A Sunday Afternoon

I just dropped by for a visit.

The floodgates opened.

Since I am just a neighbor, a friend; not a psychiatrist, I really didn't know what to say about all of DC's sorrows and heartache, which are great and many right now.

I know they say; JUST LISTEN.

But, one can't sit for two hours and NOT SAY A SINGLE WORD in response to the heartache being poured out.

Her sorrow is real; it's tearing her and her family apart.  Her wonderful world that she and her husband have created is shattering.......

AND, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.

I just kept repeating, I'm so very sorry.  This is so hard for you.

I didn't ever say; I know how you feel.

Because I DON'T KNOW how she feels.

But, I do know that she is heartbroken and can't quite get it sorted out.

Her husband came in the room and told her not to burden me with her problems and sorrows.

She angrily cried out, "I need to tell someone; she is my minister; I'm ALWAYS the one doing the ministering.  For many years, I've always helped others....now, it's MY TURN to be listened to!"

Life is just so challenging sometimes.  It's so HARD.

Hearing other's sorrows is hard, too.  But, it always helps me realize that there is heartache all around, and I don't have serious struggles like so many.

And, right now, I'm so grateful for the goodnesses going on in my own life.

Manna in the Wilderness

I am listening to the Old Testament when I exercise.

In Exodus as the Israelites wander in the Wilderness, the Lord provides food for them every day.  Just the right amount for each day.

40 YEARS of free easy access to food.  And, yet, they complain.

Here's the part when I get nervous.

Because I KNOW MOI.  I would be complaining too.  And, I don't like knowing that about myself.

You see, there is no VARIETY.  No Chick-Filet one day and Arctic Circle the next; no potatoes one day and corn the next.

MANNA every day.

And, as I read these verses, I just hear myself murmuring, mumbling, grumbling, griping, about the good food we had had back in Egypt....Oh, for sure, we were slaves, but the FOOD, ah, the food.

I have so much to learn - from others; about myself.

And, so much to do to improve myself and to

JUST BE GRATEFUL!

God has so richly blessed me personally and I need to just be grateful.

No murmuring, no griping, no grumbling....

Just gratitude for the Manna in the wilderness, which includes the many blessings I have and continue to receive EVERY DAY for long over 40 years!

Of YOGA and Such

Every Thursday, I head to the Senior Center for Yoga.

And nearly every Thursday, I think of my mother.

Because you see, LONG before yoga was an "IN THING," my mother was teaching Yoga for community education in Pocatello, Idaho.

I still remember her practicing her rotating ankle movements at night.  We do that exercise at Yoga.

I never got to see my mother "in action," but I'm sure she was a wonderful teacher.  She was a wonderful everything.

I wish I had asked her more about it.

I WISH .......

My mind is a list of wishes about things I WISH I had asked my mom.

Ah, IF ONLY, is a hard way to live one's life........

Something to make one think and be grateful for:

Man, this really made me THINK.

About Sound and music and more music.

WOW!  Thank you, Thomas Edison!

Beds I Have Slept in Lately

 Here we are in the Airport at Tel Aviv, Israel.  We borrowed the camp gear from Jenni and Brent.  I did get a little sleep in this interesting arrangement.  The lights were on all night and people were speaking downstairs, and once in awhile someone walked by where we were laying down....I hesitate to say sleeping!  But, it worked better than sitting in a chair.  And, we could stretch out!

This is our blow-up bed.  It's set up in our garage.  RAH and I used it for two nights while my brothers were visiting here.  It worked out great.  The first night, I was a little cold, so we got an extra blanket for the next night and it was quite cozy.  On the third night, we slept in the bed vacated by Kaey and Shauna, who had to leave early.
I am grateful for my own new king size bed, but I can get along other places if I need to!

A Day in the Backcountry with Friends

New Pickup

Time to try it out!

RAH, Jim Kern, Mike Allam, Nick Watt (his wife gets car sick, so it would have been a bad deal for her,
as the ride got pretty rough in some spots.

Gigi and jim Kern

I LOVE this great picture of RAH!

I love this picture of Loretta eating her apple...so happy and fun with her Jeep Girl hat on!
She's always ready for FUN and Adventure!

Nick, Mike and Loretta Allam, and RAH.

We drove on the Lytle Ranch Road to arrive at our destination: Lytle Ranch.

Lytle Ranch is an environmental study area owned by BYU.  Students from BYU and BYU/Idaho go there to study the many species of birds (150) and other nature type things in this remote destination.

RAH was so happy with how well the pickup maneuvered, and climbed up the hills, went down the hills, etc.  He said it's his favorite vehicle that we have ever owned.  Isn't that great?

Good day with good people.

Provo, Utah, Here I Come!

Miles: band concert

Miles played the clarinet.  I watched him; he was doing great!

Eli: minor role in the musical, Drowsy Chaperone, but what a totally delightful play and evening!

Sometimes Eli and his friends come home for lunch.  Today, Amy had leftover spaghetti for them.  YUM YUM

Five hungry teenage boys.  On of them always brings his own lunch....good for him!

Calder: just to be with him

Trampoline Time!

Friend time; Ryan, Calder, Oakley

Quick trip to do an endowment session at the Provo Temple.

Justin; Amy: Over night getaway, which they so richly deserve.

Love note from Justin to Amy on Friday morning.

So, Provo was a great trip.

WHO KNEW?

This is truly hilarious.


Here's what it says:
Not soon enough.  Laboratory tests over the last few years have proven that babies who start drinking soda during that early formative period have a much higher chance of gaining acceptance and "fitting in" during those awkward pre-teen and teen years.  So, do yourself a favor.  Do your child a favor.  Start them on a strict regimen fo sodas and other sugary carbonated beverages right now, for a lifetime of guaranteed happiness.
THE SODA POP BRAND OF AMERICA.
At the side of the bottle it says; Promotes Active Lifestyle
Boosts Personality
Gives body essential sugars

Oh, man, how times have changed!

Time With My Brothers...

...is always FUN,

What a great movie to share with mia familia!

We might not have been sitting together, but we thrilled together at this marvelous production.

Gotta enjoy Snow Canyon with a great short walk thru its beautiful walls.

INSPIRING:

Temple sealings just one week before this temple closes for two years.  I just kept thinking about my parents and how thrilled they would be to see us all tother doing dealings.  It was a beautiful experience for me.

and HAPPY

Well, of course, a large part of getting tother is eating together.  we ALL LOVE FOOD.  Here we are in the temple cafeteria after doing family name dealings.  Notice all the people who are eating salad.  Oh, those healthy eaters.

Celebrating the birthday Girl!

Well, look who was at Tuacahn the same night we were!  So FUN!  Cab you tell it was VERY cold?

Sometimes it seems like all we do is EAT!  HA HA...bring it on!

Time for a party, with cake and Dot's Pretzels!

One of the really great things we did this gathering was to look at photos the Libby had digitized.
These are all slides from my parents' time in Germany during 1946-1947.
What fun memories, and what great laughs we had as we looked at these very old slides together.

Lately, I've heard about some dysfunctional families.  SAD stuff.  But, I'm so grateful for my siblings and the love we share.  I feel the same way about my inlaws.  It is a blessing I hope I never take for granted.

From the Internet...

Things to ponder on.....

Man, this is old advice, but so TRUE!  I love it and wish I could do it every day!

Made me laugh!

Funny...

Allen's JEEP radio never gets changed.  For six months, it's right

Just Saying....

Some people start drinking early in the day.

Apparently, that is NOT Good.

MOI - I start eating chocolate early in the day.

That is good.