Thankful on Thursday (1 day late)

After spending 5 days in Kanab, 3 of which I was alone and without transportation;

Some things I am thankful for today:

Sunbust - taken by 3 lakes near Kanab

-  Dan who will drive over to Kanab to spend a few days with me, take me to lunch and buy me groceries.

Ain't he handsome??

- Winter sunshine and a sheltered spot in the backyard.

This is where I sit and read for a half hour each afternoon.

 - Cookies.  My favorite; Cranberry Oatmeal!

I can only find them in Kanab!

 - Cell phone chargers.  I have been without for several days and it connects me to the world!

 - Vegetables.  I ran out and I have missed my broccoli!

Yep, I'm anxious to return home - tonight!!  Yay!

Sandstone Sillhouettes

We spent the weekend in Kanab.

All five of us.

 

Dan took the girls hiking on Saturday.

It was an easy hike-just for Mary.

 The girls had a blast!

 

 And then they amused themselves with their shadows.

 There are so many things you take for granted.

Like hiking with your family.

And making silhouettes on the sandstone cliffs.

When my foot gets better...

You'll know where to find me!!

My Newfound Respect for Elephants

Yesterday I said I'd go into why I'm grateful for elephants.

I went to a 'lecture' a few nights ago at our church.

The topic was:  "The Metaphor of the Elephants"

The speaker was fun and engaging, plus, she was a friend, so I probably listened better than usual.

And, what can elephants teach us?

-they are the ONE threat (from the animal kingdom) to the mighty Lion.

 -they live in "family groups" led by a matriarch

-mother elephants keep their young within 5 yards reach during the first 7 years - and help watch other young elephants in the herd.

-during those first 7-15 years, they are teaching and training those young elephants in all the elephant 'etiquette'.

 And here's the coolest part!:

- when threatened by danger, the herd rounds up the young or sick and elderly.  They then circle around them, facing outward, hip to hip and shoulder to shoulder.  In this way they are IMPENETRABLE!!  

NOTHING can get in and harm them!

Can we as neighbors and parents learn from this impressive animal?

Duh, I think so.

And that's not all.

My favorite part is:

They are big and heavy.

They are wrinkled.

They are gray and funny looking.

AND THEY DON'T CARE!!!

Now there's a lesson for all us women who compare ourselves to the unrealistic women in the media!!

Thankful on Thursday

Today I am thankful for:

* The crossing guard who always smiles and waves as Mary and I drive by on our way to school.

* The sunshine that spills across the frost covered fields in the morning.
 

* A phone call from my middle child who was bottle-fed.

* A friend who called up and said, "Would you like to go...?"

* Elephants. 
 
(Coming soon:  more on Elephants.)

 

Funny....

It's funny the things that can make your day.

I've had a rough couple of days with my foot.

I'm not going to go into the details, but the result was that I was really down and sad.  I went to bed last night wondering how I was going to pull myself out of this funk and praying that I'd find a way.  I woke up wondering the same thing.  It just felt like a heavy blanket was on me, pulling me down.

 

So, enter Tuesday morning.  

I didn't feel like exercising, but I slathered ointment on my foot and did it anyways, starting Mary's laundry first.

Felt a teensy bit better.

 Ham-Bean soup for dinner tonight - so I soaked some beans.

I decided  to un-clutter 1 drawer.  After dumping the contents of said drawer on my bed, I wanted to give up.  I walked past my computer (where I had posted my un-cluttering intentions) and saw that a friend had posted, "You go girl!"

I finished the drawer.  Felt a teensy bit better again.

While finishing up the drawer, a dear friend called me.  We talked - she had missed me and she shared her troubles and her love for me.  Boy, I needed to hear those words.  I felt better again.

I showered, got dressed, changed Mary's laundry and took some mail out to the mailbox.  I sat in the beautiful sunshine with my bottled water for 10 minutes - letting my afflicted foot soak up some sun.

Still feeling better.

Beans were done soaking, so I chopped millions of veggies in my food processor to go into the soup.  

Feeling better still.

Dan and Mary came home for lunch.  I'd made something yummy (thank you Schwans!) and we had lunch together.  Dan helped me cut up the last of the veggies and clean up the kitchen.

He went back to work and the house smells wonderful - like the most delicious soup ever!   Now I'm going to fold the laundry.

I didn't do or accomplish anything spectacular, but... 

All those feeling betters added up -

and I feel happy and hopeful once again.

Funny, isn't it?

 

A New Year - Another Chance to Get it Right!

I've come across some humorous quotes on New Year's resolutions.   Here are a few:

 

From Bill Vaughn:

"An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves."

From good ol' Mark Twain:  

 " Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual."

 From Ogden Nash:

"Every new year is the direct descendant, isn't it, of a long line of proven criminals?"

From Unknown:

"Many people look forward to the New Year for a new start on old habits."
and

"A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other." 

Yep, some of these ring with truth! 

On the other hand, here are some inspirational quotes:

From Benjamin Franklin:

"Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man."

From Charles Lamb:

"New Year's Day is every man's birthday. "

From John Burroughs:

"One resolution I have made, and try always to keep, is this:  To rise above the little things."

From Edith Lovejoy Pierce:

"We will open the book.  Its pages are blank.  We are going to put words on them ourselves.  The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day. "

And my favorite, from Oprah Winfrey:

"Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right."

 

What are some of your favorite New Year quotes?

 

Belated Birthday Tribute

 On December 28, 2010 my oldest son had another birthday.

(Yep, I'm running a bit late on that)

28  years earlier a healthy and vocal little boy was born - 

and my life hasn't been the same since!

He's always been a headstrong little bugger, but I knew that character trait would take him places that a less determined individual would never go.

Moments after his birth, he got his first bath!

A few days old, snuggling with mom.

 Daniel made life fun and interesting!  

We loved him SOOO much!!

About 6 months old

Sitting on his cousin James.

He developed the funniest sense of humor very young.

He liked things like; sitting on other kids, riding the vacuum cleaner, pulling books off of bookshelves, emptying his toy bucket and then looking to see if I'd do anything,  and rough-housing with his Dad.

Usually there was a mischievous twinkle in his eye as he thought up new things to try.  He loved getting a reaction out of us!

Age 3 - see that "twinkle"?

At the 'punkin' patch - age 4

 So, he grew and he grew.  We had a lot of good times and a few rough times - nothing unusual except for running away a few times,  breaking his jaw when he was 15, and teasing all his siblings.  Oh yeah, and a few famous quotes:

"Not in MY world!"

"This is the 90's, mom!"  

"I don't get it!" (when he really did)

"Can't we all just get along?"

"I don't get it."

Danny and his sister, Jessica.  Age 16

 He was a smart kid (we always knew that cuz he could out-think us sometimes) and excelled in school and sports.  He was also quite the social guy and always had lots of friends coming over to the house.

The 3 Dans.  L to R:  Daniel Jr., Daniel Sr., and Daniel III - age 19

Brothers at Bear Lake.  Dan- age 21 and Loren.

Graduation from BYU

Daniel - you can always make me smile.  You have always been so kind and thoughtful - and such a good and caring person.  I am happy with the man (and Dr.)  you've grown to be.

Happy 28th Birthday!!! 

We love you forever!

(I know - it's corny - but hey!)

 

The Doctor  -  August 2010 

Sedona - 4 months late

With the cold weather - I like to think back on warmer days...

September 12 (2010) was our 29th anniversary.

(I forgot to blog about it.) 

Let's face it.

We don't have tons of money for fancy trips.

Plus, we live in the southwest - where some of the most beautiful places are!

 So, we decided to go local - somewhat - for our anniversary trip.

Cool shop had lots of crazy stuff hanging around!!

Dan's mom had a timeshare that she let us use.  

Thanks mom!

And we thought Sedona would be nice.  


A little cooler and higher in elevation.

A great place to try out our new camera, and...

Not too long of a drive, but far enough for the kids not to show up!  :)

We took a sunrise hike.

 

Went on a 1/2 day train ride up the Verde River Valley.

Handsome Dan!

Visted Bell Rock - home of a major vortex!?!
(and we climbed it the next day!  - the rock, not the vortex)

 Visited Chapel of the Holy Cross - pretty cool how it's built into the rock.

 Visted the Ghost Town of Jerome.

 I LOVED this town (and the sign)!!

 One evening - right at dusk - we wandered into this sculpture garden.  It was magical!

All in all - a wonderful anniversary - except that we had to end it a few days early.  
Can't wait to go back!!