Wait....What?!

Brigham Has A Birthday!

2012-01-23T21:32:00.000-08:00

I went through the pictures I have of Brigham over the past year plus a little. It's amazing how a little boy can change into a big boy in such a short period of time. Happy Birthday Brigham! We love you!

Brigham just a little over a year ago.

Brigham and his big sisters. He has one little sister too.

A pause in the play.

Brigham loves his dad and wants to be just like him.

Dressing up.

With his momma

Teasing from behind the bars.

Playing chase with Poppa

Briggie has a very expressive face.

He loved trying to stand on Uncle Ryan's hands.

Happy 3rd birthday Brigham Ottley Coltharp. Here's to a wonderful start to the coming year.

Birthday Girl!

2012-01-04T23:23:00.000-08:00

What are little girls made of? Sugar and spice and everything nice!

Ayla Baby!

The years speed by and Ayla is growing up!

Dress up!!

She was a model for this picture, hand on hip and everything.

Amazing herself!

Happy 5th Birthday!!

Another Birthday in our family!

2011-12-21T22:40:00.000-08:00

Every time we turn around someone else is having a birthday in our family. Today is Brian's birthday. His is Leslie's husband. We don't have any pictures of Brian when he and Leslie were dating.

So let's just do some time travel since the date of their wedding.

Before the wedding we find Brian at the piano, where Brian is usually found.

Look at those Happy Faces!

Just beginning to have children. Alexa

Had to add this picture. I think it's cutely funny.

Despite what the date signature says, this is not 1999.
Two children. Alexa & Ayla

Three children. Alexa, Ayla, & Brigham

Four children?! Time flies!
Alexa, Ayla, Brigham, and Gemma.

Brigham loves his dad and obviously wants to be like him.
Love this picture.

Happy Birthday, Brian!

Happy Birthday, Dad. Love you!

2011-12-15T20:53:00.000-08:00

Today is Forrest Wayne Dayhoff's birthday. He is my Dad. He would have been 81 years old.
He is the son of Charles and Lorene Dayhoff. He is the father of three children: Janice, Rebecca, and Walter. He and our mother were divorced in 1976. He later married Joyce and was very happy until the end of his life.
We all love you, Dad.

Dad graduated from Honey Creek High School. Isn't he cute?

Dad loved cars. An early model.

This is the Indian motorcycle Dad rode. Once he gave Grandpa a ride to work on it. Grandpa was totally freaked out and when he got off he was white as a sheet. As far as I know, Grandpa never got on the motorcycle again.

This is my dad's brother and his parents.

I love this picture because Dad could use both of his legs in this picture. He was in an accident on the way home from his duty station once and had his left leg basically torn off. The doctor was able to put it back together but it never would bend like this again.

Me and Dad at the farm we lived on in Prairie Creek, Indiana. Dad worked at Hulman and Co. during the day and farmed at night.

When we moved to California Dad drove out before us to look for a job. Mom and us kids rode the train out. I remember him walking through the doors of the station in Sacramento to pick us up. I was so happy to see him. He looked pretty much just like this.

Dad always dressed well.

Dad drove trucks in Indiana to support our family among other things.

Dad loved to fish.

Dad loved cats. This is Muffin. She misses him too.

Dad began traveling to visit family in the later years of his life. This is at the top of Mt. Evans , Colorado.

Dad came to Kyle's blessing. I think the only grandchild's blessing of mine that he has attended.

With great granddaughter, Alexa. 2005

And this little guy is named for Dad, his great-grandpa.

Leaving Colorado to go home. He had a tough drive home, but made it safely.

The last time I saw Dad he came snowmobiling with us in Island Park, ID. He was planning to go again in 2007. On the way to the airport when he was going home he told us some really neat stories from his young adulthood. I loved hearing them and wish I had heard more.

I am proud of my dad's service and proud that he received a military funeral.

Dad passed away at the beginning of January 2007, less than a month after his 76th birthday.
As his headstone states, "Cherished in memory 'til reunited."
Love you, Dad.

Happy Birthday, Scary Ann!

2011-12-10T19:26:00.000-08:00

A few years ago, on this date, a baby girl was born. She grew into a beautiful woman, a loving wife and mother, a sweet daughter, and a good friend.

Swingset experience in Rantoul, Illinois. 1977

With Mom and Dad

Living in Slidell, Louisiana

Christmas 1980

Beginning her love of Halloween

Blue-Eyed Girl

Dimpled

Baptism Day

1986

1992

Graduation from Salmen High School, Slidell, Louisiana

University of Utah Coed

Engaged to Dan Hoen

Wedding Day - Mr. and Mrs. Dan Hoen

With James

With Kyle

With her girls, Jessie and Ellie

The Hoen Family 2011

Grandma, Grandmother, and Me

2011-12-06T16:55:00.000-08:00

Ask my sister or my brother about Grandma or Grandmother and they will know exactly which one you are talking about. No other defining words are needed. It's just an interesting sibling thing we've got going.

Speaking of Grandma or Grandmother I was wondering if I looked like either one of them. I sort of always thought I looked like Grandmother. But I also used to think that I had my mother's hands and then discovered that I actually have a feminine version of my dad's hands.

I think all of these pictures are when we are all in our mid-50s. What do you think?

Grandmother

Grandma

Maybe I look more like Grandma?

Birthday Boy

2011-12-05T18:40:00.000-08:00

Last week this little guy celebrated his 4th birthday. So much happens in the course of 4 years!

And little boys grow up.

39 years and counting

2011-11-30T08:55:00.000-08:00

A little bit of our story.

ENGAGED!!!

Married!!

The party begins.

We were so young.

Starting the babies.

I think Bob has more hair than I do!

Moving along.

Welcome to Colorado.

Oahu

Mt. Evans

Mexico

Maui

With Nikki

Paris

Almost retired

Moab

Bikers

Looking for retirement home

Heber City

RVing

The Fam. We're missing Gemma in this picture, born August 2011.

We've shared so many experiences, ups and downs, travels all over the world, (wish I had pictures of them all) made a lot of kids and they have given us a lot of grandchildren, met so many wonderful people who are in our hearts forever. We're looking forward to retirement years together, planning on more adventures, travels, giving back, and passing it forward.

Happy Anniversary to US! Here's to another 39 years!

I have been thinking in black and white

2011-11-29T20:46:00.000-08:00

This is me at 6 months with my great grandfather, Johnnie Sidwell.

I've been thinking a lot in black and white lately.

Put my money in the bank

2011-11-23T19:47:00.000-08:00

Kyle's birthday is in November too. I sent him some money. He told his mom he wanted to put it in the bank so that the bank could pay him money. Good money manager!

Photography

2011-11-22T12:50:00.000-08:00

Had a conversation on FB with my son-in-law today about this picture. I think it's great! Or as he would say, "SWEET"!

Granddaughter Birthday

2011-11-21T15:52:00.000-08:00

Happy 7th Birthday to Olivia!

I can see you in my eyes

2011-11-20T18:11:00.000-08:00

There he is in my eyes once again. 39 years together at the end of this month. Celebrate!!

An Empty Chair

2011-11-19T22:32:00.000-08:00

There's an empty chair at our house again. Amanda moved to Utah. She was happy and so I will be content.

Being Creative

2011-11-08T21:34:00.000-08:00

I need creativity in my days. Over the years the number of projects that caught my eye were more than I should have allowed. As much as I wanted or liked something, that didn't mean I should buy the materials and frustrate myself by not being able to complete the project. But I did it, to my horror and shame.

Being creative makes me happy.

Past projects:

* Painting

* Cross Stitch

* Embroidery

* Knitting

* Crochet

* Quilting

* Sewing (clothing)

* Needlepoint

* Some kind of stitchery where the whole picture was made in french knots. I can't remember what it was called

* Weaving

* Tole painting

* Acrylics

* Plastic canvas

On and on. It was too much.

Narrowed down projects:

* Quilting

* Sewing

* Crocheting

* Misc items on a random basis

That was a lot of narrowing! And as time has moved along, the issue of boredom is raising it's ugly head.

New rules:

* Start one project and finish it before starting another (Although I will start projects in different mediums to give myself some variety)

* If a special project presents itself, complete it without working on anything else

* Do not purchase anything for new projects before finishing present projects (besides there are plenty of materials in my stash for new projects without purchasing ANYthing new)

* Do not keep excess material from any past project

* Dispose of un-needed or un-necessary materials

* Do not plan on making presents for Christmas

In using free or recycled items I am looking for ways to create useful, fun, or pretty items. They add fun and challenge to my creating.

I am collecting paper to make this newspaper basket from "How About Orange". I am going to try this coin purse made from soda bottles from the Dollar Store's craft page. Finally something I have been trying to work on for years but sure want to finish, is crocheting with plastic bags and table cloths. There is a picture further down that link on Creative Blog.

Finishing projects and feeling in control is fabulous. I finished 4 baby blankets and sent them to my niece. I finished a beautiful throw for the living room couch. I finished a dress for one granddaughter for her baptism and and another blessing dress. I completed quite a few afghans for granddaughters since beginning this new phase.

Working on some other projects, I hope to save us some money as well as feed my need. I have been baking my own bread. I am looking forward to trying my hand at homemade laundry, dish, and soft soap as my store of these items is used up.

It's taken me over 50 years to figure this out. I actually feel more peaceful now and hope I will not branch out too much again. Gotta keep an eye on that!

Pendleton, Oregon

2011-10-20T22:13:00.000-07:00

Okay, bad reporter, didn't check her facts. Robert remembered the World's Fair trip as 1964. We were kindly corrected to 1962. Thanks! Corrections below.

On the way to Washington Robert started talking about the trip his family and his brother's family took to the World's Fair in ~~1964~~ 1962. I could tell by his voice and his expression that the trip was a wonderful one with tremendously sweet memories.

He remembers the trip really fondly and driving along through the same region really brought back good memories. He spoke about the camping and the beautiful trees. He shared a couple of stories I thought I would share.

They, meaning Robert, Susan, and David, were told they could buy one souvenir. Robert bought a ceramic horse. At one point, I guess he dropped it and it broke. He said it broke his heart. But we still have the horse in my hope chest. It just has a glued on broken foot or two.

Then he told this story when we were getting close to Pendleton, Oregon. They make wool shirts in Pendleton. There is a factory there and a factory store. The family had stopped to look at the store. Robert was 13 11 years old. Susan, his older sister, told him that the shirts were really popular. A Pendleton shirt was high on the list of things that he said he would have liked to have in his life. But he said they were quite expensive so the shirt didn't get bought.

We stopped in Pendleton at the Factory Story on Wednesday. It was touching to me to be there as part of the continuing story of the World's Fair trip of ~~1964~~ 1962 and it's closure 47 49 years later. Now we can say, "Here is the rest of the story."

Sacrament Meeting Talk

2011-10-16T20:02:00.000-07:00

More than Conquerors

Paul V. Johnson of the Seventy said in April conference this year that “Trials are not just to test us. They are vitally important to the process of putting on the divine nature.”

He concluded his talk with the words of Paul, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?...

“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”

We are not here just to conquer our trials and adversity and temptations. We are here to become divine.

We have choices to make about the ups and downs of our lives. We can let them separate us from the love of God and our opportunity to live with him again. Or we can use our trials, whatever they may be, to bring us closer to our divine potential and our heavenly home.

Elder Orson F. Whitney said, “ No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. …All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable. …It is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulations, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire.”

We have been provided a multitude of tools to help us move towards our divine natures that will bring us closer to God. It is up to us to use those tools. We can have a constant prayer in our hearts and minds. We can go to the temple, even just the temple grounds. We can serve others and get out of our own mind set. We can be obedient because it is good to be good. There are many more.

I chose a few others to speak about today which we may or may not use on a regular basis.

1. Listening to our parents, leaders, and teachers in the Church

During our last stake conference one of the speakers challenged us to work on one of our weaknesses. I have found myself murmuring in the past few years and didn’t even realize it for a long time. To accept the challenge I chose to work on murmuring. In pondering this issue I found a scripture in 1 Nephi 3:6 “Therefore, go my son or[insert your name], and thou shalt be favored of the Lord because thou hast not murmured. Nephi made it through his refiner’s fire and he did not murmur and he was “favored of the Lord.”

Listening to our leaders and their counsel moves us closer to our divine natures.

2. Studying the scriptures. Each scripture story is there with a purpose and something for us to learn or use in life’s ups and downs. When we break apart the parts of the story we learn about sacrifice, obedience, patience, gratitude, love, service, and every good thing that will bring us closer to our divine natures and closer to God. As we study the words of wisdom found in the scriptures and apply them to our own lives we become more than we are on our own.

{1 Nephi 5: I have heard this scripture story over and over again in my head till finally I can remember it’s applicaltion and hopefully use it.

Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.}

3. Observing OUR STRENGTHS. I was thinking that it would be really useful to divide a page of paper into columns and write down my strengths and decide how they can help me in times of adversity in column one. Then in column two I would write down what strengths I might need to overcome a given trial and decide how to get that strength. Then in column three I would write down my weaknesses and decide how they are holding me back and how I can make those weaknesses my strengths instead.

In Ether 12:27 it says: And if men come unto me I will show unto them their ^aweakness. I ^bgive unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my ^cgrace is sufficient for all men that ^dhumble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make ^eweak things become strong unto them.

Then I can move my weaknesses from column three to column one adding to my list of divine attributes.

4. I read an article in the newspaper that helped me to understand that THE BEAUTY AROUND US is a tool. Look for the beauty of each day.

Dan Hettinger wrote: “I take my dog for a walk a couple of times a day on the beautiful open space trail in our neighborhood. The stretch we walk the most runs parallel to the mountains so I intentionally head north where the mountain views are magnificent. The beauty has different moods. The mornings are fresh and brisk and the evenings are filled with sweeping and moving colors and shadows as the clouds form across the sky and the sun sets behind the mountains. Invading the beauty are the signs of danger. Caution! Rattlesnakes and other natural dangers are present on these trails. Danger! Coyotes are active in this area.

It is true. I have seen both and I understand the warning, but I do not let the potential for bad deter me from seeing beauty. Some people know of the trail as a snake infested area where coyotes feed on their pets. They miss what the trail offers every day.

There is always bad news but these days the expectations of the next terrorist attack, stock market crash, pink slip, terminal diagnosis or natural disaster makes it too easy to expect the worst case scenario and at the same time, miss the potential and beauty of each day.”

I believe that seeing the beauty around us can prompt us to gratitude for the blessings we have and to encourage us when we are down and then move us toward Heavenly Father.

5. Part A - Family members and friends. When we humble ourselves and let others help us we are blessed and so are they! You may have noticed my husband wandering the halls here sporting a cast on one arm, a brace on the other, and talking a little slowly due to medications. I absolutely do not know what we would have done without wonderful friends, our home-teachers, my visiting teachers, and our family. There probably hasn’t been a day in the last two months without a kind word or deed being shared in our behalf from someone. Letting others serve us in big ways and small help us and teach us, thus moving us closer to our divine natures and an ability to appreciate the suffering and needs of others.

Part B of Family members and friends is the examples we see as others move towards the divine through their own trials. I will read one story of our daughters that she shared in a talk. I share this with her permission.

“Three years ago our life was going in a very different direction. We had the cutest little girl in the world and were expecting a baby boy. Everything was going well with the pregnancy. We went in for a routine ultrasound and everything changed. We learned our son would be born with Spina Bifida. It was a very hard time, filled with heartache and mourning the loss of the life we had imagined for our son and ourselves. It was a time that could have also been filled with anger and loneliness. But it was filled with love and comfort. It was a time of great growth for me. We relied on our testimony of eternity, we prayed, we received blessings, we fasted and we were lifted up by the prayers and fasting of our friends and family.
Since the birth of our son we have had other challenges. My husband lost his job almost 2 years ago. With the loss of his job came financial struggles. This was a really hard time for me. I often thought it was unfair that we should have to do through this trial. He would go for job interviews, and we would pray and we would pay our tithing but nothing ever seemed to work out. There were moments when I thought I just couldn’t take it anymore and I just wanted to give up. But it was also in that same moment that I knew that I couldn’t. I knew that I had to keep enduring, attending my meetings, fulfill my calling, praying, and reading the scriptures. I knew that if I would continue doing these things I would make it through and that I would learn what I needed to learn from this trial and be blessed.
I have learned so much from my children as they work their way through their trials. I observe them and others around me I can follow those examples of the divine in people and improve myself.

6. Desire to be divine. No one really wants trials or adversity do they? But maybe we should be grateful for them.

A quote from Paul V. Johnson:

“Sometimes we want to have growth without the challenges and to develop strength without any struggle. But growth cannot come by taking the easy way. We clearly understand that an athlete who resists rigorous training will never become a world-class athlete. We must be careful that we don’t resent the very things that help us put on the divine nature.”

We all know that we are sons or daughters of God, but do we remember on a daily basis?

We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men. Indeed we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul, we believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, of good report, or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

Desire and work towards a divine nature.

7. Follow the Savior. I am thinking that to have a divine nature we should follow the example of the One perfect divine being who has lived on our earth.

“As the clatter and clamor of life bustle about us, we hear shouting to “come here” and to “go there.” In the midst of the noise and seductive voices that compete for our time and interest, a solitary figure stands on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, calling quietly to us, “Follow me.” Joseph B. Wirthlin

Paul Johnson said, “Being good is not enough. We want to become like the Savior, who learned as He suffered “pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind.”

Well, let’s see…

1. I lost my wedding rings as well as my glasses and the charger for my Kindle.

2. My children have lost jobs and a means of support.

4. Our brand new truck was giving us trouble.

5. Our sister-in-law was in a horrible accident.

6. Robert had his motorcycle accident.

7. A friend from work passed away.

8. Robert’s sister had a stroke on Wednesday.

9. We had a contract on our home and then the buyer was laid off work.

10. I wrote this talk once and evidently didn’t save it on the computer and so needed to write it again.

11. I can’t get past level 2 on Angry Birds!

12. And isn’t it interesting that the Bishopric seems to ask us to speak on the very topic we need to work on?

Trials and adversity, pain and frustration come on many levels.

I fell on a trip and busted up the bridge of my nose a couple of years ago. It was awful and awful to look at. As it went along the bruises moved down my face. I went back to work and as the days went by I was getting filled up with people making comments like, "Did Bob do that? What happened to you?" Then we had stake temple night and I couldn't make up my mind if I wanted to go. I just didn't know if I could take more people asking questions. But I decided to go because I should and because it would mostly be dark in there. Then in walked a sister who had a big bruise on her face too. I said, "you look just like me." She said, "I know!" The tender mercy that Heavenly Father sent me was that he knew I was worried and so he sent me the one person in the temple that night who knew exactly what I was feeling like.

We received the call when we were baptized to be more than conquerors. With the Saviors help and example we can succeed. We will become more divine in our natures. We will make of ourselves more than a conqueror.

Winter is Coming

2011-10-14T18:33:00.000-07:00

The Farmer's Almanac is predicting a very cold winter.
It must be true because the squirrels are gathering NUTS.
Three of my friends have disappeared.

Are you O.K.?

Loved this one today.

Looking for Beauty and Strength

2011-10-13T22:02:00.000-07:00

I am giving a talk on Sunday. It's about courage and trials and adversity. Interesting how the bishopric asks people to talk on subjects the person is dealing with.

I just wanted to mention two thoughts I had not considered before when dealing with adversity.

The first is Beauty. The thought is: Don't let the problems around you keep you from noticing the beauty that is around you too. And I think that it will follow that we can get through our trials with a little bit more courage if we notice the beauty.

The second is Strength. I had not thought before about pondering our strengths to find the ones that can help us succeed or even figuring out how to use the strengths we have to meet our trials.

Just saying.

Life with Cheap Sunglasses?

2011-10-12T17:03:00.000-07:00

Today I went to the mall. A rare event in my life. :)
After completing my errands there I stopped at the Sunglass Hut to try on some glasses.

My cheap ones are all missing at this point. I only tried on one pair of glasses. They fit perfectly. In the past when trying on sunglasses it always seemed as if one of my ears was higher than the other and hence the glasses were crooked.

Not so with this pair. I could tell they were quality made. I could tell that I would love them. Then I looked at the tag. $209. I put them back on the rack and walked away.

But tomorrow I am going back there to pick up my necklace which is being repaired.

Would you prefer expensive and comfortable sunglasses or cheap sunglasses? Would you take better care of expensive sunglasses than cheap ones?

I am seriously considering purchasing them.

Prada

Getting The House Ready to Sell

2011-09-15T23:39:00.000-07:00

Well, it has been a hard, frustrating, scary, fun, liberating, and enlightening experience.
We have sold lots and lots of items. We have cleaned and scrubbed and decluttered and put things in storage. And I am feeling freer than in a long time.

Beautiful summer flowers in the front yard.

Welcome to our home.

View from the street.

View from the left.

Backyard view.

Family Room.

Kitchen

Eat-in kitchen

Dining Room

Living Room

Back Bedroom

Upstairs Hallway Bathroom

Master Bedroom

Master Bath

It's a 5 piece bath

Main floor 3/4 bath

Basement 3/4 bath

More pictures to come. There is another bedroom and an office which could double as the 4th bedroom. The basement is finished. There are two gynormous storage areas.

And So It Begins

2011-07-31T22:15:00.000-07:00

Friday was basically Robert's last day of work. He doesn't officially retire until the last day of August. He is taking vacation for a month. But it's pretty much on to the next phase of life.

HOW WEIRD IS THAT?

I was thinking about a time when I was working in the book store and how much I envied the middle-aged people who came in who were either on extended vacations or retired. And now WE are THEM.

Weird #1
Old people retire. We are not old. Or are we?
Weird #2
Unless Robert goes for a walk, to Home Depot for supplies, or for a motorcycle ride we are virtually going to be together every. single. day. for the rest of our lives. Right now that is all right with me.
Weird #3
We are going to sell our home and live in an RV for a while full-time. We will sort of be homeless. I've never done that (be homeless by choice) in my whole life.
Weird #4
Next year at this time we could be missionaries. Could be. It depends on how things work out.

It actually feels rather relaxing. Liberating.
We will still have responsibilities, family, bills, appointments, and meals to cook. But we are looking at these activities from a different perspective or angle or whatever you will.
We have big smiles on our faces.
I am typing here in the dark. Robert is asleep beside me. It is Sunday night and neither one of us is freaking out because tomorrow is Monday.
Sigh. What a life!!

Problems to Solve

2011-07-12T17:22:00.000-07:00

Problem #1

Lately the name of this blog has been bugging me. It's pretty blah.

Some titles I have thought of:

Ha Ha Ha

Ramble On

Wait....What?

Sitting Here

Thinking Out Loud

Ready or Not

And Now

In My Opinion

So What?

Sitting In The Shade

Over, Around, and Through

Can You Believe It?

I can't stop thinking up names now where before I couldn't think of any. The more I think of the harder it is to choose. But I am definitely giving the blog a new name.

Problem# 2

Since retiring I find that I am getting lazy. Don't want to get up in the morning. Don't want to cook, do laundry, or clean. I just want to play on the computer, watch TV, take naps, and crochet or sew.

Retirement didn't start out this way in February. I was motivated to clean and de-clutter, cook and bake, and volunteer my time. Now I just want to say "leave me alone." But being a basically responsible person, I know that I will get back on track. Maybe I am just tired of people telling me what I have to do because they employ me. Now that I am not employed I am sort of acting like a kid off at camp.

**********************
I think I will add a picture here because that is what I like to do with my blog. If there is no picture it isn't as interesting to me. And I will close for today. We have been on vacation and I have a lot of pictures to upload, organize and share.

Weird building. We have no idea what it is. It is located up by Dead Indian Pass outside of Cody, WY.

We spent three nights and two days in Cody while the truck was being fixed. It turned out really good because one of our young women from Slidell lives there with her husband and daughter. It was so good to visit with Jacky and her family. They are cute and generous.

We accidentally found a great RV park and were very comfortable. While there we toured the Buffalo Bill Cody museum for free thanks to Jacky's husband and also took this drive up Dead Indian Pass where Chief Joseph of the Nez Pierce were able to escape the military troops who were chasing them.

Last but not least here's a picture of an interesting couple we met at the pass. They were traveling to Yellowstone from back East and then home again. They were very nice and friendly and well, as I said, interesting.

Yard and Garden

2011-07-01T16:42:00.000-07:00

Just thought I would post pictures of my yard and garden. I'm getting a tan too as a bonus. We are really looking forward to that first bite of vine-ripened tomato, zucchini, crook-neck squash! I like the warmth, but hope my plants do too. It's a constant watering thing since we live in high desert.

I took these pictures a couple of weeks ago so the vegetables are a lot bigger with tomatoes and peppers on them or blossoms on the zucchini and squash. Yum!!
P.S. On a side note: HAPPY CANADA DAY TO ALL MY CANADIAN FRIENDS!!

Baby Blankets

2011-06-27T11:31:00.000-07:00

Last week I made three baby blankets and finished one crocheted baby blanket. On Saturday or so I posted on Facebook a picture of the crocheted one. Good responses. Now to post it here on the blog.

I think it looks all sweet and girly and something along the lines of strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate. Yum!! My friend, Ginger, put in an order for two for her future twins! Kori asked me to move closer! Others enjoyed the colors. Rachele wants to trade bread-making classes for crochet classes. I love barter!!

Monday - the MOST Dreaded Day of the Week

2011-06-27T09:13:00.000-07:00

I have wondered if Monday gets depressed because it is the most dreaded day of the week.

I also wondered that after Sunday, a day of rest, why we should still be so tired on Monday.

Reasons I have personally dreaded Mondays.

1. Not sleeping well on Sunday nights due to the dread of Monday mornings.
2. Not being excited about going to employment on Monday where, even though I am an excellent employee, being rated for job performance disturbs me.
3. Not being happy that husband leaves the state often on Mondays to spend the next 3 to 4 days THERE instead of HERE.
4. After having either 2-3 days to do whatever, I am faced with 4-5 days at the beck and call of someone else and the clock starting with Mondays.
5. Still having to carry the whole load of housework, bill paying, child care, etc after working a 9 hour day outside the home and Monday was the day that started it all.

Poor Monday. It really gets a bad rap. I should be happy to have another day. I should be happy to start a new week where hopefully I can always do better.

A large part of my issue with Monday is most possibly mental. After retiring in February it took me a month or so to relax on Sunday nights when I started dreading Mondays. Every single Sunday evening about 7 p.m., sometimes earlier, I would start feeling anxious. But at least after retirement I could snap myself back to the reality that I did not have to go to work on Monday morning.

Still Monday Morning tends to be an issue. Husband still leaves the state. I still have to get up and going after sleeping later on the weekend. Usually I mistakenly schedule appointments on Monday morning hoping to get things done and over with which I regret on Monday morning.

Oh well.

When you think about it, Monday is actually a stand-up guy. He shows up every week right on time. He takes the punches and keeps going. If Monday didn't do it then Tuesday would have to and Tuesday doesn't strike me as being as strong as Monday.

So Monday, we may dread you, malign you, cry when you turn up, pull the covers up over our heads, but we're happy you are around. After all, what would we do without you when we can't even get it all done with a 7 day week. With 6 it would really be impossible.

Welcome Monday? Today you are getting off to a sad start. Husband is on a plane to California. I could only exercise for 3/4 of the time I usually exercise because of the shower door installer coming at 8:00 - 9:00 a.m. The shower door installer was an hour late. The said shower door installer said this installation was going to take 3 hours instead of 2. (If you do the math that means I am sitting here doing security on the bedroom floor while he works for at least 4 hours instead of 2.) I got stressed and all ready drank a diet Pepsi. I hope that the shower door installer really knows what he is talking about when he says this is only going to take 3 hours. He is speaking Spanish but it seems that he is saying that there is a part missing or that he wonders about the measurements. Oh dear!

Oops! Up on a previous paragraph didn't I say I was happy to have Monday? Repeat after me..... I love Monday, I love Monday, I love Monday.

Sigh. Okay so that didn't really work.

Inheritances and New Knowledge

2011-06-15T19:54:00.000-07:00

My Grandmother inherited what she called a Cocoa Pot from one of my great-great Grandmothers. I am not exactly sure which one. I had thought it was Selena Dworzin's but then Mom thought it was Nellie Mattingly's. Either way, Grandmother inherited it.

Then at some point Grandmother gave it to Mom as it was to be hers anyway. When Sara was born on Grandmother's birthday Mom decided that at some point in the future it would be Sara's.

When we were living in Louisiana, I inherited a china cabinet from my Grandma Dayhoff. Once I had a place to safely keep the cocoa pot, Mom decided it was time for me to inherit it and keep it in safe keeping for Sara until she would inherit it.

In June we were camping down in Woodland Park, Colorado and took a day trip down to Cripple Creek. It was a fun trip especially since all the museums were free that day. I know there was a good reason why they were free but I don't remember why exactly. But it was to our benefit. It was even a good day for Nikki because she was allowed in the museum since she was a "polite pet". See above.

Inside this particular museum you will not believe what I saw! Well, maybe you will. Anyway, there in a room set up as a parlor were three cocoa pots and I solved a little bit of the mystery I had felt around my own and Sara's set.

Now, my German Coffee set or "Mocha" set is not porcelain or special in any way except to me and my family and the family actually came to the United States prior to 1892 so it wasn't from this particular pottery. But I think it has a connection at least to the type of pot it is.

Here are the ones I saw there:

And this is mine and Sara's. What a nice discovery!

Patterns, Memories, and Dust

2011-06-14T13:27:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I went through all the pattern boxes to determine which ones need to go and which ones I want to keep. I came across this one. It is the pattern we used for our Pep Rally uniforms my Junior year in high school. We made the red one although in black and gold. That was 40 years ago.

I am not sure why I have kept it all these years because I never made it again. There was never really any reason to get rid of it.

Another interesting aspect was the cost of the pattern. $1.00 Now just plain old patterns are $12.95 or so. Of course they seem to be on 50% off sale all the time though.

I don't think I will ever lose my love and interest of sewing although I don't do nearly as much as I used to do. I made many of the girls clothes when they were growing up. It was/is harder to do boy clothes.

When "jams" were the rage for boys I made Jared a pair. He loved them but then when someone made fun of him at school because the jams were so long he stopped wearing them for a while. I asked him why he was wearing jeans in sweaty Louisiana heat and so he told me about it. I suggested that he look at the shrimpy kids who were making fun of him. It wasn't so much that the jams were so long, it was that he was so tall that they had to be long to be correct. And even more importantly those kids were little shrimps. After that Jared wore his jams.

I still remember the sewing class I took in 9th grade that started my garment construction adventures. In high school I sewed many of my own clothes. I have had sewing projects turn out really weird, kind of like the Bill Cosby show where the daughter sewed a shirt for Theo and it was ALL wrong. Through the years I have come to the conclusion that I should sew basic garments and straight lines instead of really fancy stuff. I've made blessing outfits for grandchildren. They turned out well.

Here are some other patterns I found. I could never have convinced Bob to wear these clothes. There were two things that I made for him. 1) a red down parka. He wore it for years. 2) a tan leisure suit. Yep he wore it. I wish I still had the pattern and I wish I could find a picture of him wearing it.

I made this dress for Leslie. We were shopping one day and she found a dress that she liked. I commented that I had made one just like it when I was a teenager. She asked me why I didn't keep it. Well..... I had no idea it would come back into style.

During the clean out yesterday I ended up with two paper cases full to over-flowing of patterns, memories, and dust!

Annual Motorcycle Trip

2011-06-13T10:12:00.000-07:00

Each year we have gone on a 4 day motorcycle trip with friends. Year one: Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota. Second Year: Durango, CO. This year: Moab, UT.

This year we did over a thousand miles in 4 days. Lots of fun, lots to see and do, lots of tired. I fell and almost killed myself the first year at Rushmore. Since then I have been VERY careful even with all the climbing. The only issue for 2011 was the water weight gain that will take a few days to get rid of.

This is the entire group 2011. Siebs, Redmons, Kings, and Ottleys. Thank you nice tourist lady for offering to take our picture.

We decided the "boys" were an average of 11 years old when they got together. John was the worst, then Robert. I think Vaughn was happy that Cari didn't "allow" him to do all the crazy climbing because he really didn't want to do it that much. She is an easy alibi. Terry took it a little easy because he had a cold and also the one bad eye. John really pushed the limits and Robert encouraged him. Typical. This is a great picture of them in a calmer setting.

Robert climbed up to a corner of one of the Windows arches in Arches National Park. Easy hike and great view.

Also at Windows Arches. I think it's a good picture of us.

Delicate Arch from a couple of miles away. I love telephoto lenses. There is a .75 mile hike to take that is easy for viewing the arch and we didn't have to take a quart of water to drink either. Although a bottle of water each was pretty much necessary.

In trying to be a little artsy I took this tree picture. I might print it in black and white. I aspire to be an Ansel Adams!

White Rim Canyon behind me. Beautiful in person. The canyon, I mean. :)

Newspaper Rock with our traditional we-took-it-ourselves picture.

Holy Mackerel! $6.50 a gallon with a minimum of $15 per credit card charge. I learned that it actually against the law to put a minimum charge for credit cards. Cari is writing a letter to Visa. This was a rip-off place in the middle of no where outside of the Needles portion of Canyonlands. They had us over a barrel.

The hotel was pretty bad but do-able. We should have started getting reservations in January instead of May. If we had had children with us it would have been REALLY bad because children get on the floor. We, at least, keep our shoes on. Also when the air conditioner compressor turned off it sounded like ice falling into the plastic container in the freezer. Being Moab in summer the a/c was on all night. So the ice cube tray noise went on ALL NIGHT. Thank goodness we were exhausted and only heard it occasionally.

I might post a few more pictures later if there are some interesting ones to view.

I am super happy to be home though. I came home really anxious to get busy on the house some more.

That's a good vacation!

Finished Project

2011-06-07T21:31:00.000-07:00

Over the past week I have been pushing harder to finish projects. I am still not moving fast enough for me. But the family history organization is about organized and the pictures are moving into boxes fairly quickly.
Yesterday and today I sold 9 books from the ones we are not keeping.
Tonight I finished the scarf I started quite a while ago. I really like it. It's light and warm and also in every color. I can wear it with anything I think. I also started the afghan which I purchased the yarn for way back last year. Have to move along. Even though I will be able to take some with me in the RV I won't be able to take them ALL!

Office Explosion

2011-05-23T18:19:00.000-07:00

Today I started working on the office again.

I worked all day.

I am not just cleaning.

I am getting rid of things.

There are too many things to look at.

There are too many things to think about keeping or giving to someone.

I hope I don't get to the point where I just throw things away and then I am sorry later.

Remind me to be better organized in my next location, house, condo, RV, etc.

This is crazy. And so am I.

Thinking Thoughtfully

2011-05-22T16:49:00.000-07:00

"You can tell if a man is clever by his answers. You can tell if a man is wise by his questions." Naguib Mahfouz

I cannot turn my brain off. It is thinking and buzzing and whizzing through thoughts and ponderings and commentaries. Sometimes my brain leaks out words through my mouth and I find myself talking out loud. That can be embarrassing when turning the corner and finding someone eavesdropping.

A long time ago I read something about having a notebook by one's bed to capture the clear thoughts that seem to so easily come in the middle of the night. Isn't it interesting how logical one seems then? Unfortunately I usually don't wake up enough to write, hate to turn on the light and disturb Robert, or discount the thoughts because of the inability to write those words down coherently or finding that they didn't really make sense to begin with.

I would like to retrain my brain to slow down and think a little more thoughtfully.

Once I sat on a big boulder in the California Sierra mountains, basking in the sunshine, breathing in the pine needle scent as they heated up, and feeling the cooling breeze on my face. It was in 1971, I believe. A memory to keep. And now, so many years later, it seems to have been a wonderful location to think. Too bad I don't remember what I was thinking. But I do remember the day as if it was yesterday. Where was that notebook then?

In the quest for thoughtful thinking this seems to be a key, finding a place where beauty, solitude, and warmth all run together, and the mind can relax. In this place it seems that pondering slowly and repeating the thoughts until they gel into one occasion of thoughtful thinking that can be written down is my desire.

This afternoon in a phone conversation with a niece we mentioned that we had not found a place to settle after retirement. Now it seems that an important item to search for has been uncovered.

A place to do thoughtful thinking is desired. How would that look on the list?

1. Large public rooms

2. A study

3. Lots of windows

4. A place to think

Definitely a qualification in our search and now I realize that in all my thinking about a retirement home I find that quiet porch, garden setting, sitting room, or bench by a fountain has been a prominent picture.

A place to think thoughtfully.

It's better to read the whole thing

2011-05-19T16:31:00.000-07:00

I was invited to a graduation party. My friend was invited too. I thought the party was on Thursday. My friend thought it was on Friday. I checked the invitation. It said Thursday so told her. She thanked me.

Today I looked at the invitation to get the address. Guess what?! The GRADUATION is Thursday. The PARTY is Friday!

I tried to get hold of my friend. Of course, I couldn't reach her. So now I am very upset, worried, and humiliated.

The lesson learned from this one? Read the entire document. Pay attention to the details.

Oh Brother! I hope she's still my friend.

Getting Back On Track

2011-05-18T20:24:00.000-07:00

I started crocheting a scarf using sock yarn. It's rainbow colors. It's a simple double crochet until the edging which will be a scallop. There were quite a few comments and nice complements. My sister really liked it, the yarn especially.

I had gotten really far, almost finished the body portion. Then I noticed that somehow I was losing stitches and the silly thing was getting narrower. I tried to add stitches back in thinking that it would be less noticeable after the scalloped edge was added.

But the perfectionist in me couldn't handle it. I knew that there would be some who would want to inspect it and I would not be happy with the comments then! I ended up pulling out 3/4 of it. :(

I was sad. I am still sad because I have not been able to get going on it since we got home from camping. And now, guess what? I don't even know where the yarn is. Oh wait! I remember where it is! That's great because I am ready to

GET BACK ON TRACK!!

I can't even bare to show you a picture of it right now. Just give me a few days.

Then, my question is, "What else needs to get back on track?" Whew! What a question.

Blocks

2011-05-10T18:07:00.000-07:00

Creative Block, Writer's Block, Whatever Block, I've got it.

Is it because I squelched my thoughts down for so long that I can't get them out now? There was an article I read that also made me think that I am too practical.

I was watching a show today and took notice of the jacket the star was wearing. I could totally create something like that. I think I see too many things that I can create.

Time to narrow it down to one or two things.

And I need to start playing. That might help. A Lot.

Happy Birthday Amanda!

2011-05-09T20:40:00.000-07:00

Today is Amanda's birthday. Happy Birthday!
Those moons ago when she was born it got me out of a talk in church.

Amanda is a person who makes friends wherever she goes. She is hard-working, cheerful, adventurous, and a really good person. She is a good daughter.
We love her so much!

Happy Birthday dear daughter.

Cleaning up my blog

2011-05-09T19:23:00.000-07:00

I decided to clean up my blog and make it look a little bit springy. Several links to blogs I read are closed except to invited readers, some are closed down. So they are no longer listed. If I deleted you and you don't want to be deleted then let me know.

Facebook might get a scrubbing too.

The Day I Stopped Sleeping

2011-03-24T12:48:00.000-07:00

ZZZZZzzzzzz........
Yea right!
My mom tells me the story that when it was nap time that she would lay down and say that she needed me to keep her back warm. So I would snuggle up against her back and we would go to sleep. Mom says I was a GREAT napper.
I was never one to sleep really late in the mornings, probably because my mother would pretend to be playing revele if it got too late and she would want us to get up. BUT, I did sleep well and I would awake pretty much refreshed.

Then I got married. That was November 30, 1972. I married a return missionary who was still waking up early and saying crazy things like, "I feel great! I am ready for the day!" etc. It might not have been so bad if I hadn't worked swing shift and didn't get off work until 1215 a.m. Of course, I did ride the bus to work and so he was up until late to come to pick me up, but still!

He also snored, for 36 years until he stopped.

Then a year and a half after we got married I had a baby. In fact, I had babies in 1974, 1975, 1976, 1980, 1983, and 1985. You all know that when you have babies you don't sleep. By the time the last baby came along Robert was off on assignment 5-6 days a week until late, and we had a budding teenager who didn't drive yet but had to get places.

There were also callings at Church that needed attention which often was done early morning or late at night. Sewing, laundry, housecleaning, and even having fun sometimes.

Then the teenage years arrived in force. Dances which ended late, football and basketball games, friends coming over, going to friends houses. Slumber parties. Luckily I nipped that one in the bud early and limited the number.

Here's a story. One year it was Amanda's turn to have a slumber party for her birthday. I think it was her 12th birthday. We had a house full of pre-teen, hormonal girls. They stayed up ALL NIGHT. And so did I. They made noise and they argued, etc. etc. Amanda's birthday is close to Mother's Day. So after the girls finally all left Robert was taking me to the mall to find a dress which was our tradition at the time. We stopped to get gas and I crawled to the back of the van to lay down. I fell instantly asleep and probably had only been asleep for a minute or two when I woke up. I was totally freaked out because I didn't know where I was, I didn't know where Robert was, and I thought I had been abandoned or something. That's what happens to me when I stay up all night, I guess.

I also asked my mom what she did to get us around because she actually was awake all night during the week because she worked grave shift. She said she would take us places and then wait in the car and sleep. She also took books with her to read. So when the kids had appointments once I got them in and going. I went back out to the car and had told them to let me know when the dentist wanted me to come in and see the results. Instantly I was asleep and when the hygienist came out and got me I was also confused and it took me a minute to figure out what was going on.

Needless to say I didn't go sleep in the car anymore.

When seminary started (early morning seminary) we were up at 5 a.m. doing family scripture reading and breakfast. If you do the years you will see that I did that from 1988 to 2003. When I drove the kids I would walk around the church neighborhood and/or read in the car or sleep sometimes, but I was leary of it.

In 1992 I started a part time job. Or it may have been 1991. Anyway, that subtracted time from when I could do Church responsibilities and housework. Hence less sleep. Then I started working full time in 1995. What was I thinking? Every few months I would get home from work at 5, tell them all what they needed to do for dinner and crash. Robert was still gone alot and alot fell to my shoulders. Less Sleep.

When the kids were younger we had nap time on Sundays. It was heaven. We did have a few mishaps, like the time that Jared left the house when he was three years old on Sunday when we were all asleep. When we woke up we didn't know how long he was gone. Robert took off in the car and I stayed home with the girls and in case he came home. I kept hoping that since we lived on an Air Force Base that the APs wouldn't let a little boy leave the facility by himself. Then the phone rang and one of the sisters at church said that she had looked out her window and saw Jared. She told her son she thought that was the little Ottley boy. So they brought him in and Robert went to get him when he got home. Of course, he was still freaked out because he didn't know what had transpired.

As the kids got older they didn't want to nap but they still had quiet time or we spread out a blanket on the living room floor and Robert told them stories while I slept on the couch.

Next stage is young adults living in the home. They think that because they were off at school for a while that they don't have a curfew anymore. So they were leaving at 8 p.m. and getting home at 4 a.m. I tried to convince them that it was't a good idea and that even though they were "adults" that I still worried and I still couldn't sleep.

Now they have all been out of the house for quite a while. And they have started to reproduce. 15 now and 1 more on the way, plus four spouses. Adult problems are worse than child problems. At least it has been so for me. But adults lose jobs, have their family members have problems. So many nights I am awake at 2 a.m. worrying about jobs, schooling, homes, sicknesses, and sadnesses of 19 more people than I started out with. Somebody give me a pill!!!

Now I am getting old and I have aches and pains and restless leg syndrome and insomnia for no apparent reason. There is also Facebook and this Blog which tend to keep me up. At least I retired in February and if I absolutely need to I can at least lie down in the middle of the day. But whomever thought that retirement meant having nothing to do but sit on the beach and nap never retired!

This hasn't been the best description of my lack of sleep. And I know I have left out lots of activities that keep me awake.

Just please don't call me to teach early morning seminary. I will stick with the Sunbeams, thank you very much!

Getting Organized

2011-03-22T22:55:00.000-07:00

Reasons for stacks.
1. Difficulty making decisions
2. Inadequate files
3. If it is in front of me, I won't forget it.
4. Fear - if it is filed it may never be seen again

Before I save something I ask the following questions:
1. Does it make me money, save me money, or improve the quality of my life?
2. When was the last time I used this?
3. How likely am I to use this in the future?
4. Do I need that many copies?
5. Is it even relevant to my life any more?
6. Is it replaceable? Does it have historic value? Sentimental value?
7. What is the worst thing that would happen if I threw it away?

The office looked pretty bad. Then it looked worse. Then it looked better as in the pictures above. Then it looked worse again. Right now it is pretty good. But it is going to look bad again, and soon. New carpet is being installed upstairs and in the basement on Thursday. So everything in those rooms needs to go somewhere while the carpet is being installed. The plan is not to put everything back where it was. The plan is to get rid of the majority of it.

I am having a great time throwing things out, shredding papers, and planning the future look of the rooms after they are truly simplified. It took me a while to get comfortable with getting rid of what feels like my whole life.

It's going to be heaven. Then we will sell the house. :)

A Week With Grandchildren

2011-03-21T15:28:00.000-07:00

I am really far behind on what I want my blog to be doing for me. I have been seeing lots of articles on being a Latter-day Saint/Mormon and blogging. Evidently a whole group of women and maybe some men, read "Young Mormon Mother" blogs. That was a funny one. Do they secretly wish they had that kind of life? Whatever that kind of life means. There was also one comment on Facebook about being a married person and needing to blog because one is a married person.

Maybe I should be asking people who blog why they blog and when and etc.

In Mormon Times there was an article from a woman who has worked for 10 years creating a blog about non-traditional Mormon women. Once again, whatever non-traditional means. (One would think it means: Working outside the home, not a quilter, no homemaking skills, no children, business owner, not married, etc? It would help if I looked at the blog to get the answer, hummmm?)

In that article there was a reference regarding Elder John Carmack's grandmother and her continuing education after leaving school at the end of her 8th grade year. She journaled furiously, wrote books, etc, etc. Maybe that is what I hope to get out of blogging....a continuing education for myself.

Enough of the serious stuff. Here's a portion of my continuing education and I am going to blog about it!

A Week with Grandchildren

On March 3, 2011 at a dreadfully early hour, Bob dropped me off at the Southwest Airlines door to board a plane to spend a little over a week tending some of my grandchildren. They are ages 9 down to 2 years old. Four of them.

In my luggage was enough yarn to choke a horse and keeping me happily crocheting for a month, my kindle with lots of classics to expand my reading levels, a couple of DVDs and exercise clothes. I checked two bags because on Southwest you can still do that with no extra charges.

In 30 minutes or so a few people started showing up. And lo and behold a sister from my stake also showed up. I waved and she sat down to chat until they called our flight. She was heading off to a 80th birthday party and a funeral. When I confessed that I was going to tend grandchildren she actually EXCLAIMED, "Oh MY!! I will PRAY for you!!" Then she told me that when she is working at the temple one of the topics is how hard it is to tend grandchildren and how children do not understand the difficulty. She also confided that for the last four days she had two teenage grandchildren in her home and it was all that she could do to get dinner on the table. It was all so exhausting.

Since this was coming from a woman who had spent her career in education I thought that maybe my fears were a little founded.

My youngest child is 25 years old soon to be 26. I have managed to avoid changing messy diapers for the whole 9+ years and 15 grandchildren born in our family. Now I was looking at a 2 year old who was willing but too short to be potty trained. There was also a 9 year old pre-teen, a 7 year old, and a ROWDY 6 year old. Not to mention a 6 month old puppy.

Oh, Dear!

Outcome: I was exhausted when I finally made it home 9 days later. The following week contained going back to bed once Bob left for work and naps! In fact, I could barely function in Church the next day and.... I teach Sunbeams who really gave me a run for my money.

My yarn, kindle, DVDs, and exercise clothes never saw the light of day during those 9 days.

I realized that I was out of practice as a mother of young children and could do a much better job as a Grammie.

One out-of-practice grandma vs 4 lively grandchildren gives the children an unfair advantage.

The dog is very cute but he scared me to death when he escaped and ran in the street! How could I lose the dog and maybe even worse?

And the there is this....

I loved, loved, loved being with my grandchildren. It was wonderful to get to know them better and to see their individual personalities shining through.

I was able to see and visit with 9 others while there.

My one daughter who lives in town came to "visit" with me and gave me moral support while I was "the mom." Thank you!

My daughter-in-law who also lives there kindly asked us if we wanted to come spend one evening swimming while their family had a mini-vacation at a Residence Inn. (Approved by the hotel.) Thank you also!

Side note: One of the mini-vacation grandchildren tried to drown himself and I was responsible for all 10 grandchildren who were present for an hour. It seemed like and hour or more. I kept counting 10 heads in the pool every minute or so. I had them all while my daughter-in-law tried to find a store with rice so she could perhaps save her brand new iPhone which had been soaked in chlorine water when she jumped in the water to save her son. The sacrifice was worth saving a handsome blond grandson. (The rice didn't work, but the store gave her a new one for free!!)

I was able to allow my daughter and her husband to go on a cruise for their 10th anniversary. Thank you to me!

I was able to get to know my grandchildren better. Sigh.

I was able to appreciate that I am the Grammie and not the parent. I did that job all ready.

Well, they say "you will never know until you try it."

And I tried it!!

Dancing With My Granddaughter

2011-03-09T22:31:00.000-08:00

Just a few minutes this evening dancing with my youngest granddaughter. It was a sweet moment.

Later I put her to bed where she talked to herself for along time.

She had probably been asleep for a couple of hours when she started crying and wanted to get up. I made her a sippy cup but told her she would have to go back to bed soon.

She adamantly told me NO. Now she is snoring again on the couch.

I hope I can get her to bed because I am very tired. Not such a sweet moment.

Maybe you thought this was going to be a poetic post? It sounds like it.... Dancing With My Granddaughter. Sorry maybe another time.

5 Days Till Retirement

2011-02-01T19:21:00.000-08:00

This is an interesting time. 5 days until the day that I have wanted for 20 years. After 20 years it is making me nervous. Probably prayer will get me through it. It will be a challenge and a blessing to be retired.

I have goals and am starting a bucket list.

Goals:
Exercise more
Read more
Sew more
Crochet and knit more
Scan and organize photos from the last 38 years
De-clutter
Off-load things that do not make me happy, look beautiful, or are useful
Organize and research Family History
To name a few.

Bucket List:
Go to England again to Robert's mission
Go to Canada to Amanda's mission
Serve my own mission or missions (with Robert)
Go to Alaska
Go to Australia
Go to Italy
Finish my book(s)
Write my personal history
Build our dream home
Finish my degree
Learn to speak Spanish or French or both
Run a 5K at least once
Don't stop skiing
See the "Colors" in Autumn in New England
Smile at everyone
Make sure I don't have regrets

I have met some really super people, learned a tremendous amount about life, organization, and myself. Now it is time to move in a different direction.

Watch for me!

Elinor Dashwood

2011-01-19T21:07:00.000-08:00

I took three different online surveys last night and each one of them said that as a Jane Austen Character I was Elinor Dashwood.

While all the other women in the Dashwood family are drama queens, Elinor holds them together on a daily basis with her calmness and practical good sense.

Not that she doesn't have an emotional side. She just has it under control. I'm a think before you speak kind of girl too. And I'm happy to be Elinor.

I have often pondered about Martha in the New Testament who was the good hostess in her home where Jesus was a guest. According to an article I read Mary and Martha both sat at Jesus' feet. (Luke 10:39) But when the guests were hungry Martha got up and put together a meal. Martha has a spiritual side too and sat at Jesus' feet as well as taking care of her home and the Savior.

Hooray for the practical girls.

Some things I was thinking about today

2011-01-17T17:38:00.000-08:00

Do you think that Mondays get depressed because they are the most dreaded day of the week?

Does it follow that Fridays are the most happy days because we all look forward to them?

I thought it was funny the other day when we received a postcard from the service manager at the dealership where we have our SUV maintenance done.

It said, “Come on in and see the great selection of previously-owned [used] cars!” I thought to myself, “Why would I do that? I already have a previously-owned [by me used] car!” J

We lived next door to a man in Louisiana for 15 years who thought my husband’s name was Morris. For the first little while R just ignored it but then after a while it was embarrassing to tell him that his name WASN’T Morris. I mean after the guy looked us up in the phone book and called us and he still called R, Morris and time was passing, in fact the whole 21 years we lived in Louisiana he called R Morris, well….. what could he do but just respond to Morris?

R sent me an email today saying he was going to work from home tomorrow. Attached to the email was a flyer stating that All three buildings in his area of the facility would be without water for a day. No drinking fountains and Mainly no restrooms. What I want to know is… “Why can’t my building be without water tomorrow?” Sigh.

Lurkers. I saw a blog making mention of lurkers. Hmmmm…… I didn’t make a comment.

I have caught on to the fact that I am being tested in little annoying ways!

2011-01-16T19:07:00.000-08:00

Oh, did I say that? I mean that my patience test is annoying? Well it is and I am a slow learner. Over the years it seems that I have not been a super impatient person. Okay, maybe a little. But after the last week of being stalled at every corner, stymied at every attempt to close an issue, and delayed when other plans were in the works I have the right to be impatient, right? Maybe not so right. I don't know.

Dear Tree Maintenance people, When I pay my bill in December, please do not put the payment on someone else's account and then ask me to do all the leg work to find out where you put it and and PLEASE spend some time in the office so you can answer your phone and/or PLEASE respond in a timely manner and to the phone number left on your answering machine.

Dear Alarm Company, If I missed one payment in December of 2009, please let me know that so that every month for over a year I am not wondering about your accounting methods and why I can never pay off my outstanding balance even when I pay off the amount on the statement.

Dear Doctor's office, If the Physician's Assistant with whom I have an appointment at 430 p.m. calls in sick, I appreciate that you called me at 9:09 am. to let me know. What I do not appreciate is that you have my office number and yet you continually choose to call and/or leave messages on my cell phone which I cannot carry into work.

Dear Insurance Company, If my husband has three surgeries and takes a bunch of pills why is he insurable and why am I who have not had any surgeries and take but one pill a day and had bronchitis this year get declined?

Dear FlexSpending Account, Note: I WILL NOT GIVE UP ON GETTING MY MONEY OUT OF THE ACCOUNT.

Today I realized I am a slow learner and that this is a test. So test away. I am on to you now.

Breathe.

How Did Get So Boring?

2010-11-13T12:04:00.000-08:00

Today I was trying to decide about a new post. And it occurred to me that everything I was considering was boring.
A. Whether I have more name brand items in my pantry than store brands.
B. My hurt finger. By the way it is hard to type without my right pointer finger. I miss all the letters that are hit by that one. Si when U type ut wooks like tos.
C. How it drives me crazy to keep my cell phone email cleared out.
D. Saving money.

BORING!!!!!!!!!!

I'm not REALLY boring, am I? I read books, I go on long motorcycle trips, I am creative. I have a diverse interest in music and the world. And I am a whole lot more. So what is the deal?

Saving $$ - Part Three

2010-09-27T20:24:00.001-07:00

I was telling a friend here at work about my savings ideas. And truthfully, individually they are only saving pennies at a time. But pennies do add up. Her comment was that it wasn’t worth it to her to take the time to do those things for only pennies. Maybe today’s thoughts can add up to more savings… Dollars instead of pennies.

• Line dry clothing. How long has it been if ever that you line-dried your clothing? I put rugs out to dry or sweaters that cannot be dried in the dryer. And in fact, I believe that we are not allowed to hang clothes out to dry outside in our subdivision. (I need to check into that.)
o Here in Colorado the weather is so dry that overnight blouses and other items are dry, fresh smelling, and it didn’t cost a dime to dry. Also good for the environment.
• Be creative and make your own wrapping paper. Wrapping paper is expensive. When my children were at home I refused to purchase expensive or even not expensive wrapping paper, wrapping the gifts a few hours or minutes before the time to open them and then throwing $5 away. The kids thought it was funny that I wanted to save wrapping paper, tissue, bags, etc. But it just hurt my sensibilities to essentially throw that money away.
o I am thinking other papers that come through the house can be used as wrapping paper or to make gift bags. Fabric bags can be made and then used as bags to carry items or store what was in them originally. Yes, this takes time but so does going to the store to purchase paper and ribbon not to mention the gas in the car. Of course, if we are walking or riding our bicycles we save some money and get some exercise and fresh air. Making your own gift packaging also feeds your creative gene. At least it does for me.
• Make our own mulch and compost.
o A friend of mine made her own barrel composter. It is very cool and turns to mix the materials. I may not make something that big but I believe I am going to try to make my own compost as well as save those grass clippings and leaves to add. When I peel those zucchinis and cucumbers and strawberry tops are cut off I just send them down the disposal. Not any more, I think.
o No cost because I have buckets to put materials in. No cost for the materials. Organic gardening. Savings =
• Here’s an interesting one. Use water from pasta and vegetables to water plants.
o Reuse the water plus I think it must have some kind of nutrients in it?
o I have always known that if you use your dish water to water plants that it keeps the bugs away. They don’t like soap. My grandma used to do that all the time.
• Go to Great Clips or someone who does hair at home. Also color our own hair.
o This is an expensive one. A few years ago I wanted to grow my hair out and give it some more body. I wanted to find a stylist who could make it look great while growing out. So Richard came into my life. He is an artist when it comes to hair and hair color. (did I say hair color as in, MY HAIR IS TURNING GRAY?) There is a price to pay as well. A big price. Eventually I will have to give Richard up anyway so maybe I can wean myself from him now. Savings: Anywhere from $30 to $90 every three months or so.

Saving $$ - Part Two

2010-09-25T16:09:00.000-07:00

Here are some reasonable things I believe that we can do to save those pennies. It might take a bit of time to convince my husband for some ideas. Some ideas do no directly impact him except for the saved pennies. Some ideas will take him a while but he will come around and then we can be saving THOSE pennies. These things also take organization and planning, but I’ve spent many years practicing to do that.

Tell me what you think….

• Using those bags we purchased to put our groceries in. King Soopers gives us 5 cents off of each bag we use.
o Bags are already purchased - a 5 to 30 cent plus to us each time we use them.
• Instead of purchasing those little pudding packs, fruits packs, or applesauce, package our own.
o I have the little containers – a package of Jello is 50 cents? Make them up on the weekends for the upcoming week. Instead of spending almost 3 dollars for 4 or 6 packages. Savings $2.50
• Grow a garden. This year we started our garden as usual. Planted were tomatoes, zucchini, spaghetti squash, bell peppers, and another squash as yet unknown to us. Over the 4th of July we had a big hail storm which basically killed our tomato and bell pepper plants. Then the squashes got a fungus. In the mean time we were able to harvest some food. Zucchinis 4; spaghetti squash 2; Unnamed squash 1. Probably just broke even there but we will keep it up because it is a savings most of the time.
• Use cloth napkins. This is a cost savings and good for the environment.
o I already have some cloth napkins as well as fabric to make more. Cost zero to purchase. Cost = laundry detergent. Savings – whatever it costs to purchase more paper napkins.
• Use cloth towels instead of paper towels.
o Same applies to this a paper napkins. It does take more to launder. At least napkins can usually be laundered in the sink.
• Make your own cleaning products.
o I have never really done this, but they say that vinegar and baking soda and alcohol will clean just about anything. And cleaning products are expensive!!
• Walk or ride my bike instead of driving the car.
o We basically live one block from the grocery, the cleaners (to be discussed later), a hair salon, the bank, several other shops. We also live about a mile from a book store, Target, Petco, the library, etc, etc. It’s a town center. Sometimes it is not feasible to walk or ride a bike. But put a basket on my bike and a backpack and I can probably save some bucks.
• Speaking of cars: when running in and out and doing a lot of errands, park the cars in the driveway instead of opening and closing the garage door.
o Not only will it save wear and tear on the garage door, it saves electricity.
• Also to do with cars. Wash them ourselves.
o It takes time but so does driving to the car wash and waiting while the attendants wash the car. It also costs money for whatever we clean the car with and water. But we already have rags to clean and the other items in no way will cost the same amount as the car wash and tips. Not to speak of gas to get there and we get exercise.
To be continued……

Saving $$

2010-09-23T19:23:00.000-07:00

Over the past few weeks my thoughts have turned to saving money in mostly diminutive ways. But nevertheless saving money. Here are some appropriate quotes.

“Cutting Expenses Increases Income”
“A penny saved is a penny earned”
“The safest way to double your money it to fold it over once and put it in your pocket.”

With the big ‘R’ – Retirement looming and pretty much desired, we are wondering how our finances will work. For over 30 years Robert has been socking away money in a savings plan. He also qualifies for a fixed retirement income. I have been able to save an amount about 10 times less than his, but a nice little nest egg as well as qualifying for a pittance of a fixed retirement income. So we will not be destitute or homeless. At least we think not.

Mainly the challenge of saving, recycling, being “green”, and provident is incredibly appealing to me.

Some ideas that I have read about are not appealing. For instance, not using shampoo to wash our hair or using conditioner. Maybe as my hair stays shorter and Robert is balding we won’t need that much shampoo anyway. Not sure that we want to be required to use, as the article stated, a baking soda shampoo and vinegar and water rinse. The upside for doing something like this is that the baking soda concoction will not strip hair of natural oils. Hmmm….. It is also VERY cheap.

There are people out there blogging about living in their cars, utility trucks, campers, and RVs. We have a very nice RV and are considering living there at times before we settle down. But these bloggers share how to inconspicuously “camp” in parking lots, residential neighborhoods, state and national parks. Mostly called boon-dogging. Also not for us. Give us a nice RV park most of the time with running water, electricity, sewer, Wi-Fi, and possibly satellite for TV.

Bragging rights are also being claimed by those who live on between $500 and $1000 a month, some by choice and some out of necessity. The stories I have read are, of course, success stories on paper. In person it may not be so appealing.

My grandparents raised their children during the Great Depression. My parents carried over to a certain degree the lessons they learned from their childhood. Robert’s parents were ranchers who eventually moved to the city and he says they were not even a middle income family. My husband and I by osmosis have been careful in many ways. But not the same as a parent or child who lived through the depression. We are by no means extravagant MOST of the time. (Sorry, everyone makes mistakes and I don’t want to paint myself as perfect.) ☺

I feel excited about the challenge, proving I can do this, and being able to still live well with the things that matter to us. I also do not want to sacrifice the good things we can do to feed our souls and the souls of others because we do not have funds to survive.

Happy Birthday to my Sister!

2010-08-25T17:37:00.000-07:00

Today is my sister, Rebecca's birthday. She was born 26 months after I was in Terre Haute, Indiana. I won't say how many years ago. :) I have been told that when my mother was pregnant I told her it was my baby and I named her Becky. My baby Becky. I don't remember that but I like thinking that I knew the baby was my sister. At one point Becky decided that she wanted to go by her formal name and somehow she did it with everyone calling her Rebecca.

I remember answering for her when we were kids so that she didn't have to talk for a long time. I remember that she used to "borrow" my clothes to wear and that once she altered my favorite dress so it wouldn't be too long since I am taller than she is. Our tastes are different in many ways. We are different in many ways. But the history that we share and the love we have for each other makes any differences unimportant.

WHY I LOVE MY SISTER by Janice Marie Dayhoff Ottley

My sister makes me laugh. At times she will say some pretty outlandish things which just crack me up!! If I wrote them down here it probably wouldn't be funny at all. But I can hear the inflection in her voice and her way of saying things and it just kills me. When we are able to be together we get to talking and sometimes we laugh so hard we cry. Every-once-in-a-while I so need a piece of Rebecca sarcasm.

My sister stands by me. As I said previously, my sister and I don't have the same tastes or opinions. But somehow that doesn't make any difference to us. We have differences, we get over it. We need each other, we are there for each other. Emotionally, if in no other way.

My sister is a very mothering person. She counsels me, she gives suggestions, heck, she even bosses me around, just like a mother. I don't care. It just says that she cares about me. She is the actual mother to 9 children: 7 sons and 2 daughters.

My sister is VERY creative. She sews, quilts, crochets, paints, cooks, etc, etc. I and my family have been beneficiaries of her creativity over the years. One year she embroidered a picture of a vase of white daisies for my home. I loved it and it hung in my house for over 20 years. When I moved to Colorado it didn't fit in any more, so I gave it back to her and now it graces her home. It just goes to show what a great job she did on it because it looks exactly as it did the day she gave it to me.

And, bottom line, Rebecca is my sister and my friend. A long time ago we said that if both of our husbands passed away and we needed to go into nursing homes that we wanted to go into the same one and share a room and talk to our hearts content. I don't know if that would ever happen. But if someone wants to embroider a picture of two old ladies in rocking chairs, chatting, and crocheting, you can call it 'Sisters" and I'll buy it.

Happy Birthday, my Baby Becky. I love you so much it hurts.

Reunion in Moab - June 3-6, 2010

2010-06-11T08:33:00.000-07:00

We spent last Thursday through Sunday morning with our daughters and their families in Moab Utah. The first thing we noticed was how much the kids had grown! We had seen all the grandkids except Leslie's over the internet and Skype but we were still amazed at all the clear talking, the walking, the hair!!
We had a really fun time together. Of course, being outside practically the whole time is always an issue: heat, bugs! But just to be together and talk and experience the world was so worth it. We appreciate the sacrifice they all made to be there.
Amanda did a wonderful job organizing it all. We really appreciate that.
Here's a few pictures for you. Don't we have handsome group? The only one who didn't seem to make it onto my camera was Ryan, Beth's husband. But I'll find a picture somewhere.
I also didn't get a picture of the huge water fight on Friday. That was interesting! There were those who wanted to squirt other people but didn't want to be squirted, those who loved to be soaked, those who sacrificed themselves to get wet so that other people could be happy, and those those who enjoyed every part of it.
If I can find some good pictures of the rodeo I will post those, but mainly Alexa and Jessica took pictures there and they were taking people pictures.

Facebook

2010-05-30T16:31:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow, May 31st, 2010, some fans of facebook have designated as "Quit Facebook Day." Last week or so I read that that leaders of Facebook admitted that they have made mistakes on Facebook. There have been changes made in the past that I have not agreed with on facebook. Some parts of it are irritating but at least you can hide them. There are also little tips that you need to find out about to be able to interact on your home page. A big concern is privacy and what evil people will do with your information and/or what stupid people- masquerading as friends - might do with your facebook account which THEY think is funny but it is not.
I am a facebook fan and I think that it can be a good thing. At least it has been good/fun in my life. I feel like I know some members of my family better - extended especially. We have had a couple of tragedies in our family and the word was gotten out via facebook. Seeing and posting pictures is a big one for me. I have really enjoyed sharing pictures and viewing pictures which other people have shared on facebook too. Many times in my status field I have put scriptures and other thoughts. A couple of times I put a mind twister there to see what people would comment or how they would try to figure it out. That interaction has been fun. We also have friends living all over the world who have facebook pages and it has been fun to keep in touch with them even though they are thousands of miles away.
Overall I really like using the computer for many aspects in my life. It is such a huge part of how I communicate, how I share and receive information, and how I express myself.
Evil, manipulative people try to ruin everyone's ability to use the internet. I have had friends who have been affected negatively through hackers. And, of course, there is always my mother who isn't that up to date on computers although she does do email. She frequently reminds me of the dangers of facebook, blogs, and other internet activities. And that gets me to thinking about what could happen. Because bad things do happen via the computer/internet and I don't want to have that experience.
If I am very careful, allowing only friends to see my profile and pictures on facebook. If I share only limited personal information there. Will I be safe? We don't even post about traveling until we arrive home so that no one will check out our empty house.
So am I being naive by participating in these activities? Because this computer age is not going away.
Besides I enjoy the benefits of being on the internet.
Is is dangerous to even post a picture?

Mother's Day May 9, 2010

2010-05-11T19:23:00.000-07:00

Robert and Spencer sent me flowers for Mother's Day this year. Sara sent a great CD with my favorite hymn on it, "Come Thou Fount" and Jessica's graduation picture. We Skyped with Jared and Beth. Talked to Leslie, Sara, Spencer, and Amanda!
It was a very quiet day with great talks at Church and a restful afternoon.
I love being a mother. My family is most important to me. I am also grateful for all the women in my life who have mothered me. I love YOU!!

AND Happy Birthday to Amanda on May 9th. Every few years her birthday falls on Mother's Day. The Sunday after she was born I was scheduled to speak in Church. Ended up I was still in the hospital. Some people will do anything to get out of giving a talk!!

Bayeux France Cathedral

2010-05-08T09:55:00.001-07:00

Robert and I walked over from our hotel in Bayeux to the cathedral one evening. It was a rainy day and walking through the cobblestone streets towards the spires we could see in the distance was quite romantic.
As we walked through the cathedral to learn of it's history and read the titles of the past bishops and other VIPs buried within it's walls we couldn't help but be amazed at the ages that it had stood there as the center of life in Bayeux.

We Went to France and Belgium

2010-05-04T19:16:00.000-07:00

When we first flew in to Paris we rented a car and drove out to Normandy to tour the historical D-Day beaches. It touched our hearts and made us proud to be Americans.

This poem was written by Lt. Col. John McCrae, M.D. from the Canadian Army. It was written during a battle in WWI and is a lasting legacy of that battle in 1915. After burying a friend he sat in the back of an ambulance and penned these lines.

In the nearby cemetery, McCrae could see the wild poppies that sprang up in the ditches in that part of Europe, and he spent twenty minutes of precious rest time scribbling fifteen lines of verse in a notebook.

On the day we visited the American cemetery this poem came to my mind and while out of an earlier war and not written by an American it somehow seemed appropriate as we walked among our fellow citizens who died in Normandy beginning in 1944.

Names of the fallen wall.

Youth Rising From the Sea

This is not a poppy and the poem is from WWI and we were not in Flanders Fields but it seemed appropriate

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scare heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe;
To you from falling hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders Fields.

Really? I Mean, Seriously!!??

2010-05-03T19:57:00.000-07:00

This photo is of me on Omaha Beach in Normandy. April 2010.

I am totally shocked that it has been 6 months since I posted anything.
Time for a change with that. I have been swamped with life in general and it's about all I can do to come home and put some dinner on the table and do some laundry.
Maybe I can turn over a new leaf?

But not tonight.

It's 9 p.m. and I believe I should go to sleep.

Starting Anew With A New Idea

2009-11-06T19:29:00.000-08:00

http://grandmashouse.wordpress.com/

I haven't got it all planned out yet. But I think I am interested in doing another blog for my creative side. Right now it is called Grandma's House because it is the blog I started while I was sitting in the hospital when Jeremy was born ALMOST 2 YEARS AGO!!
I am thinking I need an outlet to display creations, have contests and maybe sell stuff.

Tell me what you think? Beth, do you want to help with this? Let me know.

Just pondering........

Prop Me Up On The Leaning Side

2009-09-12T17:35:00.000-07:00

Once there was an old man who always prayed, 'Lord, prop us up on our leanin' side.' After hearing him pray that prayer many times, someone asked him why he prayed that prayer so fervently.

He answered, 'Well sir, you see, it's like this .... I got an old barn out back. It's been there a long time; it's withstood a lot of weather; it's gone through a lot of storms, and it's stood for many years.

It's still standing. But one day I noticed it was leaning to one side a bit.

So I went and got some pine poles and propped it up on its leaning side so it wouldn't fall.

Then I got to thinking about that and how much I was like that old barn. I've been around a long time.

I've withstood a lot of life's storms. I've withstood a lot of bad weather in life, I've withstood a lot of hard times, and I'm still standing too. But I find myself leaning to one side from time to time, so I like to ask the Lord to prop us up on our leaning side, 'cause I figure a lot of us get to leaning at times.

Sometimes we get to leaning toward anger, leaning toward bitterness, leaning toward hatred, leaning toward cussing, leaning toward a lot of things that we shouldn't. So we need to pray, 'Lord, prop us up on our leaning side, so we will stand straight and tall again, to glorify the Lord.''

Facebook Is Ruining My Blogging!

2009-09-11T20:12:00.000-07:00

So the other day I realized checking on Facebook all the time is cutting into my Blogging. Of course, Facebook is keeping me in touch and getting me back in touch with friends from all over and from quite while ago. I just found a friend from Louisiana whom I hadn't seen in probably 15+ years. Since then her husband has passed away. All her children are married and have families. This week a brother-in-law passed away and so we were able to contact family members through facebook and email and have set up a place to stay etc through Facebook. AND I find that pictures are more interesting on Facebook too with whole albums. I don't play the games on Facebook or do quizzes very often, etc. I just spend my time sort of "interacting" with others there.

But I get to put down words with a Blog. It's a place to put down rambling thoughts a few pictures, etc. Among the things that I love are music, hands, the Book of Mormon, my family, the skies of Colorado, baby necks, Caesar salad, and words.

Books have always fascinated me. Putting words on paper, thoughts on paper, feelings on paper draws me in. I was a pretty good letter writer before email. I still write occasionally to my Grandmother. But a letter coming in the mail is a miracle these days. I have actually started quite a few books. I have them around still but get sidetracked by life and don't finish them. Probably should even if it is just to say I did it.

To wrap up this rambling thought I think I should try to Blog a little more and Facebook a little less. Maybe I can. I just hope it doesn't fall into the category of New Year's resolutions.

Some Thoughts and Experiences

2009-08-07T08:28:00.000-07:00

A couple of things I was thinking about.
It was hard after falling on my face to go out into public. People either stared and looked away or they exclaimed, "What happened to you?" Or "Did Bob do that? Ha ha" "How are you today? You're are looking better."
I kept wondering what they were thinking and even though most people were very kind it got rather overwhelming to explain over and over again what had happened. Well, you get the idea.

Anyway..... A week ago Thursday our ward was having a special chapel session at the temple and then going on a session together. I wasn't sure I was up to it after explaining my face most of the day at work (9+ hours) and then having to do it all over again in the evening. Robert said that he understood if I didn't want to go. But I had this very strong impression that I should go. And looking back nothing happened or was felt in the whole evening that was different from other times at the temple. And it truly was hard to go and have people look at me and to catch that little knee jerk reaction in their eyes.

What DID happen which told me that Heavenly Father loved me and wanted me in the temple was what happened at the very beginning. I don't know that it was a miracle. Just a little gift from my Father to me.

It was when I went through to get the name of the person I would be proxy for. The sister there looked at me with a big bruise on her face. She said, "You look just like me." Then she said that she had fallen on her face, which I did also. So it was as if Heavenly Father sent the one person in the temple that night who I would identify with so he could say to me, "I know what you are going through and I love you. I am glad you are here tonight." Just a simple little gift but SO right.

Last night we went to the temple also. We almost didn't go. I have gotten used to my face and it is looking very much better. I still have a bruise on one cheek and a couple of cuts on the bridge of my nose which show up pretty bad. At least to me.

But while I was sitting there waiting I realized that going to the temple is like exercising. You know you should do it. You know it is good for you. You know you will not regret it afterwards and you will feel good about it. And if you do it you will not feel guilty because you didn't do it. It is the same for Visiting Teaching and Home Teaching. Interesting comparison.

Also, our Bishop challenged the ward to complete the Book of Mormon by the end of the year. Robert put together a spread sheet to track how we are doing. It is pretty cool because after you put in your page number it will tell you how far you are behind or ahead.

I was reading in 1st Nephi and realized that Nephi and Joseph Smith are distant cousins, I guess you could say, because they are both descendants of Joseph. Now I know that most of us are descendants of Joseph, but I wondered if when Nephi learned this if he felt a bond with Joseph Smith? Because of his concern about his family if it felt special to him that a distant relative would be the one to restore the gospel and bring it to Nephi's family again? Just pondering that.

Okay, well, just a few experiences and thoughts. I didn't want to lose them.

What Happens in Sturgis May or May Not Stay in Sturgis

2009-07-27T12:26:00.000-07:00

So, as much as I don't want to show this, I think I better. The only thing I request is that you don't tell or show my mother. Okay?

This is the way the conversation went.

Robert: "What did you DO you yourself?!"

Janeil: "Did you go walking where I told you not to go?"

Carrie: "Did you fall? Are you okay?"

Vaughn: "Seriously, you can't tell at all."

Christina: "I have this germicide wipe. You don't have to use it on the cut, but your face is probably sticky."

John: "I like the story that you were in a bar fight."

Terry: "What happens in Sturgis, stays in Sturgis."

Christina: "We will have to start calling you Harry Potter." (Because there will probably be a scar.

Me: "I am SO embarrassed. Man, this stings! Did I break my nose? Will the bleeding stop soon? Now I will have a scar just like Andrews. Do I have to tell my kids? I definitely can't tell my mother! I just want to cry. Will this be gone before Robert's reunion? Should I blog about this? Can I pass it off by saying, 'You should see the other guy?' "

So here it comes. And seriously, this had nothing to do with riding a motorcycle. It was just me being clumsy, catching my toe on a rock and then slamming my face on another rock. All within the view of Mt. Rushmore. I am home from work for a couple of days because it looks worse now. But I am fine otherwise. Just don't let this scare you. Okay?

I am Velma!

2009-04-10T16:27:00.000-07:00

Last night I walked by a full length mirror and as I glanced in it I realized that.....

I was wearing a big red sweater with a BIG collar, skirt, sensible shoes, bobbed hair and glasses. And I thought....Wow! I look like that girl from Scooby Doo. What is her name? Oh yea. Velma.

The only difference was that my skirt wasn't as short as she wears hers.

If I had a choice of a cartoon character I am not sure I would choose Velma, but since I don't really have a choice, I think she/I will do.

Have you ever wondered what cartoon character you would choose to be?

You Know Enough

2009-04-08T20:44:00.000-07:00

"Our spiritual journey is the process of a lifetime. We do not know everything in the beginning or even along the way. Our conversion comes step-by-step, line upon line. We first build a foundation of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We treasure the principles and ordinances of repentance, baptism, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. We include a continuing commitment to prayer, a willingness to be obedient, and an ongoing witness of the Book of Mormon. (The Book of Mormon is powerful spiritual nourishment.)
We then remain steady and patient as we progress through mortality. At times, the Lord’s answer will be, “You don’t know everything, but you know enough”—enough to keep the commandments and to do what is right. Remember Nephi’s words: “I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.” Elder Neil Anderson, October General Conference, 2008

Cute Grandchildrenisms

2009-04-07T20:55:00.001-07:00

Some personality shots and captions from a week ago.

"Grammie, Grammie! We HAVE to get our picture taken TOGETHER!"

Her face just says 'Go ahead, take my picture. I will not smile. Well... maybe a little bit."

Can his expression tell it any clearer? "Oh no! Here she comes again with that camera!

Excuse me? Excuse me? It is hard to get the attention of these intense guys.

Olivia, Kim, and Alexa practice being assistants for an Illusionist.

It seems that James always requests a 'funny face' photo op after the serious one.

Say 'Cheese' Parker!

Baby Blessings

2009-04-06T21:19:00.001-07:00

The last weekend in March we were able to fly over to Utah to participate in our two newest grandchildren's blessings. They have already grown so much since I saw them at the beginning of February! Their fathers gave them beautiful blessings. So far we have been able to attend every one of the 15 baby blessings. Sometimes we (meaning basically their parents) had to do a little juggling around of times and locations since several have come in clumps. That made it possible for us to attend them all.

Here are the baby's blessing pictures.

Ellie Jean Hoen (Look at that smile.)

Brigham Ottley Coltharp (I think he is following in his big sisters' footsteps by talking early as well.)

We will be back in Utah at the beginning of May when Taylor is baptized. Then back again at the beginning of July for James' baptism.

I think it is time to retire and move over there. Two babies born this year, two blessings this year, two baptisms this year. And the birthday parties too!

Reading for the last week of the Savior's life on earth.

2009-04-05T21:18:00.000-07:00

Sunday (Palm Sunday)
The Triumphal Entry, Greek converts talk to the Savior, Voice of the Father heard, Jesus returns to Bethany (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:29-44; John 12:12-36)

Monday
Jesus curses the barren fig tree, cleanses the temple (2nd time), returns to Bethany (Matthew 21:18-19, 12-17; Mark 11:12-19; Luke 19:45-48, 21:37)

Tuesday
Jesus discourses on faith to his disciples, His authority questioned by chief priest and elders (Matthew 21:19-27; Mark 11:20-33; Luke 21:38, 20:1-8)

Tribute to Caesar question, marriage after resurrection teaching, great commandment, question concerning Christ’s Father answered, Christ condemns scribes and Pharisees, He laments over Jerusalem, the widow’s mite, Christ declares the purpose of His mission (Matthew 22:15-46, 23:1-39; Mark 12:13-44; Luke 20:19-47, 21:1-4; John 12:37-50)

Parable of the Two Sons (Matthew 21:28-32)
Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen (Matthew 21:33-46; Mark 12:1-12; Luke 20:9-18)
Parable of the Royal Marriage Feast (Matthew 22:1-14)

Christ’s discourse to disciples on the Mount of Olives, teaching on Final judgment (Matthew 24 (see also Joseph Smith-Matthew), Mark 13:1-37; Luke 21:5-36)

Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13)
Parable of the Entrusted Talents (Matthew 25:14-30)

Jesus foretells His betrayal, chief priests and scribes plot against Him, Judas arranges his betrayal of the Savior (Matthew 26:1-16; Mark 14:1-2, 10-11; Luke 22:1-6)

Wednesday
No record

Thursday
Preparations for Passover meal, The Last Supper (Matthew 26:17-35; Mark 14:12-31; Luke 22:7-38; John 13)

Discourse on the Holy Ghost (Comforter), Christ and His disciples sing a hymn then depart for the Mount of Olives, Savior teaches the disciples about their relationship to Him and explains the purpose of His death (John 14; Matthew 26:30; Mark 14:26; Luke 22:39; John 15, 16)

Christ offers the intercessory prayer (John 17)

The suffering of Jesus Christ for the sins of mankind in Gethsemane; otherwise known as the Atonement (Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22-40-46; John 18:1-2)

Friday (Good Friday)
Jesus betrayed by Judas Iscariot and arrested, Questioned by Annas and later Caiaphas, Peter denies knowing Jesus, The trial and condemnation of Jesus, Judas commits suicide, Christ brought before Pilate, then Herod, then Pilate again, prisoner Barabbas released, Jesus sentenced by Pilate, the journey to Calvary, the Crucifixion, the burial of Christ (Matthew 26:47-75, 27:1-61; Mark 14:43-72, 15; Luke 22:47-71, 23; John 18:2-40, 19)

Saturday
Pilate places guards at the tomb of Jesus at the request of the chief priests and scribes (Matthew 27:62-66)

Sunday (Easter)
Jesus is resurrected and appears to others (Matthew 28:1-15; Mark 16:1-14; Luke 24:1-49; John 20:1-23)

Sawyer turned 3! March 15th

2009-03-17T23:01:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Sweet Boy! We hope you really enjoyed your day!
Love, Grammie and Poppa

Happy First Birthday - Jeremy!

2009-02-27T05:56:00.000-08:00

One year ago today we were in Utah for Jeremy's birth. We knew it would be a tough delivery due to the fact that Jeremy would be born with Spina Bifida
So on this day a year ago when Beth went into labor ahead of the scheduled C-section, Jeremy Michael Miller was born.
Happy Birthday Jer Jer!

Seeking the Spirit

2009-02-27T05:33:00.000-08:00

"Heavenly Father does not require us to be perfect before He grants to us His Spirit. He will bless us for our righteous desires and faithful efforts to do the best we can." (Teaching No Greater Call)

"The Holy Ghost causes our feelings to be more tender. We feel more charitable and compassionate with each other. We are more calm in our relationships. We have a greater capacity to love each other. People want to be around us because our very countenances radiate the influence of the Spirit. We are more godly in our character. As a result, we become increasingly more sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Ghost and thus able to comprehend spiritual things more clearly." (Ezra Taft Benson, Seek the Spirit of the Lord," Ensign, Apr. 1988, 4.)

Bruce R. McConkie taught, "To be valiant in the testimony of Jesus is to believe in Christ and his gospel with unshakable conviction. It is to know of the verity and divinity of the Lord's work on earth.
"But this is not all. It is more than believing and knowing. We must be doers of the word and not hearers only. It is more than lip service; it is not simply confessing with the mouth the divine Sonship of the Savior. It is obedience and conformity and personal righteousness." October 1974.

Helaman 5:12 - "it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation."

1 Corinthians 13: 1-2 - "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing."

D&C 18:10 - "Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God."

35 years later

2009-02-09T21:01:00.000-08:00

No, this is not a "Where's Waldo" picture. This is a "Where's Jared" picture. This is the night Jared was born. February 9, 1974. We started a tradition that night to take a picture of the mother in labor before leaving for the hospital. Jared was born in a clinic on Castle AFB. At this point I don't remember how long labor was, but I remember that at about 11:40 p.m. we ended up with a beautiful baby boy. 8 lbs. 11 oz. 21 inches long. We named him Jared (a name Robert had chosen while on his mission for his first son) Russell (because I was sure we would have a red-headed baby)

I don't remember who took this picture of us, but it is officially our first family picture.

When this picture was taken we were living in Illinois on Chanute AFB. Jared and his dad having a lighter moment.

Eight years old.

We can't see Jared's face here, but this is his Eagle Court of Honor. When Jared did something we all showed up to support him.

My boys after Jared came home from his mission.

Jared and Adrienne today.

The Jared Ottley family in 2008.
We love you Jared! You are a good husband, provider,and father.
Happy Birthday!

The Sweetness of Tender Mercies

2009-01-09T19:37:00.000-08:00

"When words cannot provide the solace we need or express the joy we feel, when it is simply futile to attempt to explain that which is unexplainable, when logic and reason cannot yield adequate understanding about the injustices and inequities of life, when mortal experience and evaluation are insufficient to produce a desired outcome, and when it seems that perhaps we are so totally alone, truly we are blessed by the tender mercies of the Lord and made mighty even unto the power of deliverance."
Elder David A. Bednar

Last night we attended the temple. I wondered if at the end of the session the Lord was there would I recognize his hands? And if I did, what would I do?

Bucket List

2009-01-08T15:00:00.000-08:00

Do you have a bucket list? I saw the movie "Bucket List." Then I saw an article in the Smithsonian magazine about the Top 10 or 100 places you have to see before you die. My friend just send me an email with a "bucket list" of things to check off if you have done them. The ones with an X mean I have done them.
Here are a few:

X Gone on a blind date

X Skipped school

Watched someone die

Been to Canada

X Been to Mexico

X Been to Florida

X Been to Hawaii

X Been on a plane

X Been lost

X Gone to Washington , DC

X Swam in the ocean

X Cried yourself to sleep

X Played cops and robbers

X Recently colored with crayons

X Sang Karaoke

Paid for a meal with coins only

Been to the top of the St. Louis Arch

X Done something you told yourself you wouldn't

Made prank phone calls

X Been down Bourbon Street in New Orleans

X Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose

X Caught a snowflake on your tongue

X Danced in the rain

X Written a letter to Santa Claus

X Been kissed under the mistletoe

X Watched the sunrise with someone

X Blown bubbles

X Gone ice-skating

X Gone to the movies

Been deep sea fishing

Driven across the United States alone

Been in a hot air balloon

Been sky diving

X Gone snowmobiling

Lived in more than one country

X Laid outside at night and admired the stars

X Seen a falling star and made a wish

X Enjoyed the beauty of Ole Faithful Geyser

X Seen the Statue of Liberty

Gone to the top of Seattle Space Needle

Been on a cruise

X Traveled by train

X Traveled by motorcycle

X Been horse back riding

X Ridden on a San Francisco Trolley

X Been to Disneyland or Disney World

X Truly believe in the power of prayer

Been to the top of an active volcano and seen hot lava

X Been in a rain forest

X Seen whales in the ocean

Been to Niagara Falls

Ridden on an elephant

X Swam with dolphins

Ever been to Africa

X Ever eaten just cookies for dinner

X Ever been on TV

Ever steal any traffic signs

X Ever been in a car accident

X Drive a standard shift car

These are kind of interesting trivia. I was thinking about what my really deep bucket list would be. Things that could change my life, change the lives of others, improve the world, deepen my relationships. I am almost afraid to figure out what they are. As we get closer to retirement maybe I should start working on this because I might have time to work on the list.

P.S. For those of you who read this post and saw an x by "stealing a traffic sign" that was a typo. I never stole a traffic sign. Sorry for the confusion. That is illegal. I did have a traffic sign once but I did not steal it. I took it away from someone else and gave it back.

Ayla Louise turns 2 years old.

2009-01-04T18:16:00.000-08:00

Today Granddaughter #5 turns 2 years old. Time certainly flies by! And babies change really fast.

New Year's Resolutions

2009-01-01T09:07:00.000-08:00

I was wondering if I had EVER made a New Year's resolution which I kept? I will have to give that some thought because I think I have not been very successful.

N. Eldon Tanner, “Just for Today,” New Era, Jan 1975, 4

Supposing today were your last day on earth,
The last mile of the journey you’ve trod;
After all of your struggles, how much are you worth?
How much can you take home to God?
Anonymous

These words from a well-known poem sum up what life is all about. We are born, we live, and we die; and for what purpose? Our knowledge and understanding of the reason for our existence and what our eternal destiny will be should help us in determining how we shall live and how to sift out and strive for the really important things in life.

This is the beginning of a new year, and each of us might well say to himself, “Today is the first day of the rest of my life. Let me begin now to prepare for eternal life, that I may know a fullness of joy and happiness now and forever.” After all, this is really what each of us wants, and it is most important that we take time to find out how to get it and begin now to work at it day by day.

Happy New Year 2009

2008-12-31T19:06:00.000-08:00

I have great hopes for 2009. I always have great hopes for the new year.

So best wishes to all of you who read this.

On Christmas Eve Amanda flew in from Texas to spend Christmas with us. Then on the Friday after Christmas we drove over to Utah to open presents and visit with our children and grandchildren there. It was very good to see them all.
On Monday, December 29th, we took off for Idaho to spend time with Robert's sister's family in the Island Park area. They live in a cabin there with lots of rooms and we rent snowmobiles and ride and get freezin' cold.
Maxine and Gail are very generous with us and our family. So we are grateful to them for providing the opportunities to do a lot of fun things in the area. I was thinking about that today because otherwise we probably couldn't afford it.
We will be here one more day and then we will head on home.

So happy new year and I hope you all have wonderful opportunities in the year to come. I'll be working on it for myself.

Christmas Eve Family Home Evening by Shauna Gibby

2008-12-24T12:15:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve FHE

Conference Talk:

For more information on this topic read “Born Again,” by D. Todd Christofferson, Ensign, May 2008, 76–79.

Thought:

About a century before the birth of Christ, King Benjamin taught his people of the Savior’s advent and Atonement. The Spirit of the Lord wrought such a mighty change in the people that they had “no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually”.

(D. Todd Christofferson, “Born Again,” Ensign, May 2008, 76–79.)

Song:

“He Sent His Son” Children’s Songbook, p. 34.

Scripture: For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.(Luke 2:11)

Lesson:

Place a picture of Christ’s birth in a plastic sheet protector.

Cut a sheet of paper into five strips.

Label each strip as follows:

1. Son of God, 2. Creator, 3. Savior, 4. Example, 5. Friend. Tape these strips over the picture of Christ’s birth.

Write the following verses on small pieces of paper and place them in a bowl or basket.

1. “Behold I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (D&C 6:21)

2. “I have made the earth, and created man upon it” (Isaiah 45:12)

3. “Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world” (D&C 43:34)

4. “For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you” (John 13:15)

5. “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you” (John 15:14)

Have the family members take turns drawing papers from the bowl and have them read their verse. Ask the family: “Who does this verse tell you that Jesus is?” Match it to one of the strips covering the picture and remove that strip. Repeat until the picture is revealed.

Discuss how the baby Jesus grew up to become all the names you read about.

(adapted from Beth Lefgren and Jennifer Jackson, Sharing Time, Family Time, Anytime: Book Two [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1994], p. 55-6.)

Story:

(Elaine Cannon)

The Nativity never was presented with more significance for me than the day a young friend of mine brought her “special needs class” to our home for a Christmas program. There was a heartbreaking mix of [disabled children]. An unusually abundant spirit accompanied them, as if angels ushered them in.

They were costumed in familiar makeshift robes charmingly depicting the characters. There were Joseph, Mary, and a Herald Angel with a tinsel halo, robed in a twin-size sheet shrouding a wheelchair. There was a shepherd draped in a paisley beach towel with a curved staff carved from styrofoam, mounted on one crutch. A pair of lambs (one on all fours and one wearing a head cage and reclining in a custom-sized canvas stroller) were draped with sheepskin. A small soul held a dowel with a shaking foil star. The Three Wise Men sparkled in recycled and revamped Deseret Industries gowns of lamé, sequins, and velvet.

Make-up surely heightened the drama of things by bolstering confidence in performing. Every one of the participants wore lipstick and rouged cheeks that could neither disguise nor enhance the radiance from a choice eternal spirit within.

The teacher narrated while the needful action was accomplished. There was only one slight change in the script. It was the angel who “brought forth” from the side of the wheelchair a swaddled teddy bear (“Firstborn Son”) and laid it in armless Mary’s lap.

By the time the Three Wise Men were propelled onto the scene to nod, bow with clasped hands, or kneel as their afflictions permitted, my soft heart was swollen to the season of wonder! The symbolic gold, frankincense, and myrrh [were] dutifully dumped on the quaint scene.

This group of Heavenly Father’s specially beloved children had gifted me with a dimension that my many seasons had seldom equaled.

(Keeping Christmas: Stories from the Heart, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1996], p.79.)

Activity:

Have your family act out the nativity story as you read Luke 2: 1, 3-16 and Matthew 2: 1-2, 9-16.

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

Lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

Refreshment

Holiday Trifle

1/2 of a baked angel food cake
1 (4 3/4-oz.) pkg. Junkett® Danish Dessert, raspberry flavor
1 c. frozen raspberries, crushed
1 (5.1-oz.) pkg. vanilla instant pudding
2 1/2 c. milk
1 c. heavy cream, whipped
3 Tbs. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
3 bananas
Maraschino cherries, well drained and halved
Cut angel food cake into bite-sized squares and set aside.

Prepare Danish dessert according to for pudding package directions; allow the dessert to cool, then add crushed frozen raspberries and set aside.

In a separate bowl, prepare pudding by pouring milk into the powdered pudding mix and stirring well; set aside. Combine whipped cream, sugar, and vanilla, then fold into pudding. Slice in bananas and stir.

To assemble the trifle, repeat the following three times: (1) Layer a third of the cake pieces in the bottom of the trifle bowl, (2) drizzle a third of the raspberry dessert over the cake, and (3) spoon a third of the vanilla pudding over the raspberry dessert. Decorate the top layer with real holly leaves and halved Maraschino cherries to make holly berry design. (Be sure to drain the cherries well, as they might “bleed” into the pudding.)

Serves 10 to 12.

(edited by Elaine Cannon, Five-Star Recipes from Well-Known Latter-day Saints, [Salt Lake City: Eagle Gate, 2002], p. 194.)

The Least of These by Richard M. Siddoway

2008-12-23T04:50:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!

We married in August and settled into a small apartment near the university where both of us went to school. We each had a year until graduation and scrimped and struggled through the autumn quarter. Now Christmas was approaching and we had little money between us to squander on Christmas gifts.

We walked through the department stores of Salt Lake arm in arm with the confidence of better days ahead. My bride paused before a winter coat, caressing it with her eyes and fingers. Together we looked at the price tag—seventy-five dollars. Tuition for a quarter was eighty-five dollars. We both knew the coat was out of the question. Her old coat, seam-split and stained, would have to do for another year.

We agreed to spend no more than five dollars apiece in shopping for each other. While my wife drove the car to do her shopping, I walked the half dozen blocks to the Grand Central drugstore to see how far I could stretch five dollars. After considerable searching, I selected a paperback novel my wife had commented about and a small box of candy. Together they came to $4.75. As I approached the checkout stand, I was met with a long line of shoppers, each trying to pay as quickly as possible and get on with the bustle of the season. No one was smiling.

I waited perhaps a half an hour, and only three people were ahead of me in the line when I became aware that the line had grounded to a halt. The clerk was having an animated discussion with an elderly customer.

“Sir,” barked the clerk, “the price of insulin has gone up. I’m sorry, but we have no control over that. You need four more dollars.”

“But it has been the same price ever since my wife started taking it. I have no more money. She needs the medication.” The man’s neck was turning red and he was obviously uncomfortable with the situation. “I must have the insulin. I must.”

The man standing behind him put a hand on his shoulder and said, “Come on, pop, you’re holding up the line.”

The lady in front of me grew more agitated. The dozen or so people behind me began craning their necks to see what was holding up the line. Suddenly I stepped out of line, reached into my pocket, withdrew my wallet, and handed five dollars to the old man. “Merry Christmas,” I said.

He hesitated a moment, then his blue eyes grew moist as he took the money. “God bless you, my son.”

I turned and walked back into the store aisles. I counted the money I had remaining in my wallet—four dollars. I replaced the box of candy and got back in line to pay for the novel.

Snow was falling in soft white feathery flakes as I walked up the hill toward our apartment. I turned in our driveway and saw an envelope stuck in our screen door. I removed it and found written on the front of the envelope simply, “Matthew 25:40.”

I opened the door, stepped inside, and turned on the light. I ripped open the end of the envelope and withdrew a hundred-dollar bill. There was no other message.

It was only after I had purchased the winter coat for my wife that I took time to get out my Bible and read the scripture written on the envelope: “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

To this day I have no idea who blessed our lives that Christmas.

Excerpted from Sharing Christmas; Deseret Book

2008-12-15T16:48:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to my dad.
Forrest Wayne Dayhoff - Born: December 15, 1930 Terre Haute, Indiana
Dad passed away peacefully in his sleep January 10, 2007 Elverta, California.
How I miss him. It is hard to believe that he is not here on the earth because I feel so close to him. It feels like I could just pick up the phone and call him. A couple of weeks ago I was missing him so much that I prayed that I would have a sign that he was still there. When I got in the car a tape was playing at the end of a song and the words were "God be with you till we meet again." Was it a message? I don't know. But it felt like it. I am just grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and knowing we can be together again.
When he left it literally broke my heart. At first the doctor's thought I had had a heart attack. But my heart was just broken.
The last time we talked was January 1, 2007 at 1:00 a.m. Robert and I were sound asleep and the phone rang. It was midnight in California and the beginning of a new year. Dad was simply gleeful at the start of the new year and wanted to share his joy with his family. I didn't have the heart to chide him for waking us up and I didn't really mind anyway. He said as he was hanging up that he was going to call Rebecca. It was after 3 a.m. in Michigan! I think he called her.
Often when we would talk on the phone I would say, "I love you." and he would say, "I love you more." Boy do I miss that.
Happy Birthday, Dad. December 15th will always be a special day to me.

At age 2.

With his dog Rocky.

In Norfolk, VA.

He loved boats. This is us kids and Grandpa Dayhoff and Dad.

He loved to fish.

Hippie phase! with grandson, Alex.

Beard phase.

He drove to Utah for Great Grandson Kyle's blessing.

With Great Granddaughter, Alexa. Dad came out a few times to Colorado and Utah to visit with us, his grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Jared named his last son after Dad. Parker Forrest Ottley.

I was on a business trip to California and Rebecca was in California visiting Dad and Joyce. They drove part way down and Robert and I drove part way up and we had dinner together.

At the top of Mt. Evans, Colorado - 14, 000 + feet.

February 2006 Dad flew into Salt Lake City where we picked him and and we drove up to Island Park to snow mobile. I think he had a great time!

I am proud that my dad was a veteran. I salute you, Dad.

So, God be with you till we meet again. That will be a happy day.

Sara Ann Ottley Hoen Turns One Year Older!

2008-12-10T21:05:00.000-08:00

So, Sara turns a year older today. Happy Birthday, Sara!

Parker's 1st Birthday

2008-12-05T19:59:00.001-08:00

Today Taylor notified me that I had not posted any pictures of Parker in honor of his 1st birthday which was this week. What a good big brother! I apologize, Parker. It was one crazy week. It was one crazy time last year when you were born too. We are so glad that both you and your momma are here to share our lives!
So happy birthday, Parker! May you enjoy MANY more!
And Thank You, Taylor!

1 year ago- Parker's first Christmas

Blessing Day

Parker flies a jet!

Probably one day you will wear shoes this size but not yet!

At his first birthday party!

It's Olivia's Birthday! Happy Number 4!

2008-11-21T20:16:00.001-08:00

Olivia through 4 years.

Ryan Scott Miller - Happy Birthday!

2008-11-17T20:35:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the family Ryan! Wedding cake and not birthday cake but still a suggestion of things to come!

Ryan loves kids and kids love Ryan!

Happy Couple!

Doesn't Ryan look happy? He is holding a huge tarantula!

What an exciting life! Congratulations on another year!