Easter and More...

In the past month so many things have transpired for myself and my family.  As life does it is constantly changing.  However, one thing for all of us remains constant, and that is the love of our Savior Jesus Christ.  Do I truly believe that he once lived on this earth, and set the ultimate example for me?  yes.

Do I truly believe that he died for me, for you?  That he resurrected and still lives? Yes I do.

I am forever grateful for his loving sacrifice in my behalf. 

Happy Easter!!

It's so nice to be able to sit down in a quiet room...with my laptop and blog.  I've decided to actually pencil blogging into my schedule.  I enjoy it, why not participate in it more??  Well that's just what I'm going to do!

We had a wedding.  It was absolutely one of the most fun days of my life!  I thought I would be emotional... sad... crazy....but nope, I wasn't.  Beside the fact that the women at Lees were incredibly rude when I picked up the flowers that morning, I eventually brushed that right off, and carried on (however, I will never-ever-ever use Lees for flowers again. EVER).

 This is my oldest son.  Oh... can it be?  My oldest son who played with action figures, swung from the vines on the old willow tree pretending to be Indiana Jones, and thought he was Mowgli in the Jungle Book be getting married?  I guess what I'm trying to say is, am I seriously old enough to have a child get married?  The answer to that is, yep, I am.  And I have the wrinkles and gray hair to prove it.  So maybe not the gray hair, but it's there, you just can't see it.

Look how happy these two are.  It just makes me heart so happy. 

Our small brood.  I always wanted a large family, but there's one thing I have figured out in my fastly(not a word I know) moving 46 years, I AM NOT IN CHARGE.  With that said, I am so happy to have these three kids in my life!

I won't bore you with more of my past month, but I'll tell you this...

Labor...delivery....sleepless nights...teenage years....teenage years...teenage years...

ALL WORTH IT!

Put this on a pillow: Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.  (Family Proclamation)

This Friday I become a mother inlaw (bless this poor girls heart).   This new team (my son and his bride to be) are up beat and very layed back.  I'm trying to have the wedding luncheon reflect their carefree personalities.  They have chose for their colors, lime green, blue, black and white. 

With two weddings to take care of within 2 months of each other, I'm trying to keep costs down without taking away from their personalities.  Make sense?  Here's a few things we've come up with.

My new daughter inlaw has 5 sisters, and my son has 1. Instead of wristlettes, we decided on lime green rosette pins.  This rosette doesn't look lime green, but it's definitely lime green.

Center pieces at the luncheon consist of more flowers made from napkins and tissue paper.  I'm still not sold on these.  They're kind of bugging me.  I might have to start over.  Possibly making the flowers out of tissue paper, not the napkins.  Tissue flowers are  more full.  Still debating.  (She likes the polka dots, as do I)

 Still can't decide...

 Each place setting will receive a bag of bubble gum stating

Chaz and Aleece

Sticking Together

2012

(we could always sayd "Don't Blow It".  wouldn't be right would it?)

Tonight after work, I will begin the banner and center pieces for the head table. 

It's an exciting time around here.  Just hope we survive all the action!

Have a Great Day!

With two weddings this spring, a summer vacation has been put on the burner.   HOWEVER.... if you're looking for a different place to visit (and I mean DIFFERENT), may I suggest,

WALLACE, IDAHO

Home of the film Dante's Peak.  It's a wonderfu kooky little town.  It's not quite

as pearky as it is portrayed in the movie, BUT, it's alot of fun.

What does a person do in Wallace,  Idaho you ask??? 

Well....



While roaming the streets there's ice cream!

Silver mines to expolore.

Wallace, Idaho is as if you are in another world.  A world that stopped in time, and isn't worried about catching up.  Our cell phones didn't even have service (and who complains about that?  NOT ME).

 You'll find plenty of antique shops.  Of course the whole town is an antique.  It's a place that causes you to completely slow down and take a deep breath.

At dinner we ordered barbeque chicken sandwiches. Yet, barbecue chicken was not to be.  They were out of chicken until THURSDAY.  How  bizare is that? No worries, plenty of pork.

 Wallace, Idaho was the desination, but the real reason to be there was to bike

THE HIAWATHA TRAIL!!!! 

And nope, you don't have to be in tip-top shape to bike it.  Just be prepared for a sore behind!

What's the Hiawatha Trail? 

An old railroad track turned bike trail, and  a beautiful site to behold.

The ride on the Hiwatha Trail begins riding through a 3 mile long tunnel.  With more tunnels to come. Headlamps are needed, and extra lighting is advised.

We'll cross a few of these...

Stopping to enjoy the height and beauty.

To Mike and I it was worth the very long drive to take this family vacation.

And I would recommend it to anyone.  Young or old.

This summer... a staycation is in site.  I'm completely fine with that too.

Is It Just Me??

Is it just me? As I have got a little older I don't have any desire what so ever to be front and center.  Let me explain.  Tomorrow I'm singing at a funeral.  I don't know this woman, but I'm certain she has a story to tell just like all of us.  As greatful as I am to help out the family and sing, I just don't do this anymore and to be quite honest, it's giving me a little anxiety. 

I've been told this comes with age.  Put me on the back row in the corner.  I'll be there.... I'll support you.... but man, SING?  It's been a long time.  And to let's get real, I don't sound like I used to.  My voice control is lazy.  Just throwing that question out there.

It's that time of year again.  Where to vacation???  Let me share a well kept secret.  The vacation of choice last year.    A KOOKY little town. 

Look familiar??  Have you seen the movie Dante's Peak?

.

Lodging is something else.....

With that said, it was a blast. 

I'll share soon.  I've got to hit the bike and practice for tomorrow.

Put this on a pillow:  Next time you feel fear, focus on what's in front of you and start with baby steps. (Connie Sokol)

As happy as I am about these two kids of mine both being engaged to be married, and marrying within 2 months of each other. It has left me feeling a bit like this.... (picture below)

NOW WHAT???

I have a sinking feeling I'll figure it out!!

"There are moments when we sense that tomorrow doesn't have to look like today..."

(Real Happines, The Power of Meditation. Yep, fidgety I don't know how to relax me is learning how to meditate)

Picture is high school basketball this past year. We had a lot of fun!

When everyone was smaller,

When everyone was smaller than me, I used to tell them, "one day they would all be taller and stronger than me. And then, I'd ask them to open the pickle jar."

One day has arrived...

They grow up, get jobs, their own apartments, and have seperate lives. You know you're in trouble when your youngest son has 2 different dates on a Saturday.

You know you're really in trouble when the reading glasses come one, and the wrinkles no longer disappear with the latest anti-wrinkle face cream. (I'm the only one mean enough to man handle the aligator)

Look at my daughter, she's worried about those wrinkles too.

She still has a few years to worry...

Have a great day.

Almost a Year Ago...

Almost a year ago I stopped blogging. WOW...it's amazing what can happen over a year. I'm still living in "This Small House," but the small house is feeling bigger and bigger as children move closer to the University so they don't have to travel 15 minutes to school, and perhaps liven up their social life.

I've still checked in with many bloggers, infact tonight we had Baked Macaroni and Cheese from Kimmi's blog, Pink Cookies With Sprinkles. And it was DELICIOUS!

I've seen pictures from your children's weddings....cried at the deaths of loved ones...and happy when you all got to take a little time out, and just enjoy.

In the end...I'm venturing back into this wonderful world of blogging. Posting periodically, and leaving messages rather than just stalk you. I needed the break....I made changes where I needed to, and took risks I never dreamed i would.

Thank you for this past year as you made me smile and sometimes cry. For feeding my family, and letting me quietly live in the background of your lives.

August....

It's August...and for the first time in a long time I welcome August with open arms. I have always looked to August as a means to an end of summer. I have to admit, it's been a rough summer for me. I've struggled with the loss of my mom, more than I realize I would. Who would have thought that being a middle age woman, Iwould mourn this loss as deeply as I have. But, I have. Not that anyone would know. Not even my family....but I have.

July has been filled with the hectic demands of those not even in my family, and the last week was a struggle as our little ward (church congregation) was smashed with dual tragadies.

We find out we are stronger than we realize when we have to walk blindly into someones life, and attempt to offer them solace....peace....and hope.

But through it all....we smile!! Years ago as I was pulling myself out of my own personal sorrow, my motto was: "Cry when you have to, smile when you can. Just make sure you're smiling more than crying." It got me through, and it will now.

SO...with that, I am ebracing August. I'm going to smile..... Smile..... smile.... Smile..... and it will be a good month.

July brought raspberries galore!! I have literally spent hours in my raspberry patch. And everyday I climbed into that raspberry patch, I was grateful that I would have a little bit of summer in the middle of January. I can't leave you without sharing the EASIEST and I mean EASIEST freezer jam in the world!! This recipe can be used with any fruit......

Pretty, aren't they??? Like I said,

Summer in January.

5 cups mashed fruit

2 cups sugar

3 tblsp. Clear Gel (find at Kitchen Kneads or specialty food store)

1/2 cup Karo syrup

Mash raspberries (fruit), add Karo Syrup

Mix 2 cups sugar and 3 heaping Tblsp. Clear Gel. Slowly add sugar mixture to fruit. MIX THOROUGHLY, put into containers, and freeze!!!

It's WONDERFUL!!!

Enjoy your garden.....Enjoy your week!!