Three little boys

* I am grateful today for the snow, three little boys and a dog.

* Memories of family time warms us through any storm.

* Thanksgiving was just the BEST.

* I get to go to Relief Society this morning at a rest home. Maybe I will meet a new best friend.

* "Come unto me, ye blessed, there is a place prepared for you in the mansions of my Father." Enos 1:27

Miracles

* I love these shinny eyes.

* "Behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always and not faint."

Contentment

*Thank you Kim for teaching me how to move pictures!! Your house is the coziest. I always love to be there.
* I love Lucy!
* Jamie is coming in 4 days!
* "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God." Micah6:8

Contentment

*Shelly Yorgenson is sleeping over Thursday Night. She is a dear friend, I am looking forward to our talk.
*Tom and I sat in a booth, at our favorite Mexican Restaurant with Jane and Roland last night. We talked for several hours of our families. They both want to get sealed to their parents, and they want Tom and I to help them. This would be the best!
* Jamie is coming in 6 days!!!
*" Contentment makes poor men rich; and discontent makes rich men poor." Benjamin Franklin
*Contentment can be learned. " For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased (humble) and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry. . .I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4: 11-13

Dew

* I am grateful for the satisfaction of water when we are thirsty.
* I am loving Gerald Lund's Book "Hearing the Voice of the Lord"
* I got to be with Abbie, Lucy and Max last night for a movie. They were so fun in their great big 3 D glasses. I love them!
* I have a camera!
*Gourmet at Debbie's house was so comfortable. They are such dear friends.
*"Doubt not, but be believing. . .come unto the Lord with all your heart" Mormon 9:27

Fairies Dancing in the Woods

* I feel sure there is some magic in these woods.
* I stayed up late and watched "Iris" with Tom. He has wanted me to watch it with him for a long time. It was about Alzheimer's and love, similar to "The Notebook". It was powerful and I can't get it off my mind.
* I was so tried at the temple I couldn't keep my mind clear. I came home, crawled in bed and slept for an hour and then had the most wonderful night, curled up next to Tom. I adore him. We are rubbing essential oils on him to help his cough and I think it is helping.
*Mom was good today.
* I am walking up to Dorina's to rub her feet.
*"Even as you desire of me so shall it be done unto you" D&C 11:8

The gift of Memory

*I am grateful this morning for the gift of memory. So often I think of this 4th of July Parade. These three faces mean the whole world to me. I remember buying a yard and half of green gingham and squeezing out these three little sun tops. When I put them on there little bodies I thought these children were the most undeniable delightful creatures I have ever seen. Look at Kelly's mischievous grin. I was so proud to look at them as they sat in the gutter at the parade. I still am so proud of them and they make me feel tender at the bone.
* I had the most incredible dream last night. Kim was going to the Senior Dinner Dance and we went to Salt Lake to find her a dress. We walked into a tiny tasteful store, she saw the dress she wanted at first glance. She put it on and walked out of the dressing room. She was so elegant it took my breath away. The look on her face showed that she knew she was gorgeousness. The dress was a soft white, that draped to the back with lavish layers of material for a train. She twirled around and sat down and the dress made a big cloud around her.We bought it, and didn't even look at the price tag. Dad loved it. Maybe all this happen eons before, or maybe in the eons to come. I hope I get to go look for wedding dresses for the granddaughters. I hope the gift of this magnificent dream will stay in my memory forever.
* The Butters came to dinner. Lori helped make the rolls and Brownies.
* The Jazz beat the Miami Heat in overtime. . . what an exciting game. The best part was that Max called me afterward to talk about it.
*"Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all thing shall work together for your good." D&C 90:24

Fear Not

*This dark cold morning I am watching the sky lighten, the snow has covered the hills and it is moving slowly down to the valley. It is always hard to give up the fall. I wonder why I fear the winter? I know driving down to the temple on slick roads is a big part, looking at Tom's eyes as he gets cabin fever is another, and trying to keeping this big home heated. I want to turn this around and look for the positive. I remember one night Debbie Nelson said with such enthusiasm I love winter! She is one of the joys in my life. I too can look for things to love about winter.
*This day I am thankful for a roof, warm blankets and a hair drying to warm the sheets.
*I am thankful for the windows to watch the storms swirl around us.
* I am thankful for the crispness of winter walks.
* I am thinking of Nicole's and Shawn's first snowman. He was about one foot tall with a snow cap as big as he was. They had collected most of the snow on the lawn for their first attempt.
*I am making stars to lighten our bedroom.
*I am thinking of Thanksgiving and a house full of family.
*". . . behold I will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all. . ." 1 Nephi 1:20

Breath

*Life is always changing. How we react to those changes is what makes us strong or weak.
*I love my family.
* I am thankful for the rain this morning.
* Sweat Lucy loved to make turkeys last night.
* Having the house filled with family is the dearest of gifts.
*. . ."and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon they soul as the dews from heaven." D&C 121:45

Deep Contrast

* There is a deep contrast from the light and dark in this picture. Similar to our lives of joy and heart ache.

* Bob and Joyce came to dinner last night and we laughed until we cried. We have share many things through the years.

* The morning is gentle with a soft pink sky.

* I can't wait until Sunday for the kids to come up!

* "Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you." 2 Corinthians 13:11

A quiet symphony

*Flowers seem to sum everything that is quiet and beautiful in the world.

*Mom just called and she has lost her purse again. This happens every other day. She is devastated, she thinks her whole life is in there. We need to duck tape it to her chest. I know it is there because I saw her take into the house last night. I bet she hid it in the dryer.

*Yesterday Sister Rodgers, my favorite white haired, Grandma Schipper looking friend; fainted in initiatory. She was so embarrassed as the men in suits rusted into help her. She was so tired, worried, and overwhelmed with life. I wanted to wrap her up and take her home. I love her goodness and wisdom. I want to go to her house.

* Oh do I love to call Kelly's house and have Millie say, "Hello Grandma Clark"!

*I can't express the feelings of love I have for Bret. He is accomplishing the impossible. Day after day he is there, not giving up when things are hard. BRET I LOVE YOU!

*"Let us run with patience." Hebrews 12:1 "Keep thou my feet, I do not ask to see/The distant scene one step enough for me."

The beauty of nature's bounty

* There is such beauty in one single rose. As I clean out all the flowerbeds and rake the leaves I think about the wonder of each season. Fall is invigorating to me. I want to make granola.
*We are finally plowing the top third of the field. It has needed it for a long time.
* I just finished "The Five Love Languages" by Gary Chapman. Tom and I are similar in our needs.
1. Words of Affirmation
2. Quality Time
3. Physical Touch
4. Acts of Service
5. Receiving Gifts
We both laughed over the gift giving part. We have never been very good at giving gifts to each other, but I want to do better in all these areas. Wish I had read this book when my children were young.
* ". . .behold I am the light which shineth in darkness. . . "

Morning Light

* Archie had a stain glass window at his office. In the morning a warm light always shone through it. I love lead glass windows.

* Mom didn't feel good yesterday. I think her heart is longing for Dad.

* Tom and I sat and watched the final world series game last night, by the light of a star, a candle and a dim light on our Wallsburg picture. It felt so peaceful. I love Tom!

*"God will speak peace to our soul. That peace, that spirit of serenity is life's greatest blessing." Ezra Taft Benson

Blissful

*Tom came everywhere with me Saturday.
* Katy played basketball like a pro and every time she made a basket, which was all the time, she would look up to see if we were watching. She passed off to a team mate when she was the only one under her basket and she could have made a basket no problem. I love her!
*Kim and Jason were proud in royal blue sweat shirt that said Lindon Football. Max, pretty much did everything, run touchdowns and pass for them. Near the end of the game two players jumped on him and hurt his hamstring. I hope he is alright this morning. I love him!
*We stopped and visited with Bob and Joyce, and it brought back so many memories.
*Halloween was filled with dripping wet trick or treaters. We had more than we have ever had. Thanks to Tom he had candy bars hidden everywhere. We sat and watched the series baseball game, and the Jazz. I had a wonderful Halloween.
* Deeper hope is to see the sacred in the ordinary. Love the dailness.