Dedicated to Arianna & Tati . . My Best Little Detectives!

When I have taken Arianna and Tati shopping for the fabrics for a project for their mom, I discovered they had a wonderful talent for solving mystewies.  Did I ever need them today!

 Today I found the strangest thing in my family room.  It puzzled me greatly, what should a common every day housewife think?  I believe it is a mystewy!  Where are my best little detectives?

  

I look up and there was another clue!  

Time to get to work, even without my little experts . . . .

I followed the trail, quickly and quietly, on guard for what dangers may be lurking around the corner.

Suddenly, the trail heated up, what does this mean?  Where are the experts?  Surely they would know!

  The dogs?  Really?  Doesn’t make sense to me, how about you?

Finally !  A clue!

  

Ah Ha!  Mystewy solved!  Question . . .  How did the little scamp get in there?  If he has learned to open that door, someone is in big ole trouble.  

Guess each of these little darlings gets to have a turn at this!  Do you love that expression?

This Has Me Thinking . . . . .

Ward Weaver Family,  Spring 1963

Last night I noticed the following quote on Miss Linda's blog side bar.  Where was this when I was raising my kids.  I even wonder how long it has been there.  Probably right in front of my nose, but it is such a good quote and good principle.

I read it right after Mariah and the boys left after dinner.  She has been telling us about the lesson that Becca, the munchkins mama, had given.  Becca had shared a wonderful story of how her children had felt the spirit at a very young age.  As the discussion went on, Mariah started to wonder how many times she had caused her kids to miss an opportunity to feel the spirit because she was so tired.  Don't beat yourself up Mariah, we all have times we wonder that, just go forward with the new lesson learned.  Then Miss Linda (used to teach preschool for years, hence the title) commented that we each have the right to make our own choices.  Whether right or wrong, it is our choice.  Such a wise daughter of God, she teaches us all constantly, but no pressure Linda!!  She also taught me something at the the baby shower, but still, no pressure meant here  :-O

So enjoy the following quote:

God, being all-knowing and anticipating every eventuality that would befall our children's mortal experience, carefully positioned our children into selected families to provide them the best chance of nurture, repentance and exaltation. This is a critical piece of information for parents. Despite their feelings to the contrary, a child's rebellion is not a parent's failing but rather a parent's calling.

God organizes his children into saving relationships so that the weak might be nurtured by the strong. That fact is most evident in families. God's divine positioning often calls for weak children to be placed with strong parents, strong children to be placed with weak parents, or strong individuals to marry into weak families. Why? To do the work of redemption.
Larry Barkdull ,     "Rescuing Wayward Children

Now for a little disclaimer.  I have been rereading this over and over.  It is an interesting idea to mull over as a person examines their family, current one, the one that they grew up in, the one they raised their family in and the one that is existing right now as empty nesters.

What I am seeing is roles changing as needs arise.  What does that say?  Jury is still out on this one.

A great Weekend to Start a Great Week . . . little projection here :-

This weekend was a wonderful time spent with family, friends, young and not so young (thought I was going to say old, dincha?)


There was a baby shower for a young young mama with two daughters who is about to have her first son.  I was so tired and just wanted to stay home.  Didn't and so glad that I didn't.  I got to visit with cute Glenis.  I got to know her years ago at Girls' Camp on summer.  She taught me how to make a pearl bracelet with the little teeny, tiny knots in between each pearl.  Slow learner here, or maybe it was just a ploy to enjoy the company.  I was having such a struggle at that time and sweet Glenis was the perfect balm for  my many wounds.  She has many health struggles and being the selfish the selfish soul I can be, I enjoyed the hog's share of her that night.

I love her gentle honesty and wonderful sense of humor.  I love the person she is in spite of so much physical pain has dealt with.  I love the person she is in spite of during so many health problems, she has also had life happening all around her.  I also love her husband.  Not to worry, he reminds  me so much of my good ole feller.  He loves her so much and has wanted to make life better and easier for her during all of this time.  I love to watch his face when he talks about her.  I hope those two have many, many years ahead of them.  I wish this for them and for the rest of us.  Such good, kind, funny people who make this world a better place for all who come in contact with them and probably even for many who don't.  I really hope that she continues to have more ups than downs!


Sunday was such a lift.  It is pretty insightful attending with the young adults around the university.   It is a good experience (really it is great, wonderful and all of that, but just how many times should a person put that in one posting?) to learn what they are thinking and learn from it.  Once in a while, we can add to the insight because of the years behind us.

These two little gals assured me
they love having their pic taken.
I've know Lance since he was about 3.

Give me a funny face!

Love these kids!

I do love the kids down there, often their names escape me, but I still can remember the comments they make, the faces they make for my camera  and just the things they do, and I love them for all of it!

Oh, try again, we weren't all looking!

Chop, chomp. the sandwiches
were yummy!

Catching the Bishop being a guy!

Even some of the more mature set aren't shy!  I told Colleen to give me her face or I get her backside.  she turned around and told me to go ahead!  What a woman, how many do you know would do that?  Such a bragger . .  not really, love her!  Laura is more normal.  She will turn her head, but she always has perfect hair days, so would I in her shoes.  Lee is ever efficient and will not waste time not cooperating to get the picture, such a funny lady.  She and I are like the north and south pole, but there is a need for all kinds down there, so that is a good thing!  I on the other hand, make sure the camera is always in my hands, safe place to be. 

The Christiansons, Institute missionaries

Here are some of the great sisters get to serve with.

WARNING!!!!

Just in case you were wondering . . . . .


If you do this . . . . . .

You get this . . . . .


















My Sassy girl seems to have either inherited or learned at the feet of the "best" or the biggest sucker in the world.

My mom took all of us everywhere to do the darnedest things.  As shy as she was, she could be talked into doing all the pranks (harmless) that we wanted.  If we took blinker signs, they had to be laying at the side, not currently being used for safety.  If we trampled flowers accidentally, we had to go back and replant them.  I have wondered if she missed out on all of that as a kid, due to shyness, and so she used us as an excuse . . . just a tiny little thought.

Fast forward, I have been known to do the same, just a time or two  . . . . . .  . . .  and how I enjoyed it . . . sigh . . . I miss Sherrie . . . she got me started with the Beehives by teaching me that I didn't have to worry in the "big city" down here.  I always told my kids that they should always have an adult with them in case they got caught.  You know, so that any other vandalism that might have happened wouldn't be blamed on the.  sounds good to me!  Heh, Heh, Heh . . .  they fell for it, or at least had the good sense to let me think they had.

Now Sarah goes up there and hauls kids into town, takes them canoing to a distant (just a little) lake and whatever they want to do.  Just a guess, but that canoe was probably as long as that little car she puts around in!     Wonder why they called her Mother Huish.  She is such a softy!

CONFESSIONS . . . Good For The Soul

OK time to 'fess up.  I got some Rocky Road.  Yes, I ate some.  Had to.  needed some energy to attack that mending.  That was over a week ago, hmmmm more like 19 days ago.  Boy am I bad or what?

So no, my mending is still haunting me.  Slow learner, I guess.  so here goes again, and see what happens!  Really, Here I go . . . .

Update

Cheryl has been taken off of the blood thinners to see that will stop the bleeding.

Uncle Karl is home and doing well.

Lori has diverticulitis.  Sounds like she is good care and they do have good treatment for it.  will address abscess to day, antibiotics, no eating for a few days and surgery in 6 weeks to remove a foot of her colon.  I make it sound pretty simple, but I know it is going to be a long recovery for her.

They have a baby who is not quite 4 months old.  I am so thankful that it held off until after she was born!  Hope their ward family is taking good care of them!!

Another tender mercy.  I don't know if a baby could have survived these treatments her mother has coming or if they had to bring the baby early to save Lori's life, could the little one have made it.  I am sure the condition has been developing for quite some time.

 We are surrounded by blessing every day.  I hope that I can learn to focus on them more and keep the challenges in perspective better!  A good goal !

Don't Know What to Say . . .

My sister-in-law is back in ICU since last night.  Everyone is waiting to hear if they found anything to explain the internal bleeding.

My uncle was supposed to come home today after surgery on his bad rotator cuff.  His second daughter, my little cousin (she really is my little cousin, a cute little shorty) is in the hospital with and a mysterious abscess.

So tonight I am so worried about all of them, but so grateful that all my little nagging complaints are not more serious and I am starting to find answers.

I have been putting up with my fat little foot for years.  Now that it is definitely getting progressively worse, I decided to learn from my bum eye experience and get back to finding an answer.  I did find an orthopedist specializing in feet who has several options for us to look at.  I have an ugly, but not very big brace that I sure hope the insurance company pays for!  It is already helping my fat foot.  I will be going to PT for 6 weeks to try to build up the ankles mainly.  When they lean in, they push down on the arches.  Did any one know that, I didn't!  Next week I will be getting started on custom orthodics.  Yikes!!  They helped a lot before and they now make some that are semi-rigid.  Once again I am hoping they decide that they are "medically" necessary, so they will cover them.

Isn't it interesting that some committee who has never seen you, your x-rays or any lab results can better decide how to treat you than the doctors who have seen all of that?  Jon says it is practicing medicine without a license, I agree!

Oh how I would like to get back to walking and venting all my frustrations out and about, the best place.  So if you see me walking and pumping my arms really hard, steer clear!!

Even if I don't walk, I will be able to stay up on my feet longer and get so much done.  I am so tired of stopping to put my foot up and then maybe getting back on task, or maybe not.  I could also find lots of venting activities out in the back yard .  . . I really, really want to get all set up for winter gardening.  So good for the soul, and my poor sad little summer garden has taken such a beating from all the heat.

I'm bushed, good night friends!!

ASHLEY

ASHLEY CALL ME!!!


or 


email me so we can come see you!!!

Wouldn't You Just Love It?

When they built a new Fry's SuperMarket near us a few years ago, I would go shop there just to listen and watch the thunder warning and then sprinkling over the fresh produce.  I thought it was so funny and such a great idea.  I know, pathetic, need to get a life . . . . what can a person do?

Debbie sent this to me yesterday.  I would TOTALLY love it!!

A new Publix Supermarket opened in  Manteo, NC. It has an automatic water mister to keep the produce fresh. Just before it goes on, you hear the distant sound of thunder and the smell of fresh rain.
  

When you pass the milk cases, you hear cows mooing and you experience the scent of fresh cut hay.

In the meat department there is the aroma of charcoal grilled steaks and brauts.

  In the liquor department, the fresh, clean, crisp smell of tapped Miller Lite.
 

When you approach the egg case, you hear hens cluck and cackle and the air is filled with the pleasing aroma of  bacon and eggs frying.

 The bread department features the tantalizing smell of fresh baked bread & cookies.

 I don't buy toilet paper there anymore. 

Exciting News!!

Tonight I am doing a big old "Happy Dance"!  I opened my email, didn't see the one that I wanted to, but did find an ad, trying to sell me something.  Don't you just get so tired of them . . . except this is from Deseret Books and I did sign up for their ads.  I do get tired of seeing stuff that I would love to order and just can't justify it right now.

But for this, I don't need any justification.  I have been waiting for such a long old time.  I love history books, if they are well written, in my way of thinking.  I love biographies even more, and my favorites have become the biographies of our beloved prophets.

Jon & I were given a copy of President Spencer W. Kimball's biography as a wedding gift from some of my favorite relatives, Grandma Annie's sisters and their hubbies.  Grandma died about 4 years before I was born, so they stepped in and loved me so much as I was growing up.  When I was so terribly shy, I remember them just throwing their arms around me and giving me big ole smooches.  My heart would melt and I was all theirs!  I had to grow up, mostly, to appreciate what they were giving me.  I know Grandma Annie would have done the same.

Anyhoo . . .  I read that as soon as I could, have read it several times since and have made sure I brought all the other biographies of every prophet since.  

I jumped right on the band wagon and ordered this within five minutes after I found the ad!!  I can hardly wait for it to arrive!  I may have to hide this one from Jon so he doesn't hide it for himself before I get done!

I love these men so much.  By reading about them, learning how they were normal good kids and youth as they grew up, who chose to make good choices, gives me hope that I can continue to grow and progress, in spite of myself!

I know that they do commune with a loving God, our Heavenly Father.  I know that they are His mouth piece on earth, each in their own turn.  I know that He is aware of the world and has just the right prophet in place, when they can do the most good in our behalf and for our benefit.  We are so blessed to have this knowledge and understanding.

All is well, all is well.

I Concur . . . .

This is what Mariah has to say about the HEAT.

Here is how Brianna responded about the HEAT.

This is how Stephanie taunted us from New York, about the HEAT.

Tomorrow's forecast : A rainy 74*

And she used to be such a nice girl . . . . but this is so dog gone funny!  You do know this can really happens, don't you?

All you're gettin' from me about this  HEAT is my two cents worth . . . . .

. . . . . .because Jon said I have to keep this blog "G" rated.

More Memories . . .

Just took a little stroll down that wonderful lane full of memories.  Wonderful time, but I will have to share later.

For those of you who know my sister-in-law, Cheryl, she is home!!  I can only imagine how happy my big bro and all their kids and grand kids are!  I know I sure am happy with the news.  Four weeks in the hospital is too long!!

All Is Well, All Is Well

Today we had a special meeting at church so that we could all enjoy the privilege of hearing Elder D. Todd Christofferson (apostle in the LDS Church) and  Elder Patrick Kearon ( Quorum of Seventy) spoke.  It was so uplifting, in spite of the wrestling match in our row.  But actually, the boys were pretty good. so we did get to hear.

One of the points that has really stuck in my mind and heart was when Elder Christofferson (Oops, Mariah said that it was elder Kearon that talked about this.  I was tangling with Lincoln, she wasn't   :-}  ) made the statement that when we are not happy, it is because we are lacking the spirit of Christ in us.  If we have that spirit, we will be happy.  At the time he was teaching us about how to deal with the trials and challenges in our lives.  He quoted some of the hymn, "Come, Come Ye Saints" .  The line, "And should we die before our journey's end,  All is well, all is well." can make a person  think.

I was sitting next to an elderly lady who couldn't hear much of anything because her amplifier's battery was run down and she couldn't see well enough to read notes unless I wrote really big.  Even then, she had to move her head back and forth to see the letters.  After the meeting, she told me how thankful she was for her membership in the church and that she had always had the gospel.  With out hearing the talk, she was teaching the same principle, all is well, all is well.  The physical challenges were not going to take her happiness away from her because she chose to have the spirit with her.

After the meeting she was so sweet.  Kept thanking me for helping her (I just tried to share some of what was being said).  Gabriel moved over next to her when I took Lincoln out due to,  he had just had it.  Too hot, too restless and needed to MOVE already!  When I stood just inside the door for the closing song, I saw that Gabriel was leaning against this sweet sister with her arm around him.

Bless his heart.  She was so thrilled.  He always seems to be drawn to older people who are probably lonely.  He used to snuggle up to Susan Grack when we sat next to her in church.  She was so surprised and pleased to have that contact with another person.   With psoriasis so severe, many would shy away.   He just asked about it and then went on getting to know his new friend.  Hope he never loses that wonderful talent and gift he is blessed with.

I made a decision today.  I am going to make it a point to note when I have the spirit of our Savior with me.  As I was culling out book duplicates last week, I had a wonderful book called, Jesus the Christ in my hands.  It has really stayed on my mind.  This time I am going to not only read it (all the way through)  I am going to study, ponder and pray about it.  I want to know my elder brother.  I want to understand His gift of the Atonement more fully.  I want to remember those simple words that were spoken today.  When we have the spirit with us, no matter what, "All is well, all is well."

Party Hardy!!

Got the cake done, got the sky on it, and Gabriel was so sweet when he left the house after dinner and gave me a hug to thank me for making the cake.  I guess he liked the water and planes the best.  Though he did want to know if he could play with all the stuff from the top.  Little did he know that the bag we sent home with them had a big ole bunch more!!!

Don't worry Lincoln, it's not scary at all . . .

1.  You really can't tell much from the picture.  For some reason it didn't photograph very well.  They all look weird, especially the figures.  The water is hard candy like you would make lollipops out of.  2.   I must figure out a better way to stabilize something above the cake.  the dowels showed up way too much.  I had hoped to just use black tread for all the crossing to hold the "sky" but the vertical dowels just wouldn't stay  up by themselves.  3.  It is so cute and heart warming to watch the older kids look after the younger ones.  Funny Lincoln got very irritated with more than one person when they took him down a slide.  He wanted to climb and dive.  No surprise that he left with a goose egg on his forehead . . .  AGAIN!

1.  Tati was having so much fun that she didn't think to turn her head away from the camera.  Granny Nanny got some great pictures of her!  2.  I finally got Arianna to go down on her bottom facing forward!  Backwards on her tummy seemed to be the preferred method most of the time!  3.  Garrett would turn all kinds of directions when he slid down.  Got pretty tricky getting a shot with his face.  He got so sweaty so fast.  Later all the kids looked the same!

YIKES!

Cheese-e-e-e-e!

I'll hide behind this little guy
so that mom can't get the pic!

1.  Like Brianna's in her new glasses . . . .we do.  Look at Brianna watching one of the tiny ones taking spill would be my guess.  Lots of
moms were making that same expression!  BTW . .  welcome to our world "4-eyes"!    you know that our group are special, don't you?  2.  The noise was pretty intense, but the smiles kept coming . . . .    3.  Some of the kids were slowing down, can't have that can we?  Time to eat, drink and be merry . . . .  and a merry bunch they were!

Keep smiling, they all go home soon . . .

Back off Blondie, the cake's mine!

Are you sure this part of my job description?

1.  Ya gotta hand it to those party coordinators, they have nerves of steel!  Smiling the whole time.  2.  Sarah came racing over after work and hung in there, especially once she got into the party mode.  She was one tired little sassy pants.  So she fit right in with all the other women  ;-}  3.   Don't you just love the look on Gabriel's face and hear the wheels turning.  "OK, let's see, I'm the host at this here party, she is younger than I am so I have to be nice.  Stay cool, be cool.  I do NOT want this chick to blow out MY candles.  What to do, what to do?"

Keep it dry, Keep it dry

Aw right, a soldier !  Just what every girl needs!

Hmm, this looks interesting . . .

1.  Mission accomplished!  He wanted the candle on the enemy side because the Americans had been bombing.   Should a 6-year old know this stuff.  That's it, no more news for this kid until he's in Jr High!!  2.  Lincoln didn't want to stay in one place so he started scavenging from one place to another when the other kids got up and moved around.  3.  Poor Aunt Brianna had a meeting at 6:30 that evening.  I know she was exhausted, but what a great sport to make sure the girls made it.. Hopefully watching them have so much fun made it worth it for her, and seeing how happy the boys are whenever they get to see their cousins!  Like the soldier that Tati is holding?  Gabriel's thank you gift was a little plastic soldier for each guest.. He  thought that was totally awesome . . .

I know this has been a lot of pictures, but when your got such darling grand kids, how can a grandma help it??