Jon's New Calling for Us

A few weeks ago Jon was called to serve as the Ward Clerk for the University 1st Ward. I am lucky enough to tag along and enjoy getting to know these fine young men & women. They are headed to be the leaders of the church in the near future . . . that's a good thing. It is fun to get to associate with them. They often show more wisdom and good sense than many of my peers and I had. So refreshing!

It is also so fun to watch Jon. He does love serving down there! I'm not sure what goes through his mind, or if he is thinking. He usually doesn't over analyze anything, just sits back and enjoys the ride. Smart man.

It has also been fun to reconnect with some old friends. Mostly from girl's camp. It was amazing how much time has passed since those days, but que sera, sera. Now new memories can be made and enjoyed!

New kind of helpless

Last night my little buddy came to spend the night with Nanny. He was excited to sleep in the big bed with me and made sure his safety rail was firmly in place before settling down to read my latest issue of Ancestry magazine. He wasn't about to go to sleep until I shut my eyes to show him how.

Let the wrestling BEGIN! I forgot just how much of a big bed one little guy can cover while unconscious. Surely there are bruises to show for it! About 1:30 am he started thrashing again and making the most horrible sounds, like he was having trouble breathing. Poor little guy's chest was so congested and it hurt him terribly every time he coughed. Not a flash back grandmothers want, is it? I don't have the right kind of mister or anything else to help him, so I caved and called mama and daddy. By the time Stephen was able to get over here ( just a few minutes) Gabe was begging for help.

It brought back the years when I had young ones of my own and I had no one to call. It was especially hard when Jon was traveling and I couldn't even have him give the kids a blessing. I did have good neighbors that were nearby and I could call on in an emergency, that was a huge comfort.

It is gratifying to watch my children when they seem to handle these times with confidence and know just what to do. All four of them are good parents who love their children and are working hard to build good lives for young families. I know Sarah will do the same when she finds "Mr. Right". In the meantime Sassy is a wonderful, loving aunt who makes time in her busy schedule for the neices and nephews.

QUESTION:

I have started using my food storage in our every day diet again. I have thought about starting a blog to document ans share, as I come up with new ways for every day cooking. Maybe also share ideas of how to store it that will make it easier to rotate.

I have also been "defatting" some of my favorite foods so that I can still enjoy them while trying to lose, make that losing, the rest of the weight that I need to.

Would anyone be interested in my doing a blog with either or both of these ideas? I would also like to use it to share the ideas of others so that many can enjoy the information.

Let me know!!!

Over another bump in the Road

Jon & I worked for two days and got the food storage units under two of the beds finished late on Saturday night. Wasn't sure we would survive it all, but after a day of rest, it was worth it. Of course, I couldn't wait to start filling it up and . . . it works! The beds aren't nearly as high and it will be easy to rotate!!!! I can not imagine why it took me so long to think of this! DUH!!

Now to get all the bulk foods in their pouches so they can be put under the second bed. It will also be easy to rotate. If this keeps up, I just may have my living room back and the front door won't open up to a warehouse! I am excited and relieved. Progress has been way to slow coming.

Jon comes home from Phoenix so tired because he works 10-11 hours a day up there and then has to travel all the way home late at night, on his last day. I appreciate that he is trying to make my projects easier for me when he is home. It is making forward motion happen.

Good News

Spent the day with my granddaughters. Too fun. The trotting around Udall park was fun, but come on Granny Nanny . . what's the big deal with reclaimed water . . . let's run through the grass already!

The good news, I don't have to be the mean, ugly stepmother ( Cinderella's), I get to be Mrs. Potts. Now why can't I memorize the song? If I don't remember the words, will I have to be the USM after all? To tell the truth, Cruella DeVille would be preferable, I can remember those lyrics!

Still trying to find my camera charger so I can post pics!!!

"Newby" teaches "Oldie"

I have this cute little friend, Sue, who joined the church a few months ago. I met her while going out with the sister missionaries one night. It was fun getting to know her over the next few weeks and a privilege to attend and participate in her baptismal service. It seems like I usually learn something new whenever we have time to just sit and visit.

One night we were talking about some of the things in life that get to be hard and just plain old tiring. As we were talking about enduring to the end, we decided that maybe it would be better to live to the end and not just endure. I have thought about that so many times. Then read Cassie (Graves) Weske's Blog where she quoted her aunt's blog saying that life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's learning to dance in the rain. It made me sad to think of all the time I have wasted, waiting for a stage or time in my life to pass.

Now is the time to get a move on. Hopefully, I can set a better example and it isn't to too late to do some good!

Thanks Sue for helping me to think and learn in my ripe middle age!

The "Female" Brain

Jon likes to talk about the female brain, which can multitask so well. Cute man, he thinks I can still do that! Guess he hasn't noticed that mine is no longer very "feminine". I used to work at 6 tasks at the same time and could change gears so quickly and easily. It was great. Kept life interesting and I miss it. Hopefully, getting physically fit will help it regenerate.

I feel better this week and will start, again, to get on the band wagon to feeling good and having lots of energy again. Thinking in tortoise, not in hare, here I go!