Book Club....we're shrinking

Our Book Club is getting smaller and that is okay. (the others will be back soon after their missions) We have grown in sisterhood and friendship and I don't think we will be getting bigger any time soon. In a few years we will be together again and hopefully we will still be meeting when it's mine and Larry's turn to serve a mission and they can wait for us to return. ☺

Today there were three of us and we went to Taggarts for lunch and to report about the books we read. At this point in my life I think if we didn't have book club I wouldn't be reading at all.  So, I am glad for my book club no matter what size it is.  I am glad that I am challenged to read so that I can report and return the books I have borrowed.

Reading is an escape for me and I learn so much from the things I read.  I really enjoy autobiographies and learning what is going on in the world around us....makes me even more thankful we live where we do and have the freedoms we do.  I prefer my "bubble".  I love reading all varieties of books.  My favorite authors are Nicholas Sparks, Kimberly Krey, Mary Higgins Clark, and authors of their own life stories.... 

This month I read Hitchhikers by Bernard Poduska.  It was a good book (true story) about a boy that was homeless through his childhood and how he survived.  His life wasn't easy or pleasant by any means but he made the best of it.  He has succeeded and was converted to the LDS faith when he was older.  Because of the experiences he had he has been able to bless others.  (isn't that true for each of us?)

The other gals hate when I pull out my camera so I had them take a pic of me at least with my huge sugar cookie.  I brought home half my pita and three fourths of my cookie (I kept breaking off pieces on my way home) and shared the left overs with Kevin and Jared.  The drive to Taggarts is worth it....their food and treats are so yummy!

I love Book Club and the gal's I read with!

                                            

SNAP (Special Needs Activity Program).....Halloween Party

I love my calling of serving with the Special Needs.  These people are so much fun and have the best spirits anyone could have.  They are so sweet and accepting. (most of them..wink)  They love having fun and very gracious to those that provide their entertainment.

The leaders of SNAP were planning on throwing a Halloween Carnival for the group but a week before we were planning on having it a Young Men/Women Group from Plain City volunteered to do it all for us.  It was so nice just being able to go and mingle with the group without having to be over anything. The ward did a great job!  They made it so fun for our group and I know everyone loved it!

They had face painting, ghost suckers to make, treat bags they could make, bobbing for doughnuts, bowling, cake walk and bingo.  There were lots of treats and fun Halloween Music.  It was such a fun night.  Everyone got to take a pumpkin home too.  What a blessing it is to rub shoulders with such special people.  I love it!

Fun at the Crepery...again!

I love getting together with my friends as often as possible.  The funnest days to me are those spent with family or friends laughing and having fun.  After seeing that Jodi and I had visited the Crepery last week, Kim asked if we would like to come again since she lives up there.  You don't have to ask me twice....I jumped on the invite.  I wanted to include whoever wanted to come and so I posted for all the gals.  Just a few were able to go.  I even ditched my bowling day so that Kathy could come too. (my bowling friends weren't happy with me but I know I will bowl and I didn't know if we would get this set up with Kim if we put it off) I'm glad we made it happen. 

I know I need to make another run to Logan soon to visit my friend Denece...hopefully soon.  I could eat at the crepery every week.  I love their crepes.....they are so yummy!  Eating out is such a good excuse to get together.  This place is a fun place and they don't mind us staying for hours....(I think we were there for four)  There were lots more people coming and going this week...the place was buzzin!

It was so nice visiting with Kim in person.  Because she does live in Logan and is going to school we don't get to see her much except on Face Book. (I love FB because some contact is better than none) And of course it was wonderful spending time with Kathy and Jodi too.  I love these ladies.  They make me laugh and enjoy life.  We have so much fun together being silly!

Life is so good and even better when we share it with others.  We all build each other up and add so much to others lives.  This is such a fun stage of life for me.  I have always enjoyed my friends and I've loved every season so far in my life.  I loved taking my kids to meet other friends and their kids so we could play.  I love getting out and doing.  I have always loved being on the go...

There's so much around us that can bring and joy and should.  I don't think we notice all the time.  I'm at point in my life that I am noticing more.  Like leaves....remember as a kid playing in the leaves was so much fun....it still is!  There is something to say for the scripture....become ye as little children!  Life is better through the eyes of a child....can we still see?

Scattering More Sunshine

Today I remembered a Sunshine Bag as I headed to Logan with some friends to meet another one of our friends for lunch.  I knew there was going to be someone to share it with.  We had ordered our lunch and a young mom with a few kids came in to order.  I knew she was the one.  I wasn't paying much attention to her for a minute or so and she left.  I was feeling kind of bad that I hadn't given her the Sunshine Bag because I knew when I first saw her she was the one to receive it today.  It wasn't long and her and her kids returned.  I didn't waste any time this time.  I went right over to her and gave her a Sunshine Bag.  It made her smile!  I know it will make her smile even more when she opens it up and reads the cool quotes.  She had her arms full (literally) and I know how wonderful that feels but also how stressful it can be.  I'm glad I was able to share with her some of my Sunshine today.  (I totally give God credit....He's the one that gave me the idea and whispers to me who needs them...I'm just the lucky messenger)

***just a little side note...the next day (Friday) I passed a guy on the Corner of 1900 W and 5600 S in Roy.  He had a sign that said homeless veteran.  He had a dog, and backpack and was listening to something with his headphones.  Anyway I didn't have any cash to give him (I seldom have cash) and so I looked at him...smiled ☺ and gave him the peace sign.  He returned the smile and peace sign to me and I seriously got chills.  The chills lasted for a few minutes and I wondered if I had just exchanged a smile with an angel....it was such a small gesture but it sure meant a lot to me.

I love when the grands come to play

Since Mya started school and Natalie has doctor appointments I get to have Mya and Parker over a little more often to play.  And, since Trichelle has school on Wednesday nights I get to have Ivy and Zaden over for a few hours on Wednesday until TJ picks them up.

It's nice having the grands over.  I love their little faces adding Sunshine to our home.  They love coming too and that makes it even nicer!  I love watching them play and use their imaginations....it entertains me. ☺  I love breaking the rule about food by the TV...I do let them have dry snacks and their drinks if they are in sippy cups (which they all enjoy)  I love their darling little smiles and their sweet voices and their wonderful hugs.

I don't see Kamryn as often but every once in a while she gets to come play too. (she goes to Kindergarten and Day Care)  At least we see her every other Sunday for sure.  I'm glad all my grands live close by so it's easier for them to come play at grandma's house.  These little's add so much happiness to my life.  They fill my soul with love and warmth.  I love having little ones around and I love being called grandma.  It's seriously the best!

I love Rainbows!

I have always loved rainbows.  I love the promise of rainbows...that the earth will not experience a flood again.  For awhile I had a lot of things around my house of Noah also as a reminder of God's promise.  I love seeing Rainbows in the sky and still point them out whenever I see them.  I never tire of them. Rainbows make me happy.

I love all the colors in the rainbow.  I think they are so pretty how they blend into the next color making more colors.  When I was young I really liked magenta and turquoise blue and would color everything with those two colors.  I didn't like red when I was little because it's the color my mom always got for me.  Susan always got blue and my favorite color back then was blue so because I got red I resented it.  I love red now.

My girls love rainbows too.  I remember talking about rainbows with Trichelle when we found out that the "gays" had claimed rainbows as their "sign".  We decided it didn't matter to us and we were going to continue to love rainbows anyway and the "gays" didn't have the right to change such a wonderful symbol.  Rainbows make me smile. ☺  I can't help myself when I see anything bright and beautiful...it just makes me happy from the inside out.

I'm thankful for my vision and recognize it as a blessing.  I love seeing all the beauties that God has created.  I love seeing all the wonderful colors and glad that I am blessed so that I can.  How drab life would be without color.

 I love Rainbows!

Sundays are Fun

I love Sundays!  I love having dinner with the family.  It seems it doesn't happen that much during the week and Sundays we have a set time and more of the family comes!  I love it!  Every other Sunday we have everyone here and it's wonderful.  Justin and Natalie and their cute kids come every Sunday except the last one which they spend with Natalie's family.  So Sundays are now a favorite day of the week for me.  Even gramps comes over every Sunday for dinner!  It's wonderful!

 Braxton always makes it fun for the kids.  He takes them out to see the animals or he brings animals over so they can play with them.  Tonight Braxton brought over the pelts of a raccoon and and fox and my grands loved playing with them.

 The furs are soft and have been treated but watching my little's stuff their arms up the bodies of these "use to be alive" animals kind of gave me the willies. Kimi couldn't stand it at all and didn't want the furs even close to her.  I had to laugh as Mya asked her why?.....was she allergic? haha

Braxton is a character and fun kid.  I enjoy each of my kids and the unique personalities each of them have.  They all add so much to our family.  I am thankful for Sundays and Family!