not your marshmallow world--chapter 2

You might think this is all I did today.........not quite.......we got just a bit of sunshine and blue sky in the afternoon.......but thennnnn.........I have to tell you that while it has not been fairyland, it did kind of turn into "haunted" land when I went out to find the dog this evening and I heard a hoot owl!! Really! I had to go find it.......I could tell it was close--I found it in the neighbor's trees just down the alley right  next to our house..........turned out I walked right under it! (The dog was with me then and I think he was quiet and watching the dog.) When it finally hooted again I turned around and found it. While I was watching it and taking pictures and playing with the settings on my camera (I'm taking a photography class and learning all kinds of neat things) the fog began rolling in again and with the "who, who, who" it felt more than a little eerie.......but ohhhhhhhh, I love to be out like that--'course, I have to know I'm safe. I don't like it if I really feel threatened.

 This gives a whole new meaning to the definition of "razor wire"........

I was wishing he would fly, but he seemed quite content to just sit there and look around. I was torn between wanting to see him fly and having him stay so I could listen to him. It finally got too dark to take pictures anyway.............it really is a glorious and beautiful world..........

not your marshmallow world

We woke up this morning to what I thought was fairyland, but on closer examination, I'm not so sure...........it is beautiful, though, isn't it?

...Frosty's cousin

Yesterday while on a walk with Suzanne we saw this in the neighbor's front yard. (He didn't run away like Frosty did!) But I remember him as a brand new friend more than a month ago--not much taller, but certainly rounder and with face, hat and scarf. He looked like a jolly playmate and I imagined the fun Grandpa and grandchildren had making him...........He reminds me that it has been a long time since we had any measurable snow, that time marches onward without regard for anything, and that we will soon be seeing beautiful flowers in this same yard.......maybe time doesn't 'march', well, at least, not all the time. Most of the time it flies...........

...pondering

I have been pondering...........the purpose of this blog........it's meaning to me..........is it worth the time I take? Is it fulfilling a good purpose? I chose the "title" with great care.......and when I hit on "...with joyful heart" it felt right.........and something I wanted to share with the world..........

So.....in that light, I am going to occasionally share thoughts and feelings of my heart. Music is important to me and has played a huge part in my life. Many times it expresses emotions and feelings I have no words for. And since "the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me"..........this truly was prayer yesterday..........

"God, our Father, hear us pray;
Send thy grace this holy day.
As we take of emblems blest,
On our Savior's love we rest.

Grant us, Father, grace divine;
May thy smile upon us shine.
As we eat the broken bread,
Thine approval on us shed.

As we drink the water clean,
Let thy Spirit linger near.
Pardon faults, O Lord, we pray;
Bless our efforts day by day."
("Hymns", The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, no. 170)

As I thought all the plural pronouns as "I", "me", "my".......it became, truly, a song from my heart--a prayer. I know He lives!!! He is my Savior, my Brother and my Friend..........I pray he counts me among His friends............I just read back over the words..........and I must make an amendment........I know They Both live!!!! They love us and have done and will do everything they possibly can to assure our return Home!! And yes, there are times when I am Homesick...........

I hope you have a wonderful day!!!

...what have I been doing??

Can I just say life has been busy? I know.........what a lame excuse......everyone is busy.......... Maybe I should say, I've been busy doing other things. But that doesn't sound very nice.......maybe I shouldn't say anything at all, which is just what I have been doing!!! So.........here we go......... hmmmmmm, since Christmas, what have I done??? Roger took the boys to Needles for a few days to check on the bees--make sure they have enough feed, make sure they are strong enough (think--there are enough bees in the hive) to pass for the almond pollination contracts, and treat them for mites. I think they did all that. John had come to Utah for drill the first weekend, so he came home and went with them. I think they have a good time together..........I hope so. But while there it is pretty much work, eat, sleep and work some more....with a long drive tacked to both ends. In the mean time, I did my best to starve poor Daniel to death. Maybe he will get to the point where he would rather go with them than stay home with me! But then.......he had to go to school...........poor boy. But not too poor because we had dinner here for his date to the winter ball. Michelle helped me--she did the decorating and I did the cooking. I think it worked out pretty nicely.........

The men worked at putting (I don't know what it is called, but sheets of white plastic stuff) on the ceiling in our new comb room...........I can hardly imagine that we can ever have enough comb to fill it.........I'll keep you informed........

Roger designed--while he should have been sleeping--and had built, this nifty "thing"--attached to a  framework he could lift up with the fork lift. It held the sheeting to the ceiling so Michael and Trevor could put the screws in to hold it up. We all told him he should get it on the market. He didn't think OSHA would approve........maybe with a couple of additions? You think??

I helped time one of Dan's swim meets. I've never done that before. What?!?!?! you say, with all the swimmers you've had over the years???? Well........confession time........... it was fun! I plan on doing it every chance I get from now on! It also gives me a "deck pass" for better pictures......

Last week the men finally scraped the rest of the ice and snow off the new roof at the warehouse so they could put the steel on..........Here's proof that even I got on the roof.........well, I suppose this isn't solid proof, but if you insist, I have a picture of me on top!! There was much to see from up there.....

 IPP

 Mount Nebo over by Nephi

 and this amazing sun dog!! It was so bright!

Yesterday we went to another swim meet..........Region..........Dan swam the 100 yard free-style. His time is 59.71. 100 yards in less than a minute!!! Way to go Dan!!!! There were two heats........so there were a couple of other swimmers with faster times. But still........what an effort!

About ten minutes later he had to swim the 500 yard free-style!!!! He finished fourth..........I would have died.......we are so proud of him!!

This is his relay team.......they did really well, but took third.......(there were only three teams competing) And our team took last over all. But the team that won had more than three times as many kids on their team!!! And we brought home 4-5 first place medals!!! We are proud of these guys!!!

reflections of Christmas....

 ...the stockings were hung...with care...

 

..in hopes that Saint Nicholas would be there..............(he came!)

...the "boys" (next generation) were (almost) dressed for church...

...and I got a new floor!!!

...and if you look closely...you can just see the corner of the Adirondack chair made for me by Michael!! (I've wanted one for some time...wishes do come true...sometimes...