Food For 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!!!

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LOVE IS IN THE AIR 

Breakfast ~ What have you loved the most about this past week? I guess it would be that I have been able to Celebrate the Birth and Life of My Mom, Son and Neighbor! I love celebrating Birthdays!

Lunch ~ Briefly tell how you met your "love". Larry and I met at the Institute of Religion at Weber State in a Courtship and Marriage class.  We attended at this time of year and even had to write each other a Valentine.  The teacher had a Valentine with the class members name on each one sitting on a desk and strangely enough, Larry and I got each other.  He first asked me out at the Un-Party the institute had at Lagoon...I couldn't go with him for the day he asked and the story gets long after that.

Dinner ~ What are your plans for Valentine's Day? Jaydan's birthday is on Valentines Day and so we are having a dinner for him. All the kids will be here this week and so Larry ordered steaks...it will be a nice dinner.  Larry sent me Roses a few days ago and I'm going to make a Valentine treat for my grands.

Midnight Snack ~ List 10 things you LOVE about your life right now. 
1. I love that I am able to attend the Temple often. 
2. I love being able to help with my grands and see them every week.  
3. I love that I my window of life is open and I have so many friends that I get to spend time with...my friends inspire me to be better! 
4. I love that my children are being blessed in their lives and that we are a close family.  
5. I love all the time I get to spend with Larry!  
6. I love feeling content and peace with who I am.  
7. I love living where I do, surrounded by such great people.  
8.  I love that I have a testimony of Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father.  I know they are real and that they know and love each of us!  
9.  I love that I am healthy and able to do so many things.  
10.  I love this time of my life....this season is fabulous! 

Recipe for the Week ~ (instead of your recipe for life, what is it just for the week?)  Show Love to Everyone Around You!   

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Celebrating Robin

Robin turned 71 on Monday but sure doesn't look like it.  Robin is the best neighbor and such a great friend.  She helped me so much with my kids while they were growing up.  She let them go over to play and would give them treats and teach them things.  If my kids know how to tie their shoes it's probably because Robin taught them.  I remember her teaching Braxton how to make rolls and Kimi remembers Robin teaching her to make pies.  When Larry and I went to Italy back in 1994, Robin and Durk volunteered to watch our kids.  Robin encouraged me to get Jaydan potty trained first before we left and since he was ready it took me only a few hours and he was trained.  I give credit to Robin since I wasn't in a hurry to potty train again.

I'm glad that we started celebrating birthdays together the last few years. All these ladies mean so much to me and have inspired me to be better.  They are all great examples and I love the memories of each of them.  I have learned to be more patient from Robin.  When her family didn't put things away instead of getting mad Robin would hide the items.  She got her point across in a subtle way instead of being angry.  She once used her hubby's plate again to serve the next meal on because he didn't clear it.  Robin is clever and soft spoken and a wonderful example to me.

I think the first time Robin came into my house I immediately started pointing out to my kids what needed to be put away.  That's how I was but I felt so stupid because I knew Robin wouldn't act like that and from that day I always tried to enter with something nice to say first.

Robin is an Angel on this earth.  She is so kind to everyone and is so sweet and pure!  I'm thankful she is in my life!

Waking up to friends is a great way to start the day.  My kind of breakfast is one with friends!

It's about Love

I want to brag a little about my bowling today. My team is on the very bottom which doesn't matter to me at all.  I wouldn't even have known that if my team mates hadn't told me.  I think it matters to them.  I just figure someone is going to be there and it's okay if it's us.  We bowl our best and if that's where we end up so be it.  I usually do okay but let me just say I am not consistent.  Two weeks ago when I went my highest game was a 125.  I think that day I also got a 123 and my last game was around 111.  I was consistent but not even close to my average which is some where around 145. (I don't even keep track of that because I truly don't care)  Today I was consistent too but above my average all three games.  I got a 186, 184 and 166! (536) WooHoo!  The lanes were oily and my fingers got black but I liked it.  I got a lot of strikes today and so it made it fun for me.  It's days like today that keep me going back.

When I got home from bowling I had some beautiful Roses waiting for me!  Larry says "I Love You" with flowers.  He sent them early so I could enjoy them a few days before Valentines Day and a few days after.  When I put my nose close so I can smell them I think of my daddy.  My daddy loved roses and use to pin one to his shirt so he could tip his head and inhale the wonderful aroma!  

Tonight for SNAP we had a Valentines Dance with a few other Special Needs groups.  I saw some other people that I don't usually see and that made it fun.  Right off Sheryl came over to me.  Her husband is the Bishop of one of the wards and so they came to support their group.  I usually see Bonnie because she is a counselor in the Roy group.  Mitzi goes to the Roy group and it's fun seeing her at the dances and she always enjoys seeing me too.I met Mitzi and Sheryl when I first started bowling 10 years ago.  I thought it was fun to see almost everyone dressed their best for the Valentine Dance.  Their faces were glowing and their smiles were big.

I was impressed to see a bunch of youth there as well.  I learned that youth are assigned for a month at a time to assist with the Special Needs group.  I thinks it an Ogden Council that does that and I think that is a great idea.  We have a lot of youth groups come help with our activities.  I think it's a great opportunity for the youth.

 It was a fun night and I left smiling from ear to ear. ☺

Celebrating Jaydan

Our cute Jaydan is our Valentine Baby and so he doesn't like going out to dinner on his birthday.  He decided that tonight would be a good night to go and beat the weekend rush. Jaydan wanted to go to Sizzler...we like Sizzler!  Jaydan is such a great kid and we enjoy him so much.  This weekend he is moving out and I'm excited for him.  I can see the excitement in his face and that makes me happy.  Julie's brother Mike just bought a town house and wanted Jaydan to be his roomie.  They have talked about it for some time and the time has come.  The next step in this boys life.  I enjoy watching my kids grow up and move on to the next chapter of their lives because it reminds me of when I was that age. Jaydan is a good boy.  He is such a fun kid and usually so happy.  I seldom see him unhappy and it's kind of weird when I do.  He's always been a joy to have around.  It's going to be strange not having him around since the last year he's been home a lot.  He likes being home but I know he is going to love his new "bachelor pad".

I like when Jaydan (or any of the kids) open up and talk to me.  We've had a few good talks lately.  Jaydan has a heart of gold and is going to be a blessing to someone else some day.  This "Love" baby makes my heart smile and I'm so blessed to be his mommy!  I really enjoy our birthday dinners with our kids.  It's fun having them one on one.

I just want to point out....it's freezing outside and my son wears shorts and a t-shirt.  He is a hairy little guy and tells me not to worry because he stays warm from his "rug-or-fur".  He's always been like that...got an electric razor in 8th grade because he needed it.  I think he must have lost his razors...it's the in thing right now to have facial hair and he is loving that!  I love this kid!

Doing Good Things

I got up early and went to the temple again this morning.  Lisea Allen invited me to go with her and her group that has been going together for years.  They go and do Sealings every Wednesday morning.  I decided that I couldn't be doing anything better and so I'm going to plan on going with them every Wednesday.  I drove myself today though since I had made arrangements to go visiting teaching.  It worked out perfect.  I was able to help with Sealings twice and after my second turn it was time for me to leave.  I loved how I felt as I drove home...very peaceful and content!

I really love the sisters I visit.  I get to go to Crystal Miles and Linda Lamb.  Larry and I together visit with the Mark family.  Crystal and Linda are pretty easy to get appointments with.  I just have to watch the clock when I'm at their houses because sometimes our visits get carried away and I don't want them to ever cringe about me coming.  I have a partner but she is very involved with her kids and grands and has a hard time committing. (she picked today)  Oh a funny that happened when I was setting up appointments...I accidentally text a different Linda (Love) to see if I could come visit teach.  She replied back with...I don't think you're my visiting teacher. ☺  That made me laugh out loud as I'm sure it did her. (she lives in Roy) I love visiting teaching and getting to know the sisters better.  I have a strong testimony of it's importance.   I have become really good friends over the years with the sisters I have got to teach and visit.  

Doing the work of the Lord is very satisfying!

Tuesday with Larry

Before Larry got off work today I worked on a free book that I had an offer for.  It was just a 20 page book from Shutterfly.  I had the pictures ready for the most part and thought I'd be able to whip it out in no time.  Stuff like this takes time though. I had to redo a few pages a few times and I know I spent more than an hour on this little book.  I told Larry that I hope someone besides me enjoys them someday.  I really love picture books....I think they are fun and neat.

I was chatting with Jaydan when Larry came home.  Jaydan is going to move out with Mike Dunkley soon.  Mike bought his brother, Ricks, house and wants a roomie and a little help with the payment.  Jaydan is really good with his money and thinks he will be able to afford it.  Jaydan told me that for his birthday he wanted me to start donating plasma because he would get $$$ back for me doing it.  The kid is clever about bringing in more $$$.  I told him he should maybe consider substitute teaching.  I think after Kevin telling him the same thing that he will go apply to substitute.  He'd be a good substitute because he's good with kids.

Larry drove his cute truck today to the temple.  It's funny watching the guys that we drive by watch it.  A construction flagger even made us stop so he could talk to Larry.  ☺  I'm glad this old truck makes Larry happy.

The missionaries were at the Temple today. It was neat having them in our session.  I love the spirit the missionaries have.  I really enjoyed being there today with them.  I love going to the Temple every week with Larry.  I really have enjoyed going in the afternoon.  Larry only has about a month left before he won't get  half of a day off.  Then we'll be back to attending at night.

When we got home I had a nice surprise on my bed.  I knew when I saw it that my cute friend Ashley had been by.  I helped her out for her lesson Sunday by simply sharing a little bit about being Happy.  (like maybe 2-3 minutes)  Ashley is a very talented, creative soul.  Her thoughtfulness made my day even better!  I need to do something nice for someone soon!  Kindness really is contagious.

Celebrating My Mom's Birthday

My mom will be 79 tomorrow and so I went and celebrated "her" today.  I knew that Tuesday would be busy and by going a day earlier I had her to myself.  I brought lunch and it was yummy.  I stopped at Zuppa's and got us each a Triple Cheese Panini and some Tomato Basil Soup.  I also stopped and got my mom her favorite pie which is Lemon Meringue.  She was thrilled that I brought lunch.  She even had enough left over for dinner or another lunch.  It was fun spending a few hours with my mom.

She wanted me to make a chocolate sheet cake for her to take to school tomorrow to share with the class that she volunteers in.  I was happy to do that for her.  While the cake was baking I cleaned her bathroom for her which I know she really appreciates.  We visited for a bit while the cake cooled but once I had it frosted I knew it was time to go.  My mom was telling me about a great Aunt of hers who had told my mom when you get older you just get tired easier....(I paid attention)

I love my mom.  She's a good lady with a caring heart.  She's fun and upbeat too.  She gets a lot accomplished and has many talents.  She seems content and happy this birthday!  I hope we get to celebrate her for many more years!  She's pretty darn healthy so I could see her living for many years to come....I sure hope so!