Come On Over!!!

I'd love to invite you to check out what I've been up to lately with this new house deal.....

My New House Blog !!!!

I will still be updating this blog every once in awhile with non-house stuff but right now that's what's new....

So, come on over! Pull up a blade of grass (or in this case Rye!) and get comfy! I'll be right there!

We're Movin' On Up!

ANNOUNCING OUR NEW ADVENTURE!!!

I've been dying to share this news with all of you but didn't want to jinx it before the land deal was signed. Remember my last post about the barn? Well.....we are building on the exact site of that old barn! In fact, the guys that tore it down didn't do a very good job of cleaning up after themselves so I snagged that large beam I talked about and hope to creat a fireplace mantle or something with it.

It's going to be a HUGE undertaking, especially since we are acting as our own contractor, but I'm hoping it will save us enough $$$ that we can buy some nice new furnishings.

So, welcome to our new adventure! Feel free to sign up for any of the following:

Paint Party USA

Roofing Raucous

Flooring Freaks & Tile Torture (for all of you thrill seekers!)

Moving Maniacs (We're hoping to be doing this by Mid November so plan now)

Any other Construction Crew Parties that you would like to host at our location would be greatly appreciated and invited! Let us know & we'll sign you up! *grins*

Thanks so much for all of your good thoughts, prayers & help!

Old Barns and Springtime Nostalgia

Living in the country, aka "God's Country", "Middle of Nowhere", "Armpit of Hell", "20 minutes past the middle of nowhere" and many more, spring is greatly anticipated. In the last week we have experienced, Snow, Rain, Sleet, TERRIBLE wind gusts & more. We've also experienced the most perfect 70 degree weather, warm sun and gentle breezes. Welcome to Spring in the Utah Desert.

This morning I walked outside to take some photos (I'll add those at a later date) and I experienced a great flood of nostalgia.

It began with a barn. A Big barn, A barn where horses and cattle would find shelter from the same kinds of storms and crazy weather in days gone by. A long rope used to hang from the center beam and my kids would swing and squeal with great delight from a simple old rope. The same rope that little children who grew up to be old men and wise matriarchs would swing from.

A manger, still filled with hay was nestled just inside the giant door. Dollies wrapped in swaddling clothes as the Nativity story was retold and reenacted for baby brothers. Many cats became momma cats as their kittens were born there.

A giant room for whispered secrets both big and small with a loft overhead where nimble feet pranced on creaky floorboards & mothers held their breath after ordering a swift dismount.

In days of grey dispair and heartache, the old barn stood, a gentle reminder of strength and endurance. Boards snapped and tin recoiled, doors sagged and beams became unsteady, but the old barn stood and weathered it all until the bitter end.
Some young entrepreneurs with visions of greenbacks persuaded a kind-hearted woman into letting them tear it down in order to sell the barnwood. I tried really hard not to cry as they mocked the craftsmanship and innovative foundations. I reminded myself that they were young and immature and that I was just a sappy ol' broad. It didn't help. I still cried.
And today there is very little traces of the old barn left. A cement slab, some random planks and old hinges, and one more thing. The old giant beam minus the rope that will someday, once again, reclaim it's rightful place of beauty. I promised to honor this land for as long as I lived here & today, in my springtime musings, I'm so grateful to be a part of this land where old barns and old souls feel like home.

God's Country....yeah, that feels right....Let's go with that.

Good Friends

I have been so blessed with such great friends that I hesitate to single them out because I don't someone to feel slighted. So I hope that all of my friends know that I honestly & truly love you all. But today I need to do this...I need to single out someone and give them a very BIG thank you!

This morning started out with a vengence. Head pounding....stomach churning & choking for clean air. Needless to say, we didn't make it to church. But as I tried to drift off to sleep, the wind howled and barn creaked outside. But a new sound slammed some reality home as I realized the old tin roof was being lifted off by the wind.

Darren went out in the FREEZING wind and attempted to nail down the old tin, but everytime he did, the side would curl back over and nearly smack him upside the head. The ladder wasn't tall enough to reach & without getting to the top, there was no way to prevent it from flying into the house risking further damage to house, or person.



So, to quote Pooh Bear, "I thunk and I thunk and I thunk!" and then knew what to do! I called Kelly & she sent Jerid! To hear his old chev truck roar to life and then turn the corner was such a comforting sound. Together they STETCHED and pounded nails, drilled and cut and all the stuff hardworking great men do.





And then to end the day on a perfect note, Miss Kelly went and did THIS!

These were taken at a performance last night. It wasn't their best, and Karlee came home pretty upset. It helps to have friends who lift and strengthen your kids too.



So our day started with Jerid strengthening the roof and protecting us there, and ended with Kelly lifting and strengthing a beautiful young lady in need of a little love. Kelly & Jerid were our heros today! Thanks guys! Love ya!




*NOTE: ALL PHOTOS PROPERTY OF KELLY BENNETT PHOTOGRAPHY! USED WITH PERMISSION ONLY!

OH DEER!

OH DEER! Look what happen to my DEAR husband's car this morning?!

He had just dropped Karlee & Sarah off at basketball practice and was driving back to the office. I personally think the deers last name must've been Busch with a swerve & swipe like that! hee hee (Only NASCAR fans will understand that reference).

The deer did survive, but it did leave a little scruff behind! I guess since he can't drive a company vehicle until his drug test comes back clean....(hopefully tomorrow), he'll be HOOF-in' it! (Ok, everyone groan at my bad jokes now!)

Roller Coasters

From the time I was a little girl, I loved the thrill of a roller coaster, the ups and downs and twists and turns, screams and squeals of delight and terror. At some point I realized that some of my friends were terrified of the same things that gave me such a thrill. Over the years I've come to realize that there are different types of roller coasters. And some, like the rickety ol' white coaster at Lagoon, are familiar and fine. But there are some I hope to never ride because I'm sure I would NOT like it.

Last week our family was shoved onto one of those nasty-scary coasters. We've experienced the frightened anticipation of knowing what could be coming, and still being TERRIFIED when it does, all the while screaming (both outwardly and inwardly) that we didn't want to ride anymore.

This particular Roller Coaster has a name:

Type 1 Diabetes

On Saturday, Feb 21st we attended the Draper Utah Temple Open House. It was a BEAUTIFUL day! The sun was shining, the sky was blue and it was a warm, pleasant day.

During the trip we noticed (and were annoyed) at Carson's frequent need to urinate & get a drink of water. It was after about the 8th time of needing to go in as many hours (or less) that we became concerned. Upon arriving home we did a little research on http://www.webmd.com/ and became very concerned. We decided to adopt a "wait and see" attitude. After confirming with his teacher Tuesday morning that he was doing the same thing at school, we made an appt. with our Doctor. At 3:30PM on Feb. 24, 2009 we hit our first big SCARY dip on this ride.

A normal blood glucose rate is between 70-120. Carson's official number (after a few blood tests) was 541! Dr. Grose called Primary Childrens Hospital and arranged for us to admit Carson that night. My head began to swirl & scream, my stomach lurched and my heart just pounded out the tears. I'm not one of those "hold it in until your child can't see you" kind of moms. I tried. I honestly tried, but the tears just softly fell. (at least I held in the sobbing and screaming part).

The only experience I've ever had with Type 1 diabetes was when Carson's best friend, Parker, died 2 years ago from this dreaded disease. I didn't want my child to die. I didn't want him to constantly worry about his fate being the same as his sweet friends. I wanted him to eat ice cream and skittles and get invited to birthday parties where cake was served. I wanted him to always enjoy Halloween and trick or treating. *STOMP* I want a different diagnosis....tell me it's a UTI and that he can take an antibiotic for a few days and then be fine. But it didn't come and we still have the same diagnosis & a whole new life.

Upon arriving at Primary Childrens Hospital in SLC we were greeted with warmth and kindness. The staff there is INCREDIBLE! Every single one of them are my new Heros! On a scale from 1-10, my stress level went from a 125 to about a 3 in the matter of minutes. There is a very special spirit there and I felt enveloped by their caring, capable hearts. They had Carson completely relaxed and HAPPY very quickly. He was so excited to be able to go down to the cafeteria at 11PM and choose whatever he wanted to eat. What an adventure.

The next few days are a blur. We stayed right in Carson's room. Darren slept in an upright/non-reclining rocking chair & I slept on a fold-out chair that I nicknamed "The Ironing Board". People came in and people came out. Everytime we redefined "the new normal". We learned out to count carbs and divide by Carson's "magic number". We learned all about the 2 different kinds of insulin that Carson is now taking (FOR LIFE!), how to figure out the dosage & how to draw them up from vial to syringe and then give him injections (a MINIMUM of 4x a day!). Darren & I even got to give an injection to each other. By day 2 Carson was independantly checking his own BG (Blood Glucose) levels and calculating & giving his own Insulin Injections! HE'S A ROCKSTAR!!!! And so BRAVE!!!!

We arrived home on Thursday night to a happy sister (thank heavens for cell phones and texting!) and a cleaner house (THANK YOU Kelly!) and supportive and wonderful friends! (Too many to name, but BIG shout-out to Tamara, Desi & Kris). He went to school on Monday and while I held my breath and prayed every second that he'd be ok. At the end of the day he came home with a packet full of love, a collection of get-well cards from his classmates who had been so worried.

This is my new life, and while I'm really sad about it, all I have to do is remember the wisdom of a wise old soul who happens to be my favorite little boy. When asked by his daddy (who happens to be my sweetheart) if he was doing ok with all of this, he said,
"Yeah I'm ok Dad, Sometimes Life isn't Easy and it's Ok"

Monday reMINDER

I still have a few spots left on my FRIDAY 5 freebie! So if you want a little giftie from Melz....let me know! ;)

As Promised

As Promised, here are the 2 projects that we made at Stamp Club the other night! (And a shout-out to Theresa....YES! Lets get together next time I'm in Preston! I'd love to stamp with you!)

I'm calling it the Little Box O' Love

and the

"Glitterfied Chunky Love" Card!

First: The Deets on the Glitterfied Chunky Love Card:

Paper: Basic Grey, Pink Passion, Textured Black & Glossy White CS

Inks: Basic Grey, Purely Pomegranate (retired)

Accessories: Chunky Glitter (Silver), Dazzling Diamonds, 2 way Glue Pen, Daubers, Sheer White Ribbon, Silver Cording, Heart to Heart Punch

Stamp Sets: Love You Much, Priceless

And now, the "Little Box o' Love Deets:
(my apologies for the blurry picture, I had the hardest time with this one...Kelly don't shoot me!)
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip, Glossy White Card Stock
Inks: Red Riding Hood Red, Rose Red (SA Jumbo Cartridge)
Accessories: Red Riding Hood Red 5/8" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, RHR Taffeta Ribbon, Brad, Dazzling Diamonds, 2 way Glue Pen, Daubers, Crop-a-dile, Scalloped Edge Punch
Stamp Sets: A Happy Heart, Lots of Hearts SA Jumbo Wheel (retired)

Edited to add: Inside is a small cello bag filled with some chocolate candies and then tied with the 1/4" chocolate chip grosgrain ribbon. It's the perfect size for a little gift.\!

Both of these projects are so full of shimmer and sparkle....wish you could see it. We really did have a magnificent time. I hope you can join us sometime!

If you would like to order any of the current products used to make these projects, this would be the perfect time to do so. Stampin Up!'s Sale-A-Bration Sale is in full swing! Contact me for details or go to http://www.melaniefox.stampinup.net/ to order now!

Happy Stampin!

Happy Valentines Day!

HaPpY VaLeNtiNeS DaY!!!



ps Have you signed up and done your 5 gifts blogpost yet? I'd love you send you something! Let me know when you do! And in the meantime....go love your sweet ones!

Friday Five!

A Challenge from one of my favorite bloggers: Sophia Corbridge
1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2- What I create will be just for you.
3- It'll be done this year. (might be a little while)
4- You have no clue what it's going to be. It may be a story. It may be poetry or an article on proper procrastination. I may draw or paint something. I may bake you something and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you,that's for sure! (From me, it will more than likely a paper creation, because That's what I do best! ha ha)
5- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange. (I would have to add that I reserve the right to take six extra months in getting to the post office to get it mailed. But, you will get it eventually.)

What's The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must repost this on your blog and offer the same prize to the first 5 people who post on your blog. The first 5 people to repost and leave a comment telling me they did win an AWESOME homemade gift by yours truly!

Glitterfied and Giggled

Tonight I will sleep like a happy baby! The reason is because I have been glitterfied and giggled. Yes, I am using the word properly, you just need to be edu-ma-kated! ha ha

Tonight was stamp club night and as usual, we laughed until we snorted, and then we giggled some more. I love watching grown women giggle like teenagers. Tonight there was a wide range of women, ranging from late teens to early sixties, and do you know what I realized? That we all giggle the same.

One thing that I have noticed with this wonderful group of women is their great desire to socialize and include others into this little group. Every month we have someone new come and we hope that they'll be back. Tonight, we had 2 gals that we have missed so very much rejoin our little group! They giggled right along with us as if they'd never left and it was wonderful.

We created some really fun cards that included a lot of glitter....and we became "glitterfied".....poor little Amanda got BATHED in it! I'm not sure what happened, but all at once she was DAZZLING in Dazzling Diamonds!

I love these women and every month I come home with a big ol' grin on my mug and a happier, lighter heart. I'll try and take pictures of our cute little projects tomorrow. Be patient with me, remember that my camera has moved on to greener pastures, so I'll try and get Darren's. You'll love them, I promise!

More Holiness Give Me, More Strength From Within...

I'm thinking and that's usually a scary thing.....but it's late at night and I've just read another blog post and it's stirred up thoughts and feelings deep inside of me.

I think we've all been in that place when we want to stomp up some mythical staircase and pound on that door that opens the secret cloud door that leads to the magical yet ominous pearly gates...have the guard ring us in, toss our hair back, thrust out our defiant chins and march right up to the "man on his high and mighty throne" and shout an edgy threatening shout:"Why Father Why?! Tell me now, tell me EVERYTHING, don't leave anything out!" And in our mind we stand there, arms folded, leaning back on one foot, other foot tapping, eyes a rolling and heart slammed shut!! The truth is, I don't think we really want to hear as much as we want to be heard.

Many years ago (approximately 16 1/2) I was right in the middle of unsuccessful medical treatments which I was hoping would result in a pregnancy. I was frustrated and sad, angry and confused. I tried so hard to be completely supportive and excited when, one by one each and every one of my friends announced their pregnancies. But the final straw was finding out that, instead of having a son or a daughter, I would be gaining a brother or a sister. Oh, how it hurt, it cut to the very core of my heart and I couldn't understand it at all. With each tear that fell, I took one of those defiant stomping step towards that "mean guy up there" that wouldn't answer my prayers the way I wanted. But that didn't work out the way I anticipated either. The journey there took a lot longer than I thought it would. My huffs and puffs began to loose their umph and my puffed out pride began to soften and as I trudged along my brain and my heart began to communicate. And pretty soon my knees buckled into a humbled heap. Nearly 3 years later my answer came in the form of a little girl dressed in blue to match her deep soulful eyes.

I don't know the whole plan, and I don't claim to have all of the answers. But I have learned to trust in Him. That little answer of mine (and the other one that came 4 1/2 years after her!) has grown up to teach me things that I cannot even begin to describe. They are their own people with their own questions. I can tell you that with all of my heart I know that God does hear our prayers, I know he hears our heart, and I know that he does have the answers for us. But I must admit, I don't always pray, I don't always let him into my heart and I don't listen to his answers nearly as often as I ought to. I think the answers scare us a bit. While He sees the whole picture of our possibilities and potential, we tend to look at our current state of weakness and misery. We can't imagine doing anything different or more. We like familiar and the unknown scares us.

Yesterday was the anniversary of something really awful. For 25 years I have sobbed and sobbed. Tonight it hit me. I survived to tell the tale. I have cried and walked and shouted "why did you let that happen?" and I've beat myself to a pulp for the choices and mistakes that I made. Right now, in this moment, I am stepping onto a new path. I honestly believe that in all the bad that happened so long ago, a story was chiseled into the walls of my broken heart. I believe that the lessons I learned are to be shared and as I feel prompted to, I will.

I believe that when we can move past the anger and change our words from "WHY!" to "Help me understand" we get a lot further. Tonight I am asking for my Heavenly Daddys hand to make the leap of faith from the tear stained ledge of fear. And do you know what? I think He already has! In giddy little girl giggles I feel my heart sing "Thanks Pops!" ♥

FINALLY PHOTOS!

For those of you wondering where the heck this bad blogger disapeared to, here's the explanation.....

My camera took a dive, my mojo went with it and my nasty need for perfectionism went along as a chaperone!

But.....friends are amazing little creatures.....sweet and spicy, kind and bossy and sometimes downright Nag-a-licious!

So, this ones for Kelly......a sweet little friend who loaned me a lens and an opportunity to have some fun with my sweet kiddos!

Karlee & I had so much fun on our little photo shoot! I can't wait to show you a really fun one on Valentines Day! (See, Kelly, I do have plans to blog again! hee hee).

Sorry again for the extra long hiatus! Love to you all!

~Melanie

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig

Did ya'll have a Happy Thanksgiving? We sure did. It was so nice to spend time in Idaho with my family. The kids loved being with their cousins & played so nice. We stayed with my brother Kelly & his family that was THE BEST! Such a warm and welcoming home. Wonderful hospitality & we were so grateful to them. Carson & Marquessa just hung out all day & played games & sang along to their music. Not a single argument in 5 days! VERY NICE!

Black Friday started at 3:30AM for Celeste, Natalie, Annie & I! My dad was gracious enough to clean out his "Biggs Rig" for us so we had a big ol' truck with a locked shell on it so all of our goodies were safely tucked away as we went from store to store! I saw 2 fist fights over toys & gadgets which just left me shaking my head. Maybe those people should sleep in next year!

Arriving back to Kelly & Celeste's after shopping I was greeted with some of the scariest bit of news a mother will ever hear. "Karlee is on a run-away horse!" Apparently she was going to go for a ride with Kelly & she must've spurred the horse a little hard or something. Anyway, the horse saw an open gate and made a run for it. She jumped a fence which launched Karlee forward causing her to lose the reins. She grabbed ahold of the horses neck and held on for dear life. I don't know if it was after the first fence-jump or not, but at some point she slid UNDERNEATH the horses neck and held on with her arms and legs wrapped TIGHTLY around the neck. The horse jumped a total of THREE fences, ran through fields, up and down a gully & hills and down a dirt road! A LONG WAYS!!! All with Karlee holding on for dear life!!! When she reached the top of a hill she noticed that she was closer to the ground so she decided to let go and drop to the ground. I guess you could say that she "stopped, dropped and rolled" into a ball, covered her head and held her breath. She ended up with a horseshoe shaped scrape on the lower right side of her back but she said that didn't hurt.

What WAS painful was her leg and arm muscles as well as her stomach and back. She wasn't bruised and there wasn't anything more serious than the scrape on her back. No blood (other than from a cut on her finger that reopened.), No Broken Bones, just sore muscles and there was plenty of that. She had a hard time moving until Monday night after dancing. I think the stretching and movement from dance loosened up those tight muscles because she was feeling TONZ better after that.

So, while I didn't quite meet my goal for posting my gratitude entry every day, I will end with this note of how very, very, grateful I am that #1 My daughter is still alive. I shudder at the possibilities that could've resulted in an entirely different ending. #2 That she is strong and in shape and has an iron will. I honestly believe that it was through sheer will and by the grace of God that she held on for so long. She was so stubborn about the whole thing that when someone asked her about getting BUCKED OFF the horse she quickly corrected them saying "I LET GO! and I Didn't Cry!" Well, she is braver than most people I know, cause I would've been bawling from the get go!

Oh, in the spirit of finding joy in the midst of a bad situation, here's Carson's take on this whole thing.
Darren: Carson, did you see Karlee on that horse?
(after receiving an affirmative answer)
Darren: What was Karlee doing?
Carson does a loud impression of a screaming girl!
Darren: What were YOU doing?
Carson: I was thinking "WOW! IMPRESSIVE!!!"

Yup, impressive is right, but what impresses me the most, is the protection that was clearly in play here. I'm so grateful to our Father in Heaven for protecting my daughter on her wild ride. Someday I'd really like to know how many angels were on that ride with her.

TWILIGHT!!!!

Ok, this is completely silly, but I'm getting almost giddy because in 1 hour Brenda will be here to pick me up for the Twilight Movie! WOOHOO!

So, those of you who have read the books.....Are you in "Club Edward" or "Club Jacob"? Talk to me!

~Melanie

Come, Take My Hand

Tonight I'm sitting here in the quiet house, 2 kids & 1 cat sound asleep in the adjoining rooms & a husband who is working on a project out of town. It's quiet here & as I'm about to go into bed I realize how much I will miss our pillow talk. (I'm not sure that he will! LOL But I'll let him off tonight!)

I love my hubby! We will soon celebrate our 20th Wedding Anniversary! That completely blows my mind! I've been a little nostalgic lately as I realize that 21 years tomorrow we met for the first time! I remember it is GREAT detail, right down to what we were both wearing & which lights were on in the room & which ones were off. I also remember who was there & how they seemed to disapear the minute that Darren & I shook hands for the first time. I know it seems all "mushy/gushy" and right out of a soap opera, but I can tell you that the first time I held his hand & looked into his eyes, I knew that I loved him deeper than I could've imagined loving someone & that we would spend the rest of our lives & eternity together. I knew it without a shadow of a doubt. And it was weird & thrilling all at the same time. Especially since the man I had comitted to marrying was standing next to us & it wasn't Darren!

Yes, it's true, I was engaged when we met! I think back on that now & despite all of the morbid details that there are, I only remember 2 emotions. Fear & Gratitude....both towards the same person. Have you ever had one of those moments where something happens within a few seconds & yet your mind & soul are so consumed with pure knowledge & emotion that it seems almost impossible that "all of that" happened within such a short time frame? That's what happened to me. I remember being terrified that "HE" would somehow sense the miracle that had happened between Darren & I, and even more terrified of what would happen if he did. But even more profound was the immediate realization that "OH! This is why I needed HIM, it was so that I could meet HIM!" *swooning as I continued to look at Darren* That moment was the weirdest mix of terror & gratitude for facilitating that but extreme terror of him trying to prevent it & it not happening. And THAT idea, the one of Darren & I not being together was & still is, the thing that haunts me the most.

So every November 20th I begin to remember & I begin to give thanks for a plan larger than I could've imagined & for the knowledge that God is in charge & I'm so very thankful. For many reason, reasons that I can't even begin to list here. I'm thankful for fairytales that do come true, and the magical possibilities that can come when you shake hands with your very own destiny.

♥Love ya, sweetheart!♥

Takin' a BREAK to XPRESS my Gratitude!

I'm so grateful for these 2 beautiful dancers & COOL CHICKAROOS!!!! I'm so grateful for all of the time & effort they put into teaching my sweet girl & lots of other sweet girls how to dance!
















But mostly I'm grateful for WHO they are! I watch them teach our daughters grace and tolerance & kindness at the same time instilling in them the spirit of teamwork, hardwork and integrity. They truly are some of the greatest....Coaches & Friends!
Thanks Shayla & Brenda for just being AWESOME! You're THE BEST!!!

I'm Still Grateful....Honest I Am!

Lest anyone think that I stopped being grateful, let me give you an update:

Last weekend we had the WONDERFUL priveledge of going to Phoenix to the NASCAR race with our dear friends! It was a BLAST! We ate wonderfully (even though I got an entire glass of water knocked into my lap! BRRRR....), we shopped, we lounged, we had a blast! And we didn't get a single photo of all of us together! What the heck?! We are both avid photograghers and yet, not one! LOL Add it to the list of things to do next year!

Tuesday I woke up with the beginnings of a nasty cold/sore throat/earache. But I kept telling myself, "not yet, wait 'til Friday". I had my sweet stampin' buddies coming for Stamp night on Thursday & I did not want to be sick or get them sick. So it waited (and I was grateful!) until Saturday!

So here's my gratitude list in random order: (and let me warn you, it's not deep & thoughtful!)

1:Werthers Originals! I love that smooth carmel-y taste that doesn't taste at all like medicine, which is my reason for eating so many: "It medicates my sore throat & the swallowing helps my ears!" LOL I know, big stretch!

2: My bed with soft white sheets & LOTS of big fluffy pillows!

3:My South-facing window in my room! Gotta love that warm sunshine coming through to warm my whole self right up! So Cozy!

4: Good friends! Every day I look forward to talking to my newest sweet friend on the phone! We've lived by each other for years now & we've just connected. So fun! (Love that she called me to reprimand me for my "extended blog hiatus" this morning!)

5 "Young at Heart"Friends. There is a lady in my ward that is a widow. She's been alone for approximately 10 years now. The other night when she told me: "I love getting older, it means I'm getting closer to being on the other side with my sweetheart!" And honestly, she just TWINKLED and SPARKLED and GLOWED! I loved it! We have a lot of giggly grandmas in our ward & I just love their energy! I think that it'd be so fun to gather them all together & listen to their stories and partake of their wisdom & enthusiasm, take their pictures (of them laughing!) and just let them be their sweet little selves!

6: Stephens Wassill! Ok, just go try it! *SLURP* (oops! I mean *SIP!* since it's hot! lolol)

7: The fact that Thanksgiving is only 10 days away! Which means my moms SCRUMPIOUS homemade rolls! (And carmels!)

8: Health: This morning my heart and mind are with a sweet friend who is having surgery this morning after finding out last week that she has breast cancer. It puts my little earaches & sore throat into perspective when those will be part of her journey through chemo. I do hope & pray that she will feel the healing power of prayer & hope that our Savior offers us.

9: A quiet home & a noisy home: I love the peace & quiet that I have here during the day, but I also love it when the kids come home. For years I wasn't sure if children would ever be a part of my life, so even on the bad days I have to remind myself that they are an answer to my prayers. I quite love their spirited little selves!

10: My sweet husband/best friend/"lovah"/roomie....you get the idea!: We had so much fun together last week. It was a 10 hr. drive each way. While I napped a lot more than he did, I loved that we could just talk and giggle and laugh like when we were dating. I appreciate the opportunity to go off by ourselves and just be "US"......

which brings me to:
11: I'm so grateful to those friends that take care of our children when Darren & I "run away". They are so gracious and wonderful! I appreciate them so much! Thank you! Thank You! Thank You!

There, that should catch me up! LOL I'll be back! I promise!

Teachers are T-Riffic!

For many years I've wondered about teachers. What makes good teachers & favorite teachers, what makes a teacher less than a favorite? My dad was a teacher, he was a favorite among students. I wouldn't say he was the "ultimate cool & hip" type of a teacher, but the kids liked him. He was STRICT, which goes against the "cool factor", so my question remains...."What makes a Good Teacher?

Here's my theory: GOOD People make GOOD Teachers! I know that sounds like I'm over-simplifying it, but think about it. A good teacher is more than a babysitter. A good teacher is more than a taskmaster or a boss. A good teacher is someone who inspires and reaches out to those that need a hand up, someone who cares and teaches others to care & work hard. A good teacher is knowledgeable & has a desire to learn. With all due respect, some teachers think they already know everything and their students HAD BETTER *foot stomp* appreciate that & listen up to what they have to say. A good teacher is someone who knows that everyone has something to teach and learn & that we all learn together.

Take Mrs. M. & Mrs. K for example: Both of them had the most powerful influence on my children, and in turn, our family. Both women had VERY POSITIVE outlook on life. What that taught the children was to HOPE and BELIEVE in themselves and in others. They were HAPPY and KIND, PATIENT and FAIR.

When my kids were in Mrs. K's Preschool class they would take turns with their classmates at being "The STAR of the Day". That meant that they got to be the helper, the leader & example. They got to bring a show & tell as well as a snack to share with the class. Well, when you have a classroom of 12 four-year olds you're bound to hear "I don't like that/that's gross/that looks yucky!" type comments as the Star would share their treats. Mrs. K knew how to handle that. In her sweet, sing-song voice she would lilt: "You get what you get & you don't throw a fit" & "Thank You or No Thank You, Please". She would often tell the story about how, as a kid, she HATED peas. But she kept trying them & trying them and now they are her favorites! "Try it 'til You Like It". She taught these kids manners & how to be polite. It became a family mantra at dinner "You get what you get & you don't throw a fit, keep trying it & trying it until you like it". Eventually it was shortened to "You know what Mrs. K says". One holiday we were gathered around the table & I heard one nephew say to his brother, "You know what Mrs. K says!" Thinking that there was 2 different people, I asked, "What does YOUR Mrs. K, say?" His response was "You get what you get & you don't throw a fit! Keep Trying it until you like it!" I said, "YOUR Mrs. K says that too?!" and he said, "I don't know Mrs. K, but I hope I get her next year!" Truth and Kindness are so contagious!


And then there's Mrs. M. Mrs. M was an answer to our prayers. Karlee entered her classroom nervously that day. The previous year was not a good year. (Not bashing the teacher, it just wasn't the ideal learning environment for Karlee) She had gone from starting 3rd grade reading on a HIGH 8th grade level & within a month we were struggling to keep her on grade level. We knew that 4th grade was pivotal in whether she or not she succeeded in school.

Miracles happened in 4th Grade! I saw group of "at risk" kids blossom into the BRIGHTEST, HAPPIEST group of students. She was HOPEFUL & POSITIVE, PATIENT & KIND, She LISTENED and made learning FUN and EXCITING. Oh, how she loved them & they loved her back.

On the last day of school they surprised her with a party. Karlee had called me to bring in balloons, so I went with my camera in the other hand. (BIG SURPRISE! LOL) Can I just tell you now that it's really hard to look through a viewfinder when a curtain of tears is shielding your view!



When she opened the door, they rushed her with a big group hug---the first of MANY that day! They all shouted their love and praise. And she reciprocated! The thing that sticks out in my mind was what I call "The 4th Grade Final". She opened her gifts and thanked each child for being a gift to her. She went on to tell them what great individuals they are and that she hoped that as they grew older they would stay friends with each other, help each other & make good choices in their lives so they could always be "LIFTERS". Because we were in school, she had to be careful in what Gospel teachings she shared with them, but I can bear witness to you, that the Spirit was there as she bore her testimony of love and friendship.

So Thank you "Mrs. K" and "Mrs. M" and all other teachers like you! Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could bottle what they have? Bottle it up, and share it! Wouldn't we all be nourished? And more importantly, wouldn't our children grow and thrive if they were daily fed nutrients of love and caring? Think about it....aren't we all teachers? What kind of teachers are we?

A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops. ~Henry Adams


The best teachers teach from the heart, not from the book. ~Author Unknown

Grateful for Grandma

Grandmother-grandchild relationships are simple. Grandmas are short on criticism and long on love.

I am so grateful for this sweet woman, My Grandma! Just look at her & you see absolute beauty & grace! If you look closer you also see spunk & mischief, tenderness & joy. All my life I wanted to be like my Grandma. When I was little, I wanted to just live with her all the time because it seemed like she was always going to "Polar Bear" for Chocolate Ice Cream! (I later learned it was just when she was with me!) As I got older, I wanted to be rich & dress like her. (At this point she'd be laughing, because while they were rich in other areas, their SMALL dairy farm didn't yield a very big cash crop!) And when I was a teenage girl, I wanted to be in love with someone as much as she was with her sweetheart! Oh did her & Grandpa LOVE each other!

I spent a lot of time with my Grandpa & Grandma S. growing up. I longed for summers when I could go out to their farm during the week. When I was there, all seemed right with the world. There was a sense of peace and tranquility there that my rebel soul longed for. I needed a "thinkin' spot" & Grandma's was the perfect place. While I actually did more work there than at home, I felt more relaxed and "at home". Every day would begin with an early morning 2-4 mile walk with Grandma & her friends, Mardean & Ruby. I loved those brisk morning walks & I always felt so honored to be among these women. They always treated me like visiting royalty. After our walk, we'd go home & make breakfast for Grandpa. Thick, fresh bacon, eggs, pancakes or toast & hot chocolate. (My mouth is watering now as I type!)

My favorite part of spending time with Grandpa & Grandma came just before we dove into that delicious feast. Grandpa would come in from the barn after doing the morning milking, take off his farming hat & boots, wash up & announce, "Smells Good, Mother! Are we ready for prayer?" which would gently announce that it was time to slide off my chair & kneel. You can learn a lot about someone by the things they utter in prayer. The prayers offered in their home were prayers of humility and gratitude, hope and faith. To this day, I'd give anything to gather around my Grandparents kitchen chairs and listen to them converse with their Father in Heaven.

But as I mentioned, there was a spunky side to my Grandma too. My Grandma has a lead foot, 10 iron toes and a need for speed. She is not your typical "granny driver" by ANY stretch of the imagination. The woman likes to go places & she doesn't like to waste time getting there! Growing up this was most often demonstrated when there was a grandkid playing a ballgame somewhere. I'm sworn to secrecy on how fast she got to Malad to watch my cousin, Marvin play baseball one year. I've also sworn an oath not to divulge on what her "adjusted Grandma S. speed limit" was going to town or to SLC every summer. But I'll tell you this, we always got there safely & we giggled the whole way. The day her eyesight was deemed a potential danger to others & she hung up her keys for good was a sad day. Her freedom to just hop in the car & go for Ice Cream were over. (But at least others were safe!)

During my teenage years, I was a knot-head rebel wannabe! I had attitude out the wazoo & I didn't care what my parents thought. The ONLY person I let my guard down around was Grandma S. A few years ago we were talking on the phone & she divulged that she had heard my laundry list of bad choices. She knew what I was outside of her earshot. I asked her "why didn't you say something? You never said a word!" Her response: "I was the Grandma, my job was to Love!"

Well Done, Grandma, you succeeded! I Love you!

A grandmother is a little bit parent, a little bit teacher,

and a little bit best friend.