A Week in Review

One of my non-blogging children brought it to my attention that I haven't updated my blog for a week. So here we go...

Tuesday night was our RS book group. We read this book....A Quiet Heart by Patricia Holland. It's a very good book.

I worked all week on getting some baby blankets sewn for Humanitarian Service. Our ward committed to make 600. That's quite a lofty goal for just a month, I think. So I took two bundles, which made 20. I'm almost to think that if everyone made 20, we still won't be done by the end of the month. Oh well. I did what I could do. And I'm glad that they're done.

On Tuesday, the summer program kids went to see the animated movie, "Up". So Brian, his kids and I tagged along. We all enjoyed the movie. Even Luke (2 year old) sat through the whole thing so we could all stay in the theater. It was a good movie that I would recommend.





On Wednesday, Pat Brady and his wife, Dotty, brought their various desert animals to the summer program to teach the kids about desert wildlife. Brian took his kids, mostly because Dallin was determined to hold a snake. He got his wish. He held a king snake, a Sonoran gopher snake, a desert tortoise and a tarantula. Ewww!! But he did great and was very pleased with his courage and bravery.

I went visiting teaching to two of my ladies on Thursday morning. The message this month is about improving our prayers. We need to be more open to what the Lord has in store for us and what he has planned for us rather than us telling him what we want to have happen. It was a good lesson for me. I took the ladies each a prayer rug to go along with the message.



If you couldn't tell by now, this week was spent a lot with the summer program and the fun things they get to do. Friday was no exception. We went to Sunsplash in Mesa. In years past, we went to WaterWorld in Glendale, but it's closed down and the new Wet and Wild isn't open yet. So this session went to Sunsplash. It was fun to try out a new and different water park. Luke thoroughly enjoyed himself until he got too wet and the wind blew. He was shivering and his teeth were chattering. He'd want to snuggle in his towel until he got warm and dried off a bit, then he was back at it.

Saturday was a killer day for me. Jan and I taught two classes at Scrap Happy Sisters. We should have planned better because we didn't even have time to breathe between classes. The first class went longer than planned and we weren't finished with it before we had to get set up for the next one. We were there and on our feet from 10 am until after 5:30 pm. We were both beat by the time we got home. Mark spent the day shuttling me to and from the store, picking up Dad and Aunt Dovetta from the airport, grocery shopping and doing a couple of errands. The classes went well and I'm glad they're over!
Today is Father's Day. I think Mark got to have a relaxing day...at least I did! Kamille told us earlier this week that she and the kids were getting Brian a nice waffle maker and invited us for dinner tonight. It was delicious. Brian's already a pro at making the waffles. They were so light and fluffy! We had lots of yummy toppings....butter, peanut butter, pecans, chocolate chips, peaches, strawberries, maple syrup and whipped cream. It was a total sugar overload! At this point, I would challenge that non-blogging son who pointed out that my blog hadn't been updated in a week to start his own blog and set me an example, but I won't. He's the one who invited us to dinner tonight. And they took us to dinner after Sunsplash on Friday, so all is forgiven.
So here's to a new week. And it already is looking to be BUSY!!!

DEFENDERS WIN!!! 15-12

I guess I should catch up on the week since it's been a while since I blogged. I went visiting teaching on Monday to two of the ladies we visit. My partner, Elaine, is moving this weekend and we were wanting to try to get one more visit in together before she left.
Monday night we went to Matthew's baseball game. His team beat the Muck Dogs 15-12!! Yea! Matt played a great game. He even made a critical play at home plate to prevent the other team from scoring. His throw from third base to the catcher was perfect and allowed the catcher to tag out the runner. Way to go, Matt!!! Emma was her usual playful self and kept us all entertained during the "lulls" of the game.
Tuesday I again went visiting teaching to catch the one last lady we didn't get to see on Monday. They were all good visits. I truly enjoy the ladies we visit and I will miss my partner greatly. She's been such a trooper...always going and helping with making appointments as well as teaching the lessons. I'll miss you, Elaine.
Today I was "Grandma Day Care" since Abby started running a fever last night. She's absolutely no problem and very low maintenance. I'm hoping she's feeling better tomorrow so she can go to school, but if not, I'll be happy to have her here with me again.
Tomorrow we pick up our Walton food order. We generally order twice a year and keep our food storage items current and well-stocked.
I guess my life is pretty boring...I don't have much else to blog about. Sorry. I'll work on being more exciting and having more to report!

Christmas Decorations Day 4

Today was a Visiting Teaching day. My visiting teachers came this morning and I went visiting teaching this afternoon. I have the BEST visiting teachers. They are always so prompt...they come early every month. And they're a ton of fun to visit with. The ladies I visit are also great! For the first time in my life, I have all active ladies to visit and an active partner. It makes visiting teaching such a pleasure and a treat for me. My partner couldn't go with me today....her dad had a heart attack last night. He's doing pretty well today. They caught it in time to stop the attack before it did much damage to his heart. What a relief! She'll be back next month. Between my VTs coming and me going out, I graded papers. And I graded some more after I got home. Just finished. Whew! I'll return them tomorrow and probably pick up a few more. Oh, the life of teachers. They should be admired for all of their hard work and dedication. I sometimes wonder how they do it all and still maintain a family, church and social life! Kudos to them all.

Here is another installment of Christmas decorations....


This is a copper replica of a Nauvoo angel. It resembles the one that "flew" atop the original Nauvoo temple. I found this ornament at the Church Museum in Salt Lake one year. It reminds me of the time Mom and Dad spent in Nauvoo as missionaries at the many historical sites. Someday (soon!) I hope to go back to Nauvoo for a visit. We haven't been since 1993.


This cute little mouse in a basket was a gift from Leslie Locklear. Back in the day...before going to work....I used to volunteer a LOT in the kids' school classrooms. Mrs. Locklear was the boys' second grade teacher. She was a wonderful teacher. She gave me this one year as a thank you for helping her out. Can you believe how old this ornament is? If I'm figuring correctly, it's at least 27 years old. Actually, I'm surprised it's still intact after all those years.

This is our Christmas Nail. I saw this idea several years ago, and when I was teaching Relief Society many moons ago, I made it as a handout for a lesson I gave about the atonement of Christ. The purpose is to make us remember that Christ was born at Christmas time, but that he atoned for us and that should be our focus...his sacrifice and atonement for our sins, critical for our salvation. The size of the nail makes it a little more real and makes an impact on us.

Many years ago Mom and Dad took a trip to Hawaii. They brought home a gazillion beautiful shells. Mom and I made them into Christmas ornaments that they could give to all of us as a remembrance of their trip. Somehow I wish they'd taken me!!

Several years ago, when the kids were all teenagers, we took a Christmas trip to Disneyland for our Christmas celebration. It was one of those quick trips. We flew over early one morning, spent the day at Disneyland, and returned home that evening on a red-eye flight. What a fun time we had! No luggage, no hotels! Just a fun, fun, memorable trip. We bought several Christmas ornaments that year so we could remember the fun time we had. It was especially fun because the kids were all old enough to go on all of the rides and we didn't have a stroller, diapers or any of baby/toddler things. It was the first time we spent Christmas at Disneyland, but not the last!