Lookie What I can Do!

Hey Super Grandma!
(our family term for great-grandma-or GGMA)
I'm a BIG boy!

Complete with my breakfast on my shirt!

(P.S. Mom this is Cardon)

(She can't keep up with all these babies!)

Wherein I Do Something Creative

"The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before."

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

I learned a long time ago that in order for me to be happy, I needed to spend some time doing something a little creative. Years ago when I was working all the time and tending to the needs of my family, that the creative process dropped way behind in the priority list and I seemed to "lose myself."

Even though I still don't have a ton of time to be creative, I've tried to carve out a few minutes here and there.

Here's the latest......

Oh the cuteness!

This last one is the piece 'o resistance!

Only thing missing:  Her darling gold sandals!

You can find the pattern here.

Very cute, very easy.

And I have four cutie-pies to sew for!

Next project:  Dresses for the wedding!

Choirs of Angels were Singing

Especially one I know very well, my dear mother-in-law.......

Here's why.....

My brother-in-law, who has been inactive for over 30 years,

Was rebaptized this afternoon.

Many, many, many prayers have been offered for him.

Both on this earth and I know on the other side.

That's why I know his mother is rejoicing at this time.

My husband baptized him.

And his dad was able to confirm him.

Now I'm going to share the photos of this very special occasion,

for my dear sister-in-law

who is on the other side of the world

serving a mission.

So if you're not interested in seeing, you can move on now.....

Room filled to capacity.

Happy family

Happy kids

Happy grandkids

A great birthday present for a daughter!

Buddies for over 40 years.

Doing what we do best--gathering and eating.

Not sure I claim this kid.

Something is super funny.

Hanging with the cousins..

A day of rejoicing in the heavens and on earth.......

More Information than You Wanted to Know

Yesterday was Sacred Hair Day.
Yes, It is a sacred and inviolate appointment each month.
So that know one knows that I have perfectly white hair, with a little gray sprinkled in.
(now everyone knows)
Every four weeks.
Color & Cut.

I have very coarse hair.
And my lovely stylist loves to texture the heck out of it.
Which I am happy about of course.
Since I like to look like a sassy middle-aged-lady.

So when I get home,
There's little hair bits everywhere.
Doesn't that just drive you nuts?
As careful as my lovely stylist is to remove all extraneous bits of fly-away hair.

There's always a little left over.
There was even a little hair bit stuck.between.my.teeth!
And I spent a good half hour trying to lodge it free.
Now, doesn't that make you want to go have a nice hearty breakfast?

Exciting Visitor from the North!

Yesterday I was able to meet one of Elder Larsen's converts! She was in Mesa and we met up at the temple visitor's center. It was great to hug someone who had been with my boy just five days earlier! She threw him a birthday party and showed me the photos.

Thanks for taking good care of my boy, Paula!

The Promise of A Harvest in My Back Yard

Things are positively bloomin' around here! With the heat, the spring/summer garden is gearing into action....

Grapes! I've been so busy-I haven't paid attention.....

First zucchini!  (sorry bout the blurry photo-having issues with the focus)

Corn tassels!

Yum, I can taste the tomatoes & fresh basil already!

Future jalapenos for some spicy salsa!

No blossoms in the bean patch just yet, but at least the birds are leaving them alone!

And finally the only blossoms that survive and thrive in the scorching summer heat, the lantana by the pool. They make me happy when I look outside from my air conditioned kitchen.

The Weekend~

Pictorial of the weekend......

The "Mormon Prom"

Great fun-cute kids.

We got to attend since hubs is the branch prez.

And checking up on the YM/YW.

Great fun spying on them.    {giggle}

Saw lots of kids I know....

First harvest of spring/summer garden!

Teeny-weeny squashes.

But they were yummy!

Despedida-(farewell) for our former branch president.

LOVE LOVE LOVE these folks!

Impromptu speech-with five minutes advance notice.

(my Spanish speaking face-super goofy looking)

Gotta speak in church this Sunday....{sigh} more advance notice.

Not pictured:

Visit from the Brooks

Grocery shopping and menu planning

Teenage daughter doing chores for prom money

Hours of meetings Sunday

Yummy vegetarian Mexican salad

Tuxedo fittings

(dang it-shoulda brought camera-it was hilarious!)

The End

On Giving Birth

The Elder on the right is my boy.

Last Sat.

Thanks to a wonderful lady who helps take care of them...

He's having a birthday party tonight.

Far away from his native land of Arizona.

(See the snow by his feet? I would probably be shivering like crazy with a heavy coat-looks like his blood has thickened up)

Today is his 20th birthday.

I have one more teenager left.

(deep breath)

Thanks to him,

I learned that I could absolutely unconditionally

love

a new baby

without having to go through a lot of pain to get him here.

(The pain came after)

I kinda worried about that.

Because he was born by c-section.

I was afraid that I would love my child less.

Since I hadn't gone through the valley of the shadow....

to bring him here.

So not true.

He's loved

And cherished

Just as much as the ones

that got here

the same way

Mother Eve did it.

So if anyone out there

Is facing the same situation,

It's gonna be okay.

New Rules for Myself

Thanks for the bloggy love. I really appreciate it.
I've made some rules for myself.
First-I've removed the "followers" thingie.

You know, I was stressing out keeping up with how many followers I have.
Ridiculous huh?
And looking at other people's blogs and thinking gee, they have more than me.
Ridiculous huh?
(I should have titled this post "confessions, part 2)

I had a FABULOUS discussion with my sis in Utah,
about scriptural stuff.
She shared some great insights from a class she is taking.
And she shared with me that comparison is a form of pride.
When we compare ourselves to others~
Whether we worry that we're not as good as they are,
Or think we're just a little bit better~
That's a form of pride.

Gulp.

So-
The follower's tag is gone.
And all the other extraneous stuff.
Except of course my family!
Cuz they're definitely not extraneous.

And I'll blog when I feel like it.
Some weeks I may have lots.
Maybe not so much.

Sometimes my brain is percolating.
And sometimes it is like a sludge pond.

Hmm...maybe it's percolating today because I got some herbs from my naturopath yesterday~
No hot flashes at 4:00 am!
Woke up at 5:30!
Dry and feeling rested.....

So the thingie that was percolating in my brain this morning was...
Find beauty in the ordinary.

I was getting ready to clean the nasty dirty stove, swirled on some cleaner, walked away, turned back, and fell in love with the swirlie I made.........

The swirlie is gone now.

But at least my stove is clean.

Confessions

As you can probably see, blogging is not one of my highest priorities right now.
In fact, I was thinking of giving it up.
But then my mom told me how much she enjoys reading it.
So I'm gonna keep going.

I'm just busy living life.
Coping with the mid-life hormonal changes 'a-happenin' right now.
Waking up every day at 4:00 am covered in sweat.
And sweating a lot other times.
And feeling like I have brain fog.

Working hard at church,
The hubby is officially "el presidente" now.
It's very cool watching him carry that mantle.
In my role as RS prez.

Trying to keep up with everything,
And not succeeding too much.
Like yesterday having to pay an obscene amount of money
To get my missionary son's birthday package to him on time
Cuz I put it off too long.

Got a wedding to work on.
And I've done very little about it.
Am I in denial?
Maybe-could be the brain fog and/or other stuff constantly taking priority.

Trying to be a good mom/grandma
And feeling like I'm not doing my best right now.

The seasons are changing.
Feeling depressed about the upcoming heat wave.
And trying to transition the garden.
But getting behind in that endeavor also.

Getting the youngest girlie ready for
her "Mormon Prom"
and the gentile one too.

Studying a lot about healthy diet
And making major changes in mine.
And losing 7 lbs in the process.

I'm just busy living life..
Like everyone else out there.

Adios!

I'm headed out to visit the MotherLand-----aka Utah.
To wish my daddy a happy birthday.
And visit my sis
And my mom.
And take a short break.
Chao.

I Am A Christian

art by Greg Olson

On this Easter morn,

I am rejoicing, along with billions of others,

that,

"God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten  Son,

that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,

but have everlasting life."  john 3:16

I am a Christian.

I am also a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints.

aka "Mormon."

Many say I am not a Christian.

On this joyous morning, let me tell you why I am.

When I was baptized, as He was by John the Baptist,

I made a solemn promise that I would take His name upon me.

That means I would do the things He did.

Act the way He did.

Be the way He was and is.

I don't always succeed.

But I'm trying.

When I pray, I close my prayers in His name....always.

Every Sunday I partake of the emblems of His death and promise to always remember Him.

I read His Holy Words in the Scriptures daily.

Not only His words spoken during his mortal life,

in the New Testament,

But also His words spoken to ancient prophets

in the Old Testament.

And I study His words,

In Another Testament of Him,

The Book of Mormon.

I've tried to pattern my life after Him.

Teach my children of Him.

Love His children, my brothers and sisters.

And rejoice today that He gave His life.

That I might live again.

And be with my family eternally.

He lives!

I am a Christian.

My Favorite Weekend

photo by flickr

It's that time of year again.

To rest, renew, replenish, restore

My soul.

I can't wait!

Garden Tour

In these here parts, with the changing of the seasons, our thoughts to to the warm weather veggies. It's time to bid farewell to the fresh greens and peas. The peas have been torn out, allowing the tomatoes a little sunshine and the opportunity to grow and produce yummy tomatoes before the summer sun fries them. We've been working some of our homemade compost into the soil-with a little extra help from the storebought kind. The key to a good garden is GOOD SOIL. I'm learning this. The veggies taste better, are healthier and more robust. We still have a loooong way to go and lots to learn..........

Here's a little experiment I tried this year.

Celery!

I need to pull it now, it's a little old but it has been so fun to trot out and grab some fresh

celery for salads and stir frys. Unfortunately this is another cold weather veggie I have to

say buh-bye to.....

Tomatoes seem happy.

Now that the covering of peas is gone.

Here's a volunteer guy that seems a little less happy.

Corn seems happy too-for now.

The third planting of Armenian cucumbers,

underneath the protective mesh.

Take that! You birdies....

First squash!

I know, I'm weird, but this was very exciting.

Funny, but the birds didn't eat this plant.

Do they feel the same way about squash as my kids do?

And all of a sudden the grapevines burst forth with new leaves.

They do this to me every year...

I worry and fret that I've killed them.

But they return again!

Isn't nature grand???