Literary Quote of the Day

Just a thought as we bring 2008 to a close...

T.S. Eliot
"For last year's words belong to last year's language. And next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning."

Some favorites from Christmas 2008

Each Christmas is different...here are some things I noticed about this particular Christmas that are worth noting for me, if not for anyone else.

Christmas Eve was noisy and crowded, up until about 6:00 p.m. and then it became quiet. The quiet reminded me of an early Sunday morning, so peaceful. The streets were nearly empty. All of the stores, except for Walgreens, were closed.

Christmas morning was also quiet. We woke up late, about 8:00 and had a breakfast that I had prepared the night before. No, I wasn't trying to poison anyone with spoiled food. It's one of those breakfasts that really takes all night to get ready.

There were presents to open, not a lot and I am glad for that. After a few presents were opened I gathered the wrapping paper and started wadding it into balls (stones). Mickey stood up on the couch and I started throwing wrapping paper balls at him as he acted out the part of Samuel the Lamanite when he was prophesying about the Savior's birth. Samuel (Mickey) was telling us to repent as I threw the paper balls at him. That was the fun part...but, unlike Samuel, Mickey was not protected and I 'accidentally' hit him with the 'stones'. Picture Mickey in his not-long-enough shorts with the rim of white showing standing on the couch. CUTE! and ENDEARING! AND, oh, so spiritual...hmmmm.

The middle of the day has become a blur, so there must not have been much to remember...oops, that doesn't mean much,because I don't have much of a memory anyway.

I love thinking about Christmas night! We went to Lindsay's for a truly wonderful meal. We spent some time with Norm Sr, Sally, Norm Jr's sister, Sarah, Andie, Norm Jr., Emily and David, as well as the little kids....Carter, Marin, Bailey, Easton, and Logan. I went outside after we had eaten and got scared to death because as I was unlocking my car, the horn honked .... not supposed to happen and as I looked around me I saw a long shadow approaching. AHHHHH, I saw my quick demise at the hands of a stranger. Not so! Morgan, who was scheduled to work until 10:00 p.m. took the opportunity to sign out and was there to surprise Andie and the kids. When we walked in it took Andie a few minutes (honestly, that is no exaggeration) to figure out that Morgan was standing next to me. She just kept looking at him like she didn't know him. A blank stare...hey, she's my daughter, what can I say? We had to tell her that Morgan was standing next to me. When she finally got it, she ran to him and hugged him.

And then the fun really began. We sat down for a few games of Nurtz. DANG it was fun.

The end of another great day, and a Christmas Day at that. Not too spiritual to be sure, but a BUNCH of fun.

A day with out Detrol

A day without Detrol is like:
* finding fresh gum stuck to your shoe
* having a recurring nightmare
* finding out the belt to your coat was in the toilet when you go to flush
* sending a confidential file to the wrong person
* asking a student's parent when her baby is due and then having the parent tell you she is not pregnant
* driving over a tiny toad sitting in your driveway
* tenderly trying to steer a baby lizard out of the classroom and finding out your tender steering with a broom handle smooshed it to death
* not filling out a student's report card before you sent it home
* going to a children's concert and having a stranger tap you on the sholdier (did I spell that correctly) in the ladies room to tell you the seat cover is hanging out of your pants

Of course none of the things listed above ever happened to me....well, almost none of them. Today was interesting to say the least. Enough said!

Are you hungry for fresh mushrooms?

Some people just LOVE mushrooms! These are available for harvest. They have been grown without pesticides or fertilizers...100% organic. They are available upon request.

The Final thankful Thirtys

Wow! This month has gone so quickly and there have been so many things to be thankful for. Some that I've missed, I just know it. But, the awareness has been enlightening. I've loved it. I know I have posted some pretty goofy things, but it's okay to be thankful for the BIG (Heavenly Father, the Savior, the Gospel, the Church, the Family) and it's okay to be thankful for even the goofy things...a pedicure, my red laptop, Jack Armstrong and Joe Getty - the list goes on. It has been wonderful and meaningful...YEP!

So, I'm thankful for
* phone calls from my three girls (Janeen, Andie and Lindsay) just to chat.

* my new red jacket and two pairs of new shoes...gotta look at it this way...I'm helping the economy.

* the kind people who look after and take really good care of Duane. He lives in a home with 5 other elderly people. That home is nicer than any home he has ever lived in. It is really nice. The folks who care for him genuinely love him and appreciate what a good man he is. I feel like it was inspiration that led us to these caregivers.

Well I guess that's it until next November.

Thankful twenty-nines

I'm thankful

* that our fake tree (AHHHHH! and Yuck) is up with the lights on. It is beautiful if you don't continually remind yourself that it is fake. At least it is dark green and fake.

* that tomorrow is Sunday.

* that someone else besides me is challenged to keep a secret. It gets easier as I get older. That usually works for most people.

* I've got to include this somewhere...I am so thankful for my 14 month old kitchen. I love everything about it. I love the pull out shelves, the pantry, the granite counter top, the new stove, oven and microwave. I love the deep sink and the brushed nickel faucets. I love the cupboard style and the pulls. I love the LONG bench that doubles as storage. I love the new table. When both leaves are added it could probably seat 10 people. I feel so fortunate to have the kitchen that I do. Gee, maybe I should start cooking again. Food for thought (get it?).

Thankful Twenty-eights

I am thankful for...

*Christmas Carols - I am really enjoying the Forgotten Carols right now. I can hardly wait to get in my car and listen to them. If I were to be honest (that's a tough one!) I would admit that I listen to the Forgotten Carols throughout the year. I really like listening to them in June and July.
* my eyes that see - I was thinking today that these are the same eyes I have had for the last 60 1/2 years. I haven't had them replaced, they are the original model. They have worked wonderfully and have never taken a day off or had a vacation.
* my ears that hear - ditto for how hard they have worked and haven't quit on me.

I have often felt a little sorry for my heart. It hasn't had a vacation for longer than I have been alive. It has worked so hard. Someday it will have a vacation. I'll try to take better care of it. Yep, it' still working...I just checked.

Thankful Twenty-sevens

I'm just plain old THANKFUL...

*My favorite gratitude scripture...I just don't want to be one of the 9 who do't give thanks for my blessings... Luke 17:12-19.

*I am grateful for Mickey... He allows me to be myself whether it's good or bad. He gives me free reign. He has supported me in The Moritorium on Money. He has the most delightful laugh and he uses it often. He is aware of his failings (I have helped him with that). He has a deep and sincere love of the Savior. He fully understands the Gift of Agency and refuses to be a party to taking someone else's away from them. He has a forgiving heart...THANK GOODNESS for that one. He is my companion. He lets me pester him (so important to a good relationship). He has a beautiful tenor singing voice. He sings as we drive and I love listening to him. He has accepted the Hansen Club and will do what he can to help them. That means so much to me as I am the president. He has willingly accepted my mom as a roommate. He is so good to her. I love my husband. That's kind of important.

* So, I'm not one of the Nine...I am thankful for Jesus. I am thankful for His Gospel plan. He has made it possible for me to be with ALL those I love forever...did you get that? FOREVER! He will clean me up (I picture being scrubbed on one of those old metal washboards) and get me ready to meet my Father in Heaven. Without that thorough scrubbing, I would be lost forever...did you get that? FOREVER!

Thankful Twenty-fives

*Whoa! Today is pedicure day with Holly. I'm thankful for pedicures. Too bad it's not sandal weather. I think Mickey wants me to get a pedicure so I don't sand the hair from his legs in the middle of the night.

*I'm thankful for Tylenol Arthritis. Enough said!

* I'm thankful for Mickey's technician that is going to deep fry a turkey for us. HAH! not cooking an enormous turkey for Thursday...someone else is. Yahoo! Life is GOOD.

Sunday in the leaves with Carter and Marin

We raked the leaves and then Carter and Marin ran through and all around them. I wish you could have been there to witness the hard work, conversation and fun as they ran around and through our pile. SOOO much fun!

Okay, here's my new haircut...HATE my neck!

I might thoroughly dislike my neck, but the new naturally curly (thanks to Mentalpause) hair and Megan are cute. Oh, did I really say my hair is cute? Well, the only reason it is cute is because Lindsay does such a great job of cutting and styling it.

Thankful Twenty-fours

These are RANDOM thankfuls...just things I was thinking as I was wandering through the refrigerator:
* I'm thankful that I can raise my left arm above my head...two years ago right now I could not - I was still recovering from surgery.
* I am thankful for the i-google home page on my computer. I love all the 'gadgets' that I have been able to add.
* I am thankful for the i-google gadget - quote of the day. They are great!

Hey, Megan, look at me using the word "gadget" and I almost know what it means.

I forgot this one...I am thankful for Megan Lynn Romo. She set me up for my blog. Hey, Megan -THANK YOU!

If there had been thankful twenty-threes

Grandchildren via Chad and Janeen (oh, they are sooo good looking [Briggs], pretty [Livvy], cute [Em]. I have looked at those family pictures probably 25 times and I'm not exaggerating, this time.

Grandchildren via Andie and Morgan (oh, church is a wonderful experience! Easton smiling at ALL the little old ladies in Relief Society, who are quite taken with him...Bailey who bows her head on the end of the bench when a prayer is being said, is sure to cover her legs when she is reclining on the bench).

Grandchildren via Lindsay and Norm (oh, the afternoon with them was more then just entertaining...ice cream cones, swinging on the porch swing, talking about the trees and sky, raking leaves, playing Battleship, Marin throwing her shoes in the front seat while I'm driving, Marin locking us out of the house [she thought], a game of hockey in the living room with Carter)

I'm tired just thinking about it!

I have the most wonderful yesterdays with all of these kids. They ALL melt my heart and make me so greatful for their parents who have given them to the world. The world is honestly a better place because of these grandkids.

Last week was pretty tiring!

Such a busy active week before Thanksgiving. I conferenced with each child's parent/parents telling them what a good student they have and trying to gently tell them that same student can also be a knothead, or crybaby if that's the case. Then we had our traditional/non-traditional Thanksgiving feast. The feast consists of Stupid Stew (no, I don't tel them the real name of the vegetable soup), rolls or cornbread, butter and of course, popcorn. They have to "dress up" (using the term loosely) as a pilgrim or Indian before the feast. Here are the pictures of the result.

Thankful twenty-twos

I am thankful for Saturday afternoon naps. Hmmm, love 'em.

I am thankful for a Saturday afternoon movie. It it unusual one to coincide with a Saturday afternoon nap.

I am thankful for a Saturday afternoon wander around the backyard.