I Hate Change

I have discovered that although I love the excitement of changes that I choose to make in my life, I hate certain changes. Example, Grocery stores that move the entire operation. I usually quit shopping at stores that move everything.I have noticed that when they move things, they always raise those prices. I used to love shopping at Smiths. they received most of my business, not anymore. They have 'improved' themselves out of a customer.
My latest pet peeve? The new system for preventing automated comments on blogger. I have to really strain to the read the words. And two of them!! Then I try and try and try to do them It never works! I have removed that feature from this blog. (Now I will have weird conversations with the robots as a punishment.)
I do love the changes in nature. Especially the one I am impatiently waiting to come screaming in here in a week or two.

It's Greek to Me

Sixth Grade held a Greek Festival in the library today. How fun is that? I joined in the fun with a costume. They held Olympics. (Great ideas for a family reunion). They showed videos of skits that they had made. They ate a ton of treats. (I left during that part. Have I said that I love my job?

Cookies and Milk

Friday night was a special treat. We had Stephanie visit for the weekend. We were so excited to see all three girls. We missed you Rich! We decorated Valentine cookies for everyone.

I love decorating cookies with my girls. It is so neat to see the designs they come up with. I am going to be decorating more cookies to share with a few important people in our lives.... if you don't get cookies it only means you will be getting a different treat another time.

Some of our work.

Of course we let the kids help...just not for very long. Colton decorated the same cookie over and over.

We get a good concentration going.

Marinda joined us also. Here, Ethan shows us some of their cookies

Emma just loved playing with Tucker.

Tucker loved the cookies!

Oh, What Do You Do.....

Oh, what do you do in the winter time
When all the world is froze.
Do you defrost your toes or clean out your nose
or look for a new kind of rose?


Seriously, how do you keep your sanity in the long cold dark hours of winter? I have been reading a ton. I am just interested in how to keep from baking treats and eating them.

I Purpose a Change

I have really been struggling with the winter blues...once again. I looked back on the autumn season and realized that I need Thanksgiving in January. Why shouldn't we move it? It would finally get the recognition it deserves if it came after Christmas. January is a bleak month, but a great time to reflect on my blessings. I realize that we celebrate a day of giving thanks for our harvests, but my harvests come in all year. So.. I am going to have a mini Thanksgiving. I may even set aside a Sunday and prepare a special meal. I am so grateful for all the help my Heavenly Father sends to me. He even calmed my troubled mind with perfect peace the other day. I promise I couldn't have done it myself.
I wonder if any of my family (children, parents etc. ) would like to celebrate our blessings a second time in January?
Could be fun and very therapeutic.

It came without Ribbons...

It came without tags. it came without packages, boxes or bags. I love that part of Dr. Suess' How The Grinch Stole Christmas. It has been an interesting year for us. so 'interesting' that I didn't get a chance to write a newsletter or mail cards. I have had a hard time getting in a holiday mood. But it hit me in special ways this year. I have felt the love and peace of good friends. They are numerous. I work with many good friends. I worship with even more. I live with a household (although some of the members are at 'satellite' locations) of very celestial friends. today, I am spending the day with two of my beautiful grand daughters. We have been shopping and had some fine dining...Chick-Fil-ay.(Can't spell it!) I feel how blessed I am. Do each of the special people that surround me know how full my heart feels when I think of them? Do they know that even if I was a billionaire, I couldn't spend enough on them to bestow a gift that is worthy of them? Do they know that I know the Savior lives? I do know that. He is constantly by my side. Sometimes, my choices mask His presence from my feelings, but when I pray and invite Him into my life, He is right beside me. I am grateful for the humble, silent sacred events of that first Christmas night. Can you feel the peace that must have been thick in that stable? I wish I could remember the angel's song. I hope I got to help sing it. I would experience anything that the Savior asked of me. Haven't I been blessed that all He asks of me is to love all around me? I have discovered that there is no one that I have truly tried to become acquainted with that I haven't been able to love. Maybe someday I will be worthy of some of the gifts He gave me.
Merry Christmas to All
And to all a great weekend

Happily Ever After...

You know in fairy tales, the end is 'and they lived happily ever after'. Having been in happily ever after, I want to give you some details. In my far away younger days, I thought happily ever after was the princess and her wonderful prince walking hand in hand down lovely garden paths with flowers bursting into blooms as they passed. They were accompanied by butterflies and birds. Their castle was large, beautiful and handsomely furnished. Their little royal offspring were perfect. Life was perfect. How glad I am that true happily ever after isn't that boring.
Happily ever after= the prince and princess have their own thoughts and opinions. Sometimes they don't match up and they learn wisdom and love while working on an equitable solution. The castle needs repairing... a lot! The kids are normal and have lots of 'growing experiences'. The kingdoms cash runs out. But through all these exciting times, the prince and princess are still in love.
My happily ever after experienced a miracle this week. My prince almost took a trip to a different world. I would have had a lonely happily ever after if my miracle didn't occur. Superman proved to be super again with the help of the priesthood and great blessings from our Heavenly Father. He experienced a stroke on Wednesday. I watched him in a scary state and stood by his side. In the emergency room, I held my lips to his head and asked him to stay with me. He whispered back that he would. Then within a few hours he was coming back to me. I thank my Heavenly Father for every minute He has given me with Steve. My eternal marriage is such a gift. My Christmas means so much more because the Savior has given me the love of my life and my hereafter life... and let me enjoy more temporal time with Steve.
We have felt the love and prayers of all our loved ones. What power! We love you all. Thanks for your strength. Do me a favor and hug your special people. Celebrate your blessings as you remember all that was given to us with the birth of a divine king.