the family clune - 8 - 6 = 2

A New Start?

2010-01-29T12:17:00.003-06:00

I've been gone for a long time, from bloggin that is. Needed time to think! Needed time to spend with my family, who I love more than anything ANYTHING, else in the entire world! Thanksgiving with Matt and Kelly and Craig. Christmas with Chris, Morgan, Sean, Marc, and Craig. A treacherous trip to Idaho to see my mom, and we had such a boring New Year's Eve that even she, at 90 years old, complained mightily! And a couple of trips to San Diego to spend wonderful time with the Glauser family - delightful. Plus a family reunion - minus Matt, sadly - in California. I loved every minute of it all. That is my idea of the perfect world - having those wonderful people around me every minute!!

And today I'm feeling so blessed!! I've just been reading a few of my favorite blogs and have been reminded of how very, very blessed my life is right now. Not perfect, in fact far from it. I'm always struggling with myself - I'm so unruly!! And feeling so deeply for my family, each with their own struggles. Mountains to climb, mountains to climb. And yet as I read about others and what they are dealing with I realize that I am so blessed. Just trying to live up to what I have and what is expected of me. Miles and miles and miles to go!! And piles and piles of gratitude!

Good Food

2009-09-19T21:10:00.002-05:00

Last night we saw Julie and Julia. We loved the movie and left the theatre feeling hungry for some really good food. We talked about our options, the places we like to go and the places we've been wanting to try. After thinking and discussing for much too long we decided on Outback Steakhouse. A safe bet, or so we thought. Jere had the Alice Springs Chicken and I had the something or other shrimp in a cream sauce. Jere loved the chicken and even shared a bit with me. I thought the shrimp was too spicy but was okay. But we agreed that it was all rather disappointing.

Tonight our friends, the Scotts, had us over for dinner. Jim is a butcher. He fixed us steaks. He bought a whole tenderloin and cut the steaks himself. He asked us how we liked them to be cooked. One medium well, three - medium rare. Oh man - melt in your mouth delicious. So amazingly good. We had salad and potatoes. It was all delicious. And then cheesecake with homemade blackberry jam on top. Now that was some really good food!!

Cowboy Boots - Part 2

2009-09-19T21:06:00.003-05:00

I saw him again. The same man!! Denim shorts, t shirt with a picture and some writing under it. No dog this time. He was sitting on a bench. And this time he was wearing boots with blue tops, sky blue tops. I wonder if he has a boot wardrobe? Maybe I'd like to meet this man, obviously he has very unique taste!

Gloomy Monday

2009-09-14T08:43:00.002-05:00

We did not move here to have grey skies and rain. It's gloomy, gloomy, gloomy.

So ---------- some cheer. Have a laugh, a good out loud laugh!! And who does this remind you of???????\\http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ULVQOneeZE

Sad Things

2009-09-10T07:52:00.004-05:00

For the last week my heart has been heavy. Thinking about two families - one who has lost a son and another whose son was spared. Questioning - why? Having faith that God is in charge and that he will make it all right, somehow. Feeling the absolute empty, gut-wrenching pain that one family must be going through. The intense desire, the total need to wake up and discover that this has just been the most terrible dream that one could ever have. And yet realizing that this isn't a dream at all but a new, hard, sad, horrendous reality. How do you adjust to that? And on the other hand the extreme gratitude of another family who could have lost a son, who could have a son who is now a paraplegic but whose son was spared. The long recovery will be nothing compared to what could have happened. And somewhere in the middle our family with two sons who were not involved at all simply because they were gone to our family reunion but would have been if they had been at work in Minneapolis. One is totally involved in helping two families heal. A tall young man with thin shoulders who is trying, and expected to reconstruct the shattered pieces of a worlds that have forever changed. The other feeling the pain of what could have been, also trying to help give comfort and encouragement. Sons who are feeling the pain of loss, the joy of survival and the guilt of just not being there, of just not being able to change the course of what is now history.

And my prayer is that each individual is blessed according to his or her individual need. That each individual can heal, find peace, solace, comfort.

Isaiah 41:10 ""Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."

Isaiah 41:13 "For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee."

Home Again?

2009-09-09T08:26:00.003-05:00

Sitting here, back from the Clune Family Reunion. Feeling blue, melancholy, satisfied, lonely. Wondering why some things happen, wishing I knew more answers, wondering how to help people in pain. Loving my family, feeling blessed by each of them, thinking that being together is the very best place to be. Thinking about Matt and wishing he had been with us. And thinking about and anticipating the next get together!

Fashion Statement

2009-08-28T14:51:00.006-05:00

Cowboy boots!! Grandma and Grandpa Moore gave two little boys cowboy boots for their birthdays. They loved them so much that they wore them nearly all the time. And then when feet just couldn't be squeezed into them any more they were handed down to an eager younger brother who had been eyeing them and occasionally trying them on for a long time!

Fashion is so simple for kids, just put on the clothes you like the best. You know, the comfy ones. That is how the most fasion forward outfits were created. Starting with shorts, usually blue or red, a t-shirt (doesn't need to match the shorts but it is best if it says something really cool on it or has a picture of a super hero), and the final touch - the boots. Just pull 'em on, oh wait mom is making me taken 'em off and put socks on - bother!!

I don't think they ever noticed the smiles that appeared on faces when we were out and about. (I really believe those smiles were in part smiles of remembrance, either connected with a favorite pair of boots or some equally wonderful fashion statement.) You've seen those fashion forward kids. They're happy, carefree, adventurous, full of fun, and greatly admired/mocked. (And they have moms who are either viewed as not caring about how their kids look or who just don't get it themselves or who are the coolest moms in the entire world, take your pick!)

I hadn't thought about that style for a long time until yesterday. I was driving home from the University of Arkansas. Here he comes. A grown up (I mean we're talking 50 at least, I mean he had gray hair!) with his unleashed dog (read my other blog for more info about that), walking slowly up the street. He was wearing a t-shirt, complete with a picture and words, denim shorts, and ----- that's right, COWBOY BOOTS!! They were nearly knee high, the tops were bright yellow and red and the foot part was brown - I'm guessing ostrich leather. Oh they were fine lookin' boots and I'm sure they cost a pretty penny!!

And I am happy to see and to say that FASHION LIVES ON!!

The Red Neck Trail

2009-08-11T10:40:00.005-05:00

I have a current favorite walking path, it's the Mud Creek Trail. There are a lot of reasons that I like it but occasionally I decide to walk another path. I don't think it has a name so today I named it. From now on I will call it "The Red Neck Trail."

Lots of people here have dogs. Lots of people here have big dogs. Lots of people here take their dogs with them everywhere they go. They go in some stores, ride in the back of trucks, and go to the Farmer's Market. And of course people take their dogs for walks. On the Mud Creek Trail the dogs are leashed and people are careful, usually, to clean up after their dogs. And I don't think I've ever seen anyone walking with more than two dogs.

Today on the Red Neck Trail I first encountered a woman with her big dog, unleashed. My leashed little dog immediately goes into attack mode because in his head he is a big dog. We pulled over to the side and waited for the "danger" to pass and then continued on with our walk. The big dog didn't pay the least bit of attention to Mr. Bear, probably thought he was a rather foolish little dog!! And this woman wasn't carrying a poop bag. A little later a big German Shepherd came down the path, unleashed and looking alone. (Oh great!) He was followed by a Golden Lab, also unleashed but obviously they were together. At this point Mr. Bear is pretty fit to be tied which means that I pick him up. He is fighting like crazy to get out of my arms and into the fray - or maybe to start the fray - whatever. But now a third dog of equal size, maybe bigger, romps up to join the other two and then a fourth thankfully with a man walks onto the scene.

"Oh don't worry," the man calls to me. "My dogs are very social, wouldn't hurt a fly!" Maybe he hasn't noticed that I am trying to control a pretty hysterical "little dog." "Well, my dog isn't social, that's the problem." He just looks at us and walks past and thankfully his dogs follow without even looking back.

Mr. Bear calms down and goes back to sniffing the flora and fauna.

This man did not have a poop bag either. I wonder what size bag he would need?

Sean

2009-07-23T14:09:00.001-05:00

Just Sean, that's all, just Sean!!

the 4th of July

2009-07-23T13:50:00.002-05:00

Canoing on the St. Croix!! Can there be a better way to spend a summer day??

Beautiful, sunny, warm, fun, easy, friends, family, good food! The best day of the year!!

Sean, why did you bring your dog? Remember when Padrick decided he wanted to go in our canoe not in your kayak? Remember when he put his two front feet right through the top of the styrofoam cooler - I'm glad it was yours!!

Dad, remember when you decided you wanted to take Sean's kayak? Remember how much work it was?

Dave Sandburg, you are a most patriotic man. Not many would paint a flag on your toe!!

What a handsome group! Remember the lady who graciously said she'd snap the photo and then each time she thought she was done we handed yet another camera to take yet another group shot?

Remember the intensity of the green?

Remember the clouds that were so black and looked so threatening and then blew over? Remember that it poured in Minneapolis and we didn't get a drop of rain? Remember the people who didn't come because they thought it might rain and then their activities were cancelled because of rain?

The best day of the year

2009-07-23T13:36:00.002-05:00

I'm not sure why I love the 4th of July so much. It must have something to do with the weather - warm, sunny, wonderful!! And the tradition of honoring our country with fireworks no less - I do love that!! Being with friends - lovely!! Being with family - the best!!

It always starts with Music in Plymouth. This year's picnic was provided by Sean and Taste of Italy. It's not my favorite, far from it in fact, but everyone else loves it. The music this year was the best ever!! The acts before the Orchestra were fantastic, and the Orchestra was wonderful!!

And then the fireworks. Truly, the best fireworks show, every year it gets better. It goes on and on. It's loud, it's colorful, it's wonderful. We just love love love it!!

And then the day of the 4th of July itself ------------

Now why did I do that?? Oh now I know!!

2009-06-22T08:02:00.002-05:00

A year ago, about this exact time, I was lying in a tent on a saggy air mattress thinking to myself that I had done this "camp thing" enough. I had been going to camp since I was 12 and hadn't missed many years. Enough was enough. That was that and I decided that I was done, been there done done done that done that, finished, no need to do it any more. Not that I had a bad time, it was really quite fun - except the rain, food, heat, humidity, etc. But even with those things I still had a good time. Loved the girls I was working with, loved the leaders I was working with, it was beautiful but I was just done. (Maybe the fact that according to my little informal survey I discovered to my disgust and horror and sorrow that I was the oldest woman there from our Stake played a part in my decision!! Not that I am too old to take it though! And in fact perhaps I should take some pride in still be quite able to be there and endure whatever we had to endure!)

But then one day in the spring Gretchen called me and asked if I would please go to camp again this year and in a weak moment and without a second's hesitation I said, "Sure!" So camp comes along and I was suddenly dreading it, just didn't want to go, thought about being totally irresponsible and just not showing up. But I packed up the car with tons of gear and headed north to Camp Tilden.

And then I found out why I was there:

1. The girls who greeted me with hugs and excitement that we'd be working together again for the 3rd year. Nothing replaces the feeling of being loved!!

2. The first night I had a very interesting conversation with a wonderful girl, Gus. I met her the first year I went, she is full of enthusiasm, joy, fun, clearly a role model for all of the other girls. The kind of girl you fall in love with immediately. That night I heard her whole story.

She comes from an incredibly disfunctional family, in fact she has lived with her grandmother for several years just to get away. No father in the picture. Brother is mentally wacked out as a result of drugs and mental disorder magnified by his drug abuse - he doesn't even know her anymore she explained. Other siblings struggling incredibly.

She was an angry young woman when she first went to camp. Picking fights with the other girls, wanting to run away, hard to deal with. She'd spend hours shooting baskets just to work off her anger. Leaders didn't know what to do with her or about her.

She explained that one day she took a hard look at the people around her and started to think about why some people were happy and others were miserable and decided it was the Gospel that made the difference. And at that point she decided that it had to become the central thing in her life. She set goals, Temple Marriage is a huge one for her, started to work hard at changing herself, focused on doing what would make her happy and living a Gospel centered life even though she had little support and even ridicule from those who should have been especially supportive. And there she is today, an amazing young woman. What a lesson she is to me, and what hope she exudes.

3. And then there's Sammy. Sammy owns and runs the camp, it is her family property. Had been an exclusive boys camp. now she hosts not only the girl's camp but other campers as well. She has canoes and tubes for those who want to canoe on the Big Sugar, she has cabins, and RV hookups. I met Sammy 3 years ago and we became instant friends. She is an amazing woman, a former dancer who still teaches master classes, I don't know her age but I'd guess she's in her late 70s or possibly early 80s. She is a classy woman, drives a bright red 4 wheeler she calls "The Streak", lives by herself, fords her road, that is water covered most of the time, to get in and out. She is devoted to the Church although when she joined the opposition she faced was huge, including her minister telling her husband to leave her if she decided to be baptized.

I was distressed when I got to camp to learn that she was in the hospital with heart problems. But then she and her daughter drove up to check things out - she had just been released from the hospital and was on her way home but wanted to make sure things were okay. She was dressed stylishly and was happy and passed hugs all around. I could tell she was tired though, and a little breathless.

The following day I led my girls on a hike, maybe we should say a walk down the road, to her house where we worked on certification and then she invited us in and showed us amazing pictures dating back to the late 1800s. Pictures of the original camp and the store her grandfather had started in Cyclone, MO which no longer exists, the swinging bridge that people had to use to get to the store, the camp when it was an exclusive boys camp (they even had a golf range), and post cards autographed by Tyrone Power and Henry Fonda when they were filming "Jessie James" there. She shared her conversion story with the girls and her testimony.

We went back again the next day and pulled weeds from her flower gardens and her tomato plants. And later she treated us to ice cream at the camp store.

She and I spent a couple of hours talking about life and the future and politics and love and marriage. Her advice to me, "Do something for yourself!" I'll take that to heart.

My visit with her was totally worth the camp experience. How often are blessings found in the most unexpected places when we are doing the things that we'd least like to be doing!!

Funny, funny, funny

2009-04-23T18:52:00.004-05:00

Today I both read and saw on the news a story that just made me laugh. It was about a mom who in a fit of anger (or perhaps wisdom) kicked her bickering girls out of the car 3 miles away from home. The link to the story (oh, and do read the comments which follow the story):

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30344675/

Now here's the problem with the story, there isn't enough information. We don't know how long this mom had put up with the bickering girls. We don't know what they were bickering about or how intense the fighting had gotten. We don't know what kind of neighborhood she dropped them off in nor do we know if she drove around the block and came back for them. And we don't know what she was really contemplating doing to them when she decided it was safer for all concerned to just kick them out of the car and drive away. We just don't know enough. But I will say this, my sympathies are totally with the mom!!

I was remembering two separate incidents when my parents threatened me and my brother as a result of our bickering.

The first was on a Christmas trip to California. We had gotten to the half way point and probably had driven our parents nuts. We stopped for the night and they announced to us that we were heading back home in the morning because they couldn't take our fighting any more!! I remember crying myself to sleep and resolving that the fighting would end immediately. The next morning we got in the car and to our immense relief they continued driving to Calif. I doubt that we fought for even one second the rest of the way, probably bent over backwards being kind and loving. But I bet, can't say that I remember for sure, we picked up the fighting once we were headed back for home after the Calif. Christmas - after all, what could they threaten us with then?

The second incident occurred when we were on our way back to our farm from somewhere - I don't remember where. I guess we were carrying on in the back seat beyond endurance because my dad finally stopped the car and we were ordered out and told to walk home. No neighbors nearby, no stores, we were waaaaaayyyyyy out in the country. As our parents drove away leaving us in a cloud of dust they shouted, "We hope the bears don't get you!!" Now I think we should have been scared or sorry but instead we became a team with a mission to accomplish. We started walking and then remembered that dad had told us about a shortcut that he used to take through a quaking aspen patch and so we left the road and headed for that patch of trees. We truly fought our way through the undergrowth and the trees, we could have used a machete, and we were having a great time. We had made pretty good progress when we heard our parents frantic voices calling our names. We headed back to the road to find them, talk about trauma and emotional scarring, mom and dad were beside themselves with fear and panic. They acted all brave and everything but they also told us they were worried that the bears really had gotten us. I don't remember them ever ordering us out of the car again. I guess they learned their lesson!!

Now let's talk about emotional scarring and trauma - when I was a kid my dentist didn't use novacaine. And I still can't handle going to the dentist!! Yep, scarred for life!!

The Coolest Truck

2009-04-23T18:46:00.005-05:00

Every once in a while I see something that is just so cool. Today it was a truck. Totally redone and so great looking that I had to stop and take a picture with my phone. And then I walked a few steps further and had to stop and take another picture. It reminded me of my dad who really appreciated a great car/truck. And it was made by International - just like the combines he owned. I wish it was mine - I would look so fine in this truck!!

Oh Happy Day!

2009-04-19T07:01:00.002-05:00

Maybe it's not true of everyone but with each big life event that has occurred in our family I have always had this slight concern that just maybe things might not turn out okay. No particular reason, in this case it was probably just a mother's concern for her child and deep hope that he'll always have everything he needs to be happy. Concern based on the unknown - the future. And then at some point comes the peace and the calm feeling that everything is just right and "God's in His heaven" looking over us all. It happened twice during this week of wedding festivities, once when I was alone and silently contemplating and praying. The knowledge that this is a good match and that this is right. And then the seecond time as the sealing was taking place, seeing the absolute joy and excitement on the faces of Morgan and Chris - absolutely no denying that they were nearly bursting with joy and excitement!! After that it was easy to just sit back and bask in the glow of the wedding festivities!!

What a beautiful day - perfect weather, the whole family together, in the perfect place. Who could ask for anything more?

Dogs and Haircuts

2009-03-07T15:37:00.007-06:00

Part 1

My brother gave me a white toy poodle for my 16th birthday, Buffee. He was probably a typical poodle, uppity, sometimes even nasty. (Like the time he wet on the visiting neighbor lady's leg.) But I loved him and he loved me. He was great, I thought so anyway!!

Haircut time was pure humiliation for him. We'd take him to Mrs. Taylor. She'd trim him up and always, ALWAYS, tied ribbons to his ears. We'd bring him home and he'd head straight for his hiding spot, under the couch. And he'd stay there. We discovered though that if we made a big deal about how cute he was with his new do he'd prance around and show off and never go under the couch. I guess that's something about poodles, they're a vain breed. Maybe it was the bows, I mean what guy would like to have cute little ribbons tied to his ears?

Part 2

We have a toy poodle now. His name is Bear, like the teddy bear he resembled when we got him. He is a typical poodle, uppity, sometimes even nasty. But we love him and he loves me, he knows who he can really count on to feed him, walk him, do all of the essentials for him which includes hand feeding him but that's a whole other story.

He needed a haircut. I can tell because I'm allergic to him (all I can say is, "what some people will do to make their children happy!") and when his fur starts to get long I start to sneeze and wheeze. I can also tell because when the weather gets warm he starts to pant - like a dog - joke, joke!! So he needed a haircut. I called Carrie the haircutter several times but there was no answer. That's when I started thinking about Susan, a woman I admire so much. She told me one time that she often cut her dog's hair herself. "I just follow the pattern that the haircutter did, nothing to it." Well, why not give it a try?

I put Mr. Bear in the laundry sink, got my hair clippers and gave it a go. Those hair clippers didn't even make a dent in his furry problem so I got a pair of scissors and started to trim away. I trimmed his tummy first because it's a hidden area and I also thought he'd fight me like mad and I wouldn't be able to trim much fur. Well, he just stood there and let me trim away. Actually he looked rather pathetic - maybe doomed is a better word. Anyway I trimmed as far down on his tummy as I could go while he was standing in the sink and then I started on his back. Again he just stood there and let me cut. My idea was to just shorten his fur but I quickly discovered that it worked better if I cut close to the skin so I did. Occasionally I'd pinch some skin with the scissors and he'd quickly let me know that he didn't like that but then he'd go back to standing still. It was all going to well until I got to some difficult parts like his legs and feet. I did my best and standing back I thought it looked pretty darn good.

I gave him a bath. He did his usual tear around the house and rub the nose on the carpet thing to help him dry off. To my horror he looked worse than awful. All of the fur I had missed stood up at odd angles. The places where the scissors had cut especially close were white lines. His mustache was longer and fuller on one side. His ears didn't match at all.

And he was done with me and my scissors.

We went to bed hoping that in the light of morning he would look better, like maybe it was just a bad dream or a nightmare!! NO SUCH LUCK!!

My first phone call this morning was to Carrie who just happened to be back from vacation and could cut him at 9:30 am. She laughed and laughed and then wisely said, "You just never know what this recession will drive people to do!" and then she added, "Now you probably appreciate what skill professional dog groomers have."

She trimmed him up, we call it a buzz, and I tipped her handsomely!

Thinking

2009-02-18T00:12:00.002-06:00

I've been going through photos looking for a variety of Chris pictures for a slide show. What an experience. It's a little like watching years slide through your fingers. Years that I now realize just dissolved. I thought they'd last forever. And so many questions come to my mind - questions that I can't answer and questions that might not ever get answered. Questions about me, about my parenting, about my kids, about their choices, about the future and the past, funny no questions about Jere, he's a rock. Maybe not always right but always resolved and always trying to do better and move forward. And questions about now, right now. I love Scarlett O'Hara: I'll think about that tomorrow!!

The new look in trees!!

2009-02-12T00:32:00.001-06:00

Some branches still dangle. A little like hanging chads only these are dangling branches. Too high to cut off, hope they don't decide to break off and crash to the ground. Other trees are trimmed of their branches and there isn't much left. Waiting to see if they will grow or if they are dead. Cross your fingers!!

Cleaning up Doug's yard

2009-02-12T00:28:00.001-06:00

So the ice storm ended and by Saturday temps were in the mid 60s and we headed over to Doug's to help him clean up. Some guys had been going door to door offering to trim trees and broken branches. One shimmied up the big tree in the front yard and little by little cut it down to the ground. All that was left was firewood. We dragged branches to the curb and stacked them for some future day when the chippers would come by and finish them off. There are so many branches in so many yards that it will be months and months before they are all gone. And Jere became a "Chain saw guy", rather manly if you ask me. And I even became a "Chain saw mama." A big job, all done now!!

Before and After

2009-02-12T00:20:00.001-06:00

We sat outside and watched this little tree. The ice got heavier and thicker and we started to hear the fearful cracking sounds as though the branches were going to snap right off. And then this little tree started to lean, farther and farther. We thought we might even be able to video it as it fell to the ground. After a while we went inside, although nothing had happened I was sure the by morning it would be laying flat on the ground. It was sad, sad, sad!! By the next day the sun had come out and the ice had started to melt and drip. And the day after that whole chunks of ice were just dropping to the ground. The little branches seemed to shake themselves off and lift themselves up to the sky and the sun. And it wasn't leaning anymore at all, it was standing upright just the way it had been before the ice storm attacked it. And now just two weeks later this little tree is in bloom. And with those blooms comes the hope that spring brings. What a great little tree!!

Arkansas Sunset

2009-02-12T00:13:00.001-06:00

Beautiful, just absolutely beautiful. I was thinking, "red sky at night, sailor's delight." I don't know if this qualifies as a red night sky and I don't even know any sailors but it sure is pretty!!

My Mom

2009-02-07T22:38:00.002-06:00

For the last two or so weeks I have been intensely involved with my mom's life. She is 89. She has stubbornly stayed in her home, living alone and caring for herself, but things are getting rough. She has macular degeneration, she constantly tells me that it might be getting better. Her mobility is very bad, we got her a wheelchair several years ago to help her get around. Up to that point she had been using a sponge mop as a walking stick, her "buddy" she called it. She shakes a little, she doesn't sleep very well, she can't bath herself, she still enjoys cooking although that is becoming a real hazard, she can remember things that I have totally forgotten, she never takes more than Advil or Tylenol, her blood pressure is low, she is lonely and she loves to talk to people, and she is becoming more and more paranoid.

A couple of years ago there was a flood in her basement. I went home with her to help clean it up and discovered two absolute treasures, an old diary and a collection of letters from my dad to her. They were written during the same time period. It was fascinating to have a glimpse into her life when she was in her late teens and early twenties. It was strange to read about her going to play tennis or going skiing when I've never seen her do either of those things. It was strange to read about a man named Gordon, who she was dating when she met my dad, and to continue reading about her emerging feelings for Craig, my dad.

It has been hard. I'm not sure what to do for her. She is stubborn and independent and wants more than anything to preserve her house as my brother's and my inheritence. That isn't going to work because she needs that money to live on. And that's exactly what she should use it for.

Aging - it's just hard to watch. It's hard to cope with. It's hard to deal with. It's just hard, hard, hard. I love her and at the same time she drives me crazy. I constantly remember the good things though, all of the years and the things, so many things, that she had done for me. I wish I could be better. I wish things could be better for her.

Ice Storm - Day 3 - the Beauty in the Storm

2009-02-01T15:56:00.003-06:00

Throughout the day as the sun is coming out there are moments when the ice looks like a million diamonds. The trees glisten! They sparkle! I grab my camera and rush outside to try to capture the beauty.

That sun is tricky. As soon as I get outside, it ducks behind a cloud and the beauty has vanished. I play the go in and go out game. I'm not very satisfied with my pictures. I just can't capture the incredible beauty but I try my best.

As the sun is shining we start hearing the dripping of melting ice. Along with continual cracking and crashing. I think maybe some of the branches were glued up there and as the ice melts they continue to fall. So along with the beauty there is still the awful sound of destruction.

Still no power so the Sisters decide to stay the night again. But another miracle is about to occur, just around the time the Garff's come back with Arby's the lights go on, the furnace starts up, the fridge starts to hum and the tv, well - it doesn't come back. Something about trying to find a signal. Oh well, we're okay without it.

We play Cheese and Crackers again and again and again and then the Garffs decide to head back to their apartment to sleep there. (I find out later that they didn't have power, and yes it was another freezing night for them.) We snuggle down in beds in the bedrooms, which I had up to this point kept closed off to keep the heat in the middle of the house. Life is good!!

Ice Storm - Day 3 - My poor car!!

2009-02-01T15:44:00.002-06:00

This car has gas, well 1/4 tank and that's better than the other one which is empty. This car however cannot be opened. The ice is nearly 1/2 inch thick. My brother wisely suggested I use a hair dryer to thaw the ice (no power Merrill). I can't figure out how holding a powerless hair dryer near the car will do one bit of good so I don't even try it. By afternoon the sun has broken through and the passenger side of the car has shed its icy coat. Elder Garff opens that side and starts up the car, we'll warm it from the inside out!! It works and he heads off to the gas station to fill this car. He discovers that the closest station has emergency power so that emergency vehicles can also fill up there. He and Sister Garff stop at Arby's and pick up dinner for us all. Delicious. Things are looking up!!

Ice Storm - Day 3

2009-02-01T15:36:00.002-06:00

I wake up early and start listening to my walkman. It's cold, 16 degrees. Stay home unless you absolutely have to go out. Driving conditions are terrible. Branches and limbs continue to fall, it's dangerous. Power is out all over the place. Hope to have it back in 4 or 5 days.

One look out my front window shows me terrible devestation. I'm so sad. I call our Senior Missionaries. They have no power, it's so cold in their apartment. I invite them over. They tell me that as soon as they can chip their way into their car they'll come over. We eat breakfast. And then I make the most wonderful discovery of all time - I have hot water!! That beautiful gas water heater has been quietly doing its job and there is hot water!! Two seconds later I'm in the shower, feeling rather luxurious. Still no power but I'm not so concerned about that now, I just sit by the fire and dry my hair. The Sisters take turns having showers. It's the most wonderful thing in the world!!

Elder and Sister Garff finally pull into the driveway in their heavily ice laden car. The roads aren't too bad but trees are down all over. So this seems like the perfect time to - that's right - make a craft. I pull out pretty paper, composition notebooks, glue sticks, ribbon, stamps, you name it, and the ladies get busy and make beautiful notebooks. Takes us the rest of the morning. Elder Garff alternately studies and dozes. We've got beautiful music on the battery powered CD player and that wonderful fireplace keeping us warm.

Ice Storm - Day 2 - Night Falls

2009-02-01T15:22:00.004-06:00

Okay, things are definitely getting worse. The drive back to the Sister's apartment, we took another route to avoid Lakeview, is still pretty hazardous. Lots more tree limbs down and falling. Actually pretty hard to get down some of the streets. And the temperature is dropping, the prediction is for really cold temps tomorrow. The sisters make it up to their apartment and then report to me that their power is still off. I suggest that they might want to come back to my house, no telling how long the power will be out. They are brave though and assure me that they will be "just fine!" As I start to drive away I have the very strong feeling that I should indeed take them home. So I go right over their heads and call Pres. Seal, the mission president. He is in total agreement that they should go with me, so I call them back and tell them to grab a few things we're going back to my house to spend the night. And interestingly they are really glad that I called back, seems that they were actually about to call me for the same reason.

Now on the ride home I start thinking about another problem. The gas light on the car is on and the tank is at the E mark. I pass several gas stations, each has a rather long lines of cars and the prices seem to be too high, I'm sure I can find it cheaper, so I continue on my merry way assuming that the stations nearer my house will be best. OH NO, White Oak Station is closed. OH NO, the station on the corner is closed. OH NO, the one down the street is closed. At this point we just head for home.

We light candles, turn on my little lanterns, and fire up the few briquettes I have. While I am cooking dinner on the grill I am constantly hearing the sharp "CRACK" and crash of limbs falling. Some are so close that we run to the front door to look, and right across the street the trees that tower over the two-story house are cracking and falling to the ground. Right next door, limbs are littering the yard and totally blocking their front door. At this point this sound has changed from awesome to terrible and terribly sad! Throughout the evening we continue to hear the "CRACK"/crash. It's awful.

The gas fireplace makes the house cozy inside. I heat up water on the grill and we drink hot cocoa and play "Cheese and Crackers." It's so dark. At 7 pm I'm ready to just climb into bed. Still no power. Not a light along the street. I'm wondering how the ward members are doing. My cell phone is about to die and I don't want to charge it in the gasless car. We last until about 10, the Sisters make beds on the couches and I fill up an air mattress so I can sleep comfortably in the living room too. We read scriptures, have a prayer, say our own prayers, and fall asleep.

I'm wishing I could take a nice warm shower. Should have done it earlier!!

Ice Storm - Day 2 Continued

2009-02-01T09:47:00.002-06:00

I call the Sisters. "Let's head out. This storm might get worse and I'd hate for you to be without any food." At the store I start to notice that the stock seems to be a little low. Obviously the grocery run had happened the day before. Not a D battery to be found. No charcoal briquettes (my grill is my alternative cooking source). Well, I'll just have to make do!!

We stop at Taco Bell for lunch. On our way back to the Sister's apartment they let me know that they can't do any work today (by the way, at this point we have learned that the U of A is closed, many stores are closed, the government buildings are closed, AND they are starting to cancel basketball games, this is getting serious!!) so could they do anything to help me? Thinking quickly I say, "Yes, I want to move some furniture and if you're sure it's okay I'd love to have some help." We start to notice that the trees are bending down and branches are hanging pretty low under the weight of the quickly accumulating ice. While I'm waiting at their apartment I start to hear the loud crack and crash of branches snapping off and falling to the ground. Let me tell you, that's an awesome sound, at least I thought so then. A huge pine by their apartment has lost its top and it's bending way over.

As we drive to my house the fun (????) really begins. Along Lakeview, a street lined with huge trees - many overhanging the road, we start to see branches - no let's make that limbs - falling. One whole huge tree has fallen and is part way into the road. In some places it is now a one lane road. At one point we're stopped under the deeply drooping branches of a huge tree waiting for oncoming traffic to get past, still seeing and hearing branches falling in front and behind us. Okay, this is getting really frightening, I don't like it one little bit. I don't want to die in my car crushed by an ice laden tree!! Luckily we make it home without incident.

It's cold inside, okay not really but my idea of cold is where I've started to take sides with the Arkansans, and I think 65 is pretty nippy. Luckily I've got a gas fireplace and it quickly begins to heat up the house. We laugh and move furniture. I locate lanterns and candles and flashlights. And then it's time to take them back to their apartment.

The Ice Storm - Day 2

2009-02-01T09:26:00.001-06:00

Tuesday - the day I take the Sisters grocery shopping. We always go out for lunch. It's our tradition!! (Actually Sister Lemmon calls it "our party"!)

I check outside to see just how bad it is. The streets are wet but not at all icy. Lots of traffic going past the house. The bushes and grass is glazed and really quite beautiful. Mr. Bear and I hop in the car, camera in hand, to check things out and to take a few photos. Amazingly pretty!! Ice is accumulating on things but the roads are in great shape. When we get home I start putting the pictures on the computer. Flicker go the lights, off goes the computer. In a matter of seconds everything is going again and I start the computer and go back to my photo task. Flicker go the lights, off goes the computer. Once again it's only a matter of seconds before we're back in business. Once again, flicker, off, and then this strange sound - like a toy when it runs out of wind-up. Furnace is off, fridge is silent, tv is quiet, and things are just a little darker inside. "Hmmmmmm, I should have showered, now my blow drier won't work!" Silly me.

Pre- Ice Storm

2009-01-31T15:53:00.010-06:00

Monday morning - Jere is on his way to Boston so we're up early and head out the door to the airport. Skies are a little cloudy but the temp is mild. It's going to be a busy day, first teaching at the Institute, then preparation for Bishop's Family Home Evening, and then FHE which includes the lesson, treats, and game playing until everyone decides they've had enough. At the Institute someone casually asks if I am ready for the ice storm. "Ice storm, hmmmmm, I haven't even heard about an ice storm!" And then to myself I think about all of the times that the weather forcast has not even been close to right. Monday afternoon I start making cupcakes, 72 but who is counting?, and straightening the house. After a while the phone calls and texts start. "Are we really going to have Family Home Evening tonight?" A glance out the window doesn't convince me that we should cancel, it's cloudy now but nothing is going on. Brother Sallings, a counselor in the Bishopric who is also a teacher, informs me that the schools have all dismissed early and wonders if cancelling might not be a good idea. The thing is that we lived in Minnesota for too many years to let a little weather get in the way of other plans. Here kids don't go out for recess when the temp drops to 40, there it has to be 40 below zero before the kids get a break!! Not sure, not sure, not sure. What to do, what to do, what to do???? The big deciding factor is that I don't want to be responsible for any accidents or worse. Okay, okay, okay - we'll cancel (in the back of my mind are 72 cupcakes and just what I'm going to look like if I end up eating all of them!).

And then it starts to rain!!!

Sponsor Me at March for Babies!

2009-01-29T00:40:00.001-06:00

Resolution - Clean Fridge

2009-01-25T17:46:00.002-06:00

I know that cleaning the fridge isn't exactly a New Year's Resolution but I'm going to count it as one anyway. It just makes me feel good to have accomplished two resolutions and it's only Jan. 22!!

Doesn't it look nice? Took me two hours! So after I finished I started thinking about the contents.

We have regular things, the ones that everyone has: milk, eggs, butter, cheese, lunch meat, orange juice, etc. Then there are the things that - well, just make me wonder if we're weird or what!

Following is a list of the items that I think might be more unusual. And on top of that they take up an inordinate amount of space. (It would be interested in snooping in some other fridges just for comparison sake!)

Salad Dressing - 6 (Notice there is nothing like Ranch or Italian although those will probably show up sooner or later.)

Raspberry & Walnut Vinaigrette
Honey Mustard
Cafe Rio Knock-Off Delicious Dressing
Blush Wine Vinaigrette
Poppy Seed
Sesame Ginger

Mustard - 5 (are you kidding?)

Plain old yellow mustard
Dijonaisse - does that count? to me it does!
Dijon
Cranberry Mustard
Mustard with Horseradish

Barbeque Sauce - 3 (enough said)

Pickles or Pickled Items - 5 (I'm not a pickle fan so I don't even eat these with the exception of the sweet pickles and then I'm the only one who will eat those but I don't eat them often, maybe one or two on Thanksgiving so for all I know these sweet pickles could be years old) (Now that I think about it perhaps we should all rub vinegar into our skin for a preserved appearance!)

Sweet Midgets
Baby Kosher Dills
Pepperoncinis
Hot Chile Peppers
Spicy Beans - South Lousiana Style

Hot Sauces - 4 (I don't like hot food, but we have these mostly because Craig loves hot food and he either invests in hot sauces when he visits or we buy them for him but he didn't take them back to Utah with him so now there we go!)

Tobasco - okay it's a standard but it's still going on the list
Cholula
Spiracha Hot Chili Sauce

and drrrrrrruuuuuuummmmmm rrrrroooooolllllll pllllllleeeeeaaaaassssseeeee!!!!!

Crazy Jerry's Brain Damage Mind Blowing Hot Sauce

And now for the really weird thing, I'm still wondering about this one, it's not that it's so weird in and of itself it's just that we have so much of it and so many different kinds!!!

Bread - 9

Plain Old White - left over from Christmas because someone thought the boys would prefer it to other more healthy bread - wrongo bongo!! Score a big one for mom teaching the boys that whole wheat bread is the best!!
Spinach Pesto *
Sundried Tomato Herb *
Cranberry Pecan *
Cinnamon Apple *
Pumpernickle
Cocktail Sour Dough
Cheddar
Tuscan

*I buy these at a special bread bakery, it's absolutely fantastic and the price is also fantastic - as in high. These four kinds of bread represent about $20 - $25 give or take some small change. Well worth it in my book!!

and

2 ready made pizza crusts

and

Sundried tomato Basil Wraps - 1 pkg.
Garden Spinach Herb Wraps - 1 pkg.

So if any one should stop me on the street and say, "Got any bread man?" I could truthfully answer, "Oh yes, do I have bread!"

New Year's Resolutions

2009-01-11T08:56:00.001-06:00

Thought I'd try a new way of making resolutions - backing into them so to speak. So one day I took out my card and thought I really should cancel this and then cut up the card. But after I had done it I thought, this would be a great New Year's Resolution. So Res. #1 - cancel and then cut up a credit card. Done and done. Now wasn't that easy!! Hmmmmm - what can I do next!!

And a Good Time was had by ALL

2009-01-06T09:57:00.005-06:00

It was just wonderful Christmas - what else can I say. Fun, games, laughing, two dogs fighting, I can't think of anything better! Oh did I mention food?

Christmas

2009-01-06T09:49:00.002-06:00

What a beautiful, peaceful time of the year!! Surrounded by friends and family, with nothing but peace and joy and love everywhere. Wait a minute, can that be true?

We weren't exactly surrounded by friends and family. Here we are in Arkansas so friends are largely missing. We were surrounded by Christmas cards from friends and loved reading those and catching up on what we have missed during the past year. And family - the truth is not everyone could be with us. We were so happy to have Craig, Chris, Sean and Marc with us. We laughed and talked and played games and ate and loved every minute of being together. We missed so much having Matt and Rhett and Adrianne and Kate, Brooke, and Campbell here. Can it be a wonderful time and a little empty at the same time?

And what about peace joy and love everywhere? Well with 4 big men added to the house, peace isn't exactly what we were feeling. But as Craig would say, "that's okay!" Peace was replaced with energy, fun, wrestling, teasing, and noise and it was so great!! I loved it. Joy - well, there was so much joy. The joy I felt picking up Chris in Tulsa and having him all to myself for a couple of days, dad was gone on business. I took Bear with me and he did his usual howl/bark thing when he saw Chris and then literally danced around with excitement. The next arrival was Morgan and I have to admit, she adds a wonderful sparkle and energy. This time it was Chris who was dancing with excitement. I didn't go to the airport with him so I'm not sure if he did the howl/bark thing that Bear is known for. That might be more than a little embarrassing!! I might add that it was the trip from you know where for Morgan - a combination of ticket problems, and flight delays kept her from arriving in Tulsa until well after midnight. What a trooper!!

Then on Sunday, much to my total surprise, Craig arrived - he told me he wasn't going to leave Provo until Monday. The doorbell rang and I, thinking it was our home teachers, casually opened the door to find a sunglassed guy in a red turtleneck and a skimpy and ugly white sweater serenading me with his guitar. (His choice for the ugly sweater contest in his Provo Ward.) What a joy to see him. He hadn't told me he was leaving early to spare me from worry. Again Bear danced with joy and I hugged and hugged Craig. He was able to trick his dad a little later. Although he had driven straight through he managed to stay up until around midnight playing games and entertaining us with his sense of humor and musical talent.

On Monday we were sad to bid Morgan goodbye although I'm sure her family was anxiously awaiting her arrival. Luckily her flight to Minnesota was better than her previous flight to Tulsa! That is when I realized just how much sparkle she brought with her. And I'm already thinking about how the girl/boy ratio is going to gradually even out. Now that's something to look forward to!!

And then Tuesday brought Sean, Marc, and Padrick, Sean's dog. The weather wasn't good leaving Minnesota, snow and slick roads but they were traveling south so things only got better. They were tired but we were excited when they finally pulled into the driveway. At least all of us were excited except Bear, he doesn't play well with others and has problems sharing. He and Pad settled into an uncomfortable truce with only periodic growls, nips, and challenges from either of them. Finally the festivities could begin.

So we ate, and laughed, and played games, and entertained our friend Bihn Trahn and Sister Lemmon and Sister Stiles. We told the Christmas story and sang carols. We opened the traditional one gift on Christmas eve, surprise pj pants, and had our traditional cold cut buffet. Sean woke us all up on Christmas morning. Santa had indeed come. We opened gifts, ate more, and then later ate even more, played more games, and watched White Christmas. And yes there was love everywhere!!

Some surprises aren't really all that surprising!!

2008-12-29T22:54:00.004-06:00

Jere and I had a very interesting courtship to say the least. We got engaged in December of 1971. Shortly after he left for the Phillipines with the Marine Corps. Although we had planned to get married immediately when he got home, 13 months later, by February of '72 the plan had changed and the wedding date was no longer certain. At that point I decided that I should start dating again and ended the engagement. When he returned from his duty in the Phillipines we resumed dating and after a while got engaged again. This engagement lasted for several months until Jere announced to me that he was going to buy a motorcycle and ride across the country. Tearfully the engagement was again broken off. One evening I went with my family home evening brother up to campus to study, just as friends and just to study. I guess it didn't look like that to Jere though because he was waiting for me when I got back to my apartment and shortly after that we were engaged again. I remember calling my parents to tell them it was on again and being surprised that they were rather ho hum about it. Kind of, "Right, let us know when you are really serious." Well, this time we were and married on May 1, 1974.

Fast forward: Chris asked Morgan Frazer to go to the annual 4th of July Mormon Choral concert. They dated during the summer and then went their separate ways. Periodically they would reconnect and then again part ways. So when Chris told us he was dating Morgan this fall we were rather ho hum about it. Chris tried to prepare me first when he told me that things were going really well with Morgan. Oh sure I thought. And then when he added that he thought he would ask her to marry him, you go boy I thought!! So when I found out that he had actually asked her I was just a little surprised. I guess I just didn't believe that he would really follow through this time. Well, follow through he did and now we are excitedly anticipating a March 21, 2009 wedding in the Salt Lake Temple. Someone told me once, "you know, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree!" Go figure!!

Boston Harbor

2008-12-28T00:24:00.002-06:00

I made a list of everything I wanted to see and do while we were in Boston. And by the end of the trip I was able to check everything off the list. Some of the things though were by surprise or accident. I had given up on Mike's Bakery but then we were walking the Freedom Trail and there was Mike's Bakery, right on our way. Delicious surprise I might add. The final unaccomplished item on my list was Boston Harbor and I had given up on that since we had to leave on Saturday night and it appeared that we just wouldn't have enough time. Oh well, I thought. We spent the day on Saturday walking the Freedom Trail, visiting historical sites, and finally eating pizza at a hole in the wall that Jere frequents whenever he is there. (I might add that the wait staff consisted of little old men, probably friends of the owner, looking like they had gotten up from watching tv in their shorts and t shirts and had just headed right off to work. I noticed one of them polishing the silverware with his t shirt before putting it on a table, and my water tasted faintly like rootbeer, maybe, probably the glass wasn't clean in the first place!!)

After dinner we headed to the airport, in plenty of time I might add. We turned in the rental car and rode the bus to the terminal. Funny thing, neither of our tickets seemed to be working. And when the ticket agent checked them she informed us that we had missed the flight by several, three, hours. She was very kind, booked us on a flight the next morning, got us a distressed rate at the airport Hilton, and sent us on our way. The Hilton was beautiful and can you believe it, overlooked Boston Harbor. In fact our room had windows that looked right out on the harbor. So I took night pictures. When we got up the next morning fog had blanketed the city. We watched it settle and then lift and then settle and then lift, absolutely beautiful!! I did think about the Boston Tea Party and imagined what the environmentalists would say and do if it were to occur today!!

Visiting New Hampshire

2008-12-27T22:10:00.001-06:00

We drove up to Milford, New Hampshire where dad spent some of his growing up years. It was a fun little town, quite charming. We stopped at the town square and ate at the same diner that was there when dad lived there. We saw the house where he lived and walked across the street and into the woods to the "BIG ROCK" where he and his buddies used to play. Also saw the church where he had his first communion and went inside, it was beautiful. It's always interesting to step into the world of someone else. Sometimes it's hard to remember that there was a time when dad and I weren't together. And fun to try to visualize a little energetic boy running around, playing hard, and growing up!

More Boston Photos

2008-12-27T21:56:00.002-06:00

I find that if I don't finish my comments when they are fresh it's just too hard to do it later. But some more Boston pictures. The Old South Church in the upper left corner, a huge crack was discovered in the wall of the church just when we were there. Mike's Pastry was recommended to us by many people. It was wonderful!! I just thought the Massachusetts State House was beautiful, lower left corner. And Boston wouldn't be complete without a visit to see Paul Reverek and the Old North Church, lower right corner. There are too many more photos to blog. It was a great trip and I'd love to go back!!

Fascinating Headstones

2008-12-09T09:42:00.003-06:00

I was really interested in the carvings on the headstones. Some of them are coates of arms but many were rather macbre pictures of skulls, or skeletons, or what looked to me like angry angels or an angry God with and hour glass out of time. I know that death was not a very sweet experience for them. Although it was so common that I don't think people were very surprised by it either. I'll have to do more study about the engravings on th headstones but I just thought they were so interesting. Please note the one with the two angels, one awake and the other asleep. And of course the spelling was very different, I didn't include much but a little. (Click on the collage and it should enlarge so you can see it better.)

Boston's Mother Goose

2008-12-09T09:34:00.001-06:00

First I thought the dates were most interesting and then the name, Mary Goose, caught my attention. But when I read in the guide book I found out a little more about Mary Goose.

Boston Visit - 1st Installment

2008-12-09T09:32:00.003-06:00

We had a great time in Boston!! As you probably know I love visiting cemeteries and there were two very close to our hotel. It is so interesting to see death dates all the way back to the mid 1700s. The first cemetery is the Granary Burial Ground. Lots of headstones and very close together. I wondered if the people below liked being so close to their neighbors! Notice also the podium, rather convenient for preaching a funeral sermon. This cemetery was especially interesting because it is the burial place of John Lathrop who is one of our rather notable ancestors. There are many famous people who are also descendents of John Lathrop, including Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, George and Mitt Romney, and Joseph Smith. I looked a little for his headstone but I could have spent days reading each one trying to find him so I gave up. His name is the last one on the brass placque on the main gate.

As you can read on this monument, John Hancock is one of the notable people buried here.

As well as the Franklin family, Benjamin, his wife, some of his children and his parents.

Branson Thanksgiving - Oh the Joy!!

2008-12-01T20:40:00.002-06:00

It's hard to believe that going to Branson could create such joy in the hearts of parents and children and yet here it is, proof positive. Although if you look closely you will notice that one of the joyful participants seems to be a little more concerned about landing his jump safely than about the fun day ahead!!

Branson Thanksgiving

2008-12-01T19:23:00.001-06:00

We went to see The Six. A group of six, no way, brothers who sing acapella. You'd swear they had instruments backing them up but they make all of those sounds with their voices. It was pretty amazing!! And even funny, Jere was nearly on the floor at one point!! Marc is an amazing photographer. I've been working and working and working with my camera and he takes it and starts pushing buttons, which is what he is always telling me to do, and ends up with some very artsy photos. At least he is willing to teach me what he just seems to be able to figure out on his own. So the black and whites are samples of his skill and talent and ability, I call it skilentility!!

The Pink Mini Van

2008-12-01T19:14:00.001-06:00

Oh My!!! Now that's one pink car!! And notice the pink accent strip at the bottom. Makes you wonder about the folks who drive it!!

Thanksgiving Pirate Golf

2008-12-01T19:10:00.002-06:00

After our great Italian Thanksgiving dinner, a first for us, we headed out for a quick game of mini golf at a Pirate themed golf course. I guess you can't really see much of the pirate theme but it was. We also found some interesting wild life, a walking stick. He was slowly, v e r y s l o w l y, walking down the sidewalk and fearing for his life Jere gave him a ride to safety. Pretty big fellow!! Notice Marc's glow in the dark shoes and Jere's special golf glasses, intended to aid in the finesse of the game!!

The tallest man!!

2008-12-01T19:02:00.001-06:00

At first glance you may be wondering why I was taking a picture of a lady racing a wheelchaired woman out of the way. Well, I just didn't have enough time to wait. You see, this really tall man walked by and I scrambled to get his picture. So if you look past the running wheelchair pusher you'll see a very tall man just on the edge of the cement walkway. He must have been well over 7 feet. WOW!!

Branson Thanksgiving

2008-12-01T18:57:00.001-06:00

We had to hit the Branson Landing. It's just next to the lake and is a fun place to shop. Can't believe we actually went there on BLACK FRIDAY!! It was busy but not too bad. And yes, that is Jere getting ready to head into the Bass Pro Shop, he doesn't fish! He left with a couple of pairs of pants though. Just as we were leaving the fire and fountain show started. No, that's not a series of bonfires, it's the fire and fountain show. Pretty spectacular!

Thanksgiving with the boys

2008-12-01T18:47:00.001-06:00

After spending time in Branson we headed back to Arkansas. After a sumptuous Thanksgiving feast, although it was on Saturday not Thursday we headed out to see "The Lights on the Square." Second year in a row, I guess this is a tradition. They were beautiful and the weather wasn't too bad as you can tell. How about that Razorback done up in Christmas lights!! And sitting on a stone wall can be pretty cold. Check out the photo with Marc, Sean, and Eden and then guess who is feeling it the most. The darkest picture is a little hard to see but it's Marc sliding on the sidewalk. There was just a light mist and it was slick enough for him to slide nearly half the length of the block.

Beautiful way to end Thanksgiving!!

GRRRRRRR!!!!!!!

2008-11-18T13:06:00.003-06:00

So, I've been sitting here for way too long, I won't even say that it's been at least 2 hours, trying to make a great collage for Christmas cards this year. First I selected the photos I wanted, made a collage and they were in a weird order. Start over (because I can't figure out how to change this even after reading about how to change this!!). Select the photos, make the collage, still in a weird order and I discover that unfortunately I've left someone out. Start over. Find a photo of the missing person. Spend a lot of time adding and deleting to make sure they are in just right the order. Whooppee, SUCCESS! Now I want to order the photos for my Christmas cards. Go to the site of my choice, get all the way to order my prints only to discover that they have cut off both sides in order to make them photo size. I try enlarging to 5 x 7s and then 8 x 10s (as if anyone wants our family photo in that size!) but it doesn't work. So I just try to print a copy thinking that I can do a cute letter and include a color copy, same problem, faces are cut in half. FRUSTRATION IS GROWING, GROWING, GROWING. I decide to try another site for prints, maybe someone local can print just one little picture and I can go in and pick it up to check. And then I discover a million other photos that have somehow ended up in my cart. Delete, delete, delete, this is taking way too long, goodbye other site. Try another site. Well, well, well, this one seems to be working. Yes, just one image, yes, it looks right, yes let me go to order my prints. NONONONONONONONONO - half faces again. HELP - I'm going for a walk with the viscious little dog in the photo only he's happy and it's my teeth that are showing and that growl you hear, yep, it's coming from me!!

Sunday

2008-11-16T09:21:00.007-06:00

10 Memories of Sundays past:

1. Walking to Church - it was so close

2. Wanting to be a "door keeper" in Sunday School

3. Fabulous dinners with homemade rolls - mmmmmmmm. And the incredible smell in the house!!

4. Having the same dress, different color as one of my best friends

5. Playing the piano before going to church while the sun was streaming in through the front door

6. Watching the big boys, Deacons, pass the sacrament. I must have been really young!!

7. Making babies and a cradle out of my mom's "hankie"

8. Going to Sacrament meeting in the evening. The windows were open to allow the evening breeze to cool the chapel and we could hear the night sounds from outside. Lovely!!

9. The day the organist marched, MARCHED, down to the row where her noisy daughter was sitting, grabbing her by the ear, and marched, MARCHED, her back up to sit in the choir seats.

10. And weirdly, after walking home from Church sitting with my feet, which had developed blisters which had broken and then bled, in a sink full of cool water. I could not get my socks off until I had done this. I don't remember any pain though, just annoying!

10 Things I love about Sunday:

1. A day of rest, I don't have to go to the store or do yard work or do laundry or do anything work related! And I don't have to feel guilty because it is a commandment!

2. Spiritual rejuvination, so needed!!

3. Being with friends and sometimes even family - lovely!!

4. A fabulous dinner and since I love to cook I never mind fixing it!

5. Singing hymns except when the organist plays them tooooooooo slow.

6. The quiet and solitude - it wasn't always this way though. Little children have a way of changing quiet and solitude and teenagers are even more proficient at it!

7. The weather almost always seems to be beautiful.

8. Thinking about things that are most important.

9. The opportunity to help others.

10. Phone calls to family, catching up.

Disclaimer: The photo is of the Salt Lake Temple.

Will anyone know I was here?

2008-11-14T14:13:00.002-06:00

As I was walking Mr. Bear today I couldn't help but notice that he is very intent on leaving his mark on the world. In fact, sometimes I have a hard time encouraging him to move along. There are just so many spots to "address." And it made me wonder if I have left my own mark on the world. Oh certainly not in the way that Mr. Bear does it!! That wouldn't do at all. But I do wonder from time to time if people will come along after me and know that I was there, that somehow I made a difference.

People are Strange!!

2008-11-13T18:45:00.003-06:00

The other day I was in Hobby Lobby, I like it because among other reasons they play hymns as background music - nothing like buying scrapbooking supplies to "How Great Thou Art" played on the steel drums : - anyway, I walked past a very pretty woman. It was her eyes that really caught my attention but as I thought about her eyes I suddenly realized that she also had hot pink hair!! It could have been a wig (or not) but it was definitely HOT PINK!!

I resisted the urge to turn around for a second look. I have done that before and have either gotten a comment such as, "What are you looking at?" or rolled eyes or some sort of negative response. So I just kept walking. But I was thinking about the fact that some people wear the strangest things, or choose very unusual hair styles or colors, or put earrings in places that make you want to clean them up a bit (ie. the nose ring) or have tatoos that - well, just really, really catch your attention! And then when you give that particular item your attention they act like you are the rudest person in the world or worse than that they challenge you for noticing - as if you could help but notice!! And the thing that is even stranger, they act as though they are the most normal looking person you would even run across.

But the one that I will never forget, I mean it caught my attention in a way that nothing every has, was a man in WalMart. He was pretty chubby, okay he was way big in the stomach area. And he had his shirt pulled up to just under his arms exposing his rotund belly and nearly his entire chest. I guess it must have been a very hot day although the store had great air conditioning. I couldn't help but check him out twice as I tried my best to figure out if he just didn't notice that his shirt was pulled up to his arm pits or if he actually intended to expose himself, and I mean EXPOSE himself. And all I can say is it was a very very very very ugly sight, shocking, disgusting, gross, unbelievable, etc. etc, etc. And the really sad thing was his wife was shopping with him and acting as if this was the most normal thing in the world!!

SLEEPY TIME

2008-11-10T23:17:00.003-06:00

I almost forgot to write today but now it's 11:20 and I'm so tired so it's bedtime for me. But I will just say a couple of things first, I am so thankful for my blessings and especially for my Heavenly Father who blesses me with answers when I need them the most. Answers that I would never have thought of on my own but at this moment seem to be exactly the right thing to do.

2008-11-09T11:22:00.001-06:00

"The Lord is my light, then why should I fear?
By day and by night, His presence is near.
He is my Redeemer, from sorrow and sin.
This blessed assurance His Spirit doth bring."

the RED purse

2008-11-08T23:02:00.008-06:00

When I was little I really didn't have a favorite color. Whenever anyone would ask me I'd think and think and would usually end up saying that I liked all colors. I'm not sure why, maybe I just didn't want any of the colors to feel left out. Then one day, and it was only a few years ago so I've had a long time to think this over, I KNEW which color I liked the very best. I'm not sure what made me decide. Maybe it was a boiled wool jacket that I bought. Or it could have been when I BOLDLY painted my kitchen (I should add, thanks to my daughter and her wonderful bathroom of the same color). It could have been the coat that I saw at Wal Mart and loved so much. I have received so many compliments on it that I won't EVER get rid of it. Possibly it was when I went to a junk sale and bought three huge enamel ware cups with lids, MY FAVORITE COLOR AGAIN. Well whatever it was I knew which color was the best in the whole world. I loved it because it went with every holiday. And I loved it because it made me happy and warm and comfortable. I loved it because it was spicy and delicious. I loved it because it was bold and when I wore it I felt powerful and in charge. Now I would be the first to agree that too much of one color is a very bad thing so I've tried to limit it to just wonderful accents. There are times though that I probably go a little, or maybe a lot, overboard but ------------ as one of my sons would say, "that's okay!!"

So now the dilemma has been to find a new purse. I had a garage sale and my favorite purse found it's way onto a woman's arm. It rode around with her as she checked out all of my wares and as I looked at her I thought she looked very smart. I almost decided to tell her, "No sale, that purse has to stay with me!" But in the end I understood that it was time that my purse and I had to part company. (Let me tell you though, it was a steal! I should have charged twice the price. And I just hope that purse is as happy with her as I am sure it was with me!)

So fall has come and the purse I had been using just didn't work anymore. I looked high and low for something wonderful. And what I found was just not wonderful enough. I had my check list: 1. it had to be a deal (expensive looking or actually but cheap), 2. it had to impress me as being fabulous, 3. it had to be roomy but not too large, 4. it had to look like genuine whatever it was, and 4. well, it would be best if it was my color but I was willing to consider other contenders, I seriously considered a yellow purse, looked for silver, and although I don't like purple I thought about that too! I looked at several stores several times in a row and found nothing, NOTHING. So the other day I was returning my most recent disappointment and decided to stop in at TJ Maxx just in case, although I had been there many times and they just didn't have anything, I mean nothing at all that even tempted me to test drive it on my arm. But, low and behold, to my absolute astonishment, there it was. Just hanging there looking at me. It tipped it's handles and winked a little. I walked over, took it off it's hook, and placed it on my arm and I felt just like Cinderella with the glass slipper. It fit. IT FIT!! I walked over to the mirror and checked out the total picture and man oh man it was good. And that was that. I marched right up to the check out and checked out. And we've been very happy ever since!

the post script - in a restaurant today a woman said to me, "Where did you get that purse?" "Oh I found it just the other day at TJ Maxx!" "Did they have any more?" "Well, yes, as a matter of fact they did. However, the TJ Maxx I was shopping at is in Arkansas (at that moment I was in Oklahoma City)." "Oh," she laughed a little sadly, "well, who is the designer, I might be able to find it on the internet." Now that is a sign to me that I have done the right thing!

I love fall

2008-11-07T20:55:00.000-06:00

Fall is my favorite season. The days are warm but gently warm and the nights are crisp. The trees gradually change from deep green to yellow and orange and red and brown. And they are so beautiful. There is just something soft and golden about these autumn days. They are warm and comfortable and leave me feeling relaxed as though everything is just about to turn in for the night. A gradual and gentle drifting off to sleep.

CAMPBELL ELIZABETH GLAUSER

2008-11-06T19:17:00.002-06:00

Now if she isn't the cutest little thing you've ever seen!!

A year ago in August I was on call to watch the big sisters when the new little sister was due to arrive on the scene. It was a lovely late August day and we were on pins and needles all day long until we got the long awaited call, "SHE'S HERE!!" We rushed to the hospital for our first glimpse of Campbell.

I've often thought if you could just project yourself ahead a little bit you would be able to know exactly what a baby is going to look like. Unfortunately it's not until this child is a little older that you recognize features that were always there. Well, I remember thinking she looked a little like Brooke and a little like Kate and wondering what she would really look like. And now I know that she looks a little like Brooke and a little like Kate and she is absolutely adorable. And the best thing of all is that when I was visiting in September she liked me! When you don't get to see your grandchildren very often there is always the concern, that the child will take one look at this creepy looking stranger and hide her little face in mom or dad's neck and refuse to come out until you have finally gone away! But she didn't do that, HOORAY!!

I'm learning

2008-11-05T23:20:00.001-06:00

I was just trying to read the post about my new shoes and it's darn hard to read. I'm just lucky I know what I was trying to say!! But I'm learning, maybe the biggest print isn't the one to use!!

2008-11-05T23:19:00.000-06:00

We saw this boy fishing in War Eagle Creek in October. Just so cute. I took the photo from the bridge, wish I could have gotten closer. What a great way to spend a beautiful fall day!!

My red and brown shoes

2008-11-05T22:45:00.005-06:00

The problem is choosing just one! When I was visiting Adrianne in San Diego we ended up in Nordstrom (or maybe Macys and I'm just trying to impress someone by saying Nordstrom) and there right before our eyes was the shoe department. I wanted some red shoes so I quickly checked through the shoe displays and there they were, unbelievably cute red shoes. They were ballet slipper style, patent leather with a darling big buckle right on the toe. Both Adrianne and I loved them. Time was tight but we each tried on a pair and they were comfortable and perfect - except they were $120. Well, I was on vacation! So I thought what the heck? I was ready, I know it sounds nuts, but absolutely ready to plunk down my credit card for a pair for me and a pair for Adrianne. That's two, count them, two pairs of shoes for a grand total of $240. I believe I may have been wearing my $1 black flip flops with the flower on the toe at the time. Between the tightness of time - meaning no time to throw caution to the wind, that probably sounds strange - and I guess a little common sense we walked out of the store without the shoes in hand!

Did I mention that the sales guy actually said, "These are THE shoes to have this fall in San Diego County. Really everyone will be wearing a pair of these shoes!"

Well, they don't carry that brand here in Northwest Arkansas. But I've continued my occasional looking for red shoes the equal of those. And finally I found some that I really liked and the best news is that they were no $120 pair of shoes. But by now I needed a pair of brown shoes too. And although it seems a little too strange I bought two pairs that are exactly the same, one brown and one red. And today I wore the red ones and two people made admiring comments about my shoes. SCORE!! Next test, the brown ones!!

Brooke Hulie Hoops

2008-11-05T22:43:00.002-06:00

Kate Hulie Hoops!!

2008-11-04T23:03:00.000-06:00

HULIE HOOPS

2008-11-04T22:25:00.005-06:00

I absolutely love being with my granddaughters. We play blocks, and play buy, and have treats, and take bike walks, and go to the park, and, and, and. But once in a while we find something new that is fun/funny. Well, we were in WalMart and there they were - HULIE HOOPS (that's what the girls called them). We just had to give them a try and I have never seen such hip action as they were able to use trying to make those silly hulie hoops go around. We laughed so hard. I just had to buy them so we could continue to practice at home. After a few complaints that "This is too hard!" and "I can't do this!" both Kate and Brooke got the hang of it and were really good at it. Campbell got into the act as well but just didn't use a hulie hoop. MMMMMMM - I miss my girls!!

It's the little things

2008-11-03T21:33:00.002-06:00

Today in my Institute class we talked about becoming children of Christ. We listened to an excerpt from a book by President Eyring. He told of a young man who wanted to know if he had been forgiven by God fo mistakes he had committed earlier in his life. President Eyring considered questions about his attendance at Church, if he was on time, if he sat in the front at the meeting, if he fulfilled his hometeaching responsibilities and did he take care of them early in the month, did he do them more than once a month, etc. The young man was indeed doing all of these things and so it was clear from the little things he was doing that he had indeed turned his life to the Savior.

So I started thinking about little things. Those are the things that really make the difference. The little kindnesses, the little smiles, the little words of love and support and encouragement, the little thoughtful actions that help. Tonight I called Matt's girlfriend Kelly to express my love and the fact that she is in my thoughts and prayers since her father passed away and I could tell that this little thing made a difference. Bit by bit little things add up until they have become a much bigger thing. Like the scripture that says, "line upon line, precept on precept, here a little and there a little. . ."

sometimes it's hard not to be obnoxious!!

2008-11-02T22:54:00.000-06:00

DISCLAIMER: This photo was actually taken in Utah at Aspen Grove. However the colors are the same in Northwest Arkansas, the trees may be different.

I love fall. I was walking Mr. Bear, the wonder dog, today thinking how much I love fall but I was also thinking that it is November 3 and I am walking outside, in the morning, in a short sleeved t-shirt because it is warm and balmy. And after having spent 23 falls in Minnesota I was absolutely loving that! I still remember "The Great Halloween Snowstorm!" We got a total of 3, yes that's right, 3, feet, yes that's absolutely right, FEET, of snow.

A long time ago a friend moved away from Minnesota. She was rather smug about the fact that not only was she moving but she was going to a more temperate climate. Actually she was moving several hundred miles west and south enough to make a little bit of a difference in the average temperatures, beginning and ending of the winter, and other things that she seemed to think were very important to share with us. In fact, after she had moved and was settled in she sent out an OBNOXIOUS letter which actually charted and compared her new weather to our old weather. It showed each of us how good her new life was going to be weather-wise and indicated in a not very subtle way, "Poor you who have to live in the frozen north!" Did I say it was OBNOXIOUS!!?? It was so OBNOXIOUS that every time it snowed in her new location, especially when it was unusually early or late or heavy, many of us called each other and laughed about her bad luck. I dare say there were times that we even wished inclement weather on her and her new city. On the other hand, whenever it was frigid or snowy or unpleasant we tried not to think of her in her more blessed state. I can say that more than once we quietly said to each other, "Why do we live here?" Her letter came more than a decade and a half ago but we still talk about it.

But now, I am in the more temperate climate, even better than the one she moved to! And it is a real struggle to control myself when we are having warm sunny days and I know it is freezing beyond belief in Minnesota. I have to absolutely fight the urge to pick up the phone and innocently ask, "So how is your weather today?" I didn't control myself though when it snowed 2 maybe 3 inches, yes I did say INCHES, here and the entire place closed down, not just for a day or two but for an entire week!! My son said he got more snow days here in one winter than he did in all of his time in Minnesota!

So, tomorrow, I'll get up and put on my walking outfit including the short sleeved t-shirt and head out the door with Mr. Bear, the wonder dog, and I might even get just a bit sweaty from the warm, balmy air. Oh and don't worry, cold weather is coming our way. Why just the other day it was in the low 40's with the wind chill and we were all freezing. I know, that's OBNOXIOUS!!

"Don't spit into the wind!"

2008-11-01T17:08:00.003-05:00

This presidential campaign has ramped up even more, if that is possible. I was listening to ad after ad, and comentary after comentary. One station knows that Obama is the only one who can save the nation and another knows the McCain is the only one who can save the nation. I've already made up my mind as to who to vote for so all of this blather is meaningless to me. It either convinces me all the more that my choice is the correct one or makes me angry about what the other is saying and fearful for the future. So I went outside for a break and to shake the rugs and started thinking, "What do I believe?"

Well, I know what I believe but the bigger question is how did I come to my beliefs? And right away the Jim Croce song, "You Don't Mess Around with Jim!" popped into my head. Not the whole song but just one particular line, "You don't spit into the wind." Up until that very moment I had not given that little saying more than 2 seconds thought but all of the sudden I was thinking, "That is so true." But how do I know that? Well, for one thing I have spit into the wind, literally, and it was a nasty experience. And then I started thinking about all of the different ways we can "spit into the wind." My life was first blessed with people to give me great wisdom, not only while I was growing up but actually throughout my entire life. When I have been smart enough to think about and then follow their wise council my life has really gone quite well. And sometimes I have found that I didn't even need to think about their advise, just shutup and follow it. Secondly, throughout my life I have been able to see just exactly what has happened to others who continued "spitting into the wind" when they had been told not to do that and often when they had already experienced the nastiness that comes from "spitting into the wind." And I am smart enough, or maybe just chicken about the consequences, to learn from the mistakes of others!

So I have come to my beliefs by following wise council and avoiding the heartache and pain that comes from making mistakes. And I have watched people around me who have disregarded wise council and then they have crashed and burned, sometimes literally!

But there is one more thing. Age and experience. I have come to my beliefs by living. The test of time is so valuable and sometimes it takes a lot of years for the consequences of bad choices to begin to show their ugly faces. But show their ugly faces they do and then the messes are so big and hard to deal with! I love this saying, "We raise the dust and then complain when we can't see!" And I love this, "Wickedness never was happiness."

And in the end I am so greatful for my beliefs, for the blessing of having smart people to help steer me in the best direction, for the times that I followed wisdom, that I wasn't the ultimate example of what not to do, and that I've lived this long to gain the small amount of wisdom I have. Now if I could only find people who wouldn't roll their eyes when I share my wisdom and experience with them!

I Love to Laugh

2008-08-30T09:29:00.003-05:00

The sky is blue, the sun is shining, the weather is warm but not too warm, summer is slowly closing down and fall is gradually approaching. Then why am I feeling a little blue? Well, some days are just like that. But today I have some funny videos to share. So grab a drink (not like Gladys - you'll understand soon), sit back, and laugh with me.

I love you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQWrM3XJsQ8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-1MW_MCSk0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGVCnle59qI

Aunt Candy and Uncle Bruce

2008-06-25T08:03:00.000-05:00

Last stop was Willets, CA to visit with Aunt Candy and Uncle Bruce. It's beautiful there as you can see. The bottom right picture is the view from their deck, like living in the forest!

Candy gave us a tour of where she works, hospice care. A very nice facility. We spent a little time around downtown Willets too. Had a great dinner and fun visiting.

Interesting to hear the probably unforseen problems that have been caused by the legalization of medical marijuana. Someone even had been growing plants on Bruce and Candy's property unbeknownest to them until they hired someone to cut back plant growth on their 3 acre lot and they discovered where the plants had formerly been and the very expensive tools left behind when the plants were suddenly moved. Bruce also told us about the people who come to him wanting prescriptions for marijuana. He told us about the unemployed people who get government money for their kid's education and other things who are really making upwards of $250,000 yearly on their marijuana plants but don't pay income taxes! The county is currently trying to get the situation under control. And it was weird to see real hippies but they are old now, like a strange time warp back to the 60s but with old people. Oh, also armed robbers stealing plants from gardens.

It was great to see Candy and Bruce. They have a beautiful home. The biggest surprise was after dinner when Aunt Candy got up and turned on the tv to watch American Idol. Just the show we had been wanting to see!

Grandma and Grandpa

2008-06-25T07:48:00.000-05:00

We spent a couple of days in Medford, OR with Grandma and Grandpa. We got to eat the famous chicken noodle soup that Grandma Moore and Grandma Clune talk about all the time, and it was good!

We had a great time visiting. Notice Grandpa's still very dark hair. How does he do it? It was great to visit and sad to leave.

2008-06-09T23:44:00.001-05:00

Kate and Brooke jumping, swinging, and doing the rings.

Things White People Like

2008-06-07T14:57:00.002-05:00

Today I found this web site and although I didn't have time to read much what I read was funny. So, I'm going to recommend it to everyone and hopefully it won't offend anyone.

http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/full-list-of-stuff-white-people-like/

I'd recommend you read #100, #25, and #62. And then I'd love to hear which strike your funny bone!!

Visiting California

2008-06-04T00:05:00.001-05:00

Chris and Marc are in a beautiful place, Pleasanton, California. We went to their ward, ate dinner, and then went to a park on a warm and balmy evening. They took long boards and tried to help dad and I ride them but mostly had fun riding them themselves. Chris and dad spent time talking and Marc spent time jumping from one board to the other. Of course one was in motion and then when he landed on the other one it was in motion. Rather tricky but he was flawless in his skill.

It was a great visit. We laughed and had such a great time. They're doing well. We just wish we were all living within blocks of each other!!

My beautiful girls

2008-06-03T23:58:00.001-05:00

I am sure that there aren't any cuter more beautiful girls in the world than my Glauser girls!! I love spending time with them. Each morning Kate and Brooke come into my room and snuggle in bed with Grandpa and I. The snuggling doesn't last long because they always want to start playing with the bags of blocks in the closet. We build towers and roads and make houses and just have a great time. Campbell isn't able to participate in the fun yet but one day she will be big enough!

We spent time doing a lot of fun things. We played on the trampoline. Kate can do flips! Campbell just lays there and is bounced until a kindly Grandma or mom moves her to safety. We take bike walks around the neighborhood and sometimes to the school where we can play on their play equipment. Kate was collecting bugs for school and found a bonus of caterpillars, she had about 7 at one point. We went to a park where we played hide and seek. The girls love to swing and their feet go so high they are higher than the tree tops. Kate worked and worked on being able to go all the way across on the rings. At first she could only go about three rings and then she would drop to the ground. But she worked and worked and finally was able to swing herself from ring to ring all the way from the beginning to the end. Brooke cracks us up with the funny things she says and her extremely expressive face. We watched "A Hundred and Dalmations" (no typo, that's what Brooke called it) and had a party in the family room, all the adults fell asleep but the girls made it all the way through the movie - for about the fourth or fifth time!

Leaving is the saddest thing in the world. We miss our girls!!

The Rexburg Temple

2008-06-03T23:44:00.001-05:00

Grandma and I were able to go to the temple in Rexburg. It was a little warm outside but as usual the wind was blowing, the sun was shining and the sky was blue.

The temple is so beautiful, I love the wheat motif that is reflected in the stained glass windows, in the stair railings, on the ceilings and the walls, and even carved into the carpet. I feel that this is my temple, it reflects my roots.

It was wonderful to be there with Grandma. It is easy for her to go, everyone helps her. It was a beautiful, peaceful experience.

Visiting Grandma

2008-06-03T23:38:00.001-05:00

We were able to spend Mother's day with Grandma this year. I am glad that we were there. It was a quiet day, but a pleasant day.

Mom likes to open her back door and sit in the sunshine. It warms her body and makes her feel happy. She will sit there for a long time just enjoying the warmth and the light.

I love the way the sun lights up her face.

The second photo haunts me. She was actually dozing but as I look at it she looks as though she is deep in thought. Sometimes I think she is remembering better days, other times I wonder if she is somehow in communication with Grandpa. I wonder how much time she sits waiting to enter a better world. I know she prays while she is sitting there, prays for all of us and for her friends and neighbors and for herself too I think.

Hands

2008-06-03T23:32:00.001-05:00

A while ago we were visiting Joyce and Kent Seal in Tulsa. A mom of one of their missionaries is a photographer and had sent a photo gift to them. It was a picture of President Hinckley's hands. He was holding his cane and one hand was on top of the other. I was so impressed by that picture that I decided to take some pictures of Grandma Moore's hands. She thought it was a little strange.

Hands are very powerful - they can heal and they can hurt. They can sooth and they can spank. As I looked at my mother's hands I could not help but think about all of the years of service they have given and all of the years of work they have done. They look worn and aged but they continue to reach out to others in service, love, greeting, compassion, welcome - so many, many ways really.

I am thankful for hands and for all they do.

Scarey Times in San Francisco

2008-05-25T08:15:00.004-05:00

It seems that we often have weird experiences when we are visiting a city and our recent visit to San Francisco was no exception. Dad had just parked the car and was putting money in the meter when a man holding branches in front of his face quietly walked up behind him and stood very close to him, branches covering him. Dad wasn't aware that the man was so close but I was and my first thought was that he was about to pick dad's pocket. I stepped forward so I could look behind dad and see exactly what the man was doing. As it turned out he was just standing there holding these leafy branches with both hands directly in front of his face. Weird I thought! So I told dad that someone was waiting to surprise him, dad turned around and the man said, "You can always count on the wife to spoil things!" He walked off and we laughed about how strange that was.

A little later we were walking near the wharf and noticed that the customers of an outdoor cafe were all looking across the street and laughing uproariously. We stopped to see what was so funny and there he was, the man with the branches. He was squatted down by a garbage can branches covering him and would occaisonally move the branches away from him face and make a scarey noise at passersby. They in turn would shreik in fear and surprise and the crowd would laugh and clap. The entertained would in turn give him money.

Well I just found a video of him on You Tube and wanted to share it with you. It was pretty funny and actually and pretty creative way to panhandle!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRxVS2f9i4o

Happy Mother's Day to All!!

2008-05-09T11:09:00.001-05:00

Not sure who wrote this but I loved it, it's all so true. Enjoy!!:

All my babies are gone now. I say this not in sorrow but in disbelief. I take great satisfaction in what I have today: three almost-adults, two taller than I am, one closing in fast. Three people who read the same books I do and have learned not to be afraid of disagreeing with me in their opinion of them, who sometimes tell vulgar jokes that make me laugh until I choke and cry, who need razor blades and shower gel and privacy, who want to keep their doors closed more than I like. Who, miraculously, go to the bathroom, zip up their jackets and move food from plate to mouth all by themselves.
Like the trick soap I bought for the bathroom with a rubber ducky at its center, the baby is buried deep within each, barely discernible except through the unreliable haze of the past.
Everything in all the books I once pored over is finished for me now . Penelope Leach., T. Berry Brazelton, Dr. Spock. The ones on sibling rivalry and sleeping through the night and early-childhood education, all grown obsolete. Along with Goodnight Moon and Where the Wild Things Are, they are battered, spotted, well used. But I suspect that if you flipped the pages dust would rise like memories.
What those books taught me, finally, and what the women on the playground taught me, and the well-meaning relations taught me, was that they couldn't really teach me very much at all.
Raising children is presented at first as a true-false test, then becomes multiple choice, until finally, far along, you realize that it is an endless essay. No one knows anything. One child responds well to positive reinforcement, another can be managed only with a stern voice and a timeout. One child is toilet trained at 3, his sibling at 2.
When my first child was born, parents were told to put baby to bed on his belly so that he would not choke on his own spit-up. By the time my last arrived, babies were put down on their backs because of research on sudden infant death syndrome. To a new parent this ever-shifting certainty is terrifying, and then soothing.
Eventually you must learn to trust yourself. Eventually the research will follow. I remember 15 years ago poring over one of Dr. Brazelton's wonderful books on child development, in which he describes three different sorts of infants: average, quiet, and active. I was looking for a sub-quiet codicil for an 18-month old who did not walk. Was there something wrong with his fat little legs? Was there something wrong with his tiny little mind? Was he developmentally delayed, physically challenged? Was I insane? Last year he went to China. Next year he goes to college. He can talk just fine. He can walk, too. Every part of raising children is humbling, too. Believe me, mistakes were made. They have all been enshrined in the "Remember-When-Mom-Did Hall of Fame." The outbursts, the temper tantrums, the bad language, mine, not theirs. The times the baby fell off the bed. The times I arrived late for preschool pickup. The nightmare sleepover. The horrible summer camp. The day when the youngest came barreling out of the classroom with a 98 on her geography test, and I responded, What did you get wrong? (She insisted I include that.) The time I ordered food at the McDonald's drive-through speaker and then drove away without picking it up from the window. (They all insisted I include that.) I did not allow them to watch the Simpsons for the first two seasons. What was I thinking? But the biggest mistake I made is the one that most of us make while doing this. I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs.There is one picture of the three of them, sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages 6, 4 and 1. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less. Even today I'm not sure what worked and what didn't, what was me and what was simply life. When they were very small, I suppose I thought someday they would become who they were because of what I'd done. Now I suspect they simply grew into their true selves because they demanded in a thousand ways that I back off and let them be. The books said to be relaxed and I was often tense; matter-of-fact and I was sometimes over the top. And look how it all turned out. I wound up with the three people I like best in the world, who have done more than anyone to excavate my essential humanity. That's what the books never told me. I was bound and determined to learn from the experts. It just took me a while to figure out who the experts were.

The Book

2008-05-09T10:45:00.002-05:00

I recently finished reading The Book of Mormon. It's certainly not the first time I have read this book nor will it be the last, in fact I've already started reading it again. But it has been the time that has impressed me the most.

I have been teaching Book of Mormon at the Institute. Perhaps that has in part been why I have been so profoundly affected this time. My class was made up of returned missionaries and a new member. I felt totally overwhelmed and so I tried to study hard and prepare as well as I could. I was often guided to sources of information that helped me more than I could have ever done on my own. My students were willing to share and discuss and to help me and it was a great experience.

I am so profoundly greatful for this book! As an English major I've read many, many books and I continue to read as much as I can. I have many books that I love and reread all or parts of often. I've had the experience many, many times of feeling a sense of loss and sadness when a book comes to the end. I want some of them to go on forever. And many of the books I've read have become a part of me, I've learned important lessons that I refer to often. The Book of Mormon is the best of all of the books I have ever read and is at the top of my favorite books list.

As we were coming to the last chapters of Moroni I felt such a profound sense of sadness that this book was ending. Part of my feelings had to do with the very sad situation that existed for those people in the book but a larger part had to do with the fact that the wisdom and light that had become a daily part of my life was about to end. For that reason I decided to start reading again immediately. Although the book was written long, long ago it is so current in its messages for us today. And so often as I was reading I experienced both the sweet, peaceful feelings that come with knowing of its truthfulness and the strong and almost overwhelming feelings that come when the Spirit fairly shouts "This book is true!"

I am thankful beyond words that I have The Book of Mormon. I know that it is true, that it is indeed a second witness of Jesus Christ, and that it contains the fulness of His Gospel.

Another side of Bear

2008-05-06T23:33:00.000-05:00

Oh that feels soooooooo good. I'm so sorry that I bit you, thank you for being so nice to me in spite of my bad humor!!

Scarey Bear

2008-05-06T23:31:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to show you the bad dog. But check out those pearly whites!

He's Gone!

2008-05-04T17:29:00.000-05:00

It seems that the last four months have really flown by, first Marc came - somewhat reluctantly. And then it was time for him to go - somewhat reluctantly, my words. We took Marc out to eat for his last supper at a good Mexican restaurant. Great food, fun time. He even got up really early(5:00 am) on his last morning, May 3, to go play racquetball with dad and dad's friends. We drove him to Tulsa to catch his flight and said a sad goodbye!!

Today as I was sitting in Church I realized how much a part of the congregation and our lives Marc has been. There is definitely an empty spot where he used to be.

We miss you Marc!!

Merrill comes to Arkansas

2008-05-04T17:23:00.000-05:00

Well, the photos aren't the greatest but at least they'll give you an idea!

We had a great time with Uncle Merrill. He spent a lot of time working with WalMart and a lot of time with us. We showed him the town, laughed a lot, ate a lot, and just enjoyed being together. We even made it through a pretty severe storm, although we didn't know it at the time. We just woke up very early hearing the winding blowing like crazy, lots of thunder and lightning, and heavy rain. We were fine though.

It was a great visit!!

May 1 and 34 Years

2008-05-04T17:19:00.000-05:00

Hard to believe it's May already and harder to believe that we've been married 34 years! As you can see we got roses, roses, and more roses. Thanks to Merrill who had them shipped from Ecuador for his appointment with WalMart we were the recipients of over 125 roses of a variety of colors. They are absolutely gorgeous.

34 years ago on May 1 dad and I were married in the Provo Temple at 12:00 noon. Little did we dream all that the future had in store for us. It has been a great life. There have been many, many good times and some bad times too. But they have all combined to make a wonderful life. Even the bad times have made us stronger and wiser and more humble and more dependent on Heavenly Father. I would never have guessed that we'd live in Minnesota for 23 years, in Iowa too and never, never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that Arkansas would be another home for us. And that we would really like it!

We have been blessed with 6 wonderful children, and 3 fantastic grandchildren. It has been wonderful!!

We're not sure what the future holds, but we're excited about it. Whatever it is and where ever we go it will be great as long as we have the Lord's confirmation and blessing. It has been so far!!

Pink dogwood

2008-04-26T17:10:00.000-05:00

There is also pink dogwood and it is pretty too.

Is it . . .???

2008-04-26T17:09:00.000-05:00

We found this strange thing on a walk, is it a cabbage patch kid or is grandpa being eaten by a giant plant? Send your votes in.

Dogwood up close

2008-04-26T17:08:00.000-05:00

Just dogwood up close, pretty.

Dogwood

2008-04-26T17:07:00.000-05:00

This is dogwood. It looks like huge snowflakes floating down through the trees. It's so pretty.

Red Bud

2008-04-26T17:02:00.000-05:00

Here's the mystery, white red bud that isn't really red. It sure is pretty though.

And this is wisteria. It's so pretty. And we have been looking at this house with parts painted purple and wondering why would someone do this to their house. But with the wisteria it looks really pretty. And the wisteria is just beautiful!!

Our house

2008-04-26T16:56:00.000-05:00

This is our house, same idea, different house.

New Mom Pics

2008-04-26T16:55:00.000-05:00

This is an assignment I had, how do you like it. It's the house across the street.

Dog's like car rides

2008-04-11T08:19:00.000-05:00

An interesting photo I think. Bear loves hangin' his head out the window and feeling the breeze rush through his ears. Actually it looks like I'm feeling the breeze but he's certainly checking out the neighborhood.

Well, What do you think?

2008-04-11T08:13:00.001-05:00

New look! Well, what do you think? In an effort to jazz up the blog here is a new view.

Please send in all comments and while you're at it update us on what's new with you!

A Plethora of Catepillars

2008-04-11T08:12:00.000-05:00

All of the sudden we are seeing strange webs in the trees. But what could they be? Upon closer inspection they seem to be filled with something. And upon closer inspection we see that they are filled with catepillars. And upon even closer inspection we see that they are filled with lots and lots of catepillars. These guys are not environmentally friendly. They crawl out of the web and eat the tender new leaves until they are all gone and then the tree dies. Weird but interesting.

Marc's Still Got It

2008-04-11T07:56:00.000-05:00

Marc is flipping over the biggest tree!!

Big Trees Grow Here

2008-04-11T07:55:00.000-05:00

Marc, Audrey, Bear, Dad and I took a walk on Sunday and found this tree. Pretty cool huh!

Ozark Spring

2008-04-04T15:52:00.000-05:00

Actually this should be called "The Mystery of the Red Bud." These are all over and so gorgeous. In the woods you just see this purple haze. Okay, the thing is that these trees are Red Bud trees. Clearly the blossoms are purple or lavender - so how did they come up with the name? Oh well, they are so beautiful.

My next quest will be to take pictures of dogwoods. They are so pretty too. I think they might have bloomed in some places but I haven't seen any here yet.

Wish you were all here to share in this beauty!! By the way, I believe if you double click on the pictures you'll get a nice close up.

Ozark Spring

2008-04-04T15:47:00.000-05:00

This is a flowering weeping willow or as I believe Kate would say, a flowering sad tree. Smaller and really pretty.
Another pretty bush and closeup.

Ozark Spring

2008-04-04T15:44:00.000-05:00

Pretty white flowers, don't know what kind of trees.
Now this little purple flower is so pretty! Look at the pretty field of pretty purple flowers. Look at the yard inundated with the pretty little purple flowers. It's a nightmare!!!

Ozark Spring

2008-04-04T15:40:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to share some spring flowers with you. It's really beautiful here. As soon as one type of tree looses it's blossoms another pops out. The yellow flowers are forsythia, lots of that around here. I don't know what the pink trees are but they are all around the mall.