Happy 60th to me!

So ever since Peach was tiny we have had this thing have done and now do with all the grandkids.  When we leave one another we make the signs for "I" "love" "you".  We don't do the single sign we sign each word.  for my birthday Mandi sent me the following pictures in a frame so they are side by side:

How cute is that!!!  JNJ wasn't quite getting it but Peach said his finger needed to bend like Gramma's.  My pointer is the one that I had fused so it is always curved. :)

Yesterday my daughter called and left me a message: "Hi mom.  I just wanted to talk to you one more time before you are really, really really, really  old!  Thanks precious!!!  

My son and his family sent me a GC to Amazon to help my buy an itouch.  When it came I didn't even look at who sent it.  I was thinking Amazon was sending me a really generous reward for past purchases.  I already had a $25 reward waiting to be used so I came right in and got on the computer and ordered my itouch for $75 off.  Today when I talked with him my son asked me if I got the gift card.  I said that I hadn't but that I had already ordered the itouch.  He felt bad that I hadn't been able to use the gift card he sent.  As we talked I told him how I had received a $50 reward card from Amazon.  The lightbulb went on just as I realized that the "reward"card was for the same amount as his gift card and he said "that was from us!"  I went to the trash and sure enough it said "Happy Birthday love D/J/I./A/E/A"  I was so excited to have it that I didn't even see that part!  how silly of me.  So the itouch is on it's way.  Precious M also sent me $ and at work we always put $5 each in a card for whoever is having a birthday.  with that money I think I will buy the Brighton watch I have been wanting.

Friday I called Parsons to order myself a cake.  Mike had been out of town and wouldn't be home until late.  I told the clerk to put "happy birthday Cyd" on the cake and that I would pick it up at 3.  Then she said "what is your name?"  I thought "oh, no.  Now I have to tell her I am buying it for myself!!!  I tried to think about a good fake name I could use but went blank so just said "Cyd."  But my sweet husband actually brought me a cake froma quaint little bakery in Philly where he was on a layover!  I should have had a little faith!

Thanks everyone for a great birthday!

For Mikeal

"Those great men and women, and I’m thinking now, in particular, of the great men and women of the early part of this dispensation, did not leave their homes and bury children along the plains and have their lives absolutely turned upside-down just so you and I could go to church in lovely meeting houses, and go to school on lovely church campuses, and watch General Conference on Satellite or streaming live on the internet. Their part was to lay the foundation of the Kingdom of God and our part is to help build up and defend that kingdom. We are here now because we are supposed to be here now. Of that I have a solemn witness and testimony. You are not here by accident, you were held in reserve for this day.

"When you absolutely know who you are, it changes everything about the choices you make and about the way you spend and live your lives.  I invite you to get on your knees and begin to pray, and ask the Father to talk to you about you. Ask him if those words 'the noble and great ones' have anything to do with you, and see what he tells you. It may take a day, or a week, or a month, or a year, I don’t know how long it will take, itwill be individual. But, I promise you, the Lord will speak to you and make it very clear how he feels about you. When you begin to understand not only who you are, but who you have always been, when you have a witness that you are here now because you are supposed to be here now, that you have a mission to fulfill - and when you try to live in harmony with that knowledge - you will be happier than you have ever been. That’s a promise."  Sheri Dew BYU-H Devotional Feb 17, 2009

blog shmog

My son-in-law said "you need to update your blog!"  Fine...but I really don't have much to say.

As I have mentioned I have another blog that takes a great deal of emotion to write.  It is draining!  

Mike went to Hawaii this week.  And to Phoenix.  I stayed here and FROZE.  What a cold couple of days we have had!

I went to Madden's blessing. What an adorable baby though I have yet to hold him. Casey gave a beautiful blessing and an inspiring testimony.  We had wonderful food and company afterwards.  Even got to see Beckham who is so tiny and cute!  I wanted to cuddle him too but he's still too little!

Oh, yes...and GO COUGARS!  That was awesome!

ok...so a thought for the day ( since I lost all my email and contacts and can't send one that way) "It is a powerful act of faith to give something to someone else when we feel empty.  Truly, giving when we are longing to have someone give to us seems to defy reason.  But in spiritual terms it makes perfect sense.  Giving out of what one feels are meager resources is like reaching into Elijah's nearly empty cornmeal barrel during a famine and coming up with a full cup everytime.  Giving to others the things we are most longing for ourselves follows the principles of godliness and results in an unexpected sense of fulness."  M. Catherine Thomas

Tag

1. DID YOU DATE SOMEONE FROM YOUR SCHOOL? What's a date? OK I did go on a few dates but I didn't "date" anyone!
2.WHAT KIND OF CAR DID YOU DRIVE? Are you kidding? I got to drive the car to school once my senior year!
3. DID YOU PASS YOUR DRIVER’S LICENSE TEST YOUR FIRST TRY? Hmmmm....I think so.
4. WHERE YOU A PARTY ANIMAL? No. Not even kind of.
5. WERE YOU CONSIDERED A FLIRT? NO WAY!
6. WERE YOU IN BAND, ORCHESTRA, OR CHOIR? Choir and madrigals.
7. WERE YOU A NERD? Absolutely but I didn't know it!
8. WERE YOU ON ANY VARSITY TEAMS? HUH? No!
9. DID YOU EVER GET SUSPENDED/EXPELLED? no way!
10. CAN YOU STILL SING THE FIGHT SONG? " Beer , beer for old Carlmont high." Oh, wait. that's not an official fight song. "all hail to thee our alma mater honored. Richardson, we're loyal to you..."
11. WHO WERE YOUR FAVORITE TEACHERS? There was that one teacher and then there was that accounting teacher...I'm too old to remember names!
12. WHERE DID YOU SIT FOR LUNCH? I wandered so I wouldn't have to sit alone.
13. WHAT IS YOUR SCHOOL’S FULL NAME? Carlmont High School, Ygnacio Valley High school, Richardson High School.
14. WHAT IS YOUR SCHOOL’S MASCOT AND COLORS? Richardson was an Eagle and the colors were purple and white.
15. DID YOU GO TO HOMECOMING AND WITH WHO? As I said....i didn't date.

16. IF YOU COULD GO BACK AND DO IT AGAIN WOULD YOU? Not a chance!!!
17. WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER MOST ABOUT GRADUATION? After never being noticed I sat by the jocks who were fun and friendly. What a waste. If they had known how fun and cute I was they surely would have dated me!

18. WHERE DID YOU GO SENIOR SKIP DAY? I probably stayed home.
19. WERE YOU IN ANY CLUBS? dance club
20. HAVE YOU GAINED SOME WEIGHT SINCE THEN? Are you kiddin?
21. WHO WAS YOUR PROM DATE? I did go to one prom with Tommy Mannawitz.
22. ARE YOU PLANNING ON GOING TO YOUR 10 YEAR REUNION? way past but I haven't been nor will I go to any.
23. DID YOU HAVE A JOB IN HIGH SCHOOL? summers at the Medallion and Develo Tronics. I was the queen circuit board maker.

Come Unto Him

A number of years ago I was taking a math class in preparation for teaching that subject the coming school year. We were studying vectors and I just could not grasp how they worked. I had studied and studied, worked problems over and over. I had obtained tutoring but still I did not understand. The night before the test I was becoming frustrated as I tried problem after problem to no avail. Suddenly it occurred to me that Heavenly Father and our Savior know everything. Even vectors! I realized that there could be no greater tutor than them. So I got on my knees and poured out my heart about how hard I had tried to understand. I had done all that I could think to do and I just wasn’t getting it. I told Heavenly Father that I knew He knew how vectors work and asked him to teach me. I finished my prayer and tried a few more problems, but still couldn’t do them. I decided to take a break so I went downstairs to do some laundry. I remember precisely the moment that my mind comprehended vectors…it was on the second to the last stair on my way back up! Suddenly I just knew how to do them. I ran to the table where I had been studying, anxious to try a problem. Sure enough I did it right. I worked problem after problem and they were all correct. I Thanked my Heavenly Father.

The next day when I opened the test I didn’t recognize a thing on it. I prayed again saying that I had studied and that I had the best possible tutor and would He please help my mind to recall what I knew. I started in the middle of the test with a problem I felt I could do and then proceeded to complete the test. When I was done I looked it over to see if I needed to rework any problems but they all looked right to me.

Before the professor handed back the graded tests he explained that he was going to have to greatly lower the grading scale since only 1 or 2 in the class had scored above the low 80’s and the majority in the 70’s or less. For a moment I panicked! However, when I got my test back I had received 100%.

You see, Heavenly Father does know everything…even vectors!

If he knows how to do vectors, He knows how to help us with all our needs and concerns.

Do you want to know how to cope with a devastating illness or overcome an addiction? Come unto Him

Do you want to know how to deal with struggling children or strengthen a faltering marriage? Come unto Him

Do you ache for relief from loneliness and long for peace and joy? Come unto Him

Do you want to know how to comfort a friend in need or repair a troubled relationship, to forgive someone who has betrayed or abused you? Come unto Him

Do you want to feel loved, to know that you measure up, that your offering is acceptable? Come unto Him

Do you yearn for forgiveness and mercy; for solace and healing? Come unto Him!!

Perhaps you feel over-scheduled, overwhelmed but don’t know what to change. Come unto him.

Is there someone in your life causing you grief and pain? Do you feel powerless? Come unto Him!

Whatever it is that you yearn for, come unto the fountain of all love, all knowledge, all joy, all peace, all hope. Come unto Him!

He knows what experiences of life we need. He knows what commandments and covenants will help us remember Him and bring us home. If we know that he is there, if we have developed a closeness to Him we will face all the events of our lives much better.

Right now you may be in a very comfortable, safe place but just as most devastating hurricanes, tornados, and tsunamis strike quickly, we may not see the storms of our lives coming. While they are likely to ravage us for a time they need not destroy us or take us off our course. If we are prepared to trust and access our Savior’s help we can weather them well.

You may already be in the midst of a devastating ordeal. We all have them and cannot be expected to be spared on our path of discipleship. But He can ease our burden and help us through.

What he requires is our heart and a willing mind.

Elder Neal Maxwell said of this “I testify that he is utterly incomparable in what he is, what he knows, what he has accomplished, and what he has experienced. Yet, movingly, he calls us his friends. (See John 15:15; D&C 84:77.)

“We can trust, worship, and even adore him without any reservation! He is the only perfect person to sojourn on this planet; there is, as Isaiah declared, none like him! (See Isa. 46:9.)

“In intelligence and performance, Christ far surpasses the individual and the composite capacities and achievements of all who have lived, live now, and will yet live!” (See Abr. 3:19.)

So My Daughter is so fun!

Mandi had this tag on her blog and she is so creative and witty!  I know mine will just be boring, except the ones I steal from her, but here goes:

1. Do you like blue cheese? Yes- on lettuce wedges with ranch dressing and bacon

2. Do you own a gun? a glue gun. 
3. What flavor of Kool Aid was your favorite? Cherry!!!!
4. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? YES.  I hate going to any doctor!
5. What do you think of hot dogs? I love them!
6. Favorite Christmas movie? You'll Shoot Your Eye Out!
7. Favorite thing to drink in the morning? Ovaltine
8. Can you do push ups? RIGHT!
9. Favorite piece of jewelry? the darling bracelet I got for Christmas from a little girl in my primary class!
10. Favorite hobby? hmmm, I used to have hobbies!
11. Do you have A.D.D? UHHHHHH yes!
12. What is one trait you hate about yourself? unmotivated!
13. Middle name? Fox
14. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment. i'm not hungry but NEED to eat, my feet are cold, these nuts taste icky!
15. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink. water, water, water.
16. Current worry? all the things I need to do now that I am back in town!
17. Current hate right now? I don't hate anything but I strongly dislike many things!

18. Favorite place to be? Home with Mike or in PA or TN with my kids and grandkids.
19. How did you bring in the new year? Spent a fortune on an incredible meal at Cucine Toscana.  Mike said it was so good it gave him chills.  Food normally means next to nothing to him!
20. Where would you like to go? Maui
21. Name three people who might complete this. No one, Nobody and not anybody.
22. Do you own slippers? sort of.  I own some pink high top uggs that I wear to keep my feet warm.  Wish I had them on right now!
23. What shirt are you wearing? a really large, streched out T-shirt that I sleep in.
24. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? No. Too slippery, and cold.
25. Can you whistle? kinda
26. Favorite color? depends on what it is on. A wall? medium green. A shirt, fushia. Eyes, blue!  College Football team BYU blue!
27. Would you be a pirate? Not a chance.
28. What songs do you sing in the AM? "Show me the way to go home. I'm tired and I want to go to bed"
29. Favorite girl’s name? not CYD
30. Favorite boy’s name? Michael ( :D )
31. What’s in your pocket right now? don't have one.
32. Last thing that made you laugh?  my son and daughter this weekend in Seattle.
33. What vehicle do you drive? Mercedes C280
34. Worst injury you have ever had? Mandi said "Does an episiotomy count?"  I would have to agree but just in case it doesn't it would probably be when I practically cut off my finger while try to get ice cream from a carton using a table knife!
35. Do you love where you live?  Love?  hmmmm....
36. How many TV’s do you have in your house? 3
37. Who is your loudest friend?  I really don't have loud friends but Kash has a great laugh!
38. Do you have any pets? nope, no way, no how!
39. Does someone have a crush on you?  Of course!  my honey!
40. What is your favorite book(s)?  To Kill a Mockingbird
41. Do you collect anything? Nativities
42. Favorite sports team? See favorite color answer
43. What song do you want played at your funeral? Oh, Divine Redeemer
44. What song should have been playing at your birth?  She's a Maniac...

Oh yeah, TAG!  You’re it!!

long, long time

I realize that i use my blog merely to check if others have updated theirs! Silly.
If it wasn't for the Philly grandkids being in town over Thanksgiving our home would not be decorated for Christmas! IMM especially loved opening the box of every figurine (and there are many!). I am very grateful because every night I sit and look at how pretty it all looks. Hooray for grandkids. Hooray for Christmas!
I took mom to our stake Christmas program. There were bell ringers, a brass ensemble, primary choir, youth choir, adult choir, and harp ensemble. It was wonderful and mom loved it. She was especially thrilled when Elder Hales came to her to shake her hand. I had told him my mom wanted to meet him. I went to get her but by the time I fought the crowds to get to her with her wheelchair there he was shaking her hand. He had come to her. that's just how he is. I had my own personal experience years ago with him in a similar situation. He helps you feel Father's love!

Favorite Hymn EVER!!!

Today on Music and the Spoken Word the Tabernacle Choir sang my favorite song. The message of the entire song is so touching but I am brought to tears and awe by the following:

"O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above." (Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing)

I give Him my heart willingly for only He is capable of sustaining me, lifting me, teaching me, strengthening me, understanding me and loving me without condition. I love Him.

someone not very famous once said:

Whatever it is that you yearn for, come unto the fountain of all love, all knowledge, all joy, all peace, all hope. Come unto Him!

He knows what experiences of life we need. He knows what commandments and covenants will help us remember Him and bring us home. If we know that he is there, if we have developed a closeness to Him we will face all the events of our lives much better.

Right now you may be in a very comfortable, safe place but just as most devastating hurricanes, tornados, and tsunamis strike quickly, we may not see the storms of our lives coming. While they are likely to ravage us for a time they need not destroy us or take us off our course. If we are prepared to trust and access our Savior’s help we can weather them well.

You may already be in the midst of a devastating ordeal. We all have them and cannot be expected to be spared on our path of discipleship. But He can ease our burden and help us through.

What he requires is our heart and a willing mind.

A timely message

We will need to have developed and nurtured faith in Jesus Christ long before Satan hits us, as he will, with doubts and appeals to our carnal desires and with lying voices saying that good is bad and that there is no sin. Those spiritual storms are already raging. We can expect that they will worsen until the Savior returns.

However much faith to obey God we now have, we will need to strengthen it continually and keep it refreshed constantly. We can do that by deciding now to be more quick to obey and more determined to endure. Learning to start early and to be steady are the keys to spiritual preparation. Procrastination and inconsistency are its mortal enemies. President Eyring

for all us republicans....

From a letter issued by the first Presidency March 2006:

"Principles compatible with the gospel may be found in the platforms of all major political parties. While the church does not endorse political candidates, platforms or parties, members are urged to be full participants in political, governmental and community affairs,"

"The Democratic Party, like The Church of Jesus Christ, believes there is a clear responsibility for society to care for the poor, help working families in their challenges of raising children and providing a decent income for them, and reach out to those in society who are often left out," Taylor [Todd Taylor, then Democratic Party executive director] said in a written statement.

"We hope members of the church will take this as an opportunity to find out more about the Democratic Party's principles that are closely connected with those of The Church of Jesus Christ and realize that the Democratic Party represents the same values shared by many Latter-day Saints." Deseret Morning News Published: Wednesday, March 15, 2006

You can be a good LDS and be a democrat!!!

hey!!!!

So Lauren....how about giving me permission to view your blog????? I can't believe you've left me out. LET ME IN! :)

Happy Thursday!!

I cannot recall ever seeing Sheri Dew get emotional when teaching. Tuesday night she did as she expressed the following thought.

She said that with the current financial and political climate it is easy to begin to listen more to the voices of those on Wall Street and in politics than to listen to the voice of Thomas S. Monson. Those in government and on Wall Street are sometimes right and sometimes wrong. President Monson is always right for he is led by God.

She then quoted the following said by Nephi:

2 Nephi 4:34 O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.

35 Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God. Amen.

It was a powerful reminder in Whom we must put our trust and to be careful not to get caught up in the things of this world to where we don’t hear the voice of our Father for us and our families. How grateful I am that I know my Father lives and loves me, and that He has provided a Prophet for us who will never be allowed to lead us astray. He also gives each of us personal revelation for our lives and the lives of our family members. We can make a difference in this world and in our country by being true to who we really are…His children.

Hugs.

more favorite pictures

AKM...newest grandchild

born 9/9/08

IMM's first day of first grade.
HMJ's favorite (way too small) jammies!
PEACH!

exciting times

So now we have stairs on the deck and next week we get grass. We have a friend who owns a landscaping co. who is getting us a KILLER deal. I am so excited!

We will have a new baby granddaughter next Tuesday (9-9) if not sooner. Not sure the name yet but EMM (2years old) likes Harriet. Where did she come up with that? A month or so ago A(S)M (4 yrs) decided to change her name to the name mommy wants to name the baby so that the baby could have her name. EMM announced that her new name was Crust. That lasted at least an entire day with her only answering to Crust. She dropped it but today she announced that the baby cannot be named Crust since it's already taken! Crazy kids!

Woooo Hooo!

Hooray for Mike! The deck is done!...well, almost. It still needs the stairs. Let's see, how many years has it been???? Still no grass though.
I asked the girls to look at me so I could take their picture. This is what I got.
IMM didn't want me to forget his face or his name.HMJ was sooooo sad! Not sure why but since they were about to head back to TN maybe he could sense it.

JNJ biffed it before his trip here. He always smiles!
Peach absolutely loved this IKEA find.

Little Peach

My Peacy Pie is sleeping on my living room floor. This is the last day they will be here in Utah. It goes too fast! Yet, it has been great to have them here. I have enjoyed HMJ's "Grayma, Grayma, Grayma!" Bones's constant smile. Peachy's creativity and conversation. And best of all the hugs! Yesterday I said "Who does Gramma love?" HMJ ran to me yelling "ME" and threw himself into my arms and hugged me so tight! When they first arrived Bones came right to me. I picked him up and he laid his head on my shoulder. Mikeal asked whether he was tired or just loving gramma. I said he was probably tired at which he picked up his head and looked at me for a long moment with a huge grin and then laid hid head back on my shoulder. The Peach, being 8 1/2, does' nt do such things but the other night I was sitting on a chair and pulled her to me to give her a hug good bye. She just stayed in my arms and said "I don't want to leave!"
Of course I LOVE seeing my daughter too. And Mikeal. I will miss them all! I miss my son and his family. :(

you've got to be kidding!

I wonder if anyone even bothers to look at my blog anymore. I am so bad at this. Well, truth is that I have started another blog but it's incognito. I am writing my story and I am just not ready to share it with anyone who knows Mike and I. anyway, this blog suffers. I love reading everyone else's blogs though.
today i have a fun surprise when I went to primary and my friend asked me if I would take her class. OHHHHHHHHNOOOOO! I am such a wimp. But they were cute and it went fine except for my one little guy who was off the walls with this new audience. At one point I nicely took his arm and said "you are bouncing." He looked at me like "DUUUUHHH." He loves me though. two weeks ago we had a lesson on saying thank you. I had them each make a thank you card to give to someone. he kept asking me what color I like and which stickers were my favorite. One little boy gave his to the Bishop (who was being released the next week), one gave his to his mom and the little girl gave hers to her dad. Ethan asked me if I could please come by his house later that day. When I went his mom answered and asked me to have a seat as he wasn't quite ready. When he was ready he came into the room and handed me a wrapped package. I unwrapped it and there was the card with his favorite pencil taped to it.
The wrap:






the pencil!!! Skeletons and skulls!!!




The envelope










The card



(That's me teaching the 4 kids in my class the lesson on saying thank you.)
He threw his arms around me and asked his mom to take a picture!
How can you not be touched by that???