Old Fashion Humor...

Here's something else to make you laugh:
(I copied this from the blog of Candace E. Salima.)

"Mildred, the church gossip and self-appointed monitor of the church's morals, kept sticking her nose into other people's business.

Several members did not approve of her activities, but feared her enough to maintain their silence. She made a mistake, however, when she accused George, a new church member, of being an alcoholic after she saw his old pickup parked in front of the town's only bar one afternoon.

She emphatically told George (and several others) that everyone seeing it there would know what he was doing.

George, a man of few words, stared at her for a moment and then just turned and walked away. He didn't explain, defend, or deny... He said nothing. You see….(George is the towns D.D. or Designated Driver)

Later that evening, George quietly parked his pickup in front of Mildred's house... Walked home... And left it there all night.

Ya gotta love George!"


In my life I have known people like Mildred, and some like George.... I could see in my mind the whole thing happening, and the expression of George as he walked on home.

Giving it some thought, George set a good example... not causing problem with others, and yet teaching a good lesson, without harm.
It reminds me of the days, my parents lived in...I wish we had more of that kind of time to experience.

Valentines...

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY

I remember Valentines day as being very speical as a child. We not only took valentines to school for our class mates, but would hurry home to take valentines around the neighborhood to our friends. It was alot of fun, placeing our valentines on the front porch of our friends, knocking on the door, and running as fast as you could, so you wouldn't get caught. (How ever your name was on the back of the valentines). Then at home you waited for valentines to come to you and after the knock, quickly opening the door to try to catch kids running away. Often no one was insight, just the beautiful valentines on the porch. Sometimes when you would reach to pick them up, they would skoot away, being pulled by a string around the corner of the house. It was usualy a boy or two, playing tricks, and if you were fast enough you could catch the valentine before it disapeared.

I remember it seemed forever writing the names of my friends and class mates, and then my own, on the back of eack valentine. Mom would say it was good for me to improve my writing skills, and would offer me a cookie.

I have no idea what children bring their valentines home in, from school, now days, or even if they still do.
I remember being very young when a valentine box was needed in class. Each student was to have a decorated shoebox, which his valentines would be put into. These boxes would be judged, to find the prettiest.
I watched my mother very carefully decorate my box with white, and pink, crapepaper.
wrapping the box in the white, and carefully glueing pink crapepaper ruffels around the top and bottom of the box. After makeing a hole for the valentines to slip through, she glued little red and pink hearts on top. I thought it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.....I was so impressed with it, that when I had a little girl of my own, who needed a valentine box, I decorated it the same way my mother had made mine.

As my children grew older, the Valentine box was no longer needed at school, and was replaced with large red hart folders made from paper with their names written on the outside. Then there was a large folded over paper with their name on the top, decorated by crayons. and last was just two pieces of paper stapled together, with a name on it.

I loved my valentine box my mother had made...I think I remember her saying that she was also pulling a memory of her own, as she loveingly created this for me.

You said what?...

Storm clouds are arrising, life changes are comming...

Depending upon my regaining my thoughts,this post will have revisions from time to time.

My husband has worked out of the same computer building in Phoenix for 42 years. Because of a company layoff, this morning he was told that after about six more weeks he would no longer be employed with them.

There are alot of thought that are running around inside my head. My husband will be 65 in three months, and I follow a year latter. This is a time we should be looking forward to.... But now it is filled with uncertianies, and how are we going to make it for two more years, keeping our heads above water.

This will be a new experience for us. Once before when were a young family, Lynn had been laid off, he had bummping rights, and still had a job. Now bummping rights no longer excits. This is hard on him, he has been the family provider, and takes his work seriously. As he says "For 40 years each day has been the same, and now each day is not the same as the others." Simple words, but with deep meaning.

One of our biggest concerns, we will no longer have health insurance. And at our age that's critical.

Right now its finding out where we stand today, on money, insurance, bills, health, dental, ect. What we have to do, and How to get from here to there. and then there are a few months that we really have to strech to make ends meet. Fortunately we have very little debt, namely a house and a car, and hopefully we can get them paid off. Its a strange feeling that hasent set in yet, that we will no longer be getting a comfortable paycheck....

I will miss you...

Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley died tonight.
He was 97 years old, but a very, very special person.
Even though it was to be expected to happen, I feel a deep loss for my self,
but happy for him.

I will miss him, and Brother Faust greatly...

A Beautiful Bird...

Driving to my home in Grantsville, one would think they were in the country. It is a small town and I love it here. The main road to our home is long and in one area winding with tall trees, looming on each side of the road. With winter here the trees are bare and dormant.

One morning as we were driving on snow packed roads I happened to look up into the trees we were passing through, and to my surprise, a Bald Eagle was sitting there. Three year ago when our home was starting to be built, we saw two Bald Eagles, one was sitting in the same group of trees. I wondered at the time with the explosion of home building in our area, if people would chase away these beautiful birds. They were not seen last year, and I feared they were gone.

We stoped the car and watched in amazement of this beautiful bird, hoping that he will come back often, as we enjoy his beauty. It is a wonderful feeling to think we have the privilege of seeing Bald Eagles in our neighborhood.

Christmas "Elegance"

Black has often been given the title, or respect of "Elegance".
It has a beauty all of its own. It sometimes feel more dressy, for something special...like a formal floor lenght gown, or top hat and tuxedo.
That's a little of my feelings of this Christmas.

I have found this years holiday seasons to be a little harder for me. It seems that my personal health has stoped me from doing the things I have done every year to create a Christmas spirit in my home. I find at times, walking to be very painful. I have done what I could, and got alot done. But to my disappointment my beautiful pre lighted Christmas tree, for some reason, ended up with no ornaments placed upon it. It stands in my bay window, which has three windows looking out into our front yard. It stands in a stand, that rotates the tree. I have a beautiful tree skirt under it, that I bought last year. And running around on top of the tree skirt is a "N" gage train. My tree, even not decorated, has a shine to its self.

I think that most mothers know the feeling of wishing to make our children happy for Christmas, for it is a special time... Often we go without, to create warm fuzzys for our loved ones, most of the time we warm ourselves in the smiles, and laughter, and excitement of their happiness. I once sat in the hallway watching my son Gene, ride his "Big Wheel" up and down the hall, It was raining outside and he could not go out.
All he wanted was that Big Wheel, His laughfter filled my soal, and spilled out in tears upon my face.

This Christmas is a Elegant Christmas, for me....
Everything I received was black.

I have a list that I call Dreams, one for Needs, and one for Wants.
Needs..are things that cannot go without, that have to be addressed as soon as possible. Wants..would be nice to have. and Dreams..I would love to have, but cost too much and will take a long time to get. May never get, but still dream about.

What I received for Christmas, was on my Dream list...

I have always wanted a digital Camera of my own. My Husband has one that he uses all the time. For me it was too complicated, and I wanted something simple to use. At a Surprise dinner for Lynn's parents, my son David, showed me a camera he had just bought. I found it very simple to use, and was delighted with the large viewing window on the back. When Lynn asked me what I would like for Christmas? I asked for a camera just like Davids. To my surprise he got me one...its black...and it came with a printer.

My Son David surprised me with my second gift. I know he didn't read my list, for I had written just what it was, no brand names, or detail. But he had bought me exactly the model of what I had wanted. David lives in Orem Utah, and most of the time drives up on the weekends to spend a little time with us, and attend church.
On his way up he had called and told me he was in Salt Lake City and would be there a while. When he came he was very excited, he had been shopping... and had bought a Christmas gift for me!..It was still in his truck.. He grabbed a empty box and went outside, soon reappearing back into the kitchen, encouraging me to open the box...
I did... I was so surprised to see a DVD Player!.. A Sony DVD player, with a screen that turns around....I didn't know it, but it even has a remote... It is exactly what I had put on my Dream list...
And its Black...

My third gift came a few days latter, on the 28th. But before then my daughter Paulette and her husband James came from Arizona, and stayed with us for a few days. Having my family around me, really lifts my spirits.

Paulette had called and told me that my gift would be coming after Christmas. On the 28th. And that they were hoping to be here when it was delivered....
I had not the foggiest idea what it was, but was glad they would be here.
After Paulette was here, everyday was count down day. When the 28th arrived, it was hourly count down... Finely in the very late afternoon, the package arrived by UPS.
Paulette was excited, and wanted to do heavy heavy hangover Mom's poor head....
Big Box! and a heavy box, on top of my head.....For them I wished that their house in Tooele, would sell fast, and that they would get triple the amount of money that they were asking for....

Big Box! I had a funny feeling inside...It couldn't be...It was Impossible...put it out of my mind...
Paulette, and James helped me to open the box, It was full of large white packing peanuts...Paulettes hand was fishing under the peanuts and kept pulling things up. One time she lifted a large thing wrapped in white foam packing wrap. It was one of those times, you just hold your breath...Sure enough, it was what I kept telling myself it couldn't be....a Harp... a Harpsicle Harp....

And it was Black...

Crazy 2007

This year has been crazy, one of those unbelievable years.
All 5 of my children have new address, and phone numbers, some have had more than one this year.

Launie moved from Peeples Valley to Prescott in Ariz...with the kids.
David moved to a new apt in the same area in Orem Utah.
Jennifer and Mike, and Sarah, moved from Peoria, to Surprise, to Bullhead City, to Ft. Mohave in Arizona.
Paulette and James, moved from Tooele Utah, to Bullhead City, to Ft. Mohave in Arizona.
Jodie moved to a new apt in Parker, then to another Apt. in Lake Havasu City in Arizona, and has a new roommate.

Jodie divorced Jeff after a year and half marriage, because he could not be true to her.
Bret asked Launie for a divorce after 18 years of marriage, he found a new girlfriend. They, Launie and Bret, have 5 children...one past away a few years ago from cancer.

David took a trip to China, walked on the Great Wall, saw the LDS Temple in Hong Kong, it was closed that day. and other sights. Last year he went to Indonesia, Java, Bali and area around there. All this was paid for by a friend of his, Christy, who lives in Indonesia.
David brought his 3 kids, Bryce, Darren, Melody to our home for a visit, while Jennifer and her daughter Sarah were here. The kids really liked each other.

Paulette and Jennifer both have harps.....and Paulette has just bought a Cross Harp!They both are very musical and were asked to play several times during the Holidays.

Jennifer has been working on Genealogy..I have been very impressed with all she has accomplished in such a short time. She came for a good week and did research in SLC. Sarah (3) was with her, and we got to know her better. Sarah liked picking raspberries from Grandpas patch. Jennifer has also helped encourage me with our food storage plans.

This year we bought a Four Wheeler (ATV), and a new lawnmower, for Lynn. They were greatly needed to help him with the yard work and personal recreation.
Lynn has also built wooden shelves in our cold room. He did a great job, and tried hard to give slack movement for the boxes. He put in framing for most of the downstairs rooms. He has also installed the heating vents into his office, and craft room downstairs. We also added a wood burning stove to the basement. It burns wood pellets and is very nice.

I bought a new cane...It has been a help for me to walk.

Lynn and I are still working with the Stake Single groups. Mostly with the Seniors that are 50 and up. Also Lynn conducts the monthly correlation meeting, and I take the minutes.

Some of Our Pets died this year we miss them...Bunny, Bird, Shuska.
We have a pet cemetery on our property, which each one has been lovingly berried there.
Baby Bird, Shon, Paulette's conyer, came to live with us at Christmas.


Update:.. We now have 3 in the family with a harp...I have been added to the list, as I received one for Christmas from Paulette and James...
A Harpsicle Harp...