Me and My House

I love to go to church.  

When my family was young I loved sitting on the church pew with them.

One of my favorite scripture passages has always been Joshua 24:15

"...As for me and my house, We will serve the Lord"

I am blessed to have a wonderful family.

My children have all grown up and they are all happily married.

They are working hard to teach my 17 grandchildren truths

I love family scripture study.

I love family prayer.

I enjoyed family home evening.

I thought game night and family dinners were the best.

I was thankful when Sunday came around and we could have a family day without interuptions.

Life was not always perfect.  We made mistakes, but we did not give up.

Now I watch as my children try to keep going in their own homes,

and pass on the traditions that my mother and father taught me, my grand parents taught them...

Back 4 generations and forward 2 more.

Life is good.....

......I am blessed

Every day we choose whom we will serve...

 

 

perfect summer day

Today was the perfect summer day.

It was neither hot nor cold--just perfect.

The grand children played happily in the yard

We had grilled corn and fresh fruit with lentils for dinner--easily made and cleaned up

The hammock beckoned as the ice cream maker did it's work

We took a delightful stroll through the neighborhood

The ice cream tasted delicious just before bath and bedtime

A happy, relaxing summer day

Perfect

Giving Thanks

As I have faced numerous family challenges over the last few weeks I am especially aware of my blessings.

I am blessed to share my life with a wonderful man that I love and adore, it is a privilege to be married and that relationship deserves my full attention. I like sharing my time with him and am looking forward to the opportunity of spending all hours of the day together as we enter a new stage of life.

I am thankful to be strong enough to take care of the responsibilities that are mine. My hips are healing and with a little nerve medicine I have the mental strength to deal with most of my daily challenges.

I have 6 children who are happily married and gainfully employed. They face their challenges with prayer, faith and a can-do attitude. They have blessed me with 17 grandchildren who are healthy and happy. Of course each day is filled with growth opportunities for all, but they take each bump in stride and keep trying. My family makes me happy.

I have a comfortable home. It is always nice to go home. The septic system decided not to work this week, but it waited until the Thanksgiving get together was over. All is better now thanks to professionals who know how to do their job. I am thankful for modern conveniences like running water, electricity and appliances such as the dishwasher and refrigerator. These things make housekeeping a much easier job for me than it was for my grandmothers.

I am thankful for modern travel and communications that keep me close to my children and parents who live far away. I am glad I can pick up the phone and call whenever I want. I can get on a plane and within several hours find myself on the other side of the world where 5 of my grandchildren eagerly await my visit. I can get in my car and in a short while be at the home of any of my other grandchildren as well. The distances are small and keep family close even when work opportunities mean we live far from each other.

I am thankful for modern medicine that can help mend a broken back, and repair shoulders, hips, feet, belly buttons and teeth as needed. We live in an era when it is relatively easy to be healthy, all it takes is a little patience (hang in there Cara).

I am thankful for an eternal perspective and the spiritual awareness that there is a God in Heaven who loves His children on earth and He wants us to be happy. I am thankful to have the freedom to worship as I please. I am thankful for children who were open to learn from their parents and recognized truth. I am thankful they are building strong homes where truth is taught to my grandchildren.

I am thankful for good parents who taught me well and provided me with all that I needed while growing up. They supported me and helped me to grow. They continue to show love and encouragement as I go through the experiences of life.

I have a lot to be thankful for. Life is good and worth living with a smile.

Off and Running

After 2 plus weeks in Europe we are home again.

The jet lag hits in the mid afternoon beckoning me to a little nap, but the schedule does not allow.

I am home for two and a half days before heading to Charlotte and Connor's baptism. He turned 8 while we were gone and I am excited to go see him and celebrate this milestone in his life.

We celebrated our 38th wedding anniversary the day we returned home. Too tired to celebrate big time, we decided to stay at home and revisited the first meal we cooked together as newly weds--Tacos. They were warm this time, not the ice cold offering I put before my new husband on a box we used as our makeshift table while we sat on the floor.

Mail to sort, laundry to wash, groceries needed and grandchildren to visit. I have next week to put things in order before heading out again--Indiana is the next destination.

I did not realize that this stage of life would be my travel opportunity. I never left the state of California from the time I arrived at age 3 months until I was 16 years old. While raising my children I did not travel too far without them. Now I am gone from home almost more often than I am here. It is wonderful to have the opportunity to do so, because I get to see my children and grandchildren--that is a blessing.

Today I am cooking. Baking bread and beans, making lots of salads for the family meal we will share tomorrow as we gather for Connor's special day.

The question is will we have enough energy to make the 3 hour drive tonight? After making dinner last night I collapsed on the couch at 7pm and fell fast asleep. I will see how we feel this afternoon. I was able to sleep until 6am today--better than the 3 and 4am awakenings of the last two mornings. Better to arrive for the party a little later than planned rather than not arrive at all.

We are coming and happy for the opportunity to see all of our grandchildren this week. They may live in many different time zones, but this week, traveling grandparents are up for the fun. Save a place at the table for me!!

-All Dressed in White

We had a wonderful weekend.

Ella was beautiful in her pretty white dress, trusting her daddy as he led her to the baptismal font.

Coleman was a quiet, peaceful baby dressed in the same white outfit his father wore over 30 years ago on his blessing day.

The earth was dressed in a fresh blanket of snow as we started our journey home today. The nip in the air and the evergreen trees encouraged a happy feeling in my soul even though my sweetheart and I had to kiss our loved ones goodbye.

The sun occasionally peeked out from the clouds as the miles rolled by. When we needed to stop the brisk breeze was chilling, making our cozy car very inviting. The conversation was enjoyable as we listed our blessings and hopes for the future.

It is a pleasure to live in the south where the weather is usually mild. It gets cold for a day or two, occasionally it snows a little (a bonus day when they close everything and we stay at home). We have a few winter clothes and our car can make it through, but we don't usually have to worry about inclement weather very often.

We noticed a small matter to be concerned about when we had gone just a few yards on the freeway and a big truck spit road melt all over our windshield. No problem, use the wipers and spray......nothing.... Stop and clear away a little more snow off the hood and windshield.....still nothing..... The spray reservoir is filled with liquid for the warm south and not freeze resistant. We purchased a gallon of freeze resistant windshield washer fluid and added it to the reservoir and hoped the warmth from the engine would defrost the line. Nope.....too cold outside. We did sufficiently well most of the day, only needing to stop and clean off the glass a few times-- and then the sun started to go down and the snow began to fall again. We were driving down the mountain road in West Virginia, taking advantage of the toll stops to clean the windshield but it was becoming too dangerous.

We realized that an unplanned evening to ourselves in a quiet room would be a gift to be cherished. It is warm in here. The snow continues to fall. We had a delicious and delightful dinner.

Tomorrow the sun will shine again and we will continue our trek homeward. The windshield still may be a bit murky with road melt, but in the light of day it is easier to see the beautiful white blanket of snow the earth is dressed in as we roll along the miles, counting our blessings.

It has been a beautiful white weekend.