A GREAT OPPORTUNITY....

This is the latest picture of my favorite missionary Alex Christenson....way off in Brazil.  Standing by the road he no doubt walks many miles on and in the rain which is what happens a lot in Brazil I guess.  Even though I miss him so much, two years is a very long time, but I know that is a blessing for him from our church.  I try to look at it as a two year paid vacation where you are lucky enough to learn a foreign language first hand......right from the people themselves.  I have always loved being involved in the culture of the people I have traveled around the world to visit. No, it is not like home, but they tell us as tourist, if you want things like home, then stay home.  Here these young 19 years old can grow up, become independent and gain self confidence in a good environment.  When they come home at 21, they have grown up and are ready to face the world and their future.  Get an education, a job, marriage and a good life.  It is God's plan and a good one.  I do feel sorry, every boy on earth does not take advantage of this wonderful blessing.  Richie has turned in his papers, got his hair cut and is waiting for that letter from the church that tells him where and when and then.....I WILL HAVE TWO FAVORITE MISSIONARIES OUT THERE!  Just sent Al a email he will get and read on PdAy tomorrow.

I DO BELIEVE.....

I do believe in what our prophets say most the time, but like any one, I have the right to question the many rules they put upon us and why?  Way back when the rules of no coffee and tea or caffeine were put upon us, they were no worse or better than much of our food.  Alcohol and smoking I understand for health reasons, but I haven;t figured out caffeine. The Jews won't eat pork, but my Jewish neighbor loved 'ham fried rice'!.....and she is still a good person.  I found and read it to one of my girls that the church DOES NOT condemn COKE, so if you like it, life is short, enjoy it.  Why can't this be the same with coffee and tea?  I drink both and it doesn't make me love God less! I won't accept the vote it makes me a bad person. What do I base my drinking coffee on, I enjoy it and according to an article I would like to quote says....."Coffee adds years to life.....Enjoying an extra cup or two of java in the morning has a surprising benefit;  it will help you live longer, say researchers at the National Cancer Institute in BETHESDA, MD.  Their study of 400,000 people found that women who drank four to five cups a day had a 16 percent lower risk of death than those who drank none  According to study author Neal Freedman, Ph.D., coffee contains an estimated 1,000 compounds, including antioxidants and other substances known to prevent disease-triggering inflammation and insulin resistance."  Should those who don't drink coffee, start.  No, if you don't like it and took an oath in the temple you never would, take your chance the Cancer people are wrong, but don't condemn us who have not taken the oath or feel OK about our church standing.  As Dr. Phil says: " No matter how flat you make a pancake....it still has two sides."

I KNOW YOU WILL AGREE....

I know you will all agree the older you get the tougher it is to lose weight, because by then your body and your fat have gotten to be really good friends.......
Did you ever notice;  The Roman Numeral for forty is XL?
Some people try to turn back their odometers.  Not me, I want people to know 'why' I look this way.  I am 80 and that means I have traveled a long way and some of the roads weren't paved, they were either muddy ....to make you slide into ditches.  Rocky........to make you detour....or full of ruts......to make you go in directions you'd rather not!  I was an exercise nut for most my life, but bad back and knees have made it no fun anymore, so my poor body is suffering......and I have given all my leotards to the DI.  Someone said "Being young is beautiful.....being old is comfortable." I agree.
There's always a lot to be thankful for if you take the time to look for it. For example I am sitting here thinking how nice it is that wrinkles don't hurt.

LIGHTING MY FIRE...

Sometimes you just need to light a fire either inside or under yourself.....to make you think there is more in life than what you are sliding by on.
Life will never be easy.  When those difficult times come, it is up to us whether to curse God, or trust in the Lord and seek to learn what he would have us learn.
Just when all seems to be going right, challenges often come in multiple doses applied simultaneously.  When those trials are not consequences of your disobedience, they are evidence that the Lord feels you are prepared to grow more.  He therefore gives you experiences that stimulate growth, understanding, and compassion which polish you for your everlasting benefit. To get you from where you are to where He wants you to be requires a lot of stretching, and that generally entails discomfort and pain.....This life is an experience in profound trust....You know my saying; "Things Happen For A Reason, Just Believe".  Soooo, yesterday when I got into the car to go do chores and the battery was dead.....I have to believe there was a reason to keep me off the road until I could get a new battery and get on with my chores.....Or not!  One thing I do know is that I can build a good fire!

HAVE TO BRAG.....

My  family are dog people and there seems to be a little competition in whose dog is the smartest!  Today I got a picture of one of the family dogs surfing  in Lake Powell last weekend, now come on folks.....this grandma wouldn't even do that....... so hurrah for Macy!  Talented?  Well, I also have to confess just before they were ready to load Macy in the plane to fly to Lake Powell she got squirted by a skunk!!!! She still looks a little pink from the tomato juice.  Nicci's Ollie loves TV and runs marathons.... Tiff's.Captain can jump any fence, no matter how high and Karrie's Marley is such a lover.  My Gigi and I better get in there and do some fancy training or get left behind.  Now when Lucille brags about her family I will brag about my surfing grand-dog and I have a picture to prove it!                              I have been learning to be a "yes" woman.  When you want to hear a positive response from someone start your conversation with a question sure to get you a "yes" answer.  Like, 'nice day today, isn't it?' or 'the weekend can't come soon enough, right?' Psychological research proves that once you get someone saying yes, it is easy to get them to continue!   So when my car wouldn't start this morning I said 'Betty you have a dead battery don't you?' I answered yes.  What should you do now?  Call Triple A.....or the family.  Tried again and this time it started......made it to Sears where they told me my 10 year old battery was dead for good......so I bought a new one. Yes, I have to have a car that starts whenever and wherever I need it.                                                                                              

GOD'S COUNTRY........

Those of us who live where we have four DEFINITE seasons are watching our warm green summer turn into the chilly bright colored days of fall.  Driving up to Park City, Midway and the Christenson's cabin has already seen these colors and this picture appear and it is only the second day of September....
I also have been lucky enough to have seen the beautiful fall leaves in the east several times.  I have done two cruises NYC to Quebec and St John in the fall, where we were delighted, but my favorite trip was with Leslie when we rented a car and drove through Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire, NY, Connecticut and Rhode Island in October.  Who has the prettiest colors?  They are the same, but different in that the reds back east are more vivid.  The oranges and yellows are about the same.  We are so lucky and should enjoy every minute......well, those minutes when someone has to rake up all the fallen leaves is not to enjoyable, but that,s life........Karrie and Scottie brought my chairs back and put a new battery in my smoke detector, which beeped all night!  ugh.  Beautiful fall day, I'm loving it.

SINGLE......

First of all......Welcome September.  Can you believe it?  My summer is gone and I am loving these quiet evenings with the back door open so that wonderful evening breeze can creep in.  In fact in my perfect world, I would live in a place where year around I could open the back door and hear the sounds of night through the screen door, but soon i will be too cold and Fall and Winter will be upon us!
SINGLE.....yes, single when you are young is fun and exciting, but single in your older years is not fun and exciting.   But, being Single and surviving does make a strong statement about you and who you are.  I try so hard not to depend on my sweet family to change the light bulbs, the fire alarm battery, lift and move heavy things.  But, I am facing the fact slowly, I need them.....oh yes, and keeping me on track with this darn computer. Tomorrow night I have been invited over to witness Richie being ordained an elder.....YES!  I guess we will know in a couple of weeks where he will be off to as soon as college is out. Isn't it interesting how life just keeps moving on?