A Merry Christmas To All...

We had so much fun on Christmas Eve and Christmas this year. The McKeehans and Bitters were here for sandwiches, salad and dessert Christmas Eve, Santa came and brought pj's for all, and then after our guests left, our annual service project began. We stumbled into bed rather late that night, laughing and reminiscing about all those Christmas Eve's in the past when we would be up all night assembling toys, bikes, etc. and barely get to bed before the morning of Christmas arrived. At 2:40am we were awakened by the phone, Steve calling us to announce that 26 years ago he was being born! He likes to give me the opportunity to always be the first to wish him a Happy Birthday! We again laughed because this time it was Steve who hadn't yet gone to bed, he was busy assembling Christmas presents for Abby! (I love payback). Christmas day we had the Bitters, McKeehans and Torrances here with us for the day. There were games played, cousins playing together, lots of food and treats, and great chats. Best of all was Grandma (me) getting to rock new grandbabies. (We did really miss having the Cox's here, but are so excited to see them next week. Thank goodness for Skype!) What a magical time it is with little ones around at Christmas.

Stirring and Stirring and Stirring Her Brew...

Actually I'm making applesauce, IT'S APPLE TIME AGAIN!!

A Hard Day's Work

I spent most of the day yesterday reorganizing and cleaning my pantry. i took everything out, washed shelves, the whole deal. I am so excited with the results! This is a partial view, if you could see to the left, I even have an empty shelf! What a job!

I Really Lived

I got this quote from a lesson in Relief Society today, and I just loved it.
"I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails.
I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp.
I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbor's children.
I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden.
I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder.
I want the Lord to know I was really here and I really lived."

Marjorie Pay Hinckley

Thanks Courtney, great lesson!!!

Family speaks about what saved them the day their boat capsized - KTNV ABC,Channel 13,Las Vegas,Nevada,News,Weather,Sports,Entertainment,KTNV.com,Action News .:.

Family speaks about what saved them the day their boat capsized - KTNV ABC,Channel 13,Las Vegas,Nevada,News,Weather,Sports,Entertainment,KTNV.com,Action News .:.

I don't want anyone to think that I am kidding around about the absolutely horrifying experience we had, but really, once the adrenalin and fear give way to sobbing which then turns to exhaustion, what is left but to pick oneself up, count one's blessings, clean up the mess and move on?? We are and will ever be eternally grateful for how blessed we were this day. As one of the park rangers told me, a tragedy became a triumph, and truly more than one miracle occured. One story I want to make sure is told is that of one of the boaters who picked up part of our group. They had put their boat in the water at Willow Beach that morning, and immediately came upon a group of Boy Scouts who had been on a canoeing trip and had capsized. These good samaritans picked up the scouts and their gear and got them back to shore. They then spent the day boating in the same part of the lake we were visiting. As the weather began to deteriorate, they turned around to head back to Willow Beach and get off the lake. Within a matter of minutes the woman told her husband to turn back around and go the other way, that she had a feeling someone was in need of help. He immediately did so and within a few minutes they came upon us in the water and came to our aid. Who says prayers aren't answered and miracles don't happen anymore?? You can be sure that each of us was praying with all we had for help, and those prayers were answered, as they frequently are, through this great couple. We are so grateful to the 3 boaters who came to help us at the risk of their own boats and lives, and the park rangers who have been so helpful and kind. They invited us to this media event today to tell our story of the importance of lifejackets as they are preparing to head into the end of the summer months. They presented our 7 grandkids in attendance with t shirts that say, "I got caught wearing my lifejacket", 7 brand new youth size lifejackets, and let Tommy run the lights and siren on their patrol vehicle. What is better than that??

It's Been Quite a Week!!

Monday we made a trip to the lake. Everyone had a great time, no catastrophes, although I wasn't feeling really great. I pretty much just sat in the water all day. In the middle of the night Ed awoke to great pain in his foot and in the morning it was swollen and black and blue. He could hardly walk on Tuesday. He went in today and saw a friend of ours who is a Podiatrist and this is how he came home!! Thanks so much for your help Syd!! He has a fracture and a hairline fracture! He is leaving Wednesday for Scout Camp and the next week for a trip to Disneyland and more summer lake trips, so we're trying to figure out the logistics of this development.



Tueday I went to log onto my Mac and this is what I got, along with lots of flashing and noise. I think it is sick! I was still not feeling very well, by Wednesday afternoon I was really feeling badly (sick) and went to bed. Friday morning I realized I was extremely ill, and got into the doctor who discovered I have a severe case of pneumonia!! I got an antibiotic injection, prescriptions and orders to go to bed and if got any worse to go straight to the emergency room. I was in bed until Sunday when I was able to make it downstairs to the couch. I am much better today and excited to be recovering!!

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Like I said, it's been quite a week!

Happy Birthday USA!!

We attended the Summerlin Patriotic Parade yesterday to celebrate the fourth of July. It was great, Tommy especially loved all the "wee oohs" (his name for vehicles with sirens)!!

June 22, 1974..

Happy 36th anniversary to us! It began on a summer day in S. California, the day we were to be married, and I woke up in the middle of the night before puking all night long. By morning it was clear to me due to the 105 degree fever and the other symptoms that I had the flu. My mother, in all her optimism, kept telling me I was just nervous!! I literally had to be held up to keep from collapsing all day long, and the photographer took a picture of me laying on a chair during the reception with a cold cloth on my fevered brow, and told me, someday you will laugh at this. Hmm, hasn't happened yet!! Despite such a rough start, it has been a great 36 years, with lots of adventures along the way, including raising 4 kids, a stint in the Air Force,joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, uprooting and moving to Las Vegas to run a business, and now 3 sons in law and a daughter in law and the most amazing blessing of 8, soon to be 10, grandkids!! I love all of you so much, and never thought on that day so long ago that life could have been so great! I am especially grateful to Ed for all he is always doing for all of us, especially me, and love him so much! I am looking forward to the next 36 years, especially because it's my turn to choose and "WE ARE PET FREE"!! (Any Dave Ramsey fans out there???)

Today's Harvest..

I went out to check on my peaches today, and this is what I came in with, not pictured are two additional bowls of peaches!
I got so excited, I made a peach pie for dessert tonight!

Hello...Remember Me?

"Some people call me Old Glory, others call me the Star Spangled Banner. But whatever they call me, I am YOUR Flag, the Flag of the United States of America. I remember when people would line up on both sides of the street to watch a parade, and naturally, I was leading it, proudly waving in the breeze. When your Daddy saw me coming, he immediately removed his hat and placed it over his heart, up against his left shoulder...remember? And you, I remember you. Standing there straight as a soldier. You didn't have a hat, but you were giving the right salute...and remember your little sister? Not to be outdone, she was saluting the same as you with her right hand over her heart...remember? What happened? I'm still the same old Flag. Oh, I have a few more Stars since you were a boy. A lot more blood has been shed since those parades of long ago. But now, I don't feel as proud as I used to..when I come down your street, you just stand there with your hands in your pockets. I may get a small glance and then you look away. Then I see the little children running around and shouting...they don't seem to know who I am...I saw one man take his hat off, then look around, and when he didn't see anybody with their's off, he quickly put his back on...is it a sin to be patriotic anymore? Have you forgotten what I stand for and where I've been? Anzio, Guadalcanal, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraq, Afghanistan? Take a look at the Memorial Honor Rolls of those who never came back in order to keep this Republic FREE! When you salute me, you are actually saluting them. Well, it won't be long before I'll be coming down your street again, so when you see me, stand straight, place your right hand over your heart, and I'll salute you, by waving back..and forth..and I'll know that YOU REMEMBERED!"

A Mother's Perspective...

I found this sign hung outside my front door yesterday afternoon, a tribute from my family for Mother's Day. Each family member's hands were traced and with their names written on them, hung above the sign. I was so touched by their efforts and creativity! I love it you guys! It was a Mother's Day such as I've never had before, for while I was being honored my heart and mind were split between the family with me, Ed, Allison, Bryan, Steve, Lidia, Abby, David, Tommy, and those away, the Cox's in Washington, Keith who was working, and Jennifer and Nate who are in the pediatric intensive care unit at a local hospital. Nate has been very ill and as yet no diagnosis has been made. I spent Sunday morning sitting with him so Jennifer could get some sleep and make a quick trip home to gather supplies and organize the rest of her boys to spend some time at our house. I got home just in time to get to church, only a few minutes late and not very well put together I must say. I heard some of the youth pay tribute to mother's, including a young girl who spoke of a requirement for all of us, male or female, young or old, of having a "mother heart", a heart of service and sacrifice. I always have been a little uncomfortable on Mother's Day, I don't like being the center of attention, nor receiving accolades for just doing what I do. But yesterday, though the circumstances are worrisome and concerning, was truly a "Mother's Day". I spent the day serving Jennifer and her family, and there is no where I would rather have been, nothing I would rather have done, and no treasure I could have been given that would have been more valuable than holding my dear little grandson in my arms, and having the great blessing of being a witness to my son in law and son exercising their Priesthood as they called down the blessings of heaven on behalf of sweet little Nathan. I am so grateful for my family, they are the most important thing in the world to me, and I am so grateful to them for their efforts yesterday on my behalf. I love my brownie pan and my poster and my family so much!!!

Spring Break

I made a spontaneous decision the Friday before Spring Break to make a trip to WA to visit the Cox's. Knowing how much David misses his cousins, I called Jennifer and she threw a suitcase of stuff together for him and he and I took off early Sat. am on our "road trip". We got to the Cox's Sunday afternoon and stayed till Thursday when we headed back home. We had a great time, thanks so much Chris, Erin and kids for sharing your Spring Break with us. David, Cade and Carter camped out on the playroom floor with pillows and blankets every night, watching movies till nearly midnight, then awoke at 6:30 each morning to resume their war games, either on the computer, Nintendo DS, or out in the real world with toy rifles, Nerf guns, and a neighbor boy. They ran all day long, sometimes we would catch a glimpse of one of them hiding in the bushes or prone on the grass to avoid detection by the "enemy". I got lots of time to hold and cuddle with Cassidy, play with Cami, and visit with Erin and Chris. One day Cami decided to "make me look like a queen"! When she was done, Erin took our picture and when I saw it I immediately remembered a picture of Grandma Jane when Erin as a little girl dressed her up "as a queen", and told Cami I would put it on the blog for her to see. Some things never change! Only sad thing is, I realized the last day we were there I didn't get any pictures of the boys in their war games. Darn!

You Gotta Love March........it brings.......

VEGGIE GARDENS....

PEACH BLOSSOMS...

AND GIRL SCOUT COOKIES!!!

100 Years of Scouting

Last night our ward held an activity celebrating 100 years of Scouting. Feb 8, 1910 Souting was created in this country. We had a great dinner and program with Judge Lloyd George as the main speaker. Then, much to the surprise of Ed and I we were called up to the stage and presented this statue for our years of service to the Scouting program. We were so grateful but at the same time embarrassed to be singled out for doing the same thing that others also do every day, namely, being extended an invitation to serve, accepting that invitation and going forth. We love working with the boys who go through this program, from the newest Cub Scout to those who are receiving their Eagles, and have seen even within our own family the impact Scouting can have in a young man's life. We are now witnessing the second round of that impact as we watch our three oldest grandsons, Cade, David and Carter as they are excitedly progressing through the Cub Scout Program. Keep going boys, we are so proud of you and your efforts in Scouts!



This is a replica of a statue called "The Boy Scout" sculpted by Dr. R. Tait McKenzie. It portrays the grand traits of character he knew Scouting to instill in a boy. The uncovered head represents reverence and obedience, the ax on which the hand rests was a symbol of George Washington's truthfulness. A lifesize copy of this statue stands in front of the National Scouting Office in Irving, TX.

We could not have been given anything we would love more!

Resourceful!!

I got out my wheat grinder yesterday to replenish my supply of wheat flour, and discovered the small round filter that fits on the top of the canister was missing. I spent hours tearing apart drawers and any other place I could possibly think of that I may have put it instead of the box where I always put it! But, no luck. I got online to see if I could order extras from the manufacturer, but of course, the company is out of business, my wheat grinder is no longer made! So, I really would not have to spend hundreds of dollars on a new grinder because of a little filter, would I? My resourceful husband said I'm sure we can find something to use in it's place. On a trip to Lowes we grabbed an employee and tried to explain to him what we were looking for, as he stood there looking at us with a completely blank look on his face, then, we finished and waited expectantly for his expert answer. And, he scratched his head for a minute then came the words, try the outdoors department and go look at the lawn mower air filters. WHAT? Welll, we dutifully rambled over to the lawn mowers, and sure enough, there on the shelf was a package with a square of the same material my filter had been made of! We brought it home, cut it into the proper size circle, but uh oh, it was twice as thick as needed to be. WAIT, my ever resourceful husband asked for my bread slicing knife that has the ability to cut every bread slice the same size. He used that and ever so slowly sliced through the circle of foam, making it exactly the thickness it needed to be, and giving me two of them. Plus, we have more of the material left in case I have several more episodes of senioritis!! THNK YOU LOWES SALESMAN for your creativity, and THANK YOU ED for your resourcefulness, I am back in the wheat flour business again!

The Deal of the Day!!!

I went to CVS tonight to pick up a prescription and on the way out of the store noticed a table of clearance items priced at 90% off original price! Using my CVS "Extra care bucks" credit of 4.50, I bought 10 spools of Christmas ribbon for 30 cents each, and 3 rolls of extra wide Christmas paper for 59 cents each, so paid a grand total of 18 cents for all this stuff!!!