Why I Was Never Asked to Speak in Relief Society on Being Organized at Christmas

A Christmas Remembered

Time to go shopping with mom. Just for a little while, just a day or two before Christmas. At night. That was strange. We didn't usually go shopping at night.

Coming home, as we drove into the driveway of our home, where all the lights were out, we could see a strange glow through the front room window.

Could it be?

My brother and I didn't dare expect or hope...

We dashed into our front room.

Dad was sitting there nonchalantly in his reading chair. He was sitting there as if this happened every night.

He was sitting there watching.....

Was it real? Could it be so? Did we really have one of those new-fangled inventions?

Yes, Virginia, it was for real. My dad was sitting there watching our very first television set.

The perfect Christmas gift of the fifties.

Bragging Rights

Great Photography
Great Phamily
Great Photos
Great Phun
Merry Christmas from the Phishers (Fishers)

Brent, Jenni, Janessa (17), Stockton (15), Landon (15); missing Sean in Phlorida on mission

thanks to Justin Hackworth Photography

See it here:

Everyone Has a Story to Tell

"This is your father, then... right?" I asked Deanna pointing to the pedigree chart on the LDS church new family search website.

"Yes, and those are my two brothers who have died."

I looked closely at the death/birthdate.

"My goodness, your brother died much too young," I said noticing he had died in his early twenties.

"Yes," Deanna said. "During WWII, he flew 101 missions over Japan. Then he came home and died in an accident."

"What happened?" I asked.

Deanna told the story of how her newly-married brother and a friend were fishing on Henry's Lake. A wind came up, overturned the small boat, and hit his friend in the head. So, her brother held on to the friend, as he swam to shore. The friend got close to the shore and was finally able to make it ashore, but her brother was exhausted, and just couldn't make it.

101 flying missions fighting for America; he's a hero.
Saving a friend; he's even more of a hero.

I absolutely LOVE volunteering at the family history center.

Sugar Cooky Time at Grandma's

I can't take any credit for this project. Amy made the dough, frosting, etc. I did, however, thoroughly enjoy watching the process.

Notice: both boys are wearing their swim suits...does this tell you what kind of serious project this is?

And, the finished product...well, one way to say it, besides yum yum, is -



"Would you like some cooky with your frosting?"

And It Flew Right In!

Lovely front door decor, right?

Apparently the birds think so also.

A few nights ago, I opened the door and a bird flew away from being on the wreath. I don't know who was more startled; the bird or MOI!

Last night, when I opened the door to see if I had left the water fountain on, I felt a.....something, but I couldn't say what it was.

I closed the door, went into my office, and then heard RAH exclaim:

"There's a bird in our house!' And, sure enough, there was this bird flying around our front room/kitchen area.

So, I did what any self-respecting, typical woman would do. I locked myself in the office.

RAH, the brave one, safely got the bird out.

The autumn wreath comes down TODAY!

Must See Movie!

Hey, everyone out there...have you seen NEW MOON?!?!??!

Thankfully, I haven't.

But, RAH and I did see BLIND SIDE.

Loved, loved, loved it.

Funny, true, inspiring, fantastic characters; it's a winner!

And, you leave the theatre feeling so GOOD.

So motivated to help others.

So amazed at the goodness of people.

So happy to live in America.

So in love with the Tuohy family and Michael Oher.