LIFE IS HARD....

WHEW!

Sometimes life throws a curve ball.

I think some families get by without too many of those, but for me....it's thrown me plenty.

I DO NOT LIKE IT!

I got thrown two curve balls in the last week; they bowled me under good.

Now, my challenge is to pick up and move forward...

With FAITH and HOPE.

Yikes, that's hard for me, but here I go...one day at a time.

The Clothes Ladies....a Study in Two Opposites

A year ago or so, I received a text from Louise.  She said that her friend was going to come over with her little trailer that she had converted into a portable clothes, accessories, shoes, boot, tops, pants and dress shop.

So, to support Louise, I stopped by to see this adorable little trailer converted to a mini clothing shop on wheels.

There were a lot of items for sale in this teeny little space, and lots of neighbors dropped by, like me, to support Louise and her friend.  I didn't know the lady at all, but while I was looking around inside, she was telling a couple of ladies that in the previous month, she personally had spent over $2,000.00 on herself for clothing.  She had realized that was a lot, so she was going to try to sell clothing to make her purchases cheaper.  So, she and her husband had bought this little travel trailer, spent ten thousand dollars to convert it into a store, and was now in business.

I listened to that tale - stunned.  TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS IN ONE MONTH ON CLOTHING!    That's my entire budget for one month.....it was ludicrous.

Now, for the exact opposite.

My sister-in-law Shauna and I were walking to a play one beautiful Saturday afternoon, and I said, "I love those black pants you have on...they are very nice-looking!"  She laughed and said they had come from the Aunt Gerry bags which are clothes that our aunt would give to Shauna occasionally.

Then she added this statement, "I bet I have not spent over $100.00 in clothing in my married life."  (45 years!)  I was stunned!  Unbelievable.  Many people have donated clothing to her over the years and that is basically all she wears.

She did tell me that she does buy shoes.

She also added that the only thing she spends almost any money on is things for her grandchildren, which she buys at dollar stores or second-hand stores usually!

So, there you have it...two styles; two women.

Both intriguing; both extremes.

A Visit From the Gees

Seven children...

All wonderful....

All so happy and all so very good and delightful.

Nathaniel and Jeanine raise them well.

And, even though, after they leave, I need to catch my breath, and rest a minute, I adore these marvelous children.  This is just what the church wants in raising a family.  They have FHE, read their scriptures, sing songs, help each other, have fun, and smile a lot.

I didn't get their picture this time, but I did get one picture of Annabelle who always makes me smile.

IT's hard to see, but she drew a cat on the Boogie Board.  In the background, you must barely see Nathaniel, who is trying to read a book and a couple his other kids.  Little Eliza and maybe Emily.

Such a marvelous family...such a JOY to be around!  Always.

Their cousins are great also.  Here's a picture taken on the Sunday of General Conference when all 11 of the kids were around:  Now that was crazy time.  But so much FUN!

Grant, aven, Hyrum showing his card tricks, Emma, Adaline, Annabelle, and Marriner.
But, where are the other five?  HA HA.

What's In a Dream?

..or in other words,

Where is Biblical Joseph when I need him?

Honestly, I have such strange dreams sometimes....it's just rather unsettling.

I think I know the meaning of some of them.

Like, last night, I dreamed we were packing up from a big camping trip or something, and I really needed to use the restroom, but when I went to use it, the lady owner of the property had literally picked up the toilet, and was hauling it away.  I'd never seen someone just pick up a real toilet and carry it in her arms.  But, the meaning of that is very clear....I needed to use the restroom...quite badly.  HA HA.

But, I've also dreamed about my mother quite a lot lately, and I don't help her when she is clearly needing help.  I was up feeling so very sad.

I wonder what meaning dreams have....

Are they just random?

Do they have a deep psychological meaning?

What do you think, Joseph, up in heaven?

I LOVE TO LAUGH....

Which means I LOVE being with my brothers and their wives.

It's a laugh a minute and such a wonderfully fun adventure.

We did sealings in the Provo City Center Temple.  It's the first time we have all been in the temple together for a very long time, and it was a wonderful experience to share with my husband, siblings and spouses.
What a wonderful family; I'm so blessed!

This year Shauna got us tickets to the Scarlet Pimpernel; it just moved up into first place on my list of musical theatre.  I can't even begin to describe how delightful, fun, clever, witty this production was.  The costumes, the scenery and the singing were beyond compare!  Broadway couldn't do this any better!

Oh, what fun!

WE just go, go, go until we are all exhausted!

And, of course, there's always FOOD involved.

We had to stop at Sundance and get some Jackson Hole many flavors of soda.
And, of course, Cafe Rio.
I gained weight, in spite of my efforts to not do so.
But, it's always just so FUN!

Until next year, then, dear brothers......

To Brag or Not To Brag

I don't remember a lot of advise my dear mother gave me, but she often said it was not polite to brag about one's children.

For some reason, that stuck with me.

And, because she was my dear mother and I believed her, it has been very difficult for me to ever brag about our children.

I see that as a HUGE error.  And, I certainly don't blame my mother, who raised three of the most remarkable sons ever, but I think it is a mistake to say bragging is not appropriate.

I visit quite a few people in our neighborhood; they brag on their children - constantly, incessantly.

And, their children are wonderful, good people.

They know their parents are proud, as they should be.

Some over brag.  Some are hard to listen to.  But, bragging comes so naturally to them.

Sometimes, I think in the middle of a conversation - here's where I should say something about MY OWN CHILD.  Here's Where I should insert something really great about what my child or grandchild has done.

The words don't come out.  IF, it does, I immediately feel like I've done something horribly wrong.

IT's sort of crazy and a psychosis of sorts, I fear.

I love our children; I'm so proud of their achievements and their accomplishments.  I'm proud of the kind of people they have become; they are high achievers.  Good, Kind, Thoughtful, Hard-working.

I'm so proud of them.

Maybe some day, I'll be able to share that with others.

TURMOIL IN THE GUT!

IT's hard to explain what is happening in America right now....

It's bitter...

It's ugly....

It's so divisive.....

I'm literally torn apart by what is happening, and it doesn't even personally involve me.

But, it involves the country I love; the America that has a schism right down the middle; and for some reason, I feel it personally.  It has never been so ugly or hateful or horrid as it is right now in AMERICA.

It's men against women, Republicans against Democrats, Right against Left, she said against he said; it's left me in a huge turmoil.

And, it has split RAH and me.

I feel helpless and often hopeless.

How did the country get to be in such an ugly mess as this is right now?

And, more importantly, how will we heal?

She was a credible witness; believable, honest, calm, well-spoken.

He was a belligerent, bellicose witness; but, as RAH says, his very name and character have been totally dragged through the mud.

Oh, it is so horrific.

And, I am SAD!