Hold on to your hat!

It’s been one of those weeks!

I feel like I’ve been scurrying about, trying to stay afloat,

just to keep from getting buried under it all.

The cold weather has kept my students indoors for too many days in a row, so there hasn’t been any break time!

I’ve been trying to catch up on correcting papers.

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Christmas projects at school have taken extra time.

Students have a LOT of energy that needs redirecting this time of year, which requires a LOT of teacher energy, too.

There have been parties and luncheons and visits.

(You should have seen the creative cake I “made” today from an angel food cake I picked up on the way to school, cool whip, and candy canes that I hammered and broke apart while my students were getting ready to go home.  I mixed the candy cane mixture in the cook whip, spread it over the cake, and had a pretty festive last minute dessert for our faculty luncheon today!)

Only a few more school days before Christmas break!

Sigh!

* * * * * *

Did you know that there are a lot of kind and generous people out there?

I get to see first hand some wonderful acts of caring.

Every single student at our school will receive a new pair of shoes.

(For some, just in the knick of time.)

Food boxes are being sent home with kids to get them through the holiday break, so no one will go hungry.

Knitted hats have found their way to over 800 boys and girls.

Dictionaries, tooth brushes, fruit, pencils, books, gloves, candy canes, dental work, eye glasses, and many other items have been donated.

* * * * * *

Giving is a two-way street.

Our students just finished a food drive for the Utah Food Bank.

Now they are collecting quarters for a shoe drive.

* * * * * *

Yes, life is busy; but it is that way for most of us.  Many of us choose to make our lives complicated, partly because we have opportunities to do so many things and it’s hard to choose, but maybe because we want to make a difference in someone’s life.

Talents were meant to be shared.

My sister Linda and her friend have been painting these cute life sized posters for their ward Christmas party.

Imagine how festive it will make their party!

Well,

the weekend is finally here!

There will still be plenty to do in the next few days, but it is a busy time I enjoy.

Have a great weekend!

JoAnn

P.S.  I love Maddie’s  hat modeling while we were at Disneyland.

Busy day…..

This question can be taken more than one way.

Zachary wants it to hurry and come.  Kids can’t wait for the magic to start.

How much longer?  (We can’t wait.)

I’m frantic because I have so much to do.

Today I’ve been pulling out decorations and trying to do some cleaning.

How much longer?  (Will I make it?)

I imagine everyone is having a busy day today.

I hope you have a nice weekend and that you can find the answer you are looking for, whether you have a LOT left to do, or are ready and waiting.

How much longer?

Are we there yet?

(This last phrase was added as a joke for my travel weary family!)

♥

JoAnn

 

The “Happiest Place on Earth”

 

We just returned from spending three wonderful days at Disneyland.

(And two really long ones driving in our cars.)

It really is the “Happiest Place on Earth”, just like they claim.

The best part of the vacation was having almost all of our family there (Ten adults and six children)!  We really missed Heidi, Ovidiu, and Paul, but they are flying here in a few weeks and we are excited to spend time with them then.

Check out the web page for Disneyland below.

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/

We only had three days to spend exploring the park, and there are millions of things to do, so we crammed in every second we could.

We took some time to remember my nephew Shane, whom we all miss.

 

 

 

Disneyland offers so much entertainment and fun that everyone can find something to do.

You see people of every age there.

We took turns going on the thrilling rides, kiddie rides,  and family venues.  We watched musicals.  We met Disney characters. 

We “people watched” as we sat by sleeping babies. 

Everyone loved the parades and nightly snow fall.

(Yes, this was Southern California.  They have magic snow making machines.)

 

The Christmas lights and music were right out of a Christmas card.

Everything was magical.

Our children all agreed that this vacation was the best one yet!

I’m going to let pictures do the rest of the talking, but I would recommend putting Disneyland on your bucket list if you haven’t been there recently.

Even a little rain didn’t dampen our spirits.

 

It can be pretty tiring playing that hard, but what great memories we made!

 

Thanks, Disneyland!

JoAnn

P.S.  Thanks to everyone for sharing their pictures.

Giving Thanks….

As the day for gathering together to give thanks approaches,

I feel grateful for so many blessings.

Freedom, family, friends…

food, clothing, health,

warm houses,

safety…

so much to be grateful for!

A few years ago, I captured these photos of Maddie, our granddaughter, as she helped me make hot rolls for our family dinner.  It was a simple activity, but one we both performed with love and hope.

(I always worry and hope that the rolls be light and fluffy like my mom’s always were!)

 

Traditional foods are so much a part of the meal, along with the memories of those who cooked them best.

Old recipes are handed down and new ones are added.

It’s a joyful time!

And a busy day.

But so worth the work!

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.

It turns what we have into enough,

and more.

It turns denial into acceptance,

chaos to order,

confusion to clarity.

It can turn a meal into a feast,

a house into a home,

a stranger into a friend.”

– Melody Beattie

 

Have a wonderful holiday!

♥

JoAnn

Randomness

It’s Saturday morning and I should be cleaning my house.

I have “winterizing” things that need my attention, too.

Two holidays are on the horizon.

We’re getting ready for a little trip.

SO MUCH TO DO!

The problem is that I’m tired of opening my blog and seeing the same old post.

(It was a busy week.)

I don’t really have time to be creative and

there’s not much to say.

So here are some random things:

#1. Cute little Paul and I have become Face time buddies.  He looks so cute making faces, drooling (he’s teething), and cooing, while I look quite ridiculous doing it back (minus the drooling part).  Is there anything more flattering than having a camera six inches from your face?

We can’t wait to see him and his parents at Christmas time!

#

2.  I received my first work related accident.  I was cleaning my classroom and straightening the reading books when I punctured my hand on some nail/staples that were on the back of the old shelf.  It ruptured a vein in my hand which quickly became swollen and bruised.  I had to make time for a tetanus shot and a LOT of paper work for the workman's comp health insurance.  (If this is any indication of the future of health care I am not going to be happy!)  I still have to fill out a form disclosing my last ten years of medical visits!  Who can even remember?  It would have been much more simple to use my own insurance. 

#3.  I had a great birthday!  I turned sixty-three this year and although I am officially a “senior citizen” I still feel pretty young.  (My husband may disagree since he sees me crawl home from work exhausted each day!)  I received a lot of love and attention from my friends and family and it was really nice to be remembered!

THANKS!

Look what Chili’s restaurant will give me for my birthday!

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#4.  We had a fun birthday/early Thanksgiving dinner last Sunday.

Looks like we took the picture before we finished setting the silverware!

So while life is good, it isn’t very newsworthy.

I guess we should be grateful that is isn’t, since many people in the world do not have the privilege of simple daily blessings.

We are truly appreciative all of our blessings and hope you will all have a wonderful Thanksgiving season!

JoAnn

P.S.  Thanks to my husband for TWO bouquets of flowers-one for home and one for school!!

A Beautiful Day…

Saying good-bye is never easy, but watching someone who’s life is deteriorating  from a debilitating illness is always difficult.   Maybe it is a little easier to let them go when you know they are suffering.  My sister-in-law Connie’s funeral was a beautiful tribute to her life.  She had planned every last detail, including writing her own obituary (which was very clever and fun)!  She joked that she was one of those people who always got the last word and she did!

 

Family and friends gathered to show respect.

Husband Steve and their children:

Her grandsons are so handsome.

Other family and friends:

“God be with you ‘till we meet again!”

(And we will!)

JoAnn

P.S.  Our wonderful neighbor spent many years working for Deseret Transportation (the church’s welfare delivery system).  He also recently passed away and his friends from work paid this tribute to him:

Photo:  Steven Shaw

P.P.S.  The order of my last three posts got mixed up.  First, we had the Halloween party (October 26th).  Second, Connie passed away (October 27th).  The funeral was last (October 31st).  Sorry, if was confusing.