Rain, Rain, Rain, Snow, Snow, Snow, Wind, Wind and More Wind

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. 

 

It rained most of the day, not real hard, just off and on to make the ground muddy. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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..

68th Wedding Anniversary

It was Just last Thursday, March the 11th, that my Sweetheart and I celebrated our 68th wedding Anniversary.  

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.  

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. 

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. 

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." 

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.

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."

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.

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 ZOOM visit this coming Sunday night to wish us Happy Anniversary and send us their Love.

With the help of our youngest son, he was able to set us up on the computer to ZOOM, 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.

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 ZOOM 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.

It was   WONDERFUL  and  VERY SPECIAL  one we will always remember.

         THANK YOU MY DEAR CHILDREN    WE LOVE YOU VERY MUCH  

Another Birthday For Me

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

The whether outside was cold and some snow was still on the ground, but inside my heart, I felt warm, special and loved.

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.

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. 

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.

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... 

Yes, I had another Birthday and what a special Birthday it was....

The End Of First Year Covid-19

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?

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. 

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.  

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. 

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"?  

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.

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.

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. 

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.

A Miracle Bracelet

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.

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.

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.  

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...

***************

I sit here holding this journal in my hand,                                                                                           Thinking of words to write so you'll understand,

For the gifts you'll receive, that's written upon your heart,                                                                         Of the feelings of thankfulness and goodness in part,

For our Heavenly Father's Love for you is pure and kind,                                                                       And each day if you look, his love you will find.

We have prayers we say each day and night,                                                                                           For strength and guidance in our daily life,

For healing and answers to an ache within,                                                                                             For understanding and comfort his love will bring,

Yes, you have prayers you say and blessings you receive,                                                                           With miracles that come your eyes do see, 

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'

Now,                                                                                                                                                        This Miracle bracelet you found in this treasure chest,                                                                               Is to remind you always, you are truly the best, 

You are a daughter of God with talents a glow,                                                                                           Be strong with value is the message that flows, 

So wear it each day with a prayer in your heart,                                                                                       And at night return it to this special spot,

And then reflect on the activities of your day,                                                                                             And find the blessing or miracle that came your way,

You are loved and cared for, from your Father above,                                                                                 To hold you and comfort you, to always feel his love, 

So rejoice my dear with this truth that is true,                                                                                             May you feel peace an happiness with a prayer, all your days through.

***************

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.

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.

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.                                                                                              

                                                                               

Hashtag # Give Thanks

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." 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                

        

 

 

Just Listen and Do It

I was raised with the knowledge that I should follow the promptings of the spirit. 

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.

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.

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.

This just happened to me a couple of weeks ago. 

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.

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.  Shame on me...

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 "Do It". 

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 Do It.  I am saying the same thing to me, "Just Listen and Do It"  you will feel a lot better...