WRITE IT DOWN.....

             LOVING THE INDIAN CULTURE IS IN MY BLOOD......THEY COME THROUGH TO ME.......WHAT-EVER THAT MEANS.   I WANT TO FINISH 2017 WITH POSITIVE THOUGHTS FOR THE FUTURE.   I WILL HAVE ANOTHER GREAT-GRANDCHILD IN A FEW WEEKS......I HAVE 8 MORE MONTHS OF HELPING KENNEDY FINISH HIS TWO YEAR MORMON MISSIONARY MISSION LIVING WITH ME AS HE SERVES ON TEMPLE SQUARE.....HE FINISHES IN AUGUST......WILL AND LIZ ARE GETTING MARRIED IN OCTOBER AND IT LOOKS LIKE ALEX AND ASHLYN WILL GET MARRIED NEXT YEAR WHEN SHE FINISHES NURSING.....SO MUCH TO LOOK FORWARD TO.......
              IT IS INTERESTING HOW IMPORTANT YOUR SIBLINGS BECOME IN YOUR OLD AGE.....LESLIE AND I TALK OFTEN......AND SHE IS MY GO-TO......HAD A NICE VISIT WITH BABY BROTHER ON CHRISTMAS.....HOPE WE CAN TALK MORE IN OUR FEW YEARS LEFT.......I LOVE THEM WITH A LOVE THAT IS ONLY KNOWN THROUGH OUR BLOOD LINES AND GROWING UP DAYS EXPERIENCES.
            THE WAY I LOOK AT IT.....EVERY PERSON IS ON A JOURNEY OF THEIR OWN......MY JOURNAL WILL BE A WITNESS THAT I LIVED.......WHAT I THOUGHT AND FELT AS I MOVED THROUGH THE YEARS TO LIFE'S END.......I FIND IT AN UNCONDITIONAL FRIEND THAT I CAN COMPLAIN TO, CRY TO, BRAG TO, SHOW ANGER OR SHARE SECRETS TO.......IT'S MY THERAPY.....TO WRITE, WRITE, WRITE.  I THINK MY MOTHER FELT THE SAME WAY.......WHEN YOU READ THROUGH HER BOOK OF POEMS.
              LOOKING FORWARD TO 2018.....

BE POSITIVE......

WITH 2018 BREATHING DOWN OUR NECK........

WE MUST LOOK FORWARD TO 2018 WITH MUCH POSITIVITY.....

NO TRUMP IS NOT PERFECT......BUT BETTER THAN THE ANTI-CHRIST WHO WAS PRESIDENT FOR THE LAST 8 YEARS....WHO WAS TRYING TO DESTROY OUR CONSTITUTION!.....I KNOW THIS IS JUST MY OPINION.....AND THERE ARE  MANY OUT THERE THAT DIFFER WITH ME.....WHICH IS PERFECTLY OK.......IT'S A FREE WORLD......

"HABA NA HABA HUJAZA KIBABA"...... "LITTLE BY LITTLE FILLS THE POT!"......A SWAHILI PROVERB.......

ISN'T THIS THE WAY WE ARE LIVING OUR LIFE......LITTLE BY LITTLE.....DAY BY DAY?

THERE ARE NO "DO OVERS" IN LIFE......BUT EACH NEW DAY IS BEGINNING TO DO BETTER IN OUR LIVES.......TOMORROW AT MIDNIGHT A NEW YEAR BEGINS.....HELP ME GOD TO BE A BETTER ME.......

NICE DAY.....PATTY CAME OVER FOR COFFEE......THEN THE NEIGHBOR DROPPED BY WITH SOME SOUR CHERRY JUICE TO SEE IF IT WOULD HELP MY SOUR FOOT......MAY HAVE GOUT!!!!!.....A  LITTLE NAP......OFF TO COSTCO FOR GAS.....$2.19 A GAL THERE.....AND STOPPED AT MACEY'S FOR A FEW GROCERIES.....EXCITING DAY ....HUH?

YEARS END......

THIS ISN'T FUNNY??????

THIS IS THE HONEST TRUTH........

I HATE COLD AND SLICK ROADS AND WEARING ALL THOSE CLOTHES AND WORRYING ABOUT FALLING ON ICE!.......AND SHORT DARK DAYS.....AND CHURCH HOUR CHANGING FROM ELEVEN TO NINE......NOPE CAN'T THINK OF MUCH FUN STUFF HAPPENING IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS!

BUT....THE END OF A YEAR IS NOT THE END......ONLY A NEW CHAPTER OR BEGINNING IN YOUR LIFE......ANOTHER CHANCE TO STEP UP AND BE A BETTER YOU!

WHEN I WAS YOUNG......I THOUGHT I WAS THE BEST OF THE BEST......BUT MAYBE NOT? MORE HUMBLE NOW AND LESS JUDGMENTAL AND I LIKE ME BETTER.

I GUESS WHAT I AM MOST PROUD OF IN MY LIFE......ARE MY THREE GREAT CHILDREN.......EACH IN HER OWN WAY HAVE GIVEN ME SO MUCH PRIDE AND PLEASURE......

PAM.....WHO JUST TURNED 60 IS VERY MUCH LIKE HER FATHER'S SIDE OF THE FAMILY......NOT GOOD OR BAD......JUST IS.......SHE WAS AN ONLY CHILD FOR 11 YEARS......AND I COULD NOT HAVE SURVIVED THE TWINS WITHOUT HER.  SHE IS A VERY STRONG, TALENTED PERSON WHO IS IN NEGOTIATION'S IN THE COURT SYSTEM HERE IN UTAH......AND LOVES HER WORK.......SHE IS A GOOD WIFE, MOTHER AND GRANDMA....... SHE HAD TWO GIRLS AND A SON........SHE LIVES ABOUT 10 MINUTES FROM ME AND SHE AND ROB ARE A GREAT COMFORT IN MY OLD AGE.  THEY HAVE A HOME IN "ISLAND PARK" IDAHO.....CLOSE TO MAX INN AND WEST YELLOWSTONE AND HAVE ALL THE FUN TOYS TO GO WITH IT......FISHING BOAT, CANOES, RAZOR, SNOWMOBILES ETC.....AND SPEND A GREAT DEAL OF TIME UP THERE OR IN THE FAMILY HOME BUD AND MARILYN LEFT THE FAMILY IN ST. GEORGE WITH THE RAZOR.

SHERRIE AND KARRIE ARE VERY MUCH THE SAME.....BUT DIFFERENT! THEY ARE 49 NOW.

SHERRIE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE OUT-GOING AUNTROPINOR PERSON SINCE HIGH SCHOOL.....SHE WAS THE CHEER-LEADER WHO WENT WITH THE BIG FOOT BALL STAR......HAD A WATCH BUSINESS,......AND ON THE MOVE.  SHE AND DARREN HAVE THREE BOYS.  SHERRIE STARTED A SCRAPBOOK PAPER BUSINESS WITH HER NEIGHBOR, THEN MOVED ON TO A PURSE BUSINESS......KARRIE ALWAYS BY HER SIDE....... SHE FELL IN LOVE WITH HORSES.....SO THEY MOVED TO VERNAL WHERE DARREN HAD 145 APARTMENTS HE BOUGHT FROM HIS DAD...... WHEN  THE OIL BUSINESS WENT BAD  AND THE APARTMENT BUSINESS WENT DOWN THEY STARTED A USED CAR BUSINESS ALONG WITH TOURIST RENTALS IN PAGE, AZ.....WHERE THEY HAVE A HOUSE BOAT.  THEY HAVE AN AIRPLANE AND A CABIN IN PARK CITY AND ALL THE TOYS THAT IT TAKES TO RAISE THREE BOYS.   THEY ARE VERY INVOLVED IN THE MORMON CHURCH.

KARRIE ON THE OTHER HAND HAS BEEN THE MORE QUIET LAID BACK ONE OF THE TWO......SHE HAD TWO BOYS AND A GIRL......SHE WAS MORE INVOLVED IN AN OFFICER IN SEMINARY IN HIGH SCHOOL......EVEN THOUGH THEY BOTH HAD THE SAME GOOD FRIENDS.......  AND SHE WAS A BACKER FOR SHER IN EVERYTHING SHE DID.....KARRIE HAS FIBERMYOLOGY AND HURTS MOST THE TIME.....SHE IS A HUGE DOG LOVER.......AND WHEN IZZY HAD TEN PUPS AND ONLY EIGHT TITS......IT TOOK THE WHOLE FAMILY TO GET THE PUPPIES BATHED AND FEED!!!!KARRIE AND RICHARD ARE NOW IN THE PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS,,,,,SMALL SUB-DIVISIONS.....KARRIE HELPS DESIGN AND DECORATE .......WHICH SHE IS VERY GOOD AT......AND THEY SEEM TO BE DOING WHAT PEOPLE WANT.  THEY ARE IN PARTNER SHIP WITH THREE PEOPLE IN A HOUSE BOAT ON LAKE POWELL AND ALSO THREE PARTNERS IN A CABIN IN BEAR-LAKE......MY WHOLE FAMILY ARE OUT-D00R PEOPLE AND RAISING THE GRANDKIDS TO ENJOY IT TOO.

SO THIS IS WHAT I LOOK BACK ON IN MY 85 YEARS OF  ACCOMPLISHMENTS.  GOOD KIDS, GOOD GRANDKIDS......I ONLY HOPE THEY CONTINUE TO MAKE ME PROUD.

"THE IMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE.......AREN'T THINGS!"

MY PASSION.......

WELL, THIS IS DEFINITELY THE TIME OF YEAR TO START THINKING ABOUT NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS...............

I SAY BE HONEST......PUT IT DOWN THE WAY YOU KNOW IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN AND FEEL NO GUILT!

I LOOK FORWARD TO DOING LOTS OF WRITING AND TRYING SOME PAINTING AGAIN! JANUARY AND FEBRUARY ARE DEFINITELY NOT MY GOOD ARTHRITIS MONTHS!!!!

I LOVE THIS THOUGHT......."WHEN I WRITE I SLIP INTO THE PAGE OF PRINT AS IF IT WERE WATER.......AND THE PEN OR COMPUTER IS THE CURRENT THAT CARRIES ME TO WHERE I WANT TO GO, NOT SURE AT FIRST, BUT WITH EACH WORD THE MOMENTUM OF MY THOUGHTS PICK UP SPEED, SO DOES THE PEN AND SOON I AM AT MY JOURNEY'S END WHEN THE THOUGHT OR PICTURE I AM PAINTING IS ON THE PAGE"...... YES, THAT IS WHAT IT IS LIKE TO WRITE FOR ME.......AND I BET MOM WAS THE SAME WAY?

IN A BOOK OF POEMS MOM WROTE THROUGH HER LIFE......IT IS HER JOURNAL OF FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS.......I FEEL SO CLOSE TO HER WHEN I AM READING HER POEMS......AND WHEN ACCOMPANIED BY PICTURES ......WRITING BECOMES MORE REAL.

IT'S BEEN A GOOD YEAR.......

WHAT CAN I SAY?

AT 85 I AM NOT TRYING TO IMPRESS ANYONE........

 AS I SIT HERE CONTEMPLATING SOME OF THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF 2017.......I HAVE SO MANY MORE HIGHS THAN LOWS AND FEEL SO LUCKY.

LET'S SEE.......ONE GRANDSON GOT MARRIED......ONE HAD HIS ENGAGEMENT BROKEN AND ANOTHER HAD HIS WIFE OF 3 MONTHS WALK OUT....DIVORCE IS BAD!......I WAS INVOLVED IN A BANK ROBBERIE......WELL, I DIDN'T ROB A BANK I STOOD NEXT TO THE GUY WHO WAS ROBBING THE BANK WHEN I WAS GETTING A CHECK CASHED!!!!!

KINDA INTERESTING????    DON CRASHED HIS AIR PLANE INTO A HANGER AT THE BOUNTIFUL AIRPORT AND HE AND THE DOG WALKED AWAY......NO MORE FLYING FOR 'GREAT WHITE FATHER"!......

I HAD  TWO STATES TO GO .......NOW I HAVE BEEN TO ALL 50 STATES......LESLIE TOOK ME TO OKLAHOMA CITY ......HER KYLE LIVES THERE.....ONE WEEK OF" IRMA AND LOUISE'......UT, NV, AZ MEXICO, OK, KANSAS, COLO, WYOMING AND BACK TO UTAH....SPENT MY 85TH BIRTHDAY WITH THE KELLER COUSINS HAVING LUNCH IN DENVER.......GREAT TO SEE THEM....NOW TO GET TO NORTH DAKOTA????

PAM, SHERRIE, TIFF AND I FLEW TO MN TO VISIT NICCI AND BILL......AND THEY DROVE ME TO FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA....YEA.....I MADE IT TO ALL 50 STATES!.....NOW I CAN CROSS THAT OFF MY BUCKET LIST!

EXPECTING A 2ND GREAT-GRANDCHILD IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND HOPING 2018 WILL BE A GOOD YEAR FOR ME.

BUT......I'M NOT CHANGING!

LOOKING BACK.......

AS THE YEARS ROLL BY.......MORE AND MORE I DISLIKE "COLD"!

BUT BEING RAISED IN COLORADO......WHITE CHRISTMAS WAS LOOKED FORWARD TO'.......SO SUCK IT UP CUPCAKE AND PUT ON YOUR BOOTS.   

NOW

AS I LOOK BACK THROUGH THE YEARS AND THE ROADS I HAVE TRAVELED.....I FEEL VERY LUCKY WITH THE LIFE GOD GAVE ME.  A GOOD FAMILY THAT LOVED EACH OTHER.....LOTS OF FRIENDS......BOY FRIENDS TOO......MY SUMMER AT MESA VERDE WHEN I GRADUATED......TWO YEARS AT BYU UNIVERSITY, A YEAR AT BERKHARDT STEEL CO. IN DENVER AND ANOTHER SUMMER AT ESTES PARK. TWO AND A HALF YEARS AS A STEWARDESS, THEN MARRIED A PILOT.....(30 YEARS)...... AND HAD THREE GREAT GIRLS, WHO HAVE GIVEN ME NINE SUPER GRANDKIDS.  YES, THERE HAVE BEEN BUMPS IN THE ROAD......MY DIVORCE WAS WORST AND THE BEST THINGS THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME......".I GOT ME BACK".......I WAS CONCIERGE AT THE DOUBLE TREE HOTEL FOR FIVE AND A HALF YEARS......BEING A PEOPLE PERSON, I LOVED IT......MET AND BECAME FRIENDS WITH A TRAVEL AGENT AND WITH HER DEALS WE MADE IT AROUND THE WORLD......120 COUNTRIES, 6 OF THE 7 CONTINENTS AND ......LAST YEAR I MADE IT TO ALL 50 STATES!!  MY HEALTH HAS BEEN GOOD ALL ALONG AND AT 85 I CAN'T COMPLAIN TOO MUCH. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY TO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE GROWING UP OF MY GRANDCHILDREN.....BALL GAMES OF EVERY KIND, SWIM MEETS, CHEER LEADERS, PIANO CONCERTS AND SCHOOL PROGRAMS (ON LITTLE CHAIRS), DISNEY LAND, CRUISES, LAKE POWELL AND JACKSON HOLE.  I HAVE NEVER MISSED A HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE GRADUATION!!!!  TIFF'S COLLEGE IN MN, NICCI'S IN AZ AND MBA IN INDIANA, AND WILL FROM THE U. THE PANNIERS AND COOKS HIGH SCHOOL IN SLC AND THE THREE CHRISTENSONS IN VERNAL.......  FOUR MISSIONARY FAREWELLS AND HOME COMINGS....FOUR WEDDINGS AND I COULD GO ON AND ON......NOW I'M STARTING ON THE GREAT-GRANDKIDS IN MY REMAINING YEARS.......WHICH I WILL BE THANKFUL FOR EVERYDAY.  I HAVE LOTS OF GOOD FRIENDS AND THE BEST NEIGHBORS IN THE WORLD.....BRIDGE TWICE A MONTH, MEXICAN TRAIN GROUP ......MOST HAVE BEEN FRIENDS FOR MANY, YEARS.

THE WORLD HAS CHANGED MUCH IN MY 85 YEARS.....MY GRANDKIDS CANNOT BELIEVE I LIVED A FEW YEARS ON THE RANCH WITH NO RUNNING WATER, OR INSIDE BATHROOM, NO ELECTRICITY OR HEAT UNLESS YOU BUILT THE FIRE.  I AM THANKFUL FOR THOSE YEARS AND NOW I CAN COMPARE HOW FAR I HAVE COME DOWN MY ROAD OF LIFE AND REALLY DO APPRECIATE ALL MY MODERN CONVENIENCES......LIKE MY NEW ROBOT THAT VACUUMS FOR ME???

I AM THE WAY I AM.....BECAUSE MY PARENTS WERE THE WAY THEY WERE......AND THEY WERE LIKE THEIR PARENTS ETC....ETC....ETC.  MY DNA TEST SHOWED I AM 99.9% BRITISH......AND THAT MAKES ME VERY PROUD!  AS 2018 IS 5 DAYS OFF, I CAN SAY THANK YOU GOD FOR MY MANY BLESSINGS......

LONGER DAYS......

IT IS WHAT IT IS????

YOU HAVE GOOD DAYS AND BAD DAYS........MY IDOL!

ENJOYING THIS HOLIDAY......SLEEP IN EVERY MORNING, EAT POP CORN OR POTATO CHIPS OR CRACKER AND CHEESE FOR DINNER.  WENT TO ANOTHER MOVIE TODAY AND TONIGHT I'M OFF TO PANNIERS FOR A 3 YEAR OLD'S PIZZA BIRTHDAY PARTY!!!!

WISH I HAD MORE GREAT-GRANDKIDS TO SPOIL......I AM NOW KNOWN AS GRAMMIE GIGI (GREAT-GRANDMA)......AS AARON HAS TWO GRANDMAS AND TWO GRANDPAS AND TWO GREAT-GRANDPAS AND ME.   HARDLY SPOILED......

GUESS TOMORROW I WILL START TRYING TO FIND A HOME FOR ALL THE NEW STUFF I GOT AND START PUTTING SOME CHRISTMAS AWAY.  SNOW GONE HERE.......BUT COLD, COLD.

NOT SO LONG AGO.......

WELL......IT WAS A FEW YEARS BACK......THAT MY BABY BROTHER WAS THIS YOUNG.   THIS IS MY BABY BROTHER JIMMY DICK WITH MY COUSIN BOB AND A NEIGHBOR BOY....... KENNY FITZGERALD.....BOTH BOB AND KENNY ARE DECEASED.....THE YEOMANS BOYS WERE TALL AND HANDSOME AND FUN BOYS.......BOB'S FATHER WAS MY FATHER'S BROTHER AND HE LIVED AT MY HOME HIS LAST TWO YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL........THE FITZGERALDS LIVED A BLOCK UP THE STREET AND HAD A LOT OF KIDS.........I WAS 14 YEARS OLDER THAN JIMMY DICK AND SO HE WAS 4 YEARS OLD WHEN I LEFT HOME AND WENT OFF TO COLLEGE......I NEVER REALLY KNEW JIM, BUT CALLED HIM TODAY AND WISHED HIM "MERRY CHRISTMAS".....I ONLY HAVE I SISTER AND I BROTHER LEFT IN THE FAMILY OF FIVE OF WHICH I AM THE OLDEST!  THREE IS NOTHING LIKE FAMILY!!!!

THE END ....WHO KNOWS?

ROB WAS MY FIRST SON-IN-LAW.......THEN DARREN........THEN RICHARD!  AT THE PARTY THEY SEEMED TO JOIN IN AND HAVE A GOOD TIME.....I THANK RICH FOR ENCOURAGING KARRIE AND THE KIDS TO COME BACK TO THE FAMILY....DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MORE CHRISTMAS'S I WILL BE AROUND.....THANK YOU SHER AND DAR FOR SENDING OUT THE TEXT THAT GOT THE BALL ROLLING!!!!!

CHRISTMAS EVE AT PANNIERS........MY FAVORITE STAR BUCKS....THANKS HORTONS!

 HIS PARENTS WOULD NOT LET HIM TAKE IT APART TILL THEY GOT HOME....SO WHAT IS A LITTLE FELLOW TO DO.....READ THE PICTURES AND DREAM ABOUT HIS FAVORITE CARTOON!!!!

WHAT IS IMPORTANT????? LETTING THE CHILD WITHIN YOU OUT AT CHRISTMAS AND JOIN IN......AARON WAS SO FUN THIS YEAR AND I CAN HARDLY WAIT FOR ANNIE'S  LILLY.....WHATEVER .....TO ARRIVE NEXT MONTH.    IT WAS A GREAT CHRISTMAS FOR ME WITH ALL THE FAMILY GATHERED ROUND AND SPEAKING AND ENJOYING EACH OTHER'S COMPANY......

"REMEMBER.....AS FAR AS ANYONE KNOWS WE ARE A NICE NORMAL FAMILY?"

MORE PARTY....FEELING LOVED......

HOW CAN YOU NOT FEEL LOVED WITH CUTE BOYS LIKE ALE???

OR

WILLIAM AND I

FINALLY A PICTURE OF THE TWINS AGAIN.......SHER'S SMILE REAL......KARRIE TRIED?

BUT I AM THANKFUL FOR THEM ALL.......

RICH AND KAR AND KEN AND SCOTT

T SHIRTS NOT DONE.......

THIS IS SCOTT HORTON......TIFF'S HUSBAND.  HE IS SUCH A GREAT DAD TO MY GREAT-GRANDSON.....AARON!......THE MORE HE DRINKS.....THE MORE FUN HE IS!  I LOVE SCOTT!

THIS IS THE CUTE HORTON FAMILY......

MY FIRST GRAND CHILD WAS TIFF AND SHE HAS ALWAYS BEEN SO SPECIAL TO ME.  I AM HOPING THEY DON'T STOP WITH ONE BABY.....BUT SAY THEY ARE THROUGH....SUCH CUTE PARENTS....TIFF HAS A VERY GOOD JOB AT THE U OF U AND SCOTT WORKS FOR A LAW FIRM....AARON WILL BE 3 THE 29TH OF DEC.

 I LOVE HIS KID......HE SEEMS SO LOST.....THIS IS RICHARD BENJAMINE COOK......HE WAS MARRIED IN OCT AND HIS WIFE LEFT IN JAN.......LAST YEAR.   IT SEEMS THIS YEAR HE HAS BEEN GOING IN ALL FOUR DIRECTIONS AT ONCE TRYING TO FIND HIS WAY.....HE HAS MOVED BACK IN WITH KARRIE AND RICH......BUT????  TIME WILL TELL.....HE HAS SUCH A POTENTIAL AND DESERVES THE BEST.....TE AMO RICH!

RICH WORE A SANTA SHIRT.....NO SWEATER.......AND WAS QUIET.  HERE HE IS WITH ANDREA AND HER HUSBAND MATT AND BRAY.....ANNIE WAS PRETTY QUIET ALSO AND IS 8 MONTHS PREGNANT AND WOULD JUST HAVE SOON BEEN HOME IN BED.   HR CUTE HUSBAND MATT WAS HAVING FUN!!!!.

 MATT LIKED HIS SHIRT AND SAID HE WOULD WEAR IT TO WORK!!!!!!  MATT IS 24.....JUST GOT A FANCY CAR AND SAID HE NEVER EXPECTED HIE WOULD HAVE THE CAR OF HIS DREAMS , A MORGAGE PAYMENT AND A PREGNANT WIFE BY 24!!!!  THEY LIVE IN HEBER, UTAH.

MORE T-SHIRTS!!!!

WILLIAM IS BEHIND THIS T-SHIRT........

I NEVER HEARD HIM SAY THIS......BUT WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF HE DID!  WILL IS MY FIRST GRANDSON AND ENGAGED TO LIZ TO BE MARRIED NET YEAR IN OCT........

WILL AND LIZ HAVE BEEN GOING TOGETHER SINCE HIGH-SCHOOL......THROUGH COLLEGE AND JUST GOT ENGAGED IN IRELAND LAST YEAR.    THEY LIVE TOGETHER AND HAVE TWO WILD DOGS!  CELEBRATING WITH SHERRIE!

'

THIS IS ALEX'S SHIRT.......ALEX IS POLITE AND HONEST......I COULD JUST SEE HIM TELLING HIS MOM OR ONE OF HIS FRIENDS......SORRY BUT THEN THE TRUTH IS I DIDN'T WANT TO COME.......!HE AND I HAVE BECOME SUCH GOOD FRIENDS....AFTER A FAILED MARRIAGE OF A YEAR AND A HALF AND A SHORT ENGAGEMENT TO SHELLY........HE HAS HAD HIS SHARE OF HURT!!!   I CAN UNDERSTAND......WE LOVE ASHLYN......WHO ASK HIM OUT TO BEGIN WITH......BUT KEEP OUR FINGERS CROSSED IF IT WORKS OR NOT!....LIFE GOES ON?

ASHLYN AND ALEX.......HIS UGLY SWEATER HAD A POUCH TO PUT HIS ZIPPY CUP IN?

FUN T-SHIRTS........

THIS IS MY SECOND YOUNGESTS GRANDSON......KEN AND HE IS 19.......HE IS A MAN OF FEW WORDS......AND I GET THIS ANSWER OFTEN.....HE LIVES WITH ME AND IS ON A MISSION ON TEMPLE SQUARE IN THE POSTAL DEPARTMENT......HE HAS 8 MONTHS LEFT IN HIS MISSION......WE ARE VERY GOOD FRIENDS!

FUN......FUN.....FUN!

I HIT WALMART AND FOUND UGLY T-SHIRTS FOR ALL THE BOYS!!!!!

THIS IS MY YOUNGEST GRANDSON SCOTTIE.....16......AND HIS T SHIRT.  THE FUN PART WAS FINDING A SHIRT THAT FIT THEIR PERSONALITY????

BRAYDEN IS BEHIND THIS T SHIRT.......HE SEEMS TO ARGUE WITH DAD ABOUT THE BEST WAY TO DO THINGS......RATHER THAN FIGHT HE GIVES IN TO THE ""DUMBEST" WAY TO PLEASE AND AVOID AN ARGUMENT........SO BRAYDEN.   HE AND LIBBY ARE NEWLY WEDS AND LEAVING THE 15TH OF JAN FOR TEXAS TO WORK FOR A COUSIN OF DARREN FOR A FEW MONTHS......GOOD MOVE I THINK........

LIBBY AND BRAYDEN.........

WELL....LET THE PARTY BEGIN!

PARTY TIME.......

PAM AND ROB ARRIVED TO HELP OUT AND THEY WERE A HIT!

AND ROB KEPT THE PARTY MOVING.......

SHERRIE HAD MADE A REALLY GREAT SWEATER....BUT IT SHED ALL OVER MY HOUSE .......SO SHE SWITCHED TO A UGLY SWEATER.....ALEX BROUGHT HIS LATEST GIRL FRIEND......ASHLYN.....SHE IS IN HER THIRD YEAR TO BE A NURSE......WE TELL HIM NOT TO RUSH THINGS!  ASHLYN IS A DARLING GIRL

WITH 3 BROTHERS.....HER TWIN  BROTHERS JUST LEFT ON THEIR MISSIONS.  THEY STAYED ALL NIGHT WITH ME AFTER THE PARTY.....AND KEN......SHER AND DAR WERE HEADED TO THE MARRIOTT IN PARK CITY......FOR NIGHT OUT!
                    SHERRIE'S HOME MADE DOLLAR STORE SHEDDING SWEATHER!!!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS........

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2017

AFTER A COUPLE OF "DUDDY" CHRISTMAS'S THIS YEAR WAS A WINNER!

I HAD THE FAMILY PARTY FRIDAY....21 PEOPLE.....ALL THREE GIRLS AND 8 OF MY 9 GRANDKIDS AND A GREAT-GRANDSON!  WHAT A LUCKY MOM.  NICCI AND BILL COULD NOT COME DOWN FROM SEATTLE......BUT ALL THE MISSIONARIES WERE HOME.

WE HAD AN UGLY SWEATER PARTY AND EVERYONE JUMPED IN AND ENJOYED!!!

THE BROTHER-IN-LAWS WERE FRIENDLY.....KARRIE TRIED TO GET WITH IT, HER PICTURES TELL SHE WASN'T HER OLD SELF AND THE COUSINS LOVED GETTING TOGETHER AND ENJOYING EACH OTHER.......MANY FUN GIFTS, MUCH GOOD FOOD AND HOPEFULLY LOTS OF LOVE.  I GOT A ROBOT TO CLEAN THE FLOOR FROM PAM AND SHER.....FEEL SO SPOILED!

SATURDAY WAS RECOOP DAY.......SUNDAY, CHURCH, BRUNCH AT HONHS AND MARKS AND THEN DINNER AND PRESENTS AT PAM AND ROBS LAST NIGHT.......TODAY OFF TO THE MOVIE AFTER SLEEPING IN LATE........CALLED MY SISTER AND MY BROTHER AND THAT ENDED A GREAT HOLIDAY!!!.....PAM, ROB AND SHER CALLED.

SOMEDAY........

POOR SANTA.....SO MANY SILLY JOKES TO PUT UP WITH EACH YEAR.......BUT HE IS GETTING KINDA OLD AND OLD PEOPLE ARE FUNNY???

DO YOU SAY....."SOMEDAY I WILL BE RICH, HAPPY, GO ON THAT FABULOUS VACATION, GET THE KIDS RAISED ETC."

SOME DAY IS NOT A DAY OF THE WEEK.....CHECK YOUR CALENDAR.......NOT THERE.....SO DO WHAT YOU WANT NOW......GO BUY THAT STUFF YOU HAVE BEEN WANTING AND START ENJOYING IT......MEND YOUR FENCES AND TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF........WE NEVER KNOW HOW MANY DAYS EACH OF US HAS LEFT.......AND THERE IS .......NO" SOME DAY!".

GOOD MORNING......

HERE I AM BLOGGING AT EIGHT IN THE MORNING!

MY COMPUTER WAS ON ALL NIGHT UP DATING SO WAS WAITING FOR ME.

I HAD PLANNED TO SLEEP TILL TEN EVERY MORNING THE TWO WEEKS KEN WAS ON VACATION......BUT HABIT DIES HARD AND AT SIX EVERY MORNING MY BLADDER SAYS TIME TO GET UP........I MISS KEN......WE HAVE A GOOD ROUTINE FIVE DAYS A WEEK.......BREAKFAST AND SCRIPTURES.......AND BY THE WAY, WE JUST FINISHED READING THE "BOOK OF MORMON".......ONLY TOOK US 16 MONTHS,,,,,BUT WE DID IT! KEN GETS READY FOR WORK, I TURN ON FOX NEWS AND SO BEGINS EACH DAY.............

MORNING IS GOD'S WAY OF SAYING ONE MORE TIME.......GO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, TOUCH A HEART, ENCOURAGE A MIND, INSPIRE A SOUL AND ENJOY ANOTHER ONE OF MY DAYS ON EARTH.

JUST YOU......

I WONDERED WHO RAN OVER ME AT WALMART TODAY?????  I NEVER SHOP ON LINE.....I LIKE TO FEEL, TOUCH, SMELL ETC......WHATEVER I AM BUYING.....ON LINE, NO SUCH LUCK!

DID YOU EVER THINK THAT EVERY THING YOU DO IS BASED ON THE CHOICES YOU MAKE.......IT IS NOT YOUR PARENTS, YOUR PAST RELATIONSHIPS, YOUR JOB, THE WEATHER, AN ARGUMENT OR YOUR AGE THAT IS TO BLAME...YOU AND ONLY YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERY DECISION AND CHOICE YOU MAKE......PERIOD!....I THINK MAXINE WOULD AGREE?

ALSO

RELIGION DOESN'T SAVE YOU, CHANGE YOU, OR HEAL YOU OR SET YOU FREE......

ONLY GOD DOES.......

GUESS TOMORROW WILL BE ANOTHER BUSY DAY.....COUNTING DOWN TO 5 DAYS TILL CHRISTMAS!!!!!.

DEAR SANTA.....

AND THE BEST PART OF BEING THE OLDEST ONE IN THE FAMILY .......I HAD THREE LITTLE SISTERS AND A LITTLE BROTHER TO BLAME EVERY THING ON !!!!!!

OF COURSE WE WERE A PERFECT  FAMILY?????.....AND NO ONE GOT BLAMED FOR ANYTHING BAD!

MOSTLY I REMEMBER WE FOUGHT ABOUT WHOSE TURN IT WAS TO DO THE DISHES,,,,,,WASH OR DRY????? MY FATHER USE TO SAY..."i HAVE FOUR DAUGHTERS AND WE CAN'T GET THE DISHES DONE!".......ALL YOU LUCKY PEOPLE WITH DISH WASHERS NOW DAYS WILL NEVER KNOW THE DREAD OF "DIRTY DISHES"!!!! THAT I GREW UP WITH.....WE HATED DOING DISHES.  .....AND IT NEVER ENDED.

I WAS THE OLDEST AND "HAD TO SET THE EXAMPLE".......ONCE JO TOLD BELMER BROWN KISSED ME.....SO WE MADE MORRISON BROWN KISS HER......AND SHE COULD NOT TELL ON ME AGAIN.......LITTLE SISTERS IN MY LIFE WERE A PAIN!!!!

WITH FOUR GIRLS .....THERE WERE TWO IN EACH BED......I SLEPT WITH LESLIE.   JO SLEPT WITH DIXIE.....OH HOW I LOVED THOSE COLD NIGHTS I CAME HOME LATE FROM A DANCE OR DATE AND COULD MOVE LESLIE OUT OF HER WARM SPOT IN BED FOR ME TO SCOOT HER OVER IN THE COLD......I DON'T THINK SHE SHE EVER KNEW......THANKS LES......WE HAVE BEEN SLEEPING TOGETHER........A LONG TIME!

I FEEL SORRY FOR KIDS WHO DO NOT GROW UP WITH BROTHERS AND SISTERS.....THEY MISS OUT ON A LOT!!!!! OF LOVE!

WHEN A DOOR CLOSES.......

I JUST LOVE THIS PICTURE.......PAM AFTER HER FOOT OPERATION WITH HER SCOOTER WITH  HER BROTHER-IN-LAW MARK WITH HIS SCOOTER COMPARING NOTES ON WHO IS THE BEST DRIVER?????  MARK WAS ON A YEARLY BIKE RIDE WITH FRIENDS IN WYOMING AND HIS BIKE FELL OVER ON HIS FOOT........ARE YOU READY.......IN THE PARKING LOT!!!!  SO MISERY LOVES COMPANY!

AS THE CHRISTMAS PARTY DRAWS NEAR.....I THINK OF SOMETHING I READ....WHEN A DOOR CLOSES, KNOCK ON IT A FEW TIMES, BUT IF IT STILL DOESN'T OPEN, LET IT STAY CLOSED!.....IN A CAREER, IN LOVE, IN LIFE......WHEN YOU SEE THE PERIOD AT THE END OF THE SENTENCE, DON'T TRY TO TURN IT INTO A COMMA......KNOW WHEN SOMETHING  IS OVER AND MOVE ON.......I AM PRAYING WE CAN BREAK THE ICE WITH THE COOKS.....BUT IT IS REALLY UP TO THEM IF THEY WANT TO BE PART OF THE FAMILY OR NOT......WE LOVE THEM AND HOPE SO!

NEW THOUGHT......

SNOW FORECAST FOR TOMORROW.......WELL THAT WILL BE 5 DAYS TILL CHIRISTMAS SO I GUESS I CAN HANDLE THAT!.......

WHEN I WAS GROWING UP.....I LOVED THE SNOW.....SNOW MEN, SLEIGH RIDING DOWN DAWSON HILL, ICE SKATING ON THE SEWER POND......HOT CHOCOLATE AND CINNAMON TOAST AFTER WARDS AT MY HOUSE!!!  YOU NEVER QUESTIONED IT.....IT WAS WINTER IN COLORADO!!!!......AND JUST PART OF LIFE? AND LIFE WAS A REAL ADVENTURE.....WONDERFUL FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND NEIGHBORS AND THE GRANDPARENTS UP THE STREET.......LIFE MOVED SMOOTHLY ON TO SPRING AND ETC. AND LIFE WENT ON.....WHY DO I HATE WINTERS NOW SO MUCH????  I AM AFRAID I WILL SLIP ON ICE AND BREAK SOMETHING.....I DON'T LIKE TO DRIVE ON SLICK ROADS ANY MORE......MY ARTHRITIS HURTS WORSE IN THE COLD AND THE DAYS ARE SHORT AND DARK!!!!!!  I COULD GO ON BUT I WON'T.......LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FAMILY CHRISTMAS PARTY FRIDAY......WILL HAVE MY 3 KIDS AND THEIR MATES, EIGHT OF MY NINE GRAND-CHILDREN AND THEIR SPECIAL OTHERS AND EVEN A GREAT-GRANDCHILD!  MY LIFE IS GOOD!

MY NEIGHBOR.......

I AM FINALLY GETTING THROUGH TO MY NEIGHBORS......DON'T EXPECT GOODIES  OR FUN FOOD FROM THIS HOUSE.......I DON'T COOK!

WHY SHOULD I SPEND HOURS AND DOLLARS ON BAKING CHRISTMAS COOKIES WHEN THEY HAVE IT DOWN TO A FINE ART AT THE STORES ....AND I DON'T MESS UP THE KITCHEN????? SOME PEOPLE LOVE TO BE PAID FOR CREATING ALL THOSE WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS TREATS AND I SAY....."GO FOR IT"!

MY NEIGHBOR NEXT DOOR GAVE ME A BOX OF BLUE-BERRY MUFFINS AND SAID......"IT'S REALLY EASY BETTY,     JUST ADD I EGG AND SOME MILK AND YOU AND KEN WILL LOVE THEM"......WELL O.K.......I MIGHT GET DESPERATE FOR BLUE BERRY MUFFINS ONE OF THESE DAYS AND TRY THEM......OR NOT!

THE NEIGHBOR UP THE STREET IS  HAVING A  LOT OF STRESS.......SHE JUST PUT HER HUSBAND IN A HOME FOR DEMENTIA......FEELING ALONE AND GUILTY ......I CAN TELL HER ABOUT ALONE!!!!!  SHE IS FROM SPAIN AND I REALLY LOVE HILDA AND NEED TO BE THERE FOR HER.......

ALL YOU OUT THERE.....I'M NOT BAKING COOKIES THIS YEAR!!!!!

SO GOOD ....YET SO BAD.......

HOW CAN THIS TIME OF YEAR BE SO GOOD.....YET SO BAD?????

I SEEM TO DREAM ABOUT WHAT I HAVE TO DO THE NEXT DAY......AND MY LISTS DON'T GET ANY SMALLER!......

I DO HAVE MY PRESENTS SHOPPED FOR AND WRAPPED!

I DID GO GROCERY SHOPPING AND GET WHAT I NEED FOR DINNER!

I HAVE SET THE TABLE OF 12.......BUT HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE ARE GOING TO PUT THE OTHER 9?

I HAVE CRAZY HEAD BANDS FOR EACH TO GO WITH THE UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATERS THEY ARE TO WEAR!

I BOUGHT AND WRAPPED 21 PRESENTS FOR THE GRATITUDE GAME.....

I HAVE MY NEIGHBOR GIFTS WRAPPED AND READY TO DELIVER TOMORROW.....BEFORE THE STORM THAT IS FORECAST!

MY ROBOT FROM SHERRIE AND PAM HAVE BEEN KEEPING UP WITH THE FLOORS, JUST DUSTING AND BATHROOMS LEFT TO DO.!

THANK GOODNESS FOR COSTCO.......HAM, 2 TURKEY BREASTS, GRAVY AND DRESSING WAS DONE FOR ME......I CAN HANDLE THE POTATOES, PUNCH, DEVILED EGGS, CALI FLOUR AND CHEESE SAUCE.....HOURDURVERS ETC.   THE KIDS ARE ON BOARD TO ROLLS, SALAD, DESERT AND HOURDURVERS.......I CAN'T SPELL THAT)...

SO I GUESS THE FAMILY CHRISTMAS PARTY WILL TAKE PLACE WHETHER I AM READY OR NOT!

MERRY CHRISTMAS KIDS

YES.....YES

WHY DO WE EVEN SAVE LAST YEARS LIGHTS????

THEY ARE ALWAYS A TANGLED MESS AND SOME DON'T EVEN WORK!

EVERY YEAR I DECORATE A DIFFERENT WAY AND GO OUT AND BUY NEW LIGHTS.....I KNOW THAT MAKES THE LIGHT PEOPLE HAPPY.......AND LESS NERVE RACKING.

I LOVE MAXINE....SHE KEEPS ME GROUNDED!

THE WEEK IS ALMOST DONE THEN I CAN SLEEP IN......WEDNESDAY A DENTAL APPOINTMENT.......THURSDAY MY NAILS......TOMORROW A CHRISTMAS PARTY WITH THE DOMINO GIRLS......THEN SATURDAY........WHO KNOWS????

PAM AND ROB DROPPED BY FOR A SHORT VISIT THIS AFTERNOON.....HADN'T SEEN THEM IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS......THE RELIEF SOCIETY LADIES DROPPED BY BUT ALMOST MADE ME LATE FOR MY NAIL APPOINTMENT......TONIGHT I HAD KEN PUT THE TWO LEAVES IN THE TABLE....BRING  UP THE 12 FOLDING CHAIRS AND SILVER PUNCH BOWL AND GET THE CHRISTMAS DISHES OFF THE TOP SHELF......HE WILL BE HAPPY TO GO HOME TOMORROW FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS........

STILL NO SNOW IN SLC AND IT IS THE 14TH OF DEC......ONE MORE WEEK THEN THE DAYS START GETTING LONGER AGAIN.....YEA!!!!

WILL MISS MY NICCI.....

EVERY FAMILY GOES THROUGH THIS......WHERE SOME OF THE FAMILY CANNOT MAKE IT HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS.......I WENT HOME THE FIRST CHRISTMAS I WAS MARRIED........BUT NEVER ONE AFTER THAT....."IT IS WHAT IT IS".......NICCI AND BILL HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOUR YEARS AND JUST RELOCATED TO SEATTLE WITH NEW JOBS......MAYBE NEXT YEAR.
I WILL HAVE ALL MY FAMILY BUT NICCI HERE THIS YEAR......EIGHT OUT OF NINE GRANDKIDS IS PRETTY  LUCKY....SO MANY YEARS ONE OR MORE HAVE BEEN OFF ON A MISSION......ALL THREE DAUGHTERS WITH MATES AND THE GRAND-CHILDREN'S SPOUSES.......OH YES....... AND ONE AND A HALF GREAT-GRANDCHILD!  I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE TO PUT 21 PEOPLE????
WILL MISS YOU TWO........

SEEMS LIKE YESTERDAY......

CHRISTMAS SEEMS A TIME FOR REMEMBERING THE GOOD AND THE BAD OF YEARS GONE BY.......

DO I REMEMBER THIS BOWL OF CANDY????

OH YES, AND HOW WE LOOKED FORWARD TO IT.......BY CHRISTMAS TIME ALL FOUR OF US GIRLS HAD LICKED EACH PIECE TO SEE WHICH WE LIKED BEST AND THEY WERE ALL STUCK TOGETHER.......NONE OF IT TASTED VERY GOOD IF I REMEMBER, BUT THEY WERE COLORFUL AND IT WAS "CHRISTMAS CANDY"......AND THEY AND ORANGES.......OH YES, MOM ALWAYS BOUGHT A COCONUT......ONLY CAME AROUND ONCE A YEAR.  EVERYONE HAD A BOWL OF THIS TREAT.

DADDY TOOK US AND WE CUT OUR OWN CHRISTMAS TREE.....AFTER A LOT OF WALKING AND ARGUING ON WHICH ONE WAS THE BEST ......WE HAD FEW DECORATIONS WHEN I WAS YOUNG AND FEW GIFTS......BUT LOTS OF LOVE AND FUN IN OUR GREAT FAMILY.......WE HAD USUALLY UNWRAPPED THE GIFTS UNDER THE TREE AND TAPED THEM BACK AND KNEW MOST THE PRESENTS.

OH YES, CAN'T FORGET OUR SHOPPING TRIP TO DURANGO AND WOOLSWORTH TO BUY GIFTS FOR EACH OTHER......SOXS, GLOVES, EARMUFFS....WOW! FUN!

THANKS FOR ALL THE GOOD MEMORIES MOM AND DAD.

MY TIME HAS WINGS....

MY LIFE IS FLYING BY.......

LAST WEEK GOT BY WITHOUT ME TOUCHING THIS COMPUTER......LAST SAT WAS ANNIE'S BABY SHOWER AND I WAS INFORMED THE COOKS ACCEPTED OUR INVITATION TO THE CHRISTMAS PARTY SO SPENT A COUPLE OF DAYS SHOPPING FOR THEM......THEN.......

HOSTED THE DOMINOS GROUP  FOR LUNCH AND GAMES......THEN IT IS FRIDAY ALREADY!  KEN STAYED FOR THE WEEKEND SO JUST HUNG AROUND FRIDAY WITH HIM......SATURDAY MORNING WAS THE CHURCH CHRISTMAS PARTY,, THEN THE CUTE KIDS ABOVE....ALEX AND ASHLYN SPENT THE NIGHT WITH ME.   THEY TOOK ME TO THE SPAGHETTI FACTORY......THEN BROUGHT ME HOME AND WENT DOWN TO TEMPLE SQUARE TO SEE THE LIGHTS......TOO COLD FOR ME.....KEN WENT TO A MOVIE AND DINNER WITH HIS DAD.  TODAY..... THE KIDS LEFT FOR A MASSAGE AND LUNCH WITH A FRIEND AND KEN AND I WENT TO CHURCH.......AND HERE WE ARE ANOTHER FEW HOURS TILL ANOTHER WEEK BEGINS!!!!  I WAS ALSO INFORMED ASHLYN WAS PLANNING ON COMING TO THE CHRISTMAS PARTY......SO MORE SHOPPING TOMORROW......SHE IS A CUTE GIRL.

INTERESTING........

WELL......If I could I would tattoo this on every member of my family's head!........

I know this isn't just the case in my family......Many of my friends are going through this also in one way or another........Family is all we really have as we age.......and their love and time mean so much to us.......all I can say is ......'WHAT GOES ROUND......COMES ROUND"..... and it will come back to you!

Yesterday Pam, Sherrie, Tiff and I rode up to Midway to a baby shower for Andrea.....She really was barefoot and pregrant......due 29th of January........I did get a cute quilt put together and knitted a shawl ......plus had Sherrie buy an Indian Bracelet for her.......All the Cooks drove up and the Fritzes were there......Nice group.....served soup and biscuits and salad.  They held it in the Model Home that was empty that Rich and Karrie are building ......?????? NO..... kAR  was not friendly.....Rich and Annie......OK.   I guess Sher ask them to the family Christmas Party......and they all are coming ....so that means more shopping this week..It is a girl and they think they will name her Lily......my grandma Goff was Lilly Florence........?? Don't hear that name much any more.

Ken here for the weekend so we put lights on the trees on the front porch and helped me clip GIgi.....I IRONED.......7 shirts for him and dinner is in the oven.......Oh yes, he and I went to Church.......

News forecast is snow tonight.......good for the ski resorts, but can by-pass the Cottages.......

Busy week ahead!!!!!

MEAT PIE OR SOUP???

Excited for a fun weekend.......ANNIE'S BABY SHOWER.....my second great-grandchild!!!!!! Now I will have a boy (Aaron....Tiff's baby]......And now a girl......maybe Lilly!  My grandmother was Lilly Florence.....Maybe Lillie Ann?....Her in-laws had a baby shower in Midway, Utah which is about an hour from SLC......Pam, Tiff, Sher and I loaded up and drove up.....lots of Cooks there......I gave her a quilt I made with animals embroidered and tied and a knitted shawls and a cute outfit...I bought an Indian bracelet from the "PETERSON CLAN"......She is so precious to me....my third grand-daughter.

Sherrie invited the Cook family to our annual Christmas party which we did not invite them last year.......Richard told Sher they would be here.......so off to more shopping tomorrow.......That will be 20 of us squeezed into my one room.......It will be an Ugly Sweater Party......with lots of food and presents!!!!!!   STILL NO SNOW AND THE 2ND OF DEC......YEA!!!!

Ken here for the weekend  and wants a meat pie for dinner.......I want soup.....SO to each his own.  CHURCH tomorrow.......

COUNTING THE DAYS.......

As you can see I am already looking forward to next weekend and it is only Monday morning????  This getting up in the dark is for the birds......one more month of the days getting shorter......then we start working on the days getting longer....YEA.
                    Do you realize......Life is just an Echo?
                    What we send out, comes back.......What we sow......we reap.......What we give .....we get,.....What bothers us in others also exists in us.....SCAREY.....So now and then stop and remember, Life is an Echo and always gives back to us.....so give lots of goodness each day.
               Well lets see todays list......clean the fish bowl, empty the dish washer, do the floors, Relief Society ladies coming, get showed and dressed before they do........call Patty and Shirley about tomorrows movie date, make dentist appointment.....finish wrapping  Christmas gifts and decorating the house.....Boy this list will take me ALL week!......IS IT TOO EARLY TO BE LOOKING FORWARD TO FRIDAY?

LESSON FOR WOMEN.....

LISTEN UP GIRLS.......

He didn't like the casserole and he didn't like my cake.......

He said my biscuits were to hard.....not like Mother use to make.......

I didn't make the coffee right, he didn't like my stew......

I didn't fold his pants the way.....his mother used to do.......

I pondered for an answer....I was looking for  clue.......

Then I turned around and smacked the shit out of him......

Like his mother use to do!!!!!!!

With the news so full of women coming forth with harassment charges against so many men I think it is time for all you girls to step up and say....."you don't own me, treat me like you would your mother, sister or daughter".......I look back with many regrets of not speaking up!  Women are not just for sex and having babies......we are people too!

Last Friday my sweet Relief Society teacher's grandson was killed in a car wreck......she lives at the end of my street......I am so sad for her.....he was only 17.  Knitting a Christmas sock for Libby......

NOTHING LASTS FOREVER........

How time flies when you are having fun.......or doing just what you want!

Fun evening at the Spaghetti Factory with my daughter and her family Wednesday night.......slept in Thanksgiving and went to two movies and ate left over from Speg Factory.......Friday.....slept in...... a fun black Friday shopping spree.......Saturday.....slept in and started my Christmas decorating and present wrapping.......Sunday....slept in.....off to church and a visit from Patty......This sleeping until eight or eight thirty could become a habit.......BUT I guess back to the old routine in the morning.....One nice thing our weather has been breaking records for warm and sunny and I am loving it.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING.........

HAPPY THANKSGIVING............

So much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.......

What am I doing to celebrate????

Just what I want to!

I planned on going to McDonalds for a Happy Meal with extra fry sauce, but so many people felt sorry for me and invited me to join their family dinners....guess I won't do that.  Two neighbors invited me.....two different good friends.....my cousin.....they all think it is about the FOOD, BUT to me Thanksgiving is about family and love.  Last night the Christensons took me and Darren's mother to the Spaghetti Factory for dinner and just being with Sher and her kids is what I love.  They invited me to go up to the cabin with them......but they had plans to hit the stores at 6;00 for Black Friday shopping tonight and it would be for the whole weekend...... and they were going to have a house full........which would be nice to be with them, but now days......with the dog.....home is easier.  I will eat my left overs from last night and go to a movie......or two this weekend and get on  with my Christmas decorating and wrapping.  So nice to to feel free to say "NO THANKS"......without guilt or obligation.

With the past history of my HAPPY THANKSGIVINGS.......No really good memories.   Don was always flying and none of the Petersons included the girls and I......it just became another day in our lives alone and so today the tradition goes on........but I will be thinking of all my sweet family and hope they have the best day ever!