Grandma's Gazette

Three Words

2010-06-16T17:42:00.000-07:00

Three words made me cry Saturday night. "OVER THE HILL!" I have never considered myself "over the hill". But the reality set in. Seeing those words on fire, on top of a piece of pie, being served to me with all my family singing Happy Birthday, made me realize I am getting older and considered by younger people as "over the hill". When did all this happen? Now that we have an empty nest (we did not push them out), I think I better get in gear. I still have to graduate from College and get a job I really like.

Thank you everybody for coming to wish me a great "over the hill" life. My kids are wonderful to plan a crying experience for their dear old mother. The bad part is that they said they will keep doing it as long as I cry and hate surprise parties.

I can probably get over hating surprise parties but CRYING ...... No way.

Thank you, it was fun to see everyone. I think some of you will be getting back your gifts when you have a significant birthday. I can't wait.

Taxes

2010-04-15T20:26:00.001-07:00

I dislike April 15 (tax day) I remember loving it when we had alot of kids for deductions. Now it is just pay, pay, pay$$$ But our house it very quiet and only gets messed up if we have a get together. I guess I'll take paying$$$ Is that mean?
This year we send our taxes early in the day so we missed the long lines and parties at the post office. We must be getting old.

2010-04-15T20:25:00.001-07:00

Goals

2010-04-14T12:34:00.000-07:00

I have decided that getting anything done requires a person to become a nag.
If you cannot accomplish something on your own, the only way to get it done is to turn into a nag. I hate nagging. So I guess I have to pick.

Today I did something I have never done before. Last week I was talking to one of my friends about going to a show by yourself or going to dinner by yourself. We both decided we would rather stay home. Today I was out and about and I went to lunch by myself. I enjoyed the food and watching traffic. It wasn't so bad. I don't know about going to a movie??

Christmas

2009-12-27T18:43:00.000-08:00

Christmas was exceptional! I was thinking the best part of Christmas has nothing to do with presents. It's being together with FAMILY. Everyone was here from Las Vegas, Vernal, Draper and WV. We were only missing the kids from Provo. We laughed, talked, ate, tried to sing, lite candles, ate some more and opened very exciting presents. Our grandchildren all say thank you I love it! and some jump up and down after they open their presents. We are sorry that all the laughing and talking caused one person to get a bad headache.

As I get older and wiser, family is the most important thing I have. I know that is my most important job. So I will keep planning family parties, unorganized family reunions and what ever it takes to see these wonderful people in my life. So get ready to hear from me. I am going to to do a better job next year.

I think I have have said this before, but I have the best kids and best grandchildren. Thanks to all of you for a very Merry Christmas.
P.S. It meant alot to your Dad to have you all here and all of your hard work on the house helped him feel better.

Thank You!

2009-09-28T17:14:00.000-07:00

We have very thoughty kids. They planned a fun filled weekend in St. George for our family to celebrate our 40Th Wedding Anniversary. They planned all the food, activities, and housing. The food was wonderful,the play was so fun(ANNIE), and the house we stayed in was beautiful. It had a swimming pool and hot tub. The kids swam day and night. Some older kid got really sun burned. He was reading on the internet today "how to treat a sunburn".

What a wonderful way to celebrate a wedding anniversary.

I'm sure it will be one of a family traditions now.

Thanks kids.
You make us proud!
THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Happy Birthday!

2009-07-24T18:04:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday KK! I can't believe you are sixteen. What I really can't believe is that the other Half of G and myself are old enough to have a Grandson sixteen. Watch out Vernal. This birthday greeting is one day late but we hope you had a great day! We also heard about the Wendy's sign. How cool is that! I knew you would be famous!

Thank's Ashly

2009-07-12T19:46:00.003-07:00

Thank's Ashly for getting me back on my blog. It has been somewhere with Jason for the last few months.

We have had a great time with our family. We had a family reunion with our family and then with the Johnson's.

It good to see everyone again and talk and talk and eat and eat. We play games, do skits(and the winner was???) and tell stories. We have the best water fight but this year it was too cold except for the Williamson's. Nothing stops them.

I love to watch as cousins get reacquainted. Our grandchildren are getting older and they are very talented at making noises with their body parts. Staying together for a few days gives you a whole new perspective of these wonderful children. We have had a rainy month but all were good sports and we still had fun even though it rained and was a little chilly.

I love doing crafts with the kids and listening to them talk. You can learn alot about life from kids(and their parents).

My favorite thing that I observed was three little cousins hugging each other good-bye, telling each other that they love each other and will miss them.
Life doesn't get better than that.

Thank's Ashly

2009-07-12T19:46:00.001-07:00

Easter Weekend

2009-04-10T19:17:00.000-07:00

I had planned on having a very quiet, easy Easter weekend. Almost all of our kids are away. I planned movies, eating out, little or no house work.

It's amazing how one little phone call changed all that.

I have filled one truck load with garage junk and one truck load for the DI. I have been to the store twice to buy more Easter things for baskets and a bigger more delicious dinner. The other half of G has done all of his spring yard work in one day and driven the truck back and forth from the dumpster to DI.

One thing I know about myself is I work faster and better under extreme pressure. I really don't know why I don't have a stroke.

Oh and one other thing I've learned.....never plan an easy, relaxing, do nothing
weekend.

Job in Jeopardy

2009-03-24T18:10:00.000-07:00

Today is a great day! I had my month end meeting with my boss today and I no longer feel like I'm going to loss my job tomorrow. I've felt so much pressure and been so up tight about it, that it has been ruining my health and my personality. I've become a cantankerous, prehistoric, afflicted worry wart. I had a great February and I'm doing well in March.

I had to change my attitude and take the advice of my best friend. He told me (about a million times)learn to play the game. So, I finally figured out the game. And guess what? He knows what he is talking about. I go to work, sell old people things they don't really need. I made a game board that I cross off every time I can win in the conversation and secretly tell them everything they don't want to know about their CC. It's fun. At the end of the day I have crossed off all of my squares and I win. I love to win!

It's only taken me 40 years to figure out that my best friend knows what he is talking about. Listen up kids!!!

St. Patrick's Day

2009-03-18T17:33:00.000-07:00

Is anyone else suffering from the day after St. Parick's Day let down?

Redheads

2009-03-08T19:44:00.000-07:00

Today when I was driving to church I had to stop at the light. The car in front of me had a license plate cover on it that said "Redheads are blonds from Hell."
I don't think so!!!!!I was going to start honking but it was Sunday.

We have been getting rid of alot of old food storage that we have had for 40 years. I saved every old bottle and filled it up with water. We decided it all needs to go and be replaced. We started carrying them all up stairs but decided our knees could not take it. So when the grand kids came over today I told them I had a fun project we were going to do after dinner.
We all started carrying up all the bottles of water and they had a great time pouring the water out on the plants, putting them in the garbage and running downstairs to get more. We got the whole project done in a matter of 15 minutes. When it was time to go one of the kids said, "Grandma could you fill up those water bottles again and put them down stairs so we can do this again next week?
Aren't kids great!!!!

The other part of G is very mad!

2009-03-01T17:38:00.000-08:00

A man made hurricane hit our back yard!

Happy Birthday!

2009-02-17T08:25:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Aaron.

Aaron is thirty something today. I never can remember his birthday because when he was born he was born at midnight and the doctor told us we could choose his birthday. The other half of G thought he was born at 12:01, so we chose the 17th. But I really had all of the pain on the 16th so in my mind his birthday should have been on the 16th. We did not think that it would ever really matter until he was in High School and the cut off date for Drivers Ed was 2/16th. So he had to wait to take Drivers Ed. That about killed him.

What a Kid! He was a fun little boy. We had his mind made up on how he wanted things done. He was a perfectionists in how he wore his socks, his toys, his food and how he did things. He always had a plan on some new adventure he was going on. He has mellowed over the years.

We think he is a pretty great man, a good Dad and a he still knows how to have fun.

Happy Birthday!

Good Times

2009-02-09T13:37:00.003-08:00

Thank you Caleb for having a party! Very nice party, great people and a very good sermon in Church. It is so amazing what two years does to a young man. There is nothing like it. Jill and I can not take the song "Call to Serve". We get too emotional. Other than that, a wonderful day.

I did want to come home and start to prepare food for Jason's homecoming. We are going to start on the house remodeling.

Roses are red, Violets are blue.
Our family(well some of our family) loves parties(any get togethers),
And we hope you do too.

Thanks Caleb!
(By the way I think you are very brave)
Like he read my blog! Go Caleb!

February

2009-02-01T20:29:00.000-08:00

I love the month of February. I love Valentines' Day and President's Day. It's the best month for art projects and decorations. There is a little hope in the air for spring also. It is just a happy pleasant month.

If you did not have any of my pumpkin pie today you did yourself a favor. I forgot to put in one of the main ingredient-------SUGAR!!!! It was truly a sugar free pie. I'm losing it. Wait----I could turn this into a business!
Thank heaven this has nothing to do with my love of February.
I just hope it is February.

Cold Weather

2009-01-28T16:48:00.000-08:00

When it is this cold all I want to do is get in bed under my(our)down comforter and watch TV and sleep. I feel a little blue. But I was thinking today when it is really hot I can't do anything either because it is too hot. So I'm giving myself a lecture, "Stop complaining and do something."

(I'm still cold)

Baby

2009-01-22T16:37:00.000-08:00

Emily B. L. had her baby late last night. A little girl weighing 7 1/2 lbs. 21 inches long. Mother and baby are doing great. Debbie is in Heaven. She loves babies.

ELEVEN MONTHS

2009-01-20T13:37:00.000-08:00

Today Jason has been on his mission 11 months. Where has the time gone? He send a box home today. I was excited but it was alot of good old books and not even a note. He is almost on the down side. We have enjoyed this experience and know he is growing every day. I hope he is not getting taller!

Happy 11th month Jason.

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day!

2009-01-19T19:22:00.000-08:00

A reason for a family party. Thanks Dr.King. It is a wonderful opportunity that we can celebrate equal rights for all. We are all God's children. America is a great place to live and I love having the freedom to have a family party whenever.

Some of our families are all over America and we miss you, but we know you are having your own parties. We love you where ever you are.

Party on!

Happy Birthday!

2009-01-16T16:52:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to the other half of G. He is sixty something and I think we can now get the senior discount. It just seems like yesterday when we met and now we are old enough to be discounted. Time goes by too fast. We had a great day. We went to see a bunch of guns, railroad stuff and old cars. I found a movie to watch. Then we went to see KK play basketball at Judge. Go Uintah!!! After we went to the other half of G's favorite fast food place "Burger King". Wow what a day.

I'm lucky to be married to a kind, caring and good person. He ask me not to call him a hottie on a public blog. I'll respect his wishes only because it is his birthday.

Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Be Still

2009-01-14T18:21:00.000-08:00

I have had a pain in my back that goes down my leg for the last few weeks. It makes me stop and unable to move if I stand up in a hurry or try to get out of bed in the morning. It makes me angry. I don't have time to stop and wiggle around until what ever is out goes back in. My whole body tenses up and I get furious.

The other morning when I was going to be late for work and the anger was building the thought came to me "Be Still". I think Heavenly Father is making me stop, pray and be thankful for by many blessing. It did help me calm down. I'm always in such a hurry to get out the door, so now I have to get up earlier so I have time to "Be Still".

Thank You Heavenly Father for reminding me what is important. I do need to learn this lesson but I wish there was a less painful way to do it.

Shopping/Twilight

2009-01-09T13:39:00.000-08:00

Karla and I went shopping yesterday to finish out Christmas. We found a big material sale. I felt like my mother who would spend hundreds of dollars at a material sale in one day. It was great and the sale was super. We saved alot of money.

But the best part is we went to see Twilight. We declined the senior citizens discount. There were only six other people in the audience and no one screamed when Edward came on the screen (not even Karla). At first I was thinking Edward was weird. But as the show went on, he kind of grew on you. At the end of the show I was thinking "He could bite my neck!" Ashly was right it was a good show.

We decided we should go to a show every week but I don't know if we could spend hundred's of dollars at a material sale every week? I hope Wayne doesn't read this or he won't let Karla go anymore!

Christmas Memories

2009-01-04T18:36:00.000-08:00

We had a great Christmas this year. I have enjoyed seeing our family and working with them. It's a special time of year when we can all be together. It was fun talking with Jason. Talking to him made us all a little homesick for him. We also had a great opportunity to work together as a family after Christmas. It made me feel so proud of them and I appreciate all they did even though I got them into something they did not volunteer for. Thank you! Thank you!

I was taking down a picture that I have up for Christmas and it says "BELIEVE in the magic of Christmas". I've been thinking alot about that lately and I do believe in that magic. Sometimes it is a true miracle to me that Christmas all happens. You wonder where is all the money going to come from for Christmas? Or how am I going to get all of this done? How are we going to feel the true spirit of Christmas with all this shopping, decorating, cooking, parties, and rushing around. But that is the magic of Christmas. It all happens(everything turns out) and that true spirit comes with the quiet time of listening to the Christmas Story being read from the Bible, or seeing the smiles on the elderly as we sing Christmas Caroles, listening to Christmas music, and being with our families and loved ones.

All the decorations and junk are put away for another year. I will wait until next year for the Christmas miracle to happen again. I may be getting older but I do BELIEVE!

TCC

2008-12-14T18:15:00.000-08:00

We made it to the TCC last night. It was wonderful. I only cried twice. It was a wonderful evening and the roads were good. It's always nice to share a great night with family and friends.

The guest singer was a "Hottie" and so was my date!

Snowing

2008-12-13T11:09:00.000-08:00

It's snowing hard. What a beautiful sight! If it keeps this up we won't we going anywhere tonight.(TCC) Oh well we can watch the concert next year on PBS. We do need the snow and the other half of G and I went to Home Depot a few minutes ago and the roads are solid ice. We were the only ones in the store.

I think I'll make cookie, stay home and let it snow.

Happy Birthday!

2008-12-11T14:08:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Holli!

Today she is twenty something? Holli is a great member of our family. She is hard working, kind, smart, she has many talents, and helpful. At Tyson's wedding I don't know what we would have done without her. She made all the flower arrangements and did every one's hair/makeup. She likes to drive fast but she has never gotten a ticket. She doesn't like to clean her room but when she does it is spotless. She loves the grandkids and loves to tend them. She likes to put the fear in them. She is very tender hearted and when someone needs help she will do whatever it takes to help them. She loves to shop for clothes,shoes,and purses. She has done very well at school and loves to do hair. We know she will succeed in anything she puts her mind to.

Happy Birthday! Hope you have a great day!

WAITING

2008-12-10T10:58:00.000-08:00

I've been waiting for my personal assistant to change my blog design. I think she went a little over board with the picture of the other half of G permanently on the front page. I'll have to speak with her. Thank you personal assistant for helping me!

We had a great Thanksgiving. It was fun and alot of work. I think we all liked Thanksgiving better when our Mother's were alive and worried about all the details and did most of the work. Thank you Mothers! I never realized how stressful Thanksgiving is, especially the gravy. There are two kinds of gravy, one made with flour and one made with cornstarch. I opted for neither and went with Campbell's turkey gravy and it just didn't cut it.(BIG MISTAKE) I apologize and will work on a better gravy for next year.

It seems the older you get the more you have to apologize. What's up with that.
Oh well, on to Christmas dinner.

Oh by the way, Jason is wondering who Calvin is? I told him to guess????

Showering Baby Calvin

2008-11-22T17:21:00.000-08:00

Today we had a great time showering baby Calvin. His mother looks like she is ready for his arrival. I was thinking about his preparation that he is doing getting ready to start his new and wonderful experience on earth, with a body and his new family. Oh yes and the lecture and good advice he is getting from Grandpa DTJ.(grandpa had a very soft spot in his heart for the baby's mother) He will be ready.

It was great to see everyone and just sit around and talk. We don't do that enough. It's fun to catch up on every one's busy lives. I always think I'm too busy and I have to hurry home to do what? It was nice just to enjoy every one's company and not be in a rush.

What a Saturday! A great ride, great food, great company and thinking about the coming and going's in the great eternal plan.

Thanks for the party!

Thought of the Day

2008-11-20T16:37:00.000-08:00

My boss at work always has good thoughts for the day that she passes on to us to make us do better. This was great and I thought I would pass it on.

"You know, some people say life is short and that you could get hit by a bus at any moment: and that you have to live each day like it's your last. Life is Long. You're probably not gonna get hit by a bus. And you're gonna have to live with the choices you make for the next fifty years."

I strive to make choices everyday that keeps me out of the path of buses and other things that can wreck and destroy my life, my marriage and my family.

Life goes by very fast....but at the same time "life is long". Far too long to live choices made selfishly or without thought of consequence to others. The question is bigger than "Can I live with this choice for the next 50 years? It's more like "Can everyone be impacted by this choice, live with it for the next 50 years?

Decisions determine destiny....let's work to make them wisely.

Good thought!

The jury is still out on the name change for the half of G. Thanks for your great suggestions. We will let you know.

Name Change Goes on

2008-11-16T19:15:00.000-08:00

The other half of G said he has been thinking about my blog and now he wants to change his name to. But he doesn't know what name to choose. He doesn't care about a youthful name. (His name is just to common.) He is thinking about a manly name or something western like Duke. So I decided everyone could help him with you ideas. If he chooses your name he will give you a loaf of his homemade bread and come and do your laundry for a day. What a deal! Start thinking and good luck.

Today was cousin Joseph's farewell. He goes on his mission on Wednesday. What a powerful speaker he is. Wow, Grandpa J would be proud! As a matter of fact he sounded alot like his Grandpa J. He will make a great missionary.
Thanks for the wonderful family support.

Name Change

2008-11-11T19:33:00.001-08:00

Have you ever wanted to change your name?

Today I have been thinking about changing my name. I was talking to a little old lady in her 90's and her name was Jeannie. When I first looked at her name I thought she must be a young woman. Because any name that ends with ie or y just sounds young. (Kenny, Kylie, Debbie, Jennie, Mikie, Jimmie, Andy, Teddie, Cindy) So I ask the other half of G what he thought. He told me I had been hanging around grandchildren too much. (We have one granddaughter who just wanted us to call her 0)

Maybe we should pass a law that when a person turns SIXTY he or she could change their name if they want to. By then a person is old enough to know what they really want and what is really important. Feeling young?

So, if you get a call and the person leaves a message and ask to you to call Jeannie or maybe Jennie, call me!

Happy Birthday

2008-11-06T17:24:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Baby Jason!!!!!!!!

Jason is the big two 0 today. He said he woke up and his joints hurt????

Jason has been a great kid and we love him very much. Even though he is the baby of our family, he is bigger than all of the rest of us. He is kind, compassionate, smart,(he can take a car apart and put it back together) thoughtful, hard working, handsome, he can say he is sorry, he has the need for speed, he loves to play basketball, he is a good painter and has become a spiritual giant.

He is helpful to his brother and sisters and loves his nieces and nephews. He has found great joy in reading lately. He has found he is very good at moving people and all of their stuff. As a teenager he participated in alot of service projects that has given him alot of insight into serving others. He has wonderful friends that love and support him. He will be greatly missed this year putting up the Christmas lights because he does not need a ladder.

Happy Birthday Baby J WE LOVE YOU!!!!

Nervous Voting/Sock Sale

2008-11-04T18:38:00.000-08:00

Today I felt a little nervous about voting. I don't know why. I thought we would have to stand in long lines and wait for hours. I don't do very well waiting. When we got to the voting location at 2:00pm we walked in and did not have to wait for even a minute. My voting card did not work so I had to get another one but, other than that everything went smooth. I loved the large print version. I did not even need my glasses. We(I)worry about things that we(I)don't need to. Today I talked to alot of people across the United States and I think everyone is feeling a little nervous about this election. I talked to a man in Florida this morning who had gotten up at 5:30 ate his oatmeal, drank his coffee and went to be the first person in the line to vote at 7:00am. He was a little disappointed when he was 7th in line. When he was telling me his story it reminded me of some people in our family and what they might do to be the first person in line.(sock sale) I love it.

I am proud and thankful to live in America. I have the freedom to be the first one in line to vote or at a sock sale. Or I can choose to not vote and buy my socks at full price. Freedom to choose.

I don't know how my voting blog ended up about the sock sale. It must be November.

The End of a Tradition

2008-11-01T12:39:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was a little sad for me. It was Halloween and for 39 years we have always done the same thing on Halloween night. When our children were small we would eat our traditional chili and pizza, go trick or treating, do a little visiting and head down to the JOH....'s. Everyone came with their children in costume and we sat around talking about everything that had happened that day. We laughed until we cried and sometimes we ate but, we always went. We never questioned if we could not go. We just always went. All of us. As our children have grown and left, those that still live close by still came. Traditions are what make a family.

This year their was no Joh....'s house to go to. The "end of a tradition". This will not be the end of our family but, I know things change. Life goes on but I didn't know I would take this so hard and miss it so much. I am a big baby. So yesterday as I tried not to cry thinking about it and the people I miss so much, I had to decide to cheer up and move on to a new tradition.

Our children do not live by us so they can't come to our house. So the other half of G and I will have to try different things on Halloween to find our new tradition. We did have alot of fun last night. We went to see the movie Forever Strong. What a great movie and I did cry in the movie and a few tears were for the tradition that has been a part of our family for so long. I guess I don't take change very well. Next year will be easier. I'm just not going to think about it.

A Father's Sermon

2008-10-29T18:23:00.000-07:00

This week I went to my Aunt Ida's funeral. It was a very small gathering of children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, a few relatives and a few friends. Maybe forty people in all. No priesthood leaders to conduct. No sisters to give relief to the family, help with the flowers or no beautiful meal to come back to after mourning the death of their mother. We are so blessed!

My Dad was a one man show. He spoke and gave the prayers. He gave a good remembrance of his sister-in-law and a simple explanation of the Plan of Salvation, short,sweet and powerful. He is a true Missionary through and through. People started to wiggle and you could tell they were trying not to listen. My sister said, "if the Savior would have been there that is what he would have said."

But he said one thing that has made me really stop and think. He said, "we are all going to die and we all know that." I have heard that thousands of times and for some reason that has made me stop and reflect about that simple but true statement. I guess I thought "not me".(well two time I thought I was going to die but that's a different story) Why do I not live like I'm dieing. I know that is a country song but, I have decided I need to live because I am going to die. What would I do every day that would be different? Alot......so I guess Michael better take over the check book. Oh yes, if you come to my house I will be giving you some of my things. I've got to go because I have alot of living to do.

Too Much Time

2008-10-24T16:25:00.000-07:00

Someone in our family has too much time on their hands.

Today I came home from a hard day at work.....the laundry was done and homemade whole wheat, sunflower seed bread was just coming out of the oven. Delicious.....Thank You.

On Wednesday we went to see Kalin play football. We had alot of fun. Kalin played perfect, but he did not have any help from the rest of the team. If they would have only listened to him and gave him some help, they could have won the game. Last year when his team played Judge, he single handily won the game at the last minute. What a kid! We were there we saw it. He had great family support. Thanks Jill, Tyson, Karla and Wayne (and the L's from V) for coming and enduring the cold.

Thursday night was Book Club night. This month we read "Tuesdays with Morrie". It was very good. I thought it would be really sad and depressing but it wasn't. It was very uplifting and made you think about how you would handle life if you knew you were going to die in a short time. What is really important? What would your perfect day be? How do you treat people? Love is all important. Good things to think about.

Today I am thankful for my good family. I know they care about each other and support each other. What else could a mother ask. Thank you family.

Good News

2008-10-20T13:48:00.000-07:00

The Good news is............. no one got a deer this year. Yeahhhhhh. Bambi escaped and we don't have to worry about what to do with the meat. Tyson and Granpa did feel bad but, they had a great time, good company and the weather was perfect.

While they were gone I got rid of a big, fat, multicolored elephant in my room. Have you ever had an elephant in your room? Well I got rid of it. One bite at a time. It was fun and something that has been bothering me for a long time but, it just got so bigggggg that I didn't know what to do with it. I spent $40 dollars on containers. Spend some time organizing and throwing away the elephant (one piece at a time)..............10thousand receipts, 658 recipes, 56 bookmarks, twenty disposal cameras(half taken)(who does that), every cute handout for five years, pictures, pictures, pictures, goofy jewelry, 10 watches, the EXTRA buttons for the last 10 years, everything we did for Jason's mission, and of course tax return information (just in case). I'm almost free from the elephant. One more hour of hard work.
Why didn't I do this sooner? Thanks Jill for coming over and letting out the elephant in the first place.

Be Careful What You Say???

2008-10-16T16:54:00.001-07:00

Sunday the other half of G&G, bore his testimony in church. He began by saying that he enjoyed getting up early and reading in his favorite chair with his fleece blanket. He continued to say that unlike the Relief Society's Book Club, his book club does not read fiction. (he likes to kid with some of the ladies in the book club) Well that comment started an uproar in our ward. The lady behind me reach up and told me that even President Monson reads fiction. One lady thought he said that the Relief Society only teaches fiction. She also said to remind him that our lesson manuals for Priesthood and Relief Society were the same. Women who don't even come to the book club wanted to know what kind of books we were reading.

I told him he could never say anything about the Relief Society Book Club again and maybe never to mention Relief Society. Or maybe we should all turn up our hearing aids. He just laughed.

Mission Call

2008-10-15T15:43:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Cousin Matt. He received his mission call to LA California, Spanish speaking mission. He goes into the MTC the same day as Joseph. Joseph is going to the Everett, Washington State Mission and he leaves Nov. 19th. How cool is that. I can't believe those diaper babies are old enough to be on missions. Grandpa D.J. would be proud.

Great Week

2008-10-03T19:54:00.000-07:00

We have had a great week this week. We had an elderly sister (93) pass away in our ward. The funeral luncheon was for over 120 people that no one in our ward knew. But everyone loved this dear sister that passed away. We had all heard her talk about her large family and we felt like we knew them. So everyone was more than willing to help. The Relief Society sisters are so great. This is the gospel in action, comforting those that mourn. This week I am thankful for Relief Society.

The Quote of the week is from Jason: He said, "And these people don't know what is knocking at their door." Is he deep or what?

New food for the week: Artic Circle Sweet Potato Fries - Pretty Good!

Surprise of the week: Jill taking a nap at our house in the middle of the week in the middle of the day. (poor thing was exhausted)

Happy Day: Lauren and Tyson's wedding pictures are on line. (A very handsome couple) I have never seen so much kissing. The family pictures are wonderful. The little Johnson girls got their fair share of the pictures. (too cute: Gracie, Kate, Olivia, Kenny, Hanna and Ashly) Not so happy Day.... It also confirmed how fat I was in a pink dress or any dress for that matter. To view go to www.photocpa.smugmug.com Don't view the fat pictures please.

Hope you had a great week too.

Bonsia Man!

2008-10-01T15:39:00.000-07:00

Everyone meet Bonsai Man. He is a really good sport.

I'll be dressing him up so you can see what a great guy he is.

He is excited to be on someone's blog. He feels famous.

New Baby

2008-09-30T16:29:00.000-07:00

I just wanted everyone to know that Jamie had her baby boy: Cash Lewis, 9/29 at 9:15 pm. He is 6 lb. 15 oz and is 21 inches long. The mom and baby are doing great but the grandpa is having some problems???

Happy Day

2008-09-28T17:05:00.001-07:00

Ashly fixed the computer so I can Blog. Thanks Ashly. She can also play soccer.

One Great Weekend

2008-09-01T15:21:00.000-07:00

What a great weekend we had this week. We went to Hanna on Saturday and stayed until Monday for the Bawen family reunion. We ate a lot, talked a lot, and laughed a lot. Aaron and Jill came from Las Vegas and I think Gracie had the best time of all. Jill and her girls came and I did not see them at all because they were playing down by the river all day with all the cousins. Liesl and her family came and I noticed that Kalin is becoming a teenager and did not want to play down by the river. Tyson and Lauren came from Provo and acted very happily married. Only a few of the Bawden cousins were not there. It was a good turn out.

We had a special guest come on Sunday night and he is always a hoot. Many thanks to Dad and Kathy for there great generosity and willingness to let us invade Hanna, their garden and their resort.

Debbie, Gayla, Charley, Russell, and Melissa are the best brothers and sisters a person could have. They have great families.

See you all next year!!!