Take a minute and Feel Good....

I found this story last night, and wanted to share it. I've watched it a number of times and notice something new each time.

Watch how BOTH teams are excited and run out at the end. Kind of makes me feel that in the end, we are ALL on the same team.
Also, we need to find our passion, do all we can to prepare, and when we get the chance.....let it rip. Go all out. Make it happen. No excuses.

Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fw1CcxCUgg

Late Night Thoughts

One year. 365 days. It was one year ago today that we had to make the tough decision to put our dog Shammie down. (well, technically yesterday, since it's after midnight now)
It was so hard. Kelly and I held her at the end, and she looked up at us with eyes full of love and let us know it was OK.
The vet assured us we were doing the right thing. But, this dog....well, I'm too tired to write it all, but she was amazing. An absolute gift to our family.
It would also be her 14th birthday today. I miss you, girl. Sometimes when I wake up, I still expect you to be asleep on the floor right beside my bed. Thanks for all the love.



Last year, Drew, Steph and Kimmi and Alli were staying with us for a few months. They were here when we had to say good-bye to Shammie. The girls really loved this dog. Well, I got up and was ready for work the next morning. Came out to the kitchen and put a smile on my face. As I was leaving, the girls were eating breakfast. Kimmi (who was seven at the time) came over and hugged me and gave me a paper she had been working on. She said, "Grandma, I wrote this for you."

She wrote:

A STORY OF SHAMMY
Shammy was a good dog. When Magen was 5, Shammy could run faster than Sloopy. Magen is a person and she is a teenager. Sloopy is a dog. He is very big, and he is 2 and a half years old. Shammy is in heaven now. It was her birthday. She turned 91 years old. Going to heaven is her birthday present. Shammy got to see her Mommy!! Shammy must be happy. So should her Mom. I love Shammy.
The End

(I do too, Kimmi. I do too. And thanks for the treasure)

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Other thoughts:

I went and spent time tonight with a friend that just had open heart surgery on Wednesday. It was incredible to think about and talk about what modern medicine can do. I felt a great spirit of gratefulness and sisterhood in her hospital room with her. I took some beautiful pink petunias I found at WalMart and put in a basket. I told her when she got home I'd come over and plant them. (I didn't want to bring something that she would have to watch die over the next week) Anyway, my heart is filled with gratitude that there is knowledge on the earth to repair something as intricate as a heart, while being kept alive by machines during the surgery. I'm so happy, Barb. You are on your way.
While I was there, a good friend, Br. Larsen, came to visit, too. It was nice spending time together. He gave her a blessing of comfort before we left. One phrase he said is especially sticking with me....he was talking about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and how she is "nestled in their arms".
And I have been thinking - those arms are for us all.
All of us...whose hearts are "broken" too.

Almost Midnight....Again.

The phone rings.
I think it's a lovely sound.
I wish someone would get it.
It keeps ringing.
Where is it? What is it?
Oh yeah, it's the phone.
Is it still ringing?
Ok, ok! I'll get it.
Wait...where am I?
Was I just sound asleep at the kitchen table with my work clothes and shoes still on?
Yes, I guess so.
Michelle apologizes for waking me up. I am just glad she did. After some VERY important discussion of American Idol...and the merits of Danny, Kris and Adam....(love those three, altho Danny is my favorite) I realize maybe I should get some real shut-eye. It's been scarce lately. Some soft pj's and my bed will make it all better.
G'night y'all.

On a side note, between the hours of 5:30 and 11:00 tonight, I got to talk to and enjoy each of my six children. They are each terrific people...who teach me, and stretch me, and love me.
So glad to be their mom. Thanks, Heavenly Father, for my greatest gifts.

And the Winner Is....

Saturday was our Ward Dessert-Off. Or whatever it is called. Kind of like the chili-cookoff....but with desserts.
Saturday was also jammed packed with "have-to's". I know you know the deal. But I wanted to bring SOMETHING!!
So...I decided on something our family LOVES, but isn't real hard to make.
Michelle's Butterfinger Cake.
YUM!!!
Michelle has made this for family gatherings....and it is gobbled up in a flash. I've made it before and it was well loved. So I thought I'd bring that.
The desserts were divided into four categories. And this little gem WON the cake division!!
YAY!!! (you can stop applauding now....you look kind of silly sitting there in front of your computer clapping. But thanks.)
I cut the pieces real small since it is so rich. So lots of people got a chance to taste it. We even brought some home.
Anyway...if YOU want a winner, try out Michelle's cake. It is amazing. (and jam-packed with calories...but who's counting??)
The recipe is on our new family recipe blog...which I need to add to. Thanks for Jessie for getting this started and adding some recipes and for Michelle for posting some, too. I promise I am adding to it. Fun!
But...in the mean time.....get over to
our recipe site
and get your fixin's for the one and only yummy Butterfinger Cake!!
A party in your mouth.
I promise.

Thanks, Michelle!! :)

Tuesday Morning

Thanks, James!
I have stayed over at work quite a bit, so my boss let me have a day off with pay, without taking a vacation day! Woo-hoo! Jessie and the boys are visiting for a few days, so I have been saving this day up for a few weeks.
I woke up this morning to the biggest toothless grin. It made my heart jump. :) I played toys on my bed with both Noah and Griffin, while Poppy was getting ready for work. And I have spent the last hour sitting in my rocking chair in my jammies, with a big warm black dog laying on my chilly bare feet, rocking Griffin. He fell asleep under a toasty soft blanket, and we rocked and rocked. Every once in awhile he would turn his head, or look up at me and grin, then close his eyes and rub his face back into my shoulder and fall asleep again. For the last half hour, he has slept peacefully snuggled on me under his blanket, and Noah was coloring a few feet nearby on the piano bench. Well, not ON the piano bench, but on some paper that Poppy got out before he left for work. Jess was able to shower, get dressed, do hair and makeup without a baby on the counter with her. It was great. What a super way to start the morning! Griffin is finishing up his nap in his bed, while I get ready. Then we are off to the Children's Museum and other adventures today.
Josh is playing in a tennis match at Turner-Ashby today, and I hope we get to take the little ones and go. He played in his first varsity match last night. He played doubles with Zach on his team. He loved it. I can't wait to see him play. Just a few weeks ago he was checking weather.com at night, hoping for a snow day, or at least a delay. This last week or so, he checks it every night, hoping for great weather, so he can play more tennis. His band director is adjusting the indoor drumline schedule to accomodate his tennis, so he gets to do both. He is really happy about that.
Well, I am getting in the shower and getting ready for this incredible, wonderful, terrific day.
I just wish that tomorrow I could do the same with my other grandkids and their moms...Michelle and Toby and Tate...and then the next day with Steph, Kimmi, Alli & David.
I miss my little ones so much. They change so fast!
Another thought: THANKS, Jessie for helping me with my blog. I have talked with Jess and Michelle and they both have told me ways I could fix it up a little, but I have gotten frustrated trying to do it, and it seemed to take too long. With Jessie on the laptop and laying on my bed, she helped me while I was on my computer at the desk. It worked out great....how do you like it?
(I personally love the kiwi clock I found!)

Awwww....what a lovely time of year!!!

It's that wonderful time of year again. Yes....spring. In fact, tomorrow is officially the first day of spring. Yay! I love springtime in the Valley.
But I am talking about that fantastic time of year called .....MARCH MADNESS!!! Games began today, and so far 12 games are final, with four more in the second half. Sixteen games today. And sixteen more tomorrow to finish up the first round.
Our family has one big pool, which is so fun. Drew sets up a website and game on cbssports.com and we all sign in and make our picks. Then we can message each other, etc. It's terrific, and we have had GREAT fun through the years. Thanks, Drew!
This year there are 19 in our pool. The oldest, well, is Kelly at age 55. The youngest? Just shy of six months. Yep.
Anyway....12 games are final. What are the odds of picking EVERY single winner of those 12? No, I didn't pick them. (I do have 10 correct so far, though!) But, Josh has picked a winner for each game! And, looking at the final four games, I think he will get at least three correct. Western Kentucky might just beat Illinois, which would be Josh' only miss today. But who knows. Anyway, as of right now, his picks are perfect. PERFECT!
GO JOSH~! (and Go Memphis!)

and I am plain tuckered out. g'nite.

You are Tagged!

OK, the post below explains a challenge that I accepted. I am supposed to challenge six others to do it. I choose: Jessie, Michelle, Steph (or Drew!), Ammon, Ken, and Deb F.
And...anyone else up for the challenge!!! (as in YOU Laurie, if you get your internet working! and Miss Meggie...but she hasn't touched her blog since November)
Oh, and I'd love to see what David F. has to offer, because he has some great pictures!