The best time to Begin is NOW! An old proverb says, "The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is now." There is something wonderful and hopeful about the word NOW. There is something empowering about the fact that if we choose to decide now, we can move forward at this very moment. NOW is the best time to start becoming the person we eventually want to be---not only 20 years from now but also for all eternity.
Become your best self----starting now.......President Uchdorf teaches that "personal goals can bring out the best in us." He advises us to set some goal in two or three areas of our life. As you ponder where you would like to grow or improve yourself, make sure the goals are attainable and will require you to grow. God also knows that we learn and grow and become stronger as we face and survive the trials through which we must pass. We know that there are times when we will experience heartbreaking sorrow, when we will grieve, and when we may be tested to our limits. However, such difficulties allow us to change for the better, to rebuild our lives in he way our Heavenly Father teaches us, and to become something different from what we were----better than we were, more understanding than we were and stronger.
As I end this really bad year of government, Obama care, the constitution in jeopardy....I pray for a better year in the world.
As we come to the end of the year 2013........I am sure, including me, there are many people who are waiting to do something when they are ready. I also bet that if ask them this time next year they will still be waiting. When you are young you feel you have the rest of your life to take that special trip, get your teeth fixed, go back to school etc. etc. etc. But being old I can tell you if you want to start with desert .....do it.....a bus might hit you tomorrow. Each of our life journeys is unique. No one will take the same journey. When we are young our parents try to direct us on the right path, what the right path is for each of us no other person knows......and it may take a few mistakes for us to find the right path. But if there is a dream, a wish or a goal out there that hangs on.....don't wait......it might be later than you think. With only one day left in this year make that a resolution to get busy in the new year.....and don'[t wait the rest of your life.
My first trip to Europe was to Italy, France and Sicily........I found Paris FRANCE a city full of tourist wonders....art galleries, museums, parks and garden, the powerful and famous Notre Dame, the Arc de Trump. We took a romantic cruise on the Seine River and visited the Mona Lisa at the world famous Louve. Then there is the famous EIFFEL Tower.....I have been to the top twice and the view is out of this world. Paris France has something of interest for everyone. I loved the artist colony of Momart on the hill.....Saw the FOLLY Braziers and went to the night market for the best "onion soup" I ever had! Another wonderful taste of France was NIECE on the Rivera.....it really had a miserable beach but the shopping was fun......The side walk cafes where you could watch the latest fashionable styles parade by....WOW.
"Love makes you young. If you're doing what you love with people you love, it keeps you young and energized"
I love this time of the year with all the stories of how people reach out to others in need. One of Walmart for stocking stuffers to beat the crowd! Leslie called and her garage sale was so cold in Winslow what she didn't sell she gave away just to get it moved out......and gone. She moves to Mesquite a week from tomorrow......Karrie called and was working on her neighbors gifts .......my chore for the day. And today is missionary email day.....love it.
This is a cartoon but getting so real now days.......no matter what you say or do someone screws it into a problem......ho ho ho! Two days and counting till the man in red comes......did my last shopping today. Then off to a movie with the Panniers. Kar and Rich ran by to pick up a movie and say hi. It is the day I write my two missionaries and wish them MERRY CHRISTMAS'.
Boy am I glad we had our big family party last night before Santa really found out if we had been good or bad! My early Christmas was wonderful a new IPAD, clothes and more fun goodies. I feel our party was a big success.....Santa arrived with his bag of gifts....PLUS the Grinch who tried to steel our presents. My two cute grandsons Kennedy and Brayden made us all laugh. Two fun games and wonderful dinner that everyone brought something good and presents by the dozens. We talked to Nicci by Skype and our hearts and thoughts were with our two missionaries far, far away......We had a total of 15......a house full. I thought after all the kids grew up we would lose some of the excitement but the older they get it seems the more fun we have! Maybe because the adults are now all in their second-childhood???? It took me a week to get all the dishes, chairs and table ready so guess it will probably take me that long to put them all away.....oh well nothing else to do I guess. It is snowing again today and the kids said it was best I stay off the slick roads.......home for 3 days in row....WOW! Christensen's are having that side of the family party today also, the Panniers are doing a family party tonight on the Pannier side. Well, I am chalking up another successful party with my loving family.
Well, my Merry Christmas starts today with the family going "thru the woods and over the hills to Granma's Condo we go!"........We are missing our two missionaries, Richie and Alex and Nicci and Bill. But, it is what it is and there will be plenty of fun and games, food and presents.....LOVE to fill my little condo. We are thoroughly covered with snow everywhere because of the humongous ice and snow storm yesterday .It is cold also. This is like my winters growing up in Colorado, but it adds so much to holidays that they don't have in Arizona. We plowed through deep snow to find the perfect Christmas tree to cut down......which each kid liked a different one and when my father got to freezing he cut down the one closest to the car!......and we loved it. We didn't have fancy decorations and lights but it was beautiful to us anyway. Not many presents and the few that were there had been unwrapped and rewrapped, pinched, shaken, etc. until we pretty well knew what was in each one. My folks took us to the big town of Durango to do "our" shopping. Dad gave each child a little money and we went to the Woolsworth Store, a step up from the dollar store....where we snuck around buying presents for everyone.......this was a special memory I will always cherish. Then we went to a Chinese restaurant to eat afterwards which was a treat because we never had nice places in Mancos to eat. As we got older there was the BIG Christmas Eve dance ......and you could wear your new outfit. Oh yes those were great Christmases growing up in a wonderful family.......and I feel very lucky and thankful for those good memories.
HEY.....nobodys perfect! I am sure Santa got back in his sleigh and finished his rounds.....but hopefully learned a lesson. Well, this time next week the big day will be over and we will all be eating leftovers in a messy house, but hopefully well and happy......The predicted ice storm hit us about 7:00 and now has turned into a full blown snow storm.....today is cook and set the table day at my house......all tucked in warm and cozy. Last night Tiff and Scott brought the cooked turkey over......we only have to stick it in the oven an hour before so that helped with my one oven.......I only use at Christmas. 
Well, I am going to make the most of my last week before Christmas. I love Christmas......so many emotions are filing through me. Happy for the many happy Christmases but sad for the people I am missing at this time of year......Mom, Dad, both sisters......etc. I love buying fun things for the kids and grown-ups, neighbors and friends. "I can't do something for everyone, but, everyone can do something for someone". (Ronald Regan) In my past life????? Don and I had friends whose names were SCHMIDT......and every year this cartoon came up. Love it! I want to finish Annie's quilt today and run over to my cousin and deliver her Christmas present. This Christmas is hard on my roommates who live in the basement as Rob loves to decorate outside and Pam decorate inside......next year in their brand new home will be very special.
Hey, when you have a tall, new white shinny toilet......sometimes you can't help yourself! I do intend to put a big red ribbon on my new toilet and welcome it to my home......time is ticking away, nine days left to do your Christmas shoplifting! I have found the secret to avoiding the crowds do it early in the morning, Sunday is the best day. I am down to doing the fun things now. Finished sprucing up my bathroom and love it. Just have Annie's quilt to put together, get some neighborhood gifts wrapped and get ready for dinner Friday night for the family here. Leslie called and had taken a load of things up to her new place in Mesquite this weekend. She is getting anxious to get it over with and felt bad that Kevin and Tammy had not bothered to help pack at all. Talked to Mike he is going down on the Christmas break and help her move in.......kids need to help......she has always helped them in everything they did.
I remember the ship pulling up to this island. The first view of the white homes stacked up the hill with the wind mills lining the ridge like soldiers on parade......so picturesque! After Nadine and I had wandered up and down the many narrow, winding street and hit most the shops we found a seat at the side walk cafe on the bay to catch our breath. We ordered Ouzo ..... a Greek drink.......which tastes like liquorish and not my favorite and was surprised to see the star of Mykonos, named Petros .....a pelican.....the town's mascot who was blown in on a storm and decided to stay. A good choice. Petros strolls among the tables making friends with all the tourist. That first view of the island, all those white buildings clustered around the beautiful harbor and glistening in the bright sun shine with a background of windmills is a picture that will always be in my mind.
I'm safe in my house, I don't, never did or never will be singing in the shower? I don't sing anywhere......hum maybe......not sing. Met with my bridge club for Christmas luncheon today and it is always a catch up on our latest aches and pains. I use to be the oldest one in the group but we have a new member Bev Capson who is 88.....that's pretty old, but she can outdo most of us.
No, I'm not famous or powerful or influential.........not really powerful. But I have the power of one! One kind word. One caring act. One understanding glance. One warm smile. One bit of advice. Just one can turn some one's day, week or even life around. Especially when it's coming from me! Just one person can make a difference. Maybe somewhere, somehow I already have. I really would like to think so. Wouldn't it be wonderful if everyone did just One little something good to comfort someone in need. This is such a good time of year to step out and stand out. So I commit to try and smile or hold a door or carry a bag or give a compliment at least once a day till Christmas.....and maybe it will become a good habit.
Spring has sprung, Fall has fell, Winter has come and it's colder than H----! I thought this little poem I saw on Facebook kinda says it all.......Short and Sweet. The cold front is over much of the U.S. and has been hanging on about a week now.......with no end in sight. But it is winter and Christmas is a couple of weeks off so I guess it is the season. Use to love it when I skied, but those days are over and the cold hurts my arthritis.
Why am I so happy? Studies show that gratitude is a major happiness booster! I am so grateful for the people in my family who have drug me screaming into the 21st century. If it weren't for these wonderful people I would still not be using my new vocabulary. I have even learned to spell 4 and U with one stroke....who needs four letters for------four or you? LOL......laugh out loud, LMAO laugh my a-- off! ASAP----as soon as possible. Hey there is a whole new language out there. I felt I had it made when I learned to talk Pig-Latin in school......but that was probably in the olden days. Up load, down load, screen, mouse, mouse pad, hard drive, reboot etc. etc., etc........the kids use these words a lot different way than I did growing up.
Welcome to December......I just can't deny it .......a fresh snow is beautiful, especially when it has waited until the 3rd of December to arrive. November was a beautiful month, every day in the 50's......I think it spoiled us! So now we move on into winter and the Holidays. All the lights are up in the Condo area, my house is decorated out side.....thanks to Rob..... and Pam brought my Christmas Trees up yesterday, so I'm starting to get in the mood. Maybe it all started two weeks or more ago when all the stores had their Christmas stuff out and were playing Christmas music. Through the years I have loved the four seasons in my native Colorado and Utah where I have spent most of my life......but, as I get older and I do not enjoy the cold, snow and ice much.
