sunday quote

"Human beings are expected by their Creator to be actively employed in doing good every day of their lives, either in improving their own mental and physical condition or that of their neighbors."

Brigham Young

This week, every morning before I get out of bed, I will dedicate my day to doing good.

And my prayers will request Divine Direction

so that I will do the most good where it is most needed.

what i like best about saturdays

just knowing i can sleep in if i want to

but waking up early cuz my body's used to it

means that while everyone else sleeps in

i get all the "must-do's" finished

and have the rest of the day to play.

Today was especially fun.

making/eating curry

laying around

a bit of shopping

more laying around

and phone calls to people i love.

I love Saturdays.

Ooooh!!!! wanna win this!

do you look for giveaways?

have you won one?

One time I won a TV. This is true.

one of our local grocery stores in Sitka used to do monthy drawings

my name was drawn one december

and I went home with a brand-spankin'-new tv.

Now I want to win this:

amazing Lindsey is hosting this giveaway

at her blogsite.

she also happens to be the jewelry maker

and sells this beautiful stuff at

her etsy shop, the r house couture

check out her blog ... you just might get hooked and become a regular reader

when you enter to win this, make sure you take a moment to read some of her posts

she's truly amazing

(and we're almost related! ... what is she to me if she's my daughter's sister-in-law?)

here's crossing my fingers & hoping i win!

night on the town

if you know me very well

you know my all-time favorite nighttime activity

involves dressing in my pjs, sipping hot cider and curling up on the couch

at home

i'm a big 'ole party-pooper and NOT a night person

HOWEVER

when I can be talked into going out at night

almost without fail

I HAVE A BLAST!

such was the case earlier this week

Amy & Chris treated us to a night out.

I won't go into the delicious dinner details, suffice it to say:

everything I tasted was amazing

but Brad's wasabi-crusted pan-seared ahi made my tastebuds go crazy!

I had never heard of Austrailia's group, HUMAN NATURE

but holy schmoly! they are amazing!

We tapped, clapped, bounced, danced, sang, whistled, cheered.

OH WHAT A NIGHT!

THANKS Amy & Chris

my mess

... well, at least i didn't wait till April 15th ...

good thing!

cuz this mess of papers took all morning to sort thru

the picture below may look worse than the 1st

but actually, it's my organized mess

and it's all turned into ....

A TAX REFUND!

one of those days

you all know what i'm talking about

i need to go to sleep and pretend today just never happened

and really - anything i touch today is going to self-destruct-

so the nicest thing i can do for myself

for those i love

for inanimate objects

for complete strangers

is to jump into my bed and sleep the rest of the day and night away.

someday maybe i'll tell you all the specifics

but for now, be glad if you are one of

the lucky ones who didn't come in contact

with me today

and sorry to those of you who did

sunday quote

"A child needs a mother more than all the things money can buy. Spending time with your children is the greatest gift of all."

Ezra Taft Benson

I remember the "Parents Fireside" in 1987 when President Benson presented this address: To The Mothers in Zion

We were students at the University of Utah. I went away with renewed determination to spend not just quality time, but quantity time with my children.

After reading this quote today, I'm going to rededicate myself to making time for each of my children.

And, being my parents' child, I know that we never stop needing our mothers. So my determination extends to my grown children. They may not get amazing gifts, or financial support or big vacations. But they'll continue to get emails and phone calls and prayers on their behalf.

I love my children.

presidential visit

President Obama was here in Henderson yesterday.

In fact, he was at Green Valley High School ...

just a hop, skip and a jump away.

Although I'm not jumping on the bandwagon and waving President Obama banners, I have to say that after watching and hearing his interaction with fellow Henderson-ites, I really like him. In that setting, it felt like there was nothing to prove, no one to win over, no typical politician actions. He seemed to genuinely care about and relate to us.

So let me add this:

With the exception of 1 US President

I believe we've had amazing men of strong character and good hearts running our country. I believe they've acted according to conscience and have done their best to lead righteously. I believe our prayers in their behalf are vital and that prayers, without words and actions joining in, are hypocritical and useless.

Let's pray for our President, recognize the good he is working for, and take whatever actions our conscience tell us to.

My Grandma ... Lida Perry Call

This picture is how I remember my Grandma Call best.

This was taken when she was 90 years old ...

she was almost 97 when she died.

Isn't she beautiful?!

In my memory, Grandma was always quilting. My strongest memories of Grandma are from 1977 - 1978. I was going to Ricks College and Grandpa & Grandma lived near Idaho Falls. I visited them on occasion, but when Grandpa passed away and Grandma was living alone I spent almost every weekend with her. As soon as I'd walk in her house I'd be offered some homemade ginger-snaps. Then we'd sit down at a quilt and visit and listen to CNN. Later each night we'd play a game of Scrabble. I slept in Grandma's guest room. Early in 1978 I got pretty sick - One night at Grandma's house I was coughing so much I guess I was keeping her awake. In she walked with a spoonful of something and strongly suggested I take it. It would quiet my cough, she said.

I found out later it was cayenne pepper and honey.

It about killed me.

But I didn't cough the rest of the night :)

This is a quilt my Grandma made. This is how amazing she is: While living with my aunt in Arizona she slept in a room that let in too much sun and too much heat. So she just "whipped up" this amazing window covering.

Below is my Grandma's 8th Grade graduation picture:

(GORGEOUS, isn't she!)

I love my Grandma.

a little about not much

i took the day off.

insomnia, coupled with really sick stomach ... that meant i was unsuitable for work this morning

things I've learned today:

I've really not been missing much on tv - dora is about the best thing on during the day after all

thankfully the winter olympics is about to start

one can read an entire book in a morning

(The Goose Girl - it's really good)

I'm excited to start attending a local book group where this book will be discussed

Saturday Bryan and I saw

The Lightning Thief

I've read all the Percy Jackson books, thanks to Bry

and thoroughly enjoyed the movie

(I don't care what the critics say)

I wish they'd make the Twilight movies as well ... they look low-budget to me

no sleep would be ok if a headache didn't accompany it

i love my essential oils - i've been burning a blend of

orange oil, roman chamomile and clary sage

it makes me feel better

i love to read

missing my grown kids and their kids

i wonder if i'll ever get scrapbooking again ...

i don't really want to - but think i should.

it's SO comfortable outside today (70+)

that's all.

sunday quote

"There is nothing as energizing, as confidence-building, as sustaining as the power of love."

President Gordon B. Hinckley

Valentine flowers i learned to make after reading Katie's post

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY EVERYONE!

For us, it was lovely.

Brad & I played & sang

"There is a Green Hill Far Away"

in Sacrament Meeting

Then we TOTALLY ENJOYED having Brad's sister, Lizzy, her husband and kids come spend the afternoon with us. We miss them. We love them.

The girls ROCKED with wii.

So, happy valentine's day to all of you.

headband heaven

Everyone read the r house blog?

mrs r is amazing for many reasons -

her's is an adoption blog.

if you don't already follow her, check it out - i know you'll love it

she regularly offers give-aways

and this time she's giving away a headband from

the new etsy shop:

JanuaryJill

Yup, it's true, I know the people who make these headbands

... some of them live with me ...

STILL -

it's a great give-away!

So check it out and I'd love it if one of you win!!!!

2 little pudgies

Sierra (2) & Bryan (3)

Brad and Sierra took a little stroll down memory-lane

the other day

when they pulled out old photo albums.

I just couldn't resist doing a quick blog about this picture.

These two have spent their lives together

watching out for each other

getting in trouble together

cheering each other on

Just a couple of fun memories:

#1 When Sierra was new on her feet - just able to pick up some speed

the two of them hopped off the back pew at church

while Brad & I were distracted,

snuck under the bench

then took off in opposite directions - each taking a side aisle

and up onto the stand

from there, they crossed each other and ran back down

opposite sides

They were so super-fast that no one could catch them

The really bad part:

they were laughing nice and loud the whole time

#2 One day I was on the phone with a very long-winded acquaintance

it got very quiet .. which was my excuse to get off the phone

i check on the kids and surprisingly, they were just sitting around, being good

So I got back on the phone

no sooner did this acquaintance start to talk

and i hear:

*FLUSH*

*giggle, giggle, giggle*

"now you do it!"

*FLUSH*

*belly laugh, belly laugh*

I rushed in to find Bryan and Sierra giving each other swirlies

Yup - tho no longer pudgies, they are still inseparable.

wednesday already

Well, since it's Wednesday already

i'd better Write something quick!

Whenever i think of Wednesdays I think of the birth poem

and the segment that says

Wednesday's child is full of Woe.

That is horrible!

I know it has to rhyme with "go" but please! let's think of another Word...

here are some ideas:

Wednesday's child is a little sloW

Wednesday's child Wears a cute boW

Wednesday's child sinks really loW

Wednesday's child will Wear a fro

Wednesday's child shouts ho-ho-ho

Wednesday's child, my laWn, will moW

Wednesday's child is status quo

Wednesday's child eats herring roe

Wednesday's child Will hate to seW

Wednesday's child's missing a toe

.... hmmmm ...

i guess "full of Woe" isn't bad.

Sunday Quote

Stake Conference

was so good that my quotes are coming from these last 2 days of speakers:

"A home is a place where anyone who chooses to do so can feel the Spirit."

Elders Lowell Snow

"If you can fix it with money, it's not a real problem"

Elder Snow's Mother

This next quote is a sentence shared by Elder Snow after talking about the trying times we live in - how so many are wanting security.

"The faith to hear God is real security."

I'm not sure exactly the context of this next quote. But I know what I was thinking: My thoughts were led to the many priesthood blessings I've had; the many hours spent praying and pondering regarding different situations I've been in. I've thought of my various trials and the emergence from them. I've always known "this too shall pass". But I've also known that the real test is to emerge from the trial having learned and grown. This quote gives me the formula:

"We can only learn the lesson if we'll act according to faith."

Saturday night was a question-answer session. One brother talked about President Benson's quote about beginning a serious study of The Book of Mormon and the promises accompanied with that. He then asked how we know if we are involved in a "serious study":

"A serious study of the scriptures is when you seriously put studying the scriptures first."

Sister Tammy Snow

This next quote came from Elder Snow when someone asked about why people are born into different situations in life. I like this quote and will share it with my children everytime they say "It's not fair":

"When you treat your children equally, you can't treat them the same."

The end of the Saturday night session, Elder Snow talked about submission and acceptance of God's will:

"I've given up trying to re-write the script. Resist the temptation. There's something in it for us."

Finally, my favorite:

Elder Snow ended his comments with this:

"It'll be ok. It will be ok. I promise ... it will all be ok. You'll be ok."

I felt the Spirit.

I feel changed.

I feel a desire to let go of temporal concerns and focus on the Lord's abudance (as referenced by Sister Snow ... see Moses 7:16)

One last Sunday thought:

There is nothing that can compare with sitting in a congregation of hundreds to sing the hymns. Singing together is beautiful.

Taking a break and listening, while surrounded by the voices of saints ...

well, that's angelic.

... just a reminder ...

don't try to DENY it

MOM ...

it's here for the whole blogging world to see!

love you :)

My Confessional

Thanks for the idea, Rebecca!

* Sometimes I roll my eyes over the phone

* When I was 7 or 8 one of my friends told me that if you pretend to say "hey" while smiling, your smile will look better. I had a very crooked smile till I tried that trick. Now 40+ years later I often find myself saying "hey" when a picture is taken.

* When exercising I only cheat on the crunches

* I can't cook or bake without sampling the entire time. This means I never want to eat my own meal.

* I really believe clothes smell better when line-dried

* I'm currently disillusioned with the state of Henderson's police force (that's being nice)

* I'd rather watch a childhood Disney movie or The Sound of Music at home than see a new flick at the theater

* Although I feel like a kid in most ways, I've truly become a grown-up when it comes to amusement parks. I'd rather do taxes than go on one of those rides.

* I used to "call in sick" so I could finish a good novel. Now I just stay up late then suffer the next day.

* My kids are ALL smarter than me.

* I still have to check to make sure the doors are locked more than once before bedtime

letting go

good-grief!

how long can I hold on to bitterness toward RF

(the guy who hired Brad as GM, then a year later let him go)

[yeah, the economy pooped out ... but he mislead us about the condition of the company and knew all along that it was most likely a temporary job for Brad but never shared that with us - all while we purchased a home, closed the door to Alaska, etc... he was less than honest with us]

I think with the disposal of this sad plant

I can dispose of negative feelings.

Let's hope so.

Ironically, this is a

Peace Lilly

R & his wife had this delivered to our home the day we closed

I've nurtured this baby, trimmed it,

watered it, moved it ...

finally about a month ago I just left it alone.

Sad, I know.

A week or so ago I put it outside and let it freeze.

This morning I dumped it in the garbage and said farewell.

The garbage truck should be here any minute.

Good-bye to the peace lilly and good-bye to bitter feelings.

temple

I just want to say that

i love how just being inside the temple

can make everything negative disappear

Somedays I feel like I should LIVE in the temple

but time doesn't permit.

So for now, I'll take the short moments

but I'm determined to have a LOT more of them

They make the world disappear.

I love the temple.