AUGUST UPON US..........

HAD AN ANGEL READING ONCE......AND SHE TOLD ME MIGUEL, RAFAEL CHAMUEL AND JOFIEL WERE SOME OF THEE ANGELS THAT WERE WITH ME ALWAYS......I HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN SOMEONE WAS  TAKING CARE OF ME AS I TRAVELED THE WORLD AND DID SOME REALLY STUPID THINGS......THAT ALWAYS ENDED OK..........SAFELY.

I SEEM TO HAVE HAD A SPARK OF LIFE THAT KEPT TELLING ME....."GO FOR IT".....AND I HAVE.....

LIFE GOES BY IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE.....IT'S TOO SHORT TO LIVE UPSET!......ANGRY, RESENTFUL OR UNGRATEFUL.....I THINK I SPENT SEVERAL OF THOSE THINGS AFTER MY DIVORCE....BUT.....IF YOU LOOK FOR THE GOOD YOU WILL FIND IT.  CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY TO B E AT PEACE.....DECIDE EACH DAY IS GOING TO BE A  GREAT DAY.  TRUST YOUR JOURNEY AND KNOW THAT IF YOU MAKE A MISTAKE, IT IS OK.....SEE IT AS A LESSON LEARNED AND KEEP MOVING FORWARD......SPEND LESS TIME WORRYING AND MORE TIME BEING GRATEFUL FOR THOSE WHO LOVE YOU AND ALL OF LIFE'S GOODNESS....

DEAR PROBLEM.......MY GOD IS BIGGER THAN YOU!!!!!!

NINE O'CLOCK

I CAN'T REMEMBER HOW MANY YEARS I HAVE SPENT SATURDAYS AT GARAGE SALES.....WELL, NOT THIS YEAR......TOO HOT IN UTAH....SO WHY NOT START HITTING THE FAMILY REUNIONS AROUND THE CITY.......THINK HOW MANY FREE AND GOOD MEALS YOU COULD GET.......I WILL TALK TO MY FRIENDS?????  ONLY MAXINE WOULD THINK OF THIS.......

BEEN A FEW DAYS SINCE I OPENED THIS LITTLE FRIEND OF MINE......SOME DAYS YOU ARE JUST NOT IN THE MOOD TO TELL THE WORLD WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN DOING.....THIS WEEK HAS FLOWN BY.......GOT NEW GLASSES.......PLAYED BRIDGE.....FIRST TIME MY HEARING AIDS WITH A NICE "MAN'S VOICE" TOLD ME MY BATTERY WAS LOW......WELL HELLO.......I KNOW MY BATTERY IS LOW........WHY DO YOU THINK I CAN'T WALK A BLOCK WITHOUT WANTING TO LAY DOWN?????

IT IS OLD AGE......SO THERE.......MY LIFE IS SO GETTING TO BE CENTERED ON MY BED.......I WILL JUST LAY DOWN AND "REST" A  MINUTE.....OR SO........SEVERAL TIMES A DAY......I DID GO TO CHURCH TODAY.......SO/SO.    THEN BRAYDEN AND HIS GIRL CALLED AS THEY WERE LEAVING CEDAR C ITY AND SAID THEY WERE STOPPING BY......I HAD NEVER MET LIBBY.......SHE IS SWEET AND I MADE THEM DINNER BEFORE THEY HEADED TO VERNAL........THEY PLAN A SEPT 15 WEDDING.......SHERRIE CALLED AND IS DRIVING KEN IN .....IN THE MORNING......WHERE IS MY LIFE GOING???

TODAY.......THE BIG 24TH OF JULY CELEBRATION......

TODAY UTAH CELEBRATES THE DAY THE MORMONS ARRIVED IN THE SALT LAKE VALLEY.......QUITE A FEW YEARS AGO.........?

I HAVE LIVED IN SALT LAKE MOST OF MY LIFE......AND THIS CELEBRATION IS BIGGER THAN THE FOURTH OF JULY IN SALT LAKE......RODEOS, PARADES, FIRE WORKS FOR A WEEK......NOT A NATIONAL HOLIDAY,........ SO MANY ARE AT WORK.......THE PARADE IS FULL OF HANDCARTS, FLOATS OF OUR VALLEY AND HORSES......OH YES,....... BANDS TOO!  I DON'T WATCH ANYMORE AND COME TO THINK OF IT......TODAY WAS JUST ANOTHER MONDAY FOR ME.  I SLEPT IN AS KEN WAS AT THE CABIN WITH HIS FAMILY......THEN OFF TO WALMART AND THEN A FUN VISIT WITH MY FAVORITE NEIGHBOR........

YESTERDAY.......CHURCH, THEN PAM AND I WENT TO A MOVIE AND TO THE SIZZLER FOR DINNER......ROB IN ISLAND PARK......TIFF IN OHIO WITH KAPPA.  BUT I WAS AVAILABLE.......AS I AM MOST WEEKENDS.......I LOVE THE PICTURE I SAW ON FACE BOOK OF PIONEER DAYS .........IT HAS THE LARKIN GROUP AT THE BOTTOM.......THEY ARE THE BIG FUNERAL HOME IN SALT LAKE!!!!!  WHICH OUR FAMILY HAS USED REGULARLY.......I GUESS THEY WILL PICK UP ALL THE BUSINESS OF THE NOW DAYS PIONEERS?  JUST KIDDING........

WE ARE FINALLY SUPPOSE TO GET RAIN TONIGHT........AFTER THE FIRE WORKS!........ IT IS MOVING IN FROM ST. GEORGE.......WE SO NEED IT AND ARE SO TIRED OF THE 100 PLUS IN JULY.........CAN'T BELIEVE ONLY ONE MORE WEEK OF JULY.....WHERE IS OUR SUMMER GOING?????  MY NEIGHBORS GARDEN.....PLANTED ON MY PROPERTY IS REALLY PRODUCING CUCUMBERS AND TOMATOES.......I THINK THAT IS CALLED SHARE CROPPING??????.......ANYWAY I LOVE SUZANNE AND WE ARE ENJOYING WATCHING  "OUR" GARDEN" GROW!  SHE IS OFF TO FARMINGTON , NM NEXT WEEK END TO VISIT HER MOTHER AND I WILL BE IN CHARGE OF WATERING OUR VEGES!!!!

HAPPY 24TH OF JULY!

MISSING SOME.....

LAST BLOG CUT OFF SOME OF THE FAMILY......HERE IT IS SMALLER

LESLIE WITH TWO SISTER-IN-LAWS THAT WERE MY NEIGHBORS AND GOOD FRIENDS.........ELAINE AND MOETA RAMSEY......LIVED DOWN THE STREET FROM US.....ON THE RIGHT END IS A CUTE MARILEE AND HUSBAND WHICH I KNOW A LITTLE........RAMSEY COUSINS.

IT'S  FUN SEEING ALL THESE PEOPLE BUT AS I HAVE SAID.......GOD LEFT OUT THAT REUNION GENE WHEN HE MADE ME......I LOVE TO SEE THEM ALL......BUT JUST A FEW AT A TIME........  THANKS LES FOR THE FUN PICTURES.

LOVE THESE PEOPLE.........

WELL, MY SISTER LESLIE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE PURPLE PEOPLE EATERS........ HER DAUGHTER KRISTI WITH HER FOUR CHILDREN........HER SON KEVIN AND HIS THREE CHILDREN......HER SON MIKE......WHOSE FOUR CHILDREN CAME AND WENT TO THE REUNION BUT DIDN'T SHOW UP FOR THE PICTURE......SPOUCES, , GRANDCHILDREN AND GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN MAKE QUITE A GREAT BUNCH.......ADD ANOTHER 12  PEOPLE AND SEE WHAT ONE PERSON CAN DO?????
I HAVE LOTS OF FUN MEMORIES WITH THESE SWEET PEOPLE.....

IN THE SAME BOAT......

                    I BELONG TO TWO BRIDGE CLUBS........AND HAVE FOR MANY YEARS......I CONFESS I DON'T REALLY LIKE BRIDGE BUT I CAN'T QUIT OR I WOULD NEVER SEE THESE OLD FRIENDS......AND AS I AGE.....SO DO THEY.......SO WE ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER.....OR NOT.....TO HANG IN THERE.   THEY LOVE CLASS REUNIONS......I DON 'T LIKE REUNIONS OF ANY KIND........MAYBE THAT GENE IS MISSING IN ME?
               WHEN YOU TURN UP AT A REUNION YOU FIND ALL WOMEN WITH MATCHING SET OF LUGGAGE.......YOURS WORE OUT AND YOU ARE DOWN TO A BATTERED BAG THE KIDS LEFT YOU........BUT.......AS TIME GOES BY YOU ALL FIND YOU HAVE TROUBLE GETTING TO SLEEP IF THE ROOM IS TOO STUFFY, TO COLD OR NOT DARK ENOUGH.  YOU HAVE IN COMMON A STANDING NAIL AND HAIR APPOINTMENT......AN AIR CONDITIONED CAR AND A BRAND NAME HAND BAG........MOSTLY FAKE ! ALL HAVE AT LEAST ONE DROP-OUT BUDDHIST BISEXUAL VEGETARIAN MAOIST CHILD TO AGGRAVATE US.............OR DRUGGIE OR ALCOHOLIC OR WHATEVER!.
         OF COURSE THE CONVERSATION INCLUDES WHO KNOWS GENUINE JEWELRY AN AUTHENTIC IN ANTIQUES AND REAL FUR.......MY GENERATION WAS STEEPED IN THESE THINGS WHEN TODAY THE KIDS.......JUST ROLL THEIR EYES.
         WE WOULD RATHER TAKE A CAB THAN A BUS.......AND OUR LISTS OF WHO IS WHO INCLUDES OUR;......LAWYERS, GYNECOLOGISTS, ACCOUNTANTS, DERMATOLOGISTS, PODIATRISTS, UROLOGIST, INTERNIST, CARDIOLOGIST, INSURANCE AGENTS, TRAVEL AGENTS, BROKERS, OPHTHALMOLOGISTS AND A FEW OTHERS I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SPELL.........BUT IT SEEMS WE HAVE ALL TURNED INTO THE SAME.......BUT DIFFERENT......AT OUR RIPE OLD AGE OF 80 ...... AND ON.

ALWAYS COMPLAINING........

WELL MAXINE IS RIGHT AGAIN........IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THE WEATHER TO COMPLAIN ABOUT........IT WOULD BE SOMETHING ELSE.  BUT, LIVING IN UTAH HAS NEVER BEEN LIKE THIS SUMMER........DAY AFTER DAY IN THE THREE DIGITS.......AND 15 DAYS IN A ROW WHEN THE NIGHTS NEVER COOL BELOW 74.......WE COULD AT LEAST LOOK FORWARD TO IT COOLING A NIGHT BEFORE.......A COUPLE OF NIGHTS AGO THE 10 OCLOCK NEWS SAID IT WAS 97........AT TEN?????  IT HAS BEEN CLOUDING UP AND TRYING TO RAIN SEVERAL AFTERNOONS........BUT NOT ON MY BLOCK.  I DON'T MIND HOT, BUT NOT FOREVER.

WAITING FOR SHERRIE TO COME AND STAY ALL NIGHT WITH KEN AND I.......SHE WILL TAKE HIM TO THE CABIN TOMORROW FOR THE 24TH HOLIDAY.......KEN AND I ATE THE CHICKEN-POT PIES MY CUTE NEIGHBOR BROUGHT US FOR DINNER.......GREAT NEIGHBORS..

HAD MEXICAN TRAIN TUESDAY, BRIDGE WEDNESDAY AND  AND EYE APPOINTMENT TODAY......BEEN A BUSY WEEK.

FRIENDS FOREVER.............

THIS IS CLEON MAJORS AND HER HUSBAND DAVE.......WE GO BACK WHEN I WAS MARRIED AND WE EXERCISED TOGETHER THREE DAYS A WEEK  FAITHFULLY AT SOME CHURCH AND WHEN I WAS GOING THROUGH MY DIVORCE SHE  LISTENING DAY AFTER DAY TO MY TROUBLES......I CAN NEVER THANK CLEON ENOUGH,,,,,,,FOR THE GALLONS OF COFFEE WE DRANK AND THE HOURS SHE PUT UP WITH ME......

A FUN SIDELINE........WHEN ANN AND I DROVE TO PORTA PANASCO MEXICO?????WHY I LET HER TALK ME INTO IT?......THE MAJORS WENT DOWN EVERY WINTER AND MET FRIENDS WHO HAD MOBILE HOMES........THEY MET US AND TOOK US SHELLING AND OUT TO DINNER ONE NIGHT AND ONE NIGHT BUILT A BIG BON-FIRE ON THE BEACH FOR  A PARTY........WE BOTH HAVE BIRTHDAYS IN APRIL, A FEW DAYS APART AND HAVE LUNCH......OH YES, WE BOTH HAVE HAD TWINS.....ME, TWO GIRLS.....SHE HAD TWO BOYS AND LOST ONE OF THE BOYS ,,,,,,,,AREN'T GOOD FRIENDS WONDERFUL?

WE STILL ARE FRIENDS AND STILL MEET FOR LUNCH EVERY YEAR.......

BETTER START COUNTING.......

FOUND THIS ON FACE BOOK TODAY.......!  SO RAN OUT AND STARTED MY CHRISTMAS SHOPPING TODAY.........GOT FIVE GIFTS PUT AWAY AND  A GOOD START,......GOT THE NEIGHBORS TAKEN CARE OF........NOW TO START THE FAMILY......GOT THE LIST MADE OUT........I DO LOVE THAT SEASON.......BUT NOT THE WEATHER.......

I GUESS A WEDDING IN SEPTEMBER IS THE ONLY THING I HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO.......BRAYDEN AND LIBBY THE 25TH.......THEY WANT THE RECEPTION IN SHERRIE'S BACK YARD SO THEY ARE GOING CRAZY PLANTING AND PUTTING IN GRASS AND GETTING THE YARD READY........MARRIED IN THE VERNAL TEMPLE..  I THINK 60 SOME YEARS AGO I MIGHT HAVE FLOWN AS A STEWARDESS WITH SOME OF HER RELATIVES........BERTIE AND LORRAINE SLAUGH FROM VERNAL.....SISTERS.  NEED TO FIND OUT.

TALKED TO MY COUSIN LUCILLE TODAY......SHE HAS SHINGLES AND SAID SHE HAD THE VACCINATION?????? REALLY MISERABLE......I SPENT 200.00 FOR THE SHOT.....HOPE I DON'T GET THEM.........EVER!

TALKED TO MY SWEET SISTER TODAY.......FOR  A MINUTE......SHE WAS ON BREAK ON HER LAST DAY AT WORK AT THE CASINO......YEA!........ SHE HAD ALL HER KIDS IN TOWN FOR THE WEEKEND.......LUCKY! ......... NEXT WEEKEND RAMSEY FAMILY REUNION AT DOLORES CABIN.....THEN MAYBE SHE CAN COME TO SLC TO VISIT.....EVERYONE NEEDS A SISTER.......

ANYWAY .......MY CHRISTMAS SHOPPING HAS BEGUN.

HOW DID I GET TO BE 85.......AND OTHER ATROCITIES......

WHY DO I LOVE AND RELATE TO THE TRUTHS UNSAID?  MAYBE THE REASON I LOVE MAXINE SHE FACES THINGS  THAT I CAN REALLY RELATE TO......

"THE TRUTH IS........IF I HAD IT ALL TO DO OVER.......I STILL WOULDN'T STUDY SWAHILI, LEARN TO FLY A PLANE, OR TAKE 92 LOVERS........ SOME OF THEM SIMULTANEOUSLY!!!!

THE TRUTH IS IF I LIVED MY LIFE AGAIN I STILL WOULDN'T

 LEAP BEFORE LOOKING....I STILL WOULDN'T COUNT MY CHICKENS BEFORE THEY HATCHED.........AND I STILL, JUST IN CASE I WAS HIT BY A CAR AND HAD TO BE RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL AND EXAMINED.......WEAR CLEAN UNDERWEAR LIKE MY MOTHER ALWAYS WARNED US TO DO .........

THE TRUTH IS......THAT I WILL ALWAYS WANT TO BE......PURE ENOUGH. TO WANT WHITE BREAD......DEEP ENOUGH TO ADMIRE PATAGONIAN FOLK ART......THIN ENOUGH TO GO SWIMMING IN THE NUDE....M.ATURE ENOUGH TO OUTGROW ERICH FROMM......NICE ENOUGH TO BE NICE TO MY UNCLE BERNIE KELLER.......WHOM I LOVED......AND SECURE ENOUGH TO NOT NEED GETTING MARRIED AGAIN.....BUT THE TRUTH IS......THAT THE NEXT TIME AROUND.....I STILL WOULD NOT!"

MONDAS ARE CHORE DAYS........

DON'T ASK ME?

I DON'T KNOW WHEN THIS HAPPENED........I GUESS JUST DAY BY DAY AFTER MY 80TH BIRTHDAY.......I HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT EXACTLY WHAT A LAZY DAY IN MY LIFE IS AT THIS POINT......I  MEAN I GET UP AT SIX/SIX THIRTY AND  GET READY TO GET KEN UP AND OFF TO THE TEMPLE GROUNDS FOR HIS MISSION........THEN WHEN I CLOSE THE DOOR.......NOT ALWAYS.......BUT USUALLY  I CRAWL BACK IN BED FOR ANOTHER HOUR OR SO........SHOWER AND GET DRESSED BY NOON......LUNCH THEN CHORES OR HOUSE WORK TILL DR PHIL COMES ON.   NOW TODAY I DID COLOR MY HAIR.....BIG CHORE......CLEAN THE FISH BOWL.....BIG CHORE....... AND DID SOME LAUNDRY.....IS THAT LAZY?

WELL, I GUESS IT IS WHAT IT IS AND BY NINE I WILL BE IN MY PAJAMAS!

BRAYDEN DID IT!

AND ANOTHER ONE BIT THE DUST!

I GUESS THE WORD IS OUT AND BRAYDEN AND LIBBY SLAUGH ARE GETTING MARRIED 9/15/2017!

THEY ARE PLANNING ON BEING MARRIED IN THE VERNAL TEMPLE AND HAVE THE RECEPTION IN SHERRIE'S BACK YARD........FINALLY SOMEONE KEEPING IT SIMPLE AND KNOWING MARRIAGE IS ABOUT TWO PEOPLE LOVING EACH OTHER  AND DON'T NEED TO SPEND MILLIONS TO IMPRESS ANYONE.........

CONGRATULATIONS YOU TWO.

WHEN I THINK OF BRAY AND HIS GROWING UP YEARS I FEEL HE HAS THE MAGIC THREE....LIFE  IS A JOURNEY AND DREAMS ARE YOUR TRANSPORTATION, HOPE IS THE FUEL FILLING YOUR TANK AND DETERMINATION IS THE GPS HELPING YOU FIND YOUR WAY.......YOU HAVE THEM ALL AND TOGETHER THEY WILL GET YOU WHERE YOU ARE HEADED......TOWARD TRUE HAPPINESS.

DROP BY DROP.......

DROPS OF  HOLINESS ........

"INSTEAD OF HUGE EFFORTS, I HAVE FOUND IT HELPFUL TO THINK OF MY SABBATH DAY WORSHIP AS FILLING A LAMP........ONE THAT NEEDS OIL TO BURN.  DROPS OF HOLINESS, IF YOU WILL, THAT ACCUMULATES WEEK AFTER WEEK AND YEAR AFTER YEAR.  THINKING ABOUT WHAT I AM GRATEFUL FOR WHILE GETTING READY?........"DROP".......TAKING TIME TO READ OVER THE SACRAMENT PRAYERS BEFORE CHURCH?........"DROP".......SAYING A PRAYER OF GRATITUDE FOR THE SAVIOR AS I TAKE THE SACRAMENT?......"DROP" DROPS OF HOLINESS ARE SMALL SIMPLE THINGS THAT FUEL THE FLAME OF MY FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST."

ISN'T EVERYTHING WE LEARN IN LIFE......DROP BY DROP?  WE START IN FIRST GRADE AND PROGRESS FOR 12 YEARS...... ONE DAY AT A TIME.........LEARNING FROM TEACHERS, FRIENDS, PARENTS AND THE WORLD AROUND US......DROP BY DROP.......AND ARRIVE TODAY TO BE THE PERSON WE ARE........MANY ARE NOT LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.....BUT GOD WILL HELP THEM FIND A WAY TO LEARN ABOUT HIM......DROP BY DROP. 

I AM THANKFUL FOR MY WARD AND LDS NEIGHBORS.

ONE OF A KIND........

WELL IT HAS BEEN ALMOST A YEAR SINCE KENNEDY STARTED HIS MISSION IN THE POST OFFICE ON TEMPLE SQUARE........HE HAS LIVED WITH ME AND TAUGHT ME A LOT......WHEN I SAW THE FOLLOWING I THOUGHT OF KEN......

"YOU'RE SO MUCH BETTER THAN GOOD ENOUGH........MAYBE IT'S SECOND NATURE FOR YOU TO DOWNPLAY ALL THE GIFTS YOU WERE BORN  WITH AND THE STRENGTHS YOU'VE DEVELOPED........BUT THERE'S NOTHING SECOND-BEST OR SO-SO ABOUT YOU  YOU'RE ONE-OF-A-KIND AWESOME AND 100% SPECIAL.......REALLY!"

                KEN HAS GROWN SO MUCH THIS FIRST YEAR OF HIS MISSION.......YOU KNOW WHERE YOU STAND WITH HIM AND HE LETS YOU KNOW WHAT HE WANTS OR THINKS.  YES, HE IS DIFFERENT.......AREN'T WE ALL?.......AND I LOVE HIM FOR IT.

SINGLE..........

SINGLE.......

SINGLE ISN'T A STATUS.....BUT IT IS A WORD THAT DESCRIBES A PERSON WHO IS STRONG ENOUGH TO ENJOY LIFE WITHOUT DEPENDING ON THE WRONG PERSON!

I SO NEED TO IMPRESS THIS UPON MY TWO GRANDSONS WHOSE WIVES HAVE WALKED OUT ON THEM.......WITHOUT TRYING TO MAKE THE MARRIAGES WORK.......AND NOW FEEL LIKE LOSERS.   MAY BE GOD KNOWS MORE THAN THEY DO ABOUT WHAT IS BEST FOR THEM.......AND THEY WILL FIND THEIR SOUL MATES EVENTUALLY........

BEING DIVORCED 31 YEARS I CAN ONLY SAY......I DON'T NEED A MAN TO VALIDATE ME......I AM OK......EVEN IF IT HAS TO BE BY MYSELF!......THANK GOODNESS I REALLY LIKE MYSELF......DO I SOMETIMES GET LONESOME.......YES.

MEN-0-PAUSE

FOR WOMEN ONLY........

MEN-0-PAUSE

"DERIVED FROM LATIN ROOT WTF  IS HAPPENING.........TO ME?  THE TIME OF LIFE WHERE A WOMAN DOESN 'T KNOW IF SHE IS COMEING OR GOING..ON FIRE OR FREEZING..... HAPPY OR SAD.......WANTS TO DIET OR EAT EVERYTHING IN SIGHT......COMMON PHRASES USED DURING THIS TIME INCLUDES......MUFFIN TOP, HOT FLASH, MOOD SWING, BRAIN FOG.....WOMEN IN MENOPAUSE MAY SELF MEDICATE WITH WINE, CHOCOLATE, VODKA, ICE C REAM, NEW SHOES, ON LINE PURCHASES , NETFLIX OR BY LOOKING AT PICTURES OF SAM ELLIOT!!!!"

ANY MORE QUESTIONS......ASK MAXINE.......

I HAD THE HONOR OF GOING THROUGH THIS THE SAME I WAS GOING THROUGH A DIVORCE........FUN!.......BUT I SURVIVED......SO WILL EVERYONE ELSE.   ANOTHER THREE DIGIT DEGREE DAY IN SLC..........

ANNUAL 4TH PARTY........

THESE TWO......PAM AND ROB.......SEEM TO KNOW HOW TO PARTY.   THEY HAD THEIR TRADITIONAL FOURTH OF JULY PARTY IN ISLAND PARK AT THEIR CABIN.......THEY INVITE THEIR FISHING BUDDIES AND HOA FRIENDS AND DRESS UP FOR THE OCCASION.......I GAVE ROB THAT SHIRT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO FOR HIS JUNE BIRTHDAY AND I BOUGHT HIM THE HAT AT THE CRACKER BARREL IN ST GEORGE IN APRIL......PAM'S SHIRT ALSO FROM THERE........THEY WERE PLANNING AHEAD!

I LIKE ROB'S NEW BEARD......BUT A GREY BEARD DOES SAY.........WELL,  ANYWAY YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

\\ONE OF THOSE DAYS......ICE MAKER IN FRIDGE FROZE UP,  THE DOG TRIMMER WON'T WORK, GOT A BILL,  BLUE CROSS IS GOING UP NEXT MONTH,........WELL, YOU KNOW WE ALL HAVE THOSE DAYS.

SO EXCITED........

SO EXCITED......... AT LAST ANOTHER GREAT-GRANDCHILD!

DON'T KNOW WHEN OR FOR SURE WHAT KIND.......BUT MAYBE THE ROMPERS SAY A BOY.

THE TROUBLE IS.......THIS DAUGHTER AND HER KIDS DON'T SPEAK TO ME SO WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT INSTAGRAM I GUESS.  ANDREA IS MY THIRD GRANDDAUGHTER.......AND HAS BEEN MARRIED TWO YEARS SO GUESS I CAN NOW GET BUSY AND FINISH ANOTHER BABY QUILT!

I AM GRATEFUL FOR INSTAGRAM AND FACE BOOK......AT LEAST I GET TO WATCH THE FAMILY PROGRESS THROUGH MODERN MEANS.

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY.....

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY.........

INTERESTING HOW THE HOLIDAYS JUST BECOME ANOTHER DAY IN OLD AGE.

THE FAMILY MOVES ON DOING THEIR THING........AMD YOU SETTLE IN KNOWING IT IS UP TO YOU TO FIND YOUR WAY ON HOW TO DO YOUR THING.  ANY  MORE IT IS NOT LIKE "THE GOOD OLD DAYS".......WHEN FAMILIES LIVED CLOSE BY AND DID N OT MOVE ALL OVER THE US.  NONE OF PAM'S KIDS WILL BE AROUND THE FAMILY FOR THE 4TH.......YET ALL OF SHERRIE'S ARE ON THE HOUSE BOAT WITH HER.  MORE AND MORE I RELY ON FRIENDS FOR COMFORT.......NO FAMILY AROUND.

BUT

THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS DAY IS TO REMEMBER OUR COUNTRY IS FREE AND TO REMEMBER ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO DIED TO KEEP IT FREE!!!  I WILL CHOOSE TO ENJOY THIS DAY BECAUSE I AM ALIVE, WELL AND FREE TO DO WHATEVER I CHOOSE.

MOVING ON........

NICCI.......MY CUTE AND FULL OF SURPRISES GRANDDAUGHTER........

SHE HAS A GREAT JOB IN MN WITH GENERAL MILLS.......BUT

DECIDED AMAZON IS THE COMPANY WITH MORE POTENTIAL, SO SHE GETS AN INTERVIEW IN SEATTLE, AND A JOB AND WILL MOVE TO SEATTLE AND START A NEW JOB THE 20TH OF JULY.    THAT LITTLE GAL AMAZES ME.......SHE COUNTER-OFFERED THEIR OFFER.......FOR THE BEST DEAL......WHO DOES THAT WITH A JOB OFFER? GENERAL MILLS TRIED TO HIRE HER BACK AND TOLD HER SHE ALWAYS HAD A JOB WITH THEM........I LOVE HER CONFIDENCE.......

BILL INTERVIEWED WITH STARBUCKS COFFEE AND HE WILL STAY IN MN AND SELL THE HOUSE......THEN JOIN NICCI.......

GRANDMA'S ARE ALWAYS SO PROUD WHEN THEIR GRANDCHILDREN DO WELL AND OF COURSE YOU ALWAYS SAY......"SHE TAKES AFTER ME."

ONLY GOD.........

TOMORROW IS THE FOURTH OF JULY.........OH THE MEMORIES I  HAVE OF THE "GOOD OLD DAYS".......BUT NOW WITH A 100 DEGREE FORECAST AND BEING "KINDA OLD"......I WILL BE CONTENT TO NOT GET UP EARLY TO HEAD DOWN TO THE CHURCH BREAKFAST OR FIND A SPOT FOR THE PARADE!.........AND NO MATTER HOW WONDERFUL THE FIREWORKS WILL BE.........THEY CANNOT COMPARE WITH SOME OF THE COLORS GOD PUTS TOGETHER FOR US TO ENJOY.........THIS PICTURE IS OVER THE TOP OF PEACEFUL......

THE OLDER YOU GET, THE MORE QUIET YOU BECOME.....LIFE HUMBLES YOU SO DEEPLY AS YOU AGE.....YOU REALIZE HOW MUCH NONSENSE YOU'VE WASTED TIME ON........WELL, THOSE FOURTH OF JULY DANCES AND CHASING BOYS BACK IN THE GOOD OLD DAYS.........WAS KINDA FUN?

LOVE MAKING LISTS.......

I HAVE A HABIT OF MAKING LISTS.......MENUS, TO DO'S TODAY, TO DO'S THIS MONTH....(PAY BILLS, GROOM DOG, SERVICE THE CAR, CALL A FRIEND OR TWO) YOU KNOW THE USUAL DAY TO DAY THINGS......THEN THERE IS A LIST YOU HAVE NO INTENTIONS OF DOING BUT MAYBE TOMORROW???  I CAN'T BELIEVE PEOPLE MAKE IT THROUGH LIFE WITHOUT A LIST.......EVEN IF YOU CAN'T FIND IT MOST THE TIME!
       RIGHT NOW ON MY LIST IS MY CLOSET.......A REAL MESS......I TRIED THE JAPANESE METHOD OF "DECLUTTERING"........YOU KNOW HOLD UP AN OBJECT OR PIECE OF CLOTHING  OR PAIR OF SHOES THAT YOU OWN.........AND IF IT DOES NOT BRING YOU JOY........YOU THROW IT AWAY...WANT TO KNOW HOW FAR I HAVE COME SO FAR?
                                                            WELL.....
SO FAR I HAVE THROWN OUT ALL THE VEGETABLES.......MY BRA......THE ELECTRIC BILL......THE SCALES AND A MIRROR.......WOULD GET RID OF THE KITCHEN, BUT IT CAME WITH THE HOUSE AND DON'T THINK A VENDING MACHINE WOULD LOOK TO GREAT IN IT'S PLACE.......I AM NOT DONE......TOMORROW I START ON THE CLOTHES AND SHOES.   WISH ME LUCK.

RELIGION.....DROP BY DROP

"WHEN YOUR SABBATH DAY LOOKS ANYTHING BUT PICTURE PERFECT IT CAN BE EASY TO FEEL LIKE YOU'RE FALLING SHORT......IT MAY BE HELPFUL TO THINK OF SABBATH DAY WORSHIP AS DROPS OF HOLINESS........YOUR PEACE COMES DROP BY DROP."

I HAVE BEEN STUDYING THE SCRIPTURES EACH DAY WITH KEN FOR ALMOST A YEAR NOW.......AS HE SERVES A SERVICE MISSION FOR THE LDS CHURCH AND IT HAS BEEN DROP BY DROP THAT PEACE HAS COME TO ME.........BLESSING THE FOOD EACH MEAL TOGETHER AND PRAYERS.......I WISH I FELT CHURCH WAS DOING IT.......BUT MANY SUNDAYS.......OTHER THAN THE SACRAMENT.........I FEEL SITTING IN CHURCH EVERY SUNDAY DOES NOT MAKE ME A GOOD MORMON.......IT IS HOW I TREAT MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS......PAY TITHING..... AND FOSTER GOOD THOUGHTS THAT ARE CREATING THE CHANGE I FEEL. GOD HAS BEEN VERY GOOD TO ME AND MY GUARDIAN ANGELS HAVE HAD TO WORK HARD SOME TIMES AS I HAVE DONE FOOLISH THINGS AROUND THE WORLD.........BEING TOO TRUSTFUL.  BUT I GUESS SUNDAY BY SUNDAY........AND DROP BY DROP........I WILL KEEP TRYING TO MAKE GOD PROUD OF ME.

WELCOME TO JULY.........

       
           CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER WAY TO WELCOME IN JULY....THAN WITH MAXINE!
WHERE DID THE LAST 6 MONTHS GO?.......SOMEONE SAID 25 WEEKS TILL CHRISTMAS.......MANY OF THE STORES ALREADY  HAVE THEIR SHELVES LINED WITH HALLOWEEN AND CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS........AND WE ARE BARELY TO THE 4TH OF JULY.........I WENT TO SLEEP LAST NIGHT LISTENING TO NEIGHBORHOOD FIRE WORKS.......DON'T HAVE ANY PLANS FOR THE FOURTH.......THOSE DAYS OF PICNICS, FIREWORKS AND A BIG CELEBRATION OF PARADES ARE OVER  FOR ME.......AM THINKING I MIGHT TAKE IN A MOVIE.  THE CHRISTENSONS ARE IN LAKE POWELL AND THE PANNIERS ARE IN IDAHO........AND I GUESS THAT IS ALL MY FAMILY NOW DAYS.
         KEN WILL BE GONE FOR A WEEK......SO GIGI AND I ARE PRETTY QUIET.  I HAVE LOTS OF FUN THINGS I CAN DO????  LIKE PUT MY NEW SHOE RACK TOGETHER AND PUT ALL MY SHOES ON IT.......CAN'T GET IN THE CLOSET SINCE THE OTHER RACK FELL APART.......I NEED TO RUN DOWN SOME FAKE GRASS TO PUT BY THE PATIO.....GIGI KEEPS RUINING THE REAL STUFF!  ........AND GO ON  A DIET!......AND ENJOY THE HOT WEATHER.