PET PEEVES - Picture Not Related to the Subject! HAHAH

 I find it so annoying when people DO NOT respond in any way to text messages.  

I don't get why they can't just shoot off an answer.  And, sometimes I NEED to know what it going on.  

Well, that's it for today.  

On a totally unrelated note: here's Amy and Miles working on a puzzle given to us by Ulla Gardner.  So thoughtful of her, but here's a little secret: it's tough one!

A Memorable Easter - Filled with Family and Joy

 We went to church with Stockton and Morgan.  What an experience.
Just before church with Justin and his family.

I had a couple of stuffed bunnies and gave one to each family altho Scottie and Lola took them over for the picture.

This just made my heart happy!

This was a moment that made Allen so happy; playing music with his grandsons...

Rather than candy, Jenni gave her grandkids sunglasses...

Sean had an Easter poetry contest; here are the results....

When Friends Come to Visit

 Such great people...Wonderful in every way.  

Amanda Wilkes Kingsford and Brian Kingsford.

We reminisced, talked about the good old days in Rexburg.  Brian told us how great it was to be friends with Jeremy.

And, then, Amanda told this story:

"When her father was called to be Bishop, he called his family in together and told them he had been called as Bishop.  He asked his kids who they thought he chose as counselors, and all the kids yelled out, Brother Hackworth. Which he had done.  And, then she told this story.  When Bishop Godfrey died, she was talking with her sister, Allyson.  Allyson mentioned that growing up, Bishop Godfrey had been her main inspiration.  Then Amanda had said to her sister, "When I think about my growing up years, the biggest influence in my life was Sister Hackworth.  You were my YW leader, YW president and my teacher in school."  I was beyond humbled and amazed.  

WOW!  Oh, life sometimes throws out a big unexpected MOMENT!

Thank you, Heavenly Father.

Oh, Those Sweet Grandkids

 It's a BIRTHDAY for Lola who turned TWO BIG ONES!

Here's her big sister, Scottie...

The whole family.....

Party time with Grandpa and grandma:

It's a BUSY MONTH for birthdays....OLIVIA TURNED SIX!  She wrote a poem for the family Easter poem competition:  She had only written two lines when I talked with her last week:

"I love yunikorns 

And, Jesus is my Saviour."

Felix was at the park with the family watching Evan play ball.  Oh, he's a cute one, that little kid!

And, then there's little Asa:  Cute as ever!

A Birthday to Remember

 WOW!  It was QUITE an EVENT.

It started the day before - April 7 - with a call from Ulla, who forgot it wasn't my birthday until the next day.  So, that was a great start.

Then THE day arrived!  And, what a day it was:

Calls, texts, mail, visits, gifts, bowling and spending the day with my favorite daughters and favorite husband!

Here's a smattering of pictures from that great day!

Cards from: Avery Stout, Ulla, Kristi, the Jenkins family, Allison Christensen and Emily Blount, Preston, Sara Johnson, and Justin, Amy and the boys.

Presents from Allen - See's chocolates; Kristi - Plum vinegar to make a great drink with soda water; lotion from Sea Johnson; gift card to See's from Allison and Emily; gift card from Preston to Outback Steak house; pearl bracelet from Morgan and Bri Fisher; Santa Claus book (which she made from my poem and Ruth Saunders picture from so many years ago - this was so thoughtful!) from Jessica Stout; NOT PICTURED - Brownies and Snickers bar from Brooklyn and Kenzie Comstock; Swedish dish cloths from Emily Pederson; Swedish candle from Ulla Gardner; tube of pink lipstick from Jenni and Kristi; Trader Joes Almonds, lotion and little prayer box from Justin and Amy and family.

So much KINDNESS from so many people.  I didn't deserve it all.

A list from Emily Blount and Allison Christensen was a FUN SURPRISE;

When KRO arrived, we went to Taco Time - where else?

We did coloring and drank herbal tea:

One day Jenni and Kristi cleaned all three of out bathrooms:  They've never been so clean!

ALlen, Jenni, Kristi and I went bowling: ALL FOUR of us got a STRIKE...it was so fun!

Allen and the girls had a little time to sing:

We went shopping for some new lipstick for me...do you like the color we didn't choose?

Driving out to enjoy the spectacular Kayenta, we saw  little taffy store, which we didn't even know it existed and we spent a fun time trying out and looking over their 76 varieties of TAFFY!

We enjoyed fried brussels

 sprouts at Xetava and walked around looking in shops and at the sidewalk art which was just amazing!

THEN: it was off to LAS VEGAS!

Let's go to the Bellagio to see the newest display; spring in all its glory:

We went to an ultra sound for Janessa and Daniel's baby:  That was AMAZING and so incredible...

Look at that gorgeous mom-to-be and the handsome father-to-be.  Baby boy is sure to be a handsome young man!

Second-hand store shopping and dinner at Esther's capped off a great day of fun and food!

I don't have pictures, but we squeezed in a comedy/magic show before we headed to the airport to take Kristi .....it was a laugh a minute...so so fun.  

It was a marvelous few days and puff!  It was over way too soon?!?!?!  I have the best two daughters in the world and I am so grateful.

Here are a couple of tributes I received over the last couple of days.  I don't deserve them, but it was so thoughtful of the people who wrote them:

Kim Stocking - my first Relief Society president and visiting teacher when we arrived in St George; she is so inspiring and amazing.  She's one of the best speakers in the ward!  Thanks, Kim, this totally surprised and amazed me what you said.  

This from a former student of mine:  Natalie Lilljenquist Clark; I have recently started following her on Instagram.  She is just AMAZING!  I love that she is so classy and fun and stylish, but she is not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ and regularly posts about her love for the Saviour.  Thank you, Natalie for the very kind words!

HAHA! Now That Is Funny!

 

I went to visit 88 year old Ulla; she gave me this card and a Swedish candle that she has had for many years.  It was so thoughtful.  

But, oh, how this card made me laugh totally out loud.

I was so glad I had thought about and actually carried out the idea of giving her a bagel with lox.  Which she loves.  She was as excited as a small child; it was SO FUN.  And, this card was SO FUNNY.

HAHAHAHHAHAHAH....

Happy THINGS!

 

Jenni FINALLY got a kitchen - after 9 months of no stove, oven, fridge, countertops, cabinets, etc.  They ate on their bed using a microwave or ate out or didn't eat or whatever.

BUT, this is the first meal she cooked in her sort of finished kitchen.  So very thoughtful that she shared her first meal with us.  The bagels are from Bobby who mailed them to Jenni.  So very thoughtful.

Happy April Fool's Day; Emily gave us these chocolates for Christmas, so I gave them ack to her; only they have Brussel sprouts wrapped up in them.  She knew something was off, so it didn't quite go as planned.  But, whatever.  In the teeniest possible letters, it says FOOLS after Happy April.  

And finally, This is a very historic picture; here’s why.  The lady on the left in black introduced herself to me at the gym several years ago.  We have been good friends over several years.  She lives about four blocks from me.  The lady in green on the right is from Rexburg - we knew each other many years ago because of faculty women.  She is a snowbird.  She moved into Bonnie’s ward and we reconnected a couple of years ago. SO, this picture makes me happy because it connects my long ago past with my present.  (I mean, Ilene could have moved to anywhere in this town, but she moved into a neighborhood with a lady I knew.)  I love to make connections. 

And, while I did not go to this Relief Society Party, I LOVE all these marvelous ladies in our ward and neighborhood.  

Back row:  Jennifer Miller, Kim Thompson, Susan Brook, Loretta Allam, Wilda watts, Peggy Hrabar, Not sure, not sure, Melissa Heaton

First Row: Kenzie Thompson McMillan, Brooke Zufelt, Suzette Coombs, Katrina Household

Seated: Rachel Bills, Heather Smith

And, finally, a poster advertising a fund raiser for a children's school in Africa.  Jordan and Kristi went there last year.  So, they are one of five bands playing at this fund raiser.  Wish we could go!

  

Grandkid Adventures

 

Olivia lost two teeth almost simultaneously.  She told me that the first one didn't hurt, but the 2nd one did.  when I asked her why, she replied, quite intelligently, I might add, "It wasn't quite ready to come out yet."  Smart girl.

Sean is having an Easter poetry contest for family.  Over Face Time, Olivia share the poem she has written.

"I Love Unicorns and Jesus is My Saviour."  

SPOT ON.

It's a party for little Lola.  She's quiet and tender and loving.  And, don't forget beautiful!

From Fast & Testimony Meeting

 Rachel was her name and this is what she shared.

And, I loved it....

Remembering to be Grateful

An experience this week reminds me how important it is to ALWAYS be grateful for my blessings to God and to people on the earth who share their time or talents or visits or texts or anything.

 Doris and I minster to a young college girl (don't ask why WE go to a college girl,  but we have been assigned and so we go to her home!)  She is never there, responds sporadically to texts, which is all okay.  But, since the month is almost over, we went after working/school hours to her home.  She was, not unexpectedly at home, but we left her the loveliest little plant and a home-made card.  Later that evening, I texted her to say that we were sorry we had missed her.  She sent an emoji back...but NO MENTION of the lovely little flower.

Now, here's two things about this little insignificant event.

1.  I was not very grateful as a child/teenager/young adult, so I get it.  I deserve this kind of indifference.

2.  I do not do things to be thanked or praised or get accolades.  (At least, I shouldn't do it for those purposes.)  

Bottom line; is for ME TO TRY TO BE MORE GRATEFUL and appreciative of what happens in my life.

Best Family Ever!

 

Latest Zoom call.  I love these great people.  Good, good GOOD.  How did I get so blessed?!?!?!

A Different Kind of Joy Today....

 Look what was on the door of my car this morning when I got out of the gym.  It really thrilled me.  I was so happy some Christian person is spreading the message of Easter and the Saviour.  

Jesus on the Red Sea.  HAHAHHAHAHA.  

FEELING JOY!

 

This picture causes me GREAT JOY! 

Two sons; six grandsons, three girlfriends and one beloved wife!  Jeremy and Sayre are going skiing for a couple of days in Northern Utah, so they are staying with Justin and Amy, who invited all these people for dinner!

According to Amy, a great time was had by ALL!  Including dinner, a whiffle ball game and a game of TABU!

Thanks, AMY, for making this happen!  I LOVE this event.

Here's another significant event from a few years ago;  Mother's Day at Janessa's in 2022.

Half Broke Horses

 

Okay, this book was intriguing.  It's the story of Jeannette Walls' grandmother, who is a true character.  She's hard working, determined, just remarkable.  Her life was never easy, but she didn't shrink from any of her challenging situations.  She as always giving advise to her children, most of which her daughter never followed.  

Lots of years ago, I read the book The Glass Castle, which is a tragic story of Jeannette Wells' mother and father and their nomadic, mixed-up life.  So, it was interesting to read the story of Jeannette's grandmother, who is so different from the daughter's life. 

The story takes place in Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, and is about the hard scrabble life of people in the desert in the West in the 30's, 40's and 50's.  It's a story of hard work, survival, battling the elements, and it's based on actual events and real people.  

I give it 4 stars.  I liked it.  And, it's a much easier read than The Glass Castle.  In terms of their lives and their priorities.