Bonneville Buds....Together Again

I love getting together with the people from my past.  Something about knowing someone for a long time makes me happy and getting together with them makes me even happier.  It's so much fun!

Five out of the eight of us went to elementary school together.  I think that is pretty cool.  The other three I met in High School.  I feel like I spent more time with the ones in elementary and I guess you really do.  There are less of you and you really are together for seven years.  Even though I might not have been close to these gals I feel close to them now. (there were times I was close to a few)  It's funny...it doesn't matter that we all took different paths.  Each path is good and with all our different experiences we can still appreciate each other.  I don't feel like anyone judges anyone else.  We all accept each other the way we are and how we got here.

I look at these ladies and think they are all beautiful. Not just on the outside but on the inside as well.  It makes me happy to spent an hour or so reconnecting.  I feel their love and know that these outings are just as important to them.  There is excitement in the air!

There is a certain bond between people that you have known for a long time.  I honestly care about the well being of those I grew up with even if I wasn't close to them.  I absolutely love our little get togethers with a few of my Bonneville Buds....So Fun!

My Mom

Carol Babbit was going through some old pictures and found some of my mom and some of the other neighbors.  She shared them on Face Book and so I was able to share them with her.  This was so fun for me to see my mom as a young girl.  I haven't seen many pictures of her at all.  It's also fun to see the neighbors as young mom's.  I loved spending time over at the neighbors and thought all the moms were wonderful.  My mom's neighborhood has changed over the years but not much.  It was a fun place to grow up. My mom has always been such a hard worker. (still is) She also wasn't afraid to play and fun.  Sometimes I will do something and it makes me think of my mom....(I have a lot of her qualities)

What a blessing the internet is so that I could share in some wonderful memories with a few other neighbors.

The One's I LOVE the Most!!!

When I first started making "Sunshine" Bags I really did think I should give them to my family first since I love them most.  I didn't feel like the time was right though and felt impressed to give to them to others. (not going to lie....I felt a bit guilty about that)  About a week or so ago I knew the time was right.  I planned on giving them out the next Sunday we would all be together which is today.  The interesting thing is that some things have happened that have made me realize the perfect time is now.

God knew this little gift of love and sunshine would be needed and appreciate more now!  I love my family and I hope that they realize that God loves them Most!  That He is very aware of each of us and will guide us through our trials and struggles.  He has our back, knows our hearts, over looks are errors, loves us unconditionally! We our His!

Good Deeding...

We are surrounded by good people.  There have been a few times lately that we have needed assistance from someone else.  A while back Brian Buck came over and helped clean up our computer and upgrade my ipad for me because I wasn't able to when I tried.  We knew Brian would be able to help us out.  To Brian it was no big deal at all.  We talked about how each of us have different talents and are able to help in one way or another.  I was glad that Brian knew what he was doing and that he didn't mind sharing his talents with us.  He wouldn't accept any $$$ so I sent him home with Chocolate and made another treat for him and his family and took it to them the next day.

Last week a friend of mine gave me a picture frame to put our family picture in.  She told me it was because I was always helping others. (funny I don't feel like I help others)

Today our good neighbor Durk is replacing our Hot Water Heater.  I noticed the carpet by the front door was wet the other day and then Larry noticed it the night after.  (glad he finally noticed cuz he didn't react when I had told him...he's tired)  Yesterday I mentioned it to Robin on our walk not even thinking that Durk's specialty is exactly this kind of thing. (I was just saying)  Durk came over to check things out and noticed it was the hot water heater. He immediately called the Plumbing Store and got things ordered. Bright and early this morning he came over and started doing what he needed to replace it.  He knew Larry had to work but did it anyway having Jared and Jaydan help him.  Durk is a patient man and had the boys do a few things so they could learn.  I appreciate my good neighbors for teaching my kids. (Robin has taught a few of my kids to tie their shoes and other things) So how's that?  Durk took care of everything and installed a new Hot Water Heater for us.  I'm not sure how we will repay him and Robin....they don't eat treats. (my specialty) Hopefully they will need something from Larry's shop and he can repay them.

Durk had a big smile on his face after going to pick up everything he needed.  He said he got revenge on Braxton and charged everything to his account.  Larry doesn't want to tell Braxton until he see's his bill. ☺

Good deeds are a wonderful thing.  They affect the person serving as much as the one recieving. Because of the good deeds shown to us I want to look for ways to help others...a pay it forward kind of thing.  I am so thankful for my neighbors for helping us out!!!

We are on board.....choo choo

I had a meeting with the counselor at the Jr High today along with Jared's teachers and the VP.  I was a little emotional before going in for different reasons and so tears were just barely under the surface and didn't take long to spill out.  I was impressed with Mary, the counselor, for stepping right in and having my back and taking over.  When I talked to Mary a week ago I didn't cry.

We have a plan for Jared.  We may not need to use the plan but we have it if needed.  All the teachers expressed how well Jared is doing this year.  He is participating in class and asking questions and getting help when he needs it.  I am thrilled to hear that and I'm not surprised since we have really tried everything we know to help heal this cute boy from the inside.  His grades aren't wonderful still but I don't care so much about the grade....I care about how he feels about himself.  He's aware of his issues and knows that he needs to accept how he is and just do his best.  One of Jared's biggest problems was being too hard on himself.  He saw his weaknesses much bigger than they were.

I want Jared to be challenged in school but I don't want him pushed over the edge.  We talked about overwhelming him and we don't want that to happen.  If Jared gets overwhelmed he shuts down and doesn't even try.  At this point the only things the teachers will probably do for Jared is acknowledge him and make sure he does understand what he is expected to do and that he understands how to do it. I know that seems like nothing but I saw Jared's grade change from an F to a B because I emailed the teachers last year and one of them responded by letting Jared know he wanted to help him.  Everyone likes to be acknowledged.  Some of us make it obvious and others don't.  Jared doesn't and so I think he gets looked over.

The teachers asked if I was okay with Jared receiving a  "C" and I told them yes. (heck at this point I am okay with any grade that will pass him)  I'm not sure what they thought about that but like I said earlier a grade is just a letter.....my kid is much, much more than that.  I know Jared's desire to do well has increased....his whole countenance and attitude are better this year.  I also know that Jared will do well in life.  He is smarter than the report card shows.  He is a harder worker than those teachers will ever realize.  School is his challenge but we are on board and have the teachers and staff behind us....choo choo!

SNAP (Special Needs Activity Program)

It was my turn to teach again.  It's been a long time and I know the ladies (they don't like being called kids) now and have a better feel of what I can do and should do.  The leaders want the lessons to have more involvement since this is activity night.  I agree and had thought that very thing.  I taught about Nephi and his brothers getting the brass plates from Laban.  I had a few of the girls help me out and they loved it.  They wore a sign saying who they were and I narrated and they kind of acted it out. Then we played a game of concentration that had pictures of the things we had talked about that went with the story.  They really loved this and were pretty good at it.  I had to laugh at Joann though as she cracked her knuckles and stretched her neck before she would choose her cards. (She's the one modeling King Laban's crown...she loved the crown...I should have given it to her but didn't know that she had kissed it 3 times before giving it back to me.  I was told that later)

I only had 30 minutes for my lesson but could have taken 45-60 very easily.  I had handouts and journals for the girls to glue their handouts in that I brought back home to do.  If we would have had time I was going to have them right down a few ideas of how the lesson applies to each of us.  I wrote the ideas down on the board so they could copy them but.......(I'm an accordion and I adjusted~something one of the leader told us to be the other night at a meeting)

It was fun and it turned out good.  I have ideas for my next lesson.  I figure I will tell a story and then we will play a game of some sort reinforcing what was taught. I will also include treats of some kind, and try to remember some sugar free...the girls like treats like I like treats.  The gal's are so cute and love helping. Jaydee the gal in the purple shirt loved being Nephi and was so excited about it that she wanted to take her name tag home to show her mom.

What a great calling for me to be around these special needs ladies.  I asked one of the gals what her favorite vacation was and she said it was our girls camp.  How cute is that?  I love these gals and before I am released I want them all to know it and feel it.  They make me smile from the inside out!

I LOVE BEING A GRANDMA!!!

There isn't anything that brings more joy to my soul than my little's.  I adore their little faces and wonderful, sweet spirits.  Each one is so unique and absolutely adorable.  I love that I get to have them over to play every now and then.  

I've enjoyed a few of them these last few days and what a joy they are.  I love their smiles, their voices, their expressions, their laughter, their silliness, their hugs....everything about them.  It's so fun seeing a little one through a grandma's eyes.  I like that my eyes have matured to this point...what a blessing.

When I look at my grands I see complete perfectness.  That doesn't mean they are perfect but all the good radiates and that is what I see.  Every little thing about them is cute...even when the parents don't recognize it that way.  Grands are so easy to love and they love you right back.

I was thinking of our new unborn little one yesterday and my thoughts were: she is beautiful...I love her already so much without even meeting her.  What a blessing she is....she's another little miracle joining our family. I can't wait to meet her and hold her in my arms. (sniff, sniff)

I love watching my wonderful kids be parents...they are super...so much better than I was and I think I was pretty good.  I'm glad they are better..that also makes my heart smile! ☺

I am so glad for grands and the opportunity to have a second chance at getting it right or at least a whole lot better.  What a blessing to be a grandma, what a blessing the grands are!  I'm a better person because of Ivy, Mya, Kamryn, Zaden and Parker.  It's funny how much a little child can change you and make you better...they bring out the good in people.  I'm so thankful for my litte's...I love them all so much!

I LOVE BEING A GRANDMA!!!