A Simple Woman's Daybook ~ August 9, 2010

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So, For Today...Monday, August 9, 2010

Outside my window...it is pitch dark out and I am up, just like the old days. Jim went out to the Ranch this morning to help them with some problems in the shop. I think I have adapted to the later time of getting up...it seems weird and chilly to be up and about at 5:00 am.

I am thinking...and wondering how it will be for Jim to go back there after six weeks of retirement. I think it will be a little weird to walk back into his old classroom and the shop and see someone else's influence there. He said he is glad he doesn't have to go and doesn't have to stay. He is just going to help out the new teacher as a friend. It was rather weird though to see him walk out the door in one of the school shirts with his little bag of snacks. Deja Vu!

I am thankful for...the cool weather we have been having all summer. I checked the 10 day forecast and not one day will hit the high 80s. Low to mid 80s is hot enough for me! It is weird but we are loving it!

From the learning room...faith precedes the miracle...I have lost some poundage this week.

I am reading...Still plugging along through my WWII series but have added a few other books into the mix. I have pretty much stopped reading magazines though. Kind of weird but I have just lost interest. I'd rather read your blogs!

From the kitchen...we are going to a BBQ tonight to celebrate the return of the high adventure group, so no cooking today but I still need some fresh fruit and veggies for the week. I can take care of that at the Farmers' Market tomorrow.

I am wondering...how Laura and Robert are doing in their move-in process, how far Chris and Missy have gotten on their remodel over the weekend and how Jennifer will spend her time when school starts for girls in a few weeks and both Chloe and Hazie will have school for the first time. It is kindergarten for Chloe and Hazie will be picked up by the little school bus and taken to her classes a few days a week. I am not sure what she will be doing there but I am excited for her to have exposure to lots of other kids because she is so social! So those are the things I am wondering about today.

I am hearing...nothing but I think I'll turn on my music right now. First up on my playlist...Chances Are.
Today if I could change one thing...the negativity of the media and how they present the news. It is no wonder half the population is on Prozac.

I am quoting..."Look unto Me in every thought, doubt not fear not." From the scriptures; D&C6:26, just helping me get through this past week.
Around the house...most of the camping equipment is put away but there are still things drying out in a few places. The white water rafting soaked everything in Jim's pack.

I am going... to start getting ready for the wedding reception that is happening in our backyard this Saturday evening. It is still in pretty good shape from the retirement party so it should be a lot easier than usual. I am looking forward to working in the kitchen with my good friends during the party. We always have fun helping with the weddings of each other's kids and saving each other $$$.
I am missing...the kids, as usual. And my parents. Dad would have been 93 yesterday had he lived. :'-( Miss you Daddy!
I am hoping...that my friends, Helen and Marie and Lee will have great birthdays this week.

One of my guilty pleasures...giving presents to people. I wish I hadn't fallen behind a little this summer and it may get worse with the budget squeeze, but I will be creative and come up with something fun for them.
One of my favorite things...teaching the Gospel on Sundays when I am asked to substitute for someone. It is hard and I get stressed but that forces me to really put a lot of time into it and I really benefit from that. It reminds me of all our blessings and I love it.

An enjoyable movie I have watched lately...Last Chance Harvey.

I am curious about...when I am going to get down to actually researching our east cost trip coming up at the end of September. Any suggestions on what to do during the fall in New England are welcomed and appreciated.

A few plans for the rest of the week...regrouping after the weekend today, catch up on reading blogs and making comments, dropping by to see Helen today for her birthday, visiting teaching tomorrow, Temple Wednesday, Thursday date night, Friday set up for the reception, Saturday Kevin and Rachel's wedding celebration party, Sunday, church and rest.

Here is a picture and thought I am sharing with you...


A couple of you asked to see more of the photo shoot so here is another picture. I am adding it today because I am thankful that my hubby literally survived the high adventure activity. They did the rafting which only dumped him out of the raft once, but the canyoneering they did was really difficult for him. They did a lot of unbelayed cliff hanging and that really reaffirmed his fear of heights. The bolder hopping over deep crevices and walking on granite ledges and jumping off of 30 foot cliffs into water were not his cup of tea. So he is back and alive and I am grateful and so he. He has only scared me half to death twice in the short six weeks he has been retired. Men...what can I say? One nice thing is he did say he would never do a trip like that again. Yay! His guardian angels were very busy this past week and lots of prayers were answered.

Did You Know That...?

Did you know that kids in wheelchairs can bowl? I had no idea until a few weeks ago! Check this out!



We took the 8 grandkids and Mhairi, a friend from Scotland, to the University bowling alley when we were in Utah. It was really fun and we discovered some undeveloped talent too. Miss Chloe definitely has the athletic gene and she did really well. She had never bowled in real life but she loves bowling on the Wii. She transferred her skills nicely and had several strikes and spares over the two games they played. It was really great to watch them all playing together on side by side lanes.

All the kids had fun and did a great job even though for a lot of them it was their first time to give it a try. Most of them got some strikes and all had their own little style of walking up and letting that ball fly.

Chloe and Connor

Julia nailed two strikes in a row!

Chloe looking on as Hazie goes for the Gold.

And did you know.....
Kids in wheelchairs can win the game?
I've never known a not quite three-year-old
in a wheelchair
to do such a thing..have you?
SWEET! (sigh...)

Still Learning!

How I am feeling at the moment!

Here are some things I have learned this week:

1. Although it is nice to have some quiet time, I do miss Jim and wish he'd hurry home.

2. Even though you have paid into Medicare your whole life.....when you reach 65 and become eligible you still have to pay for it every month and it is not cheap. Really? Am I the only one that did not know this? I guess I never really thought about it. I am glad I got a few years notice before the bill rolls in.

3. Oh, and while I was getting educated about Medicare, I also learned that in 2013 we will all start paying taxes to cover the new Health Care Bill. Just what we need a few more people to support. Is it a coincidence that this is the year following the Presidential Election? I think not...
(You probably all knew this already, but I purposely try to avoid most current events. I don't watch TV, sooooo I am often the last to be in the know. I do read the news on the internet, but I am selective. Call me crazy, but I think it helps me stay a little more sane really. I don't like the sensationalism of the media, mostly.

4. I learned that Laura and Robert's garbage issues in Italy are almost evenly matched with the garbage issues in RI. You are allowed six tall kitchen bags of garbage per week, period. The Good Will and other charity shops will not let you donate anything on site. They come to your home and take only what they want. You cannot have a garage sale without a permit. Welcome back to America, kids!

5. In our state one man can over turn legal changes to the constitution made by voters in an election. I have been reading too much about WW2 over the past year for that not to scare the pants off me.

6. We have a son-in-law, Lowell, that turned 40 today and I still think of them as kids. But I kinda love that they are coming over to our side of the hill, don't you? He has reached that point where the old people start looking younger and younger. It is also when you start feeling less and less secure as all the cops and doctors look 12.

7. You can be fine one day and in surgery for a brain tumor the next. That happened to my friend, Carol Nielsen, yesterday. Tumor out, size of an orange, awaiting lab results. Through God's grace prayers were answered.

8. Never even think that you are almost done with your work...someone will ask you to teach a lesson on Sunday with two days notice! And I am singing that song..."Because I have been given much, I too must give"...and I am happy to do it!

9. Panhandlers get up early. I went to the store for Jim on Saturday morning for a couple of things @ 7:00 am and there they were...targeting me. Do I have a big sign on me somewhere?

10. I must be a full-fledged adult now because in spite of a bad hair cut and color and I still love my hair stylist and I didn't cry or get mad! My hair never comes out the same twice anyway, but never have I gotten a bad cut and a bad color at the same time. Yikes. But it is just hair and it will grow and that is a far cry from the way I would have reacted when I wasn't a grown-up.

11. It is a good idea to check on your monthly bills occasionally to see if you can get better rates, etc. I did this at the beginning of the week and saved $600.00 on car insurance, got a $100.00 refund from our cell phone company who had been charging us for our daily horoscope reports since last November. I don't do horoscopes and I never ordered it...whoops. They wanted to refund me for two months but a little persistence got the entire refund.

12. Once again, I have learned that you must be an expert in every field to protect yourself and advocate for yourself because no on else is going to actually try to save you money while trying to take your money.

13. The only peace we can really have is in our God, our values and standards, and our beloved family and friends. Therein lies our Title of Liberty.

14. I cannot stand blog posts with no photos (coming out of my house) so here are some pretty flowers to balance all this out a little.

Ahhh, God's beautiful handiwork
always eases the ruffled features!

15. You have to write something like this when you are in the house by yourself for days on end with no one to listen to your belly aching! Sorry, love you...Bye!

Buy, Don't Rent!

Yesterday I got a call from Ross. They are now living in Rhode Island and we had the cutest conversation. It went something like this.

"Hi Gramma, is Grampa home?"
"O, Honey, I am sorry but Grampa is on a camping trip and won't be back until Saturday. Can I help you with something?"
"Yeah, sure, you might know this."
"What is it, Rossie, how can I help you?"
"Well, I have some questions about the boys that were in jail where Grampa use to work."
"OK, I might be able to answer them for you....."
"I want to know what they do there."
"Well they go to school, they wear orange or blue jumpsuits that look like coveralls that your Dad might wear when he is working on the car, do you know what they are, Ross?"
"Of course I do, Gramma! So what else do they do?"
"Well, they walk in a single file whenever they have to go from the dormatory to the dining room or the gym or to their classroom. They have to put their hands behind their back.

They have made some really bad choices so they don't get to choose what they do, or when they do it, for the most part. They have to go to bed at a certain time and get up at a certain time, they don't get to choose what they have for dinner, they can't play basketball whenever they want. They have no privacy and they even have to get permission to go to the bathroom in some cases.

And since they are kids they have to go to school everyday and work around the Ranch. They have to be supervised 24/7 and they don't get to go home until they are released. They have no freedom really. Oh, and Ross, they have to do a ton of work around the Ranch...cleaning and working in the kitchen and yard work and house work~ all kinds of stuff. And if they fight with other kids or break the rules they have to stay longer."
"I know Gramma but what do they get to DO?" "What do they get to do outside?" Do they have to do a lot of digging or things like that?"
"Not really, Ross, unless they are planting things in the garden."
"Oh well what if they are little kids like around 6 or 7? What do those guys have to do?"
"Ross, kids that little don't go to jail. If they do something bad their parents are responsible for them or the damage they have caused."
Silence and then....
"Well ah, what if they're homeless?"

I then launch into a verbal dissertation on how there are always some people in a society that cannot take care of themselves and how the rest of us pay their way by paying taxes, etc. Clearly this was not where he was hoping this conversation was heading. I had a feeling early on that he had been highly influenced by the book or movie "Holes" and that this is what was prompting his inquiries.

"Ross, why are you asking me all this, are your writing a report for something?"
"No Gramma, but I just really don't like renting houses." What? (in the thought bubble)
"Why Honey? It is usually makes sense when you will only be someplace for a short time."
"Yeah but, Gramma, you cannot dig holes when you are renting. I want to dig holes all day like the kids in "Holes"and Mom and Dad will not let me!"
"Hole-ee Cow, Ross!"

I then proceed to tell him that the book/movie, "Holes" is not an accurate depiction of life in jail and he really should come up with an alternative way (with mom and dad's help) to find a way to dig some holes.

Reluctantly he says, "OK, but Gramma I REALLY want to try it! Digging holes all day would be so cool! And I never can do it because of renting houses!

And thus we see why humans need adult supervision for longer than any other species on the planet and it may explain why the youth facilities are overflowing with young men just looking for a place to dig some holes!

This may be the cutest conversation I have had with a grandchild in a long time. Clearly grandparents have not outlived their usefulness in a child's life. They often test the waters within the confines of a safe grandparent relationship because they know their parents would figure them out in a nano second regarding the feasibility of going to jail to dig some holes. Because after all, they reason, Mom and Dad have seen that movie too.

You have to admit though this is pretty sophisticated problem solving for an 8-year-old. Ross is a deep digging thinker, obviously and a pretty creative problem solver. Plus he is extremely entertaining. I think I couldn't love him more than I already do and then something like this happens!

A Simple Woman's Daybook ~ August 2, 2010

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So, For Today...Monday, August 2, 2010

Outside my window...I can see the US flag blowing in the breeze, a nice clean car, and not a soul in sight. It is so peaceful here. It is nearly 6:00 pm and the day is fading into evening. It has been a day of fun. I had my usual friends over this morning for a long awaited reunion. Our weekly time has been peppered with lots of vacations and today everyone was back, at least for today. Oh, I do so love these ladies...they get me through a lot of life with the notion that I can handle whatever is on my plate at the moment with my faith in God and their great friendships. I went out to lunch with another group of decorating friends that I hadn't seen in a long time. That was fun too.

I am thinking...I miss Jim as he is off with the scouts on a high adventure trip. But at the same time I am looking forward to some rest, quiet, and alone time to get things done with nothing else going on. It will be weird but I feel I need it!

I am thankful for...the variety of daily living, always something to look forward to and to keep me on my toes. I am thankful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ that give me a reason to make every day the best I can and a deep hope in a wonderful future filled with purpose and good things.

From the learning room...all things work together for good to them that love the Lord. And it is that love of the Lord that allows you to know that, to see it and to rejoice in it. You can have that kind of peace in no other way.

I am reading...Moments of Change, a book I received today from my sweet friend, Connie, as a birthday gift, along with the usual sagas I have been working on forever and a day. Thanks, Con, you will be seeing quotes from it on this blog!

From the kitchen...Plenty of food to keep me out of the grocery store for a whole week! Fresh, locally grown and vine-rippened tomatoes from the farmers' market will hold me a long time. I think there is nothing better to eat than a real tomato sandwich on whole wheat bread and a glass of cold milk. Lunch and dinner all week for sure!

I am wondering...why there is never anything good playing at the movies when I have a week that I can go anytime I want?

I am hearing...Have You ever Been In Love, by Celene Dion. I do love this song, one of my all time favorites.

Today if I could change one thing...it would be the wars that continue to threaten the entire earth day in and day out, year in and year out. Will man ever learn to live in peace and harmony? It seems quite doubtful when you take a little glimpse into the history of the planet. Mankind hasn't learned much over the centuries. But a girl can always hope and pray.

I am quoting..."Nothing on this earth that we could ever do or achieve will eclipse the value that is already ours today because we are loved and treasured by the greatest One in the whole universe." Louie Giglio, from Moments of Change.

Around the house...things need doing like cleaning out my business papers and client files and storing them in the attic. By doing this I can free up storage space for other things. That is my goal for the week...we'll see how that goes. I am going to also clean out my file cabinets and reorganize that for the coming years. Some of the stuff can be shredded into oblivion. You know how much I love paper clutter..I am going to get it the heck out of my office this week!

I am missing...my thinner self...she is in here somewhere and I am on a quest to rediscover her.

I am hoping...she is not too far gone!

One of my guilty pleasures..putting off until tomorrow what I 'd rather not do today. Ouch...see the previous two responses for a perfect example.

One of my favorite things...the opportunity of beginning again.

An enjoyable movie I have watched lately...Dr Zhivago

I am curious about...how our new, soon to be re-worked, budget will pan out.

A few plans for the rest of the week...office reorganization, dental appointment to get my new crown cemented tomorrow, business phone calls to get better rates on services like the phone...no longer need calling to Italy... YAY! Household stuff that just needs doing. And some fun...I'll dream up something. Blogging catch up for sure...

Here is a picture and thought I am sharing with you...

Golden Gate Park in San Francisco
A few weeks ago and we saw this sign.
We both thought it was pretty funny really.

Then I started to think about the commandments. Some people look at this sign and feel so restricted and wonder what they CAN do here. Each of these activities would disrupt what the garden was created for in the first place, a peaceful and lovely flower garden filled with beauty. Our Father in Heaven gives us the commandments to keep us focused and on the right path. He gives them to us for our good. We should never view them as restrictions but blessings for our safety and protection. He always has our best interest at heart and reasons for what He asks of us. We may not fully understand but, should obey anyway.

A Reminder To Us All

Once again, incourage.me has an article worth sharing. Check it out here http://www.incourage.me/2010/08/and-they-danced.html

Words of wisdom coming our way! Enjoy!

Because I Have Been Given Much...

The title of this post is also the title of a hymn. What follows the three dots is "I too must give." This is something I try to remember when I get weary, when I am tired or feeling unappreciated.

In order for someone to have a life blessed with receiving, someone has to give. It follows that if we love someone, we want them to be blessed with the receipt of goodness. We are the instruments the Lord uses to bless others and to answer their prayers. It is a privilege to be one of His instruments, isn't it? I remind myself of that when someone asks me to do something that is inconvenient or that at first I just don't want to do.

In the Church we all have a job or calling. Sometimes you have to wonder why you get called to a particular task, especially if it is outside your comfort zone or your perceived realm of gifts and talents. But you say yes, willingly hopefully, and amazingly you are blessed as the Lord qualified those whom He calls. In the best of all worlds everyone magnifies that calling and does their very best. In reality it is not always so and sometimes the responsibilities left undone by one become the burden of another.

In those times it is easy to become critical, to backbite, to criticize another. This is one of the tools that Satan uses to be divisive and destroy our unity. Satan knows that if we are not one, we are not the Savior's. And oh, how he loves that!! This is when we need to put our concentration back upon our own performance and not judge, as we never know what burdens are already being born by that person.

I know that I can never repay the Savior for His gifts to me or to my family but, I try to look at it this way when I do get tired and frustrated and want to say no when asked to serve others.


He has answered all of our prayers and blessed us so abundantly that I cannot voice our gratitude enough. At every turn we see His blessings played out, day in and day out in our lives. They are there for us all, we just have to see them. Paying attention heightens my awareness and makes me want to serve Him by serving others all the time. And when the request seems unreasonable or too much, I might grumble a little under my breath, but for the most part we don't ever say no. And I hear the hymn in my head and heart..."Because I have been given much, I too must give."

In those times where I feel exhausted, once I have an attitude adjustment I am good to go. I need to just put my shoulder to the wheel and get to work, knowing that my Father in Heaven knows what I need and what another person needs and He wants everyone to be edified through the experience at hand. He wants a win/win for all His children. He is THE perfect parent.

I am grateful everyday for the people I associate with that are such good examples of giving of themselves. They teach me all the time. Especially, Jim, he is truly one of a kind. He doesn't think about it, or grumble or whine...he just does it.

His secret...he has made that decision in advance. When someone needs him, he's there. He doesn't mull it over in his mind every time he is asked to do something...he made that decision a long time ago.
(Decisions in advance=no internal struggle over the issue.)

I truly do admire that!I want to be more like Him someday!

Painting by Liz Lemon Swindle