tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37993003334591635972024-03-07T20:36:25.645-08:00Life's Peaceful MomentsLizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720951865147701456noreply@blogger.comBlogger104125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799300333459163597.post-37501429357709069552023-03-30T17:34:00.000-07:002023-03-30T17:34:39.178-07:00Rain, Rain, Rain, Snow, Snow, Snow, Wind, Wind and More Wind<span style="font-size: large;">It seems like the last two months the ole weather man is stuck in the mud with our weather, each day we look out our window to see what kind of day we might have, the sun might be shining and you might think, "oh good, it's going to be a beautiful day," so I go and get ready to take a nice walk, but I guess I took to long as when I stepped outside there was a dark cloud and it started to rain. </span><div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><div><span style="font-size: large;">It rained most of the day, not real hard, just off and on to make the ground muddy. </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">When night time came and we went to bed, we still heard the rain, but that was okay as rain hitting the roof gives one a peaceful feeling.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Here I am, nice and cozy in my bed, snuggle tight in my bedding just listening to the rain, I know that in the morning the rain will be over and the sun will be up and I'll be ready to take my walk.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Wrong, when I awoke and looked out the window, what did I see? You guessed it, the rain had turned into snow and there was snow everywhere. Guess I'll stay in today and have a nice cup of hot chocolate, that sounds good, I might even read a good book and just enjoy my day.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Well, when I awoke on this new day I decided to try again, the sun is shining and the snow has melted and the mud puddles seem to be drying up. I'm now a little cautious about this ole weather man so, I open the door and step out to see exactly if I could take my walk. Well the wind is now blowing, not just a little but pretty strong, I shut the door and decided to just forget it.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">This has been what the days have been like for the last couple of months, maybe we might have a good day here and there, but don't count on it, it just seems like the weather man send us rain, rain, rain, snow, snow, snow and wind, wind and more wind. I'll save my walk for when the ole weather man says "I've had enough, you have enough water now so you can have your sun shine," just Enjoy..</span></div></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720951865147701456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799300333459163597.post-61185021318492212602021-03-22T21:07:00.000-07:002021-03-22T21:07:28.769-07:0068th Wedding Anniversary<p>It was Just last Thursday, March the 11th, that my Sweetheart and I celebrated our 68th wedding Anniversary. </p><p>As I think of this anniversary my mind goes back to that special day so many years ago and wonder how did all those years fly by? It just seems like a short time ago that I was a young mother with a young family around and then I blinked and here I sit knowing that my children are married and are grandmothers and grandfathers now themselves and all are at the age of senior citizens. </p><p>I also know that those were good years with many blessings, many adventures that were happy and meaningful, of coarse we had some learning times and growing times and who doesn't have them, but then as a family you work through those times and come out stronger. </p><p>My children learned how to work, they are compassionate adults, they are loving and kind, they are active in the gospel of Jesus Christ, they pray and follow these teachings and they have instilled these virtuous qualities in their children. </p><p>When I awoke that Thursday morning and went to the kitchen, my Sweetheart had drawn a heart on a piece of paper and had written, "Roses are Red, Violets are blue, our 68th anniversary is here and I Truly Love You," he also wrote, "You make me happy, Forever, Love you always." </p><p>We talked about this special day and because celebrating our anniversary had changed because of this pandemic, we decided to do something a little different, we went down to Costco and bought us a anniversary cake, came home and made some plates of anniversary cake for some friends and family. We took these around and delivered them. I had some note card that said on the front "With a Thankful Heart" and I typed a note inside explaining what we were celebrating.</p><p>It read: "Today, March 11th is our 68th Wedding Anniversary. We were married in 1953 during the Korean war, Kirk was in the Navy, I was a senior in high school and he was just starting his two weeks boot leave. We flew to Arizona and were married and sealed in the Mesa Arizona Temple, after our honeymoon, he went to Whidbey Island Washington to start his assignment and I went back to high school to graduate. Life has been good to us with many rich blessings, we have 4 children, 15 grandchildren, 36 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren. Because of this pandemic our anniversary plans were changed. We bought us an anniversary cake and wanted to celebrate our happiness by sharing this cake with friends and family. We love it here in this beautiful valley and thank our Heavenly Father for the blessings of the Gospel and the friendships we have. May life be good to you with joy, happiness and many rich blessings." Love, Liz and Kirk, I also wrote a personal note thanking them for their friendship and love."</p><p>It was getting late and some were not home so our anniversary came to an end, I must say that those that were home were surprised with our cake and especially when I told them we were celebrating our 68th Wedding anniversary with them. Home that evening as we talked about this day our hearts were warm, I'm only sorry we ran out of time and were not able to visit more friends.</p><p>I thought this would be our celebration, but then that evening when my daughter from Arizona called, she told me the plan they had organized for this coming Sunday. She had contacted all our family to invite them to a <u>ZOOM</u> visit this coming Sunday night to wish us Happy Anniversary and send us their Love.</p><p>With the help of our youngest son, he was able to set us up on the computer to <u>ZOOM,</u> at 6:00 o'clock sharp that evening we were on, soon all our family from far and near was here to give us good wishes, fill us in with their family activities and joy. Our children and family live all over the country and the world. They were here with us from Utah, Arizona, California, North Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, Hawaii, Minnesota and Malaysia, the times were different in most of the states with being ahead of our time or behind but my Granddaughter from Malaysia, her time was the next day at 8 o'clock in the morning. Each family was excited to attend and they want to do it again and often. Good idea, we are for that blessing, we will look forward to visiting again.</p><p>Sitting here at my computer thinking about this last Anniversary, my heart is full, my family is large and full of love for all. To think we had almost everyone on <u>ZOOM</u> even down to a new born baby. What a blessing. Our celebration this year was going to be different because of this pandemic, was I surprised, it was different, it turned out that we had almost all our children with us.</p><p>It was <u>WONDERFUL</u> and <u>VERY SPECIAL</u> one we will always remember.</p><p> <u>THANK YOU MY DEAR CHILDREN WE LOVE YOU VERY MUCH</u> <span> </span></p><p><br /></p>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720951865147701456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799300333459163597.post-21406420815802367972021-02-21T21:40:00.001-08:002021-02-21T21:40:55.717-08:00Another Birthday For Me<p>I just celebrated my 85th Birthday last Thursday, with a Hoop and a Holler. I was lucky to do just that, no fancy shoes to dance a jig on my feet right now, maybe years ago that might have been a different story, but now my celebrations are slow and easy.</p><p>With this pandemic still raging it's havoc in our lives, we are blessed to enjoy some of the simple pleasures that bring joy to our hearts.</p><p>When my Birthday morning came my Husband was there to greet me with a Hug and a Kiss then singing the Happy Birthday song and saying a sweet loving Birthday wish along with a I Love You. He then told me he was going to take me for lunch to celebrate this day. We decided to go to Chile's as you can now go inside to sit and enjoy your meal, with social distance of course, but still you would be able to relax and enjoy. </p><p>When we arrived at Chile's the waitress took us to our booth, handed us our menu and brought us some water and utensils. When she came back I ordered a chicken salad and my Sweetheart ordered fajitas, my Sweetheart then told her that today was my Birthday and this was the first time we had been to a restaurant for some time because of this pandemic, she wished me a Happy Birthday and told us that she was glad we came to Chile's.</p><p>We enjoyed our meal, my salad was very good and my husband was happy with his fajitas, as we finished our meal soon our waitress was back with a few other waiters and presented me with a large chocolate and caramel sundae in a lovely goblet dish with two spoons, they then sang Happy Birthday to me and wish me a happy day. I must say this sundae was most delicious and I enjoyed every bite. Thank you Chile's for a lovely afternoon.</p><p>The whether outside was cold and some snow was still on the ground, but inside my heart, I felt warm, special and loved.</p><p>Soon we were driving up the driveway to our home, it was almost 3 o'clock and about the time I call my friend Donna, when she answered the phone I told her what a nice Birthday I had so far and she was glad I had had a nice lunch with my dear Husband. My friend had given me a pound of See's candy the other day so again I was feeling pretty special. We usually visit about an hour on the phone and when we hung up I took another piece of her candy and just sat back to enjoy, nothing like See's candy for feelings of comfort and love.</p><p>Not too much longer my telephone started to ring, first was my Daughter Ann from Arizona, then my Daughter Marta from North Carolina, a little while later my younger Son Brad, and as the day went on I heard from my Grandson Kevan, my Niece Dina, my Brother Butch and his wife Diane, my Sister Leslie and her husband Glen and some friends. Later there was some messages on Facebook from my other Brother Kent, plus other wishes from Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren and a cousin. I also received some more candy, a beautiful bouquet of flowers and some cards and tomorrow I have some friends that are going to take me for lunch. </p><p>Yes, I had a wonderful and special Birthday. I am very blessed to have a loving Husband who has loved me all my life, dear Children that tell me they are thankful that I am their Mother, sweet siblings that are dear and special to me along with their families and the frosting on the cake is having good and dear friends.</p><p>This 85th Birthday turned out to be one exciting Hoop and a Holler, one I'm sure will have a special place in my heart for a long time and I didn't need any fancy shoes and I didn't need to dance a jig... </p><p>Yes, I had another Birthday and what a special Birthday it was....</p>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720951865147701456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799300333459163597.post-47707508316840014682021-02-04T21:55:00.005-08:002021-02-21T12:42:45.455-08:00The End Of First Year Covid-19<p>Here it is the beginning of February of the year 2021 and what has life been experiencing almost a year now with this Covid-19 pandemic and with no end insight?</p><p>My youngest daughter is a school teacher and her husband also works at school in the security department. The second week of March they always gets there spring break, at this time we make the trip to Arizona to spend 10 days with them and their family. We enjoy this visit and always look forward to seeing our daughter, her family, our grandchildren and great grandchildren. We will arrived that Friday when their break is to start, to welcome her and her husband home from work, so our visit and fun can begin. </p><p>Last year when we went for this visit, she had her plans all made, our days were spent going out to dinner, having a special dinner party with our grandchildren and great grandchildren, celebrating our 67th wedding anniversary, helping with home projects that required grandpa's services, while Ann and I visited some of my favorite stores to do some fun shopping, plus going to a school play to see a great grandson and great granddaughter take to the stage for their performance and then a dinner play where an older great granddaughter had a important roll, that made her shine. </p><p>We've had a week of fun but in two days it would be time for us to head home, when we found out that the states had closed down churches, small businesses, many stores, plus schools and the list was just beginning in the name of Covid-19. </p><p>While I was driving home that Monday morning I was wondering "What would I find at home and how would it effect my life and the ones I love and care about"? </p><p>It wasn't long until things begin to happen with the do's and don'ts, by being told we would have to "be safe" by staying home and when we went out to doctors, markets, some stores etc. we would have to wear a mask, first that was just wearing a mask, but now they are saying that wearing two masks is better, we need to have social distance of six feet between others and the floors are marked in checkout lanes to where you stand, aisle are marked with arrows on which way you are to walk, restaurants are closed except for drive thru, schools have been closed with teachers doing teaching to students by computers, people have lost their jobs, unemployment is sky high, you were told not to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas with anyone outside your own home and list goes on and on and on.</p><p>The count of people getting this virus is so high with the death number unbelievable. In our country alone, the USA as of the first of February, more than 450,000 people have died from this coronavirus in nearly one year, after our nation first confirmed case. More Americans have died of this virus than died in all of WW11. The rest of the world is experiencing this pandemic with large numbers also.</p><p>We do have some good news, because of President Trump and his efforts and support to get a vaccine for this pandemic to the American people, in lest than a year we now have a vaccine for us and the world, we do have to sign up and make arrangements to get it, it does take two shots, but it will save lives and give us our lives back, so we can enjoy our families, go to church and our temples even have a party or a movie, our children can go back to school, we can interact with our family and friends and people can go back to work and my Sweetheart and I can make our trip back to Arizona to see our daughter, her husband, sweet grandchildren and great grandchildren. </p><p>It will take sometime for us to see that life can go on, we will have some changes, but need not to worry or fear, we are strong with our beliefs and life is good, so enjoy life with the love of family and love ones and the friends we have missed, so be happy, do a dance and enjoy the sunshine, lets make some plans to have some FUN.... and if you forget what this Pandemic was like and what the restriction were, I'm sure will find it in a History book in the near future.</p><p><br /></p>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720951865147701456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799300333459163597.post-33400520837972122842020-12-04T17:14:00.000-08:002020-12-04T17:14:02.306-08:00A Miracle Bracelet<p>It was just a year ago in Sacrament meeting, that a sweet Sister gave a talk about Prayers, Blessings and Miracles, she then lifted her arm and showed us this small bead bracelet she was wearing that she called her miracle bracelet. She then talked about the prayers we say, blessings we receive and miracles that come into our lives. She described how her bracelet reminded her each evening of the blessings and miracles she receives each day and how she records these blessings and miracles in her special journal.</p><p>I not only enjoyed her talk but I thought what a wonderful idea that bracelet was to help us focus on the blessings we receive and enjoy each day. So that year I decided to give each of my daughters and a couple of Granddaughters a bracelet with something special to keep it in safe at night and a journal book to go along with it.</p><p>I started to work on this gift for Christmas. First I needed some bracelets, I found a girl that sells the kind of bracelets I was looking for, next I wanted some kind of a container for those bracelets, soon I was lucky to find several small different pottery jars with a lid. I found some white satin material at home an some pearls and went to work making soft padded linings for my jars and a pearl studded bottom for the lids. </p><p>Now I need a book to become my "Journal of Prayers, Blessings and Miracles," I started to look around at all the stores and I found what I need at Walmart. It's just the right size and on the front is written in gold writing, "I can do all things through Christ," on the inside page I put printed lettering that said, Prayers, Blessings, Miracles." I needed to write something from my heart that would explain this gift, So I wrote this Poem...</p><p>***************</p><p>I sit here holding this journal in my hand, Thinking of words to write so you'll understand,</p><p>For the gifts you'll receive, that's written upon your heart, Of the feelings of thankfulness and goodness in part,</p><p>For our Heavenly Father's Love for you is pure and kind, And each day if you look, his love you will find.</p><p>We have prayers we say each day and night, For strength and guidance in our daily life,</p><p>For healing and answers to an ache within, For understanding and comfort his love will bring,</p><p>Yes, you have prayers you say and blessings you receive, With miracles that come your eyes do see, </p><p>So this journal you have, please write them down, The heart felt prayer, a plea with even a need, And when the answers do come, The comfort and peace will be your gift, you will see'</p><p>Now, This Miracle bracelet you found in this treasure chest, Is to remind you always, you are truly the best, </p><p>You are a daughter of God with talents a glow, <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> Be strong with value is the message that flows,</span> </p><p>So wear it each day with a prayer in your heart, And at night return it to this special spot,</p><p>And then reflect on the activities of your day, <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> And find the blessing or miracle that came your way,</span></p><p><span>You are loved and cared for, from your Father above,<span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> To hold you and comfort you, to always feel his love,</span> </span></p><p><span>So rejoice my dear with this truth that is true,<span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> May you feel peace an happiness with a prayer, all your days through.</span></span></p><p><span><span>***************</span></span></p><p><span><span>With this pandemic that has taken hold, of not only our country but the world this year, with all the rules that the state governments have set for us to be, "safe" and not get this virus or spread it to another is, to stay home, keep a social distance which is 6 feet apart and to wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth when you are out in public. They also have closed many schools and the students are now home with school on the computers, many business are close and so are churches and our temples and gatherings like family Thanksgivings and Christmas are just a no-no. Remember, "This too shall pass," and life goes on.</span></span></p><p><span><span>This year life has so many rules for us to follow and some feel this change so drastically that it's hard for them to function let alone, to find joy and happiness.</span></span></p><p><span><span>Maybe if each of us would wear a "Miracle Bracelet" and each night at the closer of that day, remember, we are loved by our Heavenly Father and prayers are still answered, miracles still come to us and blessings we still receive, so enjoy this journey.</span></span> </p><p> </p><p><br /></p>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720951865147701456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799300333459163597.post-1153145059070534612020-11-29T17:57:00.083-08:002021-02-04T22:09:51.318-08:00Hashtag # Give Thanks <p>It was Friday, November 20, that our LDS President Russell M. Nelson gave a 11-minute videotaped presentation on, "The healing power of gratitude." He told us,"that counting our blessings is far better than recording our problems, no matter our situation, that showing gratitude for our privileges is a unique, fast-acting and long-lasting spiritual prescriptions." In Thessalonians 5:10 we read "In everything give thanks," then he went to say, "Gratitude provides us with a greater perspective on the very purpose and joy of life." </p><p>President Nelson ended this video with encouragement to us to, "unite in thanking God with gratitude through daily prayer," he then bowed his head and offered a prayer of thanksgiving and gratitude, for us, for all to hear.</p><p>This month as we celebrate Thanksgiving, President Nelson asked us to use social media for the next 7 days using the hashtag #Give Thanks. "Post everyday about what you are grateful for, who you are grateful for and why you are grateful," he said. By expressing and recognizing our thankfulness and gratefulness on social media, this would be a beginning or a page in ones personal journal of gratitude.</p><p>I have thought about this video so often, but as I'm not that savvy with technology, I had no idea what a "hashtag" was and how to us it, but I did enjoy reading the posts on facebook and enjoyed reading what my family and friends have posted. Thinking about this, I do need to learn how to work this thing called "hashtag," but that's for another day.</p><p>At this time of the year and with the holidays upon us, it's the time that our hearts turn to our families and feelings of gratitude engulfs our soul and our hearts with thanksgiving and of blessing that we enjoy.</p><p>How thankful I am for the message we received from President Nelson with the Hashtag, "Give Thanks," may we remember to give thanks for our blessings and also to those who bless our lives with the things they say and the things they do for us and then lets add that to our Gratitude Journal of "Give Thanks." </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720951865147701456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799300333459163597.post-78355136705557445642020-07-26T20:41:00.000-07:002020-07-26T20:41:59.332-07:00Just Listen and Do ItI was raised with the knowledge that I should follow the promptings of the spirit. <div>
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When I was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and confirmed a member, I was promised I would be blessed with the gift of the Holy Ghost and if I would stay true to these teachings, I would have this gift though out my life and would recognize it as a prompting of the spirit, its like a small still voice that is sometimes felt more than heard.</div>
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Now there has been times in my life where I have come to a cross in the road and not always knowing what to do, or a problem which I needed to solve or just some guidance for life adventures, then I would make it a matter of prayer and take them to my Heavenly Father.</div>
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But have you ever had a thought run through your mind out of no where and it keeps coming back to you and you might wonder where did that come from and why? This has happened many times to me and then I find myself pushing it aside or even questioning that thought and then I find myself giving me a excuse to not act upon it and then later I find out that just maybe, I should have acted upon that thought.</div>
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This just happened to me a couple of weeks ago. </div>
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I have a sweet friend whose daughter was getting married. Now my friend when she has a Birthday I always make her a batch of fudge. She likes my fudge and I have been doing this for years, but because of this virus and the "stay home-be safe" program, I postpone this gift.</div>
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I was invited to a bridal shower for her daughter, shes a sweet girl and is marrying a wonderful young man so I was going to go. The day before the shower I decided to make my friend, her Birthday fudge and take it to her at her daughter's shower, while I was busy cooking the fudge I had a thought to also make a batch of divinity for this bride-to-be, as I know she likes divinity, but here my thinking went into play with excuses, so I pushed it out of my mind. I went to the shower, gave my friend the fudge, she thanked me and took it inside her home and put away for later. Soon it came time for the gifts for the bride-to-be and at one point with all the excitement the subject of divinity came up, that the bride-to-be loves divinity candy and how she was wishing she had some, no divinity for this sweet young girl because I, did not act upon a that feeling. <b> Shame on me...</b></div>
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I have also been thinking about another friend that loves divinity, I don't live near her anymore so I don't see her very often, she lives near my son and my sister-in-law, sometimes I make her a batch of divinity and if I know I'm going to see my son, I'll ask him if he will drop it off to her on his way home. The last time he did this I found out that he asked this friend "what is this between you and my mom that I bring you candy?", he told me she just smiled and said it goes way back. Last week my brother and sister-in-law came for a visit, as we sat visiting that afternoon she told me about my friend and that right now she was having a hard time with some issues. The next day I sent her a "thinking of you card" but knowing her Birthday is this coming Thursday, I'll be making her a batch of divinity, the feeling is telling me <b>"Do It". </b></div>
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When my children were young and growing, I tried to remind them to always listen for that still small voice, that is sometimes felt more than it is heard and then to act upon it, to just <b>Do It</b>. I am saying the same thing to me, <b>"Just Listen and Do It"</b> you will feel a lot better... </div>
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Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720951865147701456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799300333459163597.post-65016226239681673222020-07-16T14:07:00.000-07:002020-07-16T14:07:50.129-07:00 Books From The PastIt was just last week that I saw a box in our garage that on it I had written "Books", I wondered what books might be in this box and why hadn't I opened it long ago? I found a few books that we had packed years ago with our move but just forgot, but then looking through the box I found 2 old books, Where did I get them and how long have I had them?<br />
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I like old things and old books always draw me to them, as I opened these books, I discovered they had belonged to my Grandmother, "my Nannie."<br />
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The first book was titled "Prophecies of Joseph Smith and the Fulfillment" by Nephi Lowell Morris. She had written her name "Marie E. Jensen, Centerfield Utah" on the inside page, it was published in Salt Lake City by Deseret Book Company in 1920, this book that I am now holding is 100 years old, as I was thumbing through this book I could see the age of the pages, most are very fragile, some are very yellow, but I notice the paper they used was a high quality grade, the book is a small size and the signature pages are sewn into the spine which helped this book age with some grace. I notice too that when my Nannie was reading this book and when she came across something she liked, she would underline that area with a red pencil, I just smiled when I saw that, for this is something I will do when I'm reading and come across something that I like or that touches my heart.<br />
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The second book is titled "In Search Of Truth" by John A Widtsor. On the inside page she had written, "To Minnie, Mother Jensen", it was published in Salt Lake City by Desert Book Company in 1930. this book is 90 years old. This book is also small and is showing its age, the pages are yellow, the paper is a less quality grade and the signatures pages are glued and not sewn into the spine. Minnie was married to my Uncle Lyle so she was my Aunt Minnie, I too have some dear memories of this aunt.<br />
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I feel a special warmth when I hold these old books from the past, Through the years my Nannie would share with me her thoughts and her feelings, she would give me advice and some times she would ask me to make her a promise, like not smoking or drinking, I would learn her values and she would share life's lesson she had learned, she was the one that gave me the foundation of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the importance to live the gospel and always stay active in the the church, so you see, these books from her past, I feel a special warmth, not only when I hold them, but now I will put them on my list of books I'm going to read, I will cuddle on the couch with a warm blanket and feel my Nannie next to me as I read a book that was hers from the past.<br />
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You never know what you might find in a old box in your garage, it just might be something that brings warmth to your heart and sweet memories of someone who is very dear to you.... I'm enjoying these feeling and those memories now...<br />
<br />Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720951865147701456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799300333459163597.post-49719826957664553172020-06-26T22:59:00.000-07:002020-06-26T22:59:46.454-07:00Story TimeI have a Granddaughter that lives far away and when she comes to this part of the world, she and her family will come to my home for a visit, they usually will stay about a week which is pure joy. I also have been blessed to visit with other grandchildren and their families in their home and what I have seen is a loving way these families interact when bedtime comes around.<br />
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When the children were young their parents would gather them around and would read to them bedtime stories, this was a special time in the evening before prayers and saying goodnight with goodnight kisses and being tucked into bed.<br />
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I have thought about when I was a young child and how it was when it was time for bed at my home. I'm sure my Mother read me bedtime stories, but it was my Nannie that I remember reading to me the most. She would come for a visit and spend several night with us. I would always look forward to these visit because I knew that after dinner and the dishes were done, she would sit with me on the couch in the living room, I would snuggle next to her and she would take me to faraway places with the books and the stories she would read.<br />
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I have also thought on how I treated bedtime when my children were little. I had four children close together, so I was very busy and especially when evening came and dinner was over. After the excitement of the day, baths were taken and pajamas were put on, prayers were said and bedtime was here. I know I read them bedtime stories but not enough and now as I look back on those tender years, I only wish I had taken more time to read them more stories.<br />
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When it became apparent that my mother needed help, I became a caregiver to her with the help of my brother. We took care of her needs, fix her meals, did the shopping and etc. Then it became necessary that someone would need to spend the nights with her. After dinner I would sit at the table with Mama and we would visit until her bedtime.<br />
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It was during this time that my Sister gave Mama a special book for her birthday, as I looked at this Mary Engelbreit book I realized that Mama would never be able to read this book or enjoy the colorful pictures, for you see, my Mother had Macular degeneration and her eyesight was very poor, I then thought that, maybe, if I read this book to her and describe those pictures in this book, then maybe, just maybe, she would be able to enjoy this special book from my Sister.<br />
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This was the beginning of our nightly "Story Time". Each night after the dinner dishes was done my Mama would say to me "are we going to have our story time tonight?" and I would answer, "yes Mama we are". I soon found out that as I read, it would trigger a memory, I then took a spiral notebook and when Mama would start to share a memory about her life or an event, I would write them down. One day she said to me, "I have enjoyed all these books you have read to me, but I'm afraid I don't remember them," and then she asked me if I would write them down for her? I then took one of those Compositions books and wrote on the pages the books that we had read, the dates when we finished that book along with the memories Mama had shared, I added pictures from those books along with some of my own comments. I then covered the composition book and gave it the title "Story Time With Mams #1".<br />
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When I had finished this book, I gave it to Mama, she seemed pleased, I then read it to her and share her memories that I had written. She then asked me if there was going to be a second book of "Story Time With Mama" yes Mama, there will be a second book. <br />
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I have that book in my guest room in my home now and every so often I will go into that red room and pick up the book that says, "Story Time With Mama", I will sit in the wicker chair that was my Mama's, open the book and have some sweet warm and tender memories and will remember that when story time was over and I would help my Mama get ready for bed, tuck her in and kiss her goodnight, she would say to me "Thanks for my story time, I wonder how many daughter's read stories to their Mama like you do?" I would smile and say you are welcome, I love you Mama, sleep tight, I'll see you in the morning".<br />
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I was never much of a reader when I was growing up, I had too many other things to do, I did read some books but that was really only I think when we had an assignment for a class at school. I didn't start reading books until my children were grown, for that's when I had some time.<br />
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Because I saw how important it was for my Mother to have a record of the books we read, I now keep a record of the books I read, I'm calling my book " Story Time With Liz", maybe some of my children or Grandchildren will enjoy reading this book of my collection of "Story Time" with some of my thoughts, feelings and memories when I am gone and then maybe they might learn a little more about their Mama or Grandma who was named "Liz".Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720951865147701456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799300333459163597.post-1102473652647522482020-06-07T19:47:00.003-07:002020-06-07T19:47:20.952-07:00Doing The Laundry<br />
In my home in the master bathroom I have a tall closet, the bottom half of this closet has three shelves, on each shelf there is a laundry basket, the top shelf is for whites, the middle shelf is for colors and the bottom shelf is for work clothes. Now when one of these baskets gets full, I take it down to the laundry room and wash the laundry that is in that basket.<br />
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The other day I noticed that all three baskets were full, so off to the laundry room I went with a basket of dirty clothes, each basket had it's turn with the washing machine, each basket held two loads of laundry, so when the laundry was done, I had done six loads of laundry and six loads of drying and six loads of folding clothes and putting the clean clothes away.<br />
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That evening as I thought about this chore, it gave me a peaceful feeling knowing that when I would go to bed that evening, those laundry baskets were back in the closet empty and the dresser drawers had clean socks and underwear, plus my sweetheart had clean work clothes hanging in the closet for another day.<br />
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Has it always been this way? No!!<br />
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When I was first married my Sweetheart was in the Navy, it was during the Korean War and we were living on a Naval Base in Navy housing. Our first home was a Quonset hut, then a small trailer, next we lived off base in an old house that had been converted into an apartment house, we lived upstairs, we had two room, a bedroom and a living room/small kitchen, we shared the bathroom in the hall with the other small apartment, next we moved back on base to the Victory Homes.<br />
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In all our homes at this time we did our laundry at the laundromat. This is what we had to do, but it took time, planning and money.<br />
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When we were living in the Victory Homes our daughter Marta was born, now we not only had our things that needed to be washed, but we also had diapers and baby clothes that needed to be washed along too.<br />
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The Victory Homes were built in long rows, there were five dwellings in each row, each dwelling had one, two or three bedrooms. we had a one bedroom and we lived in the middle dwelling. Now the rooms were a nice size and the kitchen too was a good size, the stove was a small apartment size but there was a area that was prepared for a washing machine and out the back door there was a clothesline for each apartment.<br />
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We were now a family with a baby and we needed some kind of a washing machine, so we started to look to see what we could find, soon my sweetheart found a used washing machine for sale and we bought it and brought it home.<br />
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This was in the early fifties and washing machines were not modern like they are today, but they did work and they did wash the clothes. I don't remember what make this machine was and I really don't care, all I know is that my clothes came out clean.<br />
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This washing machine had an agitator in the center that would move back and forth to wash the clothes, it also had a rubber bladder that would squeeze the water out of the clothes after they were washed and after they were rinsed. When my machine finished its cycle I would then take these clothes out to the clothes line to dry, just like my mother did when I was a young child.<br />
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When the Korean war was over and my sweetheart was discharged, we packed our worldly possessions in a trailer, [which my sweetheart built], along with a small baby crib, a rocking chair and my trusty washing machine with the rubber bladder and home we went.<br />
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That washing machine served us for many more years, but I still was hanging the wet clothes outside for many more years even after a new washing machine entered my life.<br />
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To me there is nothing more satisfying than having clean sheets on my bed to sleep on, or putting on clean clothes in the morning or to see my empty clothes baskets on the shelves in the bathroom closet.<br />
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I say thank you my dear washing machine and my dryer too, for making my life just that much easier than it was in years gone by.<br />
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<br />Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720951865147701456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799300333459163597.post-71121868258682452402020-05-26T19:38:00.000-07:002020-05-26T19:38:03.171-07:00Washing Our ClothesI remember an action song that as a child we would sing, now I don't remember if we did it at school or at home or even where I learned it, but I do remember doing it with my children. <div>
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It goes like this:</div>
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This is the way we wash our clothes, </div>
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wash our clothes, wash our clothes</div>
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This is the way we wash our clothes.</div>
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So early in the morning..</div>
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Each time we would sing and action we would pretend we were doing that chore, each verse would be a different chore as: ironing our clothes, brushing our teeth, making our bed, going to sleep etc. and I'm sure many others will remember this action song and maybe have some sweet memories too.</div>
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I also remember my Mother having dish towels with the days of the week embroidered on them, along with a design and name of a chore, as: Monday was Wash, Tuesday was Iron, Wednesday was Sew, Thursday was Market, Friday was Clean, Saturday was Bake and Sunday was Rest.</div>
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As I was thinking about these childhood memories, again it took me back to my Mother and her wash days.</div>
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I grew up in a nice home in southern California, we moved into this home when I was around 5 years old, it was in a new neighborhood and it was one of the first homes on that street. It had a small room off the kitchen which my mother would call the Service Porch. There was a wash tub in the corner of the room, it had an ironing broad that was built into the wall which you would pull down when you wanted to iron and she had a Wringer Washing Machine next to the wash tub.</div>
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Now I remember when Mother would do the laundry, she would be in the Service Porch most of the day. when one load was finished washing she would then drain the tub rinse the clothes and run them through the wringer. After this was done, she would put the clothes in her wicker clothes basket and take it outside to where we had our clothesline, there she would shake each item before hanging them on the line with clothespins to dry.</div>
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Later in the day she would go back outside and take down the dried clothes from the line, put them in the basket and bring them into the house, some of the clothes could be folded, but most of the clothes had to be ironed and so she would take those clothes and sprinkle a little water on them, roll them uptight and put them back into the basket covering them with a cloth to be ready for, tomorrow would be the ironing day.</div>
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When I was a little older and at home, Mother would have me take the clothes outside and hang them on the clothes line and I remember taking the clothes off the line many time and bring them into the house to fold or prepare for ironing.</div>
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I don't remember when Mama finally stopped doing the washing in that old Wringer Washing Machine or when Daddy bought her the new Washing Machine, that all she had to do was put the clothes and the soap in the machine and hit the start button and the machine did all the work, but I remember, she still had to take the clothes outside to dry on the old clothes line and we still had to go outside to take those dry clothes down and bring them back inside the house to be folded and ironed.</div>
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Yes, as a child I remember singing, </div>
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This is the way we wash our clothes, </div>
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wash our clothes, wash our clothes,</div>
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This is the way we wash our clothes.</div>
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So early in the morning....</div>
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Oh, how fast time goes by and daily chores change like, <b>Washing your clothes.</b></div>
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Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720951865147701456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799300333459163597.post-4649112434050791142020-05-10T17:01:00.000-07:002020-05-10T17:10:01.734-07:00Mother's Day 2020Today is Mother's Day.<br />
What does Mother's Day mean to me?<br />
I've been a Mother for over 65 years.<br />
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This morning my Sweetheart wished me a Happy Mother's Day with a big hug and kiss, we had waffles for breakfast and soon we started talking about Mother's Day and about our children.<br />
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We were married very young, it was during the Korean War, my sweetheart was in the Navy and I was still in High School, we were married on his 2 weeks boot leave in the Mesa Arizona LDS Temple, after our honeymoon he went to the state of Washington to start his assignment and I went back to High School, after graduation I flew to Washington State and we started married life in a Quonset Hut in Navy Housing as our first home.<br />
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Life was good, full of adventures and many experiences.<br />
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I always wanted to be a mother, when I was little I enjoyed playing with dolls, I had a play house in our back yard and I would play by the hours in that house with my dolls and when I was married I wanted to have children and be a mother.<br />
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Our first daughter Marta was born there in Washington in a naval infirmary on Whidbey Island Washington, she cost just $8.75, because of her I became a Mother, this was my entrance into Motherhood.<br />
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When the war was over we journeyed back home to California, there my husband went to work in the building trade, we found a home and took on life.<br />
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We were blessed with three more children, Mark was next, then came Ann and last was Brad. Each of them have added joy and happiness to us, This was our family, this was our beginning.<br />
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As I look back over these years as I celebrate this Mother's Day, the memories come floating in my mind, my heart is warm and I smile for all the blessings I have.<br />
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When the children were young they would plan a special surprises. Marta was always the organizer, they would make special cards for me, maybe have a little party in the family room, sing some songs and have some dessert that they might have made or maybe just ice cream, but it was fun and special.<br />
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There was always a special Mother's Day program at church, with talks about mothers and then the primary would sing sweet songs to us, after the program usually a flower or some remembrance was given to each mother.<br />
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This year Mother's Day is quite different. With this Coronavirus within our country, each state is doing their best to stay safe. Businesses are closed, social distance is required, masks are worn and churches are closed.<br />
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Yesterday my son Brad called and wanted to came over for a visit, I haven't seen him for awhile because of this virus, when he arrived he had a beautiful bouquet of flowers in his hand, a sweet card, a big hug and kiss and a greeting of "Happy Mother's Day Mom", we sat around the kitchen table and had a very nice visit, he stayed for about 2 hours, it was good to see him, he is my only child that lives nearby, the others live in other states. When he left, he said goodbye and told me he loved me and he was glad I was his mother.<br />
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My daughter Ann just called, she is on her way to her daughters for a Mother's Day get together. It was good to hear from her, she told me many sweet things about how thankful she is for me being her mother, how she has learned lessons of life from me. that has helped her to be a wife and mother. She also told me I was the best mother ever.<br />
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I think about my family now and how it all began, never in a million years would I have guessed that now in this year of 2020 I would have not only my 4 children but 15 grandchildren, 35 great grandchild with a total 54 sweet ones that call me mother or grandma or great grandma.<br />
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Life is good and full of blessing and I am so thankful for my sweet husband who has loved me all my life and for all my children. I wonder how many more sweet ones will be added to my Posterity.<br />
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Thank you my dear children for the Love and Sweet memories you give to me and bring into my life. I love each and everyone of you.<br />
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Happy Mother's Day to my daughters and granddaughters too who are mothers, may you also have sweet memories on this special day.<br />
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Always remember: <b> Families are Forever</b><br />
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<br />Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720951865147701456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799300333459163597.post-89671604900673103102020-04-30T20:55:00.000-07:002020-04-30T20:59:45.157-07:00Looking Out My Window<div>
I live on 5 acres in a peaceful place called New Harmony, going outside I can look up and see the beautiful blue sky with white puffy clouds floating around and if I walk down to the orchard during the spring and summer time, I can smell the sweet smell of the blossoms popping on all the fruit trees.</div>
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My kitchen has a bay window over the sink area and when I'm doing the dishes or cooking a meal I can look out this window and marvel at the many beautiful things I see, somethings are sweet to watch and somethings are entertaining and somethings just bring a smile to my heart and soul.</div>
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I looked out my window and what do I see?</div>
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Cars and Trucks traveling faraway from me...</div>
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Right now our country is going through the Coronavirus Pandemic and the guidelines for our state is to <b>"Stay Safe and Stay Home" </b>the only time we leave our home is when we go to the market or for a doctors appointment, the rest of the time we are here safe at home.</div>
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We live a couple streets from an interstate freeway and when I look out my kitchen window towards this freeway there is a grove of trees that I see, but in the middle of this grove there is a good size empty space of trees, which gives me a view of this freeway. </div>
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Now about two months ago when this virus started and we were instructed to stay home, I notice that there wasn't that many cars traveling up or down on this freeway, it seemed that it was only trucks that was doing the traveling. I thought at the time I would stand at my window and see how many cars or trucks I could count in 5 minutes. I thought that might be interesting as this freeway usually is busy with lots of travel, but then I decided to do something else and forgot about those cars and trucks, but today, I notice there is a lot of traveling going on, down on that strip of road. I guess people just want to get out of the house on a nice day, I just hope wherever they are going they have their face mask with them and to remember social distance. <b> "Stay Safe" </b>for you and me.</div>
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One morning last week I was looking out my window and what did I see? </div>
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I saw a picnic going on in front of me... </div>
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I have a dirt area just passed the garage, this is where I toss my food scraps and peeling for my friends, as I was looking out this window I saw 2 squirrels playing tag in this area, then there was a blackbird that joined in this fun, I noticed that the squirrels would stop and nibble at the ground for a few seconds and then they would scamper off to only return and do the same, soon I saw 2 small bluebirds joining in this picnic, soon they were pecking at the ground and when they found what they wanted, they flew to a tree that was near by, but when the blackbird found what he wanted he would fly to the rooftop of the garage. I stood watching this picnic for sometime and when everyone was satisfied, the birds flapped their wings and flew off and the squirrels ran off to play tag in another area,</div>
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When my sweetheart came in for lunch I told him about my friends and their picnic. He asked me if I knew what they were after, No I said, everything that was out the other day was gone, he then told me that he had some old peanuts that he had tossed in that area early that morning, it looks like my friends had found a treasure and had called some of their friends to come and have a picnic.</div>
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I looked out my window and what did I see?</div>
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Many wonderful things that brought happiness to me...</div>
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Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720951865147701456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799300333459163597.post-27496044927021061212020-04-22T20:51:00.000-07:002020-04-22T20:51:54.622-07:00Life With The Coronavirus PandemicLife can take many difference roads in ones life time and when you are at my age when a different path comes your way, you have a choice, you can either be upset about it or you can adjust to the situation and do your best, It's your choice.<br />
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Take this Coronavirus pandemic the world is now experiencing. The Governor of our state has issued some guidelines for the people of our state to follow, plus the US Government has also given us guidelines that would help our country to heal and to get this virus under control and end.<br />
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First the Governor has said <b>"Be Safe, Stay Home." </b>next they have asked us to do social distancing, which means stay 6 to 10 feet apart from other people, also we are to wash our hands often during the day especially when we have touch other things, do not touch your face and to wear a mask when you are out in public. Only go out to the store when it is necessary. Many of the businesses have closed as have all restaurant, they are only having take out food and the fast food places only have the drive thru open.<br />
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We have also been told that group meetings should not be more than 10 people and then social distance must be in affect. This has caused church services to be cancelled along with Temple worship. <br />
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This pandemic has created much illness and many deaths throughout the world. Thousands and thousands of lives have been lost because of this virus, plus millions of jobs have also been lost. You can see this virus is taking a toll on everyone, young and old, rich or poor, but I believe if we follow the guide lines that have been issued we will get passed this and our country will be stronger. <br />
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I sit here in my home counting my blessings, my sweetheart and I are doing fine. Most of my children and grandchildren are also doing fine and of my family that need to work, many are still going to their job sites and some are ones that can work at home. I do have a few that this past week have lost their jobs, but those have food storage and family that can help, help is also out there where the government is helping.<br />
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I keep in touch with my family and friends, many of them have been telling me the things they have accomplished. They tell me about their pantry they have cleaned and organize, windows that have been washed, drawers they have cleaned and closets that have been cleared of outdated or outgrown clothes, as for me, these past weeks I really have been in the <b>Do Nothing Mood, </b>yes, I do what I need to do, like fix the meals, do the dishes, make our bed, do the laundry, fold the clothes, yesterday I even did some ironing but the big jobs I'll save for another day, right now I'll read the paper or a good book, write a letter or write in my journal and there is the cross stitch project I had started sometime ago that I decided to work on, maybe I can get it finished, but I did decided to work on a room that needs some cleaning and some organization this week. I have to admit it is going to take me more than a week to accomplish, but that's okay too.<br />
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Our country is going through a pandemic that is effecting each and everyone of us, may we all do our part to <b>Stay Safe, </b>be strong and do the best we can. We live in the land of the free, a choice land. In God we trust. <br />
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<b>Hang on everyone. This to shall pass. The best is yet to come....</b><br />
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<br />Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720951865147701456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799300333459163597.post-12224508729512007172020-03-03T18:10:00.000-08:002020-03-03T18:10:22.706-08:00Christmas 2019 Came and Went Months AgoChristmas has always been special to me in my life and when I was raising my children, I always tried to make it special for them, but now that we are empty nesters, things are different. Most of my children and grandchildren live far away in different states, so that makes a big difference, they all have their special Christmases in their own homes, but for those that live by family they will gather together on that day or the weekend before to celebrate. I do have a son and a grandson and his family nearby, so Christmas day I still have a small family gathering with turkey dinner and presents after to enjoy.<br />
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This year Christmas seemed to come pretty fast, I did finish my projects got them wrapped, packaged and mailed. I was happy to know that they were received in time for Christmas.<br />
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The day after Thanksgiving I have always enjoyed this time to start reading a Christmas book, but this year that wasn't on the scheduled, I did visit a dear friend a few times this Christmas season and did read to her some short Christmas stories from one of my books and that did warm my heart, but life was on the fast track and I was in over drive, I did watch some Christmas movies on TV that did bring in the Christmas spirit.<br />
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I put up the Christmas tree with my Sweetheart's help, put the wreath on the front door, some decorations around the room and had Christmas music playing. I then sat on the couch with the tree lights on, listening to the sweet music, just to enjoy and found my heart and soul was reflecting on the true meaning of Christmas.<br />
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The next few days I finished wrapping my presents for my love ones here, made batches of fudge and divinity for my neighbors and friends. On Monday with my plates of candy put together my Sweetheart and I went around and delivered my plates of Christmas joy, after we went to town and had dinner at Del Taco.<br />
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Christmas day came on Wednesday, the turkey was in the oven, the table was set, music was on and the presents were under the tree.<br />
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One o'clock came and my Grandchildren began to arrive, how excited they were, they began to look around and under the tree, some whispering and smiles I began to see, soon my son was here and dinner was being put on the table.<br />
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Everyone seemed to enjoy the dinner and even had seconds, after dinner we quickly cleared the table and gather in the front room around the Christmas tree, with the help of my young Great Grandson, presents were passed out and enjoyed by all. After presents were enjoyed dessert of pie and ice cream was served.<br />
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Soon it was time to say goodbye with hugs and kisses and arms full of presents and Christmas joy.<br />
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Our hearts were full of love for our families, for our love ones here and for our love ones that are far away. I prayed they all had a very Merry Christmas and that they all remembered the true meaning of Christmas and why we celebrate this special day, that they all might have felt thanksgivings within their hearts for that blessed day that happened many years ago.<br />
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Yes, Christmas day turned out to be a very happy one and to make it extra special, when my family started to arrived it started to snow, beautiful white soft snow flakes floated down from heaven above, such a peaceful feeling was felt as we watched the soft flakes of snow falling all around.<br />
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Christmas for 2019 came and went and as I reflect on that Christmas season, with the music and with families gathering together, may we all remember the reason for Christmas Day, for this is the day we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and if we would remember these teaching that he taught and apply them in our daily lives then maybe, just maybe, there would be peace and goodwill throughout the world and our hearts would sing with joy,<br />
<b>"Peace on earth and goodwill to Men."</b><br />
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Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720951865147701456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799300333459163597.post-19628368404247916112020-02-27T19:29:00.001-08:002020-02-27T19:29:21.274-08:00Happy Birthday To Me!I just celebrated another Birthday last week, I'm really not into birthdays celebrations now at my age, but then again my sweetheart thought we should celebrate it, so I said <b>O.K. </b><br />
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We decided we would go for dinner to Applebee's. <b>Good choice</b>, we had a lovely young waitress that waited on us, so friendly and helpful. We haven't been there for sometime so the menu had taken some changes, she was kind to show us some new items and tell us what they were like and even made some suggestions. We ordered a two for $25.00 meal, it was very good and we did enjoy it very much. The waitress had hear us talking about my Birthday so in the conversation with her she wished me a Happy Birthday, she also said that I could have a small ice cream sundae of my choice and would I like to have the crew sing to me? I told her that was very kind, I would enjoy the sundae with caramel for the topping but as for the singing, I think I'll forgo that.<br />
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We had a lovely evening and when we arrived home the phone started to ring. I received phone call from my children, my sister and brother along with their spouses plus a sweet niece and her dear husband, they not only wished me a Happy Birthday but they also sang to me, now that singing was a little different than sitting in a restaurant and being the center of attention. I also received some lovely cards and a nice bouquet of flowers from a dear sister-in-law and to sweeten my Birthday my dear friend gave me a box of See's candy to just enjoy. I must not forget to mention the many Birthday wishes of love and joy that was posted on Facebook from family and dear friends.<br />
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The day before my Birthday my Sweetheart said to me, today I am 4 years older than you, but tomorrow I will only be 3 years. Yes, that was true, I am only 3 years younger now until next November when he will have his Birthday and then he can say that he is again 4 years my senior.<br />
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I sit here thinking of the many Birthday's I have enjoyed and the many blessing that have come to me in my life and I can truly say, life has been good. I have such a sweet husband who has loved me all my life, beautiful children who I love very much and who are sweet and loving to me, which brings me joy and happiness, they have blessed me with sweet grandchildren and now I'm enjoying the blessings of being a great grandma. Yes, life is good and if the good Lord is willing I will be blessed with more Happy Birthday's to come and yes, I will celebrate them one way or another.<br />
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So <b>Happy Birthday to me</b> and thanks to everyone who was so kind in sending me those many Happy Birthday wishes, it sure made me feel good, in fact I felt like a kid again.<br />
<br />Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720951865147701456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799300333459163597.post-61647468850683162882019-11-16T22:58:00.001-08:002019-11-16T23:37:56.382-08:00The Miracle Of 4 RingsI remember when I was a young child my mother and my grandmother would always recite Nursery Rhymes, especially when there was a new baby in the home and when I became a mother I did the same thing with my babies. My older children would chime in too, sometimes we would sing them and sometimes we would just play with our baby's fingers or toes as we recited the rhyme.<br />
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For some reason today I was thinking about the rhyme "Banbury Cross." it goes,<br />
"Ride a crock-horse to Banbury cross, to see a fine lady upon a white horse.<br />
With rings on her fingers and bells on her toes and she shall have music wherever she goes."<br />
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As I was thinking about this Nursery Rhyme and where it talks about rings on her fingers and bells on her toes, it made me think of Rings and the important significant a ring might have to someone.<br />
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People wear rings for many reasons, there are birthstone rings to note the month you were born in, school rings, graduation rings, promise rings, engagement rings, weddings rings, dinner rings, just to name a few. There's a cashier at Walmart that wears rings on all her fingers and I have a<br />
sister-in-law that wears rings on her toes, but for me I just wear two rings on two fingers.<br />
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How do you feel when one day you might look down at your fingers and where you have been wearing a special ring for many years, all of a sudden you realize that your ring is gone? How did that happen and when did it happen? When was the last time you remember seeing that ring on your finger and now its gone, then panic sets in, you start looking for it everywhere you might have been or where you think you might have lost it, but to no success.<br />
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This has happened to me or to someone who is close to me and yes panic does set in, but after the shock of the situation and after a deep breath, I close my eyes and say a simple prayer, do I magically find my ring now, no, so I keep on looking, but then life goes on with or without my ring.<br />
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Years ago when my sweetheart asked me to marry him he gave me a beautiful diamond engagement ring and then when we were married, he put a simple gold band on my finger to go with my engagement ring, I loved this set, it was very pretty and I wore it for 20 years.<br />
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I had always just wanted a wide gold wedding band and so when we had been married for 20 years he bought me a wide band wedding ring. I loved this wide band and I enjoyed looking at it on my ring finger and thinking how sweet my sweetheart was to present me with this special gift. Then one day I saw that my ring was gone, my heart was sick, how did I lose it, what happened? Time went by, days went by and life went on. Then one day as I was talking on the phone in the kitchen (at that time the home phone was on the wall above the counter with a cord attached) I opened the Junk drawer and there was a empty space in the middle of this drawer, a red rubber band was in this space and in the center of this rubber band was my wedding ring. How did it get there, we had been in and out of that drawer many many times, but needless to say, I didn't care how it got there, my ring was found and my heart was full of thanksgiving, it was just a miracle.<br />
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My daughter Ann is a school teacher, she teaching blind students and so she had a special ring, her ring was a CTR ring that the CTR was spelled in braille. One year she joined us for our extended family vacation in the High Sierras. One day she noticed that her CTR ring was gone. Where did she lose it? We looked everywhere, but in the mountains there is nothing but dirt and how can one find a ring in the dirt? Time came for everyone to go home, we all cleaned our tents, packed up our belonging and home we all went, with Ann driving back with her son to their home in Arizona. Time went by, years went by and we were getting ready to move. My husband was busy cleaning his workshop when he came into the house with something in his hand. He wanted to know what he had found in his sweeping, as I looked I realized it was Ann's CTR ring. How did her ring get in his workshop? Ann had never been in our tent or us in hers but here it was, years later a miracle.<br />
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One time when we were going to visit Ann in Arizona we stopped at a roadside stand where the Indian people sell their wares, they had lovely silver rings with beautiful Turquoise stones. My sweetheart thought I should have a ring so he asked me to pick one out. I wore that ring for many years and then one day it was gone, no where to be found. Years went by, I cleaned and vacuumed my home and then one day I decided to rearrange the couches in my sun room, while I was vacuuming what did I see, yes my Turquoise ring, how did it get under the couch, I have no idea but yes, another miracle.<br />
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It was about 2 months ago when we were coming home from church when my Sweetheart noticed his wedding ring was gone, now he has been wearing that ring for 66 years and I don't think he has ever taken it off, but now it was gone. How did it come off his finger and when and where? He had been working out in the garden the day before and maybe it was in his work gloves, he went looking but no where it could be found. We talked about buying a new ring and maybe that is what will happen, but not that day. Then one day as he was standing at his sink in the bathroom he dropped his vitamin pill on the floor and when he reached down to find it, he couldn't see it on the carpet so he rub his hand back and forth and back in the corner against the floorboard what did he find but his wedding ring, another miracle.<br />
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My love ones and I, now have rings on our fingers but no bells on our toes but we do have music whenever we go. Yes, I believe in miracles and sometimes it just takes time for one to happen.<br />
<br />Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720951865147701456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799300333459163597.post-63621164580848981792019-11-12T21:43:00.001-08:002019-11-12T22:06:13.531-08:00Veterans Day 2019Yesterday was Veterans Day, I just wonder how many young people or immigrants legal or illegal really know what Veteran's Day is and why as Americans we celebrate this day?<br />
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Most of these young people only know about this war that our young men, husbands and fathers are fighting, in a foreign land now, they have no idea what we the American people have gone through in the past wars, to secure our freedoms.<br />
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I was a young child during World War 2. I remember my mother having a ration book with little coupons in it, the amount of coupons books you received were according to the number of members that were living in your household. My mother used these coupons for our food supply, the shoes we wore, gas in our car, for almost everything we now take for granted.<br />
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I remember the blackouts we had, the air raid wardens going up and down the dark streets making sure no one had light on in their homes and everyone having victory gardens.<br />
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Right now in our country we see many young people engaged in riots, taking away our free speech, destroying ones properties, burning the American flag and even kneeling when our National Anthem is played or sung.<br />
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Monday President Trump kicked off New York City's Veterans Day Tribute by saying the nation's veterans "risked everything for us, now it is our duty to serve and protect them every single day of our lives." This president spoke at the opening of the 100th annual parade organized by the United War Veterans Council in Madison Square Park. He is the first sitting president to accept the group's invitation to speak at this event.<br />
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Here again there were protesters booing, yelling and making a scene, I think to myself what is our country coming too? What are we teaching our Children? What message are we sending to the world? Why do these protesters hate our country and our leaders the way they do? They have the same freedoms that I do, I respect their views why can't they respect mine?<br />
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I think of all the young men that proudly wear the uniform, when I was first married my sweetheart<br />
wore his uniform proudly and as I walked beside him I felt a pride for what that uniform stood for.<br />
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Yes, we live here in the greatest country in the world, we have freedoms that other people in other lands fight for, pray for, sacrifice for and die for and mostly we have freedom of religion, to worship almighty God, we are one nation under God, let us not forget.<br />
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As I sit here writing this blog, I think of a poster of a young boy flying his kite and the caption that reads, "the land of the Free because of the Brave," may we all remember our freedoms and especially<br />
the blessing we all enjoy because we live here, yes, America is a special place, its the land of the Free because of the Brave, may we always remember our Veterans and honor them with respect and may our actions to one another show our love for our country and the respect we have for our Freedoms.<br />
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Thank goodness each year we have Veterans Day so we can celebrate and give thanks to those who keep us Free.<br />
<br />Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720951865147701456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799300333459163597.post-5350085181187942632019-11-04T20:36:00.000-08:002019-11-04T20:54:39.402-08:00My Daughter's Fan ClubWhen I was visiting my oldest daughter one time, she asked me if I would like to go to lunch with her and meet her friends in her "Fan Club." I asked her what is a "Fan Club?" and she told me that her "Fan" club stands for "Friends are Necessary," and then she told me about her club.<br />
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She told me that having friends are important no matter what age one might be, which I did agree. I asked her what they would do when they got together? She reminded me that years ago when her children were getting married, she was involved with a group of ladies that also had children getting married around the same time, so they decided to formed a catering group, together they would plan and work to cater each others weddings for their children, this way it would help with the expense and would also help each other with their event. I remembered the weddings of my grandchildren and how lovely they were and because of these friends working together, everyone of those young couples had a lovely wedding, thanks to their moms and the friends they had.<br />
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But now that those years have past what do you do? I was told that during those years working together they formed good friendships, so now we get together and visit, sometimes we might have a project, or we go out to lunch, I even had a tea party one time she said, I thought this "Fan club" sounded pretty good and yes I said, I would like to go with her to meet her lady friends.<br />
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I have thought many times about this daughter and her friends and how she told me that "friends are necessary" and then I think of the friends I might have had and the impact then might have had on my life.<br />
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When I was a young school girl I had my special friends, we would get together and play all sorts of games, we rode our bicycles, played night games, had slumber parties, went to movies and even had tea parties. When I was a young mother I had young mothers as friends, we would talk to each other about raising our children, we would take our children to the park and let them play and then have a picnic and when my children were older we would still have friends and we would still get together and our children were engaged in their activities and we would be engaged in our activities.<br />
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My Sweetheart and I have been empty nesters now for many years, plus we have moved many times and when you don't have young children around you, you seen to end up out in left field many times, but that's okay too, we have each other and we do many things together and we share and have fun, but friends are still necessary.<br />
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My Sweetheart has his special friend that he will visit and talk with, sometimes they might have a project, sometimes they go to town, they will shop and then go to lunch. I too have my friends, I might not spend time talking on the phone or going to lunch with them, but we do share and connect and even do a project now and then. I do have a special friend that I often visit with, we share our thoughts and feelings, do lots of talking and sometimes share a laugh or two, I don't know about her but she rejuvenates my soul, I do know she likes our visits and always asks me if I'll come again next week and I always say, yes I will.<br />
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There are many different seasons and stages in one's life, people and friends will come to you for a small speck of time or for a duration, some might be there years ago and then reappear many years later, but in all, they will touch your life one way or the other and your life will be richly blessed and better because of this connection.<br />
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Yes, dear daughter, you are very wise, "friends are necessary" and we have been richly blessed with many good friends.<br />
<br />Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720951865147701456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799300333459163597.post-53441299601610124562019-11-03T20:15:00.000-08:002019-11-03T20:15:27.137-08:00My Sweethearts BirthdayToday is Sunday the beginning of a new day and a new week. Last night when we went to bed our clocks were set back to mountain time, which means the end to daylight savings time for this year. It gave us an extra hour of sleep, but it forgot to tell our bodies that and when we awoke this morning, we forgot to stay in bed another hour, but that was okay, as it gave us some extra time to get ready for church and extra time to just relax and enjoy this morning.<div>
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Today is also a special day for its my Sweethearts birthday. We have been very blessed because we have shared many birthdays together, more than most people. He was born to goodly parents, there were 2 girls and 3 boys, with him being the fourth child in his family. Now as I think about his family and looking back over the years, I realize the many blessings we have enjoyed.</div>
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My Sweethearts father passed away when he was just seventy years old, leaving his mother a widow at a younger age, she lived thirty some years as a widow, he has also lost his two brothers and one sister and two brother-in-laws and a sister-in-law, which brings us down to his older sister and my Sweetheart as the only siblings left. When one might think of the passing of love ones, other's might view this as a great loss and have a great empty feeling within their heart, but for us and our faith with a belief in a hereafter and the blessings of the Temple and the sealing powers and promise of family's are forever, our hearts do miss our love ones, but the memories are warm and are filled with love, for we believe in the eternities.</div>
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When you arrive at our age and another birthday comes around, what do you do to celebrate? For us, we are just thankful that we still have each other and can say Happy Birthday to them. I did have a card for him that I left on the table so he would see it the first thing this morning and know I was thinking of him. Yesterday we went to town and had lunch at the Mexican Restaurant which we both enjoyed. This afternoon he has received phone calls from his children along with special wishes and loving words. I baked him some brownies with chocolate frosting and said Happy Birthday Sweetheart, I Love You. He smiled at me and told me he loved me too.</div>
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I hope he know how dear and special he is to me, I've been very blessed, he has loved me all my life and he has always been the love of my life.</div>
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Yes, today is my Sweethearts Birthday and I look forward to having many more birthdays with him..</div>
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Happy Birthday Sweetheart, I love you very much..</div>
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Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720951865147701456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799300333459163597.post-55984069201862112102019-11-02T20:43:00.000-07:002019-11-02T21:18:04.694-07:00Saying Goodbye For NowIt was Thursday morning October the 24th, my Sweetheart and I we were busy getting ready to leave for St. George as Thursday is our day that we go to the Temple there, but that day would be different, you see the St. George Temple will be closing the first part of November to do repairs and refurbishing. This Temple was dedicated in 1877 and was built by our pioneers forefathers, It's a beautiful Temple but its over 142 years old and needs repairs. It's going to be closed for 3 years to take care of everything, so for the next 3 years we will be going to the Cedar City Temple.<br />
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I have enjoyed this Temple and the history that it holds, it's a beautiful place and holds many wonderful memories for me, it's the Temple that Marta came with sealing cards for my father's family, to have this work done for them, there was Marta, my brother Butch and Diane, Mom and Dad, Kirk and I, what joy we all felt that day in the the sealing room as we all participated in this eternal blessing, such a warm memory.<br />
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During these years I have made special friends here in St. George and as this was going to be the last time we would be going to this Temple for now, my heart is feeling a little sad to say goodbye.<br />
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I spent Wednesday evening writing a note to each one of these friends expressing my gratitude for their friendship and kindness that I have enjoyed these past years, telling them I would miss them and wished them all well.<br />
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<b><u>First</u>,</b> there is Sister Grimshaw, shes the sweet older lady that greets me each Thursday as I walk to the dressing rooms, she's there each week so she has come to recognize me though the years and she will reach out to me, give me a hug and tell me she is so glad to see me, if she's not standing where she usually stands, I'll look across the room and I will see her standing there, I will pause for a few seconds and then she sees me, I then get a wave along with a smile, my heart is warm as I smile and wave back to her.<br />
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<u style="font-weight: bold;">Second,</u> after the session and I ready to leave, as I walk out the dressing room and around a corner, I will see my younger friend Jodie, shes such a sweet person, I always stop and visit for a few minutes, we have a lot in common, her and her husband like to go cruising as my sweetheart and I do in fact, they enjoy the same cruise line as we do. She also tells me that if we were in the same school and close to the same age she knows we would have been best friends.<br />
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After our Temple session we always go to the Golden Corral for lunch and there is where my other friends work.<br />
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<u><b>Third,</b></u> is Elena, she is a waitress there and many times she will be in the area where we sit and she then will tell us where to sit so she can wait on us, even if she isn't in the area where we are she usually finds us, gives us a hug and will talk with us and always tells us she is so happy to see us.<br />
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<u><b>Fourth,</b></u> is Sandy, she is my friend in the bakery area, she is small and very sweet, she does more work in that area then two people could ever do. She has been there for years and has always taken good care of me. When they would have pecan pie she would always save me a piece and she knows what flavor ice cream my sweetheart and I both like, so she gives me a nice serving. When I arrive and she sees me she will come from behind the counter and wants a hug, she warmly greet me and will visit a few minutes. I always go to say goodbye to her when I leave and she will always ask me if I'll be back next week, she will tell me how her babies are doing and will show me their pictures, I'll hold her hand and then give her a warm hug. She has had 3 babies during these years and I have made her a crochet blanket for each of them.<br />
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This past week when I had to say goodbye, each one said they would miss me too. Jodie has my address and I hers, so she said she would keep in touch, but when I said goodbye to Sandra she hugged me tighter and her eyes began to weep, she has a lot on her plate, a small family, works another job in the evenings and I think she just needs someone to tell her she is doing great. My sweetheart did tell me that we would come to St, George for lunch sometime so don't worry, I will still see her, I did tell Sandra that and that she was a sweetheart and I would see her again with another hug and said goodbye for now.. I then gave her her card ... with a nice tip,,,...<br />
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Yes, I will miss these friends but--- Its just a goodbye for now.. <br />
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<br />Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720951865147701456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799300333459163597.post-89388700344240523912019-10-31T23:05:00.000-07:002019-10-31T23:22:56.659-07:00Life and Consequences As I sit here at my computer my mind goes back to life and choices. Sometimes you might hear people express their feelings by saying "I wonder what my life would be like if I had done this or hadn't done that" and then I think that life does have choices and they all have consequences either they are good ones or they might not be so good, but they are yours and once they are made a consequence follows.<br />
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The other day I was talking to my oldest daughter and we got on the subject of life and where the choices she has made have taken her. She was just eighteen when she came to us and told us she was engage and wanted to get married. Now forty plus years later she knows she made a very wise choice and the years that followed have been good ones with lots of growing and adventures, some ups and downs but good ones with eternal blessings.<br />
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I think about myself and the choice I made when I was seventeen. I too was very young, engage and wanted to marry. Life then took me on a journey, that as I look at it, I never would have imagine that now sixty plus years later, the adventures I have had, the experiences that came my way, the places I have lived, the people I have met and have touched my life and the posterity that is mine all because of that choice I made many years ago and that one choice was also on eternal one.<br />
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I always told my children that the choices they make would take them down a path and every choice had a consequence, that's the way life is. Its like when you are little and you don't follow the rules, you might be sent to your room for time outs, or in school when you don't do your homework you will not receive a good grade, or if you break the law you might find a policeman pulling you over in your car, yes be careful life has consequences.<br />
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When one is young and the future is way out there and you are looking through rose color glasses, its not always easy to be in control of your emotions, to really look at the situation and make the right choice, that is why I always told my children to make their franklin list. A (franklin list" is the pros on one side of a paper and the cons on the other side with the line down the center) this helps no matter how old one is in making a good decision, after all we all want life to be good and we all want to be happy, to be loved and to be successful.<br />
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Now as I sit here writing this post, again I'm looking at my past, counting my blessing and thinking about the path I chose to take, knowing that it was through prayer and devotion to my faith that my life has been richly blessed, with the love of a good husband, wonderful children and many grandchildren and great grandchildren that surround me, yes life has been good.<br />
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If I can leave one suggestion to my family is that to always remember that every choice you will make in this life will have a consequence, that choice will bring you joy and happiness or will bring you pain and unhappiness, so be careful, stay on the righteous path, use prayer in making your choice and follow the Lords teachings and happiness and eternal blessing will be yours, yes you might have some ups and downs and a struggle here and there but keep your faith, do what you know is right and true, then when you are my age you will look back through the years and know that life was good and full of many eternal blessings.<br />
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<br />Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720951865147701456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799300333459163597.post-64842482480080428862019-10-20T18:31:00.001-07:002019-10-20T18:58:49.273-07:00My Friends are HungryI live on five acres and most of the space around my home is just dirt, lots of rock and a few trees. I have a long gravel driveway that comes from the street that takes a curve up and around a dirt hill to my home. We built this home some years ago and our dear sons helped us so much with building our dream. Our youngest son was up on the rafters measuring and hammering nails, both boys helped us with the inside, our oldest son put in the wood floors and the tile back splash in the kitchen with the help of his daughter, he also put in this driveway and built a few rock retaining walls around the driveway and other places on the property.<br />
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Out side my kitchen window just past the garage is a large area of dirt and off to the south side there is a rock wall surrounding a tree. In the mornings the sun will be shinning and everything look so peaceful and bright just welcoming a new day. I enjoy looking out this window and especially when I'm in the kitchen fixing a meal or just doing the dishes.<br />
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I have lots of friends that come for a visit, but these friends seem to only come around when they are hungry. One might say "what kind of friends do you have that only want something to eat?" Well, I'll tell you. My friends are the rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, turkeys, the deer and the birds, but mostly black birds and sometimes a skunk or two, but I really don't count the skunks as friends, but I sure can tell when they have come for a visit by the scent they leave behind.<br />
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I know these friends must be hungry because why would they be walking around at all hours of the day or night, Spring or Summer, Fall or Winter? Don't they have food at their own home or nest? Oh, but wait, I think they have to good looking for their food, as they don't have a market they can go shopping for food like we do.<br />
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Now being the kind person that I am and having a soft spot in my heart for all God's creatures, I'll do my best to help them with a meal or two. I have a bowl on my kitchen counter that I put my food scraps in like bread, peelings, leftovers that have been in the refrigerator to long and things like that. I then take them out to that area outside my kitchen window and throw them around so my friends can have a picnic.<br />
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Many times I will see 15 or more turkeys in my yard just enjoying this meal, or some rabbits nibbling on a carrot or a lettuce leaf or maybe a black bird snacking on a piece of bread, but what I enjoy the most is when this black bird comes for his piece of bread, he then will pick up another piece, fly to the top of my garage and gives it to his friend, a lady back bird and there they perch on the roof enjoying each others company with a snack or too.<br />
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Many times my husband will see this picnic going on outside with our friends and he will call me to come and see, as we stand at the kitchen window watching this activity that's going on, we just smile and I think of the joy I'm watching all because of kitchen scraps, but I know if there is any scraps left, in the morning when again I look outside my kitchen window and all the scraps are gone, I know I had some friends in my yard enjoying a nightly picnic and I bet it was my friends the deer.<br />
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My Sweetheart did take out some scraps this afternoon after our meal, so we are ready for our friends to come, they just might be a little hungry, so if they do come just enjoy and have a good time.<br />
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<br />Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720951865147701456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799300333459163597.post-10325086553525828242019-10-13T18:50:00.000-07:002019-10-13T20:44:37.040-07:00A Puzzle of One Sort or AnotherWhen I was a young mother my first 3 babies were just a year apart and to say the least I was very busy, it seemed like everyday I was feeding a baby, fixing a meal, giving a baby its morning bath, wiping a face or nose, changing a diaper or doing potty training, not to mention all the other activity that goes along with raising small children. When all the little ones went down for their afternoon nap it was when the laundry was done and the house was picked up and cleaned, not to mention planning the evening meal for when my Sweetheart would return from work.<br />
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When the evenings came, it again was the routine of getting the little ones ready for bed, beginning with bath time, then story time, prayers, hugs and kisses and being tucked into bed.<br />
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Now these evenings as parents we would take this time to just enjoy the quiet of the moment and relax from all activity of the day. Some nights my husband would have a meeting to go to or he would have a ball practice with the ward basketball team, something like that and then I would have my free time to just relax and do my thing what ever that was...<br />
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It was during this private time that I would enjoy working on a puzzle. I would take a puzzle out of the box and lay all the pieces right side up, this was very refreshing to me. I would then gather all the outside edge pieces together and start from there. But now I had a problem, I could not leave a puzzle on a table with little ones running around during the day, so my Sweetheart came up with a solution. He went out to the garage and soon was back in with a good size piece of wood just perfect for a puzzle. I would sit on the floor and work my puzzle and when I was finished for the night I simply would just push the board underneath the couch to be safe and sound till another day.<br />
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When I was growing up, I remember my Mother in the evenings would sit on the couch in the front room of our home, always working on the crossword puzzle from that morning's newspaper. She did this till she was in her nineties. She would tell me it was important to always do something to keep your mind active. She was very good at doing this puzzle and always seem to find the correct word for the those little squares, but this was not me. I have tried many times to figure this puzzle out, but for some reason my mind doesn't like or understand the hints they give you for this correct word that you need that goes into that little square.<br />
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When I go to visit my friend Donna on Friday mornings, I find her sweet husband sitting at a desk in their dinning room and he too is working on that mornings crossword puzzle from his newspaper. I usually talk with him for a few minutes about this and marvel at how fast he is able to complete this puzzle, when I'm not able to even begin to find the right word for a given hint.<br />
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It was probably 15 years ago that my oldest daughter came for a visit, while she was here I saw her working on a puzzle in the evenings. I asked her what she was doing? She then told me about this puzzle Sudoku that she enjoys doing, she then showed me how this puzzle worked and soon she had me started. Sudoku is a number placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. I do this puzzle now every night before I go to bed. It comes in my morning newspaper and sometimes for one reason or another it just might not be there and then I'm lost. I guess you can say I have an addiction, but for me its very relaxing.<br />
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Not so long ago my youngest son was over and saw me working on this puzzle, he then asked me what I was doing and when I told him he seemed to be interested and wanted me to show him how it works, he now is doing Sudoku, he seems to enjoy this number puzzle and now has some Sudoku puzzle books that he can enjoy if he has a few minutes of time to just relax.<br />
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I wonder if my daughter knows that we are becoming a family of working Sudoku puzzles, thanks to her. I hope she does as she has given her Mom and her Brother a relaxing way to end their day.<br />
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Yes, my mother was right when she told me it was important to always do something to keep your mind active, I might not be able to do the crossword puzzles like she did, but I can do this number puzzle Sudoku and I think it might count as helping to keep ones mind active and besides I'm very good at it too.<br />
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Well I must go, its getting late and I still have a puzzle to do...<br />
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<br />Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720951865147701456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3799300333459163597.post-30157809782319926772019-09-15T22:02:00.000-07:002019-09-15T22:02:37.189-07:00A Surprised Visit At Wendy'sSaturday is usually the day my Sweetheart and I go to town and have lunch. Lately we have been going to different places, sometimes its fast food and sometimes its one that you leave a tips at.<br />
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On this Saturday he just wanted to have a hamburger with all the trimmings. He named 5 different places he thought would be good, but soon decided on Wendy's. He had seen the ad on TV that had a "Biggie bag" for $5.00. Now that sounded pretty good to him as it was a Bacon burger, fries and a drink for only $5.00. We haven't been to Wendy's for along time, but for that price why not try.<br />
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When we go to town for lunch we usually leave our home around 12 noon or 12:30, but this day was different. My Sweetheart had been busy working outside in the garden and I had been busy inside with the laundry and other chores, so we didn't start for town until 1:30 or about.<br />
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Now Wendy's in this town is not situated in a very convenient place, it's right next to the freeway and the entrance seems to always be congested and today was no exception. The drive thru had such a line that it would be hard just to park our car. When I saw this mess I asked my Sweetheart if he still wanted to go here or would he rather go somewhere else, his answer to me was no, we were here so lets try to park our car and go in.<br />
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There was such a congestion inside you could hardly tell where the line to order was and who was just standing around getting their drinks or waiting for their food. There was a man in a wheelchair in front of me so I asked him if he was in line to order, he said no, that he was in line to get his drink, when all of a sudden there was a loud voice calling, "Grandma, Grandma" and there standing in front of me now was my Granddaughter Shawna, soon I was surrounded by Great Grand-kids with hugs and kisses. <br />
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Shawna and her family had just arrived in the States last Sunday and had been staying with family up north for a visit, they were coming to my home the end of the month to spend a few days with us before they head back east for the rest of their trip. To say I was surprised to see them here at Wendy's for lunch is just a lost for words.<br />
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After the shock wore off, we ordered our food, found a place to sit and enjoy a nice surprise visit with a dear Granddaughter, her husband and 5 sweet great grand-kids. They were here traveling with their friends and their family on the way for a fun time at Disneyland and stopped at Wendy's for some lunch, the man in the wheelchair was their friend the husband.<br />
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I haven't seen this Granddaughter and her family for 3 years so it was such a treat to see everyone and catching up with their activities and events in their life was such a joy. Our food arrived, we ate and visited and visited some more.<br />
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The time went by and soon the restaurant was pretty empty, it soon dawned on us that we had been there for sometime and Shawna and everyone needed to be back on the road to complete their journey before dark. We cleaned our tables, put our trash in the container and said our good-by's with hugs and kisses.<br />
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As my Sweetheart and I headed for home our conversation turned to this sweet surprise at meeting a dear Granddaughter and her dear family here at Wendy's for lunch, noting that this blessing would not have happened it we had left for lunch at our regular time and if we didn't want a "Biggie Bag" for $5 dollars.<br />
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Blessings come in many different ways and to me this was a special blessing, my heart is warm and I smile with joy when I think of this surprise visit at Wendy's.<br />
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<br />Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720951865147701456noreply@blogger.com0