Sentiments by Sophia

it's just milk

It's still snowing.  This morning, I'm sitting with the laptop in the front room, watching a very gentle snowfall instead of GMA.  I've not gone outside and actually measured but we're pretty close to two feet deep at my doorstep.  I noticed last night at the church, it's well over my knees.  I always say that I'd be happy if it snowed from Thanksgiving Day until March 21, every day, not huge blizzard snow, just beautiful snow like today.  And yesterday.  And the day before. And before.  Loving it!  We're living in a snowglobe and, for me, this is as appealing as a balmy summer day.  

Doug came home from work yesterday and went cross-country skiing alone.  I had told Denise at lunch that I just want to get this knee and foot better so that I can go cross-country skiing or for midnight walks in the snow.  I don't think that's going to happen this winter.  Speaking of which, the doctor still hasn't called with the MRI results.  Hopefully this morning.  C'est la vie.

Last night, we attended Quayd's Court of Honor.  He received five more merit badges and his Life Scout Rank.  He's spent the last several months just waiting for the time to pass until the Rank could be earned and now, he's excited to get going on his Eagle Project.  More on that as soon as it's approved.  I was most happy to hear him say, "Let's get going as soon as we get home!"  I told him that he'd have to wait until today after school, but he's making appointments already to get going.  YAY!  Quayd really wants this achievement under his belt.  

Now, for a little rant or a sentiment, depending on how you see it. I was at Chili's yesterday afternoon.  One of the servers was clearing some food from a table.  The dishes were stacked.  The top one slid and a soup bowl, a salad bowl and a plate went crashing to the ground.  She was so embarrassed.  The ladies at the table were just as casual as could be about it, while the server sopped up soup and broken glass off the tiled floor.  It reminded me of once, at Juniper Inn, when one of the servers lost control of a tray.  A bowl of tomato-mac soup slid off, landing on a woman's white jacket.  The woman went ballistic.  Screaming, yelling, threatening all sorts of things.  The thing that embarrassed me the most was this woman, who was in her sixties, and that a grown woman would carry on so.  SERIOUSLY?  Like the server, who was left in tears, woke up that morning and said, "I think I'll pour some soup on the first guest that comes in with a white blazer on today."  NOT.   The woman really, really over-reacted.  By the way, Juniper received a cleaning bill for the jacket.

Side story: My nephew came to visit years ago.  Liza spilled a glass of milk at the table.  Will said,  "Oh, you are in big trouble."  Liza's reaction was so contrary.  "Why?  It's just milk."  It's funny because milk is one thing that Doug hates to see spilled because it's so hard to clean it up from carpet.  When someone at our home spills milk, We always say out loud, "Mud." Because Doug says, "If you spill milk, you're name is mud."

I digress. Really.  Think about it.  What have you "freaked out" about lately that wasn't really a big deal.  Everyone's still alive.  I'm not as good at this as I preach.  I still am my mother's daughter, where perfection was expected.  But, I continue to work on this.  Quite often, I have to take a deep breath and remind myself, "It's just milk."  I know I've shared this sentiment many times.   But, we all need the reminder every now and then, don't we?  I know that I do.  Enough said.

Our lives are not determined by what happens to us but by how we react to what happens, not by what life brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life. A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes. It is a catalyst, a spark that creates extraordinary results.

I must have needed a good cry...or some serious chocolate.

What an emotional Wednesday.  

I went to visit my sweet friend, Norma, who is 97.  She's the one who climbed the Great Wall of China at 90. She's amazing.  However, recently, she has had some health issues and surgery.  Now, she's improving from the surgery, but, she's come to realize that she should no longer live on her own.  Her mind is sharp, but her body is not quite so co-operative! Just two winters ago, she was shoveling snow from her own sidewalk. Her two daughters, who are just a few years older than me, are there, helping her go through her things because she'll be moving into an assisted care home.  Norma called to invite me over because she had a gift for me.  While visiting, she shared stories of the entertaining that she has done in her lifetime.  I had no idea!  She's remarkable!  She then gave me a beautiful punch bowl and cups, telling me that she wanted me to have it because she knew that, since I entertain like she used to, I would appreciate it and care for it .  She still praises the tablescapes I created for Senior Singles Family Home Evenings. I will always treasure this gift. I will always treasure my friendship with Norma! 

As I walked in, she was filling her candy dish with chocolate covered raisins because she knew I was coming!  I laughed when I caught her and told her that while I was blowdrying my hair earlier in the morning, I'd thought, "I'll never eat a chocolate covered raisin, for the rest of my life, that I don't think about Norma!" The first time I ever visited her, I'd told her that she had the best chocolate covered raisins I'd ever had.  And she's never forgotten that!

Norma shared many of her experiences from her lifetime.  We laughed several times and I teared up just as frequently.  She's such a delight!  We spoke openly about her death, which she hopes will come soon!  Her reasons were completely unselfish.  I don't want to see her leave us!  NOT YET!  Not even to go to the assisted living center.  I love having her as a neighbor.  I love her hugs on Sundays.  I've loved every second with her.  She's a delight!  

I was intrigued watching Norma and her two daughters interact.  They have such a unique and special relationship.  I can't even begin to imagine what that would be like, but it was beautiful to observe.  I hope and pray that my girls will treat me so gingerly in my old age.  My favorite thing was Marsha telling me about how they lie in bed at night, just giggling and laughing.  I could just picture it! We spoke so openly of death. I love the Plan of Salvation, that this life is just a step into eternity.  I love the hope that it offers and the peace that it brings.  I love the promise that we have of being eternal families.  It makes separation so much better, knowing that it's only for a time that we are apart.  ANYWAY, I loved our visit!  I love Norma and her daughters!

After leaving Norma,  Natalie and I enjoyed a long lunch, including several more good hearty laughs.  I shared with her how much I loved watching Norma and her two daughters together.  At one point, Nat commented that she felt sad that I don't even have a sister.  Without a thought, I said, "You are my sister."   I thought about that after I dropped Natalie off.   I am so blessed to have several sisters, not by blood, but by choice!

I came home and created my Valentine's tablescape (simple with no new frills), broke one of my favorite pieces of glassware when I dropped the lid from another on it, and wanted to cry some more.  Gee, call me emotional!

Then, I checked the blog of sweet Hayley, who's husbandis fighting a serious battle with cancer.  As I read her blog and started to bawl, I. Could. Not. Stop.  All afternoon.  I just thought over and over about how at peace Norma is, after her long 97 years on this earth.  And then about how difficult it is to watch Hayley's young husband suffering so.  The Plan of Salvation does bring us peace and understanding, but when you are looking at this sweet young family, there's no way around it.  It hurts!  I sat down and wrote Hayley a letter just to tell her that she's amazing and wonderful and exemplary.  Then, I cried some more. It was just one of those days.  

Dinner was in the crockpot, so I had the afternoon off.  Grace had a basketball game at church, ZJ had her Achievement Day activity and Quayd spent the afternoon sculpting.  I knitted and thought some more about the day and cried some more.   Poor Doug came home to a bawling baby.  

This talk by President Uchtdorf has been on my mind this past week.  I've listened to it several times.  (I know, me listening to President Uchtdorf again, imagine that.)  Upon hearing this talk for the umpteenth time, it has really occured to me, that we, regardless of who we are, will be here upon this earth for but a short time.  I say "Make every moment count!" often.  But, I love President Uchtdorf's outlook!  I love his counsel: 

To avoid some of the deepest regrets of life, it would be wise to make some resolutions today. Therefore, let us:  

• Resolve to spend more time with those we love.
  Resolve to strive more earnestly to become the person God wants us to be.
  Resolve to find happiness, regardless of our circumstances.

I've been thinking about this talk for days.  I did cry many tears yesterday.  Some happy, some sad.  All were love-filled tears.  But one thing is for certain...each of those tears...happy and sad... reminded me to count my own many blessings!  Life is good.  Enough said.

We shouldn’t wait to be happy until we reach some future point,
only to discover that happiness was already available—all the time!

VALUABLE! and then my own two bits

I LOVE this article!  I thought about it all night after reading it.  We ALL need to take a look at it and share it with our kids, our friends, our spouses.  This is good stuff!  However...I believe that there is one thing more that needs to be added to the article.  Perhaps the only thing missing is OUR part in the forgiveness section!

On a personal note...I was a believer in Lance for all these years.  My heart ached watching the interview on Oprah, particularly when he spoke of his own son. I see it this way...Yes. he's done wrong... a serious wrong.  He's now coming forward with the truth.  We are not his judge.  It's not our place to determine "how" repentant he is.  (Actually hearing the commentaries on "how sorry" he was or wasn't, following the Oprah interview has really been disturbing to me.)

I'm glad that he has come forward and hope that he comes completely clean wherever necessary.  But, I believe that it's soooooo important that we, ourselves, practice and teach forgiveness to our children, with this situation and all others when someone tries to make it right with others what they have wronged...no matter how deeply they have hurt or how serious the wrong...our part in the matter is to forgive and learn from the situation. This life is a test.  We ALL make mistakes. Some may be larger than others.  But, the blessing of a mistake is that we can learn and grow from it, then use what we've learned to better ourselves and those around us. Enough said!

Using Lance Armstrong's Story to Teach Your Kids the Vocabulary of Remorse

My children were big fans of Lance Armstrong, and have been angry and confused by the news of his cheating. Any advice for talking with them about what happened to someone they looked up to so much to explain his dishonesty?

His fall from grace was from an elevation so high that the sheer impact of hitting the ground created reverbarations across the world. I'm glad you understand how important it is to help your children process the rise -- and now fall -- of Lance Armstrong.

Indeed, our kids get many mixed messages about success and what measures are and aren't OK to achieve it. Head to any Little League or kids' basketball game on a Saturday afternoon and you'll see it in action."Steal the ball! Don't let give him a break! Wear 'em out!" Our investment in having our children win can clearly override any sportsmanship lectures we might deliver about how it's all about having fun and doing our best.

We celebrated Lance Armstong because he was a winner. We made him a hero; practically a god. And now we are trying to make sense of it all. Let Lance's story become an opportunity to help your children begin to understand the complexities that come with being human.

Here are some words to introduce into their vocabulary as you, together, explore what it means to win.

• Justification. Talk about what can happen when someone cares too much about winning."Lance Armstrong said that he talked himself into believing it was OK to use drugs to perform better at cycling because other people were doing it. Do you think that if some people do something that's wrong, it makes it OK for others to do the same?"

• Arrogance. Explain that occasionally, when someone becomes powerful -- whether through fame, fortune or accomplishment -- they convince themselves that they don't have to do what is right. "Sometimes, if people aren't careful, they believe that the rules don't apply to them. What do you think about that?"

• Humiliation. Share a story about a time when someone close to you told a lie and tried to cover it up. "Do you think they felt ashamed of what they had done? How could they have gotten past their embarrassement to make things right again?"

• Betrayal. Invite your kids to share their thoughts about Lance having accused his friends of lying when they were actually telling the truth about his use of banned substances. If you wore a LiveStrong bracelet, or were inspired by his book, talk about your own reaction when you discovered he had been so dishonest. Were you angry? Confused? Hurt?

• Remorse. Help your children imagine the effect lying has had on Lance in his quiet moments, when he is all by himself. Invite them to consider how he feels when he looks at his children, his parents and the people he loves and has disappointed. Help them get a sense of what remorse looks and feels like.

• Guilt. Ask your children to imagine what Lance was feeling as he stood on the winner's podium when he knew in his heart that he had cheated to get there. "Do you think he felt uncomfortable about people praising him when he knew he hadn't played fair? Have you ever told a lie and defended yourself, but inside felt really badly?"

• Trust. "Do you think it will be hard for people to trust Lance again? What do you think he will need to do to regain their trust? How do you think it feels to him to know that people he cares about no longer see him as trustworthy?"

• Integrity. Talk about how good it feels to live with integrity. "Integrity is a word that means living with honor, and being someone who stands by their word. It makes a person feel good about himself. When a person lies and cheats, or blames others instead of taking responsibility for his actions, he is living without integrity. It hurts that person, and all the people who believed in him."

• Forgiveness. Explore what Lance would need to do to be forgiven by the people he has hurt."Some people think that when you hurt someone, you should say you're sorry. That's true, but it often takes more than words alone to make things right when you have wounded someone physically or emotionally. What do you think he should do now?"

All the gold medals in the world cannot offer relief to a heart burdened by deception and deceit. Use Lance Armstrong's story to initiate age-appropriate discussions with your children about what winning really means: trying your best, staying true to your values, honoring those who believe in you and playing fair and square.

Somehow forgiveness with love and tolerance accomplishes miracles that can happen in no other way.

 Gordon B. Hinckley

no drama, no drama, no drama

Our two hours with Zaylee was precious time spent!  She was so happy to be here.  There were lots of random hugs. As soon as she walked in, I asked her what she wanted to do and she said, "Play with ZJ and Go-Go!" When Doug came in from work, we headed straight to Logan Pizza Pie Cafe for dinner.  As we drove into town, I texted Liza at work to call as soon as possible.  I let Zaylee answer my phone and Liza was thrilled to hear her voice.  It's been months for us all, but Liza has had no contact at all. At least, we've seen her in passing.

Zaylee had never been to Pizza Pie Cafe.  Doug held her up so that she could see the "wots of pizzas!!!" ~ twenty different pizzas from mac&cheese pizza to pumpkin pizza.  All she wanted was pineapple pizza, broccoli and a bowl of olives.   After she'd eaten that, we offered her a bite of ZJ's peach pizza, which she reluctantly tasted.  The "MMMMMMM!!!!" she exclaimed could be heard everywhere!  We laughed so hard!  We got her a piece of Oreo pizza and peach pizza.  When I asked which she liked best, she looked at me like that was a ridiculous question, "Bofe of dem, Gwammie!"  When one of the servers noticed the gifts, she said she would bring Zaylee a "monster birthday treat", which was cookie dough and a ton of whipped cream.  I said, "She's going to bring you a monster treat!"  Zaylee looked very serious and replied, "Gwammie, she doesn't know were I live."  And finally, my personal favorite giggle was when Quayd asked her about her friends.  She told us that she had five friends.  One of them is Scarlett.  Quayd asked how old Scarlett is.  Zaylee said, "She's twenty-four and a half."  Oh how I've missed this girl!  

We met Kevin in Logan to drop her off at 6 for her "other" birthday party.  I'm so grateful that Kelly was willing to let her spend some time with us. We had a brief, but cool exchange.   I mentioned to Kelly that her granddad is coming to visit us soon and that we'd love to have her and Zaylee come over to spend some time with him.   She seem appreciative.  Baby steps.  Enough said.

Speaking of Dad.  We feel so blessed. Dad has been on oxygen for almost a year.  All of this airline red tape has meant that Dad had to see the doctor twice to get a new "prescription" for oxygen.  After two doctor visits, it has been determined that Dad can be off his oxygen permanently!  They came and picked up his machine yesterday.  He's been off the oxygen for two days and is doing great.  So, my efforts were not in vain... something good has come from it all!  Dad is so excited!!  I am thankful that Dad has a family to live for!  And...drum roll.........I'm especially thankful that Dad can come for Thanksgiving!!!

Now.  I've mentioned very little about this.  It was so disturbing,  BUT, it's been pretty awkward since we told my mom and my brother that Dad is coming.  We decided to let them know, out of courtesy, two weeks ago, so that they would have time to adjust to the idea.  Doug and I both wanted them to know that they were welcome to come down and say hello to Dad, if they'd like.  Mom and Dad's divorce wasn't bitter or nasty.  They were amiable at Liza's wedding.  Rick, however, harbors a lot of anger and resentment toward my dad from his teenage/young adult years.  Their interactions during those years were nothing like mine. I had only limited contact with Dad when my parents divorced, when married Doug and moved to Utah, thousands of miles away.  I have always said that I don't want or need any details of Rick and Dad's history.  I do know that it's not good, but, it isn't something I want to know about.  It wasn't my business. Period. 

I love Dad.  He may have been absent when I was a child. He may have been a drug dealer in his younger years.  He may have done a lot of  bad things.  He paid his debt to society by serving thirteen plus years in a federal penitentiary.  He may have taken ten more years after that to "figure life out".   But, he's my father. And. I am not his judge.

For the past several years, since Dad came to meet his grandchildren on Liza's wedding, Dad has tried his best to show his love and his remorse.  He lives every day with a deep regret for the mistakes.  He's spent the past few years trying to right the wrongs of his life.  For me, it's simple... you can not change they past.  BUT. You can live from this moment forward and make the best of every day.  That's what Dad has done.  He's been exemplary to me, over the past few years.   He truly tries to show God how grateful he is for each day.  He tries to find ways to brighten the lives of others.  No matter how tired or weak he is, he tries to be happy and make others happy.  How grateful I am for the gift of having my father in the last years of his life.  When we talk every day, I hang up the phone feeling loved and cherished. Dad apologizes to me often for not being there when I was younger, but he knows how I feel.  I have nothing but love for him.  I'm just grateful for today and the future that we have together...whether it's ten years or ten months or ten days.  I love my dad.  
I digress.  When we told Rick that Dad was coming, he got very worked up, created some drama and made some serious threats  to "wreak havoc".  Doug and I chose to, literally, ignore it completely.  We didn't even respond to his threats and bullying.  He has "promised" us that he will make sure that Dad knows how much he despises him.  Um. PS, Rick, Dad knows this already.

So here's my sentiment for the day... People change.  My dad is not the person he used to be. Thirteen years in a prison to think about all of your life's mistakes, followed by cancer and emphysema can make a person change.  Not to mention being apart for half a lifetime.  Holding on to grudges against someone that doesn't even exist any longer just doesn't make sense.  People change. Time, life experiences, other influences change people. EVERY DAY.  So, who are we to judge another?  The words, "He'll never change", which I've heard a lot regarding my dad, couldn't be further from truth.  It's impossible to get through life and not change!  We are either getting better or worse every moment of our life.  If we aren't moving forward, we are moving backward. In life, there's no such thing as stagnant.

We are praying for a wonderful, peaceful, time together, to enjoy our holiday while Dad visits. This visit is not about the past.  It's not about Rick or Ruby.  This visit is about three children who want to spend time with their terminally-ill grandfather and about Dad enjoying his posterity for a few days in peace.  We want him to experience a taste of "the good life" that he missed out on while he was living "life in the fast lane".  Enough said!

OH MY, DO THESE LOOK DIVINE???  A MUST TRY!!!

 

Pumpkin Muffins with Cream Cheese Centers

Muffins:

3 cups flour

3-4 teaspoons pumpkin (or apple) pie spice, whatever you have will do

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

4 eggs

1 ¼ cups oil

2 cups sugar

2 cups pumpkin puree

Filling:

8 oz cream cheese

3/4 cup powdered sugar

Streusel Topping:

½ cup sugar 

¼ cup flour

4 tablespoons cold butter, cubed

1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon

   Preheat over to 350 degrees. Prepare filling: Whip cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth.    Using a piping bag, pipe out a “log” of cream cheese mixture onto plastic wrap.  The diameter should easily fit into the bottom of a muffin tin.  Wrap log in plastic and place in freezer until firm, about 2 hours.  For the batter, combine flour, spices, salt and baking soda.  In a separate bowl, combine eggs, oil, sugar and pumpkin.  Mix in dry ingredients only until combined, do not over mix.  Fill muffins tins (with papers) 1/3 full.  Cut cream cheese “log” into pieces and place a piece in each muffin tin.  Make sure to not press them down all the way to the bottom.  Cover cream cheese centers with more batter, so the tin is about 2/3-3/4 full.  Prepare topping: Combine all ingredients until crumbly (using a form works well). Bake 15-20 minutes of until tops spring back.

One last totally random thought... I'm a knit-aholic.  If I'm sitting, I'm knitting is my new mantra. I told Carol that I was trying to figure how to use a flashlight or a headlamp in the theater tomorrow so that I can knit through the first four movies.  She's mortified that I'm serious!  She knows me so well!

Tomorrow, THE TWILIGHT MARATHON!  I'm so thankful for a husband who lets me play!  I've got  a son who needs an emergency trip to our awesome dentist this morning, some knitting to do, contraband to prepare (twelve hours, four girls, five movies in a theater...girls do not live on popcorn and Diet Coke alone!), sleep to fit in beforehand and a decision to be made... to tree or not to tree?  That is the question.  Even with family history that belong on J-e-r-r-y S-p-r-i-n-g-e-r... Life is good.

Gratitude is the open door to abundance.

Happy Birthday, Quayd! FIFTEEN ALREADY!!!!!

Quayd is fifteen today.  I can't stand it!  He's growing too quickly!  After the new announcement about LDS Missionaries leaving at age 18 instead of 19, this gives us three years with this awesome boy before he "really" grows up!  He loves teasing me about it.  He loves teasing me about the fact that he's now a few inches taller than me.  Quayd adores his dad.  There is nothing Quayd wouldn't do to make his dad happy!  One of the things that I love about Quayd is that, at fifteen, he still trusts and believes in his parents wisdom.  I'm hoping and praying that he continues to be open with us and consider us his best friends.  Quayd is different than most boys his age...he's younger in some social ways but older and wiser in others.  We just pray every day that he continues on the path he's chosen so far!  

He has the loudest voice, but the most tender heart.  He's funny and quick witted.  He takes things very literally.  He is best friends with Grace one minute and they are in each other's face, the next.  He loves being a big brother to his sisters, as well as his adopted younger half-siblings. As a son, he's quick to offer to help. (Saturday, as he was heading to the park, he noticed Doug up in the cherry trees, dropped his plans and was right up there with him helping without even being asked.)  He loves ice cream, homemade rolls, mashed potatoes and pizza.  He does not like gravy or dressings, yet he'll eat salad or dry anything.  He's also great to try everything I cook and never complains.  I never know he doesn't care for something until it's gone and I offer seconds and he responds, "No thanks, I'm okay."   Quayd is dependable and determined.  His word is good. He's excited to get that Eagle Scout Rank and to continue on with earning Palms.  He takes his church responsibilities seriously and yet he can be so goofy at times that you have to tell him to chill!  He's good looking and knows it.  My favorite thing is that every morning, after he combs his hair, he does the "Fonzie" "heyyyy!" in the mirror.  (And he's never seen Happy Days!)  We love this boy so much!  He brings us joy and happiness every single day!

Here's Quayd's 15 year old Birthday Interview.  As always, these are his very words, as he speaks them.  Italics are my thoughts added:

• If you could have one super-power, what would it be?  I will have it in three years!  The Melchizedek Priesthood!  (Okay, starting off with tears for this mama.)
• What was the last chore you did? Helped the dishes.
• What is your favorite song?  No Twilight songs, Mom!!!  Fireflies from Owl City (We watched the video together. It's cute.)  You'll be in my Heart.  (That's always going to be our song from when he was a toddler and I'd sing it to him, I'm glad that he still cares.)
• What do you like to eat for lunch at school?  Pizza.
• What's the nicest thing you've done for someone in your family lately?  Doing the dishes without being asked this morning after breakfast. Loved those breakfast burritoes, they were good!
• What makes you mad?   Um.  Uh, the girls annoying me.  Bullying.  Oh, and _____, Gracie's friend.  She definitely annoys me.  
• Where would you like to go on vacation? THE RANCH!!!  Downetta Hot Springs.  The Divide Ranch camping.
• Who's the smartest person in your family?  Probably Mom and Dad.  Mom knows everything basically.  I don't know how, but she does.  Dad is pretty smart with math and science and chemistry.  So, yeh.  Dad has lots of wisdom, too, definitely.
• How are you like Mom? I can...hmmm... I'm loving, I care for people.  Me and Mom share things.  We both love each other.  We both love Go-Go.  We both love Chili's and pizza at Firehouse.  OOOO!  We both love Firehouse's pizza bites! 
• How are you like Dad?    We both have the priesthood.  We can be wise in our decisions together.  We love swimming together and x-country skiing!  Dad and me understand each other.  Dad makes me laugh a lot.  We both make funny jokes.  (That's for sure.  They get each other going and I have to leave the room.)
• What's one thing that Mom always says to you?  "Make good choices and Be a rock!  The choices we make today determine our happiness tomorrow.   I love you."
• What's one thing that you and Dad do together that you'll always remember?   Skiing and swimming together.  Doing Fast Offerings each month.  Riding bikes together.
• If you had a million dollars, what's the first thing you'd buy? I don't know if paying for my mission is buying something, but that.  Then, after I'd get back, I'd buy the house we love and get the girl of my dreams a wedding ring.  I'd probably get my parents a hot tub. Yeh.
• How do you know that Mom and Dad love you?  When I make good decisions, I can tell that they love me.  I can see it in their eyes.  Their smiles tell it all.  I promise them that I would do good.
• What's your favorite cereal?  Hmmm.  I do like Honey Bunches of Oats, those are really good.  Especially with bananas in them.  And probably the cinnamon toast crunch.  And Capt. Crunch, Cheerios and Lucky Charms.  Reeses Cereal was pretty good except it's pretty much candy and I made a deal with the dentist that I can't have candy or pop for a whole entire year, which so far, I've gotten five days done!
• What's your favorite TV show?  (He laughs, first, as if to say, "You have to ask?") Once Upon a Time and LOST
• What's your favorite vegetable?  Broccoli!
• What toy would you never give away?  I'd never give away my iPod Touch, which I am grateful to have that and my Nintendo DSI XL and my Transformers which I've been collecting for about five years.  Those things, I'd never give up.  I'd probably give them to my son if I ever have a son.
• What's your favorite game?  I don't know if it's a game, but we make our own videos of Once Upon a Time so it can be a game because you are using your imagination.  Another favorite game is Minecraft,  I love that.  
• What's your favorite movie? The whole entire series of Harry Potter.  Transformers 1, 2, and 3.  And there's supposed to be a 4, so I'm excited for that.  Another favorite is Little Rascals and Bedtime Stories, Hearts and Souls, Tarzan and Mission Impossibles, those are really cool.  I like a lot of movies!
• What food would you eat every day if you could?  German Pancakes, Pizza,   Shrimp and my mom's fried ice cream and cinnamon rolls. Sausage.  Yah!
• If you could choose a different name, what would it be?   Well I'd stick with Quayd.
•  What's the first thing you want to show your friends when they come to your house? The cookie jar!  
• What's the scariest thing you've ever done?  Considering the fact that I almost died by a cliff but I survived.  Another big one that happened this year was the 53 mile bike ride.  It was pretty bad, but it could have been a lot worse.  But, here I am!  
• Is your room messy or clean?   Right now?  Considering the fact that I didn't make my bed yet, it's a little messy but almost clean.
• If you could eat at any restaurant for the rest of your life, where would it be? Pizza Pie Cafe 
• What's your favorite candy bar?  Basically, it's the $100 I get for NOT eating what I love, which is Snickers, Take 5s, 100grands, butterfingers.  Since I can't eat any, I'll go with the $100 for now, anyway!
• What's your nickname? LoveBug from you and Liza.  Quayders and QuackaDuck or Quinja from my friends, especially from our Moab trip because I could climb the rocks so quick... Quayd+Ninja = Quinja!
• What's the best age to be? Probably the age I'm am today!  Any age is fine as long as it's a good year.
• What do you and your sisters fight about?   Laughing...Random stuff.  It's so weird.  We can be talking about friends and then fighting cuz sometimes Gracie's friends can really get on my nerves.  We fight over the couch and who sits one which side.  I mean, you have to have the best seat for Once Upon a Time, don't ya?
• What's under your bed?   My art stuff and a couple of my Nintendo games and a few legos that fell off when I was playing with them on top of the bed.   Sorry, Mom.  Oh, and a transformer.
• What's your favorite holiday?  Quayd's birthday!  I don't know if it's a holiday but it can be!
• What do you know at age 15?  I know that my mom will be crying because at sixteen I start dating and then two more years and then I'll be on my mission and then two years after that I'll be thinking about getting married and so on and so on and that I know.  Hopefully, my voice will totally change this year and I'll get more armpit hair.  Cuz, you know.  But, seriously?  I know that the gospel is true and that the Holy Ghost can always guide you, especially in hard times.  I know that Heavenly Father is my Father, I know that the Savior died for us so that we can be with Heavenly Father again.  I know that families can be together forever for eternity.  I know that Joseph Smith went into a grove of trees and prayed to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ to find out which church he should go to.  I know that the Book of Mormon can be a guide to help us in this test called life.  I know that Thomas S. Monson is the true prophet.  I know that our Savior still lives.
• Is there anything else you want to say?  I like ice cream!

Happy Birthday, Quayd!  We love you!!!

The happiness of your life depends
upon the quality of your thoughts.

learning as we go...

A friend and I were recently discussing our upbringings, which in some ways couldn't have been more opposite, but in many, are, frighteningly, almost identical.  Our childhood comes up frequently in our conversations... relationships with our parents, with siblings, how we felt about ourselves as children. I am quite often shocked that almost every time we visit, I find myself analyzing my own childhood and coming away wiser.  I'm grateful for this friend and our chances to discuss what we've learned as adults.  Here's a few things that I've learned:

1. My grandparents loved me.  Deeply.  Although my mother would have had me believe otherwise, I can see this as an adult.  Lesson learned: no matter what faults family members have...never let your children believe anything other than the fact that they are loved deeply..  Divorces, marriages, adoptions, whatever comes into the picture...children need to know that they are loved. Children should never be used as pawns in the middle of grown-up issues.  NEVER.
2. People are more important than things.  I was raised in a home with plastic covering the furniture and rooms that we were "not allowed" to visit.  I lived in fear of spilling, breaking, soiling anything. Lesson learned:  You can wipe up a glass of spilled Kool-aid and even if it leaves a spot on the carpet, you'll still be alive.  You can't undo demeaning words like, "Stupid" or "Idiot!"  Don't sweat the small stuff.  It's almost always all small stuff.  Praise loudly, blame softly.
3. Family relationships are forever.  Playing kids against each other is destructive.  Manipulating relationships causes deep, long lasting scars that can take decades to, or even never, be mended. Lesson learned: Building friendships among siblings is critical.  It's important to teach loyalty to family in the home.  Side story:  ZJ is making darling, darling hairclips to sell.  She's trying to earn/save enough money for a camera.  A "friend" was really bugging her to show her how she does it so that she can make them too.  ZJ explained that she didn't want to share how she makes them because this is her business to help her reach her goal.  (ZJ will be a millionaire if she keeps up with her entrepreneurship.)  The "friend" got downright mad and called ZJ stupid and all sorts of other mean things, then stormed off.  The friend intercepted Grace, on her way home from school, and asked Grace to tell her how to make them. Grace thought about it for a bit, didn't want to give away Zeej's "trade secret" and told the girl to just ask ZJ, making the girl angry all over again.  When Grace came home and explained the situation, she said, "I didn't want to betray ZJ and since ZJ wouldn't tell her, I knew that I shouldn't either because that would hurt my sister."  We made lots of loud, proud noise over Gracie's loyalty to her sister!  SO IMPORTANT!
    
4. Don't live to impress anyone but yourself!  If it feels good to you, if you like it, that's what matters. Don't buy or do things just because everyone else thinks it's cool.  AND...People don't care how much you paid for something, where it came from, how "very expensive" it is or how important/bigger/better/richer/more perfect you are.  If you need to impress someone to have a relationship with them, they aren't the kind of person you need or want a relationship with anyway.  Isn't there some quote about buying things you can't afford to impress people you don't know or like? Keeping it real simplifies.  No need to impress, no need to lie, no worrying about what others may or may not think about you makes life so much easier. Lesson learned: Just be your best self, that's all that matters.  People won't care or remember how much you paid for something or what brand you buy, but they will care and remember the kind of person you are and you made them feel when you with them.
5. Don't assume the worst.  Don't automatically think that people are lying or conniving or untrustworthy.  Lesson learned: Trust in the fact that most people are well-intended.  Look for the good in others instead of how they are trying to stab you in the back and life will be much more simple for you.  You'll sleep better, laugh more and find much more joy in the  journey.
6. Lesson learned: Don't lie.  About anything.  Lying hurts others, it confuses children, it sets a very poor example.  It teaches children to lie.  Seeing parents lie causes children to question their parents. Tell the truth.  Plain and simple.  Nothing to remember, no need to backtrack, no need to doubt.  Just be honest.  ALWAYS.
7. No one likes a martyr.  Lesson learned:  Children deserve to live a life without being guilted by an adult.  It's a parent's job to nurture and provide for their children.  Don't make them feel guilty for things that it's your obligation to give.  Let them feel your joy in the privilege of doing it for them.  Kids don't want or need to hear about your sacrifices for them or how hard it is being their parent.  Let them know that you love them,  not that they are pain!  (Even if they are being a pain!)
8. Witnessing parents fighting can be devastating to a child.  Lesson learned:  Kids do not need to see their parents fighting, arguing or crying over finances, marital issues or personal problems.  Keep those things behind closed doors. What kids do need to see is parents hugging, agreeing, planning, kissing, dancing, tickling, flirting, playing, working, laughing and being happy together!  I remember President Gordon B, Hinckley addressing the women of the LDS Church in 2003.  To widows and single moms he said, "Now I speak to you single mothers whose burdens are so heavy because you have been abandoned or have been widowed. Yours is a terrible load. Bear it well. Seek the blessings of the Lord...Pray silently in your closet, and let the tears flow if they must come. But put a smile on your face whenever you are before your children or others."  I believe that those words are applicable to every parent!  Children need to see their parents "bearing their load well".
9. A child's self-esteem is delicate and fragile.  Lesson learned: Build children up!  Don't tear them down! They are having a hard enough time being a kid at school and out in the world.  At home, they deserve to feel special, to have their buckets filled with so much love that they can endure each and every draining step out in world. I remember seeing a counselor when Kelly first started giving us fits as a teenager.  The counselor suggested that we praise her whenever possible...even on her worst days, to find something to praise her for.  One day, she was being totally obnoxious.  I wanted to just scream!  I took a deep breath, thought for a minute and trying to find something positive, I said, "KellyLynn, you breathe so well, " then walked out of the room.
    
10. Because of my mom's paranoia that we were going to be kidnapped, brutally tortured and murdered if we stepped out of her sight, I heard the word "NO" as a child, often.  Lesson learned: Say yes whenever possible.  There's plenty of times that a parent must say no, but look for times to say yes.  One more cookie, five more minutes, just this once... won't really kill them. And as Doug has taught me, give them alternatives.  He'll say, "No, I'm not okay with that, but ask me something I can tell you yes too."
    
    
11. Jealousy, envy and being contrary are not flattering.  At all.  Lesson learned: Be happy for your children's successes and happiness in life.  Children will be different than their parents and parents may not even like their childrens' choices.  BUT! Love the child, not their choice.  I know several people who's children live lifestyles that are far different than those they were brought up in.  Some are religious differences, some political, some financial.  Even parenting differently than "taught" or "exampled".  BUT.  It's their choice.  However, we do not have to support our children in poor choices that may be harmful to others.  Again...Love the child, not their choice.

I am not perfect at any of the above lessons I am learning, but I am truly working on them daily.  I'm also not saying that my mother was not a bad mother.  She had her issues, but don't we all.  I'm just grateful for the opportunity to continually learn and grow as a parent.  Every day is a learning experience.  The important thing is that, at the end of the day, as parents, we feel like we did a little bit better job today than we did yesterday.  That's all that matters... Getting better every day.  Enough said.

Change your thoughts, Change your world.

bones and breakfast

Our calm little weekend wasn't quite as calm as expected.  Grace walked in from school with a bag of ice on her finger, the same one that she broke last spring.  She was hit with the ball in PE and it felt exactly the same as the last break.  So, off we went to see our doctor, who sent us up to the hospital for X-rays.  The X-ray did not show any fracture, but she insists that it feels broken. It's colorful and painful, and badly jammed.  She'll wear the same type lovely dressing that she wore at the end of the school year for the next week or so.  I think that I should rename my blog.  Instead of Sentiments in should be "Medical Updates by Sophia".  Help me!

While at the hospital, we dropped in to see Boyd, Mom's manfriend, who has had pneumonia.  He came home yesterday.

Friday evening, we went to the B's and watched From the Hip. Connie joined us. Such a great movie!  It was rated PG and we all commented on how movies from the 80s got away with much more language because PG13 hadn't been initiated yet.

Just as we were off to the B's, Kevin called, putting Zaylee on the phone to let me know that they are "our new neighbors".  They've moved into a home closeby.  I'm certain that it's temporary.  I'm also certain that Kelly wasn't aware of the phone calls/texts/voicemails...seven in less than ten minutes. (Her vehicle wasn't at the house that we suspected he was talking about on the way to the B's, but was on the way home.) I didn't respond or answer any of his contacts.  We felt that this was just his way of reminding us that they are not only back together, but now "just around the corner."  At some point, he might get that we don't want anything to do with him and that we don't play games.  Still no word from Kelly, although several neighbors have mentioned seeing them already.  

On Saturday, Doug went to Idaho Falls for meetings all day.  The kids and I made a late brunch of Apple Pancakes.  (I'm serious, if you haven't tried them yet, you are missing out!  Check them out!)  Then, Quayd and Grace prepared to go to the temple for baptisms  in the afternoon and ZJ went to the B's, leaving me alone for one last study of my lesson.  It was a nice quiet afternoon.  I'd planned to join Carol and her kids at the theater late to see Spiderman.  However.  By 9:00, it wasn't happening. I'm amazed at how much this foot issue has affected my social life! ;)

Yesterday, our ward choir sang my favorite hymn, "If you could hie to Kolob" in Sacrament Meeting.  This song is not a traditional hymn.  But, it's absolutely beautiful. And this arrangement.  Oh. My.  The pianist, Marilyn, was in the pew in front of me.  She turned and squeezed my hand before they went up to perform and whispered, "This is dedicated to you." Just beautiful.  I honestly have to say that this was the most moving performance of this hymn that I've ever experienced.  I had studied to teach a lesson on the Creation all week long. With my thoughts in that direction already, I wept through the entire hymn and then ten minutes after.  Beautiful.  Unforgettable.  As I told Connie last night, the ward choir has come a long, long way!  Love it! 

Before church, ZJ and I made zucchini bread and strata for dinner... "Breakfast".  I'd discovered a new strata recipe and we'd thought I'd try it.  Grace helped with it.  (Between my knees and my foot, the girls are learning to cook!)  Everyone loved this strata.   As in, they ate and entire 9x13 pan of it!  We made a double batch, 3 large loaf pans and 2 mediums, of the bread.  I figured that I'd deliver the two smaller ones to Connie and my mother.  They were beautiful loaves coming out of the oven, but the two smaller pans that were to be shared stuck to the pan.  I gave Mom hers anyway and told Connie that I had a bottomless loaf for her.  However, I went into the kitchen and Doug had eaten it. oops.

Here's two recipes for our "weekend hits".

Zucchini Bread

Mix together:

3 eggs
2 cups grated zuchhini
1 cup chopped nuts
2 cups sugar
1 cup oil
1 T. vanilla

Sift together:

1 t. salt
1 t. soda
1 T. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 t. nutmeg
1/2 t. ground cloves
3 cups flour

Add to zucchini mixture. Pour into well-greased loaf pans.  Bake at 350' for one hour. 

Sweet Strata

1 loaf french bread
6 eggs
3 cups milk
2 cups sugar
6 T. butter
1 cup flour
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 cup raisins (optional)
1 pound sausage

Preheat oven to 350'. Cook sausage in frypan.  Drain.  Set aside.   While sausage is cooking, mix all of the ingredients except the bread and raisins in a blender.  Tear the bread into pieces and place in a well-greased 9x13 pan.  Toss in the raisins and sausage.  Pour the egg/milk mixture over the bread mixture, covering entirely.  Toss the bread mix in the egg mixture.  Cover with foil and bake at 350' for 45 -55 minutes.  Remove from oven and let sit for a few minutes.  Serve warm with maple syrup.  (You can make this the night before and just toss in the oven when ready to bake but it's not neccessary.)

Today, I think we are celebrating Denise's birthday.  (She was camping with her family on Friday.)  This week looks to be pretty uneventful.  Hopefully, it remains that way!  In the lesson that I taught yesterday, I was reminded that life is a test.  We're here for the growth and learning opportunities.  Isn't it great that we have so much joy along the way too!?   Enough said.

Everybody wants happiness. Nobody wants pain.
But, you can't have a rainbow without a little rain.

perseverance

The family has watched a few of the 9/11 shows on tv this past few days.  It's still hard to believe what happened that morning.  This morning, ZJ asked me if I remembered where I was.  None of us will ever forget.  Having just watched Pearl Harbor and the Patriot (edited),  I think of those people who experienced those terrible days in American History, as well.  One thing that I love about living in this day and age is that we are instantly aware of news that matters.  Watching those towers fall changed America forever.  It changed us all.  In the end, I believe it made us stronger! We persevere!  I'm thrilled, humbled and proud to be a citizen of the greatest nation on earth.  We're winners! Enough said.

Quayd received a lovely little surprise in the mail yesterday.  My friend, Susan, from Ohio, who I've known since before Kelly was born (she actually gave me a baby shower when I was expecting Kelly), sent him a special gift and a very touching letter, acknowledging his perseverance on the 53 mile bike trip.  The letter had me in tears.  Doug also teared up, as he read it when Quayd showed it to him as he walked in the door from work.  In the letter, Susan talked about perseverance vs. endurance and suggested that he look up the difference and ponder it.  This became our family home evening message.

 

endurance-  the ability or strength to continue or last, especially despite fatigue, stress, or other adverse conditions; stamina:

or

perseverance - steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state,etc.,

 especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.

We discussed adversity and a bit of what we've experienced recently.  We then posed the question to the kids, "Which is the better thing?  To endure something or to persist through it?"  It was interesting to hear the comments and thought that the kids had about the matter.  We all agree that persistence matters, working hard through something, having a good attitude about it, giving our all rather than just "tolerating" and getting through something.    The decision was made that we, as a family, will persevere to the end, not just endure to the end!

Thank you, Susan, for your thought provoking letter, your sweet gift to Quayd and thirty years of friendship.  Love you BIG!

A few short ramblings for the day...

• Speaking of persevering, the surgeon gave my left knee a cortisone shot yesterday.  That experience will definitely not be in the top ten things in my life!  BUT.  If it helps, it was worth it.  Time will tell!  Fingers crossed.
• Still no word from Kelly.
• It's supposed to rain today!  Oh, how I love fall!!
• I am blessed. Life is good.

 

Never give up on a dream just because of the time
it will take to accomplish it.  The time will pass anyway.

ouch! 38 times.

Okay, I'm not laughing as hard as I was because now, the pain reminds me that it's really  not that funny.  But, it is!  So.  Yesterday, Nat and I met at Chili's for our weekly Thursday lunch date.  We sat gabbing for almost three hours. It was so dang slow, we felt no guilt for taking the table that long.  Our Chili's friends visited with us, management visited, servers visited and there were six corporate visitors there, as well.  We were hanging out because I had to stay in town and pick ZJ up at school for her dental 2:00 appointment.  Just before we were ready to leave, I left Nat at the table and went to the little girls' room.

Note:   I've not had a Coke in a few days. LOTS of water.  So, I go into the ladies room in the handicap stall. (Squishiness is a handicap.)  When I pushed the stall door open, it swung wider than normal.  Normally, you barely touch it, I slide around it and over to the sink.  This time, it opened all the way to the wall.  Being that I open this door up to five or six times a week for the past ten years, I know that it doesn't usually open like that.  I said, out loud, "that's weird" and stepped over to the sink when BAM!!!!  This HUGE crash!!! The entire door falls off the wall!  The hinge had literally broken in two and this big eighty pound door comes crashing down onto the ceramic tile...and my foot.  

The noise. OH MY HECK!  It sounded like a ton truck had crashed into the ceramic tiled room!  The noise scared me to death! My foot was instantly screaming OUCH!!!!  In nothing flat, the bathroom door opened and in races Lisa, the newest manager, followed by Nathan, one of the corporates who I've known for a few years and Eric, another manager.  "Sophia!! ARE YOU OK!!??"  I washed my hands and was laughing so hard.  I thought, ONLY ME!!!!  Nathan was totally freaking out, apologizing, making sure that I was okay, telling me to go to the hospital and get it checked if I needed and on and on.  I couldn't stop laughing.  Lisa said, "Well, at least, she's laughing."  Nathan said, "But, it's not funny."  He, being corporate, I'm sure was seeing dollar signs.  I continued to laugh and assured them it was fine.  I said, "I think I just broke my toe, but really, I'm fine."  They picked up the door, hauled it out, offered me ice and on and on.  

BUT,  the funniest part of the whole experience was that Nat had waited all this time and was starting to worry about me.  She came to the bathroom to check on what was going on, saw the door on the ground, all the excitement and without a thought, she said, "See!  This is why I don't bring her to my house!"  I thought I would hurt myself laughing!

The door was removed from the bathroom floor and I was escorted back to our table.  Everyone was asking what in the world had happened.  The sound made it hard not to hear.   A few minutes later, Eric came out and started telling me to go to the doctor, make sure I was okay, on and on.  Again, I assured him that I was fine.  At that point, I removed my canvas loafer and my pinky toe was swelling by the second, and already black and purple and green.  Uh-oh.

I finally left, picked ZJ up at school and we went to the dentist.  I was telling Brett, our dentist, about it and when he looked at the toe, he encouraged me to get it X-rayed because of how swollen and bruised it was already.  So, after double checking with Kevin, another Chili's manager,  I spent the next three and a half hours going to the hospital for X-rays and then to the doctor who read them and informed me that two different bones in my pinky toe are broken.  It's ugly.  And it hurts.  And I am still laughing.  I had to because again, only I could have a door fall off a wall and karate chop my toe into pieces!  Seriously, think about it. How many people in your life that you know could you say have had a public restroom door fall off the hinges and break their toe?  It makes me laugh!

Chili's will cover all of the expenses and it will be all better in four to six weeks, says the doc.  Lovely.  Like I told Doug, "Hey!  Now I can complain about my toe instead of my knees!"  Just when I start walking almost normal, now, I'm limping because of my left knee and my right foot.  Oh and dangit!  I've had pretty toes since April.  A few days ago, I took off my pretty toes and they were just plain ugly on the day that everyone looked at them!

I do have to say this... as it was all happening, my biggest and foremost thought was that this could have been so much worse.  That door was so dang heavy.  If I'd have been one step closer, it would have landed on my knee.  I can't even let my mind go there.  AND if it had have been a mom with a baby or toddler, oh my gosh, don't want to go there either.  Plus, Chili's doesn't have to worry about a lawsuit from me.  I was glad that it was me and not the person who used that potty just before me.

And last, but, not least, if ever there were a time to share this, it would be now.  For.EV.er, Doug and I debate this issue.  He is not a door shutter.  I'm obsessed with closed doors.   If he gets out of the car for a minute, he leaves the door open (even in the winter).  If he runs out to the garden, he leaves the door open. (Yes, he was raised in a barn.)  If he gets into a cabinet or closet, he leaves the door open. (He's just going to get back in it.)  Whenever I say "Close the door", he says, "Babe, that door only has 38,000 more opens and closes.  Let's preserve the hinges."  Well.  I don't have to say how many funnies he made last night about this issue.  "Let's see, if we figure out how long Chili's has been open and how many times that door has been opened and closed, we could go stand in the men's room just at the right time.  MY LEG! MY LEG!!"  "Babe, I bet that the men's room will last longer because the stall door in the men's room gets opened and closed 38% less than the women's room."  Oh,he was on one but the best was when he first thought of it, "SEE!!!  I told you that those hinges only last 380,000 opens and closes!!!"  Oh, that man.  I do love how he makes me laugh!

So, that's the latest on the Corbridge RollerCoaster!  Never a dull moment!  Life is good...even with a  throbbing toe!  And I LOVE this quote!

Just open your Glitter Drawer and Life will be all good!

brave, brave, bravo

Well, it's drama time again.  Yesterday, Kelly called in the afternoon letting me know that she was at work when one of her co-workers came to her desk and said, "You're man is here to see you."  Thinking that Layne was going to be waiting, she raced to the front and found Kevin waiting for her.  Surprise, ugh, he's back in town.  Kelly has spent the last several weeks having no contact with him whatsoever.  She's literally trying to put her past life in the past and leave it there.  This was not part of the plan.  We all knew that it was inevitable but we'd hoped for the peace to last a bit longer.  It was a long ugly afternoon and early evening for us all.  I'll spare the details.  I will share one personal thing.  

One.  I was literally sick to my stomach.  LITERALLY.  All afternoon.  Read between the lines, I don't mind. I went into my bedroom, looked out the front window, just thinking of the whole mess and I had the strongest impression.  "Kneel down.  Say a prayer.  THEN, put your trust in the Lord.  He wants what's best for Zaylee even more than you do."  And so I did.  My main concern here is Zaylee.  Kelly is a big girl. Zaylee is innocent in all of this.  Continued prayers for the both would be appreciated.  Enough said about that.

On to a happier subject.  It was Quayd's big night...his Court of Honor that he's been working so hard for.  So, we left the drama behind and got excited for our boy!  Quayd earned thirteen merit badges, the most of all the boys in the troop, which was awesome.  I had to laugh because each time the Advancement Chairman named a badge, Quayd would shake his hand and say, "Thank you."  Thirteen times.  It was most humorous, definitely Quayd.  I loved hearing the boys cheer each other on and giving "attaboys" with each badge presentation.  They truly are a great group of boys.  I'm so thankful that Quayd has good friends.

The highlight for Quayd, and I do think that it was probably the biggest shining moment, was when Todd, our Young Men's President shared the experience of the 53 mile bike ride and presented Quayd with a special award called the "Perseverance Badge" .  There were laughs and the boys applauded.  Quayd beamed.  Too cute.  I think he'd like to wear that badge on his forehead!  I must mention that, not only was the badge awesome in Quayd's mind, but Todd, Quayd will tell you quickly, is one of his four most biggest heroes on this earth!  (The other three being Doug, Stott and Aaron Burns.)  So, hearing Todd's praise meant the world to Quayd.

Holy cow!  Look how much taller he is than me!  That's happened over the summer!

.  

Here's a close-up of the perseverance badge.  Is that perfect or what?

And here's his cache from this past few months!  Quayd announced to me over the weekend that he would like to be one of those scouts who earns every merit badge available.  HELP ME!  Here's the thing... if he is serious, I'd sure be happy to help him do it.  Why not?!  He's already made a list of his merit badge goals for his first two palms.  Slow down, Quayd, we have to get to the Eagle first!

And so, like with most of life... you get to take the good with the bad.  There must be opposition in all things.  We had our share of opposition yesterday, but the good farrrrrrrr outweighed the bad.

One other rambling...last night after everyone was in bed, except me, I heard the back gate open. It's only feet away from the window to my gallery.  I ignored it for a few minutes, but then Go-Go started to growl.  Not the bark like someone's at the door, but the growl like "I'm being sneaky, tattling on whoever is out there."  After I called Connie for moral support,  I finally called Dispatch and had an officer patrol the neighborhood throughout the night.  Isn't it strange how sounds are never annoying or distracting in the daylight, but let the sun go down... brother! Suffice it to say, it was a long night.

Life really is good... even when soon to be ex-es show up unexpectedly and things go bump in the night.

True courage is to keep traveling when you can't see the map.

weekend

Our Labor Day weekend was very, very calm.  The only time, other than church and the B's, that we left the house was to go to see Avengers with Carol.  Admittedly, I'm not a fan of that kind of movie but it was fun to be there with Carol and Taylor and my own family.  The kids think Aunt Carol "Rocks".  Doug and I would have to agree.

Doug painted and gardened in between rain and playing with the family.  The girls and I cooked, baked and played. We had a barbeque with the B's and a few drop-in visits from friends and family.  Scouting filled most of my time!  We invited my brother, Rick, to join us and Quayd gave his campfire presentation. It had rained off and on all day, so we had a bit of a smokey campfire in the backyard. Quayd did a great job on his presentation and then we made s'mores.  We cheated with Keebler Fudge Stripes instead of Hershey bars and graham crackers, and the girls said that they prefer them that way. Whodathunkit?  

Quayd and I spent almost every available moment working on his scouting.  The boy is determined!   He met with the merit badge counselor this weekend and passed off his Citizenship in the Community and Citizenship in the Nation.  Now, for the Citizenship in the World.  This one may kill me off.  I don't know anything about world trade! BUT.  I'm learning as we go.  

Working on the Citizenship in the Nation merit badge was fascinating.  I recommend that everyone tries it. We learned so much together and I loved the recall of why and how our nation came to be.  We read the Declaration of Independence and studied each of the Bills of Rights.  I've not studied these things since High School.  It made me proud to be an American and appreciate our freedoms immensely.  Honestly, that's the most patriotism I've ever felt...trying to teach my son why it's so important.  Doug and I enjoyed this activity with Quayd.  We followed up by watching our edited version of the Patriot, which really brings to mind the sacrifices that were made for our freedom.

Quayd has one requirement left for his Life rank and then the World badge and finishing up his Personal Management Merit Badge.  Then, it's just wait out the time until he does his Eagle Project next spring.  This morning, the first words he said were, "Can we work on the World Badge after school, Mom?"  Frankly, I'm good to take a break because he has this wait time before he can be advanced again.  But.  I'm not saying no when he's so motivated!  We'll work as long and as hard as he's willing. I'm just grateful to not have to be pushing him.  Have I mentioned that I swore I'd never get involved in scouting!?

This week looks to be a busy one.  Quayd's Court of Honor will be fun.  We begin our bi-annual dental visits. I'm so glad that our dentist is so awesome because we all look forward to seeing him!  We're hoping that more than a few tomatoes a day start to ripen so that I can begin making salsa. It's my dad's birthday at the end of the week.  And...finally, I get to decorate for fall!  HAPPINESS!   The holidays are coming! LIFE IS GOOD!

Sometimes the things we can't change end up changing us.

 

Good stuff!

Three times in the last week, the mention of this new cake has come up.  I decided that I needed to try it, so last night's Sunday treat was this cake.  Oh. My. Heck!  It's good!  It's so good that the babes are having it for breakfast.  As a matter of fact, that was the first words that came out of each of their mouths at different times waking up, "Can we have that new cake for breakfast?"  Of course, Grace, the ice cream queen added, "Can I get the ice cream out?"  Remember the old Bill Cosby jingle, "Dad is great, he gives us chocolate cake."

Last night, while enjoying the cake at our dinner table with Stott and Wendy, I noticed something bluegreen and huge falling from the sky.  I burst out with, "WHAT WAS THAT!?" and got teased for my sanguine responses to things.  No one else had noticed but I was sure that I'd seen something amazing.  The kids were outside playing and an hour later, when they came in, they all said, "We saw the coolest shooting star!"  It was no shooting star.  I asked on Facebook if anyone else had seen it.  A few friends had.  We looked it up this morning and the only thing that I could find was that there were 1329 potential asteroids yesterday.  I'm thinking we saw one.  Cool beans.

So, this morning, thinking about all of the events of last night, Zj asked, "What if that asteroid had hit our house before we got our cake this morning?"  Quayd piped up with "No way!  I'd have raced up and got the cake just before it hit us!"  Seriously.  Good cake.  Recipe below and on the cooking blog.

An update on our friend, Tammy, who fell down the stairs after her surgery ten days ago.  She's not well. Plain and simple.  We got the update in Relief Society yesterday, and blogging friends, my friend Tammy needs all the prayers that she can get.  Her full name is Tammy Roberts.  If you could keep her in your prayers, add her to your prayer rolls, it would be greatly appreciated.  She is a wonderful, wonderful, kind and loving lady and she's in a bad situation.  Thank you.

So far, our weekend has played out like this... Avengers with Carol and Tay. FUN stuff.  Painting, playing, gardening, eating, visiting, church and hanging out as a family. Good stuff.  The highlight of the weekend was spending several hours with Quayd studying the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution with Quayd for his Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge.  I was intrigued, as it's been 30 years or more for me.  He captured lots.  Loved that!  He meets with the Merit Badge Counselor today.  Court of Honor Tomorrow night!  Woohooo!  He's so close to Eagle, and all he can do is say, "Can we work on it today?"  Yagottaluvit!

Here's the recipe and then we are off for the day to continue on the honey-do list.  It's called Grammy Cake and I did not name it. ;)

Grammy Cake

1 1/2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1 tsp. baking soda
1 20 oz. can crushed pineapple, including juice.  DO NOT DRAIN

1 cup brown sugar
1 cup chopped nuts

1 cup evaporated milk (I accidentally used the whole can and it was perfect.)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup of butter
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix the sugar, clour, salt, soda, eggs and pineapple together and pour into a 9x13" pan.  Sprinkle the top with the brown sugar and chopped nuts.  Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

While baking, cook the evaporated milk, sigar, butter and vanilla.  Immediately as the comes out of the oven,  pour the cooked milk mixture over the entire cake.  Keep refrigerated, if there is any left.  (We served it with ice cream.)  ENJOY!!

 Life IS good!

There are seven days in a week
and "someday" isn't one of them.

a challenge and a few other ramblings

First and foremost, I want to say thank you to everyone for your kind words and thought about my blogging. It's truly humbling and  amazing to both Doug and I when we read each and every comment and email. Thank you, thank you!  This past summer has been so busy and crazy that I've seriously considered that it might be time to cut back on blogging publicly and go back to journaling privately.  After many of the comments and private emails this past few days, some serious conversation with Doug and having "my" life back with the kids back in school, I'm ready to continue on here on Typepad.

As mentioned, I have been working on this journaling project from years ago. I am truly passionate about journal keeping.  I get asked about the blog a lot. It takes an hour of my day every day except the weekend, but I'm hoping that years from now, it will be worth the effort, that my children (bigs and babes) will know my heart even more than they thought they did now.  I also get lots of opinions from others about my openness...sometimes too open.  But, to me, it's a journal of our journey. And as I've said before, if others can benefit from our trial and error, then, hey, maybe it can save someone else some grief or despair. I am happy to share.  Many times, it's been suggested that I not be so open or that I only stick to blogging recipes and crafts and keep the life situations in a private journal.  While I appreciate the concern of those who feel that way, sorry, I'll continue to be myself ... in real life and on the blog.  What you see is what you get.  (I have learned through the seven years who and what  I may and who and what I may not mention on the blog.  I do try to avoid the negative or being critical of others on the blog and occasionally, a blurred photo, or a name may be edited, but other than that, it is what it is.)

Years ago, when the bigs were young, I'd send an annual Christmas brag letter.  When they were young, it was so easy to write about all of the kids accomplishments, achievements and successes.  Then they became teens and Doug and I discovered that shocking and most unexpected rollercoaster called reality.  I recall the first year that I did not write a brag letter.  It wasn't because I was embarrassed or wanted to hide our challenges.  It was because I, literally, after the facts, could not bear to revisit that year ~ not in my mind or on paper. It was much easier to just not think about all of the pain that we'd experienced.   Times were tough! From then on, the annual brag letter was a thing of the past.  I've never written another one.  Actually, I've even come to resent brag letters a bit because, sorry folks, life isn't all that sweet and sappy!  It's real!   That's when I realized how much more simple it is to write things down as they occur.  As I've worked on this project, at times, it's been painful.  BUT.  Reading about the trials after the fact,  is much more simple than trying to remember the facts and write them down later when we don't have to or want to think about them because quite frankly, it's often easier to just not bother and important growth experiences are lost.  

The reason I bring any of this up is because I am so passionate about journaling.  Here's the challenge: Whether it's a public blog, a private blog, a scrapbook or a journal or even a twenty cent spiral notebook from Staples, don't let life pass you by without recording the important, the trivial, the fun, the trials.  Write it down.  Daily! If that's overwhelming, buy a calendar with big enough squares to write one sentence from each day of the year... took the kids to McD's...Susie said "yadayada"... got the sweetest thank you from Marci... you get the picture.  You'll be amazed at the things you forget and thrilled at the things you get to remember!  You can do it!

So, on that note, stayed tuned for more of the very average life of the Corbridges... An acquaintance of mine has a sign over the glass of a fun"silly" family portrait, "We may not have it all together, but together, we have it all."  Read this blog and you'll know that's true!  Enough said!

And the winner of the 7th Bloggiversary gift is....drumroll, please....

Keri Tate

Congrats to Keri and thank you all again for your encouraging words!  

And a few leftover weekend ramblings...

• Quayd is doing great.  He's still sore, his knees are quite gross to doctor, his shoulder and ribs are still aching but we feel more and more certain that it's just the aches and pains of a boy who rode his bike fifty miles.  By the way, I was informed that they went fifty-three miles total, so Quayd rode 50, not 47, after the injury. My dad was so proud of Quayd.  I honestly think that it was his first proud Grandpa of a grandson moment.  He insisted on speaking to Quayd and letting him know how much he loves him.  It's fun to hear my dad remember becoming a Life Scout when he was a young boy, one of the highlights of his own youth..  I love his enthusiasm for Quayd's scouting experiences!  
• A Sunday surprise... Apparently, ZJ's Primary teachers did not show up to church on Sunday and they failed to let anyone know.  ZJ said that after a bit, realizing that the teachers were not coming, she took it upon herself to teach her own spontaneous lesson from a familiar scripture story, which she called "Nephi's Courage".  There is a little challenged boy in her class, who was singing out loud and being a little unruly.  ZJ said that she asked him if he needed a Time Out, which she gave him and then, after a few minutes, asked if he was ready to rejoin the group.  He said yes. Later, he asked if they could sing.  She said, "This is lesson time, but, we'll go into Primary for singing time in a few minutes.  Now, it's time for us to be reverent and listen to the lesson."  So, he folded his arms and listened.  The Primary Presidency were all surprised to see the class come to Singing Time a few minutes early.  ZJ explained that their teachers weren't there. They asked where they had been and ZJ, matter of factly said, "They didn't come, so I just taught the lesson."   Oh.  My favorite part.  She said that as she concluded the lesson, she asked, "Any questions?"  I love it!  The girl has no fear!
• Wait!  That's not totally true.  Her one challenging teacher refuses to address her as ZJ, which is the name she chooses to go by.  I wrote a short note for the teacher explaining that ZJ is her name.  When she came home from school yesterday, I asked if the teacher had called her ZJ.  She said, "No, I was too scared to give it to [the teacher], but [he/she]was nicer today." It is 2012, isn't it?  Is there a problem with not going by the full given name? ;)  Regardless, this teacher obviously intimidates Zeej a bit.
• Prayer request: A sweet friend in our ward, Tammy, had her third knee surgery in the past year last Thursday.  At sometime in the night, she woke up, still disoriented from surgery, apparently opened the wrong door in her home and fell down the stairs leading to their basement.  Her husband did not discover her until the next morning in a puddle of blood at the bottom of the stairs. She was life-flighted to the big city hospital and is in a medically induced coma, awaiting surgery, last I heard. She's in critical condition with several broken ribs and multiple skull fractures.  I adore this delightful, sweet lady.  She's probably in her 60s but she's very young!  Please keep Tammy in your prayers.  Thank you!
• We had an exactly twelve minute long storm blow over with two strikes of lightning and a little thunder rumbling on Monday morning at about 1AM.  Then, at 4:15, Doug somehow dumped the game basket onto the floor out of the hallway.  Do you know how loud a gazillion dominoes sound as they crash to the floor at 4:15 in the morning.  It was "one of those nights".  
• The pool is empty, cleaned and dry. Tonight, we'll take it down and put it away.The mornings are cooler.  We're turning the cooler off in the night.  Fall is on her way.  Time for canning and baking and fall decorating!  I, for one, can't wait!  Fall is my favorite season...until winter! ;)

Life is so dang good! Congrats again to Keri!  Thanks again to all!

Be Cheerful!  It's Contagious!

According to Doug: 47 Miles

Here's something that I've never done before.  I'm posting this blog from Doug's perspective.  He told me the story and I typed 90 mph to get it all.  You know how men say, "Yeh, he fell."  The end.  I asked for details.  I got them.  And I'm quite proud of the man, if I do say so myself! 

First, my thoughts...Over the weekend, Quayd and Doug and the rest of the scouts went to Idaho for an overnight camp and then to complete their cycling merit badge with the "big" fifty mile bike ride.  I was under the impression that they were riding downhill 25 miles twice.  However, I was wrong and thankfully, I didn't know it!  They actually rode their bikes all the way home!  I'd had a bad feeling about this trip for days.  Everytime it came up, I kept thinking, "Should I pray for a blizzard!?"  Before Doug and Quayd were leaving, as they loaded up, I told them both that I was not feeling good about this trip and that I HATED that they were doing it.  (Personally, I think that asking boys to ride 50 miles single file on a highway to get a merit badge is LAME!!!  In 1941 when Boy Scouts came up with this great idea, they didn't have cars that go 70 mph zooming past on highways with gazillions of other cars!  But, then, I'm just the mom, what do I know?)  ANYWAY.... I cautioned them both.  Doug reminded me that I'm a worry wort and they both promised me that they'd be extra cautious!  They left and I started praying non-stop.

On Saturday, the girls and I were playing Trim and about every few minutes, I'd look at the clock and comment that I hated this feeling that I had, that I couldn't wait for my men to come safely through the door.  I said many prayers all morning.  

I checked Facebook that morning and noticed a friend asking for prayers for a neighbor boy who'd been critically injured on a biking accident.  I happily said, "I've already been praying all morning for Quayd, I'll gladly add him to my prayers."

At about 2:15, after Doug or Stott didn't answer their cellphones, I called Brittney's cell.  She is the wife of Brennan, one of the Young Men leaders.  Brittney was driving the flag truck that followed all of the boys all the way.  She said that they were about an hour away and she said, "Ooooh, Sophia."  I knew immediately that something was wrong.  She said that Quayd had crashed pretty bad at the beginning of the trip, that he was pretty messed up, BUT he was adamant that he was going to finish this task!  She said that the crash was bad and that even an experienced biker could not have avoided it.  We hung up, I said another prayer and started watching out the door for the guys to come home.

Quayd walked in grinning from ear to ear because he'd made it!  They started preparing for this ride a year ago!  This was HUGE!  I immediately hugged them and they began to tell me what had happened.  While telling me, Quayd winced a few times, grabbing his ribs.   Hearing that he may or may not have lost consciousness and seeing that he may have cracked ribs, I called Doug's sister, Aleece, a nurse and asked if she thought we should have him checked.  After all, he'd just ridden 47 miles injured.  She recommended that we go in just to be safe.  

We did go in and after four hours, x-rays, lots of scrubbing and picking rocks out of wounds, we left the ER with a good report of no broken bones, lots of swelling and bruises and abrasions and a promise that the next three days would not be Quayd's favorites!  

As we exited the hospital, we ran into Chandler, the boy who Quayd had had the accident with.  Chandler left the ER with a broken wrist and thumb.

When we got home, having missed it completely, the girls came racing in from the ward summer social. (They'd gone with Stott and Wendy.)   They hugged Quayd and wanted to hear his adventure and heroic tale, which apparently was common knowledge at the ward party.  Then, we sat down together and Doug told me the entire story in detail again, while I typed.  

Sunday, Quayd was determined to go to church.  He and Chandler were quite the pair with their bandages.  My biggest concern now is Quayd's shoulder.  He has had a lot of pain in it since waking up.  We'll watch it for a day or two and see if it's just soreness or not.  If we are still concerned, we'll go in for another X-ray since they didn't get the shoulder.  

I was so proud of Quayd for his tenacity.  I was mostly touched.  Doug choked up several times as he told me that he truly felt that we were blessed to have Quayd with us, in one piece because this accident could have been so much worse.  

So.  For the first time ever, in Doug's words, here's the details.  If you want the short version...Chandler hit the berm, biffed it and Quayd flew over top of him, flipping and LITERALLY eating the road.  For more, read on...

According to Doug....in his words...

They started at 9:15.  They’d said their prayers, started out at the top of Strawberry Canyon.  All the boys were lined out.  Jayden, Chandler, Quayd, me, then Brennan (the other leader.  Stott was in the front.) were the last five.  The guys in front had just gone around a bend and were just going out of sight. They had only gone less than three miles when they came around a bend to the left downhill at 30mph.  Chandler, the boy in front of Quayd hit the soft berm and for the next twenty-five yards, he was out of control.  His front tire jackknifed, twisting to the left and flipped him, landing him right in Quayd’s path. Chandler’s handle bar centerpost buckled under the pressure of the soft gravel, twisted to the left, shoving the bike back onto the highway right in Quayd’s path. Chandler’s bike flipped and he went over the handlebars, landing wrists first.  Simultaneously, Quayd was hitting his brakes, trying to keep his distance behind Chandler and seeing what was about to happen, Quayd knew that he had to pass him or hit him.  Chandler flipped at about a 45% angle and Quayd and his bike flipped right over top of Chandler.  A total flip!

The fact that they were at the bend of the curve allowed Quayd to land off on the berm rather than totally on the highway pavement.  He came to a crumpled halt just inches from a steel road marker.  It’s a miracle.  That was just a nano-second’s difference in a broken neck for Quayd.  That took less than two seconds.  Dirt’s flying.  Guys are rolling.  Knees are crashing.  Chandlers trying to catch himself as he goes down.  His wrists were sprained really well.  Quayd adds, “All I remember is I was in the air, a flip, hitting my right knee first and my right hand.  Then I hit this knee and then my left hand, then my head hit the road.  I remember my body being flat down, then opening my eyes, looking up at the sky.  Then I saw people running toward me.  I remember my first words were “I’m cut” and Dad saying “Lay back down, take it easy for a sec.”  When I knew I was gonna hit Chandler, I closed my eyes and thought “Oh great, I do not want to hit Chandler.”  The left side of his head hit the ground.  Quayd’s left leg was not yet out of the clips, and his head hit on the left side.  (His helmet is smashed in on the left side.  There were gravel imprints in the whole side of it.)

ME: While Doug was following and saw what was happening he said that he swore.  Out loud!  (I called that one!)

 “I laid my bike down and went over top of Quayd.  The bikes got moved to the side to check on him.  I just knew that there could be some serious injury.  We had him rest for a bit.  We cleaned gravel out of his mouth, out of his nose.  I was wiping his face off with my sleeves. There was blood.  We took his helmet off and were just so thankful that had stayed on.  So, we were checking both knees.  We knew that his left knee took a good pounding, but not so many abrasions.  We were picking gravel out if his right knee. We were checking his hands.  Brennan does sports injuries for the university.  He went out and got his medical kit.  He had the right stuff. He cleaned them out as best he could.  He had Quayd bend bend his knee so that he could still flex and bandaged him up.  He bandaged up his right hand. 

Shock was setting in on both boys.  Chandler was standing there dazed, both boys feeling terrible for the other, each apologizing to the other.   Quayd’s adrenaline had hit his muscles.  We were deciding whether Quayd should continue.  He wanted to.  I didn’t think he should.  I said, “Let’s see if you can ride.”  We picked the gravel out of the bike seats, checked the bikes, straightened Chandler’s steering, and loaded his bike into Brennan’s pickup, Chandler got into the truck.  We were all asking, “Are you sure, Quayd, Are you sure?  Let’s try it for a bit, catch up with the other boys and we’ll reassess it then.”

We caught up to the other boys, gave them a brief.  Stott, who was in the lead, was heading back toward us because he’d realized that something had to have happened.  “Quayd, what do you think?”  He was in shock.  His legs were just shaking out of control but he insisted that he wanted to keep going. 

Two stops later, we reevaluated and he still wanted to keep going.  He did.  I asked, “Does it hurt?  You don’t have to do this.  We can do the 50 miler another time.”  Quayd insisted that he could keep going.

 As you come into the Mink Creek area, there were a lot of steep ups and downs.  Some gradual inclines in the farm areas.  We were in the Cache National Forest when it happened, so the worst of the ride was  the beginning.  Stott had specific instructions against what happened. -  Stay away from the side.  Keep two seconds apart.  It was just that corner, it was soft berm, and there was just no control at that point. 

Just before Riverdale, two motorcycle police were leading about 500 motorcycles who were riding for the “fallen”.  It was so awesome.  We got to Preston and had pizza and rested for a bit.  Quayd was raring to go.  We loaded up on water.  Quayd and I started out before anyone else, then they started passing us up cuz we were taking it easy.  Quayd was feeling a little less pain every minute.  He was keeping up with the group.

Quayd adds:  “That’s about when my hands were really starting to hurt.  We had about 19 miles to go after eating.  We did a nine mile stretch without stopping, then the last ten.  So, the last ten was definitely the hardest.  I thought “You gotta be kidding me.” 

We kept watered up, stopped at the church in Amalga and filled our camelbacks and watered up.  There were just dozens and dozens of bicycles and motorcycles going the opposite road.  In that sense, it made it a bit more dangerous.  The canyon was full of bikes and bikers.  I mean those guys on the road bikes were flying!  One biker was talking to me and realized that he’d seen us earlier at the top of the canyon, and said “That’s just awesome!  You guys should be so proud of yourselves!”  

By the end, nobody could find a comfortable position for their butts.  Everyone was  just exhausted.  I was amazed at how well Quayd was doing.  At Amalga, he didn’t even get off his bike, he just kept riding around the parking lot. 

Several miracles took place:

1. I’m looking at other places that if he’d have gone off, there were fallen jagged rocks along side of the road.  If he’d have fallen off on those rocks…it could have been fatal. This was pebble gravel, there couldn’t have been a better place along that whole highway.
2. The fact that he stopped just inches from that post was a miracle.  Not even a half second later, he’d have hit that post at a pretty good clip.  Talk about broken rib or neck or arm, at that speed, it would have been bad.
3. The helmet was properly adjusted and stayed on.  Quayd had his hood on under the helmet and I think that the fact that hood was under the helmet,  it held the helmet tighter.  (It was Doug’s helmet.  Doug had not realized it till last minute.  They had only one of our helmets and it was Doug’s.  He gave it to Quayd to wear and wore a hat himself.  Doug said that if he’d not had the helmet on, at the speed and then how hard Quayd hit his head, and looking at the damage to the helmet, it would have been a gaurenteed head injury.)
4. Quayd was gonna wear his shorts, but he decided to wear the fleece bottoms.  I’m glad that he had those on instead of shorts.  It would have been 38% worse injuries to his knees, road rash and no skin, looking straight to a patella.  Who knows?  (The jammies are history.  TOTALLY holey in several places, ripped and torn.)
5. Brennan knew exactly what to look for and what to do.  You could tell he’d done that before.  It was a pretty sweet dressing and he made sure to put it on with enough give for Quayd to continue riding without irritating the bruised patellas.
6. At the very onset, before the prayer, the boys were given amazing instructions by Stott.  If they hadn’t have had Stott’s instruction, it could have been much worse.  Avoid the berm at all cost. 
7. Quayd’s determination to continue on helped keep that swelling down a lot.  (The doctors in the ER told us that they were amazed he’d been able to make it 47 miles after the injuries, but confirmed that the riding had definitely helped prevent the swelling.)

I was thinking on the last stretch in about Steve Covey, coming across that bridge, a kid driver flying past.  I’m waving him down and he sees I’m not happy with him because of all these kids on bikes.  I felt so bad that we’ve lost this good man from a bicycle accident.  Sad. 

I couldn’t be more proud of Quayd.  We had several high fives all the way here.  I was the last one home!  He beat seven boys home.  There were only three ahead of him.  We were truly blessed.

That's the whole long story.  My added observations:

• Quayd decided at the last minute to wear his glasses and not his contacts.    Being that he ate gravel, literally, I'm certain that they protected his eyes.
• Doug being there.  There were not enough leaders and my Expedition had to be left at the top of the mountain with the trailer full of supplies.  Doug could have just opted to drive it home and bag the race and it was discussed that he might do that.   Doug being there was good for Quayd because they are so close and I am grateful that Doug was there to witness the whole thing and feel assured that he was safe to continue riding.
• My NOT being there.  It had also been discussed that  I could go and drive the Expedition down.  Had I been there, Quayd would have been in the ER about 8 hours sooner and not made the ride! ;)
• And my favorite thing... Quayd told me that before they left, he thought about my concerns and he went off on his own and said a prayer.  Before bedtime on Saturday night, his prayer was one of gratitude that it hadn't been worse and also asking for he and Chandler to be able to recover quickly."
• Oh, and one humorous thing...At church, I asked several of the guys who'd ridden the whole 50 miles where they were the sorest.  Without exception, every one of them, old and young alike, said, "My butt."  Whodathunkit?
• Ya know how Doug always says 38%?  My number is 47.  Just sayin'. ;)
• Have I mentioned that I love my guys?

 There was lots more to our weekend, but this is already one of the longest posts ever.  Tomorrow, a winner of the bloggiversary contest and a few other random thoughts that I don't want to forget!  Life is so good.  I've shed many tears this weekend as I've hugged my men and given thanks for their safety.  One thing that I do want to make mention of.  Stott.  It's no secret that we adore Stott and Wendy.  But, I have to say that Stott accepted this calling as Scout Master a few months ago and he has just run with it.  No man WANTS to spend this much time working on a church calling, helping boys that aren't even his.  However, Stott and Wendy (because what man could do a great job like this without his wife's total support) have gone above and beyond to give these boys great experiences.  I'm touched by their dedication.  And thankful! Doug has said a dozen times since they got home that Stott's attention to detail and focus on safety was a gift to all of the boys this weekend.  I'm grateful for good leaders for our youth... both boys and girls!!!  enough said!

No great achievement is possible without persistence.

school, soapbox, stuff and a BLOGIVERSARY!

School:  First day of school went well.  The kids all came in talking up a storm...all at the same time!  They loved their first day.  Grace was equally excited about going the second day. We had to take turns telling their adventures.  ZJ was the most animated, telling about one particular teacher who scared her to death.  She said she was "shaking" from this teacher.  We've experienced this teacher before and I'm not a huge fan, but will just let things go and see how she does on her own.

Soapbox: I don't get a teacher who yells at the kids on the first day, as they are introducing his/herself to the class.  "If you make my life miserable, I'll make yours miserable."   First of all, they are sixth graders! Second of all, isn't the teachers job to build the students, not scare them to death!  Personally, I think that tenure, where teachers are concerned, is not in the best interest of the children.  Stepping up on my soapbox for one sentence... If you don't like teaching kids, then don't be a teacher!  Stepping down now.  

Stuff: Grace has suddenly become a teenager. At Chili's a few days ago, I noticed Grace watching one of the really cute servers, Preston.  Every time he would walk by, her eyes followed him. Finally, he made eye-contact with her.  Having no fear, she said, "hi!" and I think he was a bit surprised. When he said hi back, she just beamed!  Oh dear.  I'm so not ready for this yet!  Doug has offered each of the babes $500 if they have virgin lips when they graduate.  We know a few other parents who've made that deal.  Only one has succeeded.  All three of the babes are determined. (Easy to say three years before you start dating.)  Quayd says that if he's ever asked or tempted to kiss a girl, he's gonna say, "HECK NO! I'm gonna get that $500 first!"  We'll see.

more stuff:  Quayd and Doug are going on the last BIG camp-out tonight.  They will be going on the fifty mile bike ride to complete his Cycling Merit Badge this weekend.  I'm thrilled because this is one of the hardest requirements to becoming an Eagle Scout.  He's getting there!  We have some amazing and wonderful men as leaders of our Young Men.  They are all determined to see these boys succeed as scouts! HAPPINESS!  Stott happens to be one of them, so we know that the job is going to be done well.  Stott doesn't do anything that he doesn't do amazingly wonderful!  (Not that I'm biased or anything.  We heart Stott!)

more more stuff: I made butter!  It wasn't that hard and it's delish.  A few days after Doug and I returned to Idaho after our honeymoon, I was driving through the ravine at the feedyards of the Corbridge Ranch.  I passed a truck on the old dirt road and was greeted by the driver, "Hellooooo!  You must be Dougie's new wife!?"  (I've shared this before, I believe.)  This was our favorite dairy farmer, Dave Neilsen.  After our visiting for a few minutes, he asked me if I liked milk.  Reluctantly, realizing that he was a dairy farmer, and feeling the offer coming on, I asked, "Real milk or cow milk?"  To this day, "real milk" is from grocery store and "cow" milk is from the cow. That summer, all we drank was "Cow" milk and it was the best milk in the world!  When we moved to Logan for Doug to attend USU, we missed that "cow milk".  Thirty-six years later, with Granolaman, he still misses it! After all these years, we have recently started to drink raw milk, fresh from a "real" cow again.  There is a cup of heavy cream on top of each half gallon.  Yesterday, I skimmed that cream off the top and made "real" butter.  And on my tasty fresh homemade wholewheat bread, it was nuh-uh-ummmmy.  It could have tasted awful and I'd still make it again after seeing how excited Doug was when he tried it!  I'm not the granola that Doug is, but hey, I've got cream, so why not, right?  Live and learn!  

BLOGIVERSARY:

Tomorrow is my blogiversary.  Tomorrow, I will begin my eighth year of blogging. WHODATHUNKIT?! I thought about a contest with a fun hand crafted prize but I'm knee deep in the middle of canning and lesson studying.  No time to pull out the Cricut.  SO. I'll just send a gift card to my favorite restaurant as a prize. (I'm guessing that if you've read the blog more than twice, you'll know where that is.)  I'm asking you to delurk for the day.  On Tuesday, 998 people read my blog.  I had four public comments and fourteen private emails. That's less than 2%.  You can post to me privately by clicking on the upper left column where it says Email Me.  OR. You can just click on Comment below.  Here's a few questions for you.  Just say hello or feel free to answer any or all of the following questions...

1. When did you start reading Sentiments?
2. Is there one "favorite" or "stand-out" entry that you remember?
3. What do you like about the blog? 
4. Is there something you'd like to see changed about it?  I once got an email telling me that someone hates it when I bullet with random ramblings.  I responded that they could just hit that little X in the upper right hand corner of their screen on days that they see the bullets.  I promised that I wouldn't mind at all.  ;)
5. How would you describe this blog...ex: a cooking blog?  a crafty blog?  a dorky blog?  you name it.  (I reserve the right to choose to publish your answers, so be kind.  ;) )
6. Should I cut back to blogging weekly or bi-weekly?
7. What's for dinner?

Thanks so much for visiting the blog!  As I've worked on this 2000-2001 journaling project, I've appreciated, more and more each day, the value of journaling.  The blog has been my journal for seven years now and it's been a fun interactive, rewarding way to do it.  I've made many friends along the way and am grateful for each and every comment and email, even though I'm terrible at responding to all of the mail!  So, thank you for being my cyber-friends!  Thank you for your encouraging words, your prayers, your attaboys, your good thoughts and support... and even comments when you don't like something!  Life is good!

Love, Sophia

It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be. 

 

back to school 2012

Our last day of summer was a blur of busyness.  We didn't even get close to an early bedtime...not that it would have mattered.  The kids were so wired, they couldn't sleep anyway.  We had haircuts, father's blessings, an interview at the church, hair to curl, a dog that needed a bath, and the list went on.  It was 9:45 before everyone was in bed, including Doug.  Not good for the man who gets up at 3:55. I turned all of the weekday alarms back on last night and ...drumroll... deleted the elementary school alarms because we need them No more!  ZJ is now officially a middle school student.

a few highlights and pix...

• The kids were up at 5:45 this morning and ready to roll!  ZJ was the most nervous about going to middle school.  After visiting with her new teachers yesterday afternoon, she witnessed Grace hugging all of her old teachers and noticed immediately that Grace had a great relationship with her previous teachers.  ZJ said, as we got back into the truck, "Gracie was the teacher's pet.  The teachers will never like me like they did her."  I had to reassure her that she and Grace are very different but that her new teachers will love her to smithereens!  I'm praying that she has a good year!  
• Grace has been counting hours for days and last night, she got a bit of a nervous stomach.  She said, "Mom, I've been so excited for school that I forgot to be scared.  It just hit me.  I'm going to junior high."  Grace will do fine, I'm certain.  She has that gift for gab and her kindness keeps her in her own little comfort zone wherever she goes.
• Quayd.  He's a boy.  He's in ninth grade.  He went to school.  (wink-wink)
• I think that Quayd was the only one who slept last night.  The girls, on the other hand, well...they are girls.
• Curls for both girls is fine when we are curling, but taking them both out in our limited morning schedule...well, let's just say we'll be rotating curly days between girls.
• Quayd's collar wasn't quite right.  When he turned to let me straighten it for him, his bowl of creamy wheat came right off the counter and onto his lap.  Quayd changed jeans and went with Plan B for the first day of school.  We did salvage the favorite shirt.
• Go-Go is in mourning.  I think he remembers that this is where the kids are gone alllllll day long.  Such a rough life for Go-Go.
• I called out the morning ritual of "Make Good Choices!  Be a rock!  You're awesome!", closed the door, had a split second of sadness and melancholy, walked twenty steps into the kitchen and sang out loud, the little commercial jingle, "Woo-hooo!   Woo-hooo-hoooo!"  

I'm seriously sad to see summer come to an end and watch them step into another new year of their lives.  I hate that they are gone eight hours a day experiencing things that are not always positive and uplifting.  BUT.  I will have faith that they are strong,  capturing what they have been taught and will continue to make good choices every day!  I love these kiddos!  I also love that freedom that comes to a mom when they kids do go back to school.  House clean and spotless for eight hours a day.  No interruptions and free to do anything you please.  It doesn't take long to get used to that!

Quayd - Freshman at North Cache.  No glasses!

Grace - Eighth Grade.  First Year at North Cache, wearing a little make-up this year.

ZJ ~ Sixth Grade ... first year in Middle School.  Deciding to maybe not be as much of a tomboy, as long as she can still be daddy's girl.

I love these kids more than life itself!  They are my sunshine every day!

ZJ has a friend, our new next door neighbor Miriam,  to ride the bus with this year.  She forgot about the goodbyes the second Miriam walked outside her door!

My day would not be complete without them turning back to sign "I love you."

One last turn around for Mom to take  their picture...out of focus, but, hey, I was in my jammies and trying to hurry because the bus was coming!

Life is good!

The difference between school and life
is that school teaches you lessons then gives you a test.
Life gives you a test and you learn the lessons.

the rest of the weekend.... a bit of rambling...

The meteor shower was too fun.  For as long as I can remember, we've watched from our backyard.  A few years, we've gone to the mountaintop just to watch for an hour and one year, we were at the ranch for girls camp.  That was the best because there were no lights for miles.  But, this year, we were talking with Doug's brother, Alan, and decided to make a party of it between our two families in his back yard.

Alan lives at the far north end of the valley, where there are very few lights nearby.  We went to bed at midnight and set our alarms for 1:55AM to arrive at Alan and Jill's at about 2:20.  They had tarp layed out in their north forty with cots and air mattresses waiting.  We all made our way up the hill and got situated to enjoy three fine hours of shooting stars.  At one point, we saw seven in ten seconds.  The rest of the night, we never went longer than two minutes without seeing one, but usually, it was within 10 to 20 seconds.  Lots of "oooohs!" and "aaaahhs"!  

I'd made pumpkin bars for latenight/early morning treats.  We all were wrapped up in blankets because the later/earlier it got, the colder it got.  Some dozed in and out.  A few of us gabbed non-stop.  Lots of laughs, loads of fun.  

One of the biggest laughs of the night was when I realized that Quayd had fallen asleep.   (Remember that he'd only been home from Moab for hours.)  It was close to 4AM.  Noticing his snoring, I mentioned, "Oh, I forgot to tell Quayd that the Burns' are in town and will mostlikely be in church tomorrow."  I said the name Burns and Quayd was sitting up at attention, "WHAT!?!?!!?!?!?!?!?  WHEN!?!!?!?!?!?!?!?!  WHY!?!?!?!?!?!??!!?"  We all busted out laughing.  The Burns were an awesome family who moved at the beginning of summer to Tennessee.  Aaron, the dad is one of Quayd's heroes.  The mom, Ginn, is one of his favorite ladies on earth and the girls... all six of them... drop dead gorgeous... well, let's just say that Quayd has big plans for after his mission!  We teased and laughed all the rest of the night over his response. He's "alertness" lasted another hour before he was out again.  (He was beaming when they were in the chapel for church!)

After we'd all settled down and we were all getting pretty tired, around 5:30AM, I started thinking about the goat that Alan and Jill used to have.  A few years ago, they woke up and found the leash, the collar and some bones.  A mountainlion had had a tasty midnight snack.  I asked Alan, "When's your last cougar sighting up here?"  It had been over a year.  But, from that moment on, Grace's eyes were wide open.  WIDE open.  I had frozen feet and my knees were screaming. I'd left my purse with my meds on the counter at home, so, Doug said it was time to load up. It was getting close to daylight anyway.  When we got into the car, Grace had a few tears and said that she was glad we were heading home because after the cougar conversation, she was nervous. I reminded her that if Dad and Uncle Alan were both comfortable with us there, then we could always know that we were fine.   (I, obviously, wasn't thinking about Doug and the rope in the Colorado River.  see yesterday's post.)  

It was a great time.  We decided that next year, we'll all just plan to be at the ranch for the meteor shower! Fun stuff!!!  A new summer highlight, indeed, to look forward to!  ANYTHING, according to my children, is fun when Uncle Alan is involved!

We got home and went straight to sleep, trying to ignore the door knocking neighbor children and my brother's cellphone calls until about 11, when we got up for church.   AND YES, we did stay awake through church!

Sacrament Meeting was unique, to say the least.  We always arrive early, so that Quayd can help prepare the sacrament,  and were seated in our usual third row, front and center.  I was reading and never really paid attention to anything else until the meeting began.  I heard a familiar voice and looked up to see Kim Dodge, our old Bishop from ten years ago, welcoming everyone to Sacrament Meeting.  Remember, I'd not slept all night.  I literally, questioned myself..."Am I dreaming this or is this real?"  It took me a sec, indeed!  Kim began by excusing the Bishop, who is having back trouble and both of his counselors, who were out of town. I've been a member of the LDS Church for 41 years and have never seen a Sunday when all three members of the bishopric were absent.  Protocol is that the High Priest Group Leader, then, steps in.  A member of the Stake Presidency and High Council were there, as well.  But, Kim picked up, as though he had never not been the bishop in the past ten years.  It brought tears to my eyes.  I love the organization of the church.  I also loved the warm feeling of this good man and his sense of humor making us all comfortable in the absence of our current leaders.  AWESOME!!!

Other news...

• Kelly is really trying hard to land on her feet again. She's happier. She looks healthier than she has been in years.  She smiles! She's enjoying Zaylee more and more. She's trying to improve her life and trying to move on. It's not been easy. Her past will haunt her for a long time, but we keep encouraging her to look forward from here on out.  She's doing better and better each day. Doug and I both feel that this is the happiest we've seen Kelly since she was a little girl. It's a good thing.  A very, very good thing.  Each time she leaves the house, the babes all say, "Wow, Kelly is really changing, isn't she?  Do you think she's gonna keep making good choices?"  They pray for her every day. Zaylee is adjusting and seems to be much happier too!  This makes this mama and grammie very happy!
• As I type, there are green beans in the pressure canner.  Connie let us pick beans from her garden.  TONS of beans.  20 quarts and 18 pints today.  More in a few.  HAPPINESS!  The harvest is upon us!  This is one of my favorite times of the year!
• Today, I'll be registering my son as a freshman in high school in the morning!  Say it isn't so!!  He's so not excited!  But, Grace's back to school enthusiasm is enough for all three of the kids!
• I haven't mentioned it, but I have a new calling.  I was sustained a few weeks ago but won't begin for another week or two.  I'm now serving in our ward as the Gospel Essentials teacher.  This is an adult Sunday School class, where the basics of the gospel are taught.  I'm excited about it.  The class will be small.  I've taught it three other times before in other wards and loved it!  The funniest thing was when Brother Thayne called me and I asked when I'd begin, he said, "Why don't you discuss that with President Corbridge."  I sat there thinking, "President Corbridge?  There's another Corbridge in the ward?  Corbridge?"  DING!!! Hello!  I'm married to the Sunday School President!  I just don't call normally call him President!  A blonde moment for me!
• Life is good!  With green beans and daughters who are trying to improve their lives and kids who are going back to school, life is good!!!

The trick is to enjoy life.
Don't wish away your days,
waiting for better ones ahead.

Marjorie Pay Hinckley

my two guys...their most excellent adventure

It was an awesome "almost" end of summer weekend.  I can't believe that school is less than two weeks away! I'm NOT ready!!!  Well, we are ready, as far as clothes go.  But, we're not ready to get up at 5:55 or to go to bed on schedule or to do homework every day or or or....  I do love having the kids at home all summer long!  It was a great weekend.  Today, I'm just sharing a bit about Doug and Quayd's trip to the Canyonlands.  I'll have to share the rest of the weekend tomorrow.  The meteor shower, our Sunday, it was so dang awesome!  Life really is good!

ANyway, back to the weekend... Doug and Quayd got home from Moab on Saturday evening.  We were one happy family reuniting, but I was thrilled that Doug and Quayd had this father/son experience of a lifetime.  They loved every minute of it and although they were along with other boys and leaders, it sounded to me that they just really had some great time together alone, as well.  I asked Quayd what the best part of the trip was and without a thought, he said, "EVERYTHING!!!!"  Doug said that Quayd loved sleeping outside the tent under the stars alone.  (He always opts to go "tentless", if possible.)  I think that the only thing they didn't love was the dehydrated foods they had to eat.  Quayd was grateful for the jerky and treats I'd packed for him!  

They made one last stop on the way home at Brick Oven for pizza.  They came in just grinning from ear to ear, talking up a storm about every little detail...some of which, this mother would have been better off not hearing about.  

...Like the story about Doug and Quayd staying at camp alone while the other guys were "off doing their thing".  They got hot and decided to test out the waters...literally...of the Colorado River.  Doug said that no one had dared to go into the water because it was pretty murky and they had no way of knowing how deep it is.  Quayd, being a great swimmer, and Doug being very strong, decided that Quayd would hold on to a rope and get in to see if it was deep enough to enjoy but still shallow enough to cool off, while Doug held the rope on the shore.  (Ruby, my mother, said, "QUAYD!!!  NEXT TIME LET YOUR DAD GET INTO THE WATER!")  It did make sense that he'd just inch in with Doug holding onto him safely.  And they were pleasantly surprised to find that the water was only two feet deep, just muddy enough to not be able to see 8 inches into it.  They ended up swimming all the way across the river several times because the water never did get more than chest deep.  I would have died if I'd have been there to witness this adventure.  No, wait.  If I'd have been there, this adventure would not have happened!

Doug and Quayd can't stop talking about going back together as a family.  I like the idea of swimming in the "now that we know it's a" shallow river.  However, I don't ever see myself going there in August unless we get a trailer with A/C!  I'm thinking late fall or early spring would be fine!  Here's some more pix of their fun...Thanks to friend, Adam, for letting me download his memory card!  I've not downloaded Quayd's from his iTouch yet.

Doug and Quayd overlooking Double Arch

Standing under Double Arch.  Doug said they got there just before it got crowded.  I was surprised to see so many people there because when you see these pix on calendars and posters, there's never a soul around.  Nor on the Utah license plates.  Go figure.  ;)

Quayd climbing out of some rocks at Double Arch.  I see this picture and all I think is "What if there were snakes in that nook?"

Does Doug look like he's enjoying himself or what?!

Here's Quayd standing in front of Balance Rock.  Did he change shirts at all?  ;)

This is breathtaking!  I see why they were so amazed!  My stomach turned a bit to see them standing so close to the edge.  Overprotective Mother speaking, I know!

As the guys were telling us their stories, I noticed that they were a little evasive about one fact... I asked what the other guys were doing while they swam the river.  They didn't seem to anxious to tell me, but after some questioning, I learned that the other boys had opted to go and see a movie in town.  Doug said that it had been debated for two days.  A younger leader (about 24-ish) had really wanted to go and see the movie.  The boys all followed that lead.  (Doug is not a leader in our Young Mens organization. He was there as a chaperone/guest, so he would never have interfered with their choices.)  When the decision to go was made, Quayd said that he'd pass.  He told me, "I knew that you'd not be amused if I chose to go to [that movie], Mom cuz  I've heard you say that it was "dark".  I didn't want to disappoint you."  (Doug told me later that he would have probably gone, but, when Quayd chose not to, he gladly stayed behind.)

We teach the kids constantly, to look for things that are positive, uplifting and "of good report".  We also encourage them to be strong enough to say no, if they are uncomfortable or don't want to do something...even if it's the "cool" thing to do at the moment.  It would have been very easy to just go with the group.  I was more than pleased to know that Quayd, even though he'd loved to have seen the movie, chose not to.  He has probably seen worst movies...he's watched Lost and all of the Marvel superhero movies.  I'm not judging here.  Seeing the movie wasn't that big of a deal for 14-15 year old boys.  BUT. My own opinion, as a mother...it wasn't the most appropriate Young Men's activity and parental consent from all of the parents in advance would have been nice too.  Suffice it to say that this was a proud mama moment, indeed.  Our boy, though far from perfect, (I would be remiss to not mention the fact that he was in deep doggy doo-doo earlier tonight for picking on one of his sisters!),  he is trying very hard to "make good choices"!  I heart him!

What a gift to have such an awesome son and for him to have such an amazing dad.  I honestly don't know who had the better time, Doug watching Quayd discovering the beauty of the earth or Quayd having his Dad/best friend there to do it with him!  I adore these two men! Life is good!

He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.  

two funnies and a sentiment

On Sunday before church, Liza called.  She wasn't feeling well and had left church early.  She shared her feelings about their awesome testimony meeting.  We talked for quite a bit until I told her that I needed to shower and get ready for our church meetings.  We said goodbye.  I laid my iPhone down in the entryway, went into the bathroom.  Ten minutes later, I opened the bathroom door and called out to Doug, "Oh!  I forgot to tell Liza about...."  At which point, I heard Liza respond, "What about ....?"  I freaked!  That's twice in the past two months that I've thought Liza was standing in the room to surprise me!  I'd not hung up the phone and she'd stayed on listening to her dad and ZJ.  We had a good laugh over it.

I've been working on a project for the past couple of days.  I started this project in January 2011.  It was an overwhelming task and I worked on it a few weeks, then called it quits for the time being.  The project was to go back through 46,000 email messages in a Yahoo LDS Scrapbooking Email group that I'd started and pull out all of the messages that I'd written as journal entries and compile them neatly together.  This is a huge undertaking.  

After Doug came in from work yesterday, I mentioned something that I'd just read from an old journal entry that had happened with Kelly and her first husband.  I commented to Doug that we'd prayed and prayed so hard for some specifics at that time, but they never happened.  We just couldn't see the sense in them not happening.  It would have been the obvious better thing at the time.  At that point, I said, "But. Now, looking back, it's so clear why things didn't happen that way.  And what a gift.  If things had have gonethat way, we wouldn't even have ZJ."  

ZJ overheard this conversation and said, "What do you mean, Mom?"  I explained that she wouldn't have been born into our family.  She said, "Oh, no!  If I wasn't born in this family, I might be Helga instead!"  We all just busted out laughing.  She's a character!

This past few days, I've picked up where I left off on the task.  I'm working on June of 2000 now.  A year and a half complete.  It's amazing what I've read.  Movies that I can't remember seeing, events that I'd totally forgotten, conversations that came clearly to mind once prompted but that hadn't been thought of in over a decade.  This time period was two years before the babes entered our lives permanently.  The freedom I had. The lifestyle we were living.  It was just a different world!  I was working two jobs, managing the office and working at the Juniper Inn Restaurant and for the scrapbooking magazine, plus teaching scrapbooking classes across the country.  Liza was at home, but independent as could be.  Doug had a different job.   SOOOOOOO different than where we are today, raising three children on one income. Life was totally different!  I wouldn't have it any other way today, but it was different!

It's amazing to me to see how many of our hopes and dreams today are not what they were at all those days... how many prayers were answered completely different than what we were hoping for.  And all that we've gone through this past twelve years with Kelly... we'd have never dreamed or even believed it if we'd have been told.  Yet, it's so blatantly obvious that Heavenly Father knew exactly what he had planned in our futures, what would help us grow and be better for it, what needed to take place for things to continue to progress in our behalf.

There were times, as I read back, that I was stunned as they were happening and wondered how will we survive this or that?  Yet, we always did.  

SO.  Here's the thing... 

    A.  Keep a journal!  Even if you don't write every conversation, thought or event that happens...write down the things that matter.  It's amazing what we forget.  It's a gift to be able to remember.  Even if it's just to write notes on your calendar, write things down!

    B.  Recognize that sometimes unanswered prayers are the greatest gift we can be given!  You may not be able to see it now, but, you will someday!

    C.  Recognize that there is a plan... an eternal plan... keep that eternal perspective!  Looking at the big picture now may simplify decision making, problem solving, even handling the "little things".  And they are all little things.

    D.  Enjoy the journey!  Whatever it may be, enjoy it!  Looking back just ten years ago, what a ride we've had.  How things change...on a day to day basis and we are so close to the forest that we can't even see the trees.  So, enjoy it while we're right in the middle of it all before it's history!

Enough said!  Life is so dang good!!!!!

Sometimes good things fall apart so that better things can fall together.

brothers

Before the big family reunion yesterday, we attended the baptism of our grandson, Jason.  It was a proud moment for us all. The highlight of seeing Jason anytime is watching these two "brothers" together.   Although Jason was adopted shortly after his birth, and he and Quayd have only gotten to know each other over the past two years, these two boys share a special bond.  

It was interesting to hear how many people think that they have the same smile, the same eyes, that they look alike. They may bear different last names, but they are definitely brothers.  Jason definitely looks like the girls because of the darker skin and hair, but Quayd loved hearing that he and his little brother look alike too.

I always have to laugh when this topic of brothers and sisters come up.  And people ask Doug and I about it often.  I'll take a second to mention it here and now.  The babes have been with us since November 2, 2001.  ZJ was nine months old, Gracie was two and a half, Quayd had turned four two weeks before they came.  We are their only parents in their eyes.  The girls have no memories of their life before and Quayd's very few memories are very upsetting to him.  They do not even like to talk about life before "us as a family". NOTHING is more disturbing to the kids or Doug and I than when people refer to them as our grandchildren!  HOWEVER, we all recognized that they have a birth father, that Kelly was their birth mother who the babes only see as their big sister today, that they recognized that they have five other half-siblings who have other families and siblings, that they accept all of this as it is... because it's been their life since the beginning.  It isn't strange or confusing to them.  It's their norm.  We are a unique family that has been blessed with "other families".  Plain and simple.   No confusion to us at all. How lucky are we to have adopted three other amazing families to be a part of our own!?  Enough said about that.

Doug and I do feel so blessed that we get to be a part of our grandson's life.  AND, as mentioned, one of the biggest blessings that comes with that is that our own family is enlarged by Jason's family.  Dave and Katie are just two amazing people who we adore.  Jason's adorable little sisters have to be two of the cutest little girls we've ever known.  We  are truly blessed to be included in their lives!

The baptism was sweet and personal.  I loved seeing Jason and his dad in the baptismal font together.  It brought many tears.  Following the baptism, the two missionaries shared their thoughts about the Holy Ghost.  In the LDS faith, one little "symbol" that children are taught very young is CTR, meaning, "Choose the Right".  This missionary gave a new meaning to CTR when he explained that the Holy Ghost helps us CTR ~ He is a Comforter, a Teacher and He helps us Remember.  Clever!  Followed by the talk, Jason's aunt sang the most beautiful song, written by her cousin about the Savior.  When she was done singing, Grace leaned over and said, "Mom, that is what the Holy Ghost feels like!"  It was beautiful.  A very special occasion indeed!

We loved the short time that we had together with Jason and his family.  We didn't get to stay for the gathering afterward because we had to race home for our Corbridge Family Reunion.  But, the baptism was a perfect start to a great day!  

 

Family Reunion... the best yet!

It was our favorite weekend of the year...the Corbridge Reunion at the family ranch in Idaho.  A perfect getaway filled with all of the traditional events and wonderful visits with some of the most amazing people in my world!  Loved every second of it!  It was HOT!  Hotter than I recall in years.  But, that was all good because we were together. Here's a recap in pictures...

The traditional Hayride, for the kids, is always the highlight of the reunion.  Each year, a different theme, always filled with adventure, lots and LOTS of laughs and great time visiting along the way.  That's Grace and Quayd hanging on to the backend of the trailer.  Because of my knees, we opted to drive behind in the Expedition, which gave me a whole new vantage point with the camera.

This year, a big, ugly, but well-dressed, troll kidnapped one of the children during dinner.  We loaded up on the wagons and met super-heroes along the way who would try to save her.  Even the troop of Boy Scouts had no luck.  But, when "long lost cousin Billy-Bob" arrived, the cheers could be heard across the ranch.   Billy-Bob (Doug's cousin, Kathy's husband, Mitch) has become everyone's favorite cuzzin' over the years and the reunion isn't complete until he shows up.   Although you'd never know it from his Billy-Bob get-up, Mitch is one of the most handsome men I've ever known!  And you'd also never guess him to be such a quick-witted ham!  

After all the attempts from all of the super-heroes, including one very funny mexican super-hero who's super-power was heating up a frozen burrito in 90 seconds in the microwave, Billy Bob tamed the Troll right to sleep while brushing his beard and using some jumper cables.  Go figure!  

At one point on the hayride, I looked ahead and saw Grace hanging out with teenage cousins.  AND.  It hit me.  Hard.  She's not  little girl anymore.   Grace didn't play the little kid games this year.  She followed the teenagers around, played with the teenage boy cousins, spent time with her favorite cousin, Jocelyn, who's 23.   She has really grown up this past few months.  One of my favorite moments of the reunion was Grace waking up and talking about the family meeting the night before.  At the  evening meeting, all of those who have served as LDS missionaries and returned from all corners of the earth, report to the family of their experiences and then stories of the Corbridge heritage are told, each with many values to be learned.  Grace said, "That's not just the best, but it's the most important part of the reunion!"  It was a proud mamma moment!

One of Quayd's goals for the weekend was to get in some service hours for one of his Scouting merit badges.  He was able to do about four hours of service, helping with some unwanted trees.  On the way up, we talked about the fact that Corbridges don't just stand back and watch, we say, "What can I do to help!?" and we run to do it!  He captured that and reported to me often of what he was doing to help. No brag, just fact! I love this boy!

 
Following the hayride and treats, we had the Family Meeting.  As mentioned, this is the highlight of the Reunion for those that are old enough to "get it".  The missionary reports and updates on any serving in the military are always fun.  And the stories of the Corbridge Heritage are always faith-filled, inspiring and are great reminders that we have come from strong and deep roots of good, faithful people who've sacrificed much for us to be where we are today.  

This year, the main speakers for the evening were Kirk, Lara and their son, JC, who I have mentioned several times over the past year.  JC was in a roadside explosion in Afghanistan last July.  While others were killed in this explosion, JC's life was spared.  He's been through more than anyone should have to this past year, recovering from facial fractures and multiple leg injuries.  On the same day that I had my knees operated on, June 26th, JC had his leg amputated, eight inches below the knee.  After hearing of his past year, I found myself feeling guilty for whining about my minor knee surgeries...even if JC is getting around better than me already!  His new prosthetics will be available in a few weeks.  His attitude is remarkable!

This meeting always leaves me more  grateful that I was able to be "adopted" through marriage into such a wonderful heritage.  I do love the Corbridges.  

One of my favorite moments of the reunion was Grace waking up and talking about the family meeting the night before.  At the  evening meeting, all of those who have served as LDS missionaries and returned from all corners of the earth, report to the family of their experiences and then stories of the Corbridge heritage are told, each with many values to be learned.  Grace said, "That's not just the best, but it's the most important part of the reunion!"  It was a proud mamma moment!

Here's favorite niece, Jocelyn, reporting about her spanish speaking mission to Texas.

Of the eleven children in Doug's dad's family, Aunt Lauraine, Aunt Mollie and Aunt Lucille are still with us.  These three women are my heroes in life.  They have more personality than anyone I've ever known!  They always make everyone feel like they are the most special person on earth!  Whenever I've been around them, I ponder for days what they were taught as children that made them so gracious and positive about everything in life.  I am always in awe of how strong and yet poised they are, and how they are absolutely hysterical to be around.  Three sisters, three peas in a pod.  I adore these women!  I want to be just like them when I grow up!

It was a late night of fun and games for the teens and some good laughs with Doug's brother, Alan and his wife, Jill, while cleaning up the pots and pans from the big dinner we'd prepared earlier for 130 people.  We finally called it a night well after midnight and went to bed in our trailer.  The kids watched Mirror, Mirror until we were all falling asleep.  But, they were up bright and early, ready to play!   Quayd and ZJ spent much of the day on horses and Grace played in the river with the other "big girls".

Here's Quayd, like the Old Spice guy. "I'm on a horse."  He's such a man!   (Quayd, that is.  Well, him and the Old Spice Guy.  hee-hee.wink-wink.)

And after ZJ had saved her money to buy herself a white and pink cowgirl hat.  But, the wind kept her from wearing it while she was riding.  So, here's Cowgirl Zeej, minus the hat. By the way, ZJ has asked for a horse for Christmas.  And that we buy the lot across the street to keep it on.  

 
 Here's just a shot of the ranch on Saturday afternoon.  What you can't see is the triathlon taking place or the kids all swimming in the river or the games being played on the lawns or the grown-ups just connecting in every direction.  I have to note that my favorite thing about the Corbridge Reunion each year is that no matter who you are talking with or what the subject, it always turns into a gospel discussion or something uplifting.  I love the example of Doug's aunts, uncles and cousins.  They are a magnificent group of people, always inspiring me to be a better person!

And my favorite shot of the weekend...as always, an every day event at the ranch... a beautiful sunset.

As mentioned, I didn't get around a lot while up at the ranch.  So, not one photo of Doug, who was usually by my side if I was up and about.  Not one photo of myself, thankfully!   It was an amazing weekend, as always.

We got home Saturday evening about 7PM.  By the time that the kids and Doug had unloaded and put things away, then got into the pool for a cool off and bedtime, I had my lesson for Relief Society all set to go.  BUT.  Something did not feel right.    I'd posted on Facebook that we were home and that the pool was calling my name, even though there was laundry and a lesson to polish.  I'd just barely mentioned to Doug that I was feeling funny about the lesson when the phone rang.  It was RaeAnne, who I'm subbing for, who said, "Sophia, I did say that you were teaching in August, right?"  I was dying!  THAT was what didn't feel right, I'm guessing.

 The lesson is prepared and ready to teach.  But, I was a month ahead of schedule.  We'd come home from the ranch a day early so that I could teach, but it's not till next month!  As I told RaeAnne, this next month has potential for some serious drama with all that Kelly has on her plate over the next few weeks, so it's great that I'm prepared and ready to teach, just in case the drama takes over.  AND SO, Doug and I made the best of things.  We got the kids to bed and took a latenight dip in the pool alone, my first time back in since the surgery, our first time all summer.  Happiness!  When life gives lemons, right?

It was a great weekend.  Perfect, even.  Enough said!

A family is a little world created by love.

long weekend...long story

I know, as I've said before, that some may not agree when I share our dirty laundry, but I believe that over the past several years of daily blogging, many have related and benefited from knowing that they are not alone in their trials and challenges and so I'm happy to share.  Hence... another one of "those" entries. 

Well, at this point, it's obvious that Zaylee is home!  Last week was an absolute time bomb waiting to go off, which was why I couldn't even say what was going on.  Without many many details, Kelly arrived in Arkansas and for the first day, decided that she was going to stay and that she and Kevin were going to work things out. Before the week was over, they were mortal enemies again, fighting over every "thing" that they own, over Zaylee, over every thing imaginable and Kelly was determined that this marriage is over, the relationship is history and to bring Zaylee home with her.  I was quite proud of her decision...ten years late, but just the same.

Kelly has been making every good choice possible since her little "episode" a few months ago. She still has her upcoming sentencing/court appearance and has been trying her hardest.  She's cleared her phone of everyone negative in her life, she's avoided all people she's supposed to and she's been drug free.  We're praying that this was her "rock bottom".

On Thursday evening, after several sobbing calls from Kelly and hearing Zaylee's stress from it all, we set a plan in action to get her home.  Kelly's paycheck, which had been sent to Arkansas was lost in the mail.  It was returned today here to her employer.  So, on this phone call Thursday evening, she had no gas and no money for the first ten miles, let alone the whole 2500 mile trip.  Zaylee was a wreck on the phone to me and I had enough.  This could not go on one more day and there was no time to wait for money to be mailed, checks to be found or anything else.

Before the night was over, thanks to our wonderful stake president, an amazing stake president in Arkansas and a Bishop in the area of Arkansas (who happened to have pulled into Utah (45 minutes from us) that very afternoon for a family vacation, we were able to get Kelly and Zaylee out of Arkansas and safely home.  The Bishop's counselor took care of safely getting Kelly, Zaylee and Zaylee's things out of town the next morning, along with food for the trip and a Debit Card for gas on their way.

 Kelly's friend was the designated driver since Kelly's license was suspended last month.  A good decision on her part, she fought to find someone who would drive her so that she didn't have to make this trip alone with no license.  This driver had taken her out, waited for the lost paycheck situation to resolve and given up, deciding to hitchhike home that morning.  Later in the afternoon, he returned, just in time for plans to begin for them to drive home.

The drive to Arkansas took 17 hours.  The return trip took 39 hours.  Kelly's car outlet was not working.  Her only means of charging her cellphone, was in gas station public bathrooms.  So, she had no GPS and couldn't check her texted driving directions from me.  Each time they'd stop, she'd call me from a public bathroom while charging her phone for five minutes at a time.  It would work one minute while on the road.  This wouldn't have been that big of an issue BUT... her driver/friend, somehow, had a difficult time reading signs. She'd wake up and they were lost every time!  They went north to St. Louis and then south to Wichita then further south, hours past Oklahoma City before they headed north to get into Denver.  It was awful, not knowing where they were or which way they were headed.  Although she was grateful for the friend who drove, she waas beyond frustrated!  I worried that they'd be in Mexico or Canada before they got here! Not knowing where they were or where they were headed each time left us just wondering and having NO idea when they'd arrive.  Poor Zaylee in a car seat for all those hours!

When Kelly arrived in Denver,having bought four extra tanks of gas with the detours,  she had $58 left and we knew that it would take two more tanks to get home.  They filled the tank and drove on to SLC.  Knowing that they wouldn't make it home, I called friend Katie, who willingly sent her kind husband, Ryan, to meet them at a service station just north of Bountiful (North of SLC).  Ryan climbed out of bed at 4:15 in the morning, with the text message "heads up, they're here" and filled their tank one last time for the last 90 miles of the trip. We'd thought that this would take place around midnight, but the driver had to pull over and sleep some along the side of the road, which meant they had no way of letting us know.  NIGHTMARE!!! BUT....Aren't good friends amazing!!!?!?  I'll be eternally indebted to Katie and Ryan for their help!

My favorite thing of the whole entire nightmare of a week...between the waiting, the wondering, the worrying... was Zaylee's question on the phone as they drove home that first day.   Kelly called from Timbuktu and put Zaylee on the phone. It was 5ish in the morning here.  Zaylee asked, "Gwammie, what are you doin?"  I told her that I was in bed.  She said, "Gwammie!  It's morning!"  I told her that I was really sleepy and needed a little nap.  She said, "Are you makin' cookies, Gwammie?!"  I loved that she associated and remembered our cooking baking together everytime she comes to my home.  She's grown up quite a bit over the past three months, but her speech is the most noticable difference.  And yes, we (well, Gracie did) baked cookies today!

Kelly and Zaylee pulled in at 6:15 in the morning.  Zaylee was wide awake and more than ready to be out of that carseat.  She hugged us all and hugged long and tight.  ZJ and Zaylee were not apart for two seconds since they arrived.  Zeej bathed her immediately and dressed her, played with her all day long and tucked her in at night.  Zaylee was so excited to go to church again.  Then she fell asleep in Primary.  Imagine that?!  (I made it to church myself for Sacrament Meeting and then paid the price for sitting in the pew that 90 minutes.  But, it was great to be back to church!  And even greater to have Zaylee and Kelly who asked if she could go with us.  Today, ZJ and Zaylee played, swam in the pool, ran on the slip and slide and read together until Zaylee fell asleep at naptime.  Two very happy best friends.

We have had a pleasant time together with Kelly since she got home.  She's been helpful in the kitchen and considerate of the fact that I'm barely hobbling around home.   Today, Denise ran her around town to do her errands and prepare for the next chapter of life.  Without details, there is rumor that Kevin has convinced someone to pay his way back to Utah.  Hence, the drama begins.  I'm not at liberty to say what's next.  But.   There will be many prayers said that this can be resolved as peaceable as possible for Zaylee's sake.  And I'm one determined mother to see that this baby NOT be involved in their nightmare for one more second!

It's so wonderful to have them home. Zaylee is being a little pill.  It's quite apparent that she's not been disciplined for three months and that she's been through a lot.  She's emotional, unruly and loud.  And we don't do that at Grammie's house.  She's remembering that quickly.  There's lots of adjustments to be considered here.  The trouble is not over.  We are certain of that.  We're praying that that Kelly will continue on this new path.  The kids keep quoting, "The choices we make today determine our happiness tomorrow." They pray right in front of her that "Kelly will make good choices."  She seems brighter eyed and more hopeful than she ever has before.  Today, she even acknowledged that our not taking her calls while she was in jail or bailing her out was a good thing.  It gave her time to get her head clear, which is what we were hoping for.  We've had good talks.  I shared several of my favorite quotes with her tonight after a discussion.  She captured one.  I'm just praying that she remembers it. We have been tremendously blessed over this past week.  It's been stressful and challenging and even frustrating.  But, we've been blessed by good friends, good people and many, many tender mercies!  Life is good.

no blue light special

Stitches out.  Steri-tape on.  The doctor informs me that having both knees is the reason the recovery is prolonged.  One or the other is weight-bearing, so it's going to take twice as long.  Okey dokey then. Couldawouldashoulda...deep sigh.  The pool is still a week away, unfortunately.  I may wait till Saturday! ;) After seeing the doctor, I talked with Mom on the phone and she invited me to lunch!  Chili's!  First time in two weeks! Happiness! 

Now, I have to share my little nightmare with DirecTV.  I know I've mentioned but... bear with me...  I've had no local stations for a week now.  I've got the Bundle package through Century Link and I am not their happiest customer.  In the past week, I've been told by eight different people, eight different problems/solutions... We have no local stations because of the fires in the mountains twice.  We needed to have our phone line connected, after five years of not having it connected, but now it's suddenly necessary. We just need to reset the machine.  That didn't work.  We need a tech come out to repair it but it would take 10-12 days.  And finally, after all that... they sent me a new machine that was to arrive in two days.  It finally arrived this afternoon on Day 4.  And.   It doesn't work.  The blue power light will not come on.  At all.  

AND SO.  Now, I'm on a special customer program where I get a direct line into the Case management supervisor.  He called me immediately after spending one full hour with a supervisor (after waiting 32 minute for him to get on the line).  He has informed me that because this machine didn't work, they'll send me a technician.  THIS SATURDAY!!!  Five days from now.  They could FedEx a new machine to me in two, but they want to send out a tech.  SERIOUSLY?  Now, DishNet told me that they could be here day after tomorrow with all new equipment and better programming for $30 less a month, but it goes up after the first year to more than $30 a month than what I'm paying.  So, it evens out in the bank.  I'm so not amused.  I asked the guy to just send me another machine.  I could have it here by Wednesday.  NO, the computers won't allow that.  They have, however, agreed to credit me for this month's service and take off $16 a month for the next twelve months.  That's nice.  But.  

Eventually, they'll get it fixed and they do apologize.

Now, the reason that I share all these details...  I was talking with the supervisor, Chris, for an hour.  He thanked me for my patience and understanding several times.  Finally, I said to him, "What good would yelling at you do?  It's not your fault."  He said that usually, by the time the customer gets to him, they are pretty fired up and he gets the royal screaming treatment 99% of the time.  I don't get that.  He didn't break my machine.  He didn't give me eight different solutions, none of which worked.  The guy is just going to work each day and doing his job.  WHY yell at him?

Which brings me to my sentiment today.  Seriously, why shoot the messenger?  Remember that most people are genuinely well intended.   Most offenses are not intended, even though sometimes the circumstances may indicate otherwise.  Don't be on the defense.   You catch more bees with honey.  Patience is a virtue...  All those cliches...  I've learned in my old ripe age of 53 years that they are true. I may not be getting my service until Saturday (and I'll believe that when I see it, at this point).  BUT, I'm 200% convinced that it wouldn't have been any faster...actually, I'm certain that they wouldn't have tried near as hard to satisfy the customer, if I'd have screamed and yelled and sworn at them.  Just saying.

eta:  Just found this on Pinterest, after I posted....

Patience - the gift of being able to see past the emotion. 

be prepared!

It's 3:01AM and I can't sleep.  I went to bed, got up, went back and got up again. Ugh.  Especially when all I can think of is food!  I am going to teach Gracie to make my southern style macaroni salad in the morning to take to Doug's brother, Danny and his wife,Alene's family gathering for the Fireworks tonight.  Grace will be thrilled!  Yesterday, she did laundry without my asking.  Four loads.  She was so proud! I made a big fuss to her dad about it and she just beamed!  I'll just sit and watch and supervise the cooking today and give her every bit of the credit!

Please know that the below entry is written tongue in cheek!  I'm being silly, sarcastic and serious all at the same time because...you know... you get punchy at 3 in the morning!!  

Physical therapy is the reason I'm awake, I'm certain.  It hurt and I had my "cranky" on.  We arrived at the hospital just in time for Doug to drop me off at the revolving doors.  However, a woman in a brand new Escalade thought she was special enough to park right in the drive through, that's designated for patient loading and unloading, taking up her half in the middle of both lanes, allowing no one to pass her on either side or go anywhere.  All the while... she wasn't dropping off OR picking up, but talking to some quite capable of walking anywhere in the parking lot man with NO regard to the several cars waiting behind her!   Can you feel my cranky?  So.  Doug, being polite and kind Doug just backed up and parked as close as he could let me off.  I walked into the lobby to register for therapy while he parked the car and had decided that if I had to walk one more step (being that the furthest I'd walked in the past week was to my kitchen counter), I had already had enough physical therapy already!  My favorite line from Goldie Hawn's "Overboard", "Listen to me medical people!!!" I'm on crutches!

After Doug got the paperwork done, we were escorted another 100 feet to the physical therapy room.  I was definitely "therapied out" before I began!  We were instructed to fill out five pages of paperwork and then wait on a "bed".  After 28 minutes of being left completely unattended or unspoken to, Doug was even getting cranky and said, "Ya want me to whistle, Babe?"  We're talking the cattle call whistle.  It's not appropriate anywhere but at the ranch. Most definitely not inside the hospital.  I insisted, "No, we'll wait 2 more minutes and then we are outta here.  I've done enough "therapy" for one day, as it is."  DOUBLE CRANKY!

ONE minute later, Nathan approached us and he got the "Ruby" treatment from me... I wasn't amused at our wait, I wasn't amused at being there in the first place and I hurt!  This is so NOT me.  I immediately could see that poor Nathan was thinking to himself, "Self, you had to get her as your last patient of the day, didn't ya?!?!"  I immediately apologized and said, "I'm not usually cranky.  I'll be nice now."  And he put me to work.  For 1 hour and 40 minutes.  One almost passing out, losing all color, the room spinning and let's just lie here a while, then a bunch of exercises, some electrical shocker thingees on my thighs and then an ice wrap that felt like a frozen blood pressure cuff tightening then loosening on my legs from the thighs down to my ankles.  FINALLY, it was over!  And he said, "We'll see ya next Monday!"  My thoughts were, "You wish!" but I smiled and thanked him before our goodbyes.

As Doug pulled the Expedition up to the revolving doors, he offered to take me to Chili's for dinner.  After all that, I said, shocker, "Babe, can you just take me home?"  And that he did.

Over the past few months, between Gracie's broken finger, ZJ's mysterious stomach issues and Carol's daughter, Taylor's gallbladder, I've walked through those slow-moving doors a plethora of times.  To the side of the doors, there is a tiny red embossed sign that says, "Push to slow the doors."  Each time I've seen this, I've thought, "Why on earth would anyone want to slow these doors down!?"  They revolve so slowly that you almost have to stop between steps until they go around.  Yesterday, I realized that there is a reason for the sign!  Trying to get through them on crutches is a whole different experience.  I seriously wondered if I should have pushed the button!  It made me laugh!  Go figure!

Once home, I was in the Lazy Boy for the night.  Amazing friend, Connie, brought Costa Vida for dinner! Woohoo!  It was worth the therapy!  No!  It was therapy!  The end!

Earlier in the day, when my dad called, I asked him to do me a favor.  North Carolina has had this intense heat, like much of the nation.  Dad is alone.  I asked him to promise me that he will go to the store today and get a list of emergency items... water, some canned foods, things that he could have on hand, in case he were left without power for seven days like so many people in our nation right now.  He promised me that he would do it immediately and was in tears, being touched that I was so concerned for him.  It remained on my mind all day, which lead to an awesome Family Home Evening lesson!

For Family Night, we talked about preparedness...emergency preparedness.  I played the first five minutes of GMA's coverage of all the weekend storms, fires and weather issues.  Stott's brother's five acres of property was destroyed in the Herriman, Utah fire over the weekend.  (Everything but his actual home is gone.)   We have a friend who is a smoke jumper and he's out in these fires somewhere in the country right now.  We reassured the kids that even with all these dangers, we feel blessed to live in a safe area.  We had a little refresher course on what each one of us is to do in case of a housefire...where to meet, what to do... The kids remembered in great detail!

Then, we discussed how insurance would replace anything in our home like toys and electronics, but things like photographs and my cookbook couldn't be replaced.  We talked about how car insurance and homeowners insurance works.  We discussed how, more often than not, having the original items is far more important than having the reimbursement money.   (After a theft we'd dealt with years ago, the check meant much less to us than the items stolen). We discussed premiums and how we pay them, no matter what, just to be safe.  THEN, we got to the point of the lesson that matter.  

We talked about spiritual preparedness.  We discussed how Grandpa Dale died in a tragic and possibly painful car accident.  (His truck burned for 45 minutes before help arrived.)  We remembered our sweet friend Valoy Swanson, who, on her way to the hospital was just gone.  No pain.  Then the point...it doesn't really matter how we die.  What matters is how we live!!!  We can be as prepared as we want for fire or flood or earthquake or power outages and those things are convenient and reassuring.  BUT, what really matters is that we are prepared spiritually, by living and following the commandments of Christ, by being faithful to the spiritual covenants we make.  This is the best insurance that we can have.  Living a good life is the best premium we will ever pay!

The kids captured every word of it.  I love when Family Nights go so well!  They are excited for this weekend.  We've set a goal to empty our 72 hour emergency kits and replenish them.  They are excited to get their backpacks filled with their own emergency items of whatever they think they will need to add to them.    It will be a good project!

Doug is not scheduled to go back to work until next Monday!  How awesome is that!  We're so excited for tonight, the fireworks/family gathering at Danny and Alene's.  It's truly one of my favorite nights of the year and by far, the best night of the summer!  Life is good... even with inconsiderate drivers, long waits, painful physical therapy. storms, heat... and insomnia.  Life is very very good!  It's 3:36.  Our wake up alarm goes off in fifteen minutes.  Enough said!

When disaster strikes, the time to prepare has passed.

survivors

Tomorrow is the big day for my surgery on both knees and I can't wait!  I should have done this months ago and don't know why I put it off until I can hardly walk.  From what everyone tells me, I'll feel better in a few days than I did before, so bring it on!  Doug's taking the day off tomorrow for the surgery, then Denise is going to come and hold my hand on the day after.  I'm hoping to be functional by Thursday! This darned old pain is a great reminder to appreciate my body when it's feeling GREAT!  I think that my biggest concern about this surgery is wanting a quick recovery so that I can get in the pool and start walking again! 

We enjoyed Buddy's visit this weekend for a few hours as he popped in and out between wedding festivities and preparations.  His best friend asked him to be Best Man at his wedding, so Buddy made a quick trip home, leaving Liza in Arizona with Buddy's mom and sister.  How ironic!  But, it was great to see him and to send him home with some goodies for Liza and he to enjoy!  I hope that he saved some fresh cherries for Lizard!

Everyone came home from camp with dirty faces and big smiles.  Quayd had big stories to share of his Wilderness Survival experience, where he spent the night out under the stars.  He said that he imagined that he was a Survivor contestant and "went for it!"  He loved it!  I was so proud that he came home as one of the only two boys who earned six merit badges while at camp!  We worked on his "map" toward being an Eagle Scout after he got home.  He'll begin working on his Life Scout rank after his upcoming Board of Review.  He has the service hours at Star Rank and the final five Eagle Scout required badges and then it will be the big Eagle Project!  So, Quayd should be an Eagle Scout by this time next year.  He wants to spend the summer working at the scout camp.  I'm so not ready to send him away for the summer, but Doug thinks it would be a great experience for him. Quayd has talked about it for two years now.  We'll see.  First, I have to get past the big Kings Peak hike,  the highest mountain in Utah,  in August!  This mom is so not ready for this, but it's time to put on my big girl panties and realize that he is growing up! 

Grace came home from camp equally dirty and with a bigger smile.  The girls camp theme actually was Survivor ~ Be Bright,Be Strong, Be True (instead of Outwit, Outsmart, Outlast. ) Apparently, when they got to camp, they divided into teams and were given real Survivor buffs and t-shirts and even made Survivor team flags.  From what the leaders (and Doug) told me, Grace about flipped! While our family LOVES Survivor, Grace is the biggest fan!  She loves watching the challenges!  So, this was a little dream come true for her, minus yucky Survivor food and being voted off!  The leaders had gone all out, putting together Survivor challenges, which she hasn't stop talking about.  However, the highlight of Gracie's camp experience was her devotional.  She hadn't realized that she would have to share a devotional thought and spent much time, nervously, preparing her own little spiritual thought to share with the other girls and leaders at camp.  She said that she felt so good as she prepared it and even better when she shared it.  I was touched hearing about that.  As much fun as she had, she said that the camp was a "real spiritual experience" for her.  I do love having such wonderful youth leaders for our children!  My wishful, but doubtful that it would ever happen, would be for these women to remain the leaders until both my girls graduate from High School!  They are beyond wonderful women!

Thanks to Trish, our Young Women's President, for taking these above camp photos and sending them to me so quickly for the blog!  And when Grace got home, she had to have a picture of her in her buff...

 It's good to have everyone home. We have two Corbridge Reunions, one at the ranch and one in our own back yard, and Doug and Quayd's backpacking trip to King's Peak left on our calendar.  Other than those three events, we will hopefully just spend the rest of the summer taking it easy together close to home...and I like it like that!

The best things in life aren't things. 

thursday stuff

 

It's been a busy, busy morning.  A few rambling thoughts this warm Utah afternoon....

• Doug and Grace got off to girl's camp yesterday with no problems.  She was so dang excited! I love her enthusiasm!
• It's Mom's birthday.  I took her to chili's to lunch.  We both had the Sante Fe Chicken Salad.  OH MY!  A must try but ask for the dressing on the side and regular chicken, not the spicy that comes with it unless you have a cast iron stomach.  SOOOOOO good!
• Mom's eye is doing well.  She survived her surgery but she has a "big black bubble" in her eye that will last a few weeks.  So, she sees a black spot in her vision all the time.  I had to cut her food for her because she just saw black.  Too funny.  She didn't even recognize me coming out of my doctor's appointment while she was exiting her follow-up appointment in the same part of the hospital today.  
• Doug may or may not be home this afternoon for an hour and he will head back to the Scout Camp, I think?  
• Stott called from the Scout Camp a bit ago and said that other than a few cuts and bruises and being cold, all is well.  Nights are cold.  Daytime is toasty.  Welcome to Idaho!
• My pre-op appointment was this morning.  I'm having both knees done next Tuesday.  I'm just praying that recovery will be as simple as they are suggesting.  Just with the past two weeks, I've not been able to walk my morning walks and I'm not loving that at all!
• It's supposed to be in the nineties today.  Happiness!  Life is good!  Even with achey knees and husbands who are off in the wilderness!

Often it's the deepest pain which empowers you to grow into your highest self.

 

as I type...

Doug called last night from the top of a mountain above the Scout Camp!  I was able to talk with both, he and Quayd for just a minute before they lost reception.  It was no surprise to hear that they are having a great time. Quayd's finger is doing well.  Doug did say that he was grateful for the extra blankets he'd brought because there would have been no sleep without them.  It's COLD up there!  This morning, as I type, he's on his way home  ~ long enough to shower, pick up Grace and assist with Girl's Camp for two of her four days. He's such a good dad!

ZJ came upstairs in dollar store readers last night and said, "Look Mom!  My tongue matches my eyes!" Only Zeej!

Yesterday, we spent the day preparing Grace and worked on the big bird net project.  Oh my!  What a project that turned into.  It took us three hours, but the girls and I hand stitched six 14'x14' pieces of netting together into a quilt...making it a 28'x42' net.  It was HUGE!  I thought we'd have tons of extra hanging on the ground.  NOT.  Later in the evening, Stott and Kayson came to help get it over the trees.  This took another hour and a half!  Stott brought two ten foot PVC pipe pieces and some long pieces of wood... I'm still not sure how he did it,  Kayson was on the roof, Stott a on a ladder, but they got the netting over the trees...only to find out that I needed it to be three wide, as well as long.  The trees were much wider than I'd considered.  And so...today, I'll go back to town, buy more netting and we'll be just clothes pinning the third row to the "quilt" that's already on the tree.  By the end of the day, I could barely walk, so I KNOW I'm not going to be able to stand on top of a ladder for hours sewing more netting. However!  This morning, as I type, during the time of the day that the birds are worse, there's not a bird in the tree!  Happiness!  It was worth the effort and expense already!!  Doug will be so proud!

As I type, my mom is on her way to Salt Lake with Rick for her eye surgery.  Thankfully!  She was in good spirits and has a positive attitude.  Her 74th birthday is tomorrow.  Mom's having a big week!  ZJ and I will give her a mini-party tomorrow since everyone else is away.

As of noon, my duties and responsibilities will be officially done, as camp mom, until the laundry all comes home!   ZJ has made big plans for our time alone, including Madagascar 2, Brave, Chili's fajitas, pooltime, A&W ice cream, Sonic Happy Hour and a few other fun items on her agenda.  Whatever they are, I've asked that they don't require walking because my knee is saying "no more".  Tuesday can't come soon enough!

Happy first day of Summer!  Life is very good!  

 

fathers day, bad fingers and birds

Well, well.  There's never a dull moment, is there?  It was a great weekend.  

Friday, I had a fun lunch date with Carol, then date night with Doug and Stott and Wendy.  Carol and I sat at Chili's for about three hours just catching up after her trip to Arizona.  Then, I left, went home and got ready to go back to Chili's for dinner for our datenight.  No Summerfest... one of the few years ever that we didn't make it. My knee didn't co-operate.  (I can honestly say that I'm excited for the surgery next week!) But, we had a fun date ~ dinner and then back to the B's to watch Water for Elephants while the kids all played outside in the yard until dark.  I love summertime!  

By the way, I liked Water for Elephants.  Didn't love it.  Wouldn't buy it.  But, I was suprised at how much cleaner it was than the book!  Thankfully, because I didn't even finish the book! 

 Saturday was spent getting the "men" or "boys", depending on who's doing the talking, ready for camp.  Well, most of the day. I did take a break in the afternoon and went to the movies with Carol and Taylor.

We saw "What to expect when you're expecting."  My review:  Don't waste your money.  I knew that I wouldn't love this movie before we went in.  It was vulgar and crude in lots of places.  The ending did somewhat have a little redemption...but not enough for me to like the movie.  Childbirth is such a beautiful and sacred thing, in my opinion, that trashing it up with comic relief and over the top cranky swearing women never makes me laugh.  Oddly, the deliveries were treated with much more respect than the pregnancies.  I'll not be buying this one.  I'll not be watching it again.  Thanks, but no thanks. But, as always, time with Taylor and Carol is a goodtime!

Saturday evening, I was so proud of the fact that we were ready for camp! (With the exception of baking some cookies at the last minute and loading it into Doug's van.)  This left me all day Sunday to focus on Doug's Fathers Day!

Sunday was a fun!  We served Doug a scrambled Denver Omelette...breakfast in bed.  I'd made homemade English Muffin Bread, another Pinterest recipe... A MUST make!  I'll post it tomorrow!  After church, we had one of Doug's favorite meals...tilapia, spinach salad, homemade rolls, mashed potatoes and another strawberry cake.  (I'm tellin ya, that cake is a must make!)  

Kelly came for dinner and stayed a few hours.  It was the first time we've seen her since all of her drama.  She looked good.  She ate like a horse.  She was herself...her sober straight, happy, fun-loving self.  We talked and actually laughed.  No apologies, of course, but it was a good time and that's what I wanted for Doug's day.  We Skyped with Liza and Buddy for a bit and then Kelly left.  Before leaving, she hugged me and said she'd had a good time.  She said that she needed to talk with me alone, but I told her not then.  There was too much other excitement for one day.  She left and thanked us, asking if she can come again for her birthday. She has plans of joining Kevin and Zaylee soon in Arkansas as soon as her legal situation is taken care of.  Hmmmm.

I'll spare the gorey details, but Quayd's right index finger is extremely infected.  We'd doctored it several times through the day but by bedtime, it was looking dangerous...to DOUG.  That's saying something. Finally, after all but wrestling him to the ground, Quayd allowed me to lance it.  Doug watched the whole process and said, "Babe, that's bad."  We got online and googled for some answers and everything we found said, "If this and this...See a doctor immediately."  So.  At 10:15, I called our doctor's after hours number, apologized for my late call and explained the problem and that Quayd was supposed to leave at 7 for scout camp. His response, "He needs to go to the ER right now."  WHOA!  Seriously!?!?  He said, "He can not go to camp with that bad of an infection."  Lovely.  After discussing it, he said that he'd see first thing this morning and Doug and Quayd would head up to the Idaho Scout Camp after the pharmacy opened so that he could could get some antibiotics.  And so.  Quayd and Doug have just left for Scout Camp a few hours behind the rest of the guys.  The finger is still pretty gross.  No swimming in the lake for Quayd this week.  Sadness!

Quayd was one happy camper (no pun intended).  As we pulled in from the doctor, he jumped out of the truck while I was still pulling it into the garage, leaning over the back seat to kiss me goodbye.  He didn't want to waste a second.  Five minutes later, they pulled away and I realized that in all the excitement, I'd, for the first time ever, not taken the before camp photo.  I called Doug and told him that I'd have to take an after camp picture this week.  He'll be home Saturday.  I love that boy!  AND HIS DAD!!

Doug is doing double duty this week, helping with both Quayd's scout camp and Gracie's girl's camp.  ZJ and I will be partying on our own most of the week.  Details to come.

Oh, one last thing that I don't want to forget.  Quayd is signed up for the birdwatching merit badge at this camp.  One of the prerequisites was to be able to identify 20 birds.  As we walked down to take mom a piece of cake last night, Quayd starts reciting his birds list, "Okay.  There's the brown duck and the grey duck and the girl duck and the boy duck and the mother duck the gold eagle and the bald eagle and the, the, um, uh, the chicken!"  Have I mentioned that I love this boy!?

It's always interesting to me that we race around crazy busy getting ready, building up for events and then WHAM!  It's here.  And then...  Deep sigh...it hits me all over just how quickly time passes!  ZJ is heartbroken that she's the only one not going to camp this week, so we'll do some fun things to make it specail, just us girls.  Life is good...even with infected fingers and late starts to camp.  Life is very very good.

  But what minutes!  Count them by sensation, and not by calendars, and each moment is a day.

Happy Fathers Day!

A few of my favorite dads....

Doug ~ My most amazing and awesome husband, who is the best husband to me and father to our six children that I could ever have dreamed of.  He's humble and patient and kind and loving and positive and fun and funny and well... you get the picture! There are not enough words to express the goodness in this man, although I blog about him every day!  ! I love him BIG!!!

 

Dad  ~ My dad and I have finally connected after all my lifetime of barely knowing him.  Even though it's long distance, his voice on the other end of the line is one of the brightest moment of my every day! I'll always be his little girl!  I'm so thankful to have him in my life!

 

Stott ~ Stott is not only the father of our granddaughter, Miki, he's an amazing husband, dad, friend, scoutmaster, and  he excels at whatever he does!  Most of all, he's become my brother.  I cherish our unique and most fun relationship!  He makes me laugh!  A. Lot! This photo is one of my favorites of him because it is so telling...he's casual, he's fun and he loves his kids!  If he's not playing with them, he's teaching them how to do something or working on some awesome project for them!  Stott is just A.Maz.Ing!

Dave ~ Amazingly enough, we have only known Dave for a few short years but there was something about him the very first time we met.  We felt connected from the start!  Dave is father to our grandson, Jason.  We love that he loves his family so much! I put Dave at the top of my "Dad's who really love spending time with their kids" list!  He's awesome!

Dee ~ Dee is my brother-in-law.  I've loved watching Dee be a dad from the day his first child was born.  He's positive, he's encouraging and he's wise. He's an awesome husband!  He treats his children with respect and love and one of the things I love most about him... he makes life fun!  His kids adore him!  So do I!  Dee, an LDS Seminary/Institute teacher has influenced thousands of young adults over the past 25 years and set an example of what kind of a man all of those young adult females should be looking for in a husband!

Larry ~ Larry is Doug's cousin.  As far as the Corbridge name goes, Larry is the patriarch of Doug's extended family, since the last of the Corbridge uncles passed away.  He, genuinely, cares about each and every member of our family.  He encourages family gatherings and uplifts us all.  Time spent with Larry is always worth any effort to be there! 

Dale ~ Doug's dad, from every word I've ever heard by every one who ever knew him, was just an amazing man.  He was known for his hearty laugh and his big heart!  Doug lost his dad in a car accident in 1971, but his memory lives on every single day of our lives!  Although I've never even met him, he is a huge part of our family and his example will live forever!  I look forward to the day that I do get to meet him "on the other side"!

Bill ~ My step-dad, Bill Moors, was an amazing man.  One of my biggest sorrows in life was losing him at such a young age.  Our bigs knew their Grandpa Bill.  The babes never had the opportunity.  He was the definition of a boy's grandpa... camping, buying "man things" for Dale, always ready to play! He spoke with a thick Boston accent, which was a perfect match for my mother and her southern drawl.  I miss the days of Dad posing like Superman, barbecuing on the grill and being an armchair quarterback for the Miami Dophins!  He was always the fun guy!  I loved my Dad Bill!

Doug Bradt ~ (shown here without the Santa Claus beard that he's had most of his adult life)  Doug has no clue that he'd ever be on this list.  Doug has been a great example and influence, especially for Doug for the past twenty years.  Doug has one of the biggest hearts of any I've ever known.  He's faithful and good and kind.  But, he also has a wild and crazy side that keeps us laughing!  He drove in a ragtop jeep across the country in March to be here just long enough to see Liza marry Buddy in the Logan LDS Temple, a promise he had made to her when she was 8 years old.  We appreciate his loyalty, example and friendship!

Uncle Eldon ~ No photo of Uncle Eldon, but, I can't not list him in a "Great Father's" list!  Uncle Eldon was the uncle that I was closest too, in Doug's family.  This good man was a gentle giant.  He was humble and kind, gentle and persuasive.  I learned many of my life lessons by watching and listening to Uncle Eldon.  I see much of Uncle Eldon's gentleness in Doug and am grateful for the example he was to us both.  He had a way of making everyone feel as though they mattered to him.  

 I'm so grateful to have and to have had these good men in my life.  Their influence on me, personally, Doug and my children will be eternally appreciated!  Life is good... my own life is better because of them!  Enough said!

 

He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.

Be excellent to each other!

Yesterday, it was 95 degrees. This morning, it was 34.  CRAZY!   We accomplished the big goal yesterday of getting all three kids rooms dejunked ~ drawers, closets, under the beds, all school stuff gone, clothes ready to donate, done!  HAPPINESS!  That will last till summer's end!  

Today, I'm off to do  some running... a mile long list of things that need to be done, including delivering the donations, getting physicals for the girls and lunch with Denise, who I've not seen in a week!  Quayd had his physical yesterday and ended up having an extra vaccination because they've added a new booster for teens. Quayd has major shot anxiety, but I think that he conquered it with this one!  

The pool is up!  It's half full!  I'm not amused that the part that is supposed to arrive today, according to the tracker, didn't ship until yesterday, so it won't arrive until tomorrow.  Which means, I'll turn off the water until then because it's easier to change the new skimmer with the water not pouring out the side.  The kids were up bright and early this morning to check it.  Grace, in her jammies, was already skimming the top.  They can't wait!  Seriously, the best money we have ever spent!

But what's really on my mind lately...A few weeks ago, I ordered Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure for the kids.  They'd never seen it.  I remember it from the 80s/90s with the bigs and we loved this show.  I have always thought that it was a great and fun lhistory lesson and it has a great message... Not just "Party on, Dudes!" but more important, and my kids captured it because they've been saying it to each other constantly since watching it, "BE EXCELLENT TO EACH OTHER!"

Recently, I heard of a friend's troubled situation.  No details can be shared.  BUT.  Not their situation, but these thoughts have been on my mind a lot lately...   When we look at our friends and neighbors, we see perfect little families, perfect marriages, perfect budgets, perfect happy people. BUT. The truth is that NONE OF US ARE PERFECT.  When we are looking at others from the outside, we see their Sunday best, we see them rehearsed and practiced at their higher performance levels, we see their best recipes, talents... just shining like the sun.  What we don't see is them getting out of bed with bad breath, messed up hair and smeared leftover mascara.  We don't see them yelling at their kids or ready to break down and bawl.  We don't see them feeling frustrations with their husband over something silly or worrying about finances. Yet, we compare ourselves at our worst to others at their best.  Don't do that!  Do not feel inadaquate or unworthy.   

We are all in this together. We've all got our share of problems and challenges.  Some of us are more open book than others.  Some of us would never share their struggles.  In my lifetime, I've known friends who have dealt with the obvious challenges like death or health issues or divorce.  But, I've also known friends who've shared some deep dark troubles that no one in the world would ever ever dream exist in that home or that marriage or with those teens or that checkbook.  We all will be challenged and tested in ways that are perfectly suited to us individually.  We have no clue how we'd handle another's problems unless we've walked in their shoes.  Rather than judging others for how they are handling their tests, be understanding and encouraging and hopeful for them.

 And last, but not least... Recently, I shared some extreme good news about a friend with an another friend.  I was disappointed in the one friend because they said, "That's just not fair!"   Later, I thought about it and ya know what?  It is fair.  It's plenty fair.  We all have our ups and we all have our downs. Life's hard enough with it's challenges.   Let's just hurt with those who hurt and, also, be the bigger person and celebrate each other's successes and joys!

I am reminded of a talk from LDS General Conference, by Elder Jeffrey Holland.  Elder Holland said, "There are going to be times in our lives when someone else gets an unexpected blessing or receives some special recognition. May I plead with us not to be hurt—and certainly not to feel envious—when good fortune comes to another person? We are not diminished when someone else is added upon. We are not in a race against each other to see who is the wealthiest or the most talented or the most beautiful or even the most blessed. The race we are really in is the race against sin, and surely envy is one of the most universal of those.

Furthermore, envy is a mistake that just keeps on giving. Obviously we suffer a little when some misfortune befalls us, but envy requires us to suffer all good fortune that befalls everyone we know! What a bright prospect that is—downing another quart of pickle juice every time anyone around you has a happy moment! Coveting, pouting, or tearing others down does not elevate your standing, nor does demeaning someone else improve your self-image. So be kind, and be grateful that God is kind. It is a happy way to live."

And, the absolute best talk I've ever heard spoken regarding this subject was given by my favorite, President Deiter F. Uchtdorf.  If you have a few minutes, I encourage everyone  to listen to, watch or read this talk.  It is life-changing.  We all have our trials.  We all have room to improve.  Enough said.

Do unto others as you would have others do to you!

LAST DAY of SCHOOL! First Day of JUNE!

The kids had their big day yesterday.  Gracie went on the big walk to the convenience store.  I still don't get that, but they entire grade walks to a Maverik gas station and gets to buy treats.  Go figure?  Quayd came home from the Aquatic Center totally sunburned!  He put sunscreen on his stomach and arms but didn't want to ask anyone to cover his back.  He had a rough night.  ZJ went to meet her penpal at another school in the valley.  The kids rode to the other school on a city bus instead of a school bus.  I think that the bus ride was more exciting than meeting the friend.  She said that she got pretty emotional when they met the other class of fifth graders because it was at a park that we've had family gatherings at and she has always had Zaylee by her side.  (I think that ZJ is definitely the most affected by Zaylee's absence.)  They all had great days though.

After school, Grace told me of her awards ceremony.  She was certain that she'd get a special award because she'd read over 7000 pages this semester, more than any other student.  Unfortunately, that was not acknowledged.  So, after dinner, Doug called the family together and thanked the kids for their wonderful school year, their good attitudes and how hard they try.  Then, he presented each of them with an award that I'd put together.  ZJ received the "best helper in the family" award.  Quayd got the "most excellent, star son" award.  And Grace got the "best reader in the whole family" award.  They weren't expecting this little surprise at all.  As Doug presented the award to each of them individually, we all applauded and cheered for them.  Quayd took a proud bow.  ZJ was thrilled and Grace just beamed with excitement.   Afterward, Quayd said, "Mom, I think that we should do that every year!"  I love that my freshman in highschool son still gets excited over the little things!

Immediately after, Doug and ZJ raced off to the school for their big "Rite of Passage", latenight at the 100 year old school.  Zeej came home so excited to share tales of the dark "dungeon" and being up on the roof.  Doug said that it's hard not to get quezy looking over the edge.  Such a fun experience for them.  Doug admitted that he was a little sad to think that this was his last time in the elementary school with ZJ.  I'm so thankful to have a husband who loves being a father so much!

This morning, we've already had some excitement.  ???  Quayd and I were driving to McD's for a bite and noticed Boyd, Mom's manfriend, out walking their dogs.  He was by the B's home when we passed him, which seemed to be quite a bit out of the way. I called Wendy and asked her to notice which direction he went from their house.  (They live on a corner.)  After McD's drive-thru, we drove back in that direction, just to make sure that we saw Boyd heading home.  No Boyd.  

We drove around for 30 minutes looking, asking everyone we saw outside and calling several friends in the neighborhood, asking them to take a look on their street.  Finally, as we drove around one block the third time, a jogger flagged us down and said that another jogger we had asked, had told her we were looking for him.  She'd seen him heading west out of town! I headed out west and sure enough, we found him near the edge of the ballpark on the end of town.  He was confused and asking another walker how to get home.  He he saw me, he said, "Is that you, Sophia?"  Quayd touched my heart.  He immediately jumped out and took charge.  He raced around the fence into the ballpark, took both leashes and then took Boyd's arm, walking Boyd and the dogs back to the road and then he helped him get up into the truck.  Boyd was embarrassed.  I'd already called Mom and told her we'd found him, so she was waiting at the door for him at home.  Quayd hopped out and helped Boyd out of the truck then walked him to the door.  Poor Boyd. He tried to make a joke of it and made a fuss over how tall Quayd is getting.  Mom said that they will go and get him a cell phone on Monday so that he can call if he gets lost.  And Quayd.  What a boy.  I just love that kid more and more every day. I pray every day, PLEASE let him continue to be the champion kid that he is!!!

Last night, Carol called and told me that Madi had written something on her blog that I needed to she.  She'd written the kindest entry about our friendship ~ mine and Madi's, that is.  It made me cry!  And laugh.  I want to share it here because this is my journal and it's not something that I want to ever forget.  But, I also don't want to sound like I'm tooting my own horn.  So, I'm humbly posting it here, for my own posterity.  Madi made my day!  I heart her so!   It's an honor to be "family" with Madi, Carol and their whole family!  First, my favorite photo ever of Madi.  Isn't she beautiful!?

Inspiration

Through out my life, I have had many inspirational people touch my life, in ways that they might not even realize. Of course my Mother has always been my number one inspiration. I always thought growing up, that I would do things so much differently. Have I? No. My kitchen is organized like hers, and I do alot of my clenaing like she does. I call her about 50 times a day, for fun, just to talk, to tell a funny Makayla story, or to ask a parenting question. I have a parenting book, for toddlers. But why read that, when I have a whole family of experienced mothers? I'm always asking her how I should do things, or what she thinks. Mother does know best!

Growing up, I also had Sophia and Doug for inspiration.  

We have always joked that she is my best friend, and that her daughter Liza is my Moms best friend. But really and truly, she is one of my best friends. I named my daughter after her, and even married a man named Doug ;) Sophia has had many trials dealt to her, and with each one, she always comes out on top, and benefits from each experience. This woman, and her husband, are going straight to heaven- I'd bet my life on it. Sophia and Doug have adopted their three oldest grand kids, and those three kids are the most kind spirited, gentle, well mannered, and loving kids I have ever had the pleasure of having in my life. I have been through many hard times these past few years, and Sophia has been there thru it all. I even called her and Doug in the middle of the night once a few years ago, needing the comforts of a blessing, and advice. There has never been any question as to whether or not I can call them if needs be. I know I can, and they would do anything in their power to make sure I was okay and had what I needed.

Most of my favorite memories have Sophi and her family in them. Countless family dinners, cards, games, movies, trips to Bear Lake and The Ranch, Diet Cokes, Tai Pan...and even memories I can't remember. I was the first baby she loved, other than her own children. No joke on that one. The bologna chunk Utah story, trips to Vegas, the time they came to visit when they were living in Indiana, and of course, everything being 38%. There are hours upon hours of home videos to capture the happiness that two families have created over the years.

Sophia was my wedding planner, and without her and my Mom, my wedding day wouldn't have been everything I had wanted it to be. She always has the best ideas, and like my mom, always knows what to do. She isn't afraid to speak her mind, ask questions others wont, or tell you things you might not want to hear. You know she is going to speak truths when she starts a sentence with.."Madi, you know I love you right? And you know I would do anything for you?" That sentence is ALWAYS followed by a harsh truth. But I love her for telling it like it is, and saying things I really need to hear.

Right now, Sophia has major heartache and drama going on in her life. Her youngest granddaughter Zaylee, has been moved across the country. Reading her blog lately has just made my heart break! I wish I could handle life's hard times like Sophia does. Her life doesn't come to a stop when things aren't going good. She continues on, and does the best that she can do, with the cards God has given her. She understands that everything happens for a reason, and that it is not our place to question why. She inspires every aspect of my life. I want my daughter to grow up to be life her Aunt Taylor, and Sophia's girls, Gracie and ZJ. I want to be an amazing homemaker like she is, and have the ability to make my house a home, where everyone feels welcome and relaxed. Over the years, she has become a best friend. Someone who has always been here for me, and loved me regardless. She inspires me, and I will be forever thankful for everything she has done for me and Makayla.

On Mothers Day, we were at the park grilling hamburgers, and having the most wonderful day. Sophia told me that she was proud of me, and the mother I'd become. Hearing that from her, made my Mothers Day so much sweeter. I'd been having a hard time with Makayla, and her tantrums, and not feeling like too good of a mom. So having her tell me that, was just what I needed to hear, and until now, I don't think she knew it.
I love you Sophia. Forever, and Always.

And Carol's comment:  What a beautiful tribute Madi - she has definitely blessed the lives of our family!

I am so blessed.  Life is good!  It's SUMMER!!! BRING IT ON!!!

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.

the truth is...

Since I've been asked many times...and most of the time, I just don't want to go there.  An answer...

Tuesday was a good day.  A really good day.  A much needed good day.  Not that I did anything wonderful or amazing.  I spent the day alone.  I got the truck inspected and registered, grabbed Costa Vida for lunch all by my lonesome, came home and ate it while I did laundry.  We had mustgoes for dinner and I treated ZJ with an A&W Rootbeer Float after dropping Quayd and Grace off at the church for their youth activities.  A good family friend dropped by for a short visit with Doug and I and then we called it a night. That was the whole day.  Absolutely nothing exciting, new or wonderful.  

BUT.  Yesterday didn't hurt quite as much as most days have for the past month.  It was four weeks since Kevin took our sweet Zaylee away.  And honestly, even though we are going through the motions of every day life, it's been the hardest four weeks of our lives.  We smile.  We carry on.  But, it's felt like a death has taken place in our family.  We are all, literally,  in mourning.  Zaylee is everywhere in our home.  Something as simple as seeing a bowl in the cupboard.  It hurts.  And there's nothing we can do about it.  Nothing, but pray for her well-being.  We miss her immensely.  All of us have had dreams about her.  We speak of her often.  But, there's nothing that we can do.  I've never felt so incapacitated in my life.  Someone said yesterday, "I can't even imagine what you are going through."  My response, "It is unimaginable."  

I remember, several years ago, an old neighbor of ours lost their toddler child in an accident.  After the funeral, the mother went home and removed every single reminder that the child had ever existed...from photos to clothing to toys to furniture.  Everything.  For all of these years, I've questioned the mother's actions, wondering, "How does a mother do that?"  I have a little more insight her actions today.  The little reminders sting and bring the memories front and center and they hurt.  I understand that mother's actions a little more than I ever thought I would. (There's a lesson there on judging, isn't there?)  Aside from photos, I continue to put away Zaylee's things as they appear...dishes, a pair of pajamas that were mixed in with some bedding, toys that keep surfacing.  It makes it easier.  I smile when I see her pictures throughout the house and celebrate and cherish each and every experience we had with her.  And at this point, I just look forward to and hope for more.  And the sooner the better.

Yesterday, Zaylee was not my every other thought.  A few other thoughts happened in between my Zaylee thoughts.  This is a good sign.  Seriously, I'm not whining or complaining.  It is what it is and we're dealing with it as best we can.  Summer vacation begins Friday.  This will be good.  I want to keep us all busy and active so that we can continue to move forward.   It's all we can do.  But.  We miss her so.

So this morning, carrying on...a few high hopes and fun things I'm looking forward to this summer...

• The Corbridge Reunion
•  Time in the pool with the kids
• A great tan
• Shrinking another size before I buy new fall jeans
• time in the trailer
• fresh peaches and cherries right out of our back yard
• walking 300 miles
• fresh tomato, basil and balsamic vinegar sandwiches
• a few thunderstorms
• three day weekends with Doug
• picnics and cookouts with the Bs
• a few TV guilty pleasures
• a new laundryroom
• trips to the ranch
• a backyard Corbridge reunion
• 4th of July fireworks
• sleeping in until 8!
• movie marathons
• watermelon with sprite
• reading in the sunshine
• tomato and cucumber salad
• cards with my girls

Life is good.  My favorite quote... reminding myself today...

Life doesn't have to be perfect to be perfectly wonderful.

good stuff!

A few random happy thoughts on a busy Friday morning....

Here's my brother Rick tasting his first strawberry ever in his life.  My mother raised us so abnormally, where eating is concerned.  She never made us try things like most moms.  Instead she would say, "You won't like that."  S0, when I got married, I'd never tasted any veggie, other than corn, canned peas and green beans.  Never tasted spinach, broccoli, squash, none of the good stuff.  Fortunately, I married Granolaman and I have learned to try everything!  And I love most everything! (except mustard and olives!)

 Rick lives on beef and chicken and dumplings.  When he comes to my house, he never wants to eat anything because he's afraid that I may put an onion or a spice in it.  I remind him that there are spices in lasagna but he tells me that he chooses to block those thoughts out of his mind.  Last night, I made homemade tortillas/burritos and strawberry shortcake and the girls convinced him to stay for dinner because he could make his own burrito...meat and cheese.  No homemade salsa for him, but, hey.  He tried the strawberries.  And get this.  He didn't like them.  Earlier, while I was cooking, he took a backyard tour with ZJ and Doug of our garden and fruit trees, watching Doug and Zeej as they showed him which weeds are even edible.   ZJ got him to commit to try every fruit in our yard but a pear this summer.  SHOCKER!  But, then he would do anything for my kids.  Seriously, though, how can anyone not love strawberry shortcake? 

Here's a sweet moment... Quayd and Grace checking out something on his iTouch last Sunday morning.  Doug came into the gallery and said, "Babe, grab your camera."  I snapped a few pix of them before they even knew it but this was my favorite.  Doug commented on how Quayd and Grace have always had a special bond.  They are so close in age (15 months apart) and when they were toddlers,  before they came to live with us permanently, they pretty much had to fend for themselves, so they stuck together.  And they still do, for the most part.  This isn't to say that they don't get on each other's nerves and drive each other crazy on some days, but for the most part, they are two peas in a pod.  I heart my kids.

Here's Zeej, who's the little fashionista...always concocting something new and different to do with her clothes or her hair.  She told me last night that she's not one of the "popular" girls or one of the "mean" girls at school.  She's just one of the weird ones, but that her teacher calls her one of the "unique" ones.  I told her, "I hope you stay unique, Zeej.  Being popular really isn't that cool and the older you get, the more you'll realize it.  Be true to you , not the crowd!"

And this was one of my favorite things of the day.  The doorbell rang last night.  It was our friends, Dave and Christie.  They are an awesome and fun couple who live in our ward.  Christie is one of those ubbertalented women and Dave is totally cool.  He's the same Dave that helped with our roof last month.  He rocks.  He's also the Ward Mission Leader, who'd set up the dinner appointment for the missionaries with our family.  They dropped by with this little gift, which Christie said that Dave made the little card, wrapped the gift and everything all by himself.  I was so completely impressed and totally touched that a man would be so thoughtful!  Is that awesome or what!?  And the gift, after you read the card, made me laugh... if was filled with Scentinel Scent Cubes for my burner and two yummy lip balms.  All men should be as thoughtful as Dave!  I love this couple!

I didn't mention it yesterday because I didn't want to be a spoiler.  But, I am thrilled for Phillip Phillips, our new American Idol.  I was absolutely bawling as he choked up while singing his victory song and walked down to embrace his family.  Like I told the kids, he could have been up there saying, "Look at me!  I WON!!!" but instead, he stepped off that stage for a group family hug and tears. "  I wish his a huge success and can't wait to buy his first album!

Another favorite thing about the day was hanging out with Natalie.  We did some shopping and went to a new place in town called "Herms" for brunch.  It's a 60s-ish type restaurant and was packed the entire time.  Great food.  Not a place for a quiet private little date but a fun lunch.  I digress... Nat was showing me the progress she's making on her home makeover projects when I saw her newest find, this iron sign, and said, "WHERE did you get that!?   I need, I need!"  So, we ran back into town to Hobby Lobby and picked one up for me!  I thought it was fitting.  (hee-hee)  And like Nat said, "It's really a good reminder."  LOVE IT!

This morning, we're heading to see ZJ's History Fair.  She chose Laura Ingalls Wilder as her person of interest.  She's done a great job preparing for the presentation, has her little costume and is excited for the fair.  I'm excited because this will be the last official time that I, as a mom, ever have to attend at the Elementary School!  Second time around, done with this phase of life again.  Now for the hard years...three kids in middle school and high school for the next seven years!  My knees will be worn out from praying them through it!

Memorial Day Weekend!  The funace is running.  I may even make soup for dinner.  It's cool and rainy until Monday.  The garden is in, so it can soak up the moisture and grow, grow, grow!  Doug's off for a few days.  No solid plans at all other than to enjoy being home together.  Life IS good!

"Don't give up. Don't you quit. You keep walking. You keep trying. There is help and happiness ahead... You keep your chin up. It will be all right in the end. Trust God and believe in good things to come." ~Jeffrey R. Holland

 

 

lemons to lemonade...

ZJ and I had such a fun day date!  We did a little shopping, went to Elements for lettuce wraps, then to the movies to see Mirror, Mirror and did some grocery shopping on the way home.  I loved our time together and she must have said "Thank you, Mom!" a gazillion times!

Once home, we raced around the kitchen like crazy to get dinner done by 5:00 because the missionaries were coming.  Having the missionaries is a big thing when you live in Utah.  There are a gazillion members of the LDS Church, most of them have family members (sons, grandsons, nieces and nephews or even parents) serving LDS missions all around the world.  I like to think that when we are feeding the missionaries that someone is serving my nephew Dillon a good hot meal in Florida at the same time.  

When you live outside of Utah, there are often six or eight missionaries serving in one ward.  Here in Utah, there are only two missionaries serving in sometimes 20-30 wards.  So, outside of Utah, there's plenty of opportunity to feed the missionaries dinner and have your kids have an experience with them.  Here, in Utah, each ward gets assigned about two weeks a year to feed them.  That's ten opportunities a year divided by 50 -75 families.  So, my point is, that we get excited at the opportunity!

And so... I digress.   We hurried home and made ZJ's choice of dinner, Hawaiian Haystacks, Homemade Rolls and Fizookies (chocolate chip cookie bars with ice cream, hot fudge and hot caramel over them).  Gracie helped with the cooking, Quayd vaccummed and did a few little "company clean" jobs.   ZJ set the table all pretty and made a sweet little card to greet them.   While preparing dinner, I had each of the babes think of three questions to ask the missionaries during dinner for our Table Talk. 

Everyone was gathered at the table and and waiting at 5:00. 5:05.  5:15. At 5:30, Doug called the Ward Mission Leader (who arranged the dinner appointments and then lets the missionaries know where they have dinner that night.)  He said that he'd get right back to us.  A few minutes later, Dave called to say that he had gotten a text from the Elders, saying that they had had transfers (when missionaries move to different areas of the mission... an all day ordeal) and that they would still be free for dinner at 8:00PM.  Sorry Elders.  Dinner is on the table now and Doug's in bed at 8PM.  So. No missionaries after all.

The kids were very disappointed.  Quayd was even a little annoyed.  We had a conversation with them about the fact that although they are set apart and ordained as ministers of God, they are still 19-21 year old boys and they are human.  People forget, especially on a day like transfer day when they are saying goodbye to old friends and meeting new people, moving, getting a new companion.  They had a lot on their plate that day.  The kids were quickly forgiving.

So, during dinner, I asked the kids what their questions were for the Elders.  This turned into quite the fun little dinner, which Quayd referred to as a Wednesday night Family Home Evening.  I had to jot down some of the questions and comments.  Before it was over, they were asking Doug the questions about his mission, as though he were the missionaries and then... before long, Quayd started answering the questions, as though he were were the missionary.  We had a some serious conversation and some more humorous discussions, as well.  Definitely memorable.  Here are what were our topics of discussion.

Quayd's questions were:What's your favorite hymn and why?  (I thought that was interesting for a 14 year old boy to come up with.)  

1. Were you an Eagle Scout? (This led to much discussion about Doug being raised on the ranch and working from the time he was 6 years old until he left for his mission, leaving little time for scouting and campouts.)
2. How many baptisms have you had so far?  (When Doug answered this question, we talked about each of their baptisms, which was fun.  Also, Doug remembered a few people he'd taught in Florida on his mission in 1974- 76.)

Grace's questions:  

1. What's your favorite scripture? (I didn't know what Doug's answer to this question would be, which led to an interesting conversation  about obedience.)
2. What temple do you want to be married in? (Doesn't that sound like a 13 year old girl's question.  Doug's answer was, "The only answer to that question for any returned missionary should be, "whichever one my bride wants to be."  Good answer, Doug.)
3. How have you been treated as a missionary?  How have your companions been?

ZJ's questions:

1. Have you ever had the door slammed in your face?  (I was surprised that this was her first thought.  We talked about rejection and persistence.)
2. What's the best meal you've had on your whole mission?  (The answer should always be, "This one!")  
3. Have you watched the movie, "The RM"?  (This is a very funny spoof about returned LDS missionaries.)

Doug asked:  

1. What do you enjoy most about your mission?  
2. How did you gain your testimony?  (Quayd talked about how he gained his testimony, which was sweet.)
3. How do you think being a missionary differs today than it did when your father was a missionary?  (Doug talked about how shy he was on his mission and how difficult it was for him to learn the discussions.  Today, it's much more diverse and he is so social, he would have an entirely different experience with his age and experience.)
4. How do you feel about the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith?

My questions were:

1. "What advise would you give our son who is preparing for a mission? (Doug's answer was "Don't buy a flat screen TV."  By now, we were getting a bit silly.)
2. Did you always have a goal to serve a mission or did you have an experience that changed you and made it an absolute decision? 
3. What's the best advise your parents/family gave you before you left to come on your mission?

I have to say that this dinner, as frustrated as I was for the extra effort and expense we'd gone to, did not turn out for nothing.  It was one of those , "Make Lemonade" moments, where something not so good turned out to be even better.  The kids will remember the experience I'm certain.  Too much fun!  AND they got a nummy dessert!  

A few other short ramblings...

• My brother came over last night.  We had the best talk we have ever had in our entire lives.  I feel good about it.  Rick has now experienced the tornado path that we call "Kelly". My heart broke for him because, as rough around the edges as Rick is, he's loved our kids with all of his heart.   And Rick, my wild and crazy little brother, has a big heart. We hugged before he left and I was grateful for that special few hours together. Family is so interesting.
• No weekend plans here.  Just yard work, camping in the trailer in the yard! We get teased about it..."You know that you can hitch that trailer up and take it with you, don't you?"  Yes, we do, it's worth the price of the trailer just to have it at home for our enjoyment... with internet, showers and a full kitchen only feet away.  We love it!
• The movie... Mirror, Mirror.  I LOVE THIS MOVIE!!!  ZJ loved this movie. Julia Roberts is too cute to be the wicked Queen, so even wicked, you adore her.  A cute storyline with lots of adult humor... not sexual innuendos, but comments that are meant for the adults not kids.  I will buy this movie the day it comes out.  No swearing at all.  No skin.  An EXCELLENT PG movie!  
• Life is good!

The happiness in your life depends on the quality of your thoughts.

 

i guess that was enough?

Natalie and I spent much of the day together yesterday, going for a drive, running errands, grabbing a bite to eat and best of all, visiting her mom's beautiful home and farm.  Her home is magnificent. Her kitchen is a dream come true.  Their gardens and grounds are incredible.  It was a wonderful afternoon and great to just enjoy!  Lovely!  Later, Doug and the babes ate leftover homemade pizza and leftover tater-tot casserole while I went out to meet Carol and Taylor at Sonic for a Hotdog and an hour gab-session to hear how Taylor's follow-up visit with Dr. Anderson went.  (She's doing so much better and will go back to school next Monday!)

After getting Doug and the babes to bed, I had a latenight conversation with BFF from Ohio, Susan and then finally watched American Idol.  I couldn't sleep, so I stayed up until 2.  Cleaning my bathroom.  That's what I do when I'm stressed.  Although, I didn't really felt especially stressed.  But for some reason, at 10PM, I started scrubbing and scouring and couldn't stop.  Kelly called collect about ten times last night.  I just have to hear that "Collect Call" recorded message and hang up.  I was concerned that she was going to call Doug's cellphone and wake him up.  But, she stuck to my cellphone after I took the land line off the hook.  By, now, one would think that she would realize that we aren't going to help her out of her mess.   Enough said.

So, in discussing the latest happenings in our life, with Susan, we recognized that at the moment, life is giving me some serious growth experiences/challenges.  Currently...

1. My wayward daughter is in jail for serious drug and alcohol charges.  (Hopefully, this will be a wake-up call because we are not having any part in it.)
2. My daughter's husband has just taken my granddaughter 2000 miles away from us with the threat that we will never see her in our valley again and there's not a thing in the world I can do about it because my daughter isn't together enough to take the necessary actions.  (Thankfully, he's keeping in contact with us so that we can speak with her often.)
3. My mother and her manfriend are drama, drama, drama.  (Thankfully, I can graciously say, "No thank you, I'll not be a part of your drama.")
4. My brother, who I have felt so good about for the first time in our entire lives, has reared his ugly OLD head and causing more drama,  drama, drama.  (Thankfully, he's getting that I REFUSE to be part of it.)
5. I've just reached spent $4000 to be paid out of pocket for medical bills for a mystery illness that has had me worried sick then miraculously was cured overnight.  (The good news is  that we've now met our deductible for year.)
6. I want an iPad.  (Now, there's something that is worth mentioning.  NOT!  That's a personal joke!)

AND DO YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOT ME MORE UPSET THAN ANYTHING THIS MORNING????

 A SINK FULL OF DIRTY DISHES!!!

I'm suffering from serious Mommy Martyrdom this morning because after one hour away with Carol last night, leaving the family with their very favorite, very tasty requested leftovers,  I never went back into the kitchen when I came home.  This morning, I discovered a counter, full of dirty dried, baked on red sauce and cheesy dishes...NOT soaking in the sink., but just sitting there all over the counter waiting for me. Doug is the most amazing husband in THE world.  He unloads the dishwasher as much or more than I do.  But, for the most part, he leaves the rest of the kitchen patrol to me. And my children know how to put things away, rinse things off, load the dishwasher. Apparently, last night, everyone had a memory lapse because they were in a rush to play outside. I am so not amused. 

Several friends have commented, "I don't know how you do it, I couldn't handle this all at once."  Of course they could.  We all can because our challenges are tailor made for our own benefit.  I believe that with all my heart.  HOWEVER, obviously, that doesn't mean I'm always smiling through the pain. I've cried a million tears this past few weeks.  I've felt completely overwhelmed.  And apparently, all that other stuff listed above has been simmering inside me and the kitchen is what it took for me to lose it.  Trivial, I know! I had my little melt-down, all by my lonesome this morning, cleaned the kitchen and I'm over it now.  The kitchen is back to spotless and, bonus, thanks to my latenight restlessness, my bathroom is super shiny.  I feel much better now.  Wouldn't it be nice if all of life's problems could be resolved by a little cleaning and venting with a few caps and an extra large font?  I'm going to find something good to do for someone else today to take my mind of my own dirty dishes. Enough said. 

When life gives you a hundred reasons to cry,
show life that you have a thousand reasons to smile.

blessed sunshine!

I have to say that I was quite surprised by the letters that I received yesterday.  Sad to say, but good to know that I'm not alone in this challenge of dealing with "wayward" children.  I wanted to first mention, and I've probably mentioned this before a few times, the mother who asked me "Aren't you embarrassed by the way your kids have turned out?"  My answer.  NOT AT ALL!  First off, they haven't "turned out" because they aren't done!  None of us are done until our last breath!  Second of all, no I'm not embarrassed!  We've done the best we could at parenting and, hopefully, we are continuing to improve on those skills each and every day, regardless of the ages of our children...bigs and babes!  And third of all, I said it yesterday, "Never judge another person's parenting because you never know that tomorrow won't be the day that you eat those words!"  We're all in this together to learn!  Let's be supportive of each other, rather than critical.  Enough said!  ;)  (ETA:  I had written most of this entry last night and pooped out before I found a quote to share.  When I woke up this morning, I'd received an email from a friend referring to this experience.  Thank you to everyone who has taken time to write me privately and who comment on the blog during times like this!  We are all in this together!)

We had quite an interesting day yesterday.  Between Kelly, my mother, my brother (who reared the old Rick for a bit yesterday) and medical issues, I'm feeling like I'm in some sort of special enhanced program right now of "Come what may and Love it."  Monday brought a new little challenge about every other hour.  BUT.  There was much good in the day too and that's what I'm going to focus on today!

First, I took Grace in for X-rays of her broken finger.  It is healing well.  Things look good.  No surgery will be needed.  It hurts, but it's unwrapped and Grace wasn't amused when I announced that she's back on dish duty after dinner.  She did them with a smile, but I could see that "Dang!  Vacation's over!" look when I told her that it was her turn.  Totally random thought, all of my girls have the most beautiful hands!  Even Grace's X-rays were pretty.  Seriously!

I shared this photo of myself on Facebook a few days ago, but not here on the blog.  ZJ took this picture of me with my iPhone after my new haircut.  I'm really liking it shorter and shorter. It's much more work than the long, natural curly look that I've sported for.ev.er but I'm enjoying it!  I remember several years ago when I got a haircut for Liza's wedding.  She told her friend/hairdresser that I loved it and that I was "actually doing it every day."  LIZA!!!!  I did my hair every day!  But, the get up and go with my natural curl, apparently, didn't count in her mind.  Trust me.  I now have a close relationship with the flat iron and a plethora of hair product. ;)

During dinner last night, Quayd made a comment about something he wanted to do.  I can't even remember what it was, but Gracie responded ever-so quickly with, "Yeh, Quayd.  Hold your breath. When you are forty."  Now, sarcasm is something that we are just developing in our home.  It's not something that the babes have ever really captured and Doug rarely uses sarcasm.  But, oh, they are getting it now.  Doug just busted out laughing at Gracie's quick wit!  Quayd gave him a smile and said, "Uh, you're the only one laughing, Dad." I'm sure that our new neighbors wonder sometimes what we are laughing at so hard from inside these walls.  Oh well. Better that they hear laughter!

Side story. But...it's a happy memory and an important sentiment! Eighteen years ago, we were partying at Carol's.  This was long before Jon passed away.  Burbanks, our Arizona friends, were up visiting.  We played games and cards all night long. Honestly, to this day, I don't think that I have ever laughed as hard as that night.  At the time, Carol lived in a neighborhood with homes that were built pretty close together.  The next day, her neighbor came over and said that she'd heard us laughing all night and that at 3:30 in the morning, she was mad at herself for not being brave enough to come over and ask to join us.  We'd have loved to have had her join us!  That lady has passed away from cancer since then, as well.  But, anytime I remember that night, I think of her and took that as a lesson to "step out" of your comfort zone because sometimes the best times are found there!  Enough said about that!

Zaylee has called several times.  She said to me, "Gwammie, I have my very own toothpaste.  And I can't find it anywhere!"  She also asked me if she could come to my house to sleep.  I explained to her that she is in Arkansas and I am in Utah and that's a lonnnnng way away.  Her response, "Grammie?  You can come to my house in Arkansas???"  It was a tough moment, but, she's seeming happy and loving the fun new experiences that she's having.  And I'm adjusting.  We all are.  ZJ said yesterday, "I see Zaylee everywhere, Mom."  Kevin has committed to find a computer and learn to skype.  Happiness!  I'm going to put together a little scrapbook for Zaylee with all of our pictures.  It's been a long time since I've scrapbooked.  But, I'm going to do a little alphabet book for her.   I think that I'll make two and send one to Willow, as well.

ZJ made it through her first day back at school.  We talked with the family doc, during Grace's appointment and he wondered if it was some strange virus that has gone around where they get a "rash" on the inside of their intestines.  It's quite painful, he said, and lasts about five days.  ZJ's lasted twice that long but he said it sounded like that might have been it.  WHY didn't someone mention that at the hospital last week?  After dinner, she had a minor 30 minute relapse, but then rallied.  

Today is the fifth grade big field trip to SLC baseball game today.   A bit concerned about 3 plus hours on a school bus, I let her decide. She opted to stay home with her mama and choose where we will go to lunch.  I've not been to Chili's in over two months and I have a sneaking suspicion that this will be her first choice. But, first, since she missed some of the core testing last week, I just spoke with one of her favorite teachers and she's going to run over and complete the last test before lunch.  Then, ZJ can call me when she's done, I'll pick her up and we'll play the rest of the afternoon.  Again, this was her choice.  Good choice, Zeej.

Doug has been planning for months on attending the Melaleuca National Convention this weekend. He announced last night that he won't be attending at all this year.  I'm still not sure I'll believe it until he actually doesn't walk out the door. However, there are some issues at work calls and if they need him, Doug will be there.  I'd love to have him for an employee.  He's loyal and dedicated.  I know where Liza got her work ethics from, for sure!  Speaking of work ethics, Quayd was just hired by a neighbor/friend to do some yard work.  He's motivated to start earning his own money. He commented, "Yeh, I need to start getting serious about earning money for my mission."  YAY, QUAYD!!! However, I'm sure that he's got a few aps for his iTouch in mind, too.   ;)  I heart my boy!  

 That's it for today.  Some happiness and joy and fun.  I love happy!  Life is good!

It is our choices that show who we are, more than our ability.

on Mothers Day? Seriously?

I really try to be happy and to be a positive person.  However.  On Mothers Day, I take exception.  I've mentioned this before.  Mothers Day is not my favorite day of the year. For lots of reasons.  One.  I was not raised my the homemaking/cookie baking mother who never raised her voice or laid a hand on me.  My mother worked full-time and took out much her frustration of a sinking marriage on my brother and myself. I love my mother.  But, it's definitely not the relationship that you read about on a Hallmark Mothers Day card.  Two. I've known too many mothers who feel that this day causes guilt and sadness.  And three, I also have issues with people who treat moms like dirt all year long and then try to make up for it on the one day of the year with lavish gifts. Love your mother every day even if you don't always like her!  As always, I call it like I see it.  That's the truth, from my perspective.  That doesn't mean that we don't make the most of the day at home. But.  It's not my favorite day of the year. 

This year, however, not without reason, was not my favorite day.  I'm airing the dirty laundry again. Sadly, one of my children brings that unfortunate opportunity more often than any mother would care for. Mothers Day began just before midnight when I received a collect call from the County Jail. I did not accept.  A few minutes later, my mother called to tell me that she'd received the same recorded call.  She did not accept either.  Wanting to confirm my suspicions, I discussed it with Doug and then called, to discover that Kelly, was indeed, in jail.  Her charges are quite serious.  The officer told me what he could.  

Doug and I discussed it and climbed in bed...not that we could sleep for thinking, but then...  For the next hour, the phone rang with various bail bondsmen calling to ask me to rush right out and take care of Kelly's business. (apparently, she'd called several.) I've never spoken with a bondsperson before.  But, they acted so matter of factly... just sign over your house as collateral and you can pick up your daughter. With each call, I informed them that this would not be happening.  I also asked that a message be relayed to Kelly... "The choices we make today determine our happiness tomorrow."  Finally, after several calls, I took the phone of the hook and went back to bed and tried to go to sleep.  Not that much of it came.

In the morning, Doug and I had a talk with the babes about drugs and addictions and choices and consequences.  We are open with the kids, making sure that they are aware that the choices they make affect not only them, but so many others, that they not only say no to drugs but that they RUN!!, that they know that we love them and support them but that we are strong believers in natural consequences and that we will not be helping Kelly out of the mess she has created for herself.

We've not heard any more from Kelly.  I imagine that she'll see a judge sometime this week and without going into details (I dont know many to go into), I'll just say that she's in some serious deep doggy d00-d00.   Doug and I have had concerns for a while now.  They were all confirmed this weekend.  One thing is for certain...Zaylee won't be coming home anytime soon to be with Kelly.  Happy Mothers Day?  I wasn't amused.

I'd asked Doug to not get me anything because I literally couldn't think of a thing that I want or need.  He's told me that I should go and buy some more "smaller size" clothes this week.  That works.  ZJ made me a cute little beaded necklace and wrote the sweetest note.  Gracie offered to help with breakfast.  Quayd did the dishes.  Doug helped with several things in preparing for the afternoon meal and breakfast.  

Liza sent me a text early in the day, "Thank you for praying for Pearl Jam tickets for me.  (Years ago, she was trying to win tickets from the local radio station.  She'd pulled over and parked waiting for them to announce the number of caller she needed to be.   Liza loves Pearl Jam.  She called to ask, "Do you think it's wrong to pray that I win Pearl Jam tickets?"  I told her that I highly doubted that Heavenly Father really cared about her winning concert tickets, but I'm sure that it wasn't wrong either.  We hung up and I  said a prayer that she'd win them too. She won.  I think that she was as happy that I'd prayed for her to win as she was that she won.  Well, almost.)  

Later in the afternoon, Dale called.  Now, Dale rarely calls on Mothers Day.  I don't think that Dale owns a calendar because Dale doesn't usually realize that it was Mothers Day until a week later. Then he calls.   However, he remembered and called and said, "Happy mitochondrial day!"  I learned that Mitochondrial DNA is passed from mother to child, but only females continue to pass on their maternal mitochondria down to their children.  Thank you very much for that lovely lesson on genetics.  It was a great visit.  When we hung up, I cried.  Happy tears.

We then went to both mine and Doug's mom's for a bit and met Carol at a park, where we shared dinner and watched all of the kids play for a few hours.  It was a perfect 75 degrees.  It was sunshiny and bright with a perfect warm breeze.  Time with Carol and her fam,with Doug and the kids.  Perfect.  Carol's mother, one of my favorite ladies on this earth, dropped by the park for a visit. So, that was lovely.  Just what I needed to take my mind off of "other things".

When we got home, we got the kids to bed, Doug went to sleep and I watched the Survivor finale all by my lonesome.  No interruptions.  I didn't mind a bit.  Between church and gatherings, Liza and I had been hit and miss all day.  We had a short visit. Liza tells me and shows me that she loves me every day, making every day Happy Mothers Day to me!

Then, at about 11, I started getting the best texts ever from Lizard. Lots of them!  One after another after another.  Thanking me for her wedding, for seeing Evita 13 times with her at the theater and buying her the Antonio Banderas Evita poster,  being camp director when she was 15, Cabbage Patch dolls, all the stories I've told her, loving Buddy, having a full cookie jar all her life, piano lessons and my telling strangers that they are beautiful to treasure hunts to gospel discussions to playing with her hair.  And more!  Now, seriously.  After Liza and Dale and the babes and Doug and Carol, how can I not love Mothers Day!?  

Now.  About Kelly. Some might disagree with our tough love policy.  HOWEVER. We've lived this life with Kelly for the past sixteen years.  One thing that we've learned.  Never judge another's parenting because A. You may end up eating every word.  And B.  Every child, every relationship, every situation is different and no one really knows what they would do unless they were living the nightmare.  You can say, "Well, I'd this or that, but you really don't know.

It is what it is.  We have helped Kelly and supported her in every way possible.  BUT, as a friend said this morning, "Once is a mistake.  But, more than once is a choice."  That's where Kelly is.  This lifestyle is her choice.  Not ours. And these consequences are hers.  Not that they won't affect us, indirectly, but they are hers.   When Kelly returned to the family four years ago, after all those years of not knowing if she was alive or dead, we did everything we could to show her all of our love and support.  But.  She's on her own now. She's made her choice.  We have three children in our home that we will not subject to her drama, other than to remind them that "In our home, we make good choices." Period.  At this point, Kelly has our prayers and our love.  But, that's all she gets from us.  Life is full of growing/learning experiences and no one can learn your lessons for you.  No one, but you.  Enough said!

Now.  To end on a happy note.  Because I like happy!  Here's a few pix from our fun day!

Here's Taylor, recuperating from her surgery.

Carol watching the grands.

The newlyweds, Madi and Doug.

Quayd, climbing, as usual.

ZJ, who's feeling like new!  She went back to school today!



Gracie playing Frisbee with her dad and Tanner.

Tanner, Shawn White look-a-like, at the other end of the Frisbee.

Matt, entertaining himself with his iTunes.  Check out those shoes!  I love them!

Madi's daughter, McKayla and her new son, Jackson.

Doug, entertaining the kids with his Donald Duck voice.

Doug and me, mid-sentence, imagine that!

Regardless of what else is happening, life is good. 

 

 

moving forward...

A few ramblings...

• Liza applied for a job opening at a different branch of her bank a few weeks ago.  She had heard of an opening at a branch that is, literally, within walking distance from their home.  Presently, she spends up to two and a half hours riding the bus home after work on days that Buddy is working too. Woohooo!  Yesterday, she got the news that she got the job!  That alone was like getting a huge raise because there are days that they put over 150 miles on their car going from school to all of their jobs!  Happiness!  Also, Liza was promoted (I guess that it's a promotion?) to Senior Teller!  We're very happy for her!  She and Buddy are both working so hard and serving in demanding positions in their LDS ward.  We're very proud of them and thrilled for their good news!  And good news is most welcomed currently in our home!
• More good news...Carol's daughter,Taylor, no longer has a gall bladder. Happiness! She did well with her surgery.  Now we just hope and pray that she can get back to life as she knew it before!  I spent the afternoon at the hospital with Carol during Taylors surgery and recovery.   We had some good laughs. which was also welcomed.  
• ZJ sees the sugeon today.  Last night, we ended up calling the ER very late because she was hurting so. I asked them if I brought her back up a third time, would they admit her to control the pain until they figure something out.  The ER doc said that they would consider it since this has gone on for a week.  The bottom line... insurance rules.  This makes me sad. Hopefully,we'll have some answers.  I'm sure she's lost weight.  She's lived on popcycles and bananas for the past week.   We're seeing the surgeon, but, I'm really hoping that he can prescribe some magic medicine to make ZJ's pain go away and not have to take out any "parts".  It's so frustrating to see her hurting so much and have no answers. 
• As I posted on Facebook this morning... five words NO mother wants to be awakened to:  "Mom, the toilet's overflowing!"  Especially when Doug's already gone to work!  Yagottaluvit!  Or Not.
• I packed up all of Zaylee's clothes and a few of her toys and bathtub toys to send to her.  This made the whole situation really begin to sink in.  She's not coming back anytime soon.  We're making the adjustments emotionally and physically.  This weekend, I'll be putting the rest of her things in storage bins in the garage because Zaylee is everywhere in our home...from her own dishes to toys and clothes and books. It hit me, as I was thinking about this, if things go as Kevin plans, she will probably have outgrown many of these things before she returns.   He's gone to a lot of expense to move them to Arkansas, so he's not going to be coming back that easily or anytime soon.  The not knowing is the part that's most difficult for my brain to wrap around.  But, it is what it is and we need to face the facts.  I'm not whining.  I'm coping and I cope best by talking about things.  Enough said about that.
• Finally, I just realized this morning that Mother's Day this weekend.  I thought about it and there is, literally, not one thing that I want or need.  My Kindle has several books waiting to be read.  My iTunes playlists are satisfied.  I'm not even thinking about decorating or entertaining right now, so no needs or wants there right now.  I have just bought a new two sizes smaller wardrobe.  I don't need or want a thing.  All I want for Mother's Day is a healthy eleven year old girl!  
• And one last thing... as I was just spellchecking this entry, in my robe and ready to hop in the shower, the doorbell rang.  Messy bed head.  No make up.  Still yucky from cleaning up the nasty bathroom floor. I didn't want to be seen.  But, I answered the door.  An friend, on her morning jog, just stopped by to say that we'd been in their prayers.  Our conversations are always fun and upbeat.  I love her! This morning, this friend was an angel sent as a tender mercy...saying exactly what I needed to hear! She made me laugh and cry and she didn't even care that I looked like... well...the mess I'd cleaned up on the floor.  Tender mercies are my favorite thing!  ENOUGH SAID!

Life is good!

Be Mighty

I will acknowledge that the following entry is a little "preachy".  I can not apologize, however, because my heart is so full of thanks and gratitude this day.

For Family Home Evening last night, we talked about one of my favorite things ~"tender mercies".  I love this verse from the Book of Mormon.  "But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of  deliverance."  (1 Nephi 1:20)

Over the weekend, Grace commented, referring to Zaylee being gone, ZJ being so sick, her finger recovering slowly and a few other things, "This is the worst week of our life, Mom!"  Knowing that all three of the babes have been worried sick over Zaylee and we've all been concerned about ZJ, it was time for a little reminder of this important principle of life. 

I explained that a tender mercy could be something huge, like Kevin calling to let us know how Zaylee is, to something as simple as the box of chocolates delivered by a friend this past weekend.  Tender mercies are those little happenings in our lives that reconfirm that we do have a Father in Heaven who is very aware of who we are and of our needs, even when they are sometimes small and trivial.  Tender mercies confirm to us that He is there! I asked the kids for some examples of tender mercies in our lives.  I was touched by how quickly they all came up with answer from the present to years in our past.  Of course, the first was our family adoption. But, they were thoughtful in remembering how Go-Go came to our family immediately after Fancy was put down, how sometimes things just work out perfectly when by all rights and means, they shouldn't, how we receive love and kindness when we least expect it.  I was happy for their recognition of the many tender mercies in our every day lives.

And then, we discussed what "being mighty" means.  "Being mighty means being Strong", ZJ confirmed.  And one interpretation of "being mighty unto the power of deliverance", simply stated is that we must have faith, even in the toughest of times. When life gets tough, we must be mighty unto deliverance.  Our faith must be stronger.  Our actions and our faith must be "mighty".  Rather than whine, "Why me?", we need to ask, "What is it that I am supposed to learn from this experience?"  And then... and only then, in Sophia's strong and firm belief, do we grow and gain from our challenges.  Lastly, I shared that throughout this past week, I've had, in the back of my head almost constantly, "Know this, that all these things shall give the experience and be for thy good."  Because it's true!

That was our lesson/discussion with the kids.  They got it.  Their prayers last night were as tender as could ever be...giving thanks that Kevin's heart was softened, that he called us, that we were able to speak with Zaylee, for Kelly's well-being and then for others... for Taylor's surgery today, for my stomach (which has been a wreck since the word that Zaylee was gone) and for ZJ's recovery.  They got it.  We all have our challenges and trials...and rather than complain and whine, we need to be thankful for opportunities to grow.  And boy!   Has this week ever given us ample opportunity!  

With that in mind... here's the lastest at the Corbridge...no whining.  No complaining.  Just facts.

Zaylee.  Kevin called.  The second that I heard his voice, I started to sob, thanking him for calling, rather than screaming, "YOU IDIOT!!! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?!?"  Those thoughts have crossed my mind, but again, after much prayer and thought, I know that this would have been wrong.  And I was sincerely grateful.  They are in Arkansas, living with his birth father and family.  Zaylee is doing well.  He was calling from outside on the lawn, where Zaylee was riding her bike with her "new" cousin.  Zaylee talked with me a few times during the call and was able to talk to her very best friend in the world, ZJ.  This was great for both of them.   She sounded great, and, after our hour long conversation, Kevin immediately took a photo of Zaylee in the new swimsuit that he'd bought her and texted it to me.

Kevin explained his reasons for leaving.  I can not go into detail, because the details are not mine to share. However.  Kevin is within his legal rights to have done this. Although I'm not one teeny tiny bit happy that Zaylee is 2000 miles away from us, for now, this is how it is and Doug and I will have to be patient with the situation.  Kevin assured me that we will be able to speak with any time that we want.  He gave me a landline, his cell number, as well as their address.  He was very emotional and apologized profusely about taking her from us.  I don't think that he'd realized the impact that this would have on the babes.  It was a positive and straightforward conversation.  For now, we will accept the situation as it is.  He texted me a few times later in the day.  That's all that I can say for now.  We would appreciate your continued prayers in Zaylee's behalf.  I felt a peace that I've not felt for a week, knowing for certain where she is.  I do have to say this and I'd be lying if I didn't.  I hate this.  BUT.  It is what it is. Now, it's time to "be mighty".

ZJ.  After almost 16 hours on Saturday and Sunday in the ER...after bloodwork, X-rays, ultrasound, several IVs for rehydration and pain, we still have no clue what is wrong with Zeej.  Monday was her best day in almost a week. We were sent home, quite frustrated, I might add, with a "colonoscopy prep" drink to "flush any possible virus through her". She didn't mind the taste of the nasty lemon drink, but, as for it making a difference... not so much.  She will be seeing a surgeon on Wednesday.  The ER doctor's bottom line, "Take her home, bring her back again if it gets worse, and eventually, we'll go ahead and remove the appendix.  But, for now, she looks too good on paper to do anything." Seriously?  An eleven year old child, curled up in a ball, sobbing with pain at a "9-10" on the pain chart for five days and that's all ya got?  I wasn't amused.  BUT.  Again.  It's time to "be mighty".

Doug gave ZJ a beautiful father's blessing and in the blessing, he said, "We're given pain to appreciate the perfect body that Heavenly Father has created for us."  Boy, is that the truth!  It's so easy to appreciate our health when we don't have it!

Mom.  Help me. ;)  I can't even go there, but suffice it to say that I never anticipated at age 53, I'd be worrying about my mother, her dog and her manfriend!  

Rick.  My brother cracks me up.  Totally. He invited himself over, with a pizza, to spend the day yesterday.  I was not alone for one minute all day long.  It was fine.  ZJ was lying on the couch.  I caught up on seven loads of laundry since I've been a little preoccupied. (The laundry truly brought home the realization that Zaylee is gone more than anything else has, as her little socks and clothes would come through.  I will be sending her clothes to Kevin today.  Ouch.) So, Rick and I watched Mamma Mia, which he'd never even heard of.  Big, burly, rough and tough Rick likes ABBA and he laughed out loud through the whole movie.  I thought that Rick living up the street with Mom would be a nightmare.  I'm enjoying him.  He's loud.  He's obnoxious.  He's crude.  But, he's very entertaining and he becomes an instant teddy bear around the kids.  He's really trying to be a good uncle, bring treats and snacks and, very much, respecting our "house rules".  ZJ said, "Uncle Rick makes me laugh, Mom."  Me, too, Zeej.  Me too. Rick loves to "escape" to our house for a break from Mom and Boyd.  My favorite thing is listening to his whispered messages on my iPhone, "Help me.  Save me.  You neeeeeeeed me to come down right now."

Dad.  During all of the other "drama", for lack of a better word, my dad had to have two stints put into his heart. He's doing much better.  He's been worried sick about Zaylee and Zeej, calling a few times a day.  Who'd have ever guessed, after 35 years of living without my family in my life directly, that they'd all be right here all the time, even if only by phone.  Again.  No complaints.  Just fact.

There are several other things happening in our world right now, as well.  But, I've share more than enough for one day. I admit, it has been one of those weeks that I've struggled with being the open book that I am.  I've not wanted to sound like a whiner or a martyr. While I was in church on Sunday, I looked at another sister in our ward and my heart ached for her.  Her trials made mine seem almost insignificant.  That was, again, a tender mercy for me...the reminder that no matter how tough things seem, someone else always has it tougher!

 I've appreciated every single good thought, phone call, text, email and visit over the past week.  I've barely had a moment alone since Zaylee left and that, too, has probably been a tremendous blessing to us. I'm grateful for the love and support that we feel when it is time to "be mighty".

If I could share one lesson learned this week, it would be this message.  Trials and struggles are the only good time to ask, "What's in it for me?"  Because with every fiber of my being, I believe that, like it or not, the tougher the challenge, the bigger the lesson is in it for each of us.  Enough said.

 Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries
with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.

learning along the way

Please do not take offense!  I'm learning!

Yesterday, I took a friend into the hospital for a two hour procedure/test, during which, we sat there and visited with the tech the entire time.  A very nice looking guy, probably in his late 30s, with the friendliest disposition ever.  By the time we were done, we were all friends.  

This guy was awesome!  He was not LDS but had been lived in Utah and Idaho his entire life.  That's uncommon around here.  During the course of our conversation, we discovered that his beautiful curly black hair used to be down to his waist.  He said that he'd cut it a few years ago because his wife thought he should for work.  Today, he's as clean cut as could be.  He has four children, the oldest is 14.  He's worked at his job for ten years since graduating.  He also has a tattoo "sleeve", which was covered by his lab jacket.  Before the conversation, I'd have never envisioned the guy as a "ponytail tattoo kinda guy."  But, the interesting thing was that after and during the conversation, I'd have never envisioned it either because during the conversation, I asked myself, "What the heck is a tattoo-ponytail kinda guy?"  That's stereo-typing and I hate stereo-typing!  

Seriously.  This guy was so dang sharp!  He's obviously a good dad, based on the conversation.  He's great at what he does...by far, THE friendliest employee I've ever met at that hospital. I seriously felt an instant connection to him and would invite him and his wife over for dinner and cards in a heartbeat.

During the conversation, I asked him if people treated him differently with short hair than they did when he had the long hair.  He said that he'd always worn it pulled back because it would get in the way of putting in the IVs, but yes, every day,  people would ask him condescending questions, "Do you know what you're doing?"  "How long have you been doing this?"  Even, "Are you the only one who does this?"  He commented that after the hair cut, he's been asked those questions only three times in a few years!   That's when he mentioned the tattoo sleeve.  He said that because of the lab jacket, no one ever sees it and that he is discreet about it at work because he recognizes the "stigma" that goes along with it.  BUT, he said that he'd just had an experience while changing his lab jacket and the patient immediately asked him, "Do you know what you're doing?" and changed their disposition toward him instantly.  Instant vision impairment.

Our daughter, Kelly, is covered in ink.  And I have to admit that I have had that same attitude as the vision impaired patient.   I am not a tattoo fan.  NOT FOR ME.  But, for someone else, as the old song goes, "It's your thing, do what you wanna do."  NOT my place to judge.

And then last night, on American Idol, my favorite, Skylar Layne sang a song about a Tattoo Town.  Ryan Seacrest asked her if she had a tattoo when she said she dedicated that song to her town.  She showed him a feather, tattooed on the top of her hand.  Ryan asked her what it represented.  Her response, without hesitation, "It's to remind me that my troubles are as light as a feather because God carry's them for me."  WOW.

Also, while talking with Bret, our new hospital friend, he commented that there is a personal responsibility that goes with the choices we make about how we look... he said that some people have the "in your face" attitude, "It's my body, deal with it, if you don't like it." Or that you can be respectful of others with your presence.  Good point.  Before we left, I said, "Okay.  I have to ask.  May we see your sleeve?"  He was quite surprised that I asked.  "Really?"  He took off the lab jacket and his arm was covered in a solid red white and blue, Revolutionary War emblems, an American flag and more.  Pretty cool.  No marijuana leaves, no naked women, nothing but American pride. Imagine that.

Anyway.  It was on my mind last night and I was quite surprised when Skylar made her comment about her tattoo.  Would I ever get one?  No.  A.  I don't like needles.  and even more important to me, B.  I totally agree with what Doug says often, "Why try to mess up/improve/change the beautiful body that God gave us?"  Our feelings are that our body is a temple and we treat it as such. Again, that's our personal feelings.  BUT.  I think that I walked away from yesterday having learned a little, being a little less judgmental and a lot more tolerant of other people's choices.  It's one of those things that I pray for for myself every day. On the days it happens, it's a good thing.  Enough said.

One other thing... I had to share this amazing version of the same song that I shared yesterday.  This is beautiful!  I'm off to take Grace in for her broken finger follow-up!  Have a great day!

 

Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.

 

A poll... and it hasn't nothing to do with politics!

On Friday afternoon, Doug was in his office doing his thing while I was in the kitchen helping Gracie and her friend, Brooklyn, bake cookies.  At one point, I looked out in the back yard and there were eleven kids on swings, tramp, or just hanging around.  Then, the yard got quiet and I assumed that all the action had moved to the front yard.  That's about when Alyssa came inside and said, "Aunt Sophia, ZJ wants you to get your camera because she has something to show you."  I grabbed the camera and as I was walking to the front door, I had this feeling and I asked, "Is this something she wants to show me something that I'm going to love or freak out over?" Alyssa gave a cute little sing-song, "I don't knoooow."  Somehow, I knew that this could not be good.  

When I walked outside, I looked next door toward our new neighbor's home.  They are a delightful family with seven children under the age of eleven.  So far, they are very well behaved children and the parents are very kind and friendly.  (It's wonderful to finally have a good family living next door!  Prayers answered!)  

As I walked to the side of our home, I heard ZJ's voice but I didn't see her.  I did see a few kids just climbing at the bottom of one of the six fifty foot tall trees.  Literally, twice the height of the telephone pole out front.  Literally, one story taller than the neighbors two story with a high pitched roof home.  Literally, half way to the moon!!!!  After a few "Mom!  Look!!!" attempts, I finally found ZJ.  AT THE TOP OF THE TREE!!!!   AT THE TOP, I tell ya!  Along with three of her new neighbor friends!!!  I'd literally had to search for her in the tree and when I saw her, she looked like a tiny little dot!!  Well, maybe not a dot, but tiny!  Look for yourself!?  Can you see her?  She's the top one!  Look closer at the photo on yesterday's post! YIKES!

The tree was swaying back and forth.  For a split second, I saw Bella and Edward at the top of the trees overlooking Forks.  Trying to not completely freak out because I didn't want to A)scare them into falling to their deaths and B) embarrass ZJ to death, I said, calmly, I proudly add,  "Zyanne Jentry.  You are not Bella Swan.  I'm going to take your picture now and then you are going to carefully get down and you are never going to go there again, are you?"  She laughed, but she knew that I was not happy.  

I snapped two shots of them and promptly walked back inside the house and said to Doug, "I'm quite proud of the fact that I didn't just freak out, but now it's your turn to go and supervise our daughter as she climbs down the fifty foot tree next door.  Sorry, but I'd prefer not watching her fall to her death or breaking multiple bones."  Doug chuckled and responded, "Babe, if they fall, they won't fall to the ground.  They'd just hit the next branch on the way down and grab on.  They'd be fine."  I teased back, "BABE!  She's not Spiderman and this isn't a movie!!"  He laughed and went outside.  I didn't hear the conversation, but I'm almost certain that Doug's reaction to Zeej was more like, "Awesome!  WAY TO GO!!!  GOOD JOB!!!"

Oh, and I failed to mention that while I was calmly making my "climb down now" speech, the mother of the other three children who were also in the top of the tree was standing behind me laughing.  Not at me, but she thought my reaction was funny.  I'd not even seen her there, but she'd been working in the yard while the kids were climbing and apparently thought that this was a perfectly fine activity.  (I'm not judging her at all.  I'm just saying that this was what happened.)

Later, I downloaded the two photos.  Doug and ZJ were watching over my shoulder, anxious to high-five her success again.  When we could barely see the kids in the foliage, Doug teased, "Oops.  Zeej, you'll have to get back up there so Mom can take a better picture with better lighting."  NOT AMUSED, MR. C!  ZJ proudly stated, "But, Mom, it's one of my talents!"

And so.  This brings me to my thoughts and a question for the day.  Doug and I were raised so completely different.  I was raised by a paranoid mother, who would dress us up in the morning and let us sit on the couch reading a book, for fear that we might get dirty, get hurt while having fun playing or even worse - kidnapped or murdered while we played on the front porch.  Literally.  This was my childhood... constantly being reminded of all the bad people out there who could harm us and of the dangers in riding bikes, sledding down a hill, walking alone in a grocery store.  At twelve, I was excited to be "allowed" to ride my bike to the driveway of the house on either side of us!! Woohooo!  

A few years ago when we got the pool, when Mom was living with us, going through her chemotherapy.... she said, "Don't let the kids play on that side of the pool with the intake filter because it will suck their hair into it and rip off their scalp."  This is the same mother who told me to never let my kids wear "Crocs" because their foot would get stuck in the escalator and it would slice the foot right off."  My response was "It's a good thing we don't have any escalators in Cache Valley, isn't it."  Literally, I was raised to live in fear.

And then there's Doug, who tells tales of driving the truck into town when he was eight years old.  (He was a farm boy, and they all did this.) He also tells of walking to and playing in the canal a few blocks away when he was three and four.  His brothers tell stories of one brother is the weight holding the board in place off a fifty foot roof while the other brother is standing on the other end suspended out in the air!!!  Yes.  We were raised quite differently.

I know that somewhere...Somewhere in the middle is a good, healthy place for raising children.  Now, Doug points out to me often, "We're still alive."  When he says this to me, he's not being contrary.  He's just calmly reminding me to relax.  And honestly.  It wasn't until my mother moved near us that I ever realized how irrational her parenting had been.  When Quayd plays night games with a group of good, sharp teenage boys in our ward, playing hide and seek in the dark...Mom's comment:  "Oh, he's doing that BAD thing."  When they sleep over at Nana's, which happens less and less as they are getting older, especially for Quayd, they can't play on her porch because someone could see them or it's too cold or it's dark and we have to keep the doors locked.  I'm learning.  And the rebellious Sophia, almost enjoys telling the girls on the rare occasion that we are shopping with Mom, "Sure, you can go to the toy department ALONE. Just stay together."

My closest circle of friends have all commented many times about how much more relaxed I am with the babes than I was the bigs.  Thankfully, because of Doug, I wasn't as bad as my mother, but,  I have finally learned to let them be kids and enjoy the journey.  Granted, I'm still a far cry from cheering them on while they climb a fifty foot tree and I still like them to be together and not alone, but to me, that's just plain safety smarts, not paranoid parenting.  I'm just saying.  Parenting is a complex science!  

SO.  Here's the question of the day.  We've asked everyone we've talked with this past few days and have gotten some interesting responses.  Most men have had no issues with the tree climbing experience.  Most mothers have said, "Are you kidding me?!?!??  THAT tree!?!??!"  The kids wanted me to take a poll and ask.

Would you have been alright with your eleven year old and three younger kids climbing to the top of a fifty foot tree, unharnessed, unprotected?

Feel free to email me or respond on the comments below.  Thanks!  And don't hold back.  I know that I still have a long way to go!  That's another reason that I am grateful for my second chance at parenting!

There are two lasting bequests we can give our children.
One is roots.  The other is wings. 

what if?

Yesterday, we heard the news that one of Doug's father's best friends had passed away at the ripe age of 81.  His funeral will be on Monday.  Bob was a good man, a neighbor and friend of the family for years.  I believe that he was also the LDS Bishop who conducted Doug's father's funeral when Doug's father, Dale, was killed in an automobile accident.  Dale's death left Doug's mom with their six children, ages six to seventeen. Doug, the oldest, was a senior in High School.  

A few days ago, after pondering something I'd read, I asked Doug what was the worst day of his life. Without even a thought, he answered, "The day that my dad died."  That was  forty years ago this past December.

Yesterday, when we heard the news of Bob's passing, surprisingly, my first thought was, "This was when Dale (Doug's dad) should  be dying." Odd thought because we do not live in the past or waste time wishing or thinking "what if".  We try hard to focus on the positive and learn from the challenges that life brings us each day.  However, several times yesterday, I couldn't help but visit there in my mind a little bit.  Later in the afternoon, we were having a discussion and I said the words, "Well, it probably wouldn't have been that way if your dad was still alive."  And as those words left my mouth, I realized that those words are spoken often in our home.  "If Dad were still here... if Dad hadn't have died..."  We think and speak of Dale often.

Doug's dad passed away five years before I met him.  But, for thirty seven years now, I've heard stories and tales of Dad, Uncle Dale, friend and neighbor Dale that have consistently made me aware that I really missed out by not knowing him!  And it makes me sad.  He was a very social, outgoing, giving man, known for his hearty laugh and his fun-spirited personality.  He was a very successful business man.  He was a good father, an upstanding citizen and known for being the first to lend a helping hand to anyone in need or to build the confidence and spirit of everyone around him. One of the greatest compliments that I've received in my thirty six years of marriage to Doug, coming from an old close friend of Dale's and from his sisters several times over the years has been "Oh, Dale would have just loved you!"  How grateful I am for my own knowledge of the Plan of Salvation and the gospel of Jesus Christ that gives me the hope that I will get to know him one day!

We'll be attending the funeral of this good man, Bob, who was Dale's friend.  It will be a celebration of his life, well-lived.  But, I can't help but wonder, as these thoughts have gone through my mind this morning,  "What if this were Dale's funeral?  What if he had been here for our children and grands?  What if he'd have been here, in the flesh, to be my father-in-law for all these years?  What if Doug had have had his dad to go to with questions and lean on for guidance and counsel all of our years?? How different would our lives be today? Doug says, often, that we have learned lesson and grown in ways that we never would have, had his Dad been here with the family.  That's absolutely true.  But, I can't help but wish that we could have known life with Dale.  And for some reason, Bob's death has really brought that to my mind.  {{Shrugging shoulders}}  Oh well.  It is what it is.  But, it doesn't really hurt to wonder.  Enough said.

Every moment is a golden one for those who have the vision to recognize it as such.

Photo:  Dale and Anna Corbridge, wedding day 1953

My most excellent adventure ~ day 6

Oh my.  I'm a dork! I couldn't have a week long trip and not have a real blond experience.  That would be yesterday.  Liza and Buddy were off to school and work.  I slept in, blogged, went for a walk, had a bite for lunch and then, finally, pool time!  I gathered up my Kindle, a bottled water, my iPhone and the keys for the pool gate.  She'd hung her keys on the hook by the door so that I could lock up when I went out for a walk and told me to make sure to take the keys to the pool so that I could get inside the gate.  

Twice, Liza has struggled with the key in one of the pool gates and we've walked around to the other. Yesterday, I went straight to the west gate.  The key fit in the lock but wouldn't turn.  I walked around to the east gate.  Nada.  Back to the west.  Twice.  There was a cute young gal in a bikini by the pool.  She's the first and only other person I've seen at the pool all week long.  She was finishing up, so I asked her if she minded opening the gate because my key wasn't working.

She took one look at my key and said, "that's not the right key."  I insisted, "It's the same key my daughter has been using all week long."  She asked if how long they'd lived her and when I told her nine months, she said she was new, so maybe the keys were different now.  Hmmm.  I thanked her and she went on her merry way.

I had the pool to myself, again. It was about 80 degrees out with a slight light wind gust every now and then.  HOT with the sun beating down on me.  Even my Native American skin,I am very cautious about the sun.  I set my timer so that I could "rotissarrie" myself and planned one hour.  

While enjoying the solitude of the pool and the sunshine, I was lying there thinking about the cute bikini girl who'd let me in the gate.  She was early 20s, very cute, very petite, very tanned.  And here I was... all alone in the pool enjoying the fact that I'm 53, married and very much in love to one man, have given birth three times, am not nor will ever be again, the cute tanned skinny shapely girl at the pool, where all eyes would be on me. And I don't mind that a bit!  I could relax and enjoy myself at the poolside, doing whatever, without having to worry about others looking at me and who I need to impress!  There are definite perks to growing up!   

After about fifty minutes, I was feeling the heat, so I gathered my stuff to head home.  I walked to the gate, key in hand and when I went to unlock it from the inside, nada.  Nothing.  I walked over to the west gate.  Nada again.  Twice.  Hmmmm.  I stood there thinking "What the heck?  I know this worked for Liza.  She just had to fool with it for a minute."  I twisted, I pulled the gate, I leaned on the gate.  Nothing.  There's a very nice fitness center about twenty feet outside the gate of the pool and I looked through the tinted windows, in hopes of catching someone's eye.  I could see a few machines moving, but no people.  

After about five minutes of this, I called Liza, hoping she would answer her phone.  She did!  I asked her about the gate, told her my dilemma and she asked, "You did get the right key, didn't you?" I said, "Yes, of course."  She said, "Which key are you using?"  I answered, "The one with Max's wristband on it."  She hesitated and said, "Mom, that's not the pool key.  That's the house keys.  Remember, I told you to make sure to take the one with the lizard on it."  I looked at the keyring. I said, "I thought that it looked more like a snake, but if that's what you call a lizard, I'm good with it."  She said, "Mom, that's not a lizard.  That's a giraffe."   A GIRAFFE?  SERIOUSLY???  MY BAD!

After a few good laughs, she said she would call the office and ask them to send someone to my rescue.  A few minutes later, she called back to tell me that all she got was a voicemail.   So.  I stood there.  And waited.  And then, I decided to just sit down and read.  Eventually, someone would come along.  The pool area is surrounded by palmtrees, but none are down in the gated "island" where the pool actually is.  It was HOT!  I dipped my feet in the pool a few times and continued to move around. FINALLY....

This lady comes walking from a few buildings away.  Very slowly.  Literally, like the bridal march, one step, then the next.  It took her forever to get close enough that I'd call for her.  I asked if she had a pool key.  No.  I could see quickly that this woman wasn't quite "all there".  She was kind, however and told me that she'd go and get help at the front office.  And she left.  Walking the bridal walk away to the east.  Five minutes later, I look off to the west, far away to the west and I see the woman walking on the other side of the west building. Please pass how she got over there?  And so quickly?  There was NO WAY she'd had time to go to the front, several buildings away, and then get back there!

She walked up to the west gate and said hello, as though we'd never talked.  I asked if she got anyone and she suddenly remembered me.  "Uh, yeh.  There will be someone coming around in a golf cart in a little while."  Okey dokey then.  And then she continued, "Would you like me to wait with you?"  "Um, no thanks, mam.  The gate is locked."  She left. And that was the end of her.  

A few minutes later, a nice young man came out of the gym.  I asked him if he had a pool key.  He apologized that his girlfriend keeps it.  But, he said, that he would come back in ten minutes to see if I was still there.   I just sat there and continued to read.  Have I mentioned that it was HOT?

A few minutes later, the gym guy came back over to the west gate.  "Hey,  the woman in that apartment over there just told me that you can pick the lock with a credit card.  She gave me one to show you how."  And then, he proceeded to give me a full tutorial on lock picking with a credit card.  Two seconds later, I was out, had thanked him and on my way back inside Liza's apartment.  FORTY-FIVE minutes AFTER my planned hour had ended!

During the whole experience, I was reading and texting with friends telling my crazy story, talking with Liza and laughing so soooo hard!  I was HOT.  I was alone, locked in the pool in the hot sun, but I was laughing HARD.  And not once did I think about the sun!!!    I dipped my feet in the pool when I got really hot to cool off but I wasn't thinking about the sun!  And today, I. AM. FRIED!!!!  I slept with almost nothing on.  I lathered on the Melaleuca After Tan all night long. (Seriously, there's never been a better product invented for sunburns!) I'm not sure how much sun I'll dare get today.  BUT.  I got a great laugh out of the experience.  Liza and I were texting back and forth and it kept her co-workers all entertained for the afternoon!  Silly me!

Our plans for the temple changed abruptly later in the afternoon when we discovered that temple closed at 1:30 during the Pageant.  Our plans for the Pageant changed when we learned that we needed to be there early and in our seats.  The freeway rushhour put Liza and Buddy behind schedule.  Buddy wasn't feeling so great.  I wasn't feeling the best.  (Maybe it was all that sun!)  As we were deciding what to do, their friends, Liz and Chris texted to invite us over for dinner.  So, Liza and I ran to the grocery store for some fruit and dip makings, then we went off to the Lewis' for dinner and Farkle.  A very fun night!  I love their friends!  

Today.  Some more pool time, probably with a shirt on!  This afternoon, dinner and shopping with Liza and then tonight, we are going to see Titanic at the IMAX!  Tomorrow, the plans are still up in the air.  I'll either be saying goodbye first thing in the morning or a few other possible options and then, Carol, Taylor and I are on our way to Vegas for a short overnight visit with one of my favorite people in the entire world, Doug's Aunt Molly!  ANNNNND PHANTOMMMMM!  Honestly.  I'm ready to be home with Doug and the babes, but I'm not ready to part with my girl!  I adore Liza.  More than words, more than thoughts, more than anything could ever express!

At home, the kids are gearing up for a fun weekend with their dad!  He's got big plans for them.  I'm getting antsy to see them all.  My 35th anniversary is Saturday.  It will be our first anniversary ever apart.  We spent our 15th in LA seeing Phantom.  Seeing it on our 35th is awesome but it would be nice to do it together!  ;)  We celebrate our 35 years every day, so really, it's okay.  Life is good.  Busy, crazy, sunburned, but good!  Very very good!  Enough said.  

And speaking of marriage...Today's quote comes from Liza's friends', Chris and Liz's wall.  I need this sign!  

fun stuff!!!

We left on Friday, the minute that Carol walked out of her classroom.  I was waiting for her in the parking lot.  We headed to her house, threw my stuff in the car and were off...off in a hurry to get to Salt Lake City... just in time for rush hour on the busiest night of the year in the city.  (LDS General Conference was the next day and half a gazillion people are in town!)  We were amazed at the traffic, from the on ramp to the freeway in Brigham City, north of Salt Lake all the way down to Payson, south of Provo.  Insane!  That part of the trip, which normally takes two hours took us almost three and a half!  It was as though everyone was heading south!  BUT.  Once we were past the cities, we made great time and ended up in St. George at 11PM. 

We checked into our room and couldn't get over how warm it was outside!  There were still people in the pool but we were all so tired that we just got ready for bed, checked our emails and went to sleep because we knew that we had a big day ahead.

Saturday morning, we were up bright and early and ready to roll!  We'd asked the guy in the hotel for the best way to the Grand Canyon.  He recommended the North Rim and gave us directions.  The signs told us a different way and the GPS, a lovely woman with a British accent, told us a different way. The guy at the hotel might have wanted to let us know, before telling us to go to the North Rim, that the NORTH RIM IS CLOSED UNTIL MAY 15th!  (A little lesson in hotel management 101 would be to inform guests of seasonal closures of major tourist attractions.) We drove an hour and a half out of our way, as a result of this lack of information, only to find the entrance barricaded with a giant CLOSED til May 15 sign.  The drive, the scenic route, was one breathtaking view after another, most of the way, which made the little forgotten tidbit of info worth the drive.  But, with gas priced at $4.19 a gallon, the closed sign was a little pricey mistake.
 
Oh my heck!  When we stopped for gas, I opened the door to get out and take a picture of the AZ/UT state line sign to send to Liza so she'd know we were on our way.  My laptop fell OUT OF THE CAR and onto the street!  I freaked!  I said a prayer.  So did Carol.  And so far, so good!  BUT I was mortified!  The extended warranty ran out three weeks ago!  Oh.  And that little town behind this Arizona sign would be "Colorado City", the town of Warren Jeffs and the polygamists community.  We were amazed at how run down and dirty the town was.  No paved streets, cluttered.  It just felt strange.  Sad.

Northern Arizona is quite barren.  Beautiful red rock cliffs, and not a tree to be found for miles and miles.  It never ceases to amaze me, God's beautiful Earth.

Two hours later, at the end of the road, near Jacobs Lake AZ, which is the town that's 40 miles from the North Rim, I went inside a little lodge that looked abandoned and found three young men who gave me a map and directed us towards Flagstaff, another two hours away, and then to the South rim of the Grand Canyon.  This part of the drive was not so beautiful.  Barren desert land with occasional trailers or yurts, the most impoverished place that I've yet to see in our beautiful nation. I can't imagine living in the desert in a trailer or lean-to, like that.  Many many roadside stands that were barely sheltered and these people have to make a living at in the extreme heat.  This made my heart hurt for the Native Americans in the area. We met some very beautiful women who were extremely talented jewelry makers when we stopped for this photo.  Notice that Taylor is suffering from severe Raviniadescendia in this photo!  (See below...our biggest laughs!)

 

The GPS, which I named "Penelope", kept us entertained with her "in .2 miles, turn sharp right" every two minutes.  Literally, she would have had us turning into the Grand Canyon.  Here's one of the places she told us to turn into: The dirt road ended about 100 feet beyond!  What's up with that?  And then there was the hour that she didn't tell us anything...we feared that we'd offended her with our snarky comments back, including, "Got it, lady.  Now, Shut it!"


By the time we took the real turn off to the Grand Canyon National Park, we were excited to see it and the view completely changed to these massive crevaces in the land, filled with beautiful red rocks and breathtaking scenery. 

As we pulled into the park entrance, the Park Ranger who took the $25 entrance fee asked if we had any small children in the back.  Carol told her that we had a 16 year old and commented on the strong winds.  The ranger said, "Yep.  The winds get pretty strong and when it's like this, you have to be careful cause little children can be blown right into the canyon."   She said it as though it happened every day, as casually as "Please pass the salt."  We got a big laugh out of that.  There were lots of laughs.

The canyon is amazing.  Seriously A.MAZ.ING!  My eyes filled with tears immediately as I took my first look down on of God's most magnificent creations!  It was breathtaking.  I literally could hear the words to the hymn that I posted yesterday.  IN AWESOME WONDER! 

 We took pix, climbed to the top of the lookout tower for an even better view, then took more pix.
 






More pix later.   We were there at the canyon for less than an hour.  Unless you are going to find a donkey to ride down, there's not much more to do, but I could have just found a quiet spot and gazed for hours. Definitely a place that can't been seen without a prayer of gratitude for this beautiful Earth! 



During the entire trip, Taylor rode in a crowded backseat (We'd all over packed and I was bringing a ton of stuff to Liza). Taylor kept saying, "Is my door locked?  Lock my door, please."  As always, when we are all together, we get silly.  I suggested that Taylor has "scratziofaciobia", a new phobia that I created... meaning that she had a fear of falling out of a moving car and getting her face all scratched up.  From then on, we began to create new phobias.  While at the Grand Canyon, we diagnosed Taylor, who is not a fan of heights, with Raviniadescendia, which is a fear of falling into the Grand Canyon.  I, the germaphobe, who has issues with germy hotel rooms, have Lodgiacomfortitis, which is a fear of germy hotel comforters and "Logdgiaunibuttitus", which is a fear of germs on universal remote controls in hotels.  (We call the remote, "the buttons".)  We stopped for Subways in Flagstaff and after the store manager followed me to the pop machine to make sure that I got water and did not steal a free refill of pop, it was decided that he had "worriaeightcentsia", which is a fear of someone stealing eight cents of pop from them (or being overly cheap!)  After Carol and Taylor left me at Liza and Buddy's, Taylor sent me a text saying that she had "longayswechitus", which is a fear of a long hot sweaty night.  It was 95 degrees when we got to Tempe!!!

Maybe you had to be there, but we had great laughs from our little phobia game.  It passed the time and kept us laughing for hours!  I have a feeling that this will be a new thing to do whenever we are together!  Other time passing fillers were playing Encore, where you have a word and everyone takes turns coming up with a song using that word until no one can think of one anymore.  We played Scattergories without pen and paper and we told lots and lots of stories.  And I'm not allowed to mention the treats that were brought along.  ;) 

Liza was waiting outside for us when we arrived at 5ish. It was so good to see her!  Carol and Taylor only stayed a moment and then left to get to Carol's mom's.  Buddy didn't get home until after ten, so we ordered the best pizza when he came in.  We sat and gabbed till midnight.  Liza and I went for two walks and had a great visit.  I remember when my mom would come to visit me and bring me lots of surprises and how much I loved that.  I'd brought one suitcase that was filled with nothing but things for Liza.  So, we had fun going through her new things.  Liza kept saying, "Mom, you look so good!" which made my day!  I assured her that after a week here and two trips with Carol and Taylor, I'll probably gain ten pounds! The goal is not to!  Hence the two walks! 

Liza and Buddy were great hosts yesterday.  It was such a strange feeling... I'm visiting my daughter and her husband in their home in Arizona.  I've never spent the night with Liza in her home.  When we woke up, Sunday morning, they made a lovely breakfast of sausage, eggs and cheese, homemade hashbrowns and homemade without a mixer totally by hand like the pioneers cinnamon rolls!  And the entire meal was fabulous!!!! 

Following a day of watching LDS General Conference (which was amazing and incredible), we took a drive to Gilbert to see the new LDS temple that is being built. Buddy and Liza both talked about living in AZ forever and that this would be a great place to land when he's done with school.  While there, we met a family who were just as friendly and outgoing as could be.  The woman's BYU shirt started the conversation and we found that they had roots in Cache Valley. His name was Scott Jackson, who is also the name of the brother of my good friend, Kara.  So, that made us all feel like family.  We had a fun time visiting with them!

After the temple, we raced back home! Buddy had made his famous spaghetti and sausage in the crock pot. They'd invited their new friends, Chris and Liz, over for dinner and games and we played cards and games until very late.  Lots of laughs and fun and the food was heavenly!  I just loved their friends.  Chris and I immediately started teasing each other and it felt like we were all old friends in no time!  Fun!  I feel great knowing that they have "family" here!

We went to bed right after they left and I was stunned when I woke up this morning to the sound of Doug calling during his 8:30 break from work!  I never sleep in that late!  But, it's vacation, right!?  Today, Liza and Buddy are off to school and work and I am here alone for the day.  I'll be going for a walk, spending some afternoon time in the sun, reading by the pool and then tonight, Liza and I will play some more. 

Meanwhile at home, ZJ, surprisingly, has called a dozen times a day to tell me that she hurt her foot, it's snowing, it's snowing more, what she's eating... I think she misses her mama.  Quayd has connected with his Touch and Gracie, who was so sad that I was leaving has said hello on the phone twice.  I think that she's busy being the mom at home.  And the funnest thing... Doug is learning to text!  My goal for the week was to have him learn to text with me.  My favorite text so far, made me teary-eyed... I sent him a photo of me standing at the Grand Canyon.  His response: "Wow!  Two wonders in one picture."  And that is why I adore this man so!

  My quote for the day, from General Conference yesterday is from, yet another, amazing talk by President Uchtdorf...it's a must hear, see, listen to for everyone, LDS or not!  LOVE THAT MAN!  It's beautiful here. It's not as hot today. It's always breezy. Life is good!

“This topic of judging others could actually be taught in a two-word sermon,” he said. “When it comes to hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing, holding grudges, or wanting to cause harm—please apply the following: Stop it!”

Seriously????

After a full week of sending Carol silly texts every few minutes about leaving, and her countless calm responses such as, "Help me. " and "It's going to be a long week", she called yesterday morning at 7:25.  Her first words were almost sung, "I can't believe it's tomorrrooooow!"  I complacently responded, "What is?"  Shocked, she said, probably thinking I was still asleep, "Um, our trip."  I said, "Oh, is that tomorrow?"  Her response:  "I kill ya!"  It's no longer tomorrow!  It's today!  In just hours!  I'm packed! Treats made! Connie's caramels packed! Legs shaved! Kids and hubby taken care of!  House ready!  It's time!  Woohooo! In just a few hours, Carol, Taylor and I will probably gain ten pounds each eating road treats and then burn them all off laughing and having fun as we travel and play in a hotel room, being silly girlfriends!  Tomorrow night, I'll be with my girl, Liza and her hubby, Buddy in Arizona!  It's been a long two weeks waiting! AT LAST!  

I am seriously and literally aghast at an experience I had yesterday morning.  After running errands together, I stopped to drop Denise off at her truck.  We sat, gabbing in my truck for another half hour.  It is a large parking lot with four rows parking rows and several exits out of it.  I was parked in the lane, not a parking space, behind Denise's truck.   With the exception of another truck, there was only one other car parked anywhere than against the building.  At one point, as a courtesy, I backed up a few parking spaces to make it easier for an older man to back his truck out.  He had plenty of space, but I did it just as a courtesy. BECAUSE I'M NICE!  LOL  

Twenty minutes later, Denise and I are still gabbing in my truck, again with only a few cars parked right up against the front doors of the store on the opposite side of the parking lot. Our windows were rolled down, when I heard this woman's voice, "Could you move?!"  Denise and I both thought she was joking.  I totally thought that it was someone I knew, being funny, because there was another exit just two car lengths away from where I was. I TRULY HAD NO IDEA that when I had backed up for the little old man, I was too close to the exit/entrance.  In the half hour that we were there, we'd seen no one else coming or going.

SO, the woman says, "Could you move?!?"  I turned to see who was teasing me, certain that it was someone I knew.  I realized that this was not a friend and this woman was serious.  I also realized, for the first time, that I was too close to one of the several exits.  Immediately, I started to apologize profusely, "I'm so sorry!  Oh my gosh,I had no idea I was blocking the way.  I'm sorry!" as I was starting my truck to move. LITERALLY, as I was shifting into drive and apologizing, the woman yells, "THEN MOVE YOU STUPID B****!!!!" 

When she said those words, you could have heard Denise gasp from a mile away!  We were so stunned!  The woman then, peels out, squealing her tires, running over the curb, into the grass, over the second curb and then flies away.  Literally.  The woman could have turned her wheel 2 " and gone out another exit that was right there.  Doug was certain that that kind of driving probably did some damage to her car.

Denise and I were so stunned!  And then we started to laugh.  Out loud!  I said, "Wouldn't you want to live with her?!?!"  OH. MY. HECK!  I laughed at the whole situation.  But. For the rest of the day, I couldn't stop thinking of this woman who has to be so miserable in her life that she would react that way to a total stranger who was apologizing for an unintentional offense!  Talk about a short fuse!  I said to my brother, "Who does that!?"  Rick said, "That woman!"  Un.Be.Lieve.Able!  

Which leads me to today's little sentiment, in the midst of all my excitement for taking my trip.  Seriously.  Someone was having a bad day.  I feel bad that I didn't help with my careless mistake.  But, SERIOUSLY?  I wouldn't recognize the woman if she brought me a plate of cookies right now.  The lady had someone in the car with her.  I'm not sure if it was male or female.  I'm not sure if they were an adult or a child.  And she probably drove away saying SERIOUSLY?? about me.  But, SERIOUSLY?  I'm still stunned.  

I remember years ago taking a class from Steven Covey, before he was "STEVEN COVEY".  He taught the principle of being proactive.  He said, "Your life doesn't just "happen." Whether you know it or not, it is carefully designed by you. The choices, after all, are yours. You choose happiness. You choose sadness. You choose decisiveness. You choose ambivalence. You choose success. You choose failure. You choose courage. You choose fear. Just remember that every moment, every situation, provides a new choice. And in doing so, it gives you a perfect opportunity to do things differently to produce more positive results. Instead of reacting to or worrying about conditions over which they have little or no control, proactive people focus their time and energy on things they can control."  

Eta by Sophia: Proactive people don't get their undies in a bunch over petty little things like bad driving, poor parking, or women who smile when they are apologizing!

This lady was definitely reactive, not proactive!  If I had it to do over again, A:  I'd have parked correctly.  B:  I'd have said to the woman, "I don't know who pooped in your oatmeal, but Have a great day anyway!" as she was driving away.  If I'm ever "flipped off" on the road for a driving mistake, I always smile and wave!  I always feel better about the whole situation instead of upset by it.  It's so much more simple to handle it that way.

That's all.  I just had to share the experience and laugh about it in retrospect.  Life is still good.  After all, I'm leaving for Arizona...today!

A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.

Super-size Weekend!

As mentioned yesterday, Gracie called Saturday, "the Best Day EVER!"  We had a blast and made every single minute count!!! 

Saturday morning, we left early enough to gas up and then drive through McD's for a quick On the Go breakfast.  For the past several months, Grace has awaited a day that just the two of us could go to my favorite decorating places that she hears me go on about so often.  So, naturally, Taipan was first one the list.  While there, we found this cute little poncho on sale and the two things that she really loved for her room were the wrong colors.  So, we passed.  Just as we were at the check-out, Grace discovered "the biggest strawberries in the world!", chocolate covered.  Of course, we had to have one!

We waited until we got into the Expedition to eat them.  I laughed out loud as Grace had her first taste!  She took her first bite, closed her eyes and said, "Oh, my goodness!  That made me feel all shivery!"  I relate, Grace.  I relate!

After Taipan, we headed to Secret Haven at the Rock Loft.  There has been much change in this quaint little out of the way boutique.  There is less decor and more clothing/accessory type product on display.  It's still beautiful, as always, but just less of the beauty that makes it worth the drive.

Following Secret Haven, we went on a whirlwind shopping therapy at Target.  We both had a few items in mind to find.  Grace had no luck.  She's been saving her money since Christmas for a few things, so she was anxious and hopeful, but no luck.  I did pick up a few things for my trip to Arizona, but we were wishing we knew were a Kohls was as we left Target.  We walked out into the parking lot and lo, and behold, there was a Kohls in the parking lot!!!  Please pass where that came from?  We had no time left for shopping because we had a big date in less than an hour!

We raced to lunch with "Miss Marilyn", Gracie's hero.  Grace coined the name, "Magical Miss Marilyn" a few years ago.  Marilyn and I had talked on the phone after Taipan to make sure we were both on the same page, schedule-wise, and I'd told her about Gracie's strawberry experience.  Marilyn met us at Cheesecake Factory for lunch in South Salt Lake. We chatted during the almost hour wait, while watching the servers dish up cheesecake after cheesecake.  The entire time, Gracie's eyes just got bigger and bigger!  After her pasta alfredo was all gone, she enjoyed Lemon Raspberry Cheesecake, eating every bite, except the one she shared with Miss Marilyn.  The girl is definitely a dessert girl!

I would be remiss to not mention that I, all but, licked my plate clean from the Lettuce Wraps.  Honestly and truly, the best lettuce wraps I've ever enjoyed!  I had to call Liza and ask her if there is a Cheesecake Factory near her home in Arizona because we'll be enjoying them while together next week for sure!  By the way, the best way to eat lettuce wraps is to cut it all up, mix it all up, toss it in the sauces and serve it as a salad! OH MY!

After saying goodbye to Marilyn, we headed downtown SLC to the LDS Conference Center for the Young Women's Broadcast.  Grace was so excited for the entire experience.  We parked right next to the building, which was really great when the event was over.  We waited in line less than ten minutes before we were able to enter the building.  And then, the hour wait before the broadcast began was spent, mostly, reading.  We'd both brought along a book for the wait. I'd hoped we could close our eyes for a minute before because it had been such a big day but we were both too excited for the experience to close our eyes.

Grace reached over and touched my arm as President Monson, President Eyring and President Uchtdorf entered the room.  She told me that it made her feel "peace".  A side note of my own:  I had brought my camera in, although we were instructed no photographs once the broadcast began.  So, while we waited, I played with the camera, zooming in on these three amazingly wonderful men and this was my favorite shot of all.  To me, it speaks of happiness, inner peace and joy. 

From this shot, you can see that we were a mile away from the podium. We were actually on the terrace, not the top balcony, but I'm excited that my camera does such a great job.  The girls in the choir were all dressed in pastel yellow, pink and salmon.  It was a sight to behold.  Grace and I had been on the lookout through all of our shopping for a new yellow blouse for me.  When the choir walked in, I leaned over and whispered to Grace, "No wonder we couldn't find a yellow blouse.  They were all bought for the choir!"  This gave her the giggles.

The music and the spoken word of the Women's Broadcast were splendid.  I was so thrilled to share the experience with my daughter.  I loved seeing 30,000 other young women who share the same beliefs and values as Grace and was thrilled when she acknowledged that the girls who were there were girls who want to do what is right and keep Heavenly Father's commandments.  It led to great discussion on the way home.  What an awesome experience!

We were able to leave the Conference Center immediately.  We waited about ten minutes for a phone call from the YW President to make sure that no one needed a ride home and we were headed home.  We beat the crowds and made great time because of our parking location and reconnected with Carol and Taylor again to meet at Kohls in Logan and we shopped until 11PM.  Taylor, who is a super-shopper helped Grace find several new things at great prices! I got some new things to wear on our trip... best part of it all, I'm two sizes smaller than last fall! Sweet!  After that, we hit Lee's Marketplace to pick up what Grace needed to make strawberry shortcake for Sunday dessert, a school assignment to cook for her family.

A few other ramblings about the day: 

• Carol and her daughter, Taylor, were also in SLC for the day to see the Beauty and the Beast performance.  Because I was driving, Grace texted back and forth with them both, as well as with Liza, most of the day on my iPhone.  She was quite proud of herself, learning this new "skill".  As a matter of fact, when Liza texted me on Sunday, Grace grabbed the phone to respond to her before I'd even heard the text come in.  She's growing up too quickly.
• Hysterical~ For the past few days, I've been texting Carol, "135,239 minutes!!!!" and seconds and days till we leave!  Counting down my way .. not counting today, or the day we go... so we are leaving in three days instead of a week.  Carol...counting every minute literally. I've sent her a lotof these texts.  On Saturday morning at 6AM, (I knew that she was up), I texted "Are we there yet?"  Carol's response, "Kill me!"   As we drove to SLC, Grace texted Taylor, "Tell you Mom that my mom is really excited about AZ!"  And to Carol, "Mom can't wait!!!"  Carol responded:  "Who is this?  This phone number used to belong to someone else but she changed her number because she was being harassed with annoying texts." We are all slightly excited about our trip!  Liza's texts are just as fun!
• And finally, more BIG NEWS!!!!  We had Sunday dinner together to make more trip plans.  As soon as we walked into Carol's great room, Carol said, "We need to talk.  Taylor, go, get it."  I was thinking "WHAT is happening?"  Carol began.  "Well, since we are driving.  And we are going through anyway.  And.  Well.  We really shouldn't NOT.  We were thinking - Taylor." And at that point, Taylor touched play on her iPod, which began playing "PHANTOM OF THE OPERA!"  It didn't take me a nano-second!  I SCREEEAAAMMMMMED!!!  I SQUEALED!!!!!  "We're going to see PHANTOM!!?!?!?!!?!"  And then I cried. I am obsessedwith Phantom of the Opera, my most favorite music ever!  We're going to come home by way of Las Vegas and see Phantom!  HAPPINESS!  After my little explosion of excitement, I calmed down, walked over to Doug and said most calmly, "Babe?  Carol has invited me to see Phantom in Vegas on our way home?  Would you be okay with that?"  Ya think????!?!?!?
• It was, however, followed by a bittersweet moment.  Grace really really wants to go on this trip with us.  We are taking Carol's mom home to AZ, so, there is not room.  While I was screaming and jumping and squealing and hugging, I looked over at Grace on the sofa, with tears in her eyes.  I had to stop and give her a love.  I assured her that the next time Phantom comes to SLC, we will see it live.  I don't think that it's necessarily Phantom, she just loves being with the girls,  she misses Liza and she's becoming one of the "big girls".   Especially since we'd just had this magnificent day together, she knows just how much fun we do have together as "big girls".  I love that she loves spending time with me.  I hope and pray that it stays that way for a lonnnnnnnnng time!  They grow up too quickly!
• It's going to be a very busy week... Doug's birthday is Tuesday. I've got cooking and grocery shopping to do for Doug and the babes, packing and a house to leave clean,  a dentist appointment for a crown to be seated, Hunger Games to see with my brother (not really excited about the movie, but I said I would go with him)... lots of things to check off on my list!  And then, a trip with two of my favorite people in the world and a daughter and son-in-law to see!  Three more days!  You don't count today because it's here and you don't count Friday because that's the day we are leaving!  Life is good!!!

This Subway sign was available for sale at Secret Haven at the Rock Loft in Kaysville Utah. 

live a little, laugh a little, love a little

The roof is done and it looks great!  Doug and I were so happy check off that big task on our To Do list! DONE!  YAYYYY!  And a HUUUUUUUUUUUGE thank you to my brother, Rick and our friend/neighbor, Dave.  We couldn't have done it without them! It looks great!  My favorite part of the day...watching Rick teaching Quayd how to use the air nail gun.  Quayd thought that being on the roof was cool, but handling the tools was the best!  Love it!  I look at this photo of him and I see a young man, not a little boy anymore.  Love him so much!!

Natalie and I went for pretty feet and eye-brow waxing, then brought lunch to Rick and watched Survivor together.  I'd recorded it for Rick.  Oh my, can you say "KARMA?"  We love Survivor!

Rick is such a riot.  He proposed to four women in ten minutes while we were picking up a few more supplies for the roof and stopping for a drink at McD's.  He reminds me of my dad in his younger days, when he'd tell servers and store clerks that he'd waited his entire life to meet them and knew that they were the one, then proposing...total strangers.  Making their day, making them laugh.  As much as Rick wants to deny it, he's Dad made over.  I love them both and pray for the day that they can make amends.  Enough said about that.  This picture, pretty much, defines Rick's personality.  

Today, Natalie and I are going to Salt Lake City.  She has an appointment and we're going to make a day of it. Then tomorrow, Gracie and I are heading right back down to the big city for a special girls day out.  We'll be visiting all of our favorite decorating stores, looking for spring clothes, meeting "Miss Marilyn" for lunch and then attending the LDS General Young Women's Broadcast. Grace is so excited for the entire day.  She wanted to sit down and make a written plan of all the things and places we need to see and do.  I'm hoping to make it a day that she will always remember!

By the way, she's got the contact lenses perfected.  She gets them in and out in no time.  It's been so much fun to watch her, as she proudly masters this new task! 

Notice those beautiful blue skies and sleeveless family. We'll have a few more snowstorms, I'm certain, but spring is definitely here!  I'm planning on a wonderful weekend, anyway around it.   Make every moment count!  That's more than enough said!

Life is better when you're laughing!

A little Thursday rambling....

I just realized that I'd  hit draft instead of publish!  Too tired to think last night, I guess.

• Cream of Wheat, PBJ sandwich and a protein shake.  That's what I ate all day.  And a few pain pills.  Lovely.  This morning, I can talk more normal but this has to be the most dental pain I can remember ever experiencing.  Let's just say that I don't see myself eating nuts or chips for a few more days.
• The men have started on the roof.  My brother, Rick, assures us that he'll have it done by tomorrow.  He's in high gear all the time and rarely sits still. I wonder if that runs in our family?  By the way, that's Dave and Rick on the roof with Doug.  Dave is our awesome neighbor friend who volunteered his services last fall while we were painting the house. We were shocked at his enthusiasm and sooooooo appreciate his talents!
• The kids were walking home from the B's.  A girl saw Quayd playing with a felt frisbee that he'd found in the street, a block away.  She walked up to him and told him she wanted it.  (It was not hers.  She just wanted it.)  He said, "I'm playing with it."  She lunged at him and grabbed Quayd's glasses, demanding that he give it to her. She threatened to throw his glasses  into the fast moving creek.  Rather than grab them back and risk her throwing them into the creek, he picked up her bike.  She said, "GIVE ME MY BIKE!" and said, "Now, give me my glasses and you can have your bike."  (Doug calls this leverage.)  She screamed, "GIVE ME MY BIKE!"  He said, "I will, as soon as you give me the glasses." 
  Our girls were freaking out because she acted like she was really going to drop them in the river.  Not sure if she really would, Quayd handed her the bike.  She threw his glasses into the creek, missing the water, but with them landing on the rocks along the side.  Quayd raced to grab them from the rocks, finding them bent from her grabbing/squeezing them and the lenses were scratched up BIGTIME.  Not amused.  This is the same girl who followed the kids home the other day, asking to come in and have dinner with us. When they told her no, she threw a fit.  She's new in the neighborhood.  I'm thinking she needs to learn some manners. Doug is planning on talking with her grandmother.  He was on the roof when it all happened.  GIRL BULLIES?  Seriously?  I discussed it with friends last night and all agreed that the grandmother needs to be aware. Doug gets to do that task... he's much more tactful than I.
• I had a calm, quiet night with a few girlfriends.  We didn't play much, but we talked and talked until midnight.  It felt good to unwind with the girls. 
• A few weeks ago, I found a neighborhood cookbook from a friend's ward that I'd purchased years ago and forgotten about.  Yesterday, I made a crockpot meal called Tamale Casserole.  NASTINESS!  Doug loved it!  The rest of us...not so much.  I guess that's the only way to know.  Try it!  Kind of like life... how can we learn and grow if we don't try!?  I won't be making that again, but hey!  That's one that I can cross off from the list!
• Have I mentioned that I love my brother?  We are having a good time getting to know each other!
• It was so beautiful outside yesterday that I went for a walk with a friend.  The sunshine, the breeze, gorgeous!  It felt like the first day of spring!  Maybe that's because it is!
• I started packing this morning.  Went from "I need another hour of sleep" to Carol calling and mentioning the trip to leaping out of bed with "I need to pack my pink capris!!!  Not that I'm excited or anything!
• Springtime is so wonderful! Life is good! 


Be too positive to be doubtful, too optimistic to be fearful and too determined to be defeated.

HAPPY NEWS!

Not my favorite Tuesday ever.  The good news was that Brett didn't have to do a root canal.  The bad news was that the crown prep was agony.  Almost three hours with a block in my mouth to keep it open while he worked on my back molar.  Thank heavens for pain meds!

HAPPINESS!!! Carol had invited me, weeks ago, to come along when she visits her mother and some good friends of ours in Arizona over spring break. I was dying that I wouldn't be going with her! But,  I didn't see a way of leaving the babes for their spring break. They have high hopes for some time at the ranch. Last week, Wendy informed me that they are not going away for spring break this year and since I tended her kids when she and Stott went to Miami last fall, she offered to tend the babes, so that I could go and spend the week with Liza!!!  I leaped up doing the happy dance, but still holding my breath that it would come together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Life is good!  VERY good.  Even when your mouth throbs and you can't swallow without getting teary eyed from the pain!  This too shall pass!

Some people look for a beautiful place.  Others make a place beautiful.

 

First, I had to clear it with Doug. Eight days without a mom in the home isn't always fun. Doug teased me, "Are you sure you want to go?" Am I sure that I want to take a road trip with Carol? That I want to spend a week with Liza and Buddy? Hmmmm? Let me think about it?  OF COURSE I WANT TO GO! It will be hard to leave the family for that long, but I also need to be with Liza!  I texted Liza to let her know and my phone rang immediately, "That's not something you tell me in a text!!!!" I'd texted because I thought they were on the road on their way to Denver to meet their new baby niece!"

Then, we had to clear it with the kids. I wanted them to be comfortable with my absence. I explained that sometimes, it's hard to be mom to bigs and babes because they need me all the time, but Liza needs her mom too, at times. And I need Liza. But, we only get a few days a year now. Quayd was all over the idea. ZJ was "okay" with it. Grace was a little teary, but she's good with it, for my sake. The thought of spending their days with the B's has them all excited. Grace was quite excited when Wendy mentioned sleepovers. I'd not planned on that. Wendy's words, "That's what family is for." We are so blessed!

We're still fine-tuning the plan. I'm working on menus and daily lists for them to keep on top of things... not that any of my lists will even be looked at while I'm away!  BUT.  I do know that when I come home, everything will be in perfect order.  They may take a vacation from bedmaking and daily chores... it will be a vacation for them too.  And I'm not going to concern myself with it! I'm just sooooooooo excited!

Liza and I are texting each other throughout the days with our plans of possibilities.  We skyped yesterday and it turns out that on one of the days while I am their, the Relief Society Homemaking Night activity will be visiting her home for organizing ideas.  Whoever is in charge of this activity had dropped by her home for a moment, months ago. When she asked Liza if she would be willing to share, the lady said that the minute she had heard of the activity, she knew that Liza was the one to ask!  A proud mama moment, indeed!  And now I'll get to be there to help her with the evening.  It will be fun!  Perfect timing!

In others news, Grace is taking her contacts in and out in less than ten minutes now.  She wore them to school and kept them in ten hours today.  This was the final adjustment day.  She can now wear them all day, every day.  She's quite the proud girl!


I'm not one of the bazillion people who will be standing in line this weekend for The Hunger Games.  I could not get into the books. I'm sure I will see the movie but not anytime soon.  And that's okay with me!  After a few books in a row, dealing with the Haulocast, I had my fill and wanted nothing to do with them again.  The Boy in the Striped Pajamas still brings me to tears.  No thanks.  I'll take a romantic comedy any day!

With ZJ's birthday over, I have one week to plan for Doug's!  He's getting better and better with age! And being that he started off so awesome, that's pretty great!

And last but not least, the weather is supposed to be in the 70s the rest of the week!  The roof work begins!  Happiness! 

ZJ's ELEVEN!

ZJ is eleven!  AMAZING!  She was in diapers only yesterday! She's sensitive, tender-hearted, brave and bold.  She doesn't miss a thing in any conversation, whether it's between Doug and I or I'm on the phone with Denise or Carol or Wendy.  She wants to be in the know.

 ZJ is our most mature child.  She's responsible and loves to be in charge.  She can be asked where anything in the house is and 99.9% of the time, she can tell you.  She can do laundry, cook a meal, clean a bathroom as well as her mother!  She's very self-motivated.  Example:  She'll decide that she wants/needs something from the store, determine how much money she needs for it and then come to Doug or I and ask, "What can I do to earn $5 today?"  And she will keep asking for more jobs then working until she has what she wants. 

She is our negotiator.  She saw a beautiful bedroom on Pinterest in December and said that she wanted a room like that.  I told her that this room was very clean and organized and if she wanted a room like that, she'd have to prove to me that she was responsible enough to keep it looking like that photo.  She bargained with me.  "If I can keep my room like that for six months, could I have that room?"  It's been three months.  I've not had to tell her to clean her room once.  She's got drawers and closet organized, she picks up every day, makes her bed the second she gets out of it, hangs her clothes.  I guess I'll be making a trip to Ikea mid-summer for the shelving she has in mind!

ZJ is also very outspoken.  A few weeks ago, I pointed blame at her for something she'd not done and she let me know, respectfully, that I was wrong.  She's not afraid to seek "justice and liberty for all", when it's deserved.  And she's eleven!   Help me when she's 15! 

She's creative as can be.  Her new sewing machine has been busy since Christmas morning.  She's made a point of "re-making" all of her Barbie clothes so that they are now modest.  She's not afraid to cut and tuck and sew up a storm, creating anything that crosses her mind at the moment!  In the kitchen, she's not intimidated by any recipe in any cookbook and often, she decides that she doesn't need a recipe, she'll "just make one up".

ZJ is definitely a daddy's girl.  She's not afraid to haul manure, shovel compost, get dirty working in the yard with her dad.  When she wakes up in the morning or comes in from school, it's always Doug who gets the first hug and kiss.  She adores her dad... perhaps because she, more than any of our six children, has him wrapped around her finger!  She's a little bit tomboy, but very girlie, in that she tries on five outfits for school every morning until she gets it just right and she loves doing things with her hair.  She can't wait for Young Womens where she can be with the big girls!

And last but not least, I couldn't not mention that she has a powerful and strong testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  She wants to keep the commandments and notices when others are not. She's not afraid to tell her big sister Kelly that her clothes are not modest or that she's making bad choices.  She wants everyone to "do what is right".  Again, that outspokenness comes out.  She's our little red personality.

We celebrated ZJ's eleventh birthday, like every other birthday... dinner out, the treasure hunt and dessert.  When all was said and done, ZJ went to bed with a huge smile on her face!  As soon as we got home from dinner, it was time for the treasure hunt.  I simplified the clues a bit since the last few times, we've taken forever to find the gifts!  Once found, ZJ opened her gifts.  Nana and the B's joined us for the fun.  I was impressed and touched when ZJ opened her gift from A  ~ a hand stitched pillow. 

These two little girls are joined at the hip.  It will be hard to see ZJ at the middle school next year, leaving A is a year behind Zeej in school.  ouch!   Following "the birthday song", we had ZJ's choice, yellow cake and cream cheese frosting with mint chocolate chip icecream.  It was a fun day for ZJ and she couldn't have been happier with all of the events of the day!  Score 1 for Mom!  Love it!

ZJ's birthday interview:

I WANT: art paint, new heelies and more skates.  (She got watercolor paint and paper, a new iPod, some sewing things, jewelry, piano music, some cash and a few other things.)
I HAVE: Go-Go.
I WISH: I could fly because then I could fly to school.
I HATE: when my sister goes in my room.
I MISS: Fancy.  (Always the same answer.)
I HEAR: stories about tons of stuff.
I WONDER: if the future is gonna have flying limousines.
I REGRET: hitting my brother and sister when I get mad.
I AM NOT: a fancy person.
I DANCE: to Taylor Swift.
I SING: Karaoke.
I CRY: When I'm sad.
I AM NOT ALWAYS: fierce.
I MAKE WITH MY HANDS: clay models and I sew!
I WRITE: persuasive letters.
I CONFUSE: Math.
I NEED: a new mattress because mine's lumpy.
I SHOULD: hmm. I should have my own pet rat.  (NOT GONNA HAPPEN, ZEEJ!)
I START: sleeping in in the summer. Right now, I have to wake up too early.

How old will you be this year? Eleven!!
Nicknames: Zeej. Peabrain.  Alyssa is Pineapple-head and Carly is Banana-breath.
Are you taller than your mother? No.
Do you cry often during movies? It depends if it's sad.
What is your biggest pet peeve? Um.  Hmmm.  When I have to clean up my sister's room because I can't stand being in it when it's messy.
Favorite color: Aqua and lime green!
Favorite foods: Tacos and Spaghetti and, also, Poppy Seed Spinach Salad.  I love that stuff.
Favorite beverage: hmm. Sprite.
Favorite cold cereal: Um, um...Honey Nut Cheerios.
Favorite Smells: Thanksgiving Day and Mom's cookies baking in the oven and gingerbread and creme' brulee candle that is burning in the family room. (Love Scentinel candles!)
Favorite time of day: When I get home from school because I don't have to do my math or the boring stuff. 
What is your favorite game? Ball Tag.
What book are you reading now? 39 Clues, Book 1, because Gracie's making me.  I like it though, kind of.  She keeps nagging me about it and telling me "Hey, guess what, this happened!"  So, I just read it so she will lay off.  (TOO FUNNY.  There's 39 books!) 
Do you play an instrument? Yes, piano. I wish I could play a harmonica. (Last year, it was the bagpipe.  Please pass where these came from?)
What was the last movie you saw? Back to the Future last week at the ranch.
What is your favorite article of clothing? Silky things.
What is your dream vacation? Going to Hawaii because it's tropical and it's warm and there's no snow and there's tons of beaches.
What do you love most about Dad? His voice.  He reads to us and he's funny.  He works so hard for us.
What do you love most about Mom? Her voice and she's very crafty and she is fun to play cards with and she's also funny. 
If you were an animal what would you be? A dog because they are fluffy and cute. I'd like to be a Maltese or a Bishon Frees.
What is your favorite "me- time" activity? I like to sew and write in my journal.
What is one of your weaknesses? "Okay, you promise you won't tell anyone?"  I said, except the blog. She said, "Okay, my weakness is that I'm very talkative."  "Oh, and I'm not very good at punctuation, except periods and question marks."
What would choose for dinner every night? I'd wouldn't really get used to that.  Like if I had something for dinner every night,  I would get tired of it.  I could probably eat pizza for lunch every day.
What is the emotion you feel the most? Happiness.
Do you consider yourself outgoing? I could say so, actually.
What are some of your talents?   Sewing, cooking, decorating sometimes, crafting.
What is a word or phrase you overuse? Darnit.
What was the hardest thing that happened to you this past year? Um.  Hmm. Not going to recess because I have math.
What is the best thing that happened to you this year? Umm. I' m turning eleven!
The best thing learned this past year? Hmmm. About friendship.  If someone doesn't want to be your friend, you just have to let it go and they'll go, Heyyyy, and they'll just come back.
What was your favorite thing about being ten years old? It was an even number.  HAHA!
What are you most excited about being eleven years old? Now I'm not ten!  I'm older.
Is there anything else you want to say about turning eleven? Hmm.I'm excited!