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. I'm thankful that we are blessed with so much...too much sometimes.  We have everything we need and more...we are pretty spoiled. (everyone I know is)
An experience I have had that was a blessing to me. Having a few kids that have struggled in school and in life has been a blessing to me.  My experiences have taught me compassion and unconditional love. 
One Gospel Principle that is a blessing to me.  Baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost.  I don't actually remember being baptized but I do receiving the Holy Ghost.  I "felt" him immediately!  I remember the covenants I made at baptism and they have helped me during my trials.
Something I have done to bless another. I help my kids by watching their kids...which I also a huge blessing to me.  This summer I am driving Trichelle's little ones to their Kids Club and I know that is a blessing to her.
Who was a blessing to me this week? My friend Carla...she makes me feel special.  Kimi and Jared have also been.  They are out of school and really enjoy my company which makes me happy.

Peace, Peace Be Still

I started taking Ivy and Zaden to their Boys and Girls Club today.  It's a great summer program for the kids and super affordable.  Trichelle needed somewhere for the kids to go and have fun and found this program.  Her kids were able to get in the program in Ogden and so I volunteered to help them get there.  I'm so glad that there are neat programs for the kids.  We had summer recreation when I was growing up which is probably similar to this.  The kids are really enjoying it.  They get breakfast and lunch and have organized activities.  I couldn't watch them one day a week (for a month) for what it costs for a whole month and I know the kids are having more fun being around other kids than they would be if they were at my house every day. We've been letting the kids sleep over so they don't have to come at 5:30 am when their parents leave for work....that is pretty fun too.

I finally got my hair done today...it's needed colored and trimmed for over a month.  The grays use to really bother me but I have so much now that I am getting use to seeing them and don't call right away to get them colored.  I really like the way my hair turned out today.

Larry and I went to the Temple tonight and it was so nice going together.  I prefer going first thing in the morning but enjoyed picking Larry up from work and going together.  I love going to the Temple and the peace I feel there.  I am so thankful for our Temple that is so close.  I love the Temple and I'm so glad I get to go inside and enjoy the experiences from being there.  I have enjoyed taking family names through.  I have one left and it's for my marathon.  The name I have left needs the initiatory and endowment done and so I have saved it so I can do it all in one day.  It's so nice having a bit of Heaven right here on Earth!

It's where and when

This is what we do.....We meet at Applebee's at 3:00.  We do this so that we don't get mixed up.  We often are seated at the booth in the South East Corner.  We like it there and have thought about carving our initials in the table.  (we wouldn't...but maybe we should make a tag for that table since we occupy it so much)  We had exciting news today.  Mallory gets her son back from his mission tomorrow and Kathy will have her first baby girl join her family next week.  Woo Hoo!  Of course we knew of both those things but we were able to talk and be really excited about them since they are so close.  I love sharing our lives with each other.  I'm so  happy that Mallory she gets her cute son back.  He's one of the kindest human's ever born.  He's so talented, smart, happy and just nice.  I'm excited to see him and give him a hug.  I'm excited that Kathy is finally going to get to cuddle a baby girl after having three sons of her own and two grandson's.  She is so excited!
(this picture is old but we all look the same..sometimes my friends get tired of me taking pictures, so I sneak them in anyway)

About Me

One of my gifts is that I am sensitive to the "spirit".  One day when I was driving through Sardine Canyon....it was fall and the mountains were beautiful.....without a doubt I knew that my Grandma Bessie had accepted the Gospel and that I needed to do her temple work for her.  I'd like to say that I got right on it but that didn't happen.  I didn't know how to go about getting the paper work done.  Eventually I got some help and had most of the information filled out and then I lost the paper.  It took me many months to get it done again.  I bet I was about a year from the time that I "knew" before I got things done.  We had my mom do Grandma's baptism and I did the rest.  It was really wonderful and while I took my Grandma through, Larry took my grandpa through.  We went up to have them Sealed and I was pleasantly surprised when we were told that my grandma Bessie's parents work had been done and that she could be sealed to them.  The spirit was so strong.  The Sealer even stopped and pointed out that there were Angels among us....I knew it....I felt them.

Years later my mom went through the Temple for herself.  While we were sitting in the instruction room I felt my grandma Bessie come to the door, walk and stand in front of my mom and then she sat by my mom for a minute or so and then she left.  It was awesome and I am thankful that I am able to feel the spirit of those just beyond the veil.  I've had other experiences since with friends and loved ones.  The veil is thin and we are being watched over.

Recipes

Grape Salad
8 oz. cream cheese
8 oz. sour cream
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 lbs of grapes (red, green or both)
1/2 cup brown sugar (opt)
1 cup pecans, chopped (opt)

Mix: cream cheese, sour cream, sugar and vanilla
Add: grapes and stir together until well coated
Pour mixture in a 9 x13 pan and sprinkle with brown sugar and pecans if you want.

Cafe Rio Pork
Cook Pork Roast on low for 12 hours in a crock pot with water added half way up the meat. After 12 hours drain water and get the fat off and add:
1 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp cumin (opt), 12-15 oz bottle of Taco Sauce, and 20 oz bottle of Coke.
Continue cooking for 4 hours...Shred the meat and continue cooking for 2 more hours.

Swiped Meme

Swiped Meme

Go Here to play along!

Do you need to write down things to remember them? Yes I do and then I have to remember to look at where I right things down.

Do you keep a diary/journal? I use to but now I blog and I think that is pretty close to keeping a journal since my blog is about my feelings and the things I do.

Are you scared of thunderstorms? Actually at times I have been scared.  I enjoy them inside the house but not like my hubby.  He loves them!

Do you have any unusual fears or phobias? I don't like closed in spaces.  I was on my way to the crown of the Statue of Liberty once and had to bail because of all the people around me.  I don't really like the thought of zip lining or sky diving but have done both and found out the fear was in my head.  I have zip lined again and had to take a few big breaths at first.  I thought I would sky dive again but have changed my mind.

Whats your favorite Disney movie? growing up it was Cinderella and Snow White.  I can't say that I have a favorite now because I like them all.

Have you ever painted a house? I have only painted walls inside of a house....and I don't enjoy it.

Whats the tallest tree you've ever climbed? My dads apple tree which isn't tall at all.  I'm not much of a climber but I have a few boys that are.

Do you always wear identical socks? I do!  I know that it's okay and even cool to wear mismatched socks but I still don't.

Do you live by any motto or philosophy? Don't Worry Be Happy!  You get what you get and you don't throw a fit.  Honesty is the Best Policy and Do Unto Other as You Would Have Them Do Unto You!

Do you lick the yogurt or dessert lid? Why Yes I do!!!

Do you lick the spoon clean after making something sweet? If there isn't anyone else to lick it I do.  I love licking the spoon or bowl.

Have you ever played the bongos? I don't think I ever had....pretty sure I would have remembered.

Have you ever handled a snake? I have touched a snake but I wouldn't say that I have handled one.  I detest snakes.

Have you ever assembled furniture by yourself? I have baby furniture.  I assembled a crib and made a few shelves.

When did you last go to the beach? In March.  I went to Kauai and we went to a beach. 

When if ever did you last go to London? I have never been to London.  I think I'd like to though.

What do you do to cool down when its hot? Drink Ice Water and sit by a fan.

What's the most unusual thing you've ever eaten? I would say eel....a guy gave us some when we were having sushi one time. The thought of it is worse than the taste.

Do you have a favorite mug? not a mug but I do have a few cups I really like.

Do you know any self-defense or martial arts? I remember learning a few moves at a young women activity years ago.

Who's your favorite movie action hero? Superman

Have you ever ridden a motorcycle? Yes but I'm not sure that I have driven one.  Mallory use to take me on hers and we came to Hooper once and were plastered by nats and mosquito's.  It was gross.  I had a few dates that took me on motor cycles too.

Do you collect anything?  Yes~Stuff....I collect useless things like: rubber stamps, cards, scrap book supplies (I don't scrapbook), Clothes, purses, books, decorations, props for photo's.  My problem with collecting is I can't part with it when I no longer need it. Truthfully....I need none of it!

Is there anything you wished would come back into fashion? nope

Do you stick to conventional fashions or like to try and be original? I'm pretty conventional

Have you ever given someone a handmade present? Oh Yes....I use to make most of the gifts I gave away.  I use to enjoy Tole Painting and did a lot of it.  I loved giving the things I made to others.  I just don't enjoy crafting like I use to.  

Super Saturday

Today was one of those days that was fun and we got a lot accomplished.  I've been wanting to get the tires painted for quite some time however I wasn't eager to start them by myself.  I'm glad that it finally hit Larry that the tires needed painted and that he got right on it and went and bought the paint.  He bought an enamel,  I'm pretty sure I would have got an acrylic which I think would also work.  Larry got the kids up to help and out we all went to paint the tires.  I only painted one which took about an hour.  Jared spent two hours out there and Larry and Kimi each stayed another hour and got them done.  I wanted to go to the chiropractor since it's been a few weeks and I also needed to go to the store.  That's why I left and because I don't have it in me to push myself.  I was feeling the heat and wasn't liking it.

I really like the way the tires turned out...they make me happy when I look out the window and see them.  I know my cute grands are going to love climbing on them.  We put these tires out for our kids to climb on and we started with just black tires which meant black kids.  Larry's dad painted them one day and used some tractor paint which was green on all of them.  It was wonderful and the kids didn't come in with black all over them.  The last few years we were seeing black hands again.  The kids love climbing all over and through these tires....they really are so much fun.

We got the tires painted and had time to get ready to go to Debbie and Paul's for a cookout.  Their kids and grands are here because of Caysie's wedding and they invited us to come visit and hang out with them.  We love the Widdison's and enjoyed visiting with them and their kids.  They had quite the spread.  Bryce and Aaron enjoy cooking and made some yummy ribs and pork for sandwiches.  There was lots of fruit left over from the wedding and so we cut it up....oh my it was delicious.  I love summer and fruit and cookouts.  Debbie is the Queen of Dirty Drinks.  I have never had a drink that tasted so good.  She put ice in a cup and then had the juice of half a lime.  Then she poured in quite a bit of coconut syrup (sugar free) then she added the soda.  It was so good.  Paul had said that if you are going to error on the amount of syrup it's better to error with more...I agree!  The drink was good to the finish!  I hated to leave because I could have stayed and visited all night but I had a play to go to which is always a blast!

Kimleighel got to join us tonight because there was an extra ticket.  It was fun taking her with us and she had a great time.  Kimi loves hanging out with me and loved these ladies too. We stopped and ate at The Old Spaghetti Factory first.  I didn't order much since I had just enjoyed a yummy cookout.  Kimi had saved room and enjoyed some Fettuccine Alfredo...what I use to always order when I was younger.

Tonight our tickets weren't together.  I was sitting in front of Kimi, Cari and her daughter, Carol and Heather.  Barbie and Natalie were in another section and different rows.  Barbie was sitting in the middle of the row and there were 7 or 8 empty seats by her.  Hmmmm....why didn't they sell us those seats?  At intermission Natalie, Kimi and I joined Barbie.  The Play was funny and we had a good time.  We always have a good time!  I really like my "Play"ful friends!  I'm not sure how I got so lucky to join them but I'm glad I did.