HAPPY 22 BIRTHDAY RICHIE B.

RICHARD BENJAMIN COOK......my third grandson turned 22 yesterday......same day my first great-grandson turned 1.  I am lucky and have been able to enjoy and watch this darling boy grow into a man. Soccor games, foot ball games, etc through the years.  Graduation and then off to a mission in Mexico......I cried when he left.....and missed him so.  Home and in college and working for his father now......what will be his future.\?  He is handsome, smart, fun and the sky is the limit for him......so proud of him.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RICHIE

AARON TURNS 1

YEA........We made it to a big one year old......getting teeth, hair and taking a few steps.  It has been such a wonderful year watching my great=grandson Aaron grow up......you forget so many wonderful things a baby does when your youngest is 47.

Last night was a big birthday party for him at Grandma and Grandpa Pannier's house.......a jungle theme.  There was a house full with his grandparents Hortons, aunts and uncles and four little boy cousins from the Horton's side of the family. Don and I were there as well as a great-grandpa from the other side......well loved and spoiled baby.. You never know how much you will love a great-grandchild until you get one.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AARON........

GOT TO DO BETTER.......

I know that changing the way you look at things can make your life better.......so for the New Year I am going to work on putting a Positive Frame around all my negative thoughts and see what happens.........I have so very much to be thankful for in my life......good health, nice family......those that don't like me are still nice......great friends......a nice home with good neighbors and my church.

REJECTION doesn't hurt.......EXPECTATION does.

LYING doesn't destroy........DENIAL does.

FORGETFULNESS doesn't heal........FORGIVENESS does.

Being a parent can sometimes be thankless.

Snow, snow, snow......will it ever end?  I know it is December and winter and I live in Utah.......so where is that positive frame?  Tomorrow is the last day of 2015!!!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS......2015

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2015........a long time ago on Christmas Eve this picture was taken.......with 8 of my 9 grandchildren.....number 9....shown in the cut-out was on a mission in Brazil.....it wasn't so long ago but they have all grown up.....gotten married.....and moved on with their lives......I am so happy how they have turned out.....but lonesome because I never see them much anymore.  Here I sit alone on Christmas Day.....Pam and Sherrie called and I talked to my sister.......But I have many blessing to be thankful for this Christmas.......My health is good, I have a nice home and enough to eat and wonderful neighbors who came with their snow blower and cleaned my sidewalks and driveway.......I am beginning to think as you grow older you are more fortunate to have good friends and neighbors than family????  I did get to talk to my missionary in Washington for a few minutes.....he will be home next Christmas.......that can make a grams day.  Snowed most the day so are having a real "White Christmas!"

ALMOST HERE......

OH HOW WELL I REMEMBER THESE DAYS!!!!!!!   This is great-grandson Aaron......meeting Santa for the first time and his mother said this was as close as Santa could get to him!  I remember my first one when Charlotte and I took Pam and Woody to see Santa and bribed them with everything we had to get a picture with Santa.......which  didn't work........ and the twins weren't much better......I guess it's part of the game.
         Have enjoyed this Christmas season a lot, in my new house and have it decorated cute.....had a nice family Christmas party last Saturday and got lots of fun gifts, we have gobs of snow, my darling neighbors and friends have all been great.  Tomorrow night I will have Christmas Eve with Pam's family......I intend enjoying every day as if it were my last because you never know......when it will be your last.
        LEGEND OF THE CHRISTMAS SPIDER.......An old European Christmas legend tells of a poor woman unable to provide the traditional decorations for the special holiday.  A spider made his home in her tree and began to spin beautiful webs.  On Christmas morning, the first light off sun struck the cobwebs, turning them to silver.....When the woman awoke, she found the tree was covered with silver treasure.........The Spider had brought good fortune!  Isn't it fun to end the day with good thoughts?

DRAGING.......

 

Here is sweet grandpa Rob with grandchild Aaron at the end of our family Christmas party Saturday......I  guess it was just to much party for a one year old and his great-gram still feels like that three days later......maybe it is the let down that Christmas is over for me and the combination of snow, snow, snow!!!!!Two more days and there will be a few more tired people when the big day is over.

I saw this on face book today and it gives you something to think about besides TRUMP......which is all there is on TV.

"Even though there are days I wish I could change some things that happened in the past,........ there's a reason the rear view mirror is so small and the windshield is so big,............. where you're headed is much more important than what you have left behind."

I BELIEVE THE HARDEST PART OF HEALING AFTER YOU HAVE LOST SOMEONE YOU LOVE (divorce, death or when someone just walks out of your life).......IS TO RCOVER THE "YOU" THAT WENT AWAY WITH THEM........

WOW....HECTIC WEEK!

     Well......try to catch up with the week.  Busy getting ready for the family Christmas Party last night.......Presents, decorations, food, house cleaned, tables set etc.  Today I am pooped.......trying to get a few things done, but mostly sleeping.  I had 20 people......and everyone got along with one another......I added three new branches to my family tree in 2015.....Lindsay,  Aaron, Matt.  Nicci and Brayden were not able to be with us but the rest of the family showed up.  Lots of good food, many fun gifts,  Robby was Santa Squirrel in his Halloween costume and gave out the gifts.....The girls had done my DNA Test to find out my heritage and theirs..... In Europe.....99%.......89% British, 6% Iceland, 3%  Scandinavia, 2% Finland/Northwest Russia, 2% Iberian Peninsula, 1% Europe East .....In West Asia....Caucasus 1%.........very interesting.  I can definitely see my age is taking a toll on entertaining, very tired today. I even squeezed in the new movie STAR WARS with the Christensons and Grandpa Bud yesterday.......Kinda a let down today as far as I am concerned Christmas for me is over.   I probably will go to Panniers for dinner on Christmas Eve and then to a movie and McDonalds for Christmas dinner........But it's all good!

FAITH........

 

This is Aaron.....my first great-grandchild......who will be one the 29th of December.......His first Christmas is just around the corner and there will be a big birthday party at Grandma and Grandpa Panniers!  We adore him.  At his house there is no fireplace and chimney for Santa so he will have to believe in the little story of the Magic Santa Key........Dear Santa, we have no chimney as you can plainly see, and I was terribly worried that you'd pass over me.  We hung this very special key outside right by the door.  Then Mom told me to jump in bed  and not worry any more.  Your magic will make this key fit, to open up our door.....So you can come inside tonight and tip-toe across the floor.

It is so great when children can believe in Santa and there really is a way to get around everything. Hired Lisa to come carry up chairs, put leafs in the table and help me get ready for our Saturday night Christmas Party here.  Take the dog to the groomer tomorrow and shop for the food......things are shaping up good.  Sherrie informed me they had a movie ticket for me to go see Star Wars with Darren's family before our party.......how can I leave for the afternoon when I am having 20 people to feed for dinner?  Oh, and Sherrie said her father called to see where he could leave her Christmas presents and said he was ordered to go to California for Christmas.......BUT he didn't want to because they were having marital problems and he didn't feel very good!!!!(chuckle-chuckle).......Suppose to snow again tonight!

SYMBOLS.......

 

 

Interestingly enough our church lesson was about symbols.......In Revelations 1-2-3 they talk about 7 stars, 7 candles  and keys.....and how that all fits into our lives.  As Christmas approaches we have so many symbols and traditions that are so interesting;......Take the Candy Cane for instance......The Candy Cane begins with a stick of white candy.  The white symbolizes the purity of the Christmas season.  Red  stripes are for the blood shed by Christ on the cross so that we may have eternal life.  The candy is formed into a "J" to represent the precious name of Jesus. It can also represent the staff of the Good shepherd.  Its hard consistency represents the Solid Rock, the foundation of the church, and the firmness of the promises of God........each day I google another one and it is so interesting.

Just got a storm warning on my cell phone......how did it know?

TIS THE SEASON.......

                    
                             Did you ever wonder how you could screw-up so bad once in awhile......Well, I just realized it was because of the "SCREW-UP-FAIRY"......Great.....finally somebody to blame it on!
                            Two weeks till Christmas and every window is beginning to display a Christmas Tree......The tradition of the Christmas Tree is.......it stays green all through the year, the evergreen tree is symbolic of the eternal life offered to Christians through faith in Christ.....The treetop point heavenward.  A star signifies the special star which guided the wise men to Bethlehem.  Lights represent Christ, the "Light of the World".  Gifts beneath the tree are representative of God's gift of His only begotten Son who brings Hope, Love, Joy and Peace.
                            Sherrie and Ken came by for awhile today.....Ken helped with chores.  Sherrie gave two of my neighbors Christmas treats for being so good to me.......I think I raised her right!  Mike called and wanted my new address and we had a good visit.......No snow down here, but cold.

WOW!

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I am a note maker......and this would be a good one to keep posted in bold print where I can't miss it.    It is almost eleven o'clock and I am still trying to get a few lines recorded in my blog.  Just as I was starting my blog.....which I couldn't get into without arguing with GOOGLE.......about my password.....Shirley called me and said she would come over and see what was wrong with my computer......then Toby called to tell me Mickey died.....she was a very good friend .....known her for almost 50 years and took her place in one of my favorite bridge clubs when she moved to Denver.   She had a melatonin in her mouth......lost some teeth etc......haven't seen her for quite awhile.  Quite a shock.   Toby said call Pat and Jane......in the mean time Sherrie called, they were at the cabin and would be down tomorrow.........After two long conversations with Pat and Jane I finally got back to the computer........Things are so hectic now days.  I did get a lot of chores done today.  Dollar store, made a copy of a photo I needed, stopped at Petco and made an appointment for GIGI to be groomed Tuesday, picked up some hair color and Salt for the drive way when it snows.....ran down to the DI and dropped off  some stuff, came home and colored my hair and filled 20 sacks full of candy for our Christmas party Saturday.

Wednesday had Shirley, Bonnie and Nancy here for our annual MEXICAN TRAIN Christmas Party, served lunch and exchanged gifts.....fun time.  Then yesterday Patty and Ruth came for lunch and we exchanged gifts and  had our usual therapy session........which lasted till after five.........they didn't seem to want to go home !!!!  Ruth's gift to us was a coloring book and crayons and colored pencils and pens.......our next get-to-gather........we will color!  Now you know what old people do when they get to gather!!!

Well it is way past my bed time so will try and do better with my blog in the coming weeks........

 

WINTER......

 

This happy bunch......The Christenson family are seen here vacationing in the GRAND CAYMAN Islands.....not aware we are freezing back home in Utah.    They are missing the middle son.....Brayden....who is no doubt freezing also in Canada this week,......where he is on a mission.

I HAVE DECIDED MY FAVORITE OUT DOOR ACTIVITY IN THE WINTER IS GOING INSIDE WHERE IT IS WARM!

Everyone asks what your favorite winter sport is.....skiing, ice skating, sledding, snowmobiling, etc. when you tell them you are from Utah......but as I get older I didn't have to think to hard to come up with what I enjoy most about cold weather.

Had a busy day......washed the car, stopped at the Dollar Store, WalMart and got wine for my party Wednesday.  Also mailed my sisters and Missionary's Christmas present.  My list tomorrow is just as long.  I also found my Christmas books.....buried from the move and that added to the happiness of the day.

GOOD FRIENDS........

 

Friends......what would we do without our friends?  Have you noticed how a friend gathers all the pieces and gives them back to you in the right order?  Every person knows the value of a trusted friend who will lend an ear and give a hand.  Such friends are able to talk things through and turn troubles into things that don't seem so bad.......As Helen Keller notes;, "As long as we sweeten another's pain, our lives are not in vain."

When one has lived many years, the past becomes an attic;  One goes there hunting some particular thing and finds everything except what one went to find!!!!!BUT....I still can't find my Christmas books....will give it another go tomorrow.....LIFE SEEMS LIKE ONE BIG TREASURE HUNT WHEN YOU MOVE......YOU NEVER KNOW WHERE YOU OR SOMEONE ELSE PUT ALL YOUR TREASURES!

Church and a very quiet weekend.

WILLIAM IS 25 ..........

 

A grandmother is so lucky when she gets a grandson......This is William Robert with me and his big sister Nicci.......I can't believe he is all grown up and 25 years old today. .......time flies.......I loved tending him.....and he always wanted to sleep with me when he was little......SIDEWAYS in the bed.  We had good talks and I was called in....... in high school when he needed to be first in line to get his football gear......because the coach was Sherrie's old boy friend and really loved me.....soooo we marched in to see the coach!......we pulled that for 2 years in a row....so many fun memories.   I was happy when he got his first job, when he graduated from High School, then from the U of U and when he called me the other day to tell me he had bought a house!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WILL........

SOMEDAY.......

 

Here are two of my favorite people......who I will love to the end of my days.  I can only hope that "someday" they will realize they need us as much as we need them.

Think about this........Monday.....Tuesday......Wednesday......Thursday......Friday.....Saturday......Sunday.....But there is no SOMEDAY.  Where did the word Someday come from?  Everyday has a name.   You say "someday"  I will be rich, famous, old, etc........Someday never comes.......it is always  "out there" and we go on with our todays.......naming each one as it comes along but always talking about someday and reaching for it or waiting for it.  Someday is an interesting word with a lot of "HOPE" attached to it..........Someday when I grow up........anticipating, expecting, surmising you will grow up someday.......that you will be rich, famous and live to be old.......is an interesting thought.......but I guess it doesn't hurt to hope.

 

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LOVE

is patient and kind; love is not jealous, or conceited, or proud, or provoked;  Love does not keep a record of wrongs;  Love is not happy with evil, but is pleased with the truth.  Love never gives up; its faith, hope and patience, never fail.

 

FRUSTRATED......

 

I think this is a good idea.......because when I go to some one's house and it is "just lived in"......and then come home to my "cleaner" house......I realize.....no one is perfect.  There is always tomorrow......well not always.....but then if there isn't a tomorrow for you.....who cares about your house keeping.......?   All decorated for Christmas, presents all wrapped and ready to do some entertaining......It is very cold, but no snow on the ground......thank goodness.  Do y6u realize....Life is a party.....you join after it's started......and you leave before it's finished.