Thursday, May 29, 2014

Prayer!

From the time I was a very little girl, actually as long as I can remembe... there was prayer in our home. How grateful I am, that my family found it important enough to teach me about my Heavenly Father. I was taught that He was always there and all I had to do was say my prayers. As my life got a bit harder as a child, I at least knew that I could always talk to my Heavenly Father about my problems, fears and worries...and some how even through my tough circumstances...I knew that my Heavenly Father knew me, watched over me; and some how I would live through it all. As I read this quote from C. S. Lewis, I knew exactly how he felt.

.C.S Lewis

So no matter what happens in my life, I realize that I never have to handle anything alone. That is a huge blessing in my life! How grateful that Jeff and I were able to teach our children about their Heavenly Father and the importance of prayer. That way no matter where they are or what they too have to face, they will never have to face it alone if they believe. As a Mom this brings me great comfort. 
Good night dear friends!
.Dios está ansiosamente esperando la oportunidad de responder a las oraciones y hacer realidad los sueños, como siempre. Pero no puede hacerlo si tú no rezas, y tampoco si no sueñas. Es decir, no puede si tú no crees.   ~Jeffrey R. Holland.  Amen

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

A great poet!

Maya Angelou #quotes #success

Author Maya Angelou dies at 86 in North Carolina

U.S. poet Maya Angelou speaks during a ceremony to honor South African Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu in Washington in this file photo taken November 21, 2008.
NEW YORK (AP) — Maya Angelou's story awed millions. A childhood victim of rape, she broke through silence and shame to tell her tale in one of the most widely read memoirs of the 20th century. A black woman born into poverty and segregation, she recited the most popular presidential inaugural poem in history.
"I'm not modest," she told The Associated Press in 2013. "I have no modesty. Modesty is a learned behavior. But I do pray for humility, because humility comes from the inside out."
Angelou, a renaissance woman and cultural pioneer, died Wednesday at her home in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She was 86.
"She lived a life as a teacher, activist, artist and human being. She was a warrior for equality, tolerance and peace," said her son, Guy B. Johnson.
Tall and regal, with a deep, majestic voice, she was unforgettable whether encountered in person, through sound or the printed word. She was an actress, singer and dancer in the 1950s and 1960s and made a brave and sensational debut as an author in 1969 with "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," which became standard (and occasionally censored) reading and made Angelou one of the first black women to enjoy mainstream literary success.
"Caged Bird" was the start of a multipart autobiography that continued through the decades and captured a life of hopeless obscurity and triumphant, kaleidoscopic fame.
The world was watching in 1993 when she read her cautiously hopeful "On the Pulse of the Morning" at President Bill Clinton's first inauguration. Her confident performance openly delighted Clinton and made publishing history by making a poem a best-seller. For President George W. Bush, she read another poem, "Amazing Peace," at the 2005 Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the White House. Presidents honored her in return with a National Medal of Arts and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country's highest civilian honor. In 2013, she received an honorary National Book Award.
She called herself a poet, in love with the "sound of language," ''the music in language," as she explained to the AP in 2013. But she lived so many lives. She was a wonder to Toni Morrison, who marveled at Angelou's freedom from inhibition, her willingness to celebrate her own achievements. She was a mentor to Oprah Winfrey, whom she befriended when Winfrey was still a local television reporter, and often appeared on her friend's talk show program. She mastered several languages and published not just poetry but advice books, cookbooks and children's stories. She wrote music, plays and screenplays, received an Emmy nomination for her acting in "Roots," and never lost her passion for dance, the art she considered closest to poetry.
"The line of the dancer: If you watch (Mikhail) Baryshnikov and you see that line, that's what the poet tries for. The poet tries for the line, the balance," she told The Associated Press in 2008, shortly before her 80th birthday.
Her very name was a reinvention. Angelou was born Marguerite Johnson in St. Louis and raised in Stamps, Arkansas, and San Francisco, moving back and forth between her parents and her grandmother. She was smart and fresh to the point of danger, packed off by her family to California after sassing a white store clerk in Arkansas. Other times, she didn't speak at all: At age 7, she was raped by her mother's boyfriend and didn't talk for years. She learned by reading, and listening.
"I loved the poetry that was sung in the black church: 'Go down, Moses, way down in Egypt's land,'" she told the AP. "It just seemed to me the most wonderful way of talking. And 'Deep River.' Ooh! Even now it can catch me. And then I started reading, really reading, at about 7 1/2, because a woman in my town took me to the library, a black school library. ... And I read every book, even if I didn't understand it."
At age 9, she was writing poetry. By 17, she was a single mother. In her early 20s, she danced at a strip joint, ran a brothel, got married and then divorced. But by her mid-20s, she was performing at the Purple Onion in San Francisco, where she shared billing with another future star, Phyllis Diller. She also spent a few days with Billie Holiday, who was kind enough to sing a lullaby to Angelou's son, surly enough to heckle her off the stage and astute enough to tell her: "You're going to be famous. But it won't be for singing."
After renaming herself Maya Angelou for the stage ("Maya" was a childhood nickname, "Angelou" a variation of her husband's name), she toured in "Porgy and Bess" and Jean Genet's "The Blacks" and danced with Alvin Ailey. She worked as a coordinator for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and lived for years in Egypt and Ghana, where she met Nelson Mandela, a longtime friend; and Malcolm X, to whom she remained close until his assassination, in 1965. Three years later, she was helping King organize the Poor People's March in Memphis, Tennessee, where the civil rights leader was slain on Angelou's 40th birthday.
"Every year, on that day, Coretta and I would send each other flowers," Angelou said of King's widow, Coretta Scott King, who died in 2006.
Found the article HERE:
Beautiful words by Maya Angelou #quote

AP Photo: Charles Beautiful words by Maya Angelou #quote
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It's your Birthday!

Today is Jeff's Birthday! I can't believe that we have been able to share this many birthdays together, what a blessing! I know that we are each getting older, but I still remember the first date we ever went on June 9th 1978. ( I know you can close your mouth now, it sorta fell open when you read how many years ago that was ). Anyway on our way home from the date, Jeff looked over at me and asked me how old I was. I hesitated and then said "Well, I will be 18 in about a month from now". I thought he was going to wreck the car, he had just turned 21 years old and he couldn't believe I was only 18. He kept saying it over and over " you are only 18!" Like he was doing something illegal! 3 years at that time seemed like a huge age difference. Funny how things look different throughout the years!
One of the best things Jeff and I have going for us ...is our weird sense of humor. It has pulled us through a lot of hard times and bad times. I thought of that sense of humor when I saw the cartoon below...

Happy Birthday Jeff, I love you more than words can say!
Thanks to all of you, who remembered Jeff's birthday...it made him feel special!
Good night dear friends1



Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Firmly set anchor

I was reading an article the other day about the importance of Anchors in our lives. It made me stop and think of what Anchors I have in my life, and remember how grateful I am for them.

Gorgeous photo by Jonathan Kingston.
Here is just a few highlights of the article, you can read the whole article HERE:

Not long ago I had the opportunity to sail on a great ship along the marvelous coast of Alaska, USA. While the captain prepared for the ship’s overnight stay in a remote pristine bay, he carefully evaluated the location and circumstances, such as the sequence of the tides, depth of the waters, and distance from dangerous obstacles. When satisfied, he dropped anchor so that the ship would remain safe and firmly anchored, allowing the passengers an opportunity to marvel at the spectacular beauty of God’s creations.
As I was looking at the coastline, I began to realize that the ship was drifting almost imperceptibly with the slightest amount of wind and underlying current. Nevertheless, the ship stayed firmly and persistently within a fixed circle defined by the length of the anchor line and the strength of the anchor.
The captain had not kept the anchor stored on the ship, ready to be lowered only if a storm should approach. No, he had anchored the vessel as a preventive measure and protected the ship from moving into unsafe waters or slowly drifting aground while passengers and crew felt safe.

Why We Need Anchors

The purpose of an anchor is to keep a ship safe and secure at a desired location or to help control the ship during bad weather. However, to accomplish these vital purposes, just having an anchor is not enough. The anchor must be solid, dependable, and used properly at the right time and place.
Individuals and families need anchors as well.
Adversity can come as a great storm to blow us off course and threaten to cast us against the rocks. But sometimes we are also in danger when everything appears to be safe—the winds soft and the waters smooth. In fact, we can be in the greatest danger when we are drifting and movement is so slight that we scarcely notice it.

The Gospel Is Our Anchor

Anchors must be solid, strong, and well maintained to be ready when needed. In addition, they must be attached to a foundation capable of bearing the weight of opposing forces.

The Value of Firmly Set Anchors

Life has a way of testing our anchors and tempting us to drift. Nevertheless, if our anchors are correctly placed in the rock of our Redeemer, they will hold—no matter the force of the wind, the strength of the tide, or the height of the waves.

Anchor, Atlas Page, Nautical, Steampunk, Atlas, Ships Anchor, Navy, Ship, Boat, Ocean. $9.25, via Etsy.
What are my anchors? First my testimony of Jesus Christ. Second is for the Gospel that He taught while He lived upon the earth and last but not least... my family. Each of these keep me anchored and help me in so many ways in my life. I have had some bad storms in my life time and I know without my testimony and the faith and help of family and friends, my life would have turned out totally different. I am very grateful for those Anchors! 


Monday, May 26, 2014

Color Me Happy!

Yesterday our family did the Color Run in Austin, Texas.
It just made me Happy to see their cute faces.
Our family motto should be..."Color Me Happy! "
Good Night dear friends!


Dieter F. Uchtdorf Regrets Family Quote Wall Art by Jalipeno, $3.98

Found the quote HERE:

Saturday, May 24, 2014

HOME

"Collect things you love, that are authentic to you, and your house becomes your story!" ~ Erin Flett
As I set my table the other night for company we were having for dinner...I realized how much I love my home. I of course love it more... when it is clean and full of people that I love also. Oh how I wish each one of you dear friends, could come and visit, and have dinner, and share our home and our story. Of course I guess that is what I do each night when I write in this blog isn't it?
My home looks a lot like my Grandmother Johnny's home ( I think I have shared that before ), it was my safe place!
Last night we babysat the girls while Mom and Dad their Date Night. I think you can't find a happier place on earth than our home with our Grandchildren in it!
Then Jenny and Angie got to do a sleep over!!!
After putting on jammies, brushing teeth, and scripture and prayers, it was time for Nana to get in bed with them and tell stories that I make up. They all start like this..." Once upon a time there lived a Nana and her Granddaughters..."
As I kissed them goodnight and told them how much I loved them. I realized this...this is what life is all about! And I am grateful to be healthy again to be able to have these incredible moments with my family!
Good Night dear friends!

"The ache for home lives in all of us. The safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned." 
~Maya Angelou





Thursday, May 22, 2014

Honesty is ALWAYS the best policy!

Heard this story on the news the other day...I couldn't believe it. Can you just imagine this happening to your college students; or happening to yourself while you were in college? All I kept thinking during that news report was of two things! One how grateful that woman and her family must have been, and two ...how proud their parents must be of them. That is an amazing story and so the old saying is true. "Honesty is always the best policy!"
Good night dear friends!
PS Ok the 3rd thing that I was thinking about after reading this story and seeing their couch was (as a Mom ) I hope they took some of the gratitude money and got a cleaner couch! :)

New York Roomies Return $41,000 Found In Thrift-Store Couch
(CNN) Many of us find money in our couch. A few quarters here and a few dimes there. If we're lucky, maybe enough to buy a drink.

Imagine finding enough to buy a small coffee stand.

Three New York roommates, investigating the cause of their thrift-store couch's lumpiness, discovered $41,000 hidden in envelopes tucked in the old sofa.

Lara Russo said she and roommate Reese Werkhoven were sitting on the couch, watching a Harry Potter movie, when he unzipped one of the cushions to see what was making it uncomfortable and found a small package.

"It was just in a bubble-wrap container," Werkhoven told "Erin Burnett OutFront." "We were like, 'Oh, my God. This might be drugs, it might be money; we're getting scared about it."

It was money, a stack of $100 bills an inch and a half high. The two started "freaking out" and went into a bedroom to show Cally Guasti. Her first impulse was to lock the doors in case it was drug money and the owner wanted it back.

The roommates found more envelopes in the couch, which they had bought at the Salvation Army for $20. One of the envelopes had a name on it.

Like many a wise man, Werkhoven turned to his mother for advice. She investigated the name and texted her son a phone number to call.

He said he hung up the first time when an older woman answered.

He called back, according to CNN affiliate WCBS, and told the woman he had "found something that I think is yours."

What is it? she asked.

A couch.

"Oh my God, I left a lot of money in that couch," the woman told Werkhoven.

The woman told the roommates that family members had mistakenly donated the couch, where she had been stashing the loot.

"This was her life savings, and she actually said something really beautiful like, 'This is my husband looking down on me, and this was supposed to happen,'" Guasti told WCBS.

Russo said at first they played around with the idea of what to do with the money, but the thought of buying new stuff gave way to doing the right thing.

"I think all of us were under the understanding that even if we spent it, we wouldn't feel good about it," she told CNN. "We would have felt we took something that was not ours. It didn't make sense -- it was her money, she deserved it."

According to WCBS, the woman, who wants to remain anonymous, gave the roommates a reward of $1,000.

They didn't rush out and get a new couch. After all, this one might smell, but it is pretty lucky.

By Steve Almasy
Found the story HERE:
Sitting on a goldmine: Roommates Reese Werkhoven, Cally Guasti and Lara Russo, pictured, bought a smelly secondhand couch, seen above, from a charity store for $20 they had no clue about its real value
Found their photo Here:

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Bushel and a Peck

When I was a little girl, we lived in my Aunt's home with her. She never had any children of her own... so needless to say that she was crazy about us, me in particular...because I was the only girl! After my bath and right before I would go to bed, I would go upstairs to say goodnight to Aunt Ina. She would always give me a big hug and tell me she loved me a BUSHEL and a PECK and a HUG AROUND THE NECK. I really knew that Aunt Ina loved me...more than life it's self. How grateful I am for her love. She was an anchor in my life and I will be forever grateful for her.Free Printables for Valentine's Day {I Love You a Bushel and a Peck} ~ 8x10 Print and Notecards | FiveHeartHome.com #yearofcelebrations

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Expectations!

One of my favorite sports as a kid was playing basketball. I was the only girl in my family, I had 4 brothers so...no one was surprised when I came out a Tom Boy. But I really loved basketball and can remember practicing on our basketball hoop that we had near the drive way on our farm in the evening till it got dark. It wasn't adjustable, but sometimes I wished it would have been.
Then when Jeff and I got married and we started having kids we bought the Little Tykes basketball hoop, they loved that. By the time they made it to Jr High, we bought the adjustable basketball hoop to put in our drive way too!
 Loved this analogy by Jason Wright of the basketball hoop and kids!
Hope you do too...night dear friends!


Koleson WrightShould we lower the hoop for the kids?
After a lengthy and well-orchestrated campaign by my two young sons, I finally purchased a basketball standard for the driveway. It’s the typical rolling model with height adjustment for the rim and a large base to fill with water or sand.
The rim is a bit small — it seems to clunk out more of my 3-pointers than other hoops I’ve used — but that’s another column.
One recent evening, my youngest took advantage of being home alone with me to shoot around without having his older brother there to block his shot. As I mowed our front lawn, he two-hand heaved from every angle. The rim was at regulation height, 10 feet, and most of his attempts barely brushed the bottom of the net.
After a few passes with the mower, I took a break and lowered the rim to its lowest setting. We played together for a few minutes and I showed off my soaring, rim-thundering, ground-shaking LeBron dunk.
I also demonstrated how to miss that dunk, but for instructional purposes only.
Soon I was back to mowing, and each time I crossed the driveway, I watched him make at least one attempt. After several minutes on the side of the house and out of view, I passed back in front and spotted my son standing on the base and straddling the pole. He’d released the latch that secures the rim and backboard in place and was pushing up as hard as he could.
I quickly killed the mower. “What are you doing?”
“Trying to get it back to the top,” he answered without looking away from his project.
“Why?”
“Because.”
“Because why?”
It was an odd case of father-son question-and-answer role reversal.
“Because I want to shoot at the regular dad height.”
I approached and helped him remove the pin that would allow the hydraulic mechanism to raise the hoop. Then, I did exactly what any thick-headed dad would do — I told him he wouldn't make many shots at the regulation height.
“That’s why they make it adjustable, bud.” I tussled his mop of sweaty brown hair.
Reflecting on the exchange, it’s hard to pinpoint the exact moment he quit listening to me.
“Look,” I continued, “it has different heights so you can shoot at the kid levels until you’re bigger.”
All right, maybe it’s not so hard to pinpoint the exact moment he quit listening to me.
He galloped into the yard, retrieved the ball and began taking and missing shots at the 10-foot height. He missed from close, he missed from far away, he backed all the way down the driveway and took a long and winding road to a layup. His eyes were locked on the rim and he carried the ball most of the way, running fast and stopping a few feet from the rim.
He missed.
Eager to make another “dad mistake,” I offered to lower the rim for him before returning to my yard work.
“Nope,” he said before missing another shot, and another, and another, then one more.
I smiled and stepped back to the mower. But before restarting it, I turned and watched another shot. He launched with both hands and we heard the unmistakable clank of the ball hitting the rim.
“Almost!” he shouted, and his head swung around to check whether I’d seen it or not.
Finally, for the first time all evening, I did something right.
I invited him to keep shooting and promised not to leave until he’d made one. I chased his misses into the garage, the yard, the neighbor’s yard, the bushes and the road.
Some were close.
Some hit him in the head.
Then, with all his might, he aimed for the square on the backboard and pushed the ball from his chest with every ounce of little boy energy he could muster. The ball hit the square and nearly every inch of the rim. As it fell through the net, he raised his noddle arms high over his head.
I raised my arms, too.
“Yes!” we shouted together and I raced to give him a high-five. But he was already chasing the ball down for another shot.
Back at work, I watched my all-star miss many more shots that night than he took. But I smiled knowing he was shooting at the ‘dad height.’”
Later, as we said goodnight, he thanked me for playing basketball.
“You’re welcome,” I whispered. “But you did a lot more than play ball.”
That night a son taught a dad that lowering the hoop, or personal expectations, may be a missed shot for giant success — 10 feet higher than expected.
You can read more of Jason's articles Here:


Enough craft supplies?

I have seen some funny quotes... but this was the best!

Exactly!!

Sunday, May 18, 2014

A great reminder!

This is a wonderful reminder! Especially for all of us here in the Seattle, where we have liquid sunshine often!
Night dear friends!
Conference 2014

Friday, May 16, 2014

Butterfly Kisses

Now you may know the Kenny Rodger's song Butterfly Kisses ( not sure if he wrote it ) about the love of a Dad with his little girl. Well, if you do and love it, then this short video is for you...

Find it here:
 WARNING...get the tissues out and ready!

I loved this reminder of how special a relationship can be with a Dad and his girls, and it won't be too long before Jeff will be dancing with Lauren at her wedding! I never had that type of relationship with my Dad but oh how I wished I would have. Doesn't every little girl and grown up girl, want to be cherished by her Dad?
But as I have said before, how grateful I am that Jeff has become that type of Dad to each of our kids. They are blessed!
It's Date Night and I have this terribly handsome man waiting to take me out...gotta go!
Good night dear friends!
Dad.. i will always need you this is true in every way possible.  My favorite line "I will just call my dad!" When I do I know he is there to help, listen or whatever I may need. Although things have changed with the addition of be people in our lives, the fact that I am his "girl" will never change!

Kindness of Others

Today one of my friends helped someone that she just barely just met. Both are friends of mine. I was so grateful that she would do something so wonderful  for a stranger. I am blessed to have such Christlike friends, who every day are a great example to me. This quote is so true, every act of kindness makes the world a better place!
Good night dear friends!
Have you explored our website? ► Adult ideas and stories of kindness ► Ideas and stories for kids ► Ripple Kindness Project for Schools ► How kindness helps bullying ► The benefits of kindness ► FREE Ripple Kindness Cards ► Worldwide Ripple of Change project ► Suspended Coffee project ► Videos ► FREE printouts ► Great links ► Ripple Store ~~ Please take a look, share and add your kindness story while you're there! - http://ripplekindness.org/ #kindness #payitforward #makeadifference

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Life's lesson!

At 54 years old...I am still learning some of life's most important lessons!
When things aren't Adding up in your life, start subtracting!

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

I know that Mother's Day is over but...

this is one Mother's Day video you won't want to miss that I found today. Short but sweet!

Watch this incredible story of an incredible Mother HERE:

This story made me think of the sacrifices that my Mom made for me. Motherhood is all about sacrifice, but it is especially sweet when teenagers and young adults really start to understand that concept.
Motherhood is a choice you make everyday to put someone else's happiness ahead of your own.

Monday, May 12, 2014

4 minutes can make all the difference!

I was reading an article today about how important the choices are in our lives are...I love how they compared it to the 4 minutes in the Olympics dreams of the athletes. I love that it made me realize that this life is our 4 minutes, that the things we do here and now...make all the difference in our life. It is all about the choices we make!
It was a great reminder for me!
Good night dear friends!


Its the story of Noelle Pikus-Pace. In Noelle’s event, the skeleton, athletes build momentum as they sprint and then plunge headfirst on a small sled. With their faces inches above the ground, they race down a winding, icy track at speeds that top 90 miles (145 km) an hour.
Remarkably, years of preparation would be considered either a success or a disappointment based on what happened in the space of four intense 60-second runs.
Noelle’s previous 2006 Olympic dreams were dashed when a terrible accident left her with a broken leg. In the 2010 Olympics her dreams fell short again when just over one-tenth of a second kept her from the medal stand.2
Can you imagine the anxiety she felt as she waited to begin her first run in the 2014 Olympics? Years of preparation would culminate in only a sliver of time. Four minutes total. She spent years preparing for those four minutes and would spend a lifetime afterward reflecting on them.
Noelle’s final runs were virtually flawless! We will never forget her leap into the stands to embrace her family after crossing the finish line, exclaiming, “We did it!” Years of preparation had paid off. 
It may seem unfair that Noelle’s entire Olympic dreams hinged on what she did during just four brief minutes. But she knew it, and that is why she prepared so diligently. She sensed the magnitude, the urgency of her four minutes, and what they would mean for the rest of her life.
You can read the rest of the story HERE:

Happy Mother's Day / Happy Birthday!

I remember when the kids were all little, that Mother's Day seemed to be the day that I just prayed everyone would just get up, try to listen and obey... and not fight. Really that is all I really wanted! But then I realized each Mother's Day I got a lot more than that. I got a reminder of how important being a Mom is. I learned that Happiness comes in moments...not necessarily in a whole day at one time! :) I learned that each one of these kids had a piece of my heart that would be forever theirs. I realized that I could not do this job alone, how grateful I was and am for Jeff being by my side, every step of the way. How much I admire those incredible Mothers that do have to raise their kids alone...what strength!

So today on it was different going to Church on Mother's Day alone (without any kids or grandkids), it made me homesick for all of them. I was grateful that we were able to go to Amy and John's and spend the evening with them, and skype the kids or talk to them on text and emails. I love being a Mom and even though I am now a Nana, I feel like my heart just keeps getting bigger. We saw this sign on our way to Amy's ... I thought what a fun sign, and remember to BRING YO MOMMA TO CHURCH...seemed like something I would have seen back in West Virginia. I do hope when I am old that my kids were take me to church with them!

 How I wish getting everyone together was more than a yearly event!
 And last but not least...Happy Birthday Sweet Angie! I remember how nervous I was 8 years ago as I flew to Idaho to be with your Mom when she delivered you. I had never been a Nana before, and I wondered what it would feel like and if I could do a good job. But it was a piece of cake the moment they placed you in my arms. I couldn't believe that my baby, now was all grown up and had her own baby. I just couldn't hardly let anyone else hold you. I loved you from the moment your Mom told us she was pregnant. 
Photo: Day 131: Grateful for this beautiful  little lady! She's 8 today and I'm so proud she's my girl! I can't think of a better way to celebrate Mother's Day than to celebrate her birthday! Love this bubbly, creative, happy, caring and thoughtful girl! #day131 #365grateful #angieturns8 #lovethisgirl #proudmama #shesthebest
What fun it has been to watch you grow up, you are a lot like your Momma. You love anything to do with art, you are very organized ( sorry to say you didn't get that from me ). You were my buddy when I was going through cancer for the second time. You would always want to go to the hospital with me when I had my radiation treatments, you liked that they had strawberry shakes there in the fridge (ENSURE drinks). After my mastectomy, I was having a hard time with my body image, I remember well the day you came into my room after I had come out of the shower, I didn't know you coming in. I remember your face when you saw my scar from my mastectomy, you were only 3 1/2 years old, you said " Oh Nana, you only have one body...what are you going to do with only one body?" You had such sympathy in your voice, tears came to my eyes and I said "I really don't know!" Then I tried to get your attention on something else so that I could get my prosthetic on and get dressed. As soon as you turned around the next time you had a big smile on your face and said " Nana, now you have two bodies, can we go play with playdough?" It was that moment... that I realized I could sit around and cry all day because I only had one body, or I could get up each day, put on my prosthetic and go play with you. I realized that life was going to pass me by, and it was up to me how I wanted my life to really go. And I didn't want to miss a moment with being with you! Thank you for your amazing wisdom at such a young age. Thanks for the good girl you are, for the happy countenance you always have, and for loving me ...just the way I am! Happy Birthday dear Angie! We love you! Nana and Poppa

What a big day, I am more than beat. Better head to bed, but once again want to say Happy Mother's Day to all of the women out there who help teach and Mother all the kids in the world. They say " it takes a Village to raise a child" ...that is so true! Thanks to all of you who have played a part in my children's lives. I am eternally grateful!
Good night dear friends!

Friday, May 9, 2014

Weed vs Wish!

Thank goodness my grand kids see lots of wishes in our yard! I love how kids look at life!!!
It's Date Night!
Good Night dear friends..........

encouraging quotes | day | Inspirational Quotes - Pictures - Motivational Thoughts |Quotes ...I see Dandelions as a wild flower. Husband hates them, mows them down and uses weed killer in our yard. No dandelions for me!


Thursday, May 8, 2014

Time, Relationships and Experience!

A dear friend sent this poem to me the other day. How full of wisdom it is! My perspective on time, health, family and relationships has changed quite a bit, since I have been so sick for the past 5 months. I am looking at spending quality time with the people and doing the things I love to do...when I do feel good.
 I realize that many times I have given energy or time to things... that are not as valuable as other things. I am learning to pay attention to where I spend my time, energy and effort. I am trying to understand what it is I am suppose to learn from this experience. This poem, reminded me of some of these things.
Hope it touches you too.
Good night dear friends!
( My daughter Lauren just graduated from college, here she is with her proud Big Brother. So grateful we all had the time to go and celebrate that big accomplishment with her. )


To realize
The value of a sister/brother
Ask someone
Who doesn't have one.

To realize
The value of ten years:
Ask a newly
Divorced couple.

To realize
The value of four years:
Ask a graduate.


To realize
The value of one year:
Ask a student who
Has failed a final exam.

To realize
The value of nine months:
Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.

To realize
The value of one month:
Ask a mother
Who has given birth to
A premature baby.

To realize
The value of one week:
Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realize
The value of one minute:
Ask a person
Who has missed the train, bus or plane.

To realize
The value of one second:
Ask a person
Who has survived an accident.

Time waits for no one.

Treasure every moment you have.

You will treasure it even more when
You can share it with someone special.

To realize the value of a friend or family member:

LOSE ONE.

Hold on tight to the ones you love!!!!

I may not be Perfect....

I say this is a very true statement... all I would add is AND MY GRANDCHILDREN too in there!



Such a true statement, we used to say our family motto should be...
"We may not have it all together, but together we have it all !"



Good Night dear friends!

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

The Art of Letter Writing!

Today I felt a bit worse than yesterday,maybe I did too much.? Now that I think of it, I did take a shower, dressed, did my hair AND put on my face yesterday! Not sure what I was thinking? :)
 I realize that I have to take baby steps, so today I stayed in my jammies till.... well that's not important, and just created cards for my family for Mother's Day. Oh how I wish I could make a personal one for each of you, but that makes me tired just thinking about  it.
 In January a dear friend got me some stamps while she was out at the stores ( that was one of my quarantine time periods ). She got me 100 stamps and you should have seen Jeff's face when I told him how many stamps I got. He kept saying "when are you going to use that many stamps?", then in the same breath he would laugh and say " Well, you do send cards and letters to EVERYONE!" I think he was mocking me.

But laugh if you want, but guess what happened to me today? Just after finishing and writing in each card, I went to go get the stamps to put on them....you guessed it, I am out of stamps. So see that is why I need to buy them at 100 a time.
I truly do love making and writing cards and letters. There are so many times that I can't personally get to my friends and family and tell them how much I love and miss them. But hopefully they know that, after receiving a card from me. The only problem is ...my handwriting is getting worse, but if I don't write too many in a row and try to slow down some it's a bit better. This old age thing is cramping my style...literally cramping my hands!
Anyway that is why I posted this story tonight of Jason Wright.
Good night dear friends!

"Write it so that people can hear it and it slides through the brain and goes straight to the heart." Maya Angelou <-- LOVE this...

Bestselling author shares theory- and his cellphone number 
Several years ago I appeared on Glenn Beck’s television program to discuss my novel,The Wednesday Letters. Much to Beck’s astonishment, I chose to share my cellphone number on air with his audience. I invited them to call and share their memories on the importance of personal, handwritten letters in their lives.
I will never forget Beck leaning forward and looking straight into the camera with that patented, sneaky look in his eyes. “Please call him at two in the morning.” After the interview ended, we said goodbye and he promised me my phone would ring.
He was right.
I received thousands of calls and answered as many as I could over the span of several weeks. Many left voicemail messages and some asked for a return call. It took a while, but I honored every request.
It was a sweet experience.
I heard the most incredible stories from people whose lives had been changed by the art of the handwritten letter. I spoke to widows and widowers who clung to boxes of letters like life preservers to remember their loved ones.
I chatted with teens that cherished letters from mothers and from mothers who wept at the memory of a letter from prodigal sons and daughters.
I got to know a young woman whose best friend was on board Flight 93 on Sept. 11, 2001. A treasure trove of personal letters was the salve that helped her heal.
On these many calls we discussed writing, publishing, the books people were reading and what they liked or didn’t about my books and others in my genre.
Many of those callers became readers, but, more importantly, some of those readers became friends.
At the time, the idea of becoming so accessible was highly controversial. Church friends called me crazy, neighbors wondered if I’d lost a bet and even my own family asked what I was thinking.
But to me, the concept was obvious.
If you ask to see someone in the kitchen, servers will usually accommodate you. You might want to raise a concern or compliment the chef.
When you get your car washed, you might give a shout-out to the dedicated employee who polishes that one last pesky spot before opening your door and sending you on your way.
Perhaps you saw a show at your local high school or community theater. It would be quite natural to congratulate the cast or director and tell them what a fine job they’d done.
When visiting a public restroom you might have noticed a sign on the wall inviting you to report unclean conditions to the management. One popular chain of convenience stores even invites customers to call a member of the executive team to report unsanitary conditions at any of their nationwide locations.
The list never ends. Virtually everywhere consumers spend money offers some line of communication back to management, distributors or creators of those particular goods and services.
Why should it be any different with artists?
I once discussed this topic with a loyal reader who also happens to be a good friend. He was lamenting that another author he enjoys reading has a policy about not responding personally to email received through his website. It’s not evident whether messages sent through his online contact form are even read by him and not an assistant.
It’s a shame that any author or artist of any kind would opt to practice their craft behind a digital wall that prevents them from engaging one-on-one with consumers Have we forgotten whom we work for? I recognize that I owe my entire career to hard-working men and women who spend their treasure on something I’ve created.
I don’t work for myself; I work for my readers. The notion that artists are self-employed is a myth. Shouldn’t I be responsive to the market and offer easy lines of communication? Shouldn’t all artists welcome opinions on what they enjoy or don’t?
Of course.
So, if you’ve got something to say about one of my books or columns, I invite you to email me or pick up the phone and call. I can be reached at jwright@deseretnews.com or 540-328-0111.
I can’t promise I’ll answer every call as life, work and sheer volume may sometimes prevent it. But if you leave me a phone number and ask for a return call, you will get one.
Just don’t call me at 2 a.m.
You can read more of Jason's articles HERE:

Motherhood

It is almost Mother's Day and this is the week that many Mothers look back and wonder if they did the best they could when they were raising their family, especially when the kids were young. Now that I am a Grandmother ( Nana ) I realize that there are so many things you are responsible for when they are young, you have schedules, appointments, other children, other commitments, volunteer activities, health concerns, cleaning, washing, counseling, debating, teaching, loving and on and on and on. I was a stay home Mom for almost 30 years, I was with my kids all the time, I tried to wear all those hats at different times to keep my kids safe, clean, happy, responsible and kids who had manners and also be someone who was going to make the world a better place by being in it. Did it work? Was my job easy... or successful 100% Yes and No!
There were times I had to go to school and defend my kids, there were times I took my kids to school to apologize for their behaviors, there were times that I would sit in my room and cry because I thought I was the worst Mom in the world, there were times I thought there is no way I can be all these things to each one of my kids. There were many times when I kissed them goodnight and they told me how much they loved me, that I thought my heart would burst with joy.
Strengths and fears of motherhood. Quote for mothers.

Monday, May 5, 2014

Negatives

I saw my daughter posted this quote (below ) the other day. It is true, by negatives in our lives, we learn and grow. Whether they be from negative people that come and go in our lives, by negative experiences that happen to us, or by just hard times; those seem to be the times that we really learn what life is all about.

I had to miss church today once again, going into my 5 month now of struggling with my health. I have prayed and wondered what I am suppose to learn from this experience. I do know that I need to take better care of my body. We only get one body in this life time, it is our responsibility to take care of it. I know that I need to also pay more attention to what is negative in my life, what gives that type of bad energy to me, and then learn how to stay away from it or completely get that out of my life. Negativity, I think can be contagious if we are not careful.

The first time I was battling Cancer, I took a class on learning how to help heal myself. .One of those steps was learning how to stay away from toxic people. I also learned how to get out of toxic situations (sometimes we put ourselves in those situations, simply by not making the right choices). Life truly is being pro-active on working to keep the negatives out of your life and accentuating the positive.
I mentioned on my blog before when I am really stuck at a place in my life and  I need extra help to get un-stuck, I go visit my friend and counselor. Someone mentioned to me once that they were shocked that I had Bigger Than Me Days and that were also shocked that I still went to counseling. I had to smile and not say a word. I personally know that it is very helpful on those times that I get stuck, to talk to someone who is a 3rd party and has a different perspective than I do. How grateful I am for those words of wisdom, to help me see things maybe in a a different light or at least help me figure out what options I have.
Yes, there are many negatives in all of our lives. How grateful I am for the knowledge of why we are here on earth...to learn and to grow. Grateful for parents, family, friends, counselors and teachers along the way that help us through some of these Negative Learning Experiences. Life is truly all about lessons!
Good night dear friends!

Saturday, May 3, 2014

Another tough day!

Yesterday I worked  but that was tough to do because I am getting sick again. I went to the Doctor on Monday and she said it looks like my immune system was really struggling again, or should I say still struggling. Seems like I just can't get on top of this junk, I am trying really I am but...system is just too weak. It now has gone into another sinus infection and bronchitis, so last night and today have been really tough.

I read a talk today about Gratitude and how important it is to have Gratitude even in your worst circumstances. Easy to have it when all is well, but being grateful in the tough times is the most important thing. I guess I needed to read this today, because I am sure getting discouraged to be sick again.
So here are quite a few things I am grateful for today...
1. I am grateful that my family is happy and healthy
2. I am grateful for a husband who is so good to help, and continuing to encourage me that I will get better.
3. I am grateful for friends who care
4. I am grateful for talents that keep me busy and my mind off of things
5. I am grateful for the knowledge that my Heavenly Father loves me, and is keenly aware of my circumstances. I know I am not alone.
6. I am grateful for my faith and the HOPE it gives me.
So tonight I will just concentrate on all these things I have to be grateful for.
Good night dear friends!

You can read the talk HERE:
This reminds me of Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and show you the way to go; with my eye on you, I will give you counsel.
Great quote on life :-)

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Summer must be coming!

I found the best quote the other day...

bring on the sUnShiNe!! ;) - Dayna

Miss Audrey soaking up some Vitamin D!
Brad and Kai in Austin, just trying out their new toy!
Kai surviving theTexas heat ...with his new Sprinkler!