Heading into the New Year

It has been a busy but lovely two months.  I have enjoyed the Holidays so much.  Thanksgiving was delightful with only Todd's and Alan's families.  We enjoyed leftover with Mark's family.  I had my Christmas tree up before Thanksgiving and have enjoyed it all season.  We mailed Christmas for Amie's family the week after Thanksgiving.  I enjoyed Christmas shopping, mailing out cards the first week of December, and delivering neighbor gifts by the tenth of the month.  I love the music, parties, Christmas movies, and time with family and friends.  Christmas was delightful.  We had the whole family and it was marvelous.  We even squeezed in a Birthday dinner for yours truly.  It has been a good year in general, and I am looking forward to an even better year in 2015.

Finally November

I guess I spaced October, although it was a pretty good month--loved the weather.  We had one of the warmest Halloween's ever, and sat on the front porch to hand out candy.
I have packed away the Halloween decorations and put out the Thanksgiving things.  I love Thanksgiving!  I also love Christmas music and movies, and I have already started enjoying them because there is so much.  I am also eager to begin Christmas shopping.  I am so blessed and I enjoy being reminded of the many blessings that I have received.  It's finally November!

Good Intentions

I have had good intentions to sit down and blog...BUT I haven't followed through-obviously.  It was a fun, busy summer and we got in camping trips, picnics, reunions--three of them, and lots of warm weather.
We have enjoyed the busy time and have even had a few accomplishments.  We survived the Bow Hunt and taking care of our little grandson.  It was a beautiful place with millions of little daisies covering the mountainside and valley.  We had a delightful week at the Spruces for the Mills Reunion.  We had a Reunion of the Hawarden Park Ward Singles--many married now.  It was great fun to see everyone!  We also had a Bradford Reunion and had all but seven of the cousins there.  It was fun to visit and see all the pictures they have collected.  We went to the Ogden Temple Open House and the Utah State Fair too.
I colored my grey hair brown and it seems to be a good choice for me.  I have been doing a little more walking and the scales look a little better.  I am trying to do more genealogy and family history and that is exciting.  I am also finishing a quilt for my son and his wife.  It will be so good to have it done.  I am so blessed to have so many family and friends that we have been able to spend time with this summer.  Life is good!

Hobbies

I am so thankful for hobbies that bring  fun and excitement to my day.  I love reading, quilting, scrapbooking,  Scripture study, time with family and friends, playing games, and camping.  I also enjoy movies and cooking shows.  I always get more done in a day if I have some hobby projects to work on.  I'm thankful that there are so many interests that can enrich our lives and bring joy to others too.

Thankful for extended Family

Yesterday we loved being with Frank's family.  They are so close--we have gotten together about once a month for over 42 years.  We are also having a Mills Family picnic tonight.  Everyone brings food and we enjoy visiting and sometimes games.  My sister-in-laws are such awesome ladies and I'm thankful I am a part of such a special family.  I can't wait for our yearly reunion at the Spruces in August.

Grateful for the Sabbath Day

We went to Mendon, Utah to hear our grand-nephew speak before leaving on his mission to Vera Cruz, Mexico.  It was a wonderful meeting! He gave a great talk and really sounded like a missionary.  The other speaker just returned from his mission in British Columbia, Canada.  He was amazing--very impressive.  We later heard his story.  His father went off the deep end a number of years ago and left the family.  The Ward rallied around the family and had about twenty "fathers" who looked after the family.  He is the oldest, and obviously a marvelous example.  You could really feel the Spirit.
Afterwards they blessed little Emery Jane.  That was really special too.  Lisa and her two children came from Minnesota to see her brother before he left, and also to see her new niece.  The missionary parents took their son to Nauvoo last week to visit his sister who is a missionary there.  They are a real missionary family.  We also loved visiting with so many family members.  It has been a lovely Sabbath day.

It's Going to be a Better Summer!

Reasons its going to be a better summer:
I don't have double ear infections.
I have a lot of plans for fun.
I'm recuperating pretty well from food poisoning.
I'm no longer in the hospital.  YAY!
My grandkids came to play games.
Our oldest grandchild came and spent the afternoon.
We will go camping.
We will go to parties.
We had a fun game night with friends.
We have been and will attend many family outings.
My husband is finally fixing the sprinklers--found the problem today.
I have been enjoying lots of old movies during my rest time.
I'm going to enjoy the summer NO MATTER WHAT!!!

Busy, Beautiful, and Uplifting

The days are really busy lately!  We enjoyed a grandson staying over during his Spring break, family games, household projects, Senior luncheon, sewing, genealogy, and a delightful Easter.  Love the Spring Time!  The beauty has been the Spring everywhere.  We were able to go to Temple Square with our son, his wife, and their 17 month old son.  They had wanted to get some good Spring pictures and the grounds at the Temple are magnificent!  Huddy loved to run, see the water features, and play in the dirt.  He laughed and pulled faces at the camera.  It was such a delightful time filled with fun and beauty!  They got some darling pictures and made lots of memories.
Easter Sunday was uplifting!  We had a lovely Sacrament Meeting and could feel the Spirit as we contemplated the miracle of the Atonement and Resurrection.  I am so thankful for the blessing I have to repent and be forgiven.  I know that my Savior loves me and that I will commit my life to Him.  Today we had the opportunity to go to the Temple and participate in an ordinance session, do initiatory, and do Sealings.  It was a very special day and I felt the love of my Heavenly Father.  That gave me uplifting joy that will carry me through the rest of the week.  I am blessed.

Family is everything

We enjoyed lots of family time this weekend.  We had one family come and play Pinochle Friday night.  We enjoyed attending Church with them on Sunday.  We had our children and their families come for dinner Sunday evening.  It was so much fun to catch up with their busy lives and share a lot of laughs and memories.  It was fun to play Pinochle and watch the kids enjoying each other as they played.  We are so blessed to have such a special family!

What a Weekend!

I had great intentions--make soup, listen to Conference, get journal caught up.  I did make soup and muffins--love that.  I did get my journal caught up--Yay!  Listen to Conference--a little bit...
Fortunately I did record the Sessions and I'm going to listen to each talk as I find time.  I am thankful for the technology that allows me to go back and do a better job listening.  I loved having family come Sunday evening.  I loved the kids laughing while they played with sand.  I loved playing games with the adults of the group.  At the end of the day I needed peace and I'm thankful for that.  This morning I found that my fears were taken care of and I know that my Heavenly Father loves me.
Today our youngest grandchild came to visit--and his Dad.  They had lunch and we loved having his childish chatter and laughter.  Grandchildren are such a blessing!

Rebellious, repentant, refreshed

I can't believe how rebellious I have been about blogging.  I have been busy, but...since my last blog I have done quilting, tended grandkids, worked in the Nursery, been called for jury duty (but not selected :), fed missionaries, had a family party, met my sister-in-law for lunch, attended baby showers, held quilting club here, attended the Temple, visited sick friends, got a new computer, attended a missionary "farewell", and worked on my Life story and indexing.  I have checked others blogs--love that.  But I have not been compelled to share my thoughts and record them.  Now I have to repent and get back on the wagon.  I have been reading the Book of Mormon and recognized the great importance of keeping records.  I have been reading my parents journals and have been amazed at all they have done for me and my family.  I am excited about Spring and love all the flowers and green lawns.  I am now eager to let my Heavenly Father know how much I appreciate the many blessings I have.  Therefore, my blogs will bring a greater appreciation for all of my blessings.  With General Conference this weekend, that should be easy!

I'm not a Winter Person

I know we need more snow--we're only at 78% of normal according to the news.  I have lived in Utah all of my life, and I have seen a few mega storms, but I don't like to be out in snow.  I don't like building snowmen, sledding, skiing, snowball fights etc.  I especially hate driving in the snow!  I think the only thing I do like is watching it snow.  I love the look of fresh snow and the lacy trees filled with snow.  I guess I am a Snow Spectator!  Add some hot chocolate and a fire and I'll survive until Springtime.....