Memorial Day 2010

Memorial Day is a time to remember and appreciate.

It's a day to gather together with family members to honor our loved ones who have gone before us;

a day to remember and give thanks to so many who have given their lives protecting our freedoms;

and yes, even a day for picnics and family gatherings!

 We fondly remember our wonderful parents and the love they shared with everyone, 

how their home was the real gathering place where we all loved to be.

We can't forget our memories of loving grandparents who enjoyed spoiling us,
and aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends whom we miss so much.

This year we gathered together once again to remember.

(click to enlarge)

The weather was chilly and wet, but that didn't matter.
We love our family.
 We miss you.

To all those men and women who have given  their lives in service for our freedom we say
THANK YOU!
(And to their families for letting them go.)

Here are some other related links if you want to check them out.

Our family heroes

Memorial Day, a day to remember

Looking ahead, but really behind to Memorial Day

Lee Greenwood said it best:

"And I'm proud to be an American
Where at least I know I'm free,
And I won't forget the men who died,
Who gave that right to me."

♥
JoAnn

I'm joining Mosaic Monday at The Little Red House!  Stop on by.

Almost.....

We have almost made it to the end of the school year!

(Despite my doubts, I'm still ALIVE!)

 

There is only one more week left, but we have a lot of fun things planned.

We will be going swimming, to a park, and off to experience life first hand in a Pioneer Village.

We've finished up our testing.

Turned in the text books.

Cleaned out desks (somewhat).

Headphones and splitters are put away.

Grades are entered in the computer (mostly).

Walls are looking bare (sort of).

Nothing to do but enjoy the spring weather and our last week together.

Time to play!

And yes,

IT WILL BE THE LONGEST WEEK OF THE YEAR!

I hope everyone has a nice Memorial Day weekend.  Travel safely!

♥

JoAnn

Guess what's been ordered for our home?

There's a project in the air.

It's coming to our home-soon!

It's coming from this place.

(I know this logo has copywrite  privileges, but I'm only using it as advertisement.  Please don't turn me in!)

Things might be messy- for awhile.

BUT

I'm excited!

Can you guess what it might be?

(Hint:  It will be coming in boxes and it isn't a water heater!)

♥

JoAnn

What a shower it was! (And I'm not talking about the rain!)

What a shower we had!

(Yes, it did rain, but that's not the kind of shower I'm talking about!)

On Saturday, we celebrated the very-soon-to-be-here-arrival-date of Andrew and Irene's little baby boy.

Carolyn and Connie out-did themselves with a great luncheon and their beautiful home made quilts!  Mom Clegg shared her lovely home.  Isn't it nice to have great family support?

The cute quilt on the top was made by Great Aunt Carolyn (speaking from the baby's point of view).  It is so soft and colorful.  I love the fabric with all the cute animals.  Won't it be fun to snuggle a little baby in?

The quilt on the bottom was made by Great Aunt Connie (same connection) and actually had the exact same material on the back that Irene used to make a crib skirt. 

How perfect to match the bed!  Did you notice the cute pictures she embroidered on the front?

What a lucky little boy!

We can't wait to meet our new grandson!
This baby is going to be one of the best dressed kids around.
Thanks, everyone, for the gifts and the support.
♥
JoAnn

I'm linking to Mosaic Monday at The Little Red House!  Go check out all the other mosaics.

Warning......serious ponderings.......

It's really late.  My body is achy and tired, but my mind is wide awake. (I will hate myself tomorrow, because I should be working on a project for school and here I am -procrastinating.)  Don't ask me why, I guess I just need a little personal time.  I have been in quite a dither lately.  I am finding myself with more to do than I have time (and energy)!  I am starting to feel like those people you read about who can't dig themselves out from under and so they just quit trying and end up living in total chaos.  (O.K. family, I'm just kidding!)  I have struggled with my blog posts lately, too.  I never thought I'd run out of things to say, but I have been as blank as a sterile white wall.  (Even my metaphors are pathetic!)  So, what is the purpose of this post?  Am I here for sympathy?

I'm not sure.  I think I'm trying to sort things out in my mind and convince myself that the void comes from finding my well a bit empty.  I know we women tend to want to take care of everyone, to create an inviting home, to serve in the church, to be the best at our many jobs, and I love doing those things.  I really do.

School is winding down and yes, it is a busy time.  I have been ill and have no energy.  Projects at home have put me behind. The yard is full of so much potential- but far from the way I enjoy seeing it.   My computer class homework has caused me added stress.  I am tired.

BUT.....

I know there is a purpose to everything and that life is meant to bring joy and happiness.  I know I need to step back and pamper myself a bit.  I need to let go of some of the pressure I put on myself.  I have a wonderful family, good friends, and many material blessings.

Well, I feel a lot better (and no therapist fees to pay)!  I will be fine and if I can hold on a little longer I will have time to catch my breath.  I thought I'd end with this old, grainy photo of Heidi and Michelle enjoying some simple pleasures-playing in the mud!  Yes, I probably thought those days were hard and frustrating at the time, but what great memories I have of raising our children.   (And the yard has come a LONG way!)

 Thanks for letting me vent!  I won't promise exciting, well written blog posts.  I can't guarantee my newsletters will be interesting or on time.  Projects might remain unfinished.  But, I will keep trying!

I LOVE this advice from President Hinckley:

"Stop looking for the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight."

"Life is to be enjoyed, not endured."

"If life gets to hard to stand- kneel."

-Gordon B. Hinckley

♥

JoAnn

Countdown......

photo from Google)

I'm practicing for my big celebration song.

Eleven days to go!

You will see a lot of teachers celebrating in some fashion or other-I will be singing.

NO, it's not that I don't like my job.

I'm just 

TIRED!

(I guess I should have taken some sick days with this cold, or done some of my computer projects a little earlier.)

P.S.  Look who else is tired!

She inherited the ability to sleep in an action mode from her Grandpa Ken.

He can sleep with the remote control in the air!
(Thanks for letting me borrow the photo, Liz!)

♥

JoAnn

The Family.

"We were a strange little band of characters 

trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste,

coveting one another's desserts,

hiding shampoo,

borrowing money,

locking each other out of our rooms,

inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant,

loving,

laughing,

defending,

and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together."

  -Erma Bombeck

 I'm looking forward to getting some new family pictures this  summer with all the in-laws and grandchildren.

 Our family has grown!

P.S.  You have all been warned!

                                                                                 ♥

                                                                              JoAnn

Out of gas.....

 (photo by Google)

Ever notice how everything seems to run out

all at the same time?

I have a cold and all my energy is gone- and I can't find it anywhere.

My cell phone wouldn't work today.

(I forgot to charge it.)

The low-gasoline light  kept beeping in my car tonight as I returned from my evening class.

The grocery store didn't have any green grapes- which I needed for my salad for school tomorrow.

This morning I had to hold my hair spray bottle upside down- just to get a tiny squirt.

The sole is coming apart on my favorite comfortable shoes.

Good thing tomorrow is Friday!

Don't you LOVE weekends?

♥

JoAnn

Mother's Day Feast.....Yum!

My family really spoiled me on Mother's Day.

While I sat back relaxing, they all worked hard cooking a delicious dinner.

We had marinated chicken breasts,

baked pineapple,

Dutch oven potatoes,

spinach salad,

hot rolls,

and fresh fruit.

It was delicious!

Our recipe for marinated chicken is really easy and we LOVE it.

Robbie put a twist on it this time by adding Swiss cheese slices to the cooked chicken.

It was a nice experiment!

If you haven't tried this recipe- you will enjoy it- I promise!

Barbecued Turkey (or chicken)

2 cups 7-up (or Sprite)

1 cup soy sauce

1 cup Wesson oil 

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 

Dash of lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon dried horseradish (optional)

Blend ingredients.  Pour over meat and marinate 18 to 24 hours.  Cook slowly on grill, turning frequently and basting with each turn.

In my next post I might show you what they gave me!

P.S.  Less than 4 weeks left of school!

Honoring our Mothers.....

My sister Linda sent me an email with this quote by Marjorie Hinckley, 

the wife of our former Church President, Gordon B. Hinckley.

What an amazing lady!

(I only copied part of the email, but thanks, Linda!  All of her quotes are perfect.)

Here are a few other amazing mothers: 

My mother, Mildred, holding me (with my carefully styled Mohawk).

Oh, how we miss her!

My sweet MIL, Naomi, and cute Carolyn and Connie.  Don't they all look so stylish?

 And...

Someone who has loved more kids than 50 mothers put together,

Aunt Mardene with a young Judd.

Happy Mother's Day!

JoAnn

P.S.  One more good quote (I can't resist):

I'm still here.

I'm just a little behind.

It's just one of those weeks.

More later.....(I hope!)

♥

JoAnn

Tulip festival, a new cupboard, and some fun company....

Last week I went to the Thanksgiving Point Tulip Festival with some friends.
Thanksgiving Point has more than 200 acres, including the beautiful gardens. We wandered along the pretty pathways, admiring all the different colored tulips. (We missed the flowering trees-which peaked last week.) It was a beautiful sight to see all the color!
Later in the summer they will have rose gardens and a butterfly garden.

I also have a new cupboard that we found on Craig's List. I had been looking for a little storage for table cloths and other linens. I think it will help free up some drawers in my kitchen.

And....

Guess who came to visit?

I hope you all have a great weekend!
♥
JoAnn

It's Mosaic Monday again (almost) and I linked up to The Little Red House.  Go check out some amazing mosaics.