...privileges and blessings......

Just returned home from voting early. What a wonderful privilege!!!! It never fails to hit me when I stand "in" the voting booth--it was a little different a couple of years ago when we actually went inside a little booth. But it still gives me such a sense of pride and patriotism!!!! How grateful I am for this wonderful country.........

 

And look what came in the mail the other day!!!!! YIPEE!!!!!! I feel so valued and appreciated!!!! Not that it really matters all that much, but it is an added perk I hadn't imagined! I'm so thankful I have a chance to "give back".........though I don't think I will ever be able to give back all that Suzanne required............I know it's not necessary or expected, but I love the feeling and thought of being able to do something for someone else that was so important and appreciated by us. Does that make sense? When I would take Suzanne for infusions, I would sit there and watch the blood drip....and more especially the platelets because when she got low on platelets it was scarier somehow..........and while watching, a feeling of deep gratitude would come over me for those people who were willing to give time and some of themselves for my sweet daughter. I want to give that hope and security--when everything feels so uncertain--to someone else..........I want them to know that someone cares...........someone who's been in that very chair..........

...number 11 is beautiful!!

 Yes! Number 11 grandchild!!! And I was privileged to make another dress........

The "other" grandma made these beautiful little slippers............

 

 We are so thankful for our precious little Hannah!

...giving back...

OH!!!! I had a great day yesterday!! Let me give a little background...........I have wanted to be able to donate blood for a very long time. I think I went once, just after I was married, and my blood count was too low. Then came the years of babies...........and after that I offered. But because of a cold sore, they turned me away. Somewhere in the last 2 to 3 years I tried again. What could stop me now??? Right?? Wrong! My count was again too low. I was quite discouraged. During those years I had taken Suzanne to receive blood and platelet transfusions so many times and had felt a deep gratitude to those people who took their time to give and I felt a real longing to be able to do the same. I knew what it meant to people who needed the help!!! Well............the Red Cross was in Delta yesterday for a blood drive. Roger had an appointment. I've kind of been trying to eat better..........well.........long story short.........I went with Roger and my count was high enough!!!!!! SO!!!! for the first time in my life I was able to give blood!!!!!!! I've been giddy with joy since she told me I could!!! And I asked about donating platelets because I learned with Suzanne that there needs to be a more consistent "flow" of platelets. They don't live as long as red cells............and you can donate platelets more often--every week, they told me!! Soooooooo, that's my desire..........to give "back".........though you know I can't really do that........... it's another "paying it forward" I suppose. Elder Scott taught us in conference last April..........talking about good health practices and personal revelation, but it can be applied here as well........"...we can improve both the quality of our service and our well-being by making careful, appropriate choices." Yes!! we can!!! I'm going to continue to take better care of myself so I can serve better! OH!!! Life is wonderful!!!! isn't it?? And yesterday was capped off with a beautiful night out, sitting outside..........the weather and temperature were perfect...........we watched the nearly full moon  rise over the mountain and then had a wonderful ride home under that same glorious moon. We stopped once.........on one of those dark lonely roads (to change drivers) and it was so still.........it felt like we were the only two in that quiet, semi-darkness, under that sky with only the bright moon and a few brave stars...............there is no way I can do it justice..............truly........a joyful day!!!!

...Joyful praise.....with tears........

OH!!!! I just have to share this with you!!! Let me preface this by telling you that I have been missing Suzanne dreadfully this morning............deep gratitude to a loving neighbor who let me sob out my grief and wet her shoulder as she held me. I am profoundly thankful for her love. So.........to help myself, I've been listening to conference as I've been working on little Hannah's blessing dress. Consider these words..........I'm going to write them in prose so you will not be tempted to pause as we so often do when we read poetry.........and I miss the meaning in the pause.....

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise him, for he is thy health and salvation!
Join the great throng,
Psaltery, organ, and song, Sounding in glad adoration!

Praise to the Lord! Over all things he gloriously reigneth.
Borne as on eagle wings, safely his Saints he sustaineth.
Hast thou not seen how all thou needest hath been granted in what he ordaineth?

Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy way and defend thee.
Surely his goodness and mercy shall ever attend thee.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
Who with his love doth befriend thee.

Praise to the Lord! Oh, let all that is in me adore him!
All that hath breath, join with Abraham's seed to adore him!
Let the "amen" sum all our praises again,
Now as we worship before him.

Doesn't that just make you want to shout "hallelujah"???? and stretch and be better and be able to fall at his feet??? If songs of the righteous are prayers.......................

I wanted to share with you the choir singing this glorious hymn but I don't have the time right now to find it, etc., etc.........It was sung in conference, last April (2012), Sunday morning. Guaranteed to make you rejoice and cry, all at the same time!!!! Love to you all!!!!

...our computer is well again! RAH!!!

Yes...........our poor computer has been fighting all kind of things. Sometimes, even itself!! I am so thankful to have it well again. I'll try to do a quick catch up:
End of May to early June: I went to Needles with Roger and Daniel. Our honey crop was so scary we didn't even extract down there. We just loaded everything up and brought it home--along with more of the bees than we had ever brought to Utah. I had HUGE, unbelievable blocks of uninterrupted time in which to sew! Yes..........I wondered if I might have died and gone to heaven.........but no, Suzanne was not there, so I knew it couldn't be that! In just three days I had finished everything I had taken with me!!! obviously, I didn't know how to plan for all this time! I'll try to get some pictures of the things I accomplished, but if not, at least I will have some kind of a record, right? My dear friend here gathered up some more things for me to do and sent them with Michael so I was able to continue. It was heavenly.............

...5760 days.......

We hit a milestone this week. (Well, it was three weeks ago......I've had issues with our computer.) We participated in our 10th high school graduation. During the past 5760 days I have experienced:

• 10 "first day of kindergarten".......not to mention the other 22 "first day of school" days!!!! (and I'm not going to work hard enough to figure out "first days" multiplied by how many were going to school that year)
• 5 (I think) fifth grade breakfasts--early morning the last week of school!
• ....staggering thought!!!!! 64 days of parent-teacher conferences!!! ...again.......I'm not going to do the math. But WOW!!!! I might have to, just because that would be a very interesting statistic!
• 10 Junior Proms........but they were fun! 
• 8 "parent" dances at those Proms.......one of the neighbor boys found me after I had danced with Scott and said, "I need to dance with my other mom". Yes, he still has a special place in my heart.
• 8 4th/5th grade plays
• this ones' a guess.....about 23 high school musicals: Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, Brigadoon, Fiddler on the Roof, Pirates of Penzzance, Lil' Abner, Music Man, Into the Woods, Sound of Music, Calamity Jane, Wizard of Oz, Once upon a Mattress, Beauty and the Beast, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers...obviously, some were performed more than once and I'm pretty sure there were some years in there where we did not have a performer...........but you get the idea.
• the audition for each of said musicals and then the costumes to go with them!! 
• numerable times accompanying vocal solos and ensembles, flute solos, violin solos, trumpet ensembles at festivals, concerts, and competitions.
• and I'm not even going to try to guess the number of band and chorus concerts we have attended! ...or dance recitals...or piano recitals (though they didn't have piano in school. But we did have dance!)
• I'm also not going to try to guess the number of football games, water polo games, track meets, swim meets, cross-country meets, or wrestling meets we have endured. I say "endured" because of the stress, the anxiety, and the pain at some of the lopsided scores. I do know we had only one varsity wrestling meet and that was enough to prove to me that I didn't mind that he never again wrestled varsity. Talk about exponential stress!!!
•  then the end of season banquets for all those various extra-curricular activities
• 3 Sterling Scholars
• 10 LDS seminary graduation ceremonies
• 12 years of full-time missionary service
• 5 temple weddings
• a major "good-bye" every year for 10-12 years straight (someone off to college one year then leaving for the mission field the next year..........that one just about did me in!)
• our 17 year old going off to basic training for the National Guard
• that same 17 year old then 19 going off with said Guard to Iraq for a year

I suppose this is a little inaccurate since not all of these things happened on one of those 5760 school days...but that's life, right??? And it's been a good life. Even with the struggles and occasional heart aches we have been so blessed! Thank you to those who made these 5760 days a possibility!!! (I have to admit though........I cheered when we finished with our last "worlds' fair" and the last 5th grade "state report"........I think I'll stop there. I could name a few other things.........

...l...o...n...g jump

We've been to Nephi twice in two days.......it's spring.....it's track.....and this was region track....... We've never "done" track before, and I'm beginning to feel sorry about that. Daniel shows some natural talent and I wonder what he could have done in four years.......I'll never know...... He ran the 200m yesterday and "did" the long jump today. His longest jump was 17' 4 1/2". Sounds good to me, but there were some guys there jumping 19+!!!! It's just amazing to me! So here's my first and last attempt at photographing the long jump.........I'm so glad I tried!!! I love the intensity!!

 

...an even ten...

We blessed our tenth grandchild today...she also makes it five and five. A beautiful little girl, blessed with wonderful parents and attentive, loving brother and sisters. I was able to make another special dress! And I started early enough and stayed with it well enough that I was able to do all the embroidery I wanted/planned and still get to bed at a half-decent hour last night. 

 

 

 

 

And here's a picture of the darling what-cha-ma-call-it Michelle made for our front door. I love it!!! I should have got a closer picture. Michelle took this one--maybe you can see it well enough.

...hmmmm......dandelions......

I have just harvested my first crop of dandelions from my front yard. You might wonder, "Is she making dandelion wine?" Nooooo...... just harvesting.......... the weed and feed we put on three weeks ago obviously did not do the job. Now. I'm not saying it was Ortho's fault. It was most likely our own. But really. Shouldn't it be easier than it must be?? Why do they have to do such a good job of afflicting and tormenting????? However; I have inadvertently discovered a use for dandelions in the front yard! Hooray!!! I push my little dandelion digger tool into the ground and hopefully cut the root below the crown. And I pull out that thumb-sized root, wah-lah!!!!! I have aereated my lawn!!!! But oh my!!!! my aching legs!!!!! They are not as young as they used to be........... and two days now of unaccustomed labor have made them scream in protest! Thankfully, I will survive and my lawn will be green with little purple flowers here and there..........instead of the yellow that might attract some bees. (Dandelions are an excellent source of early pollen for the honeybees.) And my little purple flowers are violets I planted years ago........Yes. I was warned that they would spread everywhere. But somehow I don't mind the "country" look--as opposed to the formal, well manicured look......which I would never have anyway unless I hired a yard service..........hard to come by in our little town. Just wanted to share my new discovery as well as my victory! I understand I will have to do it again nearly every day all summer long. But this first time is always the longest and hardest............done!

I just had to add this picture!!!! Look how she is covered with pollen!!!! I didn't realize that until I down-loaded the picture!! These are some of the most amazing little creatures in all the world!! She's rather young..........her wings are not in the least frayed and she is still really hairy. Someday I hope to be able to "talk" to them!! You gotta love this amazingly glorious and beautiful world!!! Even if it does grow dandelions...............

BTW--our lilacs are sending out their heavenly perfume............wish they lasted longer.........

new resident

We have a new resident at our house..........uninvited yet only partially unwelcome. Obviously I was neither persistant nor persuasive enough to discourage the new construction. I can only imagine what I did to her poor heart when I went bursting out that door yesterday. I got a serious tongue lashing--maybe a beak-lashing? She was not happy with me. Then, as I had to work outside, I found myself praying that somehow, Someone who could communicate with her would let her know that she really had no need to fear me. And I went out of my way to use other doors and entrances to the yard so as not to disturb her further. I'm glad to see that she's back on her nest today. We can use another door for a while since she is obviously doing very important work.

...a joyful heart........today........

My heart is singing at the moment...........I want to share..........


Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also has become my salvation.                    ---2 Nephi 22:2  (also Isaiah 12:2)

Oh!!! the blessings of the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ!! This verse says it all for me today.................

words of comfort and inspiration...

Yes. It's been a long time. Yes. "So many" things have happened. No. I'm not going to talk about any of "those" things yet..............in the mean time I'm searching for all the comfort, peace, joy, hope, and encounters with the Spirit I can possibly find.............here are some words from yesterday............


"I am led to believe that our Heavenly Father loves us so much that the things that are important to us become important to Him, just because He loves us. How much more would He want to help us with the big things that we ask, which are right?

"...our loving Heavenly Father wants to bless you. But because He will not infringe upon our agency, we must ask for His help....Prayer is one of the most precious gifts of God to man.

"We must not only say our prayers; we must also live them. The Lord is much more pleased with the person who prays and then goes to work than with the person who only prays.

"It takes faith to remember that the Lord answers in His time and in His way so as to best bless us."
                       --Elder J. Devn Cornish  
                          Ensign, Nov. 2011, pg. 101-103


"The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant, but that are made conditional on our asking for them." 
                                --Bible Dictionary, "Prayer"


"To those within the sound of my voice who are struggling with challenges and difficulties large and small, prayer is the provider of spiritual strength; it is the passport to peace. Prayer is the means by which we approach our Father in Heaven, who loves us. Speak to Him in prayer and then listen for the answer. Miracles are wrought through prayer."        
                --Pres. Monson, Ensign, May 2009, pg.68.

Thankful Thursday on Saturday...

You may have been or are wondering if I'm not thankful this week. I am. It's just that the echo of last week's post has sounded so pompous to me that I am a little hesitant here............. I did not mean to sound arrogant at all last week. In fact, I am humbled at our Father's generosity--in that I feel I really haven't done anything to merit such a gift, and yet, in love and mercy He gave it and has magnified it. I pray I can use it to praise and glorify Him all my days...........

Now, for this week..........I am so thankful for temples!! Gorgeous, hallowed temples............we were in one Thursday night--Manti. Roger's ancestors helped build that temple and I have never felt so "at home" in any other. After passing the recommend desk you find a long hallway ahead of you with offices on both sides. As I walk down that hallway I experience that "home feeling" as I rarely do anywhere else on earth. Something calls to me, "I'm coming......I'm coming home...." If I could live anywhere I chose, I would choose the Manti temple. There are times I want to just sit at a table with my scriptures, or sit in one of the "back" rooms (that you see only when you have emergencies or stay to do sealings between sessions) and ponder or nap. I think it's so easy to nap in the temple because there is such a feeling of peace. I am seldom "worried" while in the temple. (I do think about things that concern me.....wondering what He would have me do.) The peace and calm are so prevalent that the "worry" seems to just seep away and I am assured that all will be well if I trust in the Lord. My finite mind can hardly wrap itself around such a concept, but I know it's true.........

I am thankful for Houses of the Lord available to us on earth........and that His invitation is always, "Come unto me...".

These are the only pictures I could find quickly--taken the night before Lisa's wedding............

Thankful Thursday....

Today I am thankful that I can play the piano. Now, mind you, I'm not one of those exceptionally gifted musicians and I can tell by the size of my hands that Father in Heaven never intended for me to be the concert variety. But! He did give me a gift. I say that because I was a lousy student. I hated practicing scales--hence, my fingering is usually unorthodox and different every time I play the piece. I remember starting out at the piano in the "back room" where one of my older sisters would place the half-high chair at the piano and my love affair began............you see, while I detested scales, I loved the sound of the piano and that I could "make" music! My "formal" lessons began sometime around the 4th grade with the high school music teacher who did not know how to play the piano himself. A good man, and he tried, but the one thing he taught me--that I remember--is how to figure tempo using a clock with a second hand. My lessons lasted more than a year but less than two. I remember only one recital in which I played the piano. I played Jean Sibelius' "Finlandia". And as I remember, I got stumped halfway through. It has always been difficult for me to memorize! Not much to go on...........but even so, I was the "class accompanist". I played for our 4th grade class when we sang, "Utah, We Love Thee!" and for our 7th and 8th grade chorus classes. I played for the high school choir and in the stage band. I accompanied the Jr. Sunday School in the old Marion Ward starting at about age 12 and continuing till I graduated from high school--I think............it seemed like forever............but I loved it!! I tried playing the organ for sacrament meetings, but there were times I made so many mistakes--because I was extremely nervous--that the bishop asked me to wait till I was older. I never did get very good at it. Then I "took off" for a few years while I went to college--and there were lots of people who could play better than I could. I got married and we started our family. We moved "home" and I was called to play in Primary. I remember being surprised that I needed to practice! I couldn't just sit down and go! It was then I decided that I would never say no to an opportunity to accompany someone or play in church. I had heard about Sis. Jessie Evans Smith having the chance to sing with the New York Opera..........she turned it down and came to Utah where she sang with the Tabernacle Choir and figured she had had a greater experience than had she stayed in New York.......something about furthering the work of the Lord through music..........I thought I might be able to do the same thing though on a significantly smaller scale. Since that time, the Lord has magnified the gift He gave me many-fold. You see, I never really worked at developing it. I hope I have used it as He wanted, and I hope I won't be too sorry that I didn't try harder to make it better. I have considered it an outright gift. And I'm so thankful!!! It has been a blessing to me my whole life. And hopefully, it has blessed the lives of others as well. I know it has been wonderful for our family. We have spent countless hours around the piano singing together--many times with several friends as well. So tonight I'm thankful for the ability to make music at the piano.............

Thankful Thursday......

I'm a little hesitant to start this............"Thankful Thursday" sounds somewhat corny, but I'm also hoping it will remind me that "today I need to express some gratitude". So here goes............

Today I am thankful for my wonderful husband. He is away from home right now, working hard to support our family. As a beekeeper he works harder than he probably should.......and his worn out "bionic" body attests to that. But I'm especially thankful today because he is encouraging me in one of those way-out extra-optional tasks I have taken on. Let me explain: I love to sew--quilting being at the top of the list, or near it. I belong to our local quilt guild. We have a quilt show every year in conjunction with the Snow Goose Festival here--this being our tenth year. There was risk this year that it might "die" for want of a "leader". Roger encouraged me to volunteer. I did--and I've had lots of wonderful help. We have done much planning, writing letters to possible vendors and friends who will do "trunk shows". Yesterday I received a call telling me that the dates have been changed!!!!! AND!!! they had scheduled the building out from under us! PANIC!!!!!!! My first call was to my dear, supportive husband. Near tears, I explained our dilemma. He has been a voice of calm reassurance and reason reigning in my tendency to be angry and possibly saying something I would later regret. He has called several times in the past 24 hours to see how I'm doing as I consider the possibilities. The foundation of my calm--if I can call it that--is his confidence that "it will all work out". And I know if it comes to hauling chairs, tables, quilt stands........whatever..........he will be first in line to help me. So today my heart is full of thanks for my husband and his sterling qualities!

...a new year

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! 

I'm always a little shocked every time we begin a new year....and a little dismayed that I'm a whole year older and don't feel any wiser or better or smarter or more organized or _________ you fill in the blank. Just about anything will work! But then I remind myself that I have to be patient, even with me...........Pres. Uchtdorf's talk in general Relief Society meeting was very comforting......

We have had one of the most joyous and satisfying holiday seasons ever! I told you about our Thanksgiving.....well, Christmas was just as wonderful. I love having Christmas Day fall on Sunday. Our ward music director had each auxillary and priesthood group sing a special song and while they were moving to and from the choir seats the congregation sang a carol from the hymn book. So everyone had the opportunity to sing! We ended with Sally DeFord's arrangement of "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing".......a beautiful arrangement with difficult accompaniment..........I called in a gifted friend for that one. It was all so wonderful! And someday I'm going to be able to really sing those songs the way I want to!

I planned early enough and started early enough to make quilts for our five oldest grandchildren. And I got them done!! That was one of the highlights of Christmas day for me.........to watch them open their gifts.  I had that special feeling come over me again as we were sitting around the tree sharing gifts and love and conversation with one another. There is absolutely nothing in this world better than family............I'm sure you would agree.............


A couple of pictures of Christmas at our house........(and the quilts--I totally loved the way each one turned out.)

...for the Thomas lover

 

...for the zebra lover

...for the princess

...for the giraffe lover

Hmmmmm.......there was one more..........the "poky little puppy"......I'll have to find a picture.......