Grandma's Glasses

Be Amazed and Save $$$ Too!

2009-07-12T07:12:00.000-07:00

These are the ingredients for a homemade all-purpose cleaner. I had to teach a class at enrichment last week and was a little bummed. I didn't really want to enter the depths of homemade stuffs and cleaning routines---I am not a cleaner, really. But, I am a direction follower, so I did my duty and dived into the task. On Tuesday morning, the day I had to teach the class, I finally tried out one of the recipes. SURPRISE, SURPRISE!! I went from venue to venue spraying wiping, drying. The stainless steel was gorgeous. The woodwork gleamed. The bathroom sink was shiney. My granite shined. The leather dining chairs looked brand new---need I go on?!? You might guess that I delivered a very enthusiastic presentation that night---and here today.

THE RECIPE

3 tsp white vinegar
1/2 tsp Murphy's Oil Soap (or any other vegetable based soap)
1/2 tsp washing soda

Mix together in a spray bottle with 2 cups hot water. Shake well. Spray, wipe with damp cloth, polish dry with dry cloth.
Make new as needed.

HAPPY CLEANING!!

Celebrating Independence Day!!

2009-07-04T06:23:00.000-07:00

For the 4th of July, I wanted to go back to the beginnings of our country and look in on the feelings and sentiments of our Founding Fathers.

July 4, 1837 John Quincy Adams

"Why is it that, next to the birthday of the Savior of the World, your most joyous and most venerated festival returns on this day. Is it not that, in the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday ofthe Savior? That it forms a leading event in the Progress of the Gospel dispensation? Is it not that the Declaration of Independence first organized the social compact on the foundation ofthe Redeemer's mission upon earth? That it laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity and gave to the world the first irrevocable pledge of the fulfillment of the prophecies announced directly from Heaven at the birth of the Saviour and predicted by the greatest of the Hebrew prophets 600 years before."

One of my greatest blessings is knowing that my Father in Heaven has a plan for this earth. This includes all of it's doings and all of it's inhabitants. In reading the writings and speeches of the founders of this nation--a promised land, it is evident that Heavenly Father used righteous men to move the establisment of our goverment forward.

James Madisn 1778

We have staked our future on our ability to follow the ten commandments with all our heart. We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of government, far from it. We've staked the future of all our political institutions upon our capacity....to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God.

Patrick Henry  

"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here."  --The Trumpet Voice of Freedom: Patrick Henry of Virginia, p. iii.

John Quincy Adams July4 1821

" "The highest glory of the American Revolution was this; it connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principals of Christianity.

They had a sense of what would be required to maintain the freedom so diligently earned and designed.

Daniel Webster

Hold on, my friends, to the Constitution and to the Republic for which it stands. Miracles do not cluster, and what has happened once in 6000 years, may not happen again. Hold on to the Constitution, for if the American Constitution should fail, there will be anarchy throughout the world."
"If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering and to prosper; but if we and our posterity neglect its instruction and authority, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may ovenvhelm us and bury all our glory in profound obscurity."

John Adams in a letter to Thomas Jefferson

"Have you ever found in history, one single example of a Nation thoroughly corrupted that was afterwards restored to virtue?... And without virtue, there can be no political liberty....Will you tell me how to prevent riches from becoming the effects of temperance and industry? Will you tell me how to prevent luxury from producing effeminacy, intoxication, extravagance, vice and folly?...

Thomas Jefferson

And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are a gift from God?

After reading all these quotes and many more, the question of how all this applies to me came to mind. As I thought about it, I decided that we who also love the Gospel of Jesus Christ are obligated to honor our baptismal covenants and share that Gospel with all who want to know. There by we can do our part to protect the Nation that Heavenly Father gifted us with.

Thomas Jefferson

The doctrines of Jesus are simple, and tend to all the happiness of man. Of all the systems of morality, ancient or modern which have come under my observation, none appears to me so pure as that of Jesus.

Where Have I Been?

2009-06-26T16:28:00.000-07:00

Where have I been these last six or eight weeks? Well to make a long story short, I have been spending time with family. My Mom had her aortic valve replaced and needed a little TLC during her recovery. Thrown in along the way was a babysitting gig in Houston. My Mom went home last week and finally just now I have a moment to catch up in blog land. Too many days and nights have passed by for a recounting so just allow me to share one experience from the past two months of my life.

The Plane Ride

I am flying from Kentucky to Houston. I am leaving my Mom and going to care for two of my grandchildren. I am somewhat wiped out after spending time in Lexington—open heart surgery—even though it was my Mom’s ordeal, not mine---is a big deal. Not to worry I say. Although I’m not quite up to being the chief cook and bottle washer for a two year old and a four year old---if I can just get on the plane to Houston, I can sleep-- that will help. I traversed the Louisville airport several times after realizing I didn’t have my cell phone. Finally I concluded that I had left it in Ashley’s car. Immediately the feelings of isolation, desperateness, I don’t know exactly what---maybe nakedness begin to set in at the thought of being without my cell phone. Rehearsing to myself all the years I have lived comfortably before cell phones came to be, I board my plane. It is one of the puddle jumper, nail biter types, but I have a window seat---my favorite---and the flight will be short. There we go, 6A. Upon arriving at my row, I can see only one seat and it is taken. I was sure that there were two seats on each side of the plane as I made my way down the aisle, but now, I can see only one seat. Could it be that my seat was actually there---just buried underneath a huge, rotund seat mate? Yes it could be and it was! He heaves himself up and jellies out into the aisle so that I can enter. I sit down and make my not so tiny body as small as possible—pinning my elbows to my sides, clamping my knees together and hugging the window side of the seat and wait. Here it comes---the vast corpulence lapping over into my seat, towering over my shoulder and head. Then a huge meaty arm presses up against mine. This man was not only enormous, but malodorous besides. Oh my GOSH----I might have a claustrophobia attack, or vomit or something else just as dramatic. Suddenly losing my cell phone was just a tiny ripple. Talking to myself once more, I touch on starving children in Africa, childbirth, excruciating sunburn, and Dim Sung before I start to calm down and feel like I might survive. My reverie is interrupted by a sharp intake of air from beside me and then a snort that devolves into snoring. The blubber begins to vibrate and slide—ONTO ME. Now not only the meaty arm, but also the actual armpit covers my entire shoulder. It is warm and wet and heavy. I can feel it is Wet! BO is soaking into my shirt!! The massive thigh begins to lean in my direction---are you kidding me---NO---it flops up against my cringing leg, making contact from above the knee to the ankle. I am going to scream! I hold it in---I ride in silence smothered by mounds and pounds of hairy, sweaty, flesh. I realize that I have actually paid for an extra seat for hundreds of pounds of FAT! Did anyone ask me if I could carry an extra load in my seat---I don't think so! Let’s just say that it was not a short flight, and I didn’t get a soda because the attendant doesn’t see me buried there under the great pile of snoring, sweating adipose tissue. Arrive in Houston to be the chief cook and bottle washer for a two year old and a four year old-----not a problem!

Mom is doing great, the grandchildren survived and I am looking forward to the next adventure on the horizon.

From the Ridiculous to the Sublime

2009-04-19T18:49:00.000-07:00

I've been really busy lately---a condition I had been praying for. Much better to be anxiously engaged than relaxing ad nauseum. I don't think I need to detail my activities, but I did want to record some of things I've read lately.

Much of the country has been keeping up with the President's bailout activities. The Dallas paper had a headline that stated---Study finds that Trillion dollar bailout will create debt. Ya Think?!? Who does a study to discover the obvious? Someone very smart, I assume.

Did you read the reality check of millions, billions, and trillions?
A million seconds is 12 days. A billion seconds is 31 years. A trillion seconds is
31,688 years. How will President Obama repay the trillion dollars to China? How will he raise the money? Some feel that this expenditure is the only solution. Something had to be done---we had no choice, they say. I think this is something like selling one's soul to the devil. Other solutions may have left us in misery. But what has this one done? All very interesting!

A new basketball coach has been hired at Kentucky. His contract has figures like 8 million dollars a year in it. Ridiculous or sublime?

Now we are getting to the real sublime part. I have conferenced with several of my daughters over the past few months about various parenting questions. We have talked about methods, and strategies, and thought processes. We have to consider all these different things because that is our logic bank from which the Spirit can highlight solutions for us. However, I had a light bulb moment the other day. There may be one simple answer that covers a multitude of situations.
When a situation arises with our children---or spouse and we begin to search around for how we will respond--we do need to search or we will just be flying off the handle without thinking--there is a simple rule. We need to choose the response that will maintain the Spirit for both parties. We bring things to the attention of our children, but it is the Spirit that teaches--or should be. That way the lessons are learned without fear, rejection, insult, or injury.
Sorry, kids that the light bulb was so slow to turn on. Maybe your kids can benefit!

The North Country!

2009-02-22T13:46:00.000-08:00

I have just come home from the north country----that would be Idaho--Rexburg to be exact. There is a deep blanket of snow on the ground, dustings of snow on the perfect Spruce trees and steel blue water swirling along canals and rivers---nothing like Dallas! I have been visiting children and grandchildren--pictured here after in no particular order--for the past two weeks.

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Chandra and I tied quilts, did some spring cleaning, shopped, and made a Duvet cover. I made the"famous" goulash and did some other Grandmother cooking. I got to help Marin with her work sheets when she came home from kindergarten. Roan and Eavan got up each morning ate their breakfast and headed off across the snow fields for the bus--anxious to get to school early to play on the sliding hills there.

Torin had a band concert and the sixth grade band was the star of the evening! Torin is one of those math/music people--both seem to be part of his makeup. You just haven't had a good day until you see Brayden in his tux ready for his orchestra concert. The concert was great, but the handsomeness of one particular cello player gave the night's music a secondary role!

BodyVox is a dance company that blends modern dance, theatre, and comedy into a very entertaining evening. Chandra, Paul and I went to BYUI to see them perform and had a great time. BodyVox--it's worth googling.

Chandra and I went into The Great Harvest Bread Company to check it out and found that we could buy a slice--thick, soft and warm with butter--for 25 cents. The best buy of the month as far as I'm concerned!

Kieran read an original story for a talent night at Young Women. The story was great, but what kept everyone on the edge of their seats was the way she read it. It just wouldn't have been the same if I or any number of other people had been the reader. It was a double talent treat!

It's never been a secret that I love chocolate. Chandra and I sampled some of Florence's Chocolates one day. Florence has been hand dipping chocolates for 37 years she told me. We made our purchase and she took us on a little tour of their shop. When we came back up to the front she asked me if I liked cherries---of course I do! Well, she said she wanted me to taste her cherry cordials----well, I could be persuaded---she picked one out of the case----dark chocolate--triple dipped--creamy, juicey cherry center--delicious! And she just gave it to me---it was free! Free chocolate is the best chocolate there is! Dallin had his birthday (3rd) while I was there---he entertained us all playing with a helium balloon shaped like a monkey,

Little Rexburg is not a commercial mecca. One must drive 30 minutes to Idaho Falls to find a Target or a mall, or a Barnes and Noble. Never the less, Rexburg is home to a fabulous Thai restaurant. Chandra, Paul and I closed out my visit with an awesome dinner there. I know I've talked a lot about food, but really the highlights of my trip involved time spent with my "chickens". Thanks to all for having me and sharing your weeks with me.

Who Do We Appreciate!

2009-02-06T07:02:00.000-08:00

The other day I was feeling a little bit old and a little bit tired. I was at work sorting the stacks of orders. I have been working more hours than I'd like to for months in a row. The people I work for have been out of town several times which leads to morning to night days with no lunch, etc. As I sorted orders I was thinking that I'd like to know if they think I do a good job---if they feel relieved to know that they can go out of town and the ribbons will keep going out, etc. Almost immediately I began to remember dinners I had eaten, enjoyed and not said thank you for---and how about the laundry done for me, and visits from faithful Home Teachers, etc. And then I saw my kids when they were young--a band of little children standing in front of me and me saying---If I don't say anything, you'll know you are doing fine--- if you are messing up, you will hear about it. Partly that happened because of the numbers. If I was fussing about something to one, others would start defending themselves. So, I was clarifying the fact that If I'm not fussing at you, you are okay. Yet this remembrance let's me know how much better it would have been if they knew they were doing well because I told them so. This must be a hint of what it will be like when the judgement comes and the scenes of our life flash back for us. I'm a lttle old, but I have time---I will be more vocal with my appreciation from now on.

My Country Tis Of Thee!

2009-01-24T20:57:00.000-08:00

I watched the Inauguration---the day after thanks to my DVR. I loved the crowds of people. I loved the American flags they were waving. I loved the orchestration of dignitaries and officials in precisely timed movements. I loved the idea that 1.6 million people would crowd the mall in the nation's capital and stand for hours in the frigid weather to participate in this inaugural event. I loved the order and positive enthusiasm the crowd displayed. I loved the fact that in America there is orderly change of leadership. I loved the idea that even though I and perhaps others are not Obama fans we could gather and share a moment in history and be proud to be Americans. I loved the reminders of our fore bearers and our trials and triumphs as a country that were spoken of. I loved it when Aretha Franklin sang "My Country Tis Of Thee". I loved the feelings of pride and gratitude I felt as an American citizen. I love the blessing of living in this promised land.

It's a Wonderful Time of the Year!!

2008-12-28T19:46:00.000-08:00

This face tells you just how I feel about this time of the year. I love the holidays---from Thanksgiving all the way through New Years! The following is my adapted version of a long ago tag by one of my main buddies that lets me tell how I feel about this wonderful time of year without writing pages and pages.

My 8 Favorite Holiday Events

1. My family visiting
2. Going to the Dallas Arboretum
3. Feel Good Movies on the Hallmark channel
4. Cooking Thanksgiving Dinner
5. Eating Thanksgiving Dinner
6. Eating leftovers from Thanksgiving Dinner
7. The musical programs before Christmas--like the Flower Mound Symphony, the Messiah Sing, our Christmas Sacrament meeting.
8. The nativity exhibit with hundreds of creches celebrating the Savior.

My 8 Favorite Holiday Foods

1. Turkey
2. Fudge
3. Mashed potatoes and gravy
4. Corn pudding
5. Chocolates
6. Prime tenderloin and shrimp
7. Hot Chocolate
8. Chocolate covered Cherries

My 8 favorite things I did so far this holiday season

1. Had my house full of family
2. Spent time with my Mom
3. Made and decorated cookies with Todd---actually just the decorating part
4. Delivered our Christmas plates and sang We Wish You a Merry Christmas for the 41st Christmas in a row
5. Drove around to look at the Christmas lights
6. Enjoyed the company of the Spirit
7. Enjoyed the music
8. Opened presents

My 8 Things to Look Forward To

1. Happy healthy family members for the new year
2. Personal progress and growth in the new year
3. Some new life experiences
4. Traveling
5. Dropping 20 lbs
6. Serving
7. A new grandchild would be nice--any takers?
8. Reading my scriptures

That will do I think. I'm grateful for this wonderful time of the year!

Yards and Yards of Blessings

2008-12-15T19:24:00.000-08:00

I have this little job. I go on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings and measure and cut ribbon to order.

The business is completely online so each order has to be rolled and packaged before it is put into a box to be shipped. I like to think how fun it will be for the person who ordered the ribbon to get the box with the cute package inside.

There are hundreds of patterns and designs!
They come in grosgrain, jaquard, satin, velvet, reversible, printed, woven and many other options.

Did I mention colors? There is every color you can think of.

As I cut, I choose a favorite ribbon many times in a day, then as I roll them, I choose some more favorites. Some of my favorite work days have been the ones when Kieran, and Mimi have come to work with me. They helped things move along a little faster than when I am alone. Despite all the pretty scenery, I was a little put out to be working while everyone was here for Thanksgiving. I prefer the company of family to the company of ribbons! But then as I was cutting I began to think of each piece of ribbon as representing one of my many blessings. As I looked around the ribbon room covered from floor to ceiling with all the different ribbons, I thought--- that is just like my life---covered from floor to ceiling and wall to wall with blessings. My blessings are all different colors and sizes and textures and many times in a day, I think of one I especially enjoy. I am grateful for a Heavenly Father who loves me and measures out to me yards and yards of blessings.

I know What I Know---Or Do I !?!

2008-11-09T15:14:00.000-08:00

I KNOW WHAT I KNOW

I see dawn in the sky.
I see birds on the fly.
I know what I know,
It's time to go!

I hear keepers on the greens.
I'm a dummy by no means!
I know what I know,
It's time to go!

There's fresh scents on the breeze!
Get out of bed--PLEASE!
I know what I know,
It's time to go!

Last week it was cool,
Jump and go was the rule.
I know what I know,
It's time to go!

I see all the signs!
You're making me whine!!
I know what I know,
It's time to GO!!!

If Murphy was my child I would know some things to do to help make the adjustment to the daylight savings time change. Unfortunately nothing I know works for a dog. He knows what time we are supposed to go walking and he is making my last hour of sleep from 6 am to 7 am impossible. But the whole situation did make me think about looking at "obvious" circumstances and deciding" facts". I may think I know what someone should be doing or how someone should act or even what someone knows, but the truth is I only think I know what I know. Almost always there will be things I don't know about, or understand. When I presume to know what I know, I will remind myself that only Murphy has an excuse for behaving that way.

Full Circle

2008-10-24T18:02:00.001-07:00

When I was a little girl, we spent almost every weekend at my grandparents' house. Part of the weekend would be spent in Hopkinsville at Mimi's parents house( Grandma and Granddaddy )and part in Elkton at Goodgran's parents house (Othermom and Papa). If I was sick, I would often stay the week in Hopkinsville so that my parents didn't have to worry about who would take care of me while they worked. At about 3 years of age I would ride my tricycle around Grandma and Granddaddy's house. I would ride down the wide front hall--turn off into the living room and on to the dining room. I would pull up under the front of the piano or the dining room table, doing errands known only to me. Then I would head back down the hall to the kitchen where Grandma was busy cooking or cleaning up. I had a little doll bottle and I would ask her to fill it up with chocolate milk. Then I would ride off on my next order of business, only to return for another refill and another and another!
Now I am the Grandma and I have been filling sippy cups with chocolate milk for a little "someday Grandpa" and a little "someday Grandma". I used to think that my Grandma wished I would leave her alone and quit asking for refills. But now I know that she was enjoying herself---just like I am!

Noah loves Chockit Mulk

Ava prefers Chockowit Milk

Settling Stories for Unsettling Times

2008-09-28T14:23:00.000-07:00

Story number one----Did they or didn't they?

When I went visiting teaching the other day, the sister I visited introduced me to her husband. He was home from the Middle East where he has spent the last 8 years( minus holidays and a few other home visits) as an Intelligence analyst. I asked him if this was Intelligence Analyst as in "what is the enemy doing now" kind of thing. He answered in the affirmative. I've always felt that Iraq had weapons of at least violent destruction if not mass destruction. Now I could ask someone who has been involved! So I did. "Do you feel that Iraq ever had weapons of mass destruction?" I said. He replied that they most certainly did. " We watched them move them. We knew that the UN had someone who notified the Iraqis in advance of each site inspection. They are no longer in Iraq, but they have not evaporated. They are in surrounding countries like Syria and Iran." Ah what the housewife knows!! Thanks Mr Intelligence Analyst! On a more serious note---It was settling to me to hear a first hand account of a very fractured topic. It is one the media has spun to shape the attitudes of an entire country--maybe even the world.

Mr Intelligence Analyst went on up stairs and his wife began to relate some experiences of their oldest son who is also in military intelligence. He joined the military instead of serving a mission or pursuing other spirit directed endeavors because of lack of testimony, as he described it. He spent some years at the military's Defensive Language School learning Arabic and an Afghani dialect. After 9/11 you can guess where he went.

Story number two----A Visit to the Prophet Brings a Visit From the Spirit.

After 9/11, Thomas---as in Doubting found himself in Kuwait on the eve of the invasion of Iraq. As a member of the 82nd Airborne Division, they had been briefed on the coming events and were led to believe that they would be dropped into Bagdad taking heavy casualties. As they contemplated their next 24 hours, his group (small because of their intelligence role) huddled together and discussed their fate. They decided that all those in the group who knew how to or wanted to would pray. They decided that they would not pray to survive because if they survived it would mean that someone else would have to die. They set out the content of the prayers to include the courage to do their jobs well. The courage to die well if required. A request that if they did not survive those loved ones at home would be comforted and able to deal with their loss. And so those who would pray departed to various places to complete their task. Thomas was one who would pray. He did know how and if ever there was a time for prayer this seemed to qualify. He approached the Prophet for his prayer. The Prophet was a large Humvee that held all of the listening equipment that he worked with---listening to the enemy. It had a giant telescoping pole that rose from the center with a rotating radar dish to pick up signals flying through the air. He climbed in and said only Our Fa-----because that is as far as he got before the Spirit descended. Immediately, the message began to envelop his heart and mind. He was told that he didn't need to worry about the events of the next day. They didn't need to worry about whether they did or didn't survive. The important thing to know was that he was where he was supposed to be, doing what he was supposed to be doing. The events that were transpiring were meant to be. Thomas became John and from then to the present he explains that where once he had looked upon the war as a job he was assigned he now fights with love and pride for his country. He has no fear or worry of death. PS--The invasion plans that they had been briefed on were not the ones that took place. Fake plans had been published as a cover to the real plan of attack. He did move forward into Iraq, but he was on the ground with the Prophet.

Story number three-----John and His Fellow Warriors See Without Eyes

John and his fellow soldiers were advancing into a town. The battle was imminent and the troops were worried about killing innocent civilians . The enemy had dressed themselves in civilian clothes and mixed the towns people amongst them as shields. How would they keep from killing the civilians? Anxious and dispirited they pressed forward dreading the shedding of innocent blood. As the gunfire erupted and the soldiers fell into their well rehearsed attack mode, the Spirit descended. Not just upon those who knew how to pray but upon each and every warrior. As they moved through the streets, they could see through the clothes of the enemy. They could see their movements through the walls of houses and buildings, sensing their movements within. They could separate the enemy from the innocent. They came through their battle with no casualties. PS---Prior to hearing this report from her son, my sister had seen TV coverage in which some Iraqis were being interviewed. They were talking about how the Americans could see through walls and fight with out dying. She remarked at the time that there were crazy people everywhere! John now reports his experiences with all the fervor and tender feelings of one with a treasured testimony of His Savior.

Amazing training!

2008-09-04T17:29:00.001-07:00

Colorado Springs is home to the Olympic Training Center. We visited the center with Bret, Christina and the girls. But guess what--Nobody was home. Why---they were in Beijing for the 2008 Olympics!!.

This is one of three training centers for the US Olympic teams. Some of the sports that train here are men's gymnastics, basket ball, swimming, weight lifting and shooting. It was kind of amazing that the facilities were just gyms and a pool basically. Watching the Olympic competitions and seeing the amazing performances I felt like there must be some extraordinary methods for developing such talent. Yet having just toured the training grounds, the visit jogged my brain in a different direction. Athletes who are in the top 1% or so of their sport may be invited to come to the center to train. Once there, they are provided with room and board, gear, and all other necessary stuff. They may attend local colleges or high schools and train around their schedules. So, it seems that they run their laps just like the rest of us---one foot in front of the other!

So why aren't we all Olympic athletes? My thoughts began to narrow in on the ideas of focus, concentrated effort, and months---maybe even years of directed action. The athletes may remain at the center for years of training.

No miracles---just hard work and coaching. This being the case-----I thought, we can be outstanding in developing our best selves! We have wonderful coaches---Heavenly Father, Our Savior, and the Holy Ghost.

We have the scriptures for our training manual. Everyone is capable of focusing in on the things that are important to us. We can concentrate our efforts and energies on those things that we love and we have the rest of our lives to accomplish our aims.

Our rewards will be even better than gold medals! Thanks, all you fantastic athletes for a wake up call on becoming the best we can be!

I think I'm going to gear up for a "Cool Runnings" challenge in developing some talent or getting better at something---anybody want to join in?

T P'D !!

2008-08-24T19:47:00.000-07:00

Life history tells us that finding your trees and bushes full of toilet paper means that you have attained some significant level of popularity with your peers. We learned this as we navigated through six teenager's high school experiences. So when I went out the other morning and found the sure signs of appreciation and admiration I was a little puzzled because the teenager element was missing.

Who loves us this much?!? Could it be those pesky High Priests? Working with the youth as Bishops would make them quite familiar with the practice. Maybe they were just feeling like a little excitment would bighten things up?

Or could it have been the Relief Society sisters showing their appreciation for my exciting --if somewhat discombobulated lessons? The Empty Nestors group may have been stretching for a stimulating activity----for us--it's great fun retrieving toilet paper after the sprinklers have gone off!

I did retrieve this prize--all dry from the tree. With the price of things these days, 3/4 of a roll is nothing to sneeze at--it was the good kind too! Who uses the expensive stuff to TP somebody's house?
I think the real prize of this whole drama was that it made me think about showing appreciation. I thought about what kinds of things make me feel appreciated. I thought about what I do to show appreciation to those I love. I can do better. I will work on it. But don't worry, I won't be throwing any toilet paper rolls!

Road Trip

2008-07-17T15:44:00.000-07:00

Since Dad's truck has been edited to a van, the newest chariot needed to be road tested. That means a road trip.

We made quite the circuit---over 3000 miles by the time we got back home. Our first stop was Michigan to see Kathy and Chuck, Ken and Jeannie, and the farm. We did not take a single picture. What were we thinking? We did enjoy visiting, walking the farm, a chance meeting with Ian and his family as they traveled through on the way to Toronto, and a lot of good food.

In West Lafayette IN we found our laps full of grandsons and our hearts full of contentment---thanks Leah and Chris!

We crossed the line into Kentucky and arrived in Lexington with a predictable agenda. Mimi was a willing companion as we went to Magees Bakery for Mallow Bars, visited the old homestead, visited with friends, and toured the countryside.

Red River Gorge is one of Mimi's favorite places. I have been coming to the Gorge with my Mom for 55 years.

All of my children and some of my grandchildren have climbed in this glen.

Dad stopped at every turn of the road to get another shot!

This lush green is a treat for our Texas eyes and our Kentucky souls--there are those of us who have a term to describe Kentucky--God's Country!

Fantastic Fathers!!

2008-06-14T17:32:00.000-07:00

Max Abbott---Father of our children, Bret, Chandra, Ian, Aaron, Leah, and Elise

Chris Williamson---Father of Noah and Ian

Paul Scholes--Father of Brayden, Kieran, Torin, Eavan, Roan, Marin, and Dallin

Dan Colton---Father of Ava and Luke

Ian Abbott---Father of Oliver, Sofia, and Santiago

Bret Abbott---Father of Rebecca, Elise, and Sara

I could always say to my children, "Have you ever heard your Father say/do anything like that"? Max is a good Dad who has worked hard over the years to provide for his family. I wasn't really thinking "Father" when I picked him out, but I didn't make a mistake. He added good looks, intellect and numerous talents to the gene pool. The proof is in the children!! Each one has special memories of what he has been to them. He is the best Father for our children I could have found anywhere. Happy Father's Day Dad---I love you!

All these other cool guys are also Fathers Extraordinaries! We have assembled a lot of educational degrees---an MD/PhD, an MBA, a Master's in Human Resources, another MBA, and a MS in Engineering (soon to be PhD)
They are good looking and good athletes and a bunch of other good stuff, but most of all they are hands on, down and dirty Fathers. They support their families--financially, spiritually, emotionally and physically. They bless the lives of their children. They do diapers, and laundry, and cat boxes, and dog walks, and cooking, and potty duty, and rocking, and bath time. They do midnight and dawn feedings, and camping, and lawns, and throw up and play time, and story time. They do kid feeding, and family prayer, and scripture reading, and bathroom cleaning, and anything else Mom asks for. High Fives to you guys!! I am so grateful for each one of you. You are the answer to our prayers, you are the object of a great deal of pride, and we love you without measure for who you are. Happy Father's Day!! (Moms---show this to the Dads---Thanks)

41 YEARS AND COUNTING!

2008-06-06T15:41:00.000-07:00

THIS IS NOW!

THIS WAS THEN--

June 10, 1967, Max and Leslie tied the knot. Leslie was 18 and Max was 20 yrs old. They had been "dating" for 2/12 years. Dating consisted of Max driving 400 miles from Michigan to Kentucky to visit Leslie. He drove down every 4 to 6 weeks. He stayed at her house and they saw a few movies, ate out, hung out at home and smooched in the dark. All in all they had been together tops, 30 times before they were married. The couple became a family of eight and now numbers 30 if you still count Mom and Dad. How does that happen?

Most of the time we are just the two of us. We still see a few movies, eat out, hang out at home and smooch in the dark. When you take away all the ins and outs of the past 41 years, the facts are that we still love each other, we still plan to be together forever, and we are still working on being the perfect spouse. We are proud of the things we have accomplished over the years. We are very grateful for the blessings poured out over these 41 years. What comes next in our lives will be exciting news to us----and you all will be the first to know when we find out!

How did we meet you ask? One fine day on the beach during Spring Break in Daytona Beach, Florida. Leslie was 16 and Max was 18. Leslie was from Kentucky and Max was from Michigan. And we got married and lived happily ever after. How does that happen?

Magic

2008-05-28T17:58:00.000-07:00

I've been off in Houston with Luke and Ava, being Grandma while Dan and Elise cruised off to Mexico.

Pretty cute, Huh! Some little rhymes came to mind about Luke---

He's a mauler and warp speed crawler

A fighter and a two fisted biter

A weeper and an all out sleeper

He's a banger and a super mangler

A snuggler and a strong man struggler

He's Luke!

He loves to maul his sister if he can catch her on the ground. The warp speed kicks in when he gets to the bathroom and spies a toilet paper roller. He fights you tooth and nail when you wash his face and when the food appears on his high chair tray he is after it with two fists---stuffing it in. That boy can eat! He cries if he looses you in the house. Once he is asleep, you can even give him the medicine you forgot when he was awake. He bangs toys, and spoons and anything else that will give off a good loud sound. A magazine or newspaper will be mangled in short order if left in reach. Just before bed or just after getting up, or anytime in between it's your lucky day when you get a snuggle. A diaper change calls for his strong man struggle---he is strong enough to give you a struggle when you try to hold him in place long enough to fasten that diaper!! Babies are Magic!

Ava turned three while I was there. She demonstrated all her big girl skills. Swimming lessons went well. She ate an ice cream cone at Dairy Queen without spilling one drop on her dress. Her record for going potty was perfect. Much to the amazement of her parents and the relief of her Grandparents---she did not have even one fit. She comforted Luke in the car with a charming rendition of Head, Shoulders Knees and Toes. She ate all of her pizza at the mall and cleaned off her corn on the cob with skill. She dutifully broke her bread into small pieces, rather than throwing big ones to the ducks. And she read her scriptures, said her prayers and went to bed without a hitch!

I put her into bed the second night and she said "Say the words that Mommy says". Holy Moly!---Do I know the words that Mommy says?----No! Buying a little time to think, I covered her up and laid out her dolls, etc. Then I said " I don't know the words your Mom says, but I do know some good words." And then I told her how a long time a go, I had a baby girl and her name was Elise. She was a cute tiny baby and I held her and rocked her and I loved her so much. Then she grew bigger--she was 1 and 2 and 3---and finally she was grown up. Then she met a handsome boy named Dan and soon they had a baby girl and her name was Ava. She was a cute tiny baby and we loved her and rocked her and held her. Then she started to grow bigger--she was 1 and 2 and now she was 3! And her grandmas and grandpas love her and her Mom and Dad love her and her brother loves her. And most of all Heavenly Father and Jesus love her. And they all hope she has a good rest and wakes up happy in the morning. All the while she was beaming at me and shaking her head--yes, yes.

The next night when I put her into her bed she said "Now say the magic words"

Little girls who recognize the Spirit are Magic.

Gates of Kolob

2008-05-18T20:09:00.000-07:00

I finished my second painting. It's called Gates of Kolob. Dad framed it for me. I think it is a universal desire to move from the dark toward the light. For me this light is Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father. I want to return to them when my time in mortality is finished.

I taught my lesson today in Relief Society. We talked about how communication of spiritual knowledge from God to individuals provides them with a testimony--or knowledge they can't deny--and that testimony will help them return to the presence of God. I was struck by a comment made by Dallin Oaks in his conference talk, Testimony. He said that we should also strengthen our children by encouraging them to define themselves by their growing testimonies, not just by their recognitions in sports, scholarship, or other school activities.

Since all parents wonder how to guide their children through the maze of immorality, addictions, and other snares of the world, this seemed to me to be a valuable aid in accomplishing that.

A testimony as we know it is a knowledge of spiritual things such as how much and how unconditionally the Lord loves us, how Jesus will support and heal us. It is knowing where we came from , why we are here and where we are going after this life. In short, it is knowing who we are. It seems that if our children know who they are beyond the first chair flute, or the star pitcher, or the smartest kid in the class, they might be able to step away from the crowd and follow the their Savior.

Doctrine and Covenants section 8 talks about this testimony. I say unto you, that assuredly as the Lord liveth, who is your God and your Redeemer, even so surely shall you receive a knowledge of whatsoever things you shall ask in faith, with an honest heart....I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and dwell in your heart.....this is thy gift; apply unto it, and blessed art thou, for it shall deliver you out of the hands of your enemies, when if it were not so, they would slay you and bring your soul to destruction.

This is a powerful promise. I want all of my children and grandchildren to have this gift of spiritual knowledge or testimony so that they may have the protection it affords. I want all of them to know who they are.

Grandma's Mother's Day

2008-05-11T17:00:00.000-07:00

This is what I got for Mother's Day! I had to beg....Several days before the day Dad stood me before a display of fabulous flowers and told me to pick out two bouquets--any ones I wanted. No!...Don't spend money on flowers---I want that blender/food processor we saw when we were with Christina at Costco, I told him. That's not a Mother's Day present he told me. Finally, on Friday, after much complaining about how I wouldn't let him get me anything for

Mother's Day, he went to purchase the blender. After three stores (I wasn't the only one who wanted a blender) he found the prize and brought it home. He plunked it down on the kitchen counter---no card, no wrapping, no mystery or surprise---there, there is your blender! As far as he was concerned, I hadn't gotten anything for Mother's Day. As for me, I had gotten just what I wanted! Thanks, Dad. Yea, I know...we are backwards. Please send me your favorite salsa recipes.

We were lying in bed Saturday night and he told me Happy Mother's Day and said that I had been a great mother. I told him it was great to be a mother.....and I meant it ! Thanks to all of you who made me a mother. I love you with out measure! I consider you all and my chance to be your mother my greatest opportunity, my refining fire, my heart's schooling, and a precious gift from the Lord. I am eternally grateful.....there are not words. Thank you for a Happy Mother's Day!

That's What It's All About!

2008-05-04T15:57:00.000-07:00

This is what happens when a Grandma, 3 granddaughters and a dog have a relaxing Saturday!

All the usual chores might not get done, but we weren't totally non-productive.

Isn't it nice when work is play! Doesn't seem to happen to us big people very often anymore! I would love it if this had been a casual weekend activity with my grandchildren instead of a trip to North Carolina just to be with them. Distance is a villan! Max and I spent a week with Bret and Christina and the girls---Bret and Christina were able to travel to Colorado and purchase a new home where they will live when Bret finishes his Fellowship at Duke in June and joins a Radiology practice in Colorado Springs.

School, piano lessons, playing outside with friends, gymnastics all kept the big girls busy, so Sara and Toby kept me company.

We played a fun recipe game--one tries to get cards with necessary ingredients like budda, shuda, eggs and flouwa. Most of the time, we all won! When the planned tacos for dinner just didn't seem to hit the spot we headed to Berry Tween. If you aren't quite sure of that one--it's where you buy dipped cones and Blizzards.

My favorite activity was working magnet puzzles---they totally span all ages---please bring me these when I am in the nursing home! The brand is Melissa and Doug--just google and you can access all kinds of neat children's toys, puzzles, etc.

If scripture reading with kids is somewhat tedious, try this--- my favorite time with the big girls---was our bedtime scripture "reading". We got off reading and into Scripture Guess Who. The first night I gave the clues and then the next night the girls started taking their turns giving clues as well---made our bedtime fun!

By the time Mom and Dad came home, we had things back like they belonged.

I've concluded that the mess means things are happening, time is being spent on a variety of things, and families are busy making memories that will last. This grandma enjoyed her time making a mess with Rebecca, Elise, Sara and Toby----and that's what it' all about!

The Whole is the Sum of It's Parts!

2008-04-18T07:45:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, four of the five beautiful girls who have made me a Grandma gathered at my house in Dallas. We had some fun and some good food and tried a new thing or two. They are all incredibly smart, talented, and dedicated to the people and ideals that they love. There was a lot of sharing---of questions, answers, ideas, talents, experience and feelings. All of us together was a whole lot of fun, a whole lot of bonding, a whole lot of learning, a whole lot of love---A Whole Lot!