A Wonderful Rainy Day

What a cute couple Kay and Warren are!  I'm so impressed that they have been married for 40 years.  These days that is a big deal!  Kay and Warren attend the Special Needs program and I have fell in love with them.  Kay has a heart of gold but tries not to let others know that.  I think that her gruff appearance is a cover or protection for how she has been treated in life.  She has had some hard times but has got through them and seems so happy with Warren and her cute doggie, Cocoa.  I am not going to be able to make their Celebration and since Kay wasn't feeling good enough to go to SNAP last night I decide to go their house and visit them and to take them a little gift.  I think it made them both happy....it made me happy.  I gave them a picture of Christ and a few cute mugs with straws and treats in them.  I just wanted them to know that I was happy for them and that I love them.

I invited Carla to run with me just so we could enjoy each others company.  I know she doesn't mind meeting my friends and enjoys an out.  Carla is so sweet and is always giving others gifts.  She brought me a cute frame today and I am going to print our picture and put in it.  I love it..."God reaches out to us through the loving heart of a friend."  So true!  I was glad that I had a little gift for Carla as well.  For visiting teaching this month I gave my sisters cute note books to take notes after reading the conference talks...or for whatever.  I made Carla a notebook to record her blessings.  I was glad I had something for her since she did for me.

We talked about how God does use friends and family to meet our needs.  I have also learned that sometimes he uses strangers.  This morning I poked my nose in my brothers business but feel like I was inspired to do so.  He had misunderstood something and was tired and overreacted to someone that means a lot to him.  As I prayed for him and his friend the "thought" came to me that maybe this little "bump" in the road was so that they would know just how much they mean to each other.  I truly believe that everything happens for a reason and that there are lessons to be learned from every experience.  I found it interested after talking to my brother that I had posted this on face book before I even knew he was having a problem.

There really is a bright side to everything!  Satan however would love for us to think otherwise.  He is mean and nasty and wants us to be miserable. He whispers lies in our ears until we hear him and start to believe him.  If we are unhappy it's because we are listening to him.  Satan doesn't want us to be happy and so he will try anything to stop us from being so.  My brother has made such great changes in his life and Satan knows the good things that are happening and that will continue to happen and tried stopping them.  I told my brother that when I realize Satan is behind the "bumps" I know I'd better continue on the path I was on.  I posted this on face book after Bennett and my chat:

"have you ever noticed when you have a lot of good things going on in your life a "speed bump" usually appears?  It's because you are going in the right direction and "someone" isn't happy about it.  Don't let those speed bumps stop you from being happy.  Work your way through or over them....find that happy again."  That's how I feel....Look for the Bright Side and focus on all the Good Things Happening! (don't give satan another second of your happiness)

Food 4 Thought Friday

Food 4 Thought Friday!

A little feast without the calories!!

Feel free to play along for some yummy fun! Go HERE to JOIN IN!!!

Food 4 Thought Friday ~ This week's questions: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ 
Breakfast ~ How do you spend your evenings when you have no where to go? That's when I really love to read but it doesn't seem to happen often enough.  I also blog in the evening if I am home.
Lunch ~ Name three of your favorite restaurants located anywhere and three of your favorite that are local.  Captain George's Seafood Buffet in Virginia is really yummy! PF Changs in Provo, Macaroni Grill in SLC.  Around here I love LaFerovia, Long Horn Steak House, Texas Roadhouse, and Ruby River. I really love Sizzler too!
Dinner ~ What gets neglected the most at your home in the cleaning department? Walls and Light Fixtures.  I kind of forget about them until I can see the dirt.
Midnight Snack ~ What are some of your hidden talents?  Music...so hidden I really can't claim it but I love music and wish I could play the piano or sing.  I have learned that being a friend is a talent that was hidden or at least not recognized for many years.  I am also sensitive to others feelings and the spirit.
Recipe of the Week ~ (instead of your recipe for life what is it just for the week?)  Let YOUR Light Shine!

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ 

I'm a Sub

(I realized I shouldn't share my number here) 

Yippee....I get to sub this summer!  Janae called me to sub for her today and I was so happy that I was able to.  I prefer subbing in the summer instead of being on a team.  I get to bowl for free and enjoy different people each week.  I decided to make up a sub card so that others would know that they can call on me.  I made it look like I know what I'm doing and like to strike. ☺  I got to bowl with Tina and Linda today.  I enjoyed visiting with them.  I use to bowl on a team with Tina until a few ladies quit.  Before I left I was asked to sub a few more times.

Carla and I hung out for a little longer after bowling.  We ran a few errands and just enjoyed visiting with each other.  I love being able to share feelings with my friends and I'm so glad that they are able to trust me to do the same.  Carla reminded me how wonderful my crazy, busy life is.  I wasn't complaining she just wishes her was busier.  Change and adjusting is always hard but something we all get to experience at different times.

Showering Heather with Love

Heather is a gal I met because of Cindee.  Years ago Cindee told me of Heathers blog and told me that I would really enjoy following Heather.  She was right.  I feel in love with Heather and her honesty and talents and wonderful testimony.  We decided to meet for lunch one day and after a four hour lunch we were great friends.  I served on Heathers Festival of Trees committee for about 4 years.  I always smile when I get an invite  or a Christmas Card from this cute friend.  I'm so glad that Cindee shared her find with me.  Heather is having a baby soon and I was invited to share this excitement with her.  I invited Cindee to come with me and meet this friend of hers face to face.  Heather was thrilled to finally meet Cindee.  It was so fun being a part of this celebration.  It was also very nice being able to spend some time with my sweet friend Cindee.  I admire the dickens out of Cindee....she's so close to perfect!

Count Your Blessings

There is so much in our life to be thankful for~yet, so often our focus is on our hardship and trials.  By taking time each week to focus on our blessings I know we will notice a positive change in our lives.  Even in our trials there are blessing....we need to look for them.

 One blessing I am grateful for today. Slow times....every now and then I like when my calendar isn't full and I'm not running all over the place.
An experience I have had that was a blessing to me. Since Mother's day was this week I'm going to share an experience that happened when Kevin and Braxton were both going to preschool.  Their teacher, Bev told me that one of the ladies helping her said that she just knew that Kevin and Braxton's mom must be a sweetheart because my boys were so kind and well behaved.  Such a blessing being told I was doing something right.

One Gospel Principle that is a blessing to me.  The Sacrament is such a blessing to me.  I'm so thankful that each week I have the opportunity to renew my covenants with my Savior and know that I am whole again.  Partaking of the sacrament is getting more and more personal to me and I imagine the priesthood holders performing this sacrament ordinance to be Jesus.  When I take the time is really ponder and think about this blessing it means so much to me. 
Something I have done to bless another.  Sister Frazier gave me a note for Mother's Day that expressed her love for me.  The note also said that I will never know all that I have done for her.  So just paying attention and acknowledging her must have meant a lot to her and blessed her life.
Who was a blessing to me this week? My family!  I have thought a lot about each of them this week and I'm so grateful to have them all as my family.  They truly are my biggest blessings!

Connor was Baptized

Our family is so happy for this handsome guy.  Connor was finally able to get baptized.  He has been visiting with the missionaries for over a year and tonight his desire to be baptized happened.  Connor was scared and excited.  He is afraid of water since he can't swim and was afraid he might drown.  He was brave though and had four helpers with him in the "cold" water.  One of the helpers (missionaries?) had to push his forehead under but they told him before they did it.  Connor let out a squeal of excitement when he came back up after catching his breath.  While the curtains were being closed we heard a second little squeal.  It made everyone smile.  The room was packed with people supporting Connor.  I'm so happy for Connor and think his dad, Shawn is pretty great.

I had talked to Shawn a month or so ago and asked him when he was going to let Connor get baptized. He had told me that he wanted Connor to know for certain what would be happening to him and the commitments he was making.  We both agreed that Connor has his place in heaven already and really didn't need to get baptized and might not ever really understand.  I remember telling Shawn that by being baptized it would open more doors and opportunities for Connor whether he needed them or not and how he is a blessing to all of us.  When I drove home after our little visit I remember thinking that I should text Shawn and let him know what a great dad he is.  (I should have pulled over and did it because I forgot to actually sent a text to Shawn)  I do plan on giving Shawn a card though on Sunday when Connor gets confirmed.  Shawn is so patient and kind to his son.  He's also very honest with us and has told us that they both get on each others nerves at times.

I had called Connor earlier in the day to talk to him because I knew it was going to be busy that night at the baptism.  I told Connor that he was going to have a warm feeling in his heart and know that he had chosen right.  He really listened to that because on Thursday at SNAP he bore his testimony at our Testimony Meeting and mentioned that.  What a sweet, innocent, tender, loving soul Connor is.

After the baptism we headed over to Bob and Vicky Fowers where they were having a going away party for Sister Frazier who was transferred to the Hyrum, North area.  She will be blessed and so will those she comes in contact with.  She will also be missed by us!

Just a Little Going On

Parker spent the night for his birthday. Oh how I love our little tradition of birthday sleepovers...so fun.  Kimleighel didn't have school and so she slept on the couch by Parker.  I needed to get up at 5:00 to take Jared to drivers education and so I slept in my own bed.  I'm glad that Kimi was a good Aunt.  It made an impression on Parker and he told his mom how nice Kimi was.  

After I dropped off Jared at the School I went to a few grocery stores.  I needed to get things so that I could make the missionaries dinner tonight and I knew I needed to start the corn beef and cabbage before I took Parker shopping.  Corn Beef isn't that easy to find in May...but I was able to...thanks to the nice guy at Kents who sent me to Harmon's.  (reminded me of the Santa on Miracle on 34th street)

Parker was excited to go shopping and knew what he wanted.  He even told me which Walmart he had seen it at.  Sadly, when we got to the aisle that it should have been in the toy he wanted wasn't there.  He spent a lot of time looking at a van for Ninja Turtles to ride in.  It was a little more than I normally spend but today I thought it would be fine.  I never mentioned that to Parker but I did ask him if he had Ninja Turtle guys to ride in it.  I don't think it does...maybe?  Anyway he wanted to check out all the aisle's and he came across a truck, trailer and car on the trailer that was a remote control.  He grabbed that immediately and said let's go.  It was about half the price of the van and so I told him he could choose another "small" thing.  He saw a batman beach towel and that was that.  Parker was happy with his choices and off we went to lunch.

Parker wanted to go to LaFerovia but they are closed on Monday's and so Kimleighel directed him to Chili's.  It was a good choice.  They have TV's around and a little machine on the tables to pay with that also have games on it.  Parker loved that....he also enjoyed peering over the wall at the other customers.  Such a cute, fun boy!  I usually comb hair but forgot today...thank goodness it doesn't matter as much with boys.  He such a cutie I just didn't think about it.  We had such a good time with Parker.  Parker is so polite and good.  I sure do love this cute boy that calls me gramma.  We got to play for about an hour when we got home before his mommy came to get him.  She needed to take Macie to a doctor appointment at Primary Children's Hospital with a team of doctors to see what's next and Parker was going to go to his Aunts to play.

Just after Natalie came and got Parker it was time for me to leave to go pick up Ivy and Zaden from School.  Ivy had invited a friend to come and play too which was fun for Ivy. Zaden wasn't bothered by it.  He is really good at just playing by himself or going along with the girls.  Today he made a cool thing with the lego's.

While the kids entertained themselves I prepared the Quiche that Sister Winks had requested the night before.  The Corn Beef and Cabbage was smelling wonderful by now. Did I mention that the Sisters asked us to fix them dinner because they knew that transfers would be the next day and they wanted to have dinner with us before any of them left.  Larry thought it would be nice to ask them if they had any requests.  To my surprise they all spoke up.  Sister Frazier wanted Corn Beef and Cabbage,  Sister Tulley requested Spaghetti and Meatballs, and Sister Winks wanted Broccoli and Cheese Quiche.  So today we decided that we would make them all happy and I pretended to know what I was doing.  Each of their requests were granted!  They all seemed pretty happy. ☺ (sister Frazier was the only one that was transferred but she had been here for 7 months so we weren't surprised.  We're going to miss her)

I was a little tired by the end of the night and glad that I had my mother's day treat that our Ward gave to the Mother's on Mother's Day.  It was the perfect ending to a wonderful day!