Christmas Time--Family Traditions

We have been blessed with a wonderous Christmas Season this year.  Along with the normal hussel and bussel of getting everything in place for Christmas Day, we had the anticipation of the long awaited phone call with Missionary Matt or Elder Helm.  Oh my how I counted the hours until his call.  In some ways having him on a mission have been much better than I expected, however not being able to talk to him is so much harder than I thought it would be.  Today he sent us a picture of the baptism that they had last week.  The gentleman being baptised is named Ryan.

There have been several other baptisms, however he has not sent the pictures on to us.  I get really too emotional talking of Matt's phone call--so I will only say, it was wonderous!

On Christmas Eve we had a large gathering for our traditional feast.  The tradition behind this feast is in honor of Bill's grandmother, May Nelson, as it is her birthday as well as to have a big meal so that we don't have to cook on Christmas Day.  So we went and brought Ethel home for the celebration and invited a few friends who have become like family for us.  We had Sister Noma Aikins, a little spitfire who used to drive 18 wheel trucks for a living--she is now retired.  The Boston family,  Dacia, John and little Anthony, along with Dacia's sister Jessica Foster, were there as well.  We have come to really love this family.  We also had the missionaries as that is as close to having Matt with us as we can get.  Last we invited our next door neighbors, Karen and her two grandsons Phillip and Cory.  Phillip and Cory's mom won't be home until New Years Day so they had postponed their Christmas celebration to wait for her.  We thought they should come and celebrate with us.  We had to move the couch out of the front room and add an 8 foot banquet table onto the end of our table.  It was quite a crowd. 

We used disposable products to make clean up faster.  After dinner Bill read a Cajun Night Before Christmas, the missionaries gave a message and Bill ended the evening with the story of our Saviors birth from the Book of Mormon and New Testiment.  It was a remarkable evening.  

Christmas morning came bright and early with Rachel and Marcus calling before the other children woke us up.  It was fun being woken up by Rachel for a change.  We opened gifts, ate and waited for Matt's call.  After Matt's phone call we went and took Ethel's Christmas presents to her.  After that things got a little crazy.  It was time for the MADD (Marshmellow Assult Delivery Device)war.  We knew that Phillip and Cory would have a hard time not opening presents when the rest of the world was ripping paper off as fast as they could.  They are only 5 and 7 and while the knew they were waiting for momma, it is hard to see presents there and not be able to open them.  So Jessica, Joshua, Daniel and Mandy taught them to make thier very own MADD and the war was on.

We finished off the day with our Forgotten Carol tradition.  Bill reads and we add the music where it is appropriate.  This year the Boston's, Jessica Foster, and Noma Aikins joined us as they had never even heard of the Forgotten Carols before.  Our Jessica added to the experience by giving us ornaments that she had made that goes with the story.  These ornaments are amazing.  I can't believe that is what she has been doing for the past couple months in her room.  Now the cuts on her hands make sence. 

She hand carved the flute, and the pen really writes when dipped in ink, all the ornaments fit in a plastic canvas suit case.  I was speechless when I opened this gift. I don't know how many times she must have read the book and listened to the music to get the details correct.  I am just really thankful for her gift of crafting.  It really added to the day.

All in all a very wonderful Christmas Day.  A day of peace.  A day of family.  A day of Love.

Final Grades

So the Final Grades were posted.  I got straight A's.  I worked hard and I earned them!!  While I am very much enjoying the break, I can't wait for next semester. 

Elevator Music

This past week has been seriously one of the weirdest ones. For a little background, I am now in my last week of classes before final exams. So when I received an email from the Center for Better Learning (or the tutor place as I call it) that there would be a workshop on Prepping for Finals, on last Wednesday, I signed up. I didn't have any classes at that time and this seemed to be in the "good to know" category. It was a wonderful workshop. I learned many things among which was creative techniques for dealing with anxiety. After leaving the workshop, I got on the elevator to go down to the ground floor. (Since the weather has changed, it hurts my arthritis too much to do the stairs right now) I was going down, when there was a jolt and then the elevator fell for what felt like a mile, but was probably only a foot. In addition, the door refused to open. I was stuck in the elevator. You know how I don't deal with small spaces well, so the first thing I did was call your Dad. That I got him was a major miracle, as there is not supposed to be any service in the elevators on campus--it interferes with something or there is just too much metal. Anyway your Dad told me to push the emergency phone button and tell them of the problem--so I did. Within 5 minutes there were maintenance men outside the doors trying to get me out. As soon as they got there, I lost the cell signal, as I said, major miracle that I even got the call out in the first place, and I was no longer alone. I could hear them working, and was starting to feel as if I couldn't breath when I decided I would sing my hymn--Abide With Me--that hymn led into 30 minutes of singing hymns in the elevator (acoustics are fantastic in an elevator shaft) at which point the good maintance men got the door opened. I must say that I could have done without the practical application of dealing with anxiety. But Heavenly Father greatly blessed me during that crisis. I really need to work on dealing with the after effects of anxiety though, because I shook for most of the rest of the day, feeling on the edge of breaking down. Next day, after some good sleep and much prayer, I was better though. Worst part though was that while I was on the edge, I had really bad fights with two people I love and while one quickly forgave me, understanding the after effects of being stuck in an elevator,the other one will probably not talk to me for quite a while.  I will pray that this person will forgive me as well.

Black Friday Shopping

It's funny, 27 years ago, not a even a full month after I got married, Bill told me that he didn't want me shopping on the day after Thanksgiving.  He said that he didn't want me out there with all the crazy people who were willing to push, shove, and sometimes even punch others just to get their great deal.  He said that he would just worry too much.  I didn't unnecessarily agree with him, however my Grandma asked me if my shopping was more important than Bill's peace of mind.   As the years moved forward, and Bill went to work for Kmart, and then Michael's, he would come with the Black Friday war stories and I was thankful I wasn't out there in the trenches.   Sure I heard the stories of the great deals that my friends found, but was it really worth possibly getting hurt for?  Besides I am allergic to poinsettias, and as there are everywhere, we knew that meant huge asthma attacks, so why go out on this horrid day?  Anything I wanted that was on sale, Bill would go and get, either before work or after.  I am a kept woman. 

I believe that being an obedient wife was more about respect for my husbands feelings than just blindly following his rules.  Besides, if I ever really had a problem with what he asked me to do or not to do, I argued with him until we compromised between what I wanted and what he wanted.  So while he is sometimes over protective, he has respect for my feelings too, and has pretty much given me what I want over the years.  Yep, I am a kept woman for sure.

Imagine my surprise when talking with Bill around noon today about what we wanted from the adds, and he says "be careful when you are shopping today."  My reply "you are letting me go shopping today??"  I was stunned, ney shocked!  After 27 years of him reminding me to stay home on Black Friday, now I can go?  Mandy and I left quickly before he had a chance to either
a) come to his senses
b) remember the date or
c) change his mind.
Armed with a new allergy medicine this year, the poinsettias are not too much of a problem.  So to the stores we went. . .funny thing though, as we went to the couple of stores we had outlined, it wasn't as fun as Mandy and I thought it would be.  We did get what we went for, however we felt guilty the entire time--like we were breaking the rules.  In fact it has me so weirded out that I now have an upset stomach.  As much as I like to be my own person, apparently I like being a kept woman.

Happy Thanksgiving

I am thankful for:

1. Being a child of God--I know who I am and that Heavenly Father loves me.
2. Having a loving and supportive family
3. Being married to Bill for time and all eternity.
4. Having the gospel in my life to guide me
5. Having a son who is serving the Lord in a full time mission.
6. Being able to go back to school.
7. Being able to do the math.
8. Having friends who tutor me when I need help.
9. Old friends who have stood beside me through thick and thin.
10. New friends, who I am just getting to know.
11. The Internet that lets me stay connected not only with my friends and family, but what is going on in the church--instant access to scriptures even if I am not at home.
12. Having a variety of food to eat.
13. Having children who do their chores well
14. Cell phones, that let me talk to my children who are far away and to my best friend Laura as much as I want without a high bill.
15. Church callings that teach me new things
16. Mandy to drive me to school
17. Jessica who makes me smile
18. Daniel who makes me laugh
19. Joshua who makes me think
20. Rachel who cheers me onward
21. Marcus who protects my Rachel
22. Matthew who is a gift from God
23. Bill who sees the best in me and helps me achieve greater things, and who always believes in me.
24. Parents that raised me in the gospel
25. Sisters and Brothers who will be my friends for all eternity
26. A home of my own, that I can paint broad slashes of color on the walls while I decide which color I want to paint on them.
27. Music that calms my soul, gives me energy to do my chores, and gives me joy always.
28. Knitting--need I say more?
29. That Bill has a job in this crazy economy
30. Most of all--Prayer--the ability to pour out my sorrows, trials, joys and triumphs to my Heavenly Father and know that he is there, listening and waiting to help me. All I have to do is ask.

These are just a few of the things I am thankful for and will be thinking about today.  I hope you all have a very blessed Thanksgiving filled with love and joy.


Blessings of Teenagers!

There are many blessings to having all teenagers around the house.  Some are just the ease of having a large, capable and helpful cleaning crew that makes the chores go faster.  However the thing I feel most blessed for at this time, is their cognitive abilities.  Because of their age and understanding, we are now able to have a really deep gospel discussion for Family Home Evening.  We have taken advantage of this by introducing a monthly Stop-n-Jot session.   Here is how it works.  Bill and I prayerfully find an Ensign article that we want to explore in depth.  He then prints out a copy for each member of the family, and divides the article into parts.  Each member of the family brings their journal to FHE and after opening prayer and introduction to the article, we all begin to read up to the first marked stopping place.  We all then record in our journals our thoughts and feelings about this article to this point.  When we have all finished this particular entry, Bill calls on each of us, in a random order to share what we have written.  We continue this pattern to the end of the article.  Yes this usually takes several pages in our journals, but the individual introspection is amazing.  Our teenagers are very deep thinkers.  They have a firm grasp on gospel matters, and a great love for the Lord.  I love hearing their thoughts on the subjects we are reading about.  Often their thoughts cause me to reflect further.  I love the minds of my teenagers.  I am really blessed to be their mother.  They as those who are now grown have been Bill's and my greatest blessings.  I am very thankful Heavenly Father chose to send them to us. 

Challenges are a funny thing. . .

It is funny, going to school seemed like such an insurmountable challenge, something that was to be feared.  Yet as I have moved through this semester, I have found that I love the challenge.  I stress over tests, however unlike when I was younger, I no longer freeze up.   Funny thing is, I love all of the new things I am learning.  Each day (with the exception of Biology 101) I find myself charged up.  This so rocks!!

Dear Knitting. . .

Dear Knitting,

I know that we have been constant friends for the past 2 1/2 decades.  You have been there for me when I was sad, mad, happy, stressed, and full of joy.  Please don't feel abandoned because I can't seem to find the time to even look at you let alone let your wonderous yarns run through my fingers, letting the fibers calm me as I hold the fabulous wooden needles in my hands.  I have to study.  Soon it will be Thanksgiving Break and you and I will be inseperable.  I know I can't wait to see your stitches build wonderful patterns.  Can you be patient until then??
Lots of Love,

Mid-Term Grades

Mid-Term Grades came out today.  I must say I am happy with them.  I have 3 A's, Biology, English, and Health Information Technology, and a B in Medical Terminology.  Not bad for the first semester back.  I will continue to work hard--now is not a time to let up. 

Steamed

This has been a very difficult week for me. I have a cold, as does most of our family. We are tired, grumpy and generally not at our best right now.  The children have been working on various sorts of school projects, have had mid-terms and with Daniel we have even had parent teacher conferences.  They are great children.  Things have heated up pretty much for me at school too.  On Thursday I had 3 tests--I was ready for the tests, having studied, prayed, and generally prepared. About 1/2 way through the 3 test--Biology 101, I became confused by the questions. About 20 of them were chemical compound that we were to identify. I had never seen these before, as they were not in the lecture notes, book or the either website used by the professor. I was very frustrated not to know the answers to these questions. The next day I went to talk to my professor about feeling that he was setting us up to fail. He said that he created hard tests so that we could be challenged. I agreed that challenge was good, and asked him where in the material did we recieve the information that we were tested on. He said that he expects us to go beyond the material, in this instance Organic Chemistry, as it is things we should all know. He told me that there wasn't anything I could say to change his mind. Right now in this class of 120, only 30 have a grade above an "F". I think this is wrong, especially in a 100 level class. I believe that when that many people are failing a class, you have to take a look at the instructor.  If we are going to be tested on material, I think we need to know about it or at least covered it at some point either in the book, online or in class lectures. As it stands I got a 78% on the test and while that is not as bad as it could be, it brings my really strong "A" down to an "-A". Anyway, I got angry and as you could guess, got a really upset stomach. I know that getting upset makes me sick. That is why I don't really lose my temper much anymore--it just isn't worth being sick for 2-4 days, however the injustice of this still upsets me. I still have 2 more tests in this class. Who can tell what will be on those tests? We were talking about cells and cell structure, and alright I get how that can tie into chemical compounds. If I had know that we were to study those, I would have. I will have to use great care in studying for the last 2 tests in this class. Mid-term grades come out this Wednesday. I think I am doing well in all of my classes--we will see. 

Makes you think

The thing about migraines is that you spend a lot of time in the dark.  The pain ebs and flows, varying in degrees.  During that time in the dark you think of all the things you should be doing, all the things you would like to be doing if only the pain would ease enough.  Then it gets barable and you feel the need to read your email.  That is when you find things your kids have sent you, like the Math Presentation down below from Daniel or an intersting story that makes you think.  By that time the pain is bad once again and so you go back into the dark and think and think on the story you have just read and realize that there is a great truth to it.  Once you solve all the problems of the world, or at least in theory your world, you can rest a bit and the pain once again eases a bit.  Anyway, I wanted to share the story with you.  Don't know who wrote it, but it makes me think . . .

  The Stranger

A while ago, my Dad met a stranger who was new to our small town. From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer and soon invited him to live with our family. The stranger was quickly accepted and was around from then on.


As I grew up, I never questioned his place in my family. In my young mind, he had a special niche. My parents were complementary instructors: Mom taught me good from evil, and Dad taught me to obey. But the stranger...he was our storyteller. He would keep us spellbound for hours on end with adventures, mysteries and comedies. If I wanted to know anything about politics, history or science, he always knew the answers about the past, understood the present and even seemed able to predict the future! He took my family to the first major league ball game. He made me laugh, and he made me cry. The stranger never stopped talking, but Dad didn't seem to mind.


Sometimes, Mom would get up quietly while the rest of us were shushing each other to listen to what he had to say, and she would go to the kitchen for peace and quiet. (I wonder now if she ever prayed for the stranger to leave.)


Dad ruled our household with certain moral convictions, but the stranger never felt obligated to honor them. Profanity, for example, was not allowed in our home... Not from us, our friends or any visitors. Our longtime visitor, however, got away with four-letter words that burned my ears and made my dad squirm and my mother blush. My Dad didn't permit the liberal use of alcohol. But the stranger encouraged us to try it on a regular basis. He made cigarettes look cool, cigars manly and pipes distinguished. He talked freely (much too freely!) about sex. His comments were sometimes blatant, sometimes suggestive, and generally embarrassing.


I now know that my early concepts about relationships were influenced strongly by the stranger. Time after time, he opposed the values of my parents, yet he was seldom rebuked... And NEVER asked to leave.


More than fifty years have passed since the stranger moved in with our family. He has blended right in and is not nearly as fascinating as he was at first. Still, if you could walk into my parents' den today, you would
still find him sitting over in his corner, waiting for someone to listen to him talk and watch him draw his pictures.



His name?.... .. .


We just call him 'TV.' He has a wife now....We call her 'Computer.'  Their first child is "Cell Phone". Second child "I Pod"

Yep it shore does make me think.  And the next wave of pain is here.

Daniel's Math Project

Daniel had a math project that he needed to do for class.  Ok, so I really don't understand the math involved, however I love his project.  It is so cool.  To see it, click on or copy and paste the link.

http://prezi.com/4_vcafobimmf/math-project/

In the dark. . .

Five days in the dark.  I so need this migraine to go away.  Doing school work with my head hurting is not so good.  Thankfully I am caught up.  The picture is pretty descriptive, however mine feels as though someone has used a can opener on the top of my head and is pushing the lid portion down.  I haven't had one hold on this long for almost a year.  Wish I knew what caused them to come and what is the difference between the ones that are here just for a day and the ones that stay day after day.  My children are being oh so quiet.  I am blessed, but oh how I hurt. 

A Powerful Experience

I had an unusual experience a bit over a week ago that lead to peace of mind. I wanted to share it with you. I have been struggling to get all my homework finished. It has involved many late nights and early mornings, which resulted in me not really feeling well. So I prayed to our gracious Heavenly Father for his help. The answere came from a really unusal source. I was sitting in Biology 101, listening to my professor, Dr Hartman. Dr. Hartman is a man the believes in only science and not in God. It is difficult some days to be in his class. On this particular day, as class was coming to and end, he was talking of an upcoming test. He went over the rules and how the test would proceed, and cautioned the class members not to cheat. He then said, "If you do what you are supposed to do, I will take care of you." At that point I really was not sure as to the final 10 minutes of the class. Into my mind came our Savior's promise--I the Lord am bound when ye do as I say, if ye do not as I say, you have no promise. When I went over these words in my mind, I thought of my habits of scripture study--pretty much put aside these past weeks, while trying to do my homework. There didn't seem to be enough time to do both. Yet I knew that this was the very message that our Heavenly Father had for me. The next day, when I got up and sat down to my desk, I pulled my scriptures out and began where I had left off, Jacob 1. I studied as is the normal time for me and then, took out my homework. This became the pattern for me for the rest of that week and for this past week. It came time for my date with Bill, and I looked to see what I would need to do on Saturday between conference to be ready for Monday. I was amazed to find that I was completely caught up in all my classes. This was not a light week in homework, if anything it had more in it that in prior weeks, and yet it was finished for the first time since I began school. I don't really know how it all worked, I just know that it did--sort of like tithing, you do it and while it works out, it doesn't always add up on paper. I am thankful that our Heavenly Father answered my question is such a manner that I could understand what was wanted. I wonder though what Dr. Hartman would say if he knew that his words, brought Heavenly Fathers words to my mind :)

Sisters

I have been blessed with several sisters.  We are rather spread out, a couple of us living on one side of the country and a couple here in the middle, one even farther south, on the west coast.  Even though we are spread far, I think of them each day.  I wonder how they are doing, what challenges they are having, and what specific thing I should pray for them on any particular day.  I do pray for each of them each day. 

As I sat in the chapel tonight with two of my daughters, I began thinking.  It came to me that at that very moment, my sisters, my other daughter and I were united in what we were doing at that very moment.  We were preparing to listen to the women's conference and hear our Prophet speak.  Some were in Stake Centers like I was, some watched from home on the television and some watched on the Internet, but at that moment we were doing the same thing. 

Then the music began and we all sang "Count Your Many Blessings".  As I sang, I felt surrounded by many voices, all singing the same song.  At that moment it came to me that I had other sisters, who were all around the world, that were at that moment singing with me.  Many languages, all singing praises to our Heavenly Father with one voice.  I was staggered at the thought.  My sisters, all of us from around the world were uplifted by the music and speakers.  I laughed with President Monson, when he told of the woman who complained each week that her neighbor didn't know how to properly wash the laundry, only to find out that it was her own windows that were dirty.  I cried as we were admonished not to judge others, with President Monson quoting  "Mother Teresa, a Catholic nun who worked among the poor in India most of her life, spoke this profound truth: “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” The Savior has admonished, “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” I ask: Can we love one another, as the Savior has commanded, if we judge each other? And I answer—with Mother Teresa—“No; we cannot.” I rejoiced to hear Sister Beck, Sister Allred and Sister Thompson recounted some of our rich history as a Relief Society organization while at the same time reminding us of responsibilities that we all share.

I know that I am a daughter of God.  Knowing that has helped me in my role as a wife and mother to truly value myself, knowing that as I stayed home to care for my children, I was doing something noble, something that was of great importance to my children's future.  I feel greatly blessed that I have had the privilege to stay home and raise my children.  Heavenly Father has greatly blessed me with really amazing children, each one unique not only in talents, but disposition, and personality.  I have learned much from all of them.  I am blessed to have two brothers and four sisters, some of whom don't even know each other as they come to me from both of my parents separately.  They are all important to me and have blessed my life.  I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for each of us and that if we trust in that plan, He will guide and bless our lives.  For this and so many other things I am grateful for, I know my life is truly blessed. 

So as I think of all of these things, I just wanted to share how I felt. 

The New 'Do

Due to my weird medical condition and the meds that go with it, my hair has been falling out by the handfuls.  So this past Friday I got it all cut off--well at least 14 inches of it cut off.

This tiny, thin pony tail is all there was left to cut off.  It itsn't much, but I will donate it to Locks of Love.  It is funny, I got 14 inches cut off and only 2 people at church noticed it was short.  Weird!!  So I am pretty content with the new 'do.  At least I have been blessed to still have a little bit of hair left.  That and the talent of a great hairdresser who was born with thin hair, I don't have to look bald even though I feel bald.  So here is the current me.  Shocking!!

Mandy told me to make a face, so I did.  Since I really didn't want any type of a bob hair cut, we are calling it the Roy hair cut.

Youth

A few weeks ago a friend Gabe Murphy spoke in church.  Gabe and his wife Cora are amazing with youth.  They inspire me.  Anyway he read this poem as part of his talk.  It really made me think about role as a parent and I wanted to share it with all of you.

‘Twas a sheep, not a lamb, that strayed away

In the parable Jesus told,

A grown-up sheep that had gone astray

From the ninety and nine in the fold.

And out in the meadows, and out in the cold,

‘Twas a sheep the Good Shepherd sought.

And back to the flock and safe into the fold,

‘Twas a sheep the Good Shepherd brought.

Why, for the sheep, should we earnestly long

And so earnestly hope and pray?

Because there is danger, if they go wrong,

They will lead the young lambs astray.

For the lambs will follow the sheep, you know,

Wherever the sheep may stray;

If the sheep go wrong, it will not be long

‘Til the lambs are as wrong as they.

So, with the sheep we earnestly plead

For the sake of the lambs today,

If sheep are lost, what a terrible cost

Some lambs will have to pay!

Operation Keep Cheryl Healthy

As I have spent the past few days going through Kleenex as such a speed as to fill my very own landfill to overflowing, it has occured to me that I didn't think some things through about school.  I have a compromised immune system.  I pretty much catch everything that I come in contact with.  So I am related to and am friends with many medical personnel as well as many vitamin and herbal people.  I am thinking that perhaps you may have ideas on how I can keep from catching every pesky virus that comes along.  My answer in the past (stay home and don't interact with anybody who may or may not be carrying some dreaded virus)just won't work.  I don't think it will help my grades to stay home.  Besides, I am enjoying the lectures and don't want to stay home.  So I'm asking--any ideas on how to keep me healthy?

1st Day of School

Today was my first day of school.  I wake up. . .my sinuses are so stuffed and my ears really hurt.  So I go to the clinic and yep I have a double ear infection and a sinus infection.  Not at my best for new experiences.  I bought the meds and came home for a bit of a nap before my first class at 4 pm this afternoon.  Feeling not really better, I load up my backpack (thank goodness it has wheels) and Mandy drops me off at school.  This is sort of a roll reversal in that my daughter is dropping me off instead of the other way around.  I go in to ask the registrar a question, and yep, I am a ditz, I forgot my Student ID card.  So I call Mandy and she brings it to me.(I guess since I had to do all these things for her during High School and earlier, it is pay back time, but you would think I would have learned by now.)  As Mandy and Daniel drive away I get a text message. "Be Honorable, Make Good Choices, We Love You"  This is the message that I have given each of my children as they left each day for school.  It makes me smile and feel so warm and loved.  Definitely a good thing when facing a new challenge. 

My first class we went over all the rules, how to get to the Web CT and what will be expected.  It was pretty much what I expected, except more.  My other class was so different.  It began with the instructor opening the door (there were about 45 of us waiting in the hall) and he said "If you are here for Biology 101, you can come in---or not."  That class is huge.  So he starts right on in with the lecture.  At the end he tells us we can pick up the page of what is expected--or not.  I can hardly wait to see what my other 2 classes are like.  So far I have begun my English class online, my HIT intro class and my Biology class.  It is going to be a full semester.  Right now my brain is so full of information, I am surprised it isn't shooting out my ears like little fire hydrants getting rid of water.  Whoosh!!  Hope the meds work soon.  Oh and the picture up top. . .that is all this new knowledge swirling around in my previously not used much brain.  Pretty, but swirled.  I am really going to have to put a mental file cabinet in my brain to organize all of this learning so I can do good on tests.

Testing, one down, one to go

I finished the first mitt tonight.  I am pleased with the stitching.  I think it is just a bit big for my hand though.  It is sad as the yarn was a gift from a dear friend.  So I guess this pair when finished will be a gift for someone with bigger hands than me--or not, I mean big might hold in the heat better--or not, it could just make a big draft.  I don't know.  I will see when they are both done and I am trying to type with them on.

Summer 2010 Trips, Projects, Life, Etc.

Summer is a fun time, full of things to do, people to see.  This summer was totally full.  I started it out by taking a trip to Utah.  Rachel and Marcus met me at the airport and we immediately went to Artic Circle to eat.  This is becoming a tradition for any of us who travel back west.  It isn't so much the food at Artic Circle as it is the fry sauce.  See people here look at you like you are totally whacked when you talk of fry sauce.  It is a thing of the west.  After eating stuff with my fry sauce, we went to Temple Square were we were searching for

this set of sister Missionaries--Sister Laura Hales, our Bishop's daughter and her companion. 

Rachel, Marcus and I next went on a tour of the conference center.  It is so big.  We really enjoyed the gardens, both on the temple square and on the roof of the conference center. 

Here they are, my oldest babies, Rachel and Marcus Lee.

The next day we went to see Aunt Millie.  It was wonderful to remember with her and discuss family pictures.  For those of you who I have shared with, this is the Aunt Millie of the "Aunt Millie's Most Fabulous Housekeeping System"

She is still so elegant.  It was a too short time out.  After that they took me down to visit with my long time, best friend in the world, Laura.

While there we climbed Mount Timpanogos.  This was a personal triumph for me as I have been so ill over the past year or so and had so little strength.  I am thankful for the increased energy and strength Heavenly Father has blessed me with.  Here is Laura with her family--well those who made the climb with us.

While we were there in Payson, Utah, Laura's daughter called and encouraged us to travel to the local Comfort Inn.  There we saw it.

Yep that is Ratchet from the Transformers.  They were taking it either too or from the filming of Transformers 3.  I can't wait to see this movie.  It is funny because not too long after we returned we attended a model car contest, where Bill entered his model of Bumble Bee.

He didn't win, but it was fun going.  This model won it's class at the last GSL model car contest.  In this contest there wasn't really a class for it to go in so it was entered in the miscellaneous class.  That is like competing with apples, oranges, cherries and grapes.  Not the best situation.  But I got ahead of myself.   Before I left Utah, we attended the Manti Temple and later that night the Manti Pageant.  To finally be able to attend a session in my favorite temple, was fulfilling in a way I can't explain.  The pageant that followed was uplifting and grounding at the same time.  It filled me with joy to be reminded of who I am, where I come from, and why I am here.

After returning home a very good friend of mine got married.  It was my privilege to create all of the flowers for them.

As my friend, now Geri Anderson, loves frogs, I incorporated them into the design of both the bridal bouquet as well as the grooms boutonniere.

The reason she loves frogs is what the word frog stands for.

F--fully

R--rely

O--on

G--God

This week my project is to knit a test pattern, making some fingerless mitts for a designer.  This is really fun and exciting to be testing a brand new pattern.  I am about 1/2 done with the first mitten.  So far I really like it.

I think that brings me current for a couple of days.  It has been a very full summer--full of projects, full of friends, full of time with family--Full of Joy!