Lest you think you have any problems...

Watch the news. How awful is it that the fires in California are as bad as they are??? I can't even imagine how awful it would be to lose EVERYTHING you own in a house fire. You can replace the actual house with insurance, but the photos and sentimental things? Genealogy? Terrible. The fires and forced evacuations will certainly give the people in Southern California an opportunity to give and serve their fellow Californians who lost so much.

And, my friend's son was nearly killed this week, but with some divine intervention was saved and is walking around after breaking a vertebrae in his neck & having surgery on Friday morning. Truly amazing. But, please, everyone, WEAR YOUR SEATBELTS. EVERY TIME you get in a car.

Things like this have a way of helping put our problems into perspective, I think. Helps us focus a bit better about what is REALLY important.

8 Weird Things About Me

Stacy tagged me. Not sure I can come up with 8, but we'll see. Some of them aren't really weird.

1). I was in R.O.T.C. in high school for 1 year and was on the rifle team.

2). I've seen a calf be born.

3). I nearly got bitten by a rattlesnake when I was 13.

4). I nearly drowned that same summer.

5). I count, mentally, from 1-7. A lot.

6). I sometimes (not as often as I used to) "type" the keyboard alphabet with my toes.

7). I used to live in a grocery store (above it, actually). It sucked.

8). I ate an entire jar of Spanish olives once on a dare.

Got No Gripes

It's easier to blog when you have a gripe, I've learned. But I got no gripes today. Today I'm good. Good day at work, went to the Temple with a friend tonight, now it's 9:40 and it's been a good day. I did accidentally erase the message Mike left on our phone when he called home from the airport on his way to W. Va. that we've kept just so we can hear his voice every once in a while, but that's not a disaster. But, really, why is it that day to day your mood can change so much. Nothing else changes significantly (you don't fall in a soda puddle or anything) but your mood does. Some days it's like "I love the world and my place in it and almost everyone I know" and other days it's like "can this day (hour/week/month/year/life) just get OVER please???"

I do have FANTASTIC kids. That's pretty much a constant. Great spouses to spouses. Great parents to kids. Great kids to parents. Great people to the world. Great friends to friends. Just...great. Now, I realize I'm not the MOST objective person and probably am a little biased in this and some of you probably think I'm wrong, because YOU have the best kids. That's ok, you can think that. I hope you do.

Change of Plans

It's a long story that I don't have time to go into now, but Sarah's not going with me to Idaho for the reception and I'm returning on Friday, just like the original plan. I COMPLETELY forgot that I have to teach the Relief Society lesson that Sunday and I can't switch because I already did in September on the outside chance that I'd get to go to Swiss Days. Sarah has made other plans that are good ones. So, disappointed I have to miss the reception, but ok with it because there's no other option.

Yeah, I know!

it's been 5 days and no post. Since I was blasted 2 times in one day, I guess I'd better put something on here. I just don't have anything exciting. Exciting to YOU that is.

By now, you know Sarah is going with me to Idaho for my BFF Marsha's daughter, Megan's wedding and now, RECEPTION! Iwas just going to go fly to SLC and back in one day since Megan is being married in the SLC temple. I didn't want to run the risk of bad roads alone and the idea of travelling alone just doesn't thrill me anymore. I do too much in my life in a solitary way, as it is. So, now that Sarah is available, I'm so super excited to get to be at the reception on Saturday night. We'll get to see Randy and Dan---Bonus!---eat at Taco Bandito---DOUBLE BONUS!!!---AND go to church in the old 9th ward. That's Sarah's request. I called Marsha and told her the good news and she's excited, too. So, I'm going to make a slight adjustment on the travel plans and start packin!

And, Bonus # 4...Marsha told me this afternoon that she's going to come down for Scrapfest in January! I'm bookin' the room, baby! She's going to be post hand surgery, so I don't know how much scrapping she'll be able to do, but we'll be able to do what we do best, TALK! She really is da bomb!

I had a slight burst of energy today and stopped at Wally World (Walmart) and took care of my grocery shopping for the week today, so I don't have to do it tomorrow. I used to LOVE to grocery shop. Now, I pretty much hate it. But, thankfully, Howard got home right after I did and unloaded them into the house for me. I think that's the part I hate the most. So, tomorrow is looking good!

I hope to go see "Elizabeth, the Golden Age" tis weekend. That's a movie right up my alley. History and English! And who can go wrong with Cate Blanchette?!

So, there you have it! No tit or tat, but tha,tha,tha,that's all, folks!

Mean People Suck

Mean People suck!!! I don't get the need for some people to say whatever they want to hurt other people's feelings. Does it REALLY make them feel smart? Witty? BETTER than someone? Don't they know that none of us are inherently better than anyone else? And, when a person says mean things, it actually diminishes themselves, not so much the person the mean comment was aimed at. So to all the people who have a "gift" of zinging others and think that is cool...PFFFTTT to you!

I'm here

I give Erin a bad time about not posting and I realize it's been 5 days since I did. As Jerolyn said, I've got 'nuffin! Hence the no posting.

It's General Conference weekend. I know there are some of you just a celebratin' away that you get a little Mormon holiday from the regular Sunday routine. With small children, that's certainly understandable. I'm just really glad to have the BYU channel and get to sit, in my comfy clothes, and watch and listen to the entire thing. And not have to go to some church to hear 1 session, if you're lucky, like some do. I had forgotten about the vacancy in the 1st Presidency and am pleased (not that it matters if I am or not) with Elder Eyring being the replacement to Pres. Faust.

Conference makes me remember my conversion and the 32 years since. NEVER in my life could I imagine where my life would take me. Idaho???? Las Vegas?!?! For a little backward, country girl from Louisiana, that was pretty unimaginable. And NEVER could I have imagined being in such a great family, loving all these great people I do. SOOOOO glad to be here! So glad to know what I know. SO want to be for others what some were for me.

I had a stupid, scary, crazy, unsettling dream about Michael Saturday morning. I can't believe how much I miss that kid.

To The Mothers of Young Children I Know

I was listening to my favorite Gospel singer today, Hilary Weeks. She sings a song called Who You Are. I love it. It makes me think of Sarah, Erin & Stacy. And Jerolyn. And Kristie. & Leah. And Kourtney. And so many others I know and love. It's tough being a mother of young children. People glibly say "it's the hardest job in the world". But, it REALLY is. And, thanks to my kids & their spouses, I have some of the GREATEST grandkids in the entire world. I know great things are in store for them. Here's what is hoped to be an encouraging word to all of you, compliments of Hilary Weeks. :)

I know you wonder if you'll ever have a day when the kids stay calm, the laundry's done and the dishes are put away, and sometimes you feel like your days are spent and gone and the question running through your mind is,"what have I gotten done"? And when you finally have a moment to slow down, at the end of your day, I know Father would say:

Believe in what you're doing. Believe in who you are. Hold tight to the truth that you're a
daughter of God. Believe in who you're becoming. Believe in who you are.

It may seem simple, all the little things you do. But the lives you touch matter so much and there's no one else like you. And Father needs you to stand tall and faithful; to be all you can be. Oh, if you could see what He sees, you'd

Believe in what you're doing. Believe in who you are. Hold tight to the truth that you're a
daughter of God. Belive in who you're becoming. Believe in who you are.

When it's hard to belive in yourself and you feel like you're beginning to doubt, remember:

He believes in what you're doing. He believes in who you are. Don't lose sight of the truth that you're a daughter of God, that He belives in who you're becoming, He believes in who you are!

As hard as some days are, that's how great other days with small children can be. And, like Kenny Chesney sings, "Don't Blink". Time flies too quickly, it seems especially the older I get it seems so.

Go Moms!

One & a Half Days to Wednesday (P-Day!)

Stacy catching up on some Quality reading!

Friends, cousins, cousins, friends

This is the World Famous Caramel Apple Pie, pre cooked. Amazing!

How can you not love this face?????

Mutt & Jeff????

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful girrrrrl (Think Mr. Holland's Opus)

I can't wait for Wednesdays! It's Mike's Pday and we look forward to his emails on that day and just hope something doesn't get in the way of him being able to send one.

I know I've already told you this, but I've been watching "THE WAR" on PBS. I think I can say it's the best thing I've ever watched on TV. It's a 7 part series on WWII. Ken Burns must go down in the history hall of fame! What an amazing job he did. I'd love the DVD collection, but won't cough up the $128 that PBS wants to charge for it. I'll wait a while and see if I can score it on EBay. It's just amazing. I'm saddened at all the civilians that were killed, sometimes tens of thousands at a time. And the soldiers on all sides. And for what??? To defend freedom and liberty from a madman who thought he had all power. It makes me think of my Uncle Dick who fought in the Battle of the Bulge. And Bro. Whittaker, a man in our ward who was taken prisoner of war by the Germans. I can't thank them enough for what they and millions others like them did.

Someone asked me if I even KNEW how to download photos since I hardly ever do. So, I'm going to attempt to download yet a few more photos of the camp out. And, Stacy, I don't care that I came home early. I WAS the first one to post!!! I didn't HAVE to you know! BTW, did you guys get a new tent??? Here goes with the photos:

OK, I'm obviously stupid. I can't get the photos to go below the script. So, go back to the photos at the top!