.

2011-02-21T20:15:00.000-08:00

There have been lots of emotions and feelings surfacing the last couple of days. Love, fear, compassion, fury, annoyance, happiness, joy, giddiness, relief, worry, gratitude, and hope, to name a few. It isn't natural to watch your child lay in a hospital bed. Every instinct is to want to make it better, and your hands are tied. You have to trust others to know what is best for your baby. Can they possibly know how to take care of your baby?

Though there have been some scary moments, things are looking up, and gratitude is the over-riding emotion of the day. God is in His heaven. He knows our needs. He knows.

Sorry if this is dramatic. But the situation has been a little dramatic. There have been some silver linings, though. I've spent about 15 hours of quality one-on-one time with my daughter in the last 2 days, during which time we have managed to laugh and have some hysterical moments. Life is good.

{And P.S. the fury and annoyance were not directed at my sweet patient. Inefficiencies and incompetence are just not acceptable when so much hangs in the balance. Grr.}

Day of Typing

2011-02-15T22:51:00.000-08:00

It doesn't seem like
it should take
so much
time.
Really, it is just a folder
with info in it.
Problem:
Info is hard
to track
down
sometimes. And
I wanted the
best info for
my peeps.
And decisions are hard
{for me}
to make. Like
really, really hard.
I think about
how they
are going to affect
everyone, and
what might be
better, and what will
be worse,
and who will
get mad.
Ha Ha.
What were
they thinking
when they
asked me
to be
Stake Camp
Director?
I'm decision challenged.
I'm not a camper.
I don't really relish the spotlight.
I'm not the rah-rah type.
BUT
I love Young Women.
I have a testimony
of their worth.
And their goodness.
So I will try not to whine.
And I will type away.
I'm a Believer!

Day of Love

2011-02-14T06:20:00.000-08:00

On this, the day o' love, I thought it would be appropriate to return to the blogging world to express some of the love o' my heart. In no particular order:

I love that when I open my blog, it isn't horrifically purple. Thanks, Holly, for the re-design.
I love her.
I love living.
I love my family.
I love Valentine's Day.
I especially love my Valentine.
I love flowers.
I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I love late night/after date chats.
I love random acts of kindness.
I love Sunday dinner.
I love 70 degree weather.
I love 80 degree weather.
I even love 90 degree weather.
I love rain.
I love light.
I love cute shoes.
I love digging around in the dirt.
I love wandering around in the plant nursery.
I love babies.
I love old people.
I love smiles.
I love hugs.
I love orderliness.
I love reading.
I love having grandchildren.
I love pie.
I love music.
I love hooded sweatshirts.
I love the scriptures.
I love my sisters.
I love my parents.
I love all my relatives, come to think of it!
I love blue skies & sunshine.
I love mountains & canyons.
I love sitting around a fire.
I love birthdays.
I love my neighbors.
I love freedom.
I love having friends.
I love going out to lunch (oh, and dinner and breakfast.)
I love having a plan.
I love hot soup on a cold day.
I love cookies.
I love color.

I love thinking about the things I love. It makes me grateful for my life just how it is. How could I be so lucky? With all the ups and downs and knowns and unknowns, I have a lot to love. Happy Valentine's Day! Have a LOVE-ly one.

Letters

2010-10-08T19:07:00.000-07:00

Dear Honest/Nice/Beloved Lady at Michael's,

Thank you for turning in my wallet today when you found it in the shopping cart. You restored/strengthened my confidence in the human race.

Grateful Airhead

Dear Monk,

Even though you are no longer making new episodes, I just ran into a re-run of you on TV. Even though I didn't watch you faithfully, I kinda miss your quirky self. You remind me of a very exaggerated me. I can relate just enough to make me laugh. And hyper-ventilate a little.

An Anxious Fan

Dear Garbage Man,

You came just a little too early this morning. I was in the process of depositing all of the debris from the big storm earlier in the week into the black barrel when you showed up. I put out what I had finished. I continued cleaning up and nearly filled the barrel again. Realizing you hadn't come to the houses across the street, I rolled it over there and in a few minutes you picked up my garbage again. That is what I call getting my taxpayer's money's worth. Much obliged.

Citizen Clod

Dear Vogue Pattern,

You are kind of making me crazy. I approached you with confidence, but you are not nice. Who on earth designed you, anyway? An overachiever with way too much creative energy who was trying too hard, that's who. Seriously. Get a grip. Be normal.

Frustrated

Dear Pumpkin on My Porch,

Your twinkling goodness pretty much makes my Halloween.

Forever Yours

Dear Valley Fever,

We've had quite a ride, you and I. It is time to be done. Take your scars, pack your little fungi, and get out of town. K? K. I want me back.

Clodhopper

Underwear for the House

2010-04-05T21:50:00.001-07:00

I hate buying underwear for my house. You know, those items that nobody really sees, but they sustain and support the workings of the house. Things like appliances, roofs, water heaters, hoses, sprinkler repair parts, mattresses, plumbing, electrical, lawnmowers, trimmers, printers, computers, air conditioners, etc. etc. The list is endless. Endless, I tell you.

Today my washer died. RIP washer. You have washed about a million thousand bazillion loads for me over the last 12 years. Your almond colored goodness doesn't owe me a single penny. And yet, you are underwear. Now dead underwear. And you failed me. And I had to go buy more underwear tonight.

We had to replace your helpmate (dryer) several months ago. At least you can go to laundry heaven and be together. And my underwear will at least match again! It's been bugging me, a white dryer and an almond washer. Bugging. Hardcore. But that's how much I hate buying underwear. I waited till you made that unearthly noise this morning so as to avoid buying more underwear than I absolutely needed.

You served me well, you little almond beauty. If my new underwear serves me as well as you did, I'll be almost 70 when I have to toddle down to the store and buy more.

Now THAT is a horrid thought.

Just Sayin'

2010-04-04T21:04:00.000-07:00

A few random facts about the last several weeks:

I love when family visits. I have a really hard time washing the finger prints off the french doors when they are gone. It is like a little part of them is still here.

Eric is married. Is this possible? Apparently it is, because...he is! I feel so blessed to have such a son and that he chose such a wife! Here's to happily ever after!

After a 34 year break from academia, I entered the arena to finish the degree I started many.many.moons.ago. I shared this information with very few people as I was terrified I would not succeed. I never was a good test taker, and let's just say I haven't improved much, and that my *forgetter* is much healthier than my *rememberer*. BUT......I got an A, I got an A, I got an A!

It mystifies me why I still care about grades. Seriously, am I headed for grad school? Are my parents going to get mad if I don't get a good grade? Um, no. I just need to pass. Could someone remind me of this when I'm stressing about the next one?

Speaking of stress, the most stressful section of my class was the section on stress management.
Is there something wrong with this picture (or this one-credit-hour, way-too-much-work class?)

I loved conference. So much. Can't wait to re-listen and re-read. I needed it.

We were sitting in the rocking chairs on the porch tonight and it was that perfect temperature where you can't even feel the air. So peaceful. There were two huge bumblebees in the flowers in front of us. One black and one yellow. They didn't seem to like each other, and the yellow one liked the snapdragons and the black one liked the petunias. Is this odd? I want to know why.

I love eating on the patio.

I still don't like cats.

I do, however, really kind of like lizards. They are sort of my backyard buddies. But I don't touch them. Ick.

I want to work a puzzle. I was going to this afternoon but alas, I cooked dinner. Apparently the need to feed was more pressing.

I screamed out loud the other day when I walked into a room and the cardboard cutout we got of Ryan for the wedding was staring at me. To say I was startled is, well, an understatement.

I soaked my fingers in bleach the morning of Eric's wedding. Hahahah. True statement.

I have 738 hairs on my head. If one of them isn't doing its job, I'm having a bad hair day. Is it really true that every hair of our head will be restored? I do hope so, I really do.

My computer turns itself off every little while. Annoying, but true. I think I shall publish before I lose this priceless gem.

Spring Has Sprung

2010-02-11T21:08:00.000-08:00

Last week this adorable child
had a *sleep-over*
at Granny's house.
We spent some time out
on the swings and running around
in the lush, green grass.
We discovered
that Spring has Sprung!

We found that popcorn is indeed
popping on the apple tree!

Eve learned that these are
petunias...and that soon
{if Mr. Sunshine ever lingers long enough}
they will be covered with many
more blossoms. She also
learned how to
deadhead.
She learned how the dead
blooms look only a little different
than the blooms that
are getting ready
to unfold.

She learned that pansies
have faces and evoke
special memories of
*my* grandparents
...and my mom.

She thinks that snapdragons
have silly names.
{She should hear Maggie, our
GPS navigator voice, pronounce
snapdragon. She says it
snap drag on with
great emphasis on
the "on." We know this
because there is a
street in Colorado Springs
named Snapdragon. Isn't that
a lovely street name?}

And she learned that my personal
favorite pot at the moment
would have to be
these violas.
Spring personified.

Love you Eve.
Thanks for playing
in my garden.

Love,
Granny

The Corduroy Couch

2010-01-27T19:38:00.000-08:00

Long, long ago
we purchased a velvet,
striped couch. Our
very.first.couch.
It was approximately
1980-ish and
we had lived in our
house for a couple
of years. {We bought
a piano first, and it was alone in
our living room for quite some time.}

This couch graced our living
room for many a year.
We also bought two of
these hogs to go with it.

{You know you are jealous.}

One of them still resides
in this house. {Hate to admit it,
but it is true...the rocker is very loved.}

This couch has seen
a lot of things
over the years.
It has lived in
two states, had babies
lurping on it, little kids losing
legos in it, teenagers
losing their keys
in it, and probably
every kind of candy has
found its way between
the cushions.

The corduroy couch {as it has
affectionately been named} has
been in Dixon Suite #5
for quite some time and
has had various and sundry
"owners." The poor
thing has been mended by
hand a time or two, but
recently the thread
decided it was tired of holding
things together, and just gave up.
The poor, threadbare fabric
is not far behind.

Personally, I've been ready for
*quite some time*
to show the corduroy
couch the door,
but when suggested,
a barrage of dissent
echoes throughout the house.

One particular girl
wants her shot at having the
corduroy couch in
her room.

So, this week I dutifully
unzipped the cushion covers, removed
the cushions, and put the sewing machine
through her paces and
MENDED
the corduroy couch.

You know, it doesn't look so
bad when it is all
cleaned up!
The big question now is....
Why DID I wait so long????????????

Mr. Frog

2010-01-16T20:03:00.000-08:00

So.ho.ho.ho
we have a new
"rubber chicken."
You know, the
one we hide in silly places
to make people
in the family
*laugh.*

***

Well, it isn't really a chicken
any more, you see.
{The
chicken died a smelly
death a few
months ago.}
It is a {rubber} frog.
Um, yes,
a frog.

It has been found in several
places around the
house already...in
my Christmas stocking,
Mark's suitcase,
Holly's makeup bag,
under pillows,
in shoes, etc.

But today, Holly had
the winning
{so far}
hiding spot for
Mr. Frog. I laughed
seriously sooooo
hard.

Who knew opening
the fridge could
be so much
fun?

Welcome to the family,
Mr. Frog.
You made my day.

It is Official!

2009-12-17T01:38:00.000-08:00

I am happy
to announce
the engagement
of Eric and Jentry.

Aren't they the cutest?

{We are thrilled.}

They're pretty happy too...
can you tell?

Welcome to the fam, Jen!

My-Dizzle

2009-12-09T18:45:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I forget I have a blog these days.
But these pictures made me
remember, and resolve to
publish.
We were very late celebrating
{sorry Myron}
but we are happy we
{finally}
got the job done.
Happy birthday, Myron.
Love you.

P.S.
Devlin's expressions are
pretty entertaining.
He loves helping with
birthday candles
and presents.
Can you tell?

Four Yards

2009-10-21T10:22:00.000-07:00

What you see here
might be four yards
of "native compost."

In my humble
{yet correct}
opinion, it is
four yards of
hard work.

But I know I'll love it
when I get it
where I want it.

BTW, when Chloe watched the
giant dump truck
unload on our
driveway, it was
rather upsetting to her.
"Oh no, they are going to
make a big mess! They
are making a very big
mess!"

Truer words were never
spoken, Chloe.
Very insightful.

Introducing...

2009-10-13T15:14:00.000-07:00

hopper's 'hood

a happy place to buy
bibs & burp cloths

Bibs $12
Burp Cloths $12
OR
Mix & Match 2/$20

Corduroy*Hand Made*Washable*Snap Closure
Cozy*Practical*Chic

Bibs

Burp Cloths

Mix & Match

And there's lots more
where they
came from!

My favorite way
to display...
worn with style
by my
adorable
girlies.

let me know if you are interested...
just send me an email order
claudia@ilovefreedom.com

I Have A Few Questions

2009-09-11T08:45:00.000-07:00

I decided to spend a little
time reclaiming my
yard from the ravages
of neglect and the effects
of living on the
surface of the sun.
The first question that
came to my mind:
Why have the marigolds in the picture
above become forlorn brown
sticks, but the weeds..oh the weeds!...
flourish {and reproduce
at an alarming rate?}

Second question:
Could this crackling mass
of brown possibly have
been a thriving, producing
tomato plant a few
weeks ago?
I actually know the answer to
that one. Believe it or
not, it is a *yes.*

Third question:
How could the
bush above be the same
variety as the
one below?

Another question...
how are we so lucky
as to have
plants that really
love the heat?

Last question:
Do you think I ought
to trim my snail vine?

Oh Zinnias, How I Loved Thee

2009-09-07T22:46:00.000-07:00

I'm not gonna lie.
I had a hard time pulling you out today.
Even though most of your
foliage that was supposed to be green
and lush was crusty and brown.
Your pink and orange goodness
has made me happy these
many weeks.
RIP.
I felt a bit like a murderess,
but my conscience was assuaged
by cutting the few of you
that have survived the
fiery furnace
and placing you
in a bowl of honor on my
kitchen table for
one
last
hurrah.

To Olivia with Love

2009-08-19T08:31:00.000-07:00

Dearest Olivia:
Granny loves you.
Sorry it took me
so long to
finish your quilt.

All those stitches
have love
squeezed into them.

I hope you can
feel it.

Love,
Gran

What Happened?

2009-08-12T14:25:00.000-07:00

Today I dropped this girl off at high school.
Could somebody please tell me
how this happened?
I mean, it was only yesterday she
started kindergarten.
And now she is a
jackrabbit!

More Than One Way....

2009-07-31T21:55:00.000-07:00

Imagine my surprise
last night when I
walked into the kitchen
and found this
chillin' by the computer.
Chloe's hands got
cold holding her
slurpee, so
whatcha gonna do
for the poor gal
when the only thing in the
car is the diaper bag?
There's more than
one use for
pull-ups, friends.
And it worked
GOOD.

A Little Birdie Told Me...

2009-07-27T07:51:00.000-07:00

You know that
really, really
squeaky
door by the
Primary room at the
church? The
one that takes
30 seconds to close
and sounds like
a rusty coffin
in a horror movie?

Well,
it doesn't squeak
any more.

{You're welcome.}

My Brigham

2009-07-26T07:49:00.000-07:00

Brigham Young
a.k.a. Mark
Kimball Stake
Pioneer Day Celebration
7.25.09

The best part?
He got to ride a horse!
{That would be horrifying for me,
but he loved it.}

Doesn't he just look great
{and right at home}
up there?

Angie spent hours making
these fabulous
signs for her Primary
kids to hold in the
parade.

And these...

Too bad none of
the kids
showed up to hold them!
Way to not be
bitter, Ang.
I was impressed.

And too bad it was a million
degrees outside.
{Even at 8:00...a.k.a.
the crack of dawn on Saturday.}

But it was a great activity.
My favorite part
was Brigham, of course.
My next favorite part was the
awesome brass band.
But I didn't get a picture.

And the pancakes
were a nice bonus too.
{Of course.}

Going Back in Time

2009-07-05T22:01:00.000-07:00

So, camp was a long time ago.
Some of you have asked for pictures...
and I've been slow.
Here are a few highlights.

The Post-Camp Pampering Session
A great place to start, eh?

Oh, that felt so, so, so good after a few days of camping!

Camp is so much more fun when you have
a fun daughter there.

Yes, yes, I did participate in the Stake leaders
number.....we performed "Leader Queens" to
the music of "Dancing Queens." I'm
so not a dancer....but I had a good
attitude. Be proud.

Shine On YCL's!

Home Sweet Home

Holly just getting in from the 4th year hike.

I was glad to see her in one piece!

Lucky me...I got to work with the
best of the best of the best.

Be Still My Heart

2009-06-21T19:33:00.000-07:00

Yes, that would be Devlin
reading a story
to Chloe and Eve.
Priceless.

Same Child, New Drama

2009-06-17T21:22:00.001-07:00

Stuck again.
This time in between the
pantry shelves
and the pantry door.
Not very fun.
But at least this time
it was easier to
get you out!
That was happy.

Miss you, buddy.

Drama in the 'Hood

2009-05-21T08:27:00.001-07:00

The afternoon started out
pretty peacefully.
Granny picked the
lilacs and
brought a little
spring cheer into
the house.
Gavin's down for his nap,
and she hears him
quietly talking. The quiet
talking suddenly turns
into a panicky scream,
so Granny investigates.

This cute, chubby
little leg
is wedged...

...in here. {furthest
opening to the right}
Mommy comes
running, and
the two of them
try and try and try
to "unstick"
little leg, but to
no avail. No
amount of dismantling
the crib will change
the position of the slat
{or the leg.}
Daddy is called at work
and immediately
hops in car for home.
Granny and Mommy
decide to grease
up the leg.
Voila!
Leg is free!
Crying/screaming stops!
Sawing of crib slat
not needed. Whew.
Daddy arrives.
Daddy gets hero's welcome.
He deserves it.

Granny's new
best friend.

What?
Was I upset?
Was my foot turning purple?
I forgot.
Smiles have
returned.
Granny breathes.

She has a name!

2009-05-17T07:59:00.000-07:00

Alexis Paige Bartle

{Sorry my photography
skills aren't the
greatest, and my
cropping skills
are worse, apparently.
I tried.
And gave up.}

But see that cute boy
in the background?
We are buds.
He calls me cookie.
Love it.
Love him. {And his brothers,
of course!}
We are having a great time!

Happy Granny

2009-05-16T20:12:00.001-07:00

And who wouldn't
be happy?
A perfect baby
girl.
In case you
were wondering from
the last post,
here are the vitals:

5.16.09
2:49 p.m.
7 lbs. 13 oz.
21 inches

Mom, baby and daddy
are well.
Granny is happy.
Male siblings are awestruck.
Life is good.

P.S.
I'll let you know when she has a name.

2009-05-16T13:32:00.000-07:00

So.....
these kids left
for the hospital
about 1:00 p.m.
(Colorado time).
I'm taking guesses
on a time of
arrival for
little
Miss Bartle!

I Love Technology

2009-05-10T16:52:00.000-07:00

I love techology.
Even though it stresses me out.
Due to the magic of Skype,
{hope I spelled that right}
a genius husband,
a faithful missionary,
and a willing fam,
it was family
reunion style
on the phone this
morning.
Croatia,
Atlanta,
Colorado Springs,
and Mesa
converged into
one awesome hour
of conversation.
Thanks everyone.
It made my {mother's} day.
All six of my
hatchlings,
and
their hatchling-ettes
on one call.
Perf.
And just for
the record,
the Croat
sounds healthy,
happy,
and just
like his
awesome
self.

OP's

2009-04-21T12:26:00.000-07:00

One treat you can
almost always count
on at Granny's...
OP's!

Otherwise known
as otter pops,
a few thousand
of these have
been consumed
in this
household.
The current
Elder Dixon
doesn't even have
to cut the
tops off. He
mastered
ripping them open
with his teeth.
{faster, he says}
OP's were a favorite
after a long
day of landscaping
in the AZ sun.

Those are not
the grandchildren
in that picture.
It is their parents.
How old are those aprons
anyhow? Um, OLD.
That apron was made at
a kiosk at University Mall back
in the day with this
amazing "new" technology.
Back before we had ever
heard of blogs
or imagined how many
households would have
personal computers.
We actually
called people to
keep in touch.
So archaic. But
I wouldn't be
surprised if
OP's existed...
even then.

And Iris, your
turn is
coming...what
color do you want?

The Infamous Sleep Genes

2009-04-13T07:56:00.000-07:00

Some of the Dixon clan
have what we
affectionately call
"the sleep gene."
AKA, when we go to sleep,
we enter a "zone."
Like the twilight zone.
We are pretty sure
the gene came
from the Clodhopper
pool. {I have a few weird
sleep stories myself.
Do you add
or multiply your teeth?}
So this cute boy o' mine came
over last night.
Ate dinner.
Had some good conversation.
Took a snooze on the couch.
His mischievous bro decided it would
be funny to load all the cushions
from the larger couch across the room
on top of said twilight zone sleeper.
Did the boy even
notice? Or wiggle so much as
an eyelash?
Um, that would be a "no."
Can't tell you how
many conversations I've
had with my
afflicted offspring
on the phone,
only to find out later
that they have no memory
of it. As in none.
But cell phone
histories don't lie.
Ask my
sleepwalking daughter
about her mailbox
adventure. Or the
above-named
child about the
3 hour shower.
Sometimes
you've just gotta
be there to believe it.
{Or have your camera ready.}

Love you, sweet sleeper.
We will miss our
family spark plug
while
you wow the folks
in Atlanta.
God Speed
my friend.
{And yes,
we will miss
these Kodak moments.}
Wholeheartedly.

And dude...
get some sleep!

All I Can Say Is...

2009-03-24T21:43:00.000-07:00

...laundry
is a
whole
lot
more
fun
when
it
looks
like
this!

Aforementioned Project

2009-03-23T12:23:00.000-07:00

I mentioned earlier
I was busy with
Projects.
This is one of them,
made for
Baby Girl Bartle
for her baby shower
held in Oregon a
few weeks ago.

When I found this
pink and brown
corduroy, I
had to have it.

It took some
perseverance to
find it.
Making it was
the easy
part.
It was so worth every
phone call,
internet search,
and email. :)
Wear it
well, baby,
wear it well.
There's a little
love in
every stitch!

Pink Tulips

2009-03-21T13:56:00.001-07:00

Is there anything cuter than
pink tulips in Spring?

Um, yup.

And a double yup.

Heaven Sent

2009-03-13T21:31:00.001-07:00

Granny got a turn. {finally!}
I wasn't anxious or anything, btw.

Holly got a turn.
So tender.

Chloe got a turn.

Is this sweet, or is this sweet?

The star of the show.

Olivia Kate
3.13.09
7:50 a.m
7 lbs. 4 oz.
19 inches

Perfection.

Happy Friday the 13th

2009-03-13T09:41:00.001-07:00

No Picture Yet.
But Good News!
Baby Olivia Kate is here!
7 lb. 4 oz. 19 inches
Halle-joyous-lujiah!

Pics to follow later.
Promise.

March 13

2009-03-13T07:41:00.000-07:00

Still. Waiting.

Ring phone, ring!

Sigh.

Long Time, No See

2009-03-10T10:34:00.000-07:00

I know.
I know.
Long time, no post.
I'm figuring out new computer issues.
Getting lots of projects done.
Enjoying the pitter pat of little feet in the house.
Loving the weather.
Walking 3 miles every day. (well, almost every)
And I'm still a chub. Arrgh.
Getting YCL's ready for camp.
Teaching 6 year olds a thing or two.
Trying to finally organize that pesky 3 month supply.
The above necessitating a major overhaul of the pantry.
Not done.
Quilting.
Did I mention the blue, blue sky? And how I love it?
Getting ready for Friday the 13th
(our new lucky, lucky day!)
Life is busy.
Life is good.
So grateful.

Looking Forward to Friday

2009-02-02T14:24:00.002-08:00

So,
What are you doing
Friday night?

May I
make a
suggestion?

Taylor Jr. High
Treble Clefs/Teen Tones
Talent Show
7:00 p.m.
Auditorium

My favorite
Holly
is singin'/playin'
in it and it
promises to be
awesome.

AND,
all proceeds go
to funding
their trip to
Disneyland in the
Spring. They
want to earn
your support!

Tickets $5 at the door
but a mere
$4 ahead of time.

Hope you can come!
{Let me know in
comments if you
want a ticket!
I'll hook you up.}

Retraction

2009-01-19T12:46:00.000-08:00

J/K
Apparently it wasn't
Elder Dixon
in the
Ensign.
Here's a little paragraph
from his
letter today.

"But, on a more somber note, I am crumbling under my guilt, folks...I really am sorry to inform you that it wasn't me in the Ensign...I didn't think I would trick you!! That Elder just happened to look exactly like me. Elder Babcock was reading the Ensign when we were in Slovenia, and he turned to me and said, "Is that you??", and I said "Is that me???" It was crazy. I thought I was looking at a pic of myself! So, I came up with the deceiving idea to tell my fam it was me, and made up a whole story to go along with it... :( My bad!! Now, people are writing me, telling me I'm famous and that they have told friends and stuff. I didn't think you would fall for it! Hahahha...I apologize, y'all. That was really natural man style...I hope you can forgive. Haha, that's funny.

So.....sorry to lie.

But I still think it is him.
Maybe someone
took that picture
at the MTC when he
was practicing
and he didn't
know it.
It is the hand gesture.
So Ryan.
Or not.
{Apparently.}
Or is it?
Hahaha.

Extra, Extra, Read All About It

2009-01-12T15:55:00.000-08:00

Well, you will have to read, because I'm not smart enough to figure out how to post the picture here. But if you have the January Ensign, turn to page 7 (in the First Presidency message) and see our very own Elder Dixon (and Elder Jensen) teaching some Ukranian people in Croatia. Kinda nice pic, I have to say. Made me happy.

How Fun is This?

2009-01-04T20:38:00.000-08:00

Four girls.
One boy.
Six years old, going on seven.
Excited about new CTR rings.
Experts at coloring.
Cuter than cute.
One very cool co-teacher.

A little slice o' heaven.
I'm so excited!

Happy Hour

2008-12-25T16:45:00.000-08:00

Phone Call Day!
It gives new meaning to the words
"happy hour."
One whole hour to
soak up the
sound of his voice.
And to learn he is
happier
than he has ever been.

We decided there were
two ways to look at
the hour we had.
1. "Oh, only an hour? Waa Waa Waa."
or
2. "Wow, a whole hour???
We chose #2. And it wasn't
that long, but
...it was enough.

Love you Elder Dixon.
TTFN.

That Magic Night

2008-12-24T23:10:00.000-08:00

It's Christmas Eve.
Holly and I had fun getting the table ready for
the consumption of
yummy food.

Thanks, Devlin, for
a wonderful rendition of
Rudolph!

And of course, we remembered
the reason for the season...
acting out the nativity
with scripture narration.

Um, Eve, could
you be
any cuter???

{Sorry all you peeps I don't have pictures of.}
We loved having you all here.
My Christmas wish come true...family around me,
peace on earth in this little corner of the world,
and beautiful music.
What more could a Clodhopper ask?

Christmas Tag

2008-12-21T21:33:00.000-08:00

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?

Wrapping paper. Love to wrap presents.

2. Real tree or Artificial?

I love both. I never thought I'd have anything but a real tree, but I do. And I love it, too. The important things to me are the feelings/emotions/enjoyment that come from
the tradition of putting it up every year.
I do miss the smell of a real tree.

3. When do you put up the tree?

Soon after Thanksgiving. This year the day after Thanksgiving.
Thanks for helping me, Bartle Boys!

4. When do you take the tree down?

Usually New Years Day.

5. Do you like eggnog?

Um, that would be a NO.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?

Dolls and their beautiful clothes my mother
painstakingly made.

7. Hardest person to buy for?

Depends on how much money I have!

8. Easiest person to buy for?

Grandchildren!

9. Do you have a nativity scene?

Yes. Finally!
Thanks, Amy.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?

I love any communication from loved ones.
But I'd have to say I love to open mail.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?

Can't think of a bad one.
Could we change it to funniest?
Sweet hubby gave me the same necklace two years in a row.
I loved it enough to get it twice!
I love that he picked it out for me.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?

While You Were Sleeping
Miracle on 34th Street

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?

Never soon enough.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?

Hm. Don't think so.
But then I am a senior citizen and I don't remember a lot of things...

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?

Same as the rest of the year...
restaurant food. (hahahaha)

16. Lights on the tree?

Oh, my yes. The more the better.

17. Favorite Christmas song?

Mary Did You Know? (at least at this moment)
There are soooooo many favorites.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?

Stay home probably. But sometimes we travel
afterward, and that is fun!

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?

You've got Dasher, and Dancer, and Prancer, and Vixen.
Comet, and Cupid, and Donder and Blitzen.
But do you recall the most famous reindeer of all?
Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
*Thank goodness my mom taught me Christmas songs.*

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?

I think my favorite is Heidi's Santa's hat on the top
of her tree. We have had various and sundry
top ornaments, but have never found the perf one.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?

Christmas Day.
Except for jammies so the pictures look good Christmas morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year?

That it doesn't last all year through.
You know that song that says:
It's not the things you do at Christmastime,
but the Christmas things you do all year through?
Yeah, that.
(Maybe you have to be old to remember that song. It's called
The Secret of Christmas....one of my faves.)

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?

Sentimental hodge podge.

24. Favorite time for Christmas dinner?

Late afternoonish.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?

I want my family around me and peace on earth
good will toward men. Seriously. And a clean house and kids that aren't fighting.
(I added that for old times sake, kids. Teehee.)

I tag Redheaded Stepchild, Runningfan, Hollyoak,
Holldoll, & Joeyship!

So Long, Farewell

2008-12-15T10:37:00.000-08:00

Change.

Not always easy. Or asked for.
But always an opportunity for growth.
Right?
Bye bye YW.
Love you.
I'll miss you.
But great things are in store for both of us!
Glad I got to do this one last project for you.
Merry Christmas.
Be good.
Remember I love you. {did I already say that?}

{The purpose of the white stocking
is that while you
are busy filling your
days with
holiday busy-ness,
remember
to think about the gifts
you can give
the Savior this coming year.}

Is It Just Me, Or.....

2008-12-11T21:10:00.000-08:00

...is it kind of weird/awesome
that I went shopping

for all of these

on the very same day?

And that I needed this
on the way home?

You gotta love AZ. There is
still a bit of the
Utah girl
in me that marvels
at the
sunshine and shirtsleeves
at Christmastime.

And the fact that you get
kissed by the sun while
hanging Christmas lights
and planting your winter flowers.

But I love it.
Wholeheartedly.

Grandma Dent, This One's For You

2008-12-07T22:14:00.000-08:00

Holly the Knitter
Impressive, no?
Who knew?

Letter to My Cold

2008-12-03T08:19:00.000-08:00

Dear Cold,

I don't like you.
You are cramping my {busy} lifestyle.
You are making simple things difficult...
{like breathing and sleeping.}
I know it was probably "my turn" but
did you have to come at such an
inconvenient time?

But I've gotta say, you have had one
*positive* influence.
You sure make me appreciate feeling
good when you are not around.
I'm grateful for that.
So incredibly grateful.

Oh, and I'm also incredibly grateful for
drugs.
You know, Sudafed, NyQuil, Tylenol...
they rock.
They rock hardcore.

Have a happy, everyone. May you breathe,
sleep and be merry!

Monkeys Off My Back

2008-11-19T06:42:00.000-08:00

I had a little issue with flooding yesterday.
But it was a *productive* flood.
I defrosted the freezer.
Those of you who know my ancient freezer well (Devlin, Eve, Chloe) know it was *l*o*n*g* overdue.
Those of you who know my freezer well also know that two tablecloths have been in there for....how many months?
Why, you ask? To freeze the wax spilled on them so I could scrape it off easily.
{I'm happy to report I scraped it off, pressed the rest out with a hot iron and paper bags, laundered them, and they are ready to have more wax spilled on them. I'm happy...they were *cute* ones.}
Why were they in there so long??? Good question. Really good question. No good answer.
I live in the land of procrastination.
Back to the flood...my heavens. Not too serious, just hard to keep up with the effects of freezer warming when you wait so very long to defrost. And it would have helped to stay home and take care of it instead of doing a million other things at the same time. Bad idea. Productive, however.
But two happy things! My freezer and tablecloths are restored to their intended purposes, and two very large monkeys are off my back. Now aren't you so proud of me?

Celebrating 100

2008-10-14T10:12:00.000-07:00

No, silly, he didn't turn 100 years old on Sunday.

But he did reach the milestone of 100 pounds lost.
Yes, 100.
1.0.0!
One Hundred.

Isn't he amazing {and skinny}?
Way to go, my bff.

Ring a Ling a Ling

2008-09-29T19:18:00.001-07:00

It's nice how much comfort you
can feel just by hearing
someone's voice.

Particularly if that voice
belongs to someone you haven't
actually seen for two months.

And maybe even more particularly
if that voice is heading
over the Atlantic Ocean
right about... now.

And if it belongs to one
of your babies who is
all grown up...it is definitely
a tender mercy.

I love technology.
I love missionaries.
And I love Elder Dixon.

Bon Voyage!

Thanks for the Ring a Ling a Ling.

Iris

2008-09-23T21:42:00.000-07:00

Iris.Olivia.Dixon

Born 9.23.08
6:03 p.m.
7 lbs. 15 oz.
21 inches
perfect.beautiful.cherished

Thank you, Heavenly Father.

Grannyhood

2008-09-17T21:33:00.000-07:00

Devlin spent the night.
That led to a fun morning, with Granny and Devlin entertaining themselves with waffle blocks from way back when.
I present to you the castle. And the houses. I introduced the concept of a village, but "no, they are houses" Devlin says.

And this, my friends, is a "house car."
And a very cute boy.

Later in the day, this adorable child came to visit.
She set the table for Mr. Pig....

...talked on the phone, and furnished the doll house quite masterfully.

Grannyhood.
Pretty much my favorite.

Cross Country Round Two

2008-09-16T19:35:00.000-07:00

It is Wednesday, and that meant...another cross country meet for Holly. I was lame and didn't take my camera, but just let me give you the scoop:

With three schools competing, Holly placed second for Taylor.
With three schools competing, Holly placed second overall!

Go Holly! Go Taylor! The boys and the girls both won their meet! Wahoo!

This Girl

2008-09-14T22:44:00.000-07:00

Who came in second for Taylor at the first cross country meet last week?

Who came in fourth over all with three schools competing in said meet?
*and*
Who got invited to run with Mesa High at an Invitational on Saturday?

This girl.

And who is proud of her?
Um, that would be me.

{Way to go, Holldoll.}

Chillaxin

2008-09-02T21:02:00.001-07:00

What'cha gonna do when you need the reading glasses and it is sunny? Apparently you do this.

Thanks all you cousins, friends, and family who made this day on Huntington Beach so chill. Till next time...

May God Bless and Keep You

2008-08-24T16:27:00.000-07:00

A neighborhood united in love for some of our own.

Faith and hope lifting heavenward.

I believe in miracles.

Know that we love you Christian and Stephanie.

May Heavenly Father hold you close as you recover.

Kinda Creepy

2008-08-12T07:58:00.000-07:00

If you were to come to my house today, you might see my snail vine creeping across my front porch. It is kinda hard to miss. The vines are actually planted on either side of the garage, and my plan/goal was to have them creep together over the garage. Mission accomplished.... periodically I even give them a haircut so we can get the cars in and out of the garage. What I didn't exactly expect was that they would also creep across the porch and maybe even threaten to take over the universe. And maybe, just maybe, I might love it.

Open House

2008-08-10T22:09:00.000-07:00

I took this gaggle of girls to their open house for school on Friday. I have to admit, they are a pretty fun collection of individuals. This is one good reason for holding on to the big car! Happy first day of school tomorrow, my friends. I'll be home making cookies! (Tradish, ya know.)

Godspeed, My Son

2008-07-31T06:58:00.000-07:00

It has been about 24 hours now since we put Ryan on the plane and said our goodbyes. The goodbye part is always hard. Kind of like "ripping off the bandaid," as Heidi would say.

We are gonna miss the happy, sweet, kind, compassionate, hilarious, thoughtful, friendly, hard-working, and humble presence that is Ryan. He leaves a gigantic hole. But what a happy experience! He is doing exactly the right thing at exactly the right time. Wouldn't change it for the world. All I can say is LUCKY CROATIA.

Enjoy the adventure, and Godspeed, my son. (Especially the speed part!)

Birthdays

2008-07-10T15:45:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Ang.
A sweeter girl was never born.
Thanks for keeping us laughing and reaching higher.
You are the best thing that ever happened to July 10.
{Do you realize it was 70 degrees the day you were born????}
Fabulous mom, wife, daughter, and sister. Not to mention all the other stuff you do.
Hope your day is excellent! You deserve the very best.

The Twenty Year Tag

2008-06-29T22:46:00.000-07:00

20 years ago I was

1. 35 years old.
2. Living in American Fork, Utah.
3. The wife of the bishop of our ward and he was traveling a lot with his work.
4. The mother of 4 children who were 9, 7, 5, and 2, and I was expecting #5.
5. Loving working in my very large yard, working with the Beehives in my ward, and playing in the yard with my kids after dinner instead of doing dishes.
6. Maybe perhaps the driver of a brown and cream Volkswagen Vanagon.

10 years ago I was

1. 45 years old.
2. Living in Mesa, AZ.
3. The wife of an employee of Oracle who traveled the world.
4. The mother of 6 children who were 19, 17, 15ish, 11, 9 and 4. Had one in college, one in high school, one in jr. high, 2 in elementary, and one in preschool.
5. Fighting my way back from the effects of mono.
6. The mother of the bride...Heidi got engaged and married. Busy, happy times.

5 years ago I was

1. 50 years old, and happy to make it.
2. Living in Mesa, AZ.
3. Now a granny, with 2 children now married.
4. The victim of purse theft and stolen identity. Very stressful, mounds of paperwork.
5. The mother of the bride again...Angie got engaged and married, making 3 married, 3 at home.
6. Still loving working in the yard and avoiding dishes.

3 years ago I was

1. 52 years old, even happier to make it.
2. Living in Mesa, AZ.
3. Enduring Mark's unemployment, working at Scrapbook.com and started teaching piano lessons.
4. Loving being a granny.
5. Anticipating Eric's mission call.
6. Still loving working in the yard and avoiding dishes.

So far this year I have

1. Become a senior citizen.
2. Appreciated more than ever my husband, children, and grandchildren.
3. Anticipated another grandchild.
4. Had a reception in the yard, had girl's camp, and helped Heidi move into her Colorado home in the space of 3 weeks.
5. Watched Ryan open his mission call. Wahoo!
6. Enjoyed working in the yard, avoiding cooking AND dishes as often as possible.

Yesterday I

1. Went to IKEA and bought what I went for PLUS a new kiddie table and chairs for granny's playroom.
2. Went to Sam's Club and got luggage and vitamins for Ryan's mission.
3. Went out to dinner with the fam. You gotta love Tia Rosa's.
4. Grabbed the shirts needing ironing and then put them back on the rack to wait.
5. Purchased at Target some little dishes to put in the little cupboard to then be played with on the new IKEA table. Got out the pretend fridge and stove from the attic. Unearthed a heap 'o memories!
6. Fertilized plants, sprayed weeds, avoided cooking and dishes.

Today I

1. Enjoyed the morning in church.
2. Finished up that last visiting teaching visit.
3. Went to choir.
4. Prepared dinner.
5. Enjoyed having everyone come home for dinner (except our Coloradoans.) Loved watching the grandkids enjoy the new set-up in the playroom.
6. Attended post camp fireside.

Tomorrow I

1. WILL go to the gym early-ish in the morning.
2. Need to do laundry and the above-mentioned postponed ironing.
3. Will finish Sunday dishes.
4. Need to get back to some missionary prep shopping.
5. Realize it is exactly one month till Ryan departs.
6. Will enjoy having Mark in town!

In the next year I

1. Will enjoy having a new grandchild.
2. Will look forward to weekly emails from Croatia.
3. Plan to spend as much time digging in the dirt as possible.
4. Will make trips to Colorado.
5. Hope to get some family history work done.
6. Will probably still be avoiding mundane household chores.

Actually, I think 20 years ago I started this post. I tag angieinpink, runningfan, and redheaded stepchild.

Licensed!

2008-06-18T12:46:00.000-07:00

Let me introduce you to the latest and greatest real estate agent in Arizona. Yup, Eric got licensed last month and is more than willing to help you with all your buying/selling needs. We are really proud of his hard work and tenacity in getting this done so quickly. Break a leg, Eric! {You should definitely call him if you are in the market for a new house!}

Father's Day

2008-06-15T21:14:00.000-07:00

Just have to make a quick post to honor this guy. What a blessing he has been to me and to my children. Thanks, Mark, for being a perfect example of all a dad should be.

Camp was....awesome!

2008-06-01T21:45:00.000-07:00

Sometimes pictures speak louder than words.

Girl's Camp Eve

2008-05-25T23:41:00.000-07:00

So, here's what I'm thinking about at 11:45 the night before camp.

1. What did I forget to pack? It seems impossible that there could be anything because of the ginormous duffle sitting in my living room. But there will be something. Guaranteed. Packing for all the "what ifs" is gettin' me down.

2. I'm already so tired I can't see straight. Not a good way to start out.

3. Do you realize it was snowing in the camp ground two days ago?

4. How did I get to be a senior citizen and not learn how to plan/organize/pull off girl's camp? Thank heaven for camp directors and great staff who did.

5. I'm gonna have fun. It is going to be a blast. Think of me hurtling down the zip line thinkin' I'm gonna die. What could be more fun than that? Maybe canoeing or shooting or repelling off of the giant tower? Maybe.

6. I'll be back in no time to give you a report. Only 4 sleepless nights to go. Hahahaha.

7. I really do love my calling.

The Purse

2008-05-18T21:05:00.000-07:00

About a month ago my sis tagged me. I'm slow, partly because the purse is such a black hole for all things junky. Here's the list.

*Checkbook...tsk tsk. After I got my purse stolen and my checks used all over the city, I swore I would never keep my checkbook in there again. No longer there, btw.
*Cell Phone. What did we do without 'em?
* My new prescription sunglasses, gifted to me for my birthday this year. Such a luxury.
*Small metal tape measure. Very handy except when going through security at the courthouse. They were convinced I was trying to smuggle in a pocket knife.
*Elvis pen. Since Elvis and I share a birthday, it is only fitting.
*One business card for a custom shoe shop. No comment.
*Carpet sample. We replaced our carpet 10 years ago. Wow.
*Seventeen rolls of Smarties. Granny ammunition.
*Two restaurant mints. Can't stand the things.
*One cough drop.
*Package of unwrapped Orbit gum.
*Keys. What do you know...right where they belong.
*Wet wipes. More granny ammunition.
*Three packs tissues. Overkill.
*Comb.
*Wallet. Very little money, lots of grocery store cards.

Let's see, I tag Amy, Rachel the newlywed, and Laura F.

What Makes A Productive Saturday?

2008-05-10T22:10:00.000-07:00

What makes a productive Saturday at your house? We tend to judge our success by the number of trips we have to make to Home Depot. Today was a very productive Saturday.

Mark and Ryan spent about 6 hours this morning repairing/replacing/fixing the sprinklers in the front yard. I believe I counted five {yes, five} trips to Home Depot to get supplies for unforeseen issues with said sprinklers.

Then, my sweet, sweet husband spent some more time this afternoon making sure all my beloved plants in the back had sufficient water supply hook-ups and fixed a few flooding spots, since "someone" seems to have nicked the pipe with a shovel or some other gardening implement. {"Someone" is usually me, btw.} Patient, patient man. Thank you.

And on top of all that, the previous few days he has been fixing the lighting in the yard...some conduit rotted out and caused a short which knocked out the whole yard. So he figured out where the problems were, dug up the corner of the yard, and got that all fixed {after much frustration)}and I'm estimating that project produced at least four trips to Home Depot as well. I'm guessing the good old HD will not be going out of business any time soon. We seem to be doing our fair share to ensure their longevity.

I made a trip to Home Depot myself this afternoon (more plants, light globes, washers for the hose) bringing us to a grand total of six trips to Home Depot just today. That is what I call a great day.

News Flash

2008-05-02T00:14:00.000-07:00

Yes, yes, Ryan got his mission call today. Here's the short version:

Slovenia/Croatia Mission
Reports to MTC July 30, 2008
Croatian language

We are feeling very excited, very happy, and very, very blessed.

A Blast From the Past

2008-04-13T21:57:00.000-07:00

I forgot what a great movie The Karate Kid is. After a long-ish flight to Boise and an even long-er drive to Idaho Falls, we plopped down in our hotel room and flipped through the channels. We settled on The Karate Kid, which I haven't watched for probably, oh, twenty years, and got completely sucked into the drama. Maybe my enjoyment of it had something to do with being on vacation with my best friend, but it was such a pleasure to see the hard work, training and perseverance that helped the good guy win in the end. Ah, I *heart* feel-good movies. I highly recommend this blast from the past for your viewing pleasure.

Next post or so, I'll bring you pictures of the cutest bride and groom who inspired the Idaho adventure!

Celebrities

2008-03-29T21:03:00.001-07:00

It was a day of celebration in the Dixon household today. Mark finally is as old as I am again, and has entered the hallowed halls of senior citizenship. We had a little *family get together* to wish him a happy birthday. Happy birthday, beloved boy!

And then a couple of hours later, Holly was honored prior to the General YW Broadcast because she has *completed* the requirements for her YW Recognition Award at the tender age of barely 14 (she was the youngest one honored tonight.) Congrats, Holly, we are SO proud of you!

She was also the only one who had *brothers* show up to support her. Way to go, brothers, and thanks for participating in the photo op. Oh, and P.S. the YW Conference was soooo good. Catch it on BYU TV if you weren't there!

And in parting, I just had to introduce you to the *cutest* ducks who showed up on our front lawn this week. They almost came in the house when I opened the door. So friendly! I wish some grandkids had been here to share the fun!

...Ta Ta For Now

The Week's Top Ten List

2008-03-23T22:32:00.000-07:00

10. Number of furniture stores visited in one day (Saturday.) How fun is that? {Thanks for letting me tag along, Amy.}

9. Number of blunders made while conducting RS today. I actually stopped counting; I'm sure it was more. Every other 4th Sunday the YW President gets the honors in the combined YW/RS opening exercises. You'd think I'd get better at it, but no, no I don't.

8. Number of bite sized Snickers eaten while filling Easter baskets. This was exactly 8 more than planned.

7. Number of days I did not succeed in eating pre-planned healthy cuisine. See #8.

6. Number of people here for Easter dinner. So quiet. Missed you, D,R,D&E, M,A,&C. Lovely dinner out on the patio, though!

5. Number of days this week I slept in and rejoiced over Spring Break! Oh yes, also the number of dresses ordered on-line and returned. How many ugly dresses are there in this world, anyway? Too many. Far too many. Definitely one of those *not to be repeated* incidents.

4. Number of days I did my Pilates workout. Go me. Someday I will look like the *super-model strongest woman on earth in the black ponytail with 5% body fat* on the DVD.

3. Number of quilts finished...oh wait, I still have to bind one. I'm still counting it.

2. Number of dresses and hats completed for my adorable Chloe and Eve. So fun.

1. Number of Easter egg hunts held in the back yard for local grandkids. Missed you Z,T&G! Oh, and don't forget the super fancy hot dog grilling fest held afterward. Sweet memories.

0. Number of times I got up at 6:00 a.m. this week. Pure bliss. No kidding.

Oh What a Beautiful Morning!

2008-02-28T13:32:00.000-08:00

Did anyone else wake up on Monday morning, poke their nose outside and decide they just had to spend some time in the sun? Well I did, and it was intensified when I looked around me and saw the deplorable state of my yard, an empty green barrel and the beckoning wall-to-wall blue sky. The words to that old- school song kept going through my head as I worked. (Was it from Oklahoma!?)

Oh what a beautiful morning!
Oh what a beautiful day.
I've got a beautiful feeling
Everything's going my way.

There's a *green sort of haze in the garden
There's a green sort of haze in the garden
The weeds are as high as an elephant's eye
And it looks like they're climbing clear up to the sky!

Reprise Chorus. C'mon, I know you are singing along. (Sorry about changing the words.)

For crying out loud, where did all these weeds come from???? I love the rain and all, but hasn't it been too cold to grow four foot weeds? Apparently not. Seriously, some of them were about as high as my eye, and I'm not even joking. So it is a good thing you couldn't see me hacking and pulling and otherwise making myself ridiculous trying to improve the view from my kitchen window. I completely filled a green barrel (just in time for pick up...wasn't that clever?) And then I sprayed the bajeebers out of the rest of them. You would think I would learn to keep things under control in the winter, but no, sadly I never learn. Another embarrassing side note is that my hamstrings are making me cry when I walk as a result of my weeding extravaganza.

On a happy note, the flowers out front are blooming their hearts out and making me happy every time I see them. I *heart* flowers and digging in the dirt. I'm even going to post a picture of them when I learn how. Hahahahaha. Promises, promises.

The Rest of the Story

2008-02-20T08:16:00.000-08:00

A few people have asked me for "the rest of the story" from the tag quote. So I will post the entire poem for you. Here goes. It was from page 123 of Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul.

Smile

She smiled at a sorrowful stranger.
The smile seemed to make him feel better.
He remembered past kindnesses of a friend
and wrote him a thank-you letter.
The friend was so pleased with the thank-you
that he left a large tip after lunch.
The waitress, surprised by the size of the tip,
bet the whole thing on a hunch.
The next day she picked up her winnings,
and gave part to a man on the street.
The man on the street was grateful;
for two days he'd had nothing to eat.
After he finished his dinner,
he left for his small dingy room.
(He didn't know at the moment
that he might be facing his doom.)
On the way he picked up a shivering puppy
and took him home to get warm.
The puppy was very grateful
to be in out of the storm.
That night the house caught on fire.
The puppy barked the alarm.
He barked 'til he woke the whole household
and saved everybody from harm.
One of the boys that he rescued
grew up to be President.
All this because of a simple smile
that hadn't cost him a cent.

Barbara Hauck, age 13

Tag

2008-02-17T21:51:00.000-08:00

I got tagged a few days ago by Runningfan. Sorry I'm so lame, but it has been a *busy* week. But I digress. Now for the tag.

Grab the nearest book to you (it must have at least 123 pages.)

Open to page 123.

Go to the 5th sentence and write the next three sentences.

Here ya go:

"The waitress, surprised by the size of the tip, bet the whole thing on a hunch. The next day she picked up her winnings, and gave part to a man on the street. The man on the street was grateful; for two days he'd had nothing to eat."

Would you believe the closest book was Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul? Too bad you didn't get to hear "the rest of the story...."

The Echo Monster

2008-02-03T18:57:00.000-08:00

The echo monster sometimes takes up residence in my refrigerator when I don't get to the grocery store to replenish the supply of edible items. Ketchup and mustard, mayo and pickles aren't very fun when we don't have the milk, bread, meat and eggs to accompany them.

Well, today the echo monster moved out of the refrigerator and into the house! For ten wonderful days we have had our beloved daughter and her 3 boys here to share our space. We had to let them go today, and the echo monster is roaming from room to room, missing the life, the energy, and the spontaneous fun that erupts when children are in the house. The toys are lonely, the table deserted. The back yard is empty, the giant frisbee lifeless. It is so quiet. They need the accompanying human touch to make them meaningful.

We miss you!

Hurry back!!!

It's a Puzzle

2008-01-21T18:10:00.001-08:00

It is puzzling to me that one of my favorite (although not frequent) ways to entertain myself is by working puzzles...often while watching a sentimental movie I have memorized going in the background. I usually find time for it on holidays or when members of my family are visiting who share my fetish for the sport. I suppose I love it because I have such happy memories of working puzzles with my mother, sisters, and children... perhaps my love for spending time with them spilled over into the puzzle box. And most of my children love puzzles because my mother spent hours with them working puzzles nearly every time they were together. It is such a nice time to indulge in small talk and for sharing good laughs. I love to buy a new puzzle, but they are getting harder to find. I'm picky about my puzzles, you see. They have to have a lot of different things going on...none of this half the picture being blue water and the other half being blue sky nonsense. Not too small, not too big, not too ugly, not too "all the same," not too hard, not too easy. Hmmm, no wonder they are hard to find. My niece, Amy, recently bought me a wonderful puzzle...it was a picture of many kinds of chocolates...how could we improve upon that?

We have some funny memories of Eric hiding one puzzle piece in his room so he could put in the last piece, Grandma lifting her arm and having five pieces stuck to it, looking up and realizing it was indeed 2 a.m., and recently, having Mark find a piece in the garage that belonged in the puzzle we were working.

I've decided there are two kinds of puzzle workers. The first type works mostly by shape and color. These are usually the puzzlers who like to complete the outside edge first and work on little sections of the puzzle that eventually flow together.

Then there is the "big picture" puzzle worker who picks up a piece, examines the picture on the box, and finds the minuscule hole to drop it into.

I am a shape/color person. My husband is a big picture person. You know, we approach nearly everything in life from those perspectives. I work on life one ridiculous detail at a time...and he sees nearly everything from a more global perspective. That is why he is so good at planning solution strategies for large telecom companies, and I'm good at knowing which socks belong to whom.

We make a great team. That isn't much of a puzzle at all.

Vicki Jeanne Porter

2008-01-15T22:07:00.000-08:00

I guess people come into our lives for a reason. Vicki came into mine for lots of reasons, I think. She was just what I needed, just when I needed it.

We emailed. My husband thought it was hilarious that we lived about 1/4 of a mile apart, but did we pick up the phone? No. Did we run over to each other's house for a chat? No. We sat down at the computer and quietly supported each other. She was so much better at all the technological computer stuff, but she was so patient with my ignorance. I never did get the hang of attachments...

We went to lunch. What is it about going to lunch with a friend? It was...priceless. So many good times and happy memories. And coupons for new places out of the newspaper.

We laughed. Almost every one of her entries had at least one comment that made me *LOL*. And sometimes I really needed that after a long day.

We rolled our eyes. Life is just ridiculous sometimes and we made the most of that. It is funny when you know somebody well, how a little roll of the eyes in their direction across the room can communicate volumes. It makes me giggle just thinking about it.

We learned new things. Like she taught me the meaning of the word *shattered.* (That is when you are really, really tired.) And *scattered* is just a little bit before you are shattered. And she taught me that the VF Mall is called the VF Mall because it is the Very Far Mall.

She liked Bashas. I like Frys. She loved computer games. I don't. (Probably because she could beat them and I can't.) She liked Victorian, I like Traditional. She liked beige. I like red. Did it matter? No.

We kept in touch. I'm so grateful.

VJ left me a great friend's legacy. She was a dedicated mother. Nothing came before her family. She taught me about keeping on keeping on and hanging in there. She taught me about doing hard things. She taught me about love unfeigned and unconditional acceptance. She called me Clee. Nobody else on earth calls me Clee.

I'm not ready to let her go. Do you think there is email in heaven?

Christmas Eve

2007-12-24T21:38:00.000-08:00

I remember when I was a little kid anxiously anticipating Santa's arrival, I was laying in my bed, unsuccessfully trying to sleep. I finally dropped off, only to be awakened by the sound of jingle bells outside. I stood up on my bed and looked out the high window, and honest to goodness, I saw reindeer and an empty sleigh on the snow-covered grass (we had no fireplace, so we knew Santa came in through the front door). Somebody want to explain that vision to me? The power of suggestion is indeed strong, especially in those who have "the sleep genes" which are legendary in our family. (Someday soon I will have to do a post about the sleep genes. We have some hilarious stories.)

The gifts are wrapped, (miraculous...I often wrap everything on Christmas Eve after the kids go to bed), the jammies and ornaments are opened, the living room is vacuumed (now there is an exercise in futility), the stockings are ready to fill, and the luminarias are flickering up and down the street. I heart Christmas.

Merry Christmas to all...and to all a goodnight.

Merry Christmas to Me

2007-12-11T20:53:00.000-08:00

I got a wonderful early gift on November 30, 2007. My newest grandson, Gavin Drew Bartle arrived a little early but weighing in at 8 lbs. 11 oz. and measuring 22.25 inches long! Healthy baby, healthy mom, cuter than all get out and lots of blond hair. What more could we ask? I got to spend a few (too few) days in Oregon with him and feel beyond blessed. How lucky can one granny be?

Welcome Home!

2007-12-02T21:24:00.001-08:00

I'm really slow getting this posted, but yes, folks, he is home! He is just the same only better, and we love, love, love having him here. We feel so blessed. Well done, ED... you set the bar so high and soared over it. Welcome Home!

an/ti/ci/pa/tion

2007-11-18T16:56:00.000-08:00

While everyone else in these United States is anticipating Thanksgiving on Thursday, we will not be eating turkey or any of the usual things. We are running/walking in the turkey trot, heaven help us, and if we survive, we will most likely be trying to finish all the as-yet-undone tasks related to a most anticipated homecoming. Friday is the day, folks, and if I am not mistaken, that is a mere five DAYS away! I will miss weekly emails, wonderful reports of miracles in Mongolia, and the many blessings attendant to having a son in the mission field. These will be eclipsed, however, by the hugs, the personal stories, the privelege of looking at a face we haven't seen for these many months, and the hilarious presence of our own family spark plug. Hooray for reunions, family coming to town, and turkey on Saturday.

Finally

2007-11-08T12:31:00.000-08:00

It is embarrassing to have a blog and go so long between postings. You'd think life would slow down just a little, but no, it doesn't.

I've learned a few things over the last few days.

a. There is no end for the need to paint. Ever.

b. Painting causes huge disruptions in the flow of life.

c. All that being said, I LOVE paint. What could be more satisfying than covering up all those fingerprints, smudges, and tired old walls?

And a few more related things learned.

d. By nature I love being organized and clean. Unfortunately, by habit I let things beyond the surface go and pursue more enjoyable adventures.

e. None of it goes away. Dust mulitplies like coat hangers and single socks. Piles become mega-piles.

f. It is still hard to throw some things away, like my kids' toys. What if the grandkids would enjoy them? Lincoln logs, anyone?

g. Hm. Maybe my offspring take after me. That might be why I just hung 43 t-shirts in Eric's closet.

He's Legal

2007-10-22T10:36:00.000-07:00

Well, he is legal. Twenty-one. I meant to do this post yesterday, the real birthday, but I didn't. I actually keep postponing my posts until I can learn to post a picture (again), but that never seems to happen. But back to the point, there was a celebration in Murun, Mongolia yesterday for our favorite missionary boy. It is his Golden Birthday, which means he is 21 on the 21st, so this calls for 21 gifts. He'll get them in exactly one month when he returns....he had to settle for a silly package of things he can consume or throw away before the luggage weigh-in. So Happy Birthday Golden Boy...we could not be more proud of you or more excited for your return to us. Let the good times roll.

Trip to Target

2007-10-20T09:32:00.000-07:00

I made a quick run to Target yesterday afternoon. I intended to be there only 5 minutes because ALL I needed was dryer sheets. I figured I had a better shot at an "in and out" experience there than at the grocery store, since the echo monster has taken up residence in the refrigerator. Incorrect.

I made the mistake of entering through the garden center. Of course. When I checked out I had in my basket:

Two hanging plants...an unusual pink and yellow petunia combo, and a stunning dark fushia-ish purple petunia basket. They were such a bargain.

Two 6 packs of dwarf snapdragons.

Two seed packets of marigolds. (Are you seeing a trend here?)

New gardening scissors. Mine have disappeared off the face of the earth.

One car (from Cars) for Devlin. (I think I enjoy collecting them for him more than
he does.)

A Christmas gift for Chloe. (Are you seeing another trend here?)

And last but not least, 2 packages of dryer sheets. Pretty expensive dryer sheets, wouldn't you say?

I think we can safely say that two of my weaknesses in life are my grandchildren and my garden. (And maybe Target!)

Speaking of grandchildren, happy birthday Zachary! I can't believe you are six!

TGIF

2007-10-05T11:39:00.000-07:00

Probably everyone agrees we are glad the weekend is approaching. For some reason I'm really glad this week. Maybe because

a. it is conference weekend, and not only does that mean a feast of new talks, a chance to recharge the inner batteries, and relax, but also
b. there will be a lovely lack of meetings and excessive errand running...
c. it will mark the end of a less than fully productive week...
d. in between doses of conference, there will be grass to mow and dirt to dig. Wahoo! What more could I ask?

Go Friday.

10 Random Happy Things

2007-09-20T16:05:00.000-07:00

1. Digging in the dirt. (Are anyone else's fingers itching now that the weather is changing?)
2. Sleeping until I wake up. Don't get to do it very often. One of life's simple pleasures.
3. Having a walking partner again. Such motivation to NOT sleep till I wake up. Thanks, AJ.
4. Emails from Mongolia. High fives for all things technical which stress me out but also bless my life abundantly. It is email Thursday, folks.
5. 3:55 p.m. when Holl-Doll gets home from school. Empty nests are highly over-rated.
6. When the dentist says "We're all done." Wahoo. Can you tell I went today?
7. 72 degrees at 7:30 a.m. vs. 92 degrees at 7:30 a.m. Did I mention I LOVE our current weather?
8. Grandkids. They really are grand.
9. Finished projects. Also one of life's (not so) simple pleasures.
10. Finding a rubber chicken in my makeup drawer.

Pretty Disappointed

2007-09-10T22:44:00.000-07:00

I just took the quiz to find out which Harry Potter character I am. Ron. Yes, Ron. Of all the characters I wouldn't want to be, Ron would win...except maybe Snape. Come on...can I change my answers? At least he has one saving grace... his red hair.

So then I took the quiz to see which Hogwarts house I would be in. Hufflepuff. Kill me.

The Tag

2007-08-17T10:46:00.000-07:00

What were you doing 10 years ago?

Ugh, I was struggling with mono, laying on the bed with my 3 year old, watching Arthur, Sesame Street, Pride and Prejudice, and Sense and Sensibility. My oldest was at BYU, four were in Robson, Taylor and Mesa High, and Holly was on the bed with me. It wasn't the most productive year of my life, but happily, it is behind me!

What were you doing 1 year ago?

I was a brand new YW president and feeling very inadequate and overwhelmed. Haha...some things never change! I'm taking it in stride a bit better these days.

Five snacks you enjoy.

Don't laugh.

Dry roasted, unsalted almonds (or other nuts...love cashews as well.)
Peanut butter sandwiches, or preferrably, a toasted, single piece of ww bread with peanut butter melting on it. Some kind of yummy jam.
Toast with butter and sugar/cinnamon.
Sweet&Salty granola bars.
Popcorn a la Holly.

Five songs you know all the words to.

Grandpa's Farm
When the Thunder Crashes
Almost all the Monkees songs: Hey, Hey We're The Monkees, Last Train to Clarksville, I'm a Believer, etc. etc.
There's A Kind of Hush
Jumbo Elephant

Five things you would do if you were a millionaire.

Find some way to feed starving children somewhere.
Fund a cure for cancer. (yeah, I know, a million wouldn't touch it, but I'd try.)
Hire someone to tear out my lawn and put in new sod. (Thus removing all the weeds from my grass.)
Buy 3 new cars with zero miles on them. Nothing that fancy, just new.
Try not to change my lifestyle....pretty much life as usual.

Five bad habits. Only five? Ah, there are so many to choose from.

Procrastination. Especially phone calls.
Going to bed without washing my face. I always brush my teeth, though, if that makes the gag reflex stop for you.
Walking around in my pajamas as long as possible in the mornings before I have to get ready to go somewhere. I inevitably leave the getting ready a tad too long and have to rush.
Staying up too late, getting up too late.
Not planning dinner ahead of time. I'm working on that one. Still. Did much better this week! Yeah for me.

Does this all add up to L-A-Z-Y? I'm really not lazy...maybe just wannabe lazy?

Five things you like to do.

Hang out with my family. Joy and Rejoicing!
Sit on my front porch and watch it rain.
Work in my yard.
Read
Get pedicures, play the piano, shop (sometimes) and go to church. Sorry that was cheating, but I couldn't leave some of those out. Again hard to choose only five.

Five things you will never wear again.

U-Knits. Oh heavens, remember those???? How embarrassing.
Polyester Pant Suits. Only the aged will remember, but they were the only "suit"able replacements for wearing dresses to school. Actually at the time they were pretty stylin', but I don't want to go back there.
Size small anything. Boohoo.
Saddle shoes.
Ribbons in my hair. Kinda too old, dang it.

Five favorite toys.

Computer. Although we have a love/hate relationship, I adore keeping in touch with my missionary, my family, and my friends via its fab magic. I love that I don't have to use carbon paper and white-out anymore.
Piano.
My garden scissors and pruners. :)
Lawn Mower
iPod

Where will you be in ten years?

Good question. Maybe in Mongolia on a mission. Who knows? Hopefully wherever I am it will be in good health and with my best friend/husband, surrounded by my kids and grandkids. Do ya'll want to go on a mission with me?

I'm Baaaack!

2007-08-13T20:30:00.001-07:00

Well, I'm back in town, but having a hard time getting back in the saddle. Two weeks of no responsibility did wonders, but um, I really don't want to be responsible again. I thought I'd come back rarin' to go, but instead, I've been reading Harry Potter. I was quite behind, and the vaca seemed the perfect time to catch up. The problem is, HP just pulled me back in, and I have two more volumes to go!!! I so need to paint, clean, iron, do YW stuff, yard work, etc. Ah well, I suppose it will wait for me...I just need a wand to charm my chores to do themselves.

Fossilized Potato

2007-07-25T21:52:00.000-07:00

I don't know what I was thinking. Obviously I wasn't thinking. I guess because I cooked rice in the microwave for 20 minutes the day before, I was still in the mode. At any rate, when I put my lunch in the microwave (yes, a nice, clean, normal potato) instead of setting it for the usual three minutes, I set it for 20. After 14 minutes, I had completely forgotten about it and was in the other room, but Holly and Kylie were in the kitchen and suddenly became aware of white smoke pouring out of the microwave. The ensuing ruckus captured my undivided attention, and we opened the microwave door to stop the microwave, opened windows, and carefully moved the smoking object outside with the aid of tongs. Think of the most acrid, awful smell you can conjure up in your mind, multiply it by approximately 2,498 and it will come close to the scent we are sporting in our kitchen these days. The poor potato is charred black clear through. The picture doesn't really do it justice. The black part that fell off was the inside of the skin that was over the black body of the potato. The most surprising thing was that it weighs about as much as a feather now. All the moisture is sucked out of it and it feels a little bit like black Styrofoam. Pretty cool, but awfully scary, and endlessly stupid. I can't even tell you how hard it has been to get rid of the smell. We made a quick trip to the store for some Febreze plug-ins, and gradually we are getting back to normal, unless, of course we use the microwave. I fear we will stink forever. Just thought I'd make you all feel really good about your cooking skills. Have a great day!

Think Blue

2007-07-17T19:50:00.000-07:00

There is probably nothing I like better than a baby. Being a granny is such an opportunity to get to hold babies again! We just got the news today that a new baby BOY is joining the fam via the Bartles. It is so fun to know what gender to expect! We can start saying "he" instead of "the baby." Just had to share that happy news. He's due to arrive Dec. 13....what a great Christmas gift!

The Pantry

2007-07-15T00:33:00.000-07:00

My, oh my, I'm feeling good tonight. I just finished cleaning up my pantry. It is far from perfect, but it is organized and straight and it hasn't been for...quite some time now. Somehow I conjured up in my mind that it would take hours and hours to deal with it, so I haven't attempted it. Tonight I just had to organize the paper plates and cups and utinsils so I could make room for a new item, and one thing just led to another. I have to admit, the obsessive/compulsive streak in me just loves putting all the green beans together, lining up the soup in flavors, arranging the baking goods so you can actually see what is there, and {drumroll} discarding the chips and crackers that have two stale bites left in the bag. Mr. Monk would definitely be proud. The ice cream cones and crackers are conveniently located on the bottom shelf so the grandkids can reach them. I'm so proud of me! It didn't even take that long. I think I need to attack a few other projects this week which have been procrastinated because I think they are going to take gobs of time. Maybe my recipe/computer adventure, my curtains, Eric's missionary scrapbook {it would be nice to get that done before he arrives back home, don't you think?}, my abandoned painting projects, etc., etc. Any bets on how long my organized pantry will last? It is really a shame it wasn't cleaned up before my company came. My bad.

2007-07-10T14:19:00.000-07:00

Ok, I know it has been forever since I posted. There are reasons for this.

A. My computer is in a room occupied by my very cherished visitors so I'm trying not to invade their privacy too much. :)

B. My life just isn't that interesting!

However, my world rocked this morning when my tile guys announced "we are done." Wahoo! One more step accomplished on the way to restoration of usage of the master bathroom. Now all we need are sinks and toilets! Minor details, eh? I will post a picture when....I don't know when, but hopefully soon! In the meantime, I have a lot of nail holes to putty and sand.

The Perfect Storm/Packaging

2007-06-29T11:27:00.000-07:00

It is true that chaos attracts more chaos. Remember that movie a few years ago about a big storm on the ocean or something (never saw it) where many different conditions came together to create that "perfect storm"? Well, the perfect storm arrived at our house this week. Remodeling, car issues, people moving, not moving, plumbing issues, painting, furniture delivery (fun, btw), YW, VT, etc. have made a happy chaos over in these parts. We are determined to keep our sense of humor and happy countenances though.

A lingering (and unrelated) issue with me is the innate inability I seem to have been born with to open things that are packaged. Even simple things like cereal boxes and cake mixes give me trouble. Even if I manage to get it open, chances are it is upside down. Yesterday I wanted to give my granddaughter a cheese stick and by the time I figured out how to peel it open, she wasn't interested any more. You know those bags that are sealed on top and then have zip locks for after you have opened it? Not my friends. Who invented "child-proof" lids, anyhow? It doesn't stop the kids, only me. I have to hand the bottle to the children to open it. And how about the lids that are put on at the factory by a big machine, and then they expect me to twist them off? Puh-leeeeeease. And how did my mirror arrive in the mail yesterday with the box so taped up that you would think the keys to the kingdom were inside, cushioned with half of the world's Styrofoam sheeting (which disintegrated into a hideous mess as I removed it), and the heavy wood frame was damaged/cracked/crushed. Was someone shipping an elephant in the box which happened to be on top of my mirror? The words "open here" are completely frustrating to me. It is just as hard "there" as anywhere else for me, but everyone around me zips the corner off and has the contents eaten before I find my scissors. I guess my husband's old saying "It's not what you want but what you get that makes you fat" could actually bless my life...I can't get the package open. I suppose I'll just maintain my friendship with my scissors and pocket knife and move on.

Changes

2007-06-25T00:19:00.000-07:00

Wow, it seems like the only consistent thing in life is change!

A big change in my life was the death of my aunt this past week. She was my piano teacher for a while when I was in high school, and I'll always be grateful to her for teaching me some of the classics I still enjoy playing today (except I can't quite play them any more.) I will miss her, not that we really kept in touch, but I always knew she was there and that she was probably saying something really funny, 'cause she was like that. A change in routine for me was going to SLC to her funeral and spending some time with my awesome family. It was nice to re-c0nnect with everyone, even if it was for a short time. Miss you, guys! See you soon!

Another big change comin' up in my life is the state of our master bathroom. Come Thursday, the demolition crew will be here to transform its current hideous state into something lovely! It has been a long time comin'. Hooray!

Ripples going out from that change include painting the master bedroom. I meant to start that over the weekend. What happened? Perhaps a change of plans......?????

And a not-so-happy-for-me change occurred today as my beloved Beehive Counselor and Laurel Advisor became part of the new Stake YW Presidency. Hm. I will miss them like crazy. I guess I have to give them up for the greater good, but it is hard to imagine who needs them more than I do! I guess the silver lining in that dark cloud is that I will get to know some more fantastic women!

A change I'm looking forward to tomorrow is a haircut and color. Wahoo! I'm definitely looking forward to that one. Whaddaya think? Red? Blonde? Boring Brown? Highlights, no highlights, chunky or conservative? Hm. Guess we'll know by this time tomorrow!

I think I better change in to my pj's and contemplate some shut-eye. Maybe I'll change into a morning person. Wouldn't that be great?

This Guy

2007-06-17T21:41:00.000-07:00

This guy is my favorite. He was born in a little town in Idaho on the very same day that I was being given a name and a blessing in a little church in Utah. We joke about that and say that I was REALLY blessed that day, but it is actually not a joke. I was. I am. And so are my kids. Happy Father's Day, baby. You are the best thing that ever happened to me.

This guy is my other favorite. He is the best dad a girl could ever have. I am so lucky. I can truly say I was born of goodly parents. Happy Father's Day, dad. I love you.

Mowing

2007-06-11T20:12:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of mowing our lawn today. This is a chore usually assigned to Ryan these days, but his days have been very busy of late and it was more than a tad neglected. Since he gets up at the crack of the crack to work a landscaping job already, it is hard to face when he gets home. AND, when I got up this morning and walked outside and saw how overcast and cool it was for an Arizona morning in June, I knew I had to do something out there. Add to it the empty green barrel...need I say more? I just love how it looks when it is done, and I love mowing in patterns and trying to figure out the most efficient way to do it. It makes me feel like I went to the gym and worked out, only this is FUN working out. The only trouble is, it leads to weeding, trimming and pruning. Hm. All in all, it was a morning in heaven. Next step: fertilizer. Then I can mow green grass instead of brown, crunchy wannabe grass. I really hate having the worst looking lawn on the street. Definitely a downer.

Sandra

2007-06-04T20:30:00.000-07:00

It is hard to quantify the things I've learned as a result of rubbing shoulders with Sandra. I love her like a sister. I'll always miss her. But I'm sure glad I got to live around her for a while and learn from her. She definitely left footprints in my heart.

Things I learned from Sandra:

People always matter more than programs or possessions.

Sometimes kids just need you to rub their ears.

Time is precious.

Being in nature helps us get closer to God.

We need time that isn't programmed to listen to the birds and watch the clouds.

Families are the glue that holds life together.

Little plants are like little souls. (We share a love of digging in the dirt.)

You need to deadhead your flowers. There is a quote by Sue Careless that always makes me think of Sandra..."You know you are one hard-core gardener if you deadhead flowers in other people's gardens." Sandra was a hard-core gardener.

Learn to serve.

Keep it simple.

Singing hymns brings the spirit. Kneeling prayer is powerful.

We learn to do by doing.

Sometimes we think too much.

Painting on cardboard is fun, whether it is with Beehives, Scouts, or any other group of kids. It is OK if it isn't perfect, and it is OK if it gets on the driveway. It comes out eventually.

Life is more fun when you laugh a lot. Presidency meetings are more fun when you laugh a lot.

Put one foot in front of the other even if it is hard. We can do hard things.

Some things are worth fighting for. Sometimes we need to assume the role of advocate.

Sometimes our role is submitting our will to God's will.

Life is good....the zinnias are blooming. (The last time Sandra was in my home, about two weeks ago, these were her parting words.)

I love you, my friend. I can't imagine life without you. Thank you for patiently teaching me.

Numero Uno Times Dos

2007-05-28T19:01:00.000-07:00

Although it has been a while since this momentous event took place, here is the very first bloom of the summer on my baby zinnias. AND, this is my very first venture into photos on the blog!

Now there are dozens of zinnias in bloom and soon (I hope) there will be dozens of pictures on my blog. The reason I just have to settle for being hopeful is because I honestly don't know if I can remember how to do this. (Remember technostress.) But at least my computer has the capability now, even if I don't, which was not the case until my genius husband came to my rescue and re-set a bunch of stuff on my computer. Thanks, genius husband. Now if you could just re-set my brain to work better when dealing with things binary, we'd be in business.