Thankful-but busy!

 

With Thanksgiving Day happening tomorrow, I’m sure everyone is busily working to get all the preparations ready.

We aren’t hosting this year, but we will be helping cook, having company, and hosting some upcoming holiday parties, so there is still a lot to do.

I have the day off from school (Yeah!) and want to get as much done as I can, but my “To-do” list keeps getting longer and longer.

(I think it is the effects of PROCRASTINATION!)

Why is it that we always want the house to be perfect at a time when we are the busiest?

And why do we not notice all those messy nooks and corners before a big event?

I KNOW, THERE IS NEVER ENOUGH TIME TO DO IT ALL!

These thankful pilgrims don’t realize it, but the Christmas decoration boxes are already being carried in to the room as I type this.  I’m not sure they won’t even  be replaced before their big day arrives.

Want to see one project that did get finished today?

Huge improvement, even if I do say so myself!

(Thanks, Ken!)

I had enough fabric left over to recover two pillows for my sofa, too. 

Well, my break is over. It’s time to get back to work.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day.

We have many blessings to be grateful for!

JoAnn

 

The comfort of a rainbow

 

It has been a rough week for our daughter Liz’s family.

 

Sweet Aubrey has been in the hospital having some tests, baby Zachary got the stomach flu, and the girls were very homesick for their mother, who stayed at the hospital with Aubrey.

Sometimes we get hammered with bad things all at the same time and life can look pretty dreary (sort of like it does right now with a storm due to arrive later today).

Fortunately, things have a way of healing, and nothing reminds us of that more than a beautiful rainbow after a storm.

I took the following photos when we were in Palmyra, New York recently, and thought they might work out with this post.

Don’t you often marvel at the beauty and comfort of nature?

 

Look at that smile on Aubrey’s face as she is reunited with her sisters!

(Photo from Liz)

“Today’s  trial

is  tomorrow’s  testimony!”

(unknown source)

Have a great weekend!

JoAnn

Sunday dinner with Grandpa

 

We are fortunate enough to have Ken’s father still with us.  He is a sharp, amazing, ninety-six year old.

Every other Sunday we have him come to our house for dinner.

(We have to share him with Ken’s sister.)

Our house is hectic and noisy with all of us, our kids and their spouses, and the grandkids all laughing, talking, and playing, but he is a good sport!  He can even catch a short nap in all the chaos. 

Sometimes, we take dinner to his house (just my husband and I).  We have a quiet meal and he always enjoys the home cooking.

(He loves gravy and a hot roll or biscuit.)

We get to hear wonderful stories from the past-always with a good life lesson learned. 

We might take him for a short drive to the cemetery to check on his sweet companion’s grave.

It is a beautiful place high on the foothills of Salt Lake City.

 

The views of the valley below are often quite breathtaking.

We usually get to “ride off in to the sunset” as we return home.

It gets dark earlier now, so we drive through the downtown lights.

(This stop light has got to be the longest waiting light in the whole city!)

Sometimes, he thinks he is a burden,

but we are grateful that he is still a part of our lives.

We’re the lucky ones!

JoAnn

 

Number 8

I’m on my way out the door to a math conference (Yes, it is a Saturday!), but wanted to share our newest grandson.

Evan Charles

you have already won our hearts! 

Glad you and your mom are doing well.

Love you!

Grandma Jo

P.S.  Nice work Andrew and Irene!

Halloween Fun!

Da-da-da-da…

(Snap! SnaP!)

Once upon a spooky eve….

A group of very  strange folk gathered together to

celebrate the approaching  Hallow’s Eve.

The welcoming committee was at their post.

Special forces were patrolling the area.

The neighbors were cautiously keeping watch, but

a few  guests managed to slip through unnoticed.

Strange items were carried in to the house.

      

Creepy sounds were heard!

Thankfully, no one went hungry!

Seems a little quiet and empty now.

Will they return next year?

It’s a good bet the tradition will continue!

JoAnn

(aka Medusa)

 

Spreading some goodness

We live in a world where negative happenings seem to get a lot more attention than positive, upbeat news does. 

(If you watch the 10:00 nightly news you know what I mean.)

Sometimes it is easy to get depressed and discouraged, thinking people are just wrapped up with their own problems and that no one really cares about others.  Or we think our own lives are full of disappointment and sadness, while every one else is living the good life.  One negative thought always produces another one.

Don’t you love when stories about human kindness, or resilient human nature go viral on the internet? It is uplifting to me to see someone take the lemons life dishes at them and turn them in to a sweet lemonade.  Sometimes it is through the simple example of another person that we can deal with our own problems.

Our little granddaughter, Brooklyn, was recently diagnosed with Celiac Disease (a genetic gluten intolerance).  Coming from a long line of “foodies”, that news was frustrating to all of us.  We love eating, cooking, and planning what we will eat and cook tomorrow or next week, or at Thanksgiving or Christmas.

After a very tiny mourning period, Liz, our daughter, was able to share her feelings about the situation. 

We have been encouraged by our church leaders to be positive influences on others- to spread some goodness, if you will.

I’m so proud of her attitude that I want to share the goodness of her message with you.

I hope it will help someone.

Liz and Brooklyn

This is just a small example of passing along the positive:

This summer when we found out I was going to have to drive Aubrey all the way across town to preschool instead of going to the elementary school in our neighborhood I was really bummed. My Dad reminded me that Heavenly Father knows what he's doing and that things would work out. I figured there was a good reason why this ended up happening, but I was still bugged. When we found out that Brooklyn has celiac disease last week, I was heart broken for my poor girl. We love homemade breads, pancakes, crepes and all other gluten filled products and knew this was going to be a very hard adjustment. This week while dropping Aubrey off at preschool we learned that one of her teachers also has celiac disease and that she used to own a gluten free bakery. Yesterday I spent the day shopping and learning so much from this wonderful lady and am now feeling so much more prepared for the life ahead of us. This morning she brought in a slice of her special bread for us to try. It was THE absolutely most amazing piece of gluten free bread I have ever eaten! It was so close to the bread we know and love! Now I am armed with new recipes and knowledge and ready to take on the world. Once again, proof positive that Heavenly Father knows me personally and knows exactly what I need to help us get through this new phase of our lives!

Thanks for sharing your good  attitude, Liz!

We love you!

JoAnn

(Mom)

P.S. Thanks to all the people who stepped in with food, recipes, and encouragement!

A Little Excursion- and valuable tips I learned

Last weekend my husband and I took a quick trip to visit his sister Marcia and and her husband Steve in Palmyra, New York where they are serving as missionaries for our church.

Since we’re not really seasoned travelers, I compiled a little list of things I learned.

Here goes:

Tip #1.  When you arrive at the very late (or early) hour of 1:00 a.m., be prepared for a pleasant surprise when you wake up the next morning.

This is the view that greeted us as we looked out the front door.

Tip #2.  Don’t be shocked when you realize things might be bigger and more colorful than they are in a desert climate.

O.K., Utah does have some pretty color in the fall, but maybe not the variety of colors we saw in New York.

Tip #3.  Two hundred year old fences (or replicas) have a lot of charm that modern ones lack.

( The Joseph Smith family farm in Palmyra)

( The Joseph Smith family farm in Palmyra)

( The Joseph Smith family farm in Palmyra)

Tip #4.  House size doesn’t determine coziness or charm.

(The last three photos were taken at the Peter Whitmer farm.)

(Smith frame house at the Joseph Smith family farm.)

(Smith frame house at the Joseph Smith family farm.)

(Smith frame house at the Joseph Smith family farm.)

Tip #5.  Don’t overlook the history and character of an old cemetery.

(old Palmyra cemetery)

Tip #6.  Plan on falling in love.  (At least with the scenery!)

View from the bottom of Hill Cumorah.

View from the top of Hill Cumorah.

Inside the Sacred Grove near the Joseph Smith family farm.

 

Tip #7.  Plan on not really having any “good hair days” due to added humidity and other factors..(It’s green for a good reason!)

(Niagara Falls)

Tip #8.  Realize that you will have enough photos and memories to fill many future blog posts….

Thanks, Elder and Sister Bean for being great hosts!

JoAnn

P.S.  If you would like to learn more about the history of the Joseph Smith farm in Palmyra go to this link or this one.

This link tells you more about Joseph Smith, the Prophet of the Restoration.