a whole lot to him---- individually---not just as a part of the mass of humanity for him to have done what he did. For me. For you. For all of us.
And, while I have my days that I have a hard time seeing what difference I'm making here thankfully, those days are few and far between. And, I know like I never knew before that I'm worth a lot!!!!! And I try to remember that about everyone I meet. Sometimes I forget that. But, I really do know it. Knowing and forgetting is different than not knowing.
Thank you JoyLundberg.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Journal
Tell how, when, where you learned to drive and any memorable experiences.
I learned to drive when I was about 13 years old. We lived in the country and we had a pick up truck. It was standard shift, with the shifter on the column, not on the floor. My mom would sometimes let me drive when we got close to our house. When I was 13 I met Jimmy Ray Brown. Jimmy Ray was a nephew of a neighbor dairy farmer. He was 15 and lived 15 miles away in Pleasant Hill. We went to different schools. Dating was not even in my vocabulary and wouldn't be for 3 more years, thanks to my dad, but we were "going together" on the sly from my daddy. Mama new about him and me and really liked him. Because my daddy was gone a lot until late evenings, often Jimmy Ray would come over and visit and we'd play Wahoo. Basically, Parchisi on a board with little divits drilled out and played with marbles. Well, Jimmy Ray had a Ford Fairlaine, 1964 model, I believe. It had a standard shift too. One summer evening, we talked my mom into letting me go with him to Pleasant Hill (15 minute drive) because Pleasant Hill had a Dairy Dream drive in. It was scary because if my daddy came home while we were gone me, my mom and Jimmy would have been in SERIOUS trouble. So,we hurried back. On the way back, he let me practice driving his car. I had gotten a strawberry milk shake at he Dairy Dream. I didn't have any place to put it, and I set it on the dash. When I let out the clutch, I let it out too quickly and the car lurched and strawberry milkshake spilled all over me, Jimmy Ray and the inside of his car. Eventually, the following year, I took Driver's Ed. in school and learned how to drive properly. Mr. Latham was the Driver's Ed teacher and had been forever. I didn't get my license until I was 17. I took my drivers test driving my cousin's VW Thing. That was a cool car! Kind of a lightweight cross between a jeep and a hummer. Sort of. Do a search for "VW Thing".
I learned to drive when I was about 13 years old. We lived in the country and we had a pick up truck. It was standard shift, with the shifter on the column, not on the floor. My mom would sometimes let me drive when we got close to our house. When I was 13 I met Jimmy Ray Brown. Jimmy Ray was a nephew of a neighbor dairy farmer. He was 15 and lived 15 miles away in Pleasant Hill. We went to different schools. Dating was not even in my vocabulary and wouldn't be for 3 more years, thanks to my dad, but we were "going together" on the sly from my daddy. Mama new about him and me and really liked him. Because my daddy was gone a lot until late evenings, often Jimmy Ray would come over and visit and we'd play Wahoo. Basically, Parchisi on a board with little divits drilled out and played with marbles. Well, Jimmy Ray had a Ford Fairlaine, 1964 model, I believe. It had a standard shift too. One summer evening, we talked my mom into letting me go with him to Pleasant Hill (15 minute drive) because Pleasant Hill had a Dairy Dream drive in. It was scary because if my daddy came home while we were gone me, my mom and Jimmy would have been in SERIOUS trouble. So,we hurried back. On the way back, he let me practice driving his car. I had gotten a strawberry milk shake at he Dairy Dream. I didn't have any place to put it, and I set it on the dash. When I let out the clutch, I let it out too quickly and the car lurched and strawberry milkshake spilled all over me, Jimmy Ray and the inside of his car. Eventually, the following year, I took Driver's Ed. in school and learned how to drive properly. Mr. Latham was the Driver's Ed teacher and had been forever. I didn't get my license until I was 17. I took my drivers test driving my cousin's VW Thing. That was a cool car! Kind of a lightweight cross between a jeep and a hummer. Sort of. Do a search for "VW Thing".
YAY!!!
Is this how it's going to be for the next 103 weeks? Waiting every day for a letter? Well, today I wasn't disappointed. We got our letter I've been waiting for all week. He wrote it on Wednesday morning (P-day). He had been to the Temple and after he wrote the letter, he got the package I mailed him earlier in the week and then wrote another letter to answer some of the questions I had asked him. I'm putting another package together for him which includes some treats. But, because of Labor Day, he won't get it before Tues. or Wed. Ok, enough of the missionary stuff!
I cleaned this AM. I cleaned off the bookshelf we have by our back door that is our mail/phone center (read junk collector). It looks so much nicer. Now, I just need to put in the right place all the stuff that was stacked on it because we needed to keep it, but just didn't take the time to put it away at the moment. I've decided that I just need a file cabinet to carry around with me everywhere I go so I can file away the various receipts and other things I always save because I think I might need them some time. By the way, how many years of pay stubs and tax records do you really need to hang onto? I think I have way more than I need.
This afternoon, Nathan came over and took Michael's bed and we brought Davids bed in from the garage and set it up in Mike's room. David promptly announced that he was going to start sleeping on it because it's more comfortable. Fine, but I told him this room is going to become the room I have my sewing machine up in. I'm not worried because he's seldom home going to bed early enough that it would interfer with any sewing I want to do.
This afternoon, after Nate left, I turned on the TV and Beaches was on. I sat down to watch it and it had been a really long time since I had watched it and I just bawled. Who couldn't bawl watching that?
Now, My Best Friend's Wedding is on and I'm about to watch Jerry Maguire (while I do other things, of course). I just had a gourmet baloney sandwich for dinner about to be followed up with a desert of cantaloupe. Ah, life is grand!!!
I cleaned this AM. I cleaned off the bookshelf we have by our back door that is our mail/phone center (read junk collector). It looks so much nicer. Now, I just need to put in the right place all the stuff that was stacked on it because we needed to keep it, but just didn't take the time to put it away at the moment. I've decided that I just need a file cabinet to carry around with me everywhere I go so I can file away the various receipts and other things I always save because I think I might need them some time. By the way, how many years of pay stubs and tax records do you really need to hang onto? I think I have way more than I need.
This afternoon, Nathan came over and took Michael's bed and we brought Davids bed in from the garage and set it up in Mike's room. David promptly announced that he was going to start sleeping on it because it's more comfortable. Fine, but I told him this room is going to become the room I have my sewing machine up in. I'm not worried because he's seldom home going to bed early enough that it would interfer with any sewing I want to do.
This afternoon, after Nate left, I turned on the TV and Beaches was on. I sat down to watch it and it had been a really long time since I had watched it and I just bawled. Who couldn't bawl watching that?
Now, My Best Friend's Wedding is on and I'm about to watch Jerry Maguire (while I do other things, of course). I just had a gourmet baloney sandwich for dinner about to be followed up with a desert of cantaloupe. Ah, life is grand!!!
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