Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Christmas is Love

Had this awesome lesson my last week in Relief Society, now that I am in Primary Presidency its children all the way now~ Anyway, the lesson was about charity and and love and what that means to us as Christians. It was the perfect lesson to start the Christmas season.

I believe that "I love you period" is Christlike love. At this time of year when the world celebrates the birth of my Savior, I am amazed at His unconditional love for me. He truly loves me period. He loves me when I make good choices. He loves me when I make bad choices. He loves me when I am fat. He loves me when I am thin. He loves me when I am married. He loves me when I am single. He never leaves me. He helps me be a Mom. He helps me be a Gramma. He helps me be a daughter, a sister, a friend, a neighbor, a compassionate service leader, a 2nd counselor in Primary, anything and everything.

I am thankful for the Christlike love I have for all of my children and my grandchildren. They are ALL my favorites!!!

Too lazy to light up my house this year. Grateful I finally got all my Christmas cards mailed. Praying I get my boxes mailed on time. But mostly striving to have His love in my heart long after the Christmas season!
:-D

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

What an AWESOME vacation I just had!
It was wonderful to go back to Colorado and chill at the timeshare for a week with a few of my favorite girlfriends.

It was wonderful to veg and watch a bunch of my DVDs (some day I WILL figure out how to make my DVD player work with my DirectTV . . . ).

Did a little shopping at the factory outlet stores in Silverthorn and buzzed around Breckenridge on my way out ...

Spent some wonderful time at the temple with friends doing some of the sealings from their own geneology. VERY COOL!

Went to Gunther Toodys because one must when one is in Colorado!

Have a day to play with Nathan and Danica and learn how to loose on Playstation 3. Took pictures of them and Duncan and will also try and remember to get them off my camera, either onto disc or hard pics ... or download to hard drive at home ...

Thinking it would be GREAT if we did Breckenridge as a family in 2010. Given the sizes of your families ... you might want to consider if you can and if you want to, cause not all of us will fit anymore . . . (there are three beds, 2 king and one full) and two fold out couches and plenty of eating and showering areas ...) and we will figure something out at the end of 2009!

;-)

Monday, October 6, 2008

Your mother's view on conference ~

Can I just say how much I absolutely LOVE General Conference!!! Just when I think the last one was the best, a new one comes along and is even better!

I also love the fact that our ward has a pot luck in between sessions. It is nice to sit and greet each other without a lot of rush.

My favorite Spanish Elder is back in the area and we got to catch up after almost 10 months. He is due to head home to Mexico soon, but promises to bring his wife here, when he finds one.
:-D

Apparently the choir during the Priesthood session was amazing. Might have to sneak in some day and just check out that session . . . just kidding. Much too thankful to be a woman and a mom and a gramma. Have sons who have the Priesthood, and sealed to my Dad who has the Priesthood and I am surrounded my eager young elders through two of my callings, so have enough Priesthood to cover me several times over.

I wrote one note during the sessions; can't even tell you whose talk it was during (they had little lights to clip over the pews so you could see to write --- WAY cool). That note reads "you were raised on I love you period".

I somehow occured to me that my best journal entries were as each of you left home for the first time (Karen, that was Illinois) and how much peace I felt knowing that you knew I love you period. It was my belief then and still is that you (my children and now my grandchildren) can "make it" it the big bad world no matter what because you knew and still should know that I love you period.

I know I have made mistakes and have admitted to as many as I know of. I also know that each of you have made mistakes, and that we will all likely to make some more before this life is over for all of us. I do know that I have peace in my spirit because Heavenly Father and I have talked enough and my Savior has cleaned up what I couldn't/can't fix. I am reminded of this every time I sit in the Celestial room and rededicate my focus on being the best daughter of God I can be (and praying for help to be kind toward other drivers on the way home).

I am so grateful that despite the way I became a Mom, it is by far my greatest achievement. I was not a perfect Mom, but if you are (or if you are a perfect dad) then throw a rock on me. I am a great gramma. My kids and my grand kids are my greatest joy and my greatest blessings.

I hope that 20+ years from now you will be able to write something similar in your journals. You won't stop being a Mom/Dad or Husband/Wife in this life and we are all sealed to each other so we must be a Celestial family here in order to be a Celestial family for eternity.

Cannot imagine eternity without you!

Love,
Mom

Monday, September 15, 2008

What a Wonderful September!

So, my summer ended with a wonderful visit to Utah for Carter's baptism! 7 out of 10 grand babies is a good deal. Missed having the Lemons there, but am so very proud of Carter and his awesome spirit!

It was good to see my Dad and Mary again, and spend some time with Grandpa Lemon and Lisa too. And I got an early Christmas present, which Katelyn has already "taken" as HER church bag.

We had a wonderful and long overdue visit with her Mom finally this past Saturday. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, or any more huge gas price increases, we expect to go back up the weekend of the 27th!

Am already looking forward to my trip to Colorado in November. Guessing work will survive and just pile stuff up on my desk (not too bad this last round . . .) and now that I am the "acting" Relief Society music director too ... hoping the ward won't fall apart while I am gone either (November's vacation covers 2 Sundays --- and Elders lost their dinner calendar this round, so only guessing how bad two Sundays will be!).

Waiting now for the next "event" and lottery winnings (hard to win when you don't play!) or an unforeseen bonus at work!
;-p

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

End of Summer

I can't believe that summer is almost over. Given that everything here in the South runs s - l - o - w, summer has just raced past me!

I am so anxious to see most of my grand babies the first weekend in September, that I am now counting down the days.

Other than standing at the front door (glass) and watching a lightening storm or sheets of rain, or trucking the Elders around, nothing much excites me here. I lie. I forget I had my sinks "snaked" this week and am thrilled that I can run water for as long as I want to now in BOTH bathrooms. :)

Am sending one of my Elders home this month to West Jordan, and another one home to Alaska next month.

Have paved my way to the Celestial Kingdom by giving a Sacrament meeting talk two weeks ago, a baptism talk the week before that, and am scheduled to teach Relief Society this Sunday! Being good really is best (not better ... or good, for those of you who paid attention to that conference talk)!

We have Elder McConkie's son, Steven out here as our mission president. That apparently makes us famous, but then his sister, Mary, taught me health when I was in Jr. High, so I am already famous ...

So grateful to be upright and doctor free still. Guess I'd better save up for the dentist next huh ~

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

God Bless America

Okay, so I've got to say it. After months and months of being tortured by various doctors (who damaged more than they fixed), I am grateful for a month of being doctor free!

Guess that means I need to see a dentist. Does visiting with or hanging out with Danica count?
:-D

I am relieved to have all my tickets booked and paid for till the end of this year. Am thankful for new tires, new glasses,a new rug for my living room, and finally having rocking chairs on my front porch.

I am scared of the fact that apparently you don't have to "see" someone in your Bishopbric to be asked to give a talk (go ahead, ask about that one) and that they can book you out more than a month in advance.

I am back in the pool and hoping to loose SOME of my southern comfort (caused by comfort food and homemade mac & cheese ... not to be confused with the nasty box stuff). Can't have Jennifer and Shane being the only hotties in the family now can I?

So looking forward to Karen's updated blog ... hint, hint, hint and getting new picture of baby Charlie . . . another hint.

Happy and getting healthier . . .
:-)

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Recovering from doctors

So, as most of you know, my quick in and out dermotology appointment last week turned out to be a full blown face trauma, including plastic surgery and a very long week.

The funny part was going to the temple the night afterwards and having my temple president take one look at me and say "skin cancer?".

Got the stitches out on Tuesday and despite the plastic surgeons request that I not put make up on the scars for at least two more weeks(GET SERIOUS!), I look somewhat better with cover girl and some lipstick (despite the bump on my lip . . . ).

Have decided to make the dermatologist hunt me down for a follow up visit, otherwise she gets to see me annually like my GYN doc.

May actually start marketing t-shirts that say "Doctors make me sick!"!! :-D

It is melting here this week (temps to reach 100 before week's end . . .), but love the warmth and the sun (and no, the sun did not cause the face damage ... heritage and fair skin did it all!).

Goal still remains to get my back deck done and enjoy it more this summer. Wish me luck!

Monday, May 12, 2008

Why family matters ~

Okay, so monthly posts are going to be my new goal . . .

And May is family month. My first born was born in May, making for my first Mother's Day in 1975, the same day I got my patriarchal blessing. My Dad was born in May. My last child was born in May, and actually had his birthday on Mother's Day this year! My Granny was born in May, and shares that birthday with my youngest daughter-in-law.

Guess I'll need to have a grand child in May to round out the family calendar for May!

So anyway, I was having a terrible day last week and wanted to pretty much just hide in my house and have a pitty party. Then I got home, and there was this huge box and my back door. Opened the box while wallowing and watching Gray's Anatomy and found a treasure from Aunt Maryina. How nice it was to open this huge box and find my Granny's china tea set! It made me cry (finally tears of joy, cause I'd already cried tears of sorrow at court that a.m. and tears of pain at the doctors after that!)

All in all just made me thankful for my ancestors and who I am because of them. I was born in the covenant and raised in the church. So many people have so much less and have never had any light or hope in their lives. How grateful I am that I can look back over my life and see half full moments vs. half empty ones! Or even better perfect days (when I was sealed, when Nathan and Danica were sealed and ALL my kids were in the Celestial Room together for the first time, when Lacey was baptized, and . . .) when my cup ran over!

And then the little moments, watching Katelyn was my truck with me this past weekend, and remembering doing the same with my grands. Feeding my missionaries breakfast for dinner on Saturday night and remembering the times we have fed so many sets of missionaries over the years. Watching the Primary kids sing "I Often Go Walking" and bawling my eyes out because that was my Mother's favorite song and it truly IS her!

Life just gets better and better, especially when you let it and help it.
Happiness truly is your fault!

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Blessings!

What a wonderful weekend I had with 7 of my 10 grand babies! I am constantly amazed at how big they are each time and how awesome they are as well. I have officially told Lacey and Carter to stop growing. Don't know if I dare see how high they come up to me in August when I come back.

Being there and watching Lacey get baptized was the highlight of my grandmother life to date! Scott and Karen have taught her well. Lacey has an awesome spirit and I could not be more proud of her.

It was fun wrestling with all of them. I am getting too old (as Jennifer reminded the kids several times ... while taking pictures of them jumping on me)!

The best part of my flight home was hearing from Carter during my delay in Dallas. Him telling me he missed me already was worth whatever the cost of my tickets.

As I watch each of my babies becoming wonderful youngsters I am beginning to catch a glimpse of why my Mom was always so proud of me and my kids. Its a Mom/Gramma thing.

Only hoping Jeremy and Nathan can join us for Labor Day.

It was also awesome seeing my Dad and Mary again. Mary said I looked happy and she is right. They both look good and talked about serving another mission. I thought of them on my flight out of Salt Lake which has two senior couples on it going to Scotland.

Am thankful to be home and warm again ~
:-D

Monday, March 10, 2008

I am a Mom again at 50!

Thank goodness it is weekends (pretty much) for now, except during emergencies!

My best friend from church had to "go away" for a year and a half or so, so I now co-parent her 2 year old (not potty trained) daughter Katelyn with her god mother.

Can I just say, it is really hard to get a 2 year old up and ready for "school" and me off to work and out the door on time, especially on Monday morning!!!

Church yesterday was not as bad as I thought. I was harder today. And she had puked all over her bed last night. Who started daylight savings time anyway???

We are trying hard to be potty trained, but the daycare laughs at me, and the god mother thinks the chunk o' dunk 2 year old (wears the same size shows and clothes as a 5 year old up the street) is a baby doll and still carries her WAY too much.

But we both love her and are trying to keep her safe from her crackhead granny and her mean "I hate your mother" grandmother, who didn't know how to spell her name and only saw her because of probate court (her sweet, my son wouldn't hurt a fly, beat Katelyn's mom for five years before he died).

And blessing of all blessing, Miss Katelyn LOVES to nap. Almost killed my spanish elders yesterday for coming by during nap time and almost waking her up (she sleeps solid for like 3 hours!!!).

Good thing I didn't have and don't want a social life . . .
:-)

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Pressure Free South

Okay, my retarded disclaimer is . . . I have spent two days trying to remember, find and/or reset my password so I could post, cause I can't take the pressure!
;-}
I haven't written before because I don't want to rub it in the my windows were down (again) at lunch today and I raked my backyard all day Saturday . . . and I am not wearing pantyhose today and it is the end of January!
God Bless the South.
and
God Bless Mitt Romney!
:-D
Am still sad at the passing of our prophet. Has put me in a constant state of reminder of the song "We Thank Thee Oh God For a Prophet"! And how thankful I am for the gospel in my life and the knowledge that Heavenly Father loves me enough to let me be born when the gospel has been fully restored.
:-)
I am also thankful this week for new prints from Jennifer (3 hot chicks and the naked babies), and Karen's family picture!
In talking to my Dad the night President Hinkley died he confirmed what I have known all along, that I make really cute grandkids! Doesn't mean they get to sleep over in the 5th wheel ... but they are too cute for that anyway.
;-p
Am preparing for the big squirrel hunt coming up this next week. Finally found members in my ward with pellet guns, and not afraid to use them! Or eat them (which is okay with me so long as they are out of my tree and out of my hard. Hacking off some limbs on Saturday to get to the latest low lying nest ...
;-0

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Here is to 2008!

Okay, so I missed posting in the month of December. Big hairy deal!
I am practicing a stress free Christmas ... and blogging just seemed to stressful ...
:-D
I am looking forward to a wonderful 2008. Planning my travel plans and life around Lacey and Carter's baptisms and our Gramma trip to Disneyland (hopefully next Christmas).

Am so loving not having snow and cold at Christmas. Had my windows opened all night one day last week. Not bad for December! Not bad at all.

I had a great and quiet Christmas. Saw a slew of movies. Read a book. Blew some leaves in my yard. Had a nice dinner with my neighbor and a friend and her daughter.

Got a squirrel for Christmas! Most appropriate gift ever!
Used up all of my Mom's candles.

Am most thankful in 2007 for my Savior and His perfect love for me. Am grateful that I learned of His love earlier enough to show and teach my children "I love you period". Am so grateful for the blessing of being a Mom and being a Gramma. Am constantly amazed how many times someone here looks at a picture of one of my children or my grandchildren and says he/she looks just like me!
:-)
How blessed is that!

Am loving my callings and my ward and my friends and my neighbors.
Pretty much my whole life.

Planning on wrapping up some leftover legal issues and move fully forward in 2008!
And then take another cruise in 2009 (depending on baby births!)!~

Happy New Year.
I Love You All (Y'all)!