SIMPLE JOYS.......

Simple joys can be big or small......Today Leslie made the effort to come up from Orem and take me to breakfast...... She came up from Mesquite for the weekend to take in a couple of movies the church made with her son and grandson in them.....such a good Mom and Grandma.  It was a shot in the arm on this cold, gloomy winter day.  But I am determine to find happiness in the simplest of joys........There are simple joys to be found in the most ordinary things.....a full moon, answered prayers, sharing a cup of coffee with a good friend......a chocolate doughnut!  I like to search each day for one of the small wonders in my life......Sometimes the simple joys of a day turn out to be the biggest of all miracles of all.

Think of the many lessons you have learned little at a time.....I grew up with my grandmother telling me of the "Aesop Fables" demonstrating the points in life I am glad I learned.....one favorite......THE CROW AND THE PITCHER. A crow, half-dead with thirst came upon a pitcher which had once been full of water, but when the Crow put its beak into the picture he found that only very little water was left in it, and that he could not reach far enough down to get it.  He tried and tried and at last had to give up in despair......Then a thought came to him, and he took a pebble and dropped it into the pitcher.  Then he took another pebble and dropped it into the pitcher.......and another, and another and another!  At last , at last, he saw the water mount up near him; and after casting in a few more pebbles he was able to quench his thirst and save his life......Here the lesson in life is;......"Little by little does the trick."

Remember this.........

Chapter #28...around the world

Russia.......so many beautiful pictures of this very interesting country. Downtown St. Petersburg is crowded with splendid palaces, impressive historical monuments, tree-lined avenues and beautiful bridges.  I found St. Petersburg to be a city crammed with historical and cultural stuff and a refined air of mystery.  My favorite memory and favorite place by far was the Hermitage Museum.....one of the largest and most impressive art collections in the world......founded on the collections of Empress Catherine the Great!  It is housed in the magnificent Baroque Winter Palace on  the Neva river.  You need many hours to see and enjoy it all.  We also peeked into a set which portrayed the famous Notradamas and his terrible history.  So, so interesting.  I loved the shopping, bright scarves, stacked dolls and interesting jewelry and intricate little boxes.

This week the 2014 Winter Olympics are being held in Sochi Russia and President Putin really out did himself on the Opening Ceremonies last night........I loved my visit to Russia, but must admit I am content to watch the Olympic from my nice safe home......

GO USA......

Today the OLYMPICS start in SOCHI, RUSSIA!!!  Russia is a huge country, very beautiful, powerful and a almost an enemy to the USA.......competition in everything.   I have been to St. Petersburg and Odessia but things keep changing.....does anyone know RUSSIA?.......High drama around every corner. But welcome to the 22nd Olympic Games....("Putin's Games}........

Kennedy stayed all night with me while the Christenson's celebrated an early Valentines Day!  Darren will be in Mexico next weekend....... (Valentine's weekend celebrating his father's 80th birthday)......The Panniers took off for the Barn after a walk through of the new house, they sign and pay next Wednesday and move the furniture in on Valentine's Day!  They are soooo tired of my basement .....6 months the 23rd!

My little sister, Leslie called on her way to Orem for the weekend with her son and asked if we could meet for breakfast......so looking forward to seeing her.....I miss my siblings.  Little brother, Jim, just had a back operation in Albuquerque.  Didn't get much done today but 3 batches of laundry......... The next two weeks will be fun watching the Olympics. ..............

BEYOND THE BODERS.......

BEYOND THE BORDERS.......Are there any borders that cannot be broken? We learn more, do more, see more, go further than other generations?  This is just a question that is always in my mind.....where are the borders?
THE FIRST SERMON....
The new priest at his first mass was so afraid that he could hardly speak.  Before his 2nd week at church, he asked the head priest how he could relax.  The head priest said "next week it might help if you could put martinis in the water pitcher.  After a few sip, everything should go smoothly"
The next week the young priest put the older's suggestion into reactive and really talked up a storm.  After the sermon he asked the head priest how he'd done.  The head priest replied......"Fine, but there are a few things you should learn before you address the congregation."
(1)...Next time sip the martinis rather than gulping them.  (2)...There are 10 commandments, not 12.  (3)...There are 12 disciples, not 10. (4)...David killed Goliath, he didn't kick the shit out of him.  (5)...We don't refer to our savior Jesus Christ and his disciples, as J.C. and the boys.  (6)...Next Sunday there is a taffy pulling contest at St. Peters, not a peter pulling contest at St. Taffy's.   (7)...We don't refer to the Cross as the Big T.   (8)...The Father, Son and Holy Ghost are not referred to as Daddy-O, Laddy-O, and the Big Spook. (10)...And last, but not least, it's the Virgin Mary, not Mary with the unpopped cherry!!!!
   I think that would be one Mass that everyone stayed awake for.......
   Got another snow storm last night.....not much down here but the mountains are looking good. Kar and Pam are going to paint for me tomorrow.

OLDER THAN DIRT......

From many years back I remember being told to "act your age"......now that I look back through those years......how can you act your age when you had never been that age before?   Such a good question!  Act your age......well, I have never been 81 before so I'm not sure I'm acting my age......not that I care much.  I was cleaning out the book case the other day and ran across a book my sister sent me.......she is only 11 years younger "What is this decimating scourge?"  Is it Aids, hate crimes, gout, or failure to post signs on the restaurant doors warning that microwave ovens are in use......No, it is a disease that's right before your eyes only you just can't see it......It's OLD AGE and I'll wager  hardly a family alive has not lost t least one precious loved one to this ruthless and debilitating scourge......
      Informative chapters:  How to find peace and happiness after the world has symbolically hurled you aside into the trash heap of life.......Although there are Worse Things than Being Older than Dirt, it still Stinks to Have Aches and Pains......Fun Things to do while you're waiting to Die Which Don't Require too Much Effort........
    See what you all have to look forward to......P day and emails from both my missionaries.  Alex excited only has three more weeks to go and Richie had been so sick he had to go to the doctor..... His Mom is worried.  My sweet Will came by to get his mail, good to see him..

SUPER BOWL DAY.......

What can I tell you......when it comes to football and the big Super Bowl......I am in the dark.....I do like the adds and if I am at a party I enjoy the food!  That seems to be all there is on TV this morning, but I say may the best team win!.....I have been trying to find out if the groundhog saw his shadow today, but Ground Hog Day seems to be taking a second place in the news.......maybe on the 10:00 pm news. All the kids are excited about today.
       I have always said my three girls are perfect......and oh yes, so are my nine grandchildren.  I think that somewhere deep inside all of us is the powerful longing for a perfect new generation.  Maybe since we are not perfect ourselves, we hope to a least create someone who might be.
      We all know how meticulously new parents look over their new baby to be sure there are no blemishes---no deviations from what they anticipated.  But no matter how beautiful the baby is, there are always deviations from what his or her parents anticipated.  The greater the deviation, the more those parents need to have the opportunity to mourn---mourn the loss of the image of the perfect child they dreamed they would have......They need to give up the image of having the perfect child before they can appreciate the child they really do have.......Well, maybe my kids are just human and I love them for that....... Happy Super Bowl and Ground Hogs Day!

ALL ABOUT LOVE.....

When people tell me....."your gonna regret that in the morning"......I sleep until noon because I'm a problem solver!!!!!
The best things in life are free and you have to love that......the hugs, friends, smiles, sleep, good friends, memories, laughter and lovin' your family!  Believe there was a reason you were born......free yourself from limitations.....if you enjoy what your doing.....keep doing it.....Magnify your life, change our map.....look around what else could you get involved in to help others and do good.....Develop a love centered map......that is a life where only love is sent out each day.
We were born to learn to love....God and everyone.  We did not come to earth to make a name for ourselves....just so time could erase it.  We didn't come to compile earthly goods for them to be parceled off and quibbled over after our death.  Love is more than our destination.  No short cuts to love...no detours.   Love is the destination and the journey.  My mother must have learned this early in her life as she is the only person I know who truly loved everyone UNCONDITIONALLY!
Just a thought:  They say love is the best feeling.....But, I think finding a toilet when your having diarrhea is better!
Pam and I picked up the twins at the airport......they had a fun two day break in LA....on business.....glad they had fun and are home safe.  A cold snowy weekend.....did get my bills made out  and mailed today as it is the first of FEBRUARY!
All the news is the 'SUPERBOWL" tomorrow and the Olympics at "Sochi Russia" Next weekend.  Cold and snowy