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!!!