Monday, December 19th, 2011

Getting reading for the last week before Christmas and then Sunday is the day. It will be nice to have some of the family show up when they are through with their meetings. So Christmas is really about Christ and so we will actually go to church this year for His birthday. That will be nice.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

A good Sunday...meetings were great..our poor Sunday school superintendent was short three teachers he thought until he started looking in the rooms and there were two there. He was only short one. He didn't have his own schedule and didn't know who was teaching there and I told him he had scheduled one teacher in two places. He cancelled the one class. He would rather be in St.George playing horseshoes than doing Sunday School work, but then the new stake Sunday school president didn't know what our course of study for next year is going to be so we are in a fine fix.

I get to teach on Jan. 1, 2012. I guess we will go with what is on display at the Distribution Center and start teaching the Book of Mormon.

Two sisters from our old Stake Relief Society Presidency are talking and bringing gifts so off I go tomorrow and pick up three presents. Oh well, I love to shop.

Friday December 16, 2011

Busy day but a good day. Christmas is almost here and we played sub for Santa tonight and it was fun. We were dressed in dark clothes, turned off the headlights on our car and quietly opened a gate and put boxes and sacks of food and even a container of money on a doorstep to help make someone else's Christmas better. Then we quietly drove off and went to a pay phone and called, disguised our voice and said to look on their front porch and Merry Christmas. Oh how I wish I had been a little mouse just to see their faces!

It is fun to be able to give to others.

December 15, 2011

Thursday and that means two things:
hair gets done and then and then....avonex gets shot into my leg. Wow for Thursday. The gal that does my hair has the hardest time hanging onto money...she can spend it faster than I can and that is a real deal to be able to do that. She and her husband are working with a helper at the bank to try to help them manage the money, but it doesn't seem to help..he can think of more reasons to spend than she can and it just seems to be a losing battle.

I'm trying to put together another quilt, but somehow this computer keeps drawing me back to it.

To get to this blog and the connection keeps changing until I'm almost frustrated, but maybe the computer is trying to help my brain stay active and alert..I don't know.

It is foggy in Salt Lake, but clear in other areas of the state. I guess our little valley had more moisture and so the coolness just helped the fog develop.

Well, I bought my first book on Kindle and I will be more careful now as I push buttons. But at least now I have something to read on it.

December 14, 2011

It snowed yesterday, just enough to make it look like Christmas for a few minutes. Our neighbors on the south side of the street were blessed to shovel, but we were blessed to have ours melt.

I am quickly putting together one last quilt for a grandchild for Christmas and then throwing together a quilt from the Pic-N-Sew club.
So I am trying to stay busy with my shopping all finished.

I have started writing a Grateful book and it is fun. The challenge is on, though, when our daughter will not return our calls. Oh well this life is for challenges. Right?

December 6, 2011
Tuesday and it is cold. I'm glad I live where it does warm up, but this is not one of those days. Oh well winter starts officially on the 21st and it is already too cold.
But today I bought a 6 year old a Christmas and so to go along with a story that President Monson told Sunday, I guess I have a few pieces of wood in heaven to build my house there. He told of a man that only thought of himself on earth and when he got to heaven his mansion was a shack because he didn't send any material ahead meaning he had done no service on earth. It was a cute story. He always tells great stories.

December 3, 2011

Christmas is wrapped up, the tree is decorated, I'm in the middle of two books and now I only have one quilt to finish so I can move the sewing machine off the table. I don't know where I will move it since my back bedroom is filled with stuff...good stuff, but stuff never the less.

We are going to have season tickets at Hale theatre next year and thanks to my good husband we will enjoy great plays. Some of them I even offered to help sing along with if they need me! LOL

Well just to put a little humor here and there and to let you know that life goes on even in my ho-hum world. But it is the best world I can think of . Just read a book that reminded me to become what I would like others to be. Since I can't change others..only me..that is what I will be working on for the next little while.

Wednesday....November 30, 2011

Last day of November and I am about finished with my Christmas shopping and wrapping. I wrapped last night until the tape ran out! Not, but it sounded like a good reason to stop. Then I finished a row of a quilt I'm working on--ribbon weaving. I only have one block that doesn't have the ribbon weaving the right way, but I'm not going to point it out to anyone.

Today I'm going to open the rest of a BIG box that came in the mail of Christmas items I ordered for our house. It is like getting Christmas presents early. Most of them are creches and I just wanted to have them...so I guess I am a little spoiled girl who went through the catalog and ordered what I wanted.

We are waiting for the warm before the storm today and just enjoying a lazy day.

Black Friday, November 25, 2011

The day after Thanksgiving and the day the stores are trying to get into the black and out of the red. We even braved going to JoAnns. Oh Wow! The store was open at 6:00 AM, but we didn't even attempt that hour and we showed up at 9:00 AM and that was enough of a crowd for us. It took and hour as it was for two pieces of material and 4 fat quarters and 4 spools of thread. Everything was on sale, or else 1/2 off with the coupons we had and then when we checked out, another coupon for 25% off EVERYTHING we had in our cart! Well we didn't have a cart, so we slid the little basket with our foot as we waited in line. We met many nice ladies who were tired and had been out since 3:00 AM and glad that we only had that much to cut. There were MANY who had 24 to 30 pieces of material have cut because material was really cut back in price. So the sale was genuine.

Glad to only do that sort of a sale ONCE.

November 23, 2011

The day before Thanksgiving and I am blogging. Wow who would have thought that I would have been doing this when I was just born. There have been so many changes in the world and now there is even an I pod that lets people communicate who have not spoken. The Lord has so many surprises when people take the time to learn the skills.

Tomorrow for the first time since Darin has been married ( 9 years) they are coming here on Thanksgiving. They are coming for breakfast. That has been a tradition at her mother and dad's. So I am just grateful for all small blessings. Brian and his family are also coming. Then we are going to Stacy's for dinner. I don't know if Darin's family is going or not, but the rest of us are. This is the closest we have been in years as looking like a normal family and I will take it.

Went to Time Out for Women and the theme was Be All You Can Become and now I'm thinking of the challenge and so I''m trying to give up the negative in my vocabulary and concentrating on the positive. I know I can do it. I know Heavenly Father will help.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Wonderful week,,went to Kansas and was able to see Grandchildren and Trent...been two years since Ella passed away and we were finally permitted to put flowers on her grave. Went to Branson and then we came home. Fast trip, but worth the effort to clear the air somewhat.

Time out For Women this weekend. Dan and Jede went with Lyn and I and it was wonderful. They taught us to make a commitment to make ourselves better and be more what Heavenly Father wants us to be. It was great. So, now to decide where I want to grow.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Went to have my hair done on a different day, because we are flying to Kansas tomorrow. This will be the first time in several years. It will be a hard one since there has been so much bad email but maybe it will be a good visit if I can just say thank you and yes and glad to have you tell me that and nice to see you. We are going to put flowers on Ella's grave. It has been two years since she passed away. Doesn't seem possible, but time does go on.

I hope the weather is nice there and it is nice here today so that makes it a good day. I am going to try to think only pleasant thoughts while we are there. We are only going to be with them for two days, and so I can think pleasant thoughts for two days.

I will take my Sunday School lesson with me to think on when I am in church and that will give me something else to concentrate on instead of thinking of past things that I should forget anyway.

Sunday, October 30, 2011
Today was the first time for teaching the family prep. class. They just want to sit there and not answer any questions. Just like the class in the relief society room. But they started talking after awhile. It was okay and they who were brave actually took a flower out of the pot, but then some were too embarrassed to do it, so it was their loss.
Won't teach that class for a few more weeks and then it will be about families and children.

Tomorrow is Halloween. Can't believe that day is here again. I'm so glad I no longer have to get dressed up and do all the busy ness of that day in the school.

Dan and I and our friend will go to President Christensen's class and learn something useful about the Savior instead of playing silly games and eating donuts and drinking punch.

I guess there is a time and a season for all of these things and I have certainly gone beyond the season of Halloween. But it would be nice to see how my grandchildren are dressed for it, but that won't happen.

Glad the weather is staying nice and not snowing like it is in New York. They are having their first snow storm ever at this time and they are not happy. The leaves have not fallen from their trees, so branches and power lines are all coming down.,

Hope to have a good day tomorrow.

October 20, 2011
Thursday, hair day and visit with friends. Always a great day. I have almost finished quilting the never-ending quilt. I'm tying it and it is almost finished.
I think I am almost finished with my Christmas shopping too.! Nice to have it done and it isn't even November yet.
The weather is great and the tomatoes are still producing.
Having a good day.

Saturday, October 15, 2011

What a beautiful day. Sun is shining and we went to our first yard sale. It was just in our neighborhood. The Hammonds were selling a curio cabinet and I wanted it. Two glass shelves and a light and it is small, but I have some of my more delicate pieces in it. Didn't need it, but I wanted it and now it is in the hall. Takes some of the clutter off of the book case in the front room.
Working on a quilt that is taking toooo long, but I am making progress. Started another one that they showed us at Pic N Sew. So always another one to learn to do. I am also making three more 6 inch squares to be done with the year long project of 6 inch squares.

Worked some more on tomorrow's lesson. Dan was a dear and took the Family Prep class all by himself so I could sub for another gospel doctrine teacher. Just like dominoes we rearrange and go on.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Sun is shining and that is great. We have had snow and I'm not ready for winter.
Helped the neighbor boy do his homework for the entire week last night. He will work for me and not argue. He and his father just butt heads so it is better to help him than to have them fight.
Went to the Jordan River Temple last night. It has been too long and it was great to go back. The High Priests were sponsoring the occasion and there were 7 people on the 7:20 P.M. session. It was a late time to go, but still glad to have gone.
Nice day today so maybe I will try to get the visiting teaching done today.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Average day until I drove to Highland to pick up my friend Eric. This cute little boy is traded back and forth between his parents and today his dad had to have a doctor's visit and couldn't pick him up. I went and was able to see my old principal, Dr. Higgins. It was good to see him and be glad that my teaching days are over. I enjoyed working for him, but I like working in my garden better.

It was not fun to drive on that freeway. Glad Dan had taken me on a dry run the night before and so it helped a great deal to know where all the roads went with so much road construction going on in the south end of the valley. I was very glad to pull back into my driveway in one piece.

Then I worked with Eric on his homework so that he and his dad didn't argue over getting it done. He will work for me where he won't for his dad. Strange family relations.

Oh well, it was an interesting day. We will be doing it in November when his dad has surgery on his leg, so this was a good practice.

Beautiful weather. I could live in 70 degree weather all the time.

September 23, 2011 Friday

Went to Grandparents day at Abbie's school. Fun to visit with her teacher. Stanley has been replaced with another boy. This teacher is more in control of the class and She likes Abbie. We did everything they had planned for us. It was busy, but that was okay. Then we took some things to Abbie's house and then to lunch at Zupa's. Good morning and a short nap. Neighbor came over to talk about another neighbor, Sister Brown who has passed away. We will miss her stories and keeping us on the straight and narrow line. She was and is a good woman.

Then another neighbor came over to ask about the funeral. I don't know why they think I know, but I did so I told him it would be next Wednesday.

Tonight we go to dinner with the old Stake Presidency. That will be fun. No pressure this time. Just a good meal at Olive Garden and time to talk.

Nice autumn day. 70 degrees and I love this weather.

Sept. 19, 2011
Monday, did a little sewing, but the spirit said, "Go help the sister that can't sleep in her bedroom until the dust and whatever is vacuumed." I was waiting for the Relief Society president to give me a call, but the Holy Ghost beat her to the message. Another sister and I went and it felt good to be of service.
Tonight, my husband and her home teacher went to give her a blessing and her daughter also..They both are not feeling well. I hope our little cleaning will help the home and their breathing. We took dinner to them. I'm still waiting for the R.S. president to give me a call to tell me when I should go over and clean.

Dan and I then went to a hardware store and I got a long snow scraper that I plan on using to scrape the ground cover of weeds that is covering places in the flower garden that I do not want it to cover. So tomorrow after I mow the front lawn, I will use my arm muscles and scrape back and forth and try to get rid of the pesky green stuff that thinks it wants to fill in the spaces in the garden.

We went to Barnes and Noble and I weakened again and bought some more books. They seem to be an addiction to me, but I plan on giving them away this Friday to a school class, so I guess they will go to a worthy cause.

Now, to plan on sewing some more tomorrow. I'm certainly being slow on this 9-square quilt that I'm making. But a little a day and it is starting to come along. The second row was started today. Only three more rows to make.

Thursday, September 15, 2011
Had hair done, then spent the day with Dan. Almost have all my Xmas shopping done. Then spent the day working on my garden. Hate to see winter come. Planted five more perennial plants today. Hope they take root and fill up some space in the front where I removed a plant that was taking over the entire front garden.
Reading a book about Attitude and Gratitude. I need to show more gratitude to people. Just finished a book written by Sister Belcher, the blind lady. She is another of my heroes. So positive and she has no sight.
Well, time to think about going to bed. Took my Avonex and Heavenly Father helped it go in without pain this week. Always thankful for that blessing.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Busy day but that's okay. Went to President Christensen's class on the New Testament. We are on the last six months of the Savior's life. He is teaching the gospel...no more no less. I love the way that the president teaches.

I even worked on a quilt, but spent more time in the garden. Fall is in the air and it won't be long before I can't spend days in the garden.

I need to spend time on the Sunday school lesson...so maybe tomorrow.

Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011

This is a day like Pearl Harbor that will live in infamy. . the day the Twin Towers were taken down in New York and the United States was under attack ten years ago. Another plane was to crash into the White House , but the people on the plane learned of the attack and they would not let that happen so they stopped the hi-jackers and crashed with the plane and all were killed. So many people lost their lives that day and so many brave people went into find the dead and the living.

Today there has been threats of still more bombs, but as of this hour, 6:00 P.M. mountain standard time there has none been reported. Living in fear is a trick of the devil and we have had prayers all day for peace in the land and people are flying flags to remind us of how important our freedom is.

My birthday was yesterday and I'm so glad they didn't take down the towers on my birthday. It would not be fun to have a birthday on such and awful date.

But Dan and I and Jede and Lyn all went to Touacahn instead to see and hear Wayne Newton and it was a wonderful overnight trip. He performed in front of the red rocks and it was wonderful. Of course, he could have performed in front of the garbage dump and I would have thought it was grand!

I had my temple recommend signed by our new stake president and I guess we are part of the the Taylorsville south stake for sure.

Tomorrow we start the Class with President Christensen again and life is back to what we consider normal. Can't believe that summer is over.

September 1, Thursday

September is my month. My birthday. I like this month. It makes me rather melancholy. OH well. Enough. I had two children this month and also a grand child was born this month. So much for that.

Tonight I still need to give myself Avonex...I'm glad I have the shot and Yet I still do not like giving it to myself. Never happy I guess. Oh well, here we go. Let's get brave and go and do it!

Monday, August 29, 2011

Sunday was an interesting day. I finally spoke up to our Relief Society President with the official handbook in my hand after the meeting was over and had her read what should happen in the opening exercises. She, too, didn't read where there are any "good news moments". I have had it with the women bragging about their new grand babies. Now that I have lost three, I do not care to hear about the women who have 13 and 29, etc., etc., etc. I also reminded her of the meeting we had with her and her counselors months ago and told her that this was not to be done any more. "Well how do we not do it?" I told her you just don't announce it any more. DUH. Now we will see if they change their motis opperendi or not. There are some young mothers in the group who have also lost their new babies and I'm certain they do not need to hear of these babies being born and the agony all over again.

Talking with Stacy on the phone yesterday, she is still not back to her normal self. She is hurting and aching for the loss of her little Enzo. Someone must have told her that she didn't even know him, but I told her that she had had him for five months and she lost part of herself and she is entitled to grieve all she wants. I'm waiting for a book on grieving from my niece which is a great book about how one can grieve and for how long...it is a jewel.

Well I dug up some more of those dastardly flowers and now I need to go to the pharmacy for a prescription. Always something to keep one busy. I am in the middle of reading three books! That should keep me busy.

August 27, 2011

Saturday... I like this way of blogging. No one reads this and I can write what is really on my mind. I'm reading a book and it said that this is one way to relieve depressing and loneliness. So here goes. I wish my family could be together. I wish all of my children would talk to each other . I wish my children would call and talk to Dan and I. But that doesn't happen and if wishes were horses then bums would ride or however that old tale goes. I have talked to all of my children this week, but it was because we, no I made the effort. I don't understand why they don't call. I don't think I pry into their business. I don't give advice. I don't go to their homes unless invited or unless I have something to give to them. Their wives are part of the problem. But nothing I can do about them. So here I am wishing they would call and getting no where. So I did call Trent today. We haven't heard from since Father's day. He did return the call rather quickly since they weren't at home when we called. We have to play dumb about what we know about their life. I have to be quiet about Stacy's life and let Stacy tell them. I think I have been too vocal in telling too much to her brothers. I don't know. We just don't communicate well. I only assume some things with comments I hear and try to guess what people really mean.

Well, I do feel a little better after putting this on paper. Glad no one will read this. So now I'm going snail hunting!

Thursday, August 25, 2011

We did our visiting teaching. No one was home. But we left a fairly expensive gift and the message. I hope that counts. The General Board President, Julie Beck, said do what you can, and we did.
I talked to Dan about the problem I was having with him and he didn't even recognize what was going on. He said he was sorry, but it will raise its head again. Men just don't get the feelings that go with living like women do. Oh well, that's life, I guess. On ward we go.

I would like to take a nap, but as soon as I do, he will call to tell me what he is doing and then be home in an hour. Then we can drive to Western Neurology to pick up all of my MRI's. It will be nice to see the pictures of my brain.

Had my hair done today and so I could visit with my two friends. Always like doing that. I have been wearing false fingernails. My beautician is amazed that I can keep the nails on even when I'm working in the garden. It is kind of fun to have long nails. True they do get in the way sometimes, but still fun.

So off I go to have some lunch and a nap.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

This is a different day. Dan and I went to a movie in the middle of the day. We went to see The Help. It is a great book and a great movie. I hope it takes the best movie of the year award.
Then we went shopping and I went to Old Navy and bought myself two pairs of Levis. My I never go there and today I actually bought two pairs of jeans. I don't know what got into me, but then I do too. Dan is spending money on himself for hearing aids and now for a special diet and they are costing big time, so I decided I was worth $30 bucks for two pairs of Levis. I guess I was feeling a poor me pity party coming and I wanted to head it off. I think it almost worked.

Lately it seems he is picking at me for little things like don't mail this until I have a chance to see it and if you had had the lawn mower down, the leaves would not have blown away, and did I need his help with the shovel and then he couldn't find the shovel. I was using it. Silly things like that, but they seem to bug the heck out of me.

Oh well, I finished I hope with the shovel tonight while he put batteries in the lamps that were burned out. I asked him if they took batteries, and he said, "I don't know." Then all of a sudden he said we need to look for batteries. I said, what kind? "Well the rechargeable ones." Only he can say that in a gruff way expecting you to know what he is talking about. This was a week after we had talked about it and the lamps had been sitting waiting. Then he is anxious to have me see how nice it looks. But he wants me to stop what I am doing to look right now. But don't interrupt what he is doing to look at what I'm doing because that never works.

Well it is nice to be able to write my feelings. I only wish he would understand how it hurts when he comes down on me and yet he doesn't understand that I too have a life and he needs to wait for me to finish what I'm doing to look at what he wants me to see of his doings.

I am just being picky I know, but then my daughter is being picky about me repeating what I say, so I am almost afraid to speak when I am around her, too.

I'm going to lunch this Friday with the girls from high school and they think I'm still a goody two shoes and too religious. So what else is new?

The girls in the Pick N Sew group think I'm an over achiever and someone always has a complaint about something.

Maybe I'll just do my visiting teaching tomorrow and then I'll feel better. I can also go and pick up all my MRI's from Western Neurology. They are going to do them a different way so they need space to store the new ones.

Well, I have rambled, but it felt good.

Summer is Winding Down

August 15, 2011

Monday morning and this is one of those days you don't want to have, but glad to be here to write about the learning experience. Stacy, our daughter had a miscarriage on Thursday, the eleventh of August, the day she was going to find out if her baby was a boy or a girl. She and the rest of us couldn't believe it when the doctor told her, there was not heartbeat. But at 7:00 P.M. at the hospital that night they started the first of two of the liquids that would start the baby to be born. At 7:00 A.M. Enzo was delivered, a beautiful boy with all of his fingers, toes, eyes, nose, ears and mouth. The only problem was his left side. The shoulder, arm and leg did not seem to be forming as properly as the right.
They chose not to do an autopsy, but did decide to have a funeral for him. He only weighed 3 oz. and was about 9 inches long.
On Friday at 2:00 p.m. in the American Fork Cemetery Enzo's parents, Abbie, Grandparents, Beal, and Uncle Claudio and Aunt Claudia and Eber were there. Daddy Nicolas Dedicated the grave, and then he and Uncle Claudio physically buried you in your little tiny casket.

It was a sad, but beautiful day. The sun was shining, the sky was blue, the flowers were radiant and people there loved you and were anxious for the day when they would be able to see you again.

Now we have pictures and memories and faith to go on until that day and faith in Jesus Christ until we meet again.

July 26, 2011 and finally I have found the spot to write again. I am brain dead when it comes to finding this place to write. So I am thrilled when this page pops up.
It is the 24th of July and the weekend has gone on for three days. Nice to have a long one.
Dan and I had a body screening today to see if we have any hidden problems. We will know in 21 days, but I hope they didn't find anything. It only took two hours. There were so many people there, that by the time we were finished we thought we had met a whole new family. Oh well Dan rewarded us and took us to Sizzlers since we had not been permitted to eat or drink before we showed up for our 10:00 A.M. appointment.

Thankful for the pioneers who came and as President Monson said, "and for those who decided to stay in this valley."

Happy Me

Friday, July 15, 2011
Finally able to write a new post. I am so excited to be able to write again. With this new computer giving me a bad time, I haven't been able to write for so long and finally I found a way to write again and I am so thrilled.
Life has gone on and we have a new grand son, Landon Reid Beal who belongs to Darin and Megan.
We are still living in the same house and I don't really mind renting since I don't have to pay taxes.
I am still teaching Gospel Doctrine , but no longer working in the Stake Relief Society since The Taylorsville West Stake is no more and we are now part of the Taylorsville South Stake. My goodness life has changed since I could write with this post.
I feel like a kid in the candy store since I found a way to write here.
Now all I need to do is to remember how to get back here.