CAN'T IGNORE....

WITH THIS THOUGHT ALSO GOES MY HEART FELT FEELING FOR THE PEOPLE OF TEXAS WHO ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF  UNKNOWN HAPPENING...... A WEEK OF RAIN AND TORNADO'S.......ALL THE NEWS IS RESCUING THOSE POOR PEOPLE WHO WAKE UP WITH THEIR HOMES FLOODED......YES, THE WORLD IS WICKED AND THE LORD IS SENDING US A MESSAGE.....DO WE GET  IT?????  HISTORY IS BEING MADE.....

DID YOU EVER WAKE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT TO GO TO THE BATHROOM......THEN CAN'T GO BACK TO SLEEP?  WHAT I NEED TO DO IS MAKE A LIST OF THINGS TO THINK ABOUT TO PUT ME BACK TO SLEEP.....LIKE ROAD TRIPS,  WHY I LOVE TO SHOP AND MY SISTERS DIDN'T, WHY ALL I WANT TO DO ANYMORE IS SLEEP........AND ON AND  ON.  I REMEMBER SITTING FOR HOURS LOOKING AT THE SEARS ROEBUCK AND MONTGOMERY WARDS CATALOGUES THAT CAME TWICE A YEAR......MY START FOR SHOPPING I GUESS.  OF COURSE I HAVE TAUGHT MY KIDS AND GRANDKIDS ABOUT IT......AND CALL IT "RETAIL THERAPY!"

YESTERDAY KEN WANTED TO GO TO THE DI AND THE SAVERS......BOTH GOOD JUNK STORES......HE IS LEARNING.

THE REASON WHY.....

THIS TIDY LITTLE BUNCH IS MY FAMILY........MY BEGINNING.

MY PARENTS ARE THE REASON "WHY I AM".......... AND "WHO I AM".....

YOU DON'T QUESTION WHEN YOU ARE YOUNG WHY AM I A MORMON OR WHY AM I A REPUBLICAN.......YOU ARE BECAUSE YOU ARE WHAT YOUR PARENTS WERE AND THEY WERE WHAT THEIR PARENTS WERE   ETC.......JUST LIFE........AND THE FIRST FEW YEARS OF OUR LIVES WE PROBABLY WOULDN'T CHANGE THINGS.

I WAS ALWAYS SO PROUD OF MY FAMILY......THREE LITTLE SISTERS.....JOAN, DIXIE LEE AND LESLIE RUTH AND THEN FINALLY JIMMY DICK........A BABY BROTHER......!  A WONDERFUL GRANDMA AND GRANDPA GOFF A BLOCK UP THE STREET.....A SMALL TOWN WHERE I KNEW EVERYONE AND GREW UP SAFE AND HAPPY AND KINDA POOR......WHICH I WAS NOT AWARE OF??  MANY PEOPLE HAVE REALIZED IF THEY ARE LOVED.....POOR DOESN'T COUNT!!!!!

NOW DAYS I WATCH MY GRANDCHILDREN WADE THROUGH MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE OR JUST SHACKING UP.....AND MY HEART BLEEDS FOR THEM.......THEY ARE FACING SO MANY MORE TESTS IN LIFE THAN I HAD.........BUT THEY ARE PART ME AND THEY WILL SURVIVE.........I HAVE BECAUSE OF TWO WONDERFUL PEOPLE WHO BROUGHT ME TO THIS EARTH...... AND SIBLINGS WHO WERE ALWAYS THERE FOR ME........THANKS DICK AND HAZEL YEOMANS.

WITH OR WITHOUT........?

WELL, I'T'S SUNDAY AGAIN.........

KEN AND I WENT TO CHURCH THIS MORNING......WELL, I AM NOT SURE IF IT IS BEST TO WEAR YOUR HEARING AIDS SO YOU CAN HEAR THE SPEAKERS.....BECAUSE I ALWAYS SIT IN THE VERY BACK ROW......SO I CAN ESCAPE WITHOUT SOMEONE ASKING ME TO DO A JOB....OR NOT WEARING THEM SO I CAN'T HEAR ALL THE BABIES CRYING....WHO HAVE DEAF PARENTS...... IN PRACTICALLY EVERY ROW IN CHURCH TODAY.......I AM DONE!!!  ONE OF THE LONGEST CHURCH SERVICES I HAVE BEEN TO LATELY,,,,,,,,

I AM STRUGGLING TO FIND MY PATH......GROWING UP I DID NOT HANG OUT WITH THE FEW MORMON KIDS IN TOWN.......ONLY THE METHODISTS.   THEN WHEN I GOT MARRIED IT SEEMED SO MANY OF OUR FRIENDS WERE LUTHERAN, JACK MORMON OR NOTHING.......THE KIDS WERE BAPTIZED BY THE FAMILY....AND THEY WENT TO PRIMARY AND SUNDAY SCHOOL ....BUT?  THEN WHEN DON WALKED OUT AFTER 30 YEARS OF MARRIAGE......I WAS ANGRY AT THE CHURCH....SO WAS INACTIVE....AND NOW I DO A LOT OF WONDERING.......\

I RESPECT EVERY RELIGION FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE.......WHY DO I ALWAYS HAVE JEWISH NEIGHBORS?.......I HAVE BEEN INVITED TO A JEWISH CIRCUMCISE ON A CARD TABLE IN  MY NEIGHBORS  BASEMENT WHEN THE BABY WAS 8 DAYS OLD..... WHEN I LIVED ON MADRID ST........THE MOTHER CRIED......THE BABY HOWLED.....AND THE WITNESSES DRANK WINE????  MY JEWISH NEIGHBORS DR. MORT AND DIANE STENCHEVER ON LAURI KAY DRIVE INVITED ME TO A BARMETSHIA FOR ONE OF THEIR SONS......HE HAD MEMORIZED A LONG THING......THEN WE HAD A PARTY!!! MY JEWISH NEIGHBOR AUDREY NEVER HAD A CHRISTMAS TREE.....BUT TAUGHT MY KIDS HOW TO PLAY DROODLE AND LIGHT THE MENORAH..... AND WHY DO JEWS WEAR THAT THAT LITTLE SKULL CAP.....I GUESS THE SAME REASON MORMONS WEAR THOSE GARMENTS?

NONE OF THIS HAS EVER BOTHERED ME.....I FELT LUCKY TO BE INCLUDED IN SUCH SACRED CEREMONIES OF OTHER CULTURES.....AND YOU CAN NEVER LEARN TO MUCH.  I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THEM......BUT MAYBE SOMEDAY.

AND MAYBE NEXT SUNDAY.......NO HEARING AIDS!!!!!

I DON'T UNDERSTAND......

I LOVE THIS PRAYER........

MY FAMILY CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY I DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH THE TEMPLE.........SEEMS TO ME....IT IS JUST A THING YOU DO SO YOU CAN BRAG YOU HAVE DONE IT.......I HAVE NO PARTNER TO RETURN TO OR WITH......AND THERE WILL BE NICE PEOPLE WHERE EVER I END UP.....I AM SURE.  AT 85 HOW BAD CAN IT BE TO HAVE A CUP OF COFFEE OR A GLASS OF WINE ......A COUPLE OF THE ENJOYMENTS I HAVE LEFT AT THIS AGE........AND IF I GO THROUGH THE TEMPLE I HAVE TO PROMISE GOD I WILL NOT DO THAT ANYMORE.....TOO MANY PEOPLE I KNOW HAVE GONE THROUGH THE TEMPLE .......THEN TOOK OFF THEIR GARMENTS WHEN CONVENIENT TO WEAR A FANCY DRESS.....DRINK COKE BY THE GALLON ETC.   IF I DON'T PROMISE GOD......THEN AT LEAST I AM NOT BREAKING A VOW.....PLUS THE PROMISE.

ECCLESIASTES 5:4-5

WHEN THOU VOWEST A VOW UNTO GOD AND DEFER NOT TO PAY THAT WHICH THOU HAS VOWED.....BETTER IT IS THAT THOU SHOULDEST NOT VOW, THAN THAT VOW SHOULD VOW AND NOT PAY.

FOR SOME REASON........THIS IS WHERE I AM STUCK......I GUESS ALL I CAN DO IS JUST KEEP PRAYING FOR THE ANSWER........(this has been on my mind for a long time and every time someone thinks i need to go through the Temple.)

GOT THE INVITATION TODAY.......

LOVE THIS BOY.....BRAYDEN.  WE SPENT SUCH QUALITY TIME LAST YEAR WHILE HE ATTENDED LDS BUSINESS SCHOOL.   WEDNESDAYS WERE LAUNDRY NIGHT AND WE COOKED DINNER AND TALKED OF HIS DREAMS AND GOALS.......THEN HE WENT HOME TO VERNAL FOR THE SUMMER AND MET LIBBY SLAUGH......JUST BACK FROM A LDS MISSION IN MALAYSIA.......AND THE REST IS HISTORY.

THE WEDDING INVITATION CAME TODAY......THREE WEEKS OFF.  THEY WILL BE MARRIED IN THE VERNAL TEMPLE WITH THE RECEPTIONS IN CHISTENSON'S BACK YARD.......SHERRIE HAS BEEN MIGHTY BUSY, BUT IS GETTING A GIRL IN THE FAMILY...C0NGRATULATIONS YOU TWO.

BEEN THERE DONE THAT......

WELL, WE FINALLY GOT AN ECLIPSE CLOSE ENOUGH TO HOME FOR EVERYONE TO ENJOY.......MANY DROVE MILES, TRAFFIC JAMS, SHORTAGES OF GAS AND WATER AND PLACES TO STAY......BUT MANY WERE DETERMINED.  ABOUT 30 YEARS AGO I SAW ONE IN MALAYSIA.....KOTO KINA BOUTA.  I WAS ON MY FIRST CRUISE WITH NADINE LYNGLE AND WE STOOD ON THE SHIPS DECK.......GLASSES ON.....AND WHAT AN ERRIE FEELING.......THIS ONE........ I TURNED ON TV AND SAT BACK.......TRUTHFULLY WAS NOT QUIET THE SAME.  I WON'T BE AROUND FOR THE NEXT ONE FORECAST IN THE US......BUT I CAN CHECK IT OFF MY BUCKET LIST ANYWAY.

FINALLY.......

A HAPPY GROUP AT THE SPAGHETTI FACTORY........WHERE WE ALWAYS CELEBRATE BIRTHDAYS.......I DON'T KNOW HOW HAPPY PAM IS TO BE 60.......BUT WE REALLY HAD A GOOD TIME.   ANY PARTY WHERE I GET TO LOVE MY GREAT-GRANDSON IS A SUCCESS.

THEN PAM AND ROB WERE OFF THE NEXT DAY TO  FISHING LODGE IN DRIGGS, IDAHO.......FOR HER BDAY.  HE SURPRISED HER WITH 60 RED ROSES, A SPA DAY AND LUNCH WITH TWO GOOD FRIENDS.......WHILE HE FISHED!  THEY ALSO TOOK IN THE ECLIPSE ALONG WITH HUNDREDS OF OTHERS IN DRIGGS.   I TENDED BREE.

P0NDERING.......

                   AS I HAVE BEEN PLACED IN AN INTERESTING POSITION THIS LAST YEAR......KINDA CARE TAKER OF A "SERVICE MISSIONARY".....WE DO THE BLESSING TWICE A DAY.....SCRIPTURES EVERY MORNING DURING BREAKFAST AND MANY NIGHTS SCRIPTURES......OH YES, LOTS MORE CHURCH!
                I   DID HAVE AN ANGEL READING ONCE WHERE JOFIEL. RAFAEL AND CHAMUEL .....PLUS TWO OTHERS AND MIGUEL AS THE ARC-ANGEL WHO WERE ALWAYS WITH ME.......WERE LISTED......I HAVE ALWAYS FELT LUCKY THE READER COULD SEE THESE PEOPLE AROUND ME ......AND I KNOW I HAVE TESTED THEM AT TIMES.  FOR INSTANCE........
               KEN AND THE OTHER SERVICE MISSIONARIES ON TEMPLE SQUARE WERE ASSIGNED TO GO CLEAN UP THE AREA THE CHURCH HAS BUILT BY PROVO.....WHERE THEY FILM MANY OF OUR CHURCH FILMS....... THE CHURCH HAS BUILT A CITY THAT LOOKS LIKE JERUSELEUM......THEN TOUR THE BIG STAGE AREA IN TOWN AND HAVE LUNCH.......NOT MANY DO THIS....BUT HE HAD TO BE AT TEMPLE SQUARE AT 6:00 AM.......WELL UP AT 4:14 TO GET KEN UP AND READY AND HE SAYS HE DOESN'T FEEL LIKE GOING.....SOOOOO......WE CALL HIS MOM WHO BRIBS AND THRETENS HIM WITH EVERYTHING AND FINALLY THE DECISION WAS GRANDMA WOULD DRIVE HIM DOWN TO TEMPLE SQUARE  IN THE DARK .....NOT RIDE THE TRAM......AT FIVE AM........HELLO.....I DON'T DRIVE IN THE DARK NUMBER ONE AND NUMBER TWO I CAN'T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME I DROVE DOWN STATE STREET BECAUSE OF THE TRAM TRACKS !!!!!  WELL WHEN YOU ARE A MISSIONARY COMPANION I GUESS YOU DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO.......I DID!
            SO TIRED......BACK INTO BED BUT PAM GOT ME UP TO DROP OFF HER DOG.....THEN BACK TO BED....BUT UP AND SHOWERED AND OFF TO LUNCH AND MEXICAN TRAIN FOR THE AFTERNOON......AM STILL TRYING TO CATCH UP!
              THANK YOU GUARDIAN ANGELS FOR BEING THERE FOR ME........

60 YEARS AGO TODAY.......

HAPPY  BIRTHDAY PAM......60TH

SO EXCITED 60 YEARS AGO TO HAVE A BABY GIRL......MY FIRST CHILD.......PAMELA MARIE PETERSON.......CAN NOT BELIEVE 60 YEARS HAVE SLIDE BY AND NOW SHE IS A GRANDMOTHER.......SHE WAS EVER BIT "PETERSON" AND LOVED BY BOTH HER FATHER DON AND I.......

SHE WAS AN ONLY CHILD FOR 11 Years AND MY LIFE EVOLVED AROUND HER.....SHE NEVER STOPPED WISHING FOR A LITTLE SISTER SHE NAMED KARRIE......WELL KARRIE DID COME ALONG WHEN SHE WAS 11 AND ANOTHER ONE WITH HER WE NAMED SHERRIE.....TWINS......SHE WAS THE BEST BIG SISTER AND I COULD NOT HAVE RAISED THEM WITHOUT HER HELP.....IT WAS VERY LONELY BEING AN ONLY CHILD.

TODAY SHE AND ROB ARE IN DRIGGS, IDAHO AT A RESORT FISHING......ROB'S BDAY SURPRISE FOR HER?????? SHE IS MORE A DISNEY LAND PERSON.........BUT AFTER 38 YEARS OF MARRIAGE JUST BEING TOGETHER IS WHAT COUNTS........

THEY ARE IN PLACE TO SEE THE GREAT ECLIPSE.....DUE ON MONDAY.....FIRST ONE  IN 90 YEARS HERE......I AM TENDING HER DOG BREE.......

I AM THINKING OF YOU SWEETIE........

SLOWING DOWN.......

         THIS LADY HAS THE RIGHT IDEA.......
I FEEL LIKE I COULD SPEND THE DAY IN A HAMMOCK JUST PUSHING BACK......PONDERING......WHY THEY PUT ROUND PIZZAS IN SQUARE BOXES AND THEN CUT IT IN TRIANGLES TO EAT?????
YESTERDAY TWO OLD FRIENDS CAME OVER FOR COFFEE AND BAGELS......TALKED THREE HOURS AND HOPEFULLY GOT CAUGHT UP.
TODAY.......GRANDMA KAY POOPED OUT .......AGAIN!  SO I HAVE TO PICK UP KEN, TAKE HIM TO HIS BRAIN-CHANGE CLASS AND HAVE 30 MINUTES TO GET BACK ACROSS TOWN SO PAM CAN PICK US UP AND MEET THE FAMILY AT THE SPAGHETTI FACTORY TO CELEBRATE PAM'S 60TH.......THEY WILL BE FISHING IN DRIGGS IDAHO ON HER BIRTHDAY FRIDAY......NOT HER BIRTHDAY CHOICE!!!!!
TOMORROW IS THE DOMINO GROUP AT BONNIE'S........MY SOCIAL LIFE IS KILLING ME.
SHER WILL PICK UP KEN FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND I INTEND TO SLEEP ALL WEEKEND!  MAY EVEN MISS CHURCH......
PAM IS BRINGING BREE OVER TOMORROW FOR FIVE DAYS.....SO BABY SITTING.
WONDER HOW I COULD HOOK UP WITH ....."MAXINE?"

ALWAYS THINKING OF YOU.......

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM.......SURE MISS YOU.

THIS PICTURE WAS BEHIND THE HOUSE I LIVED IN WHEN I WAS A STEWARDESS.....YOU AND DAD CAME UP TO VISIT ME IN SLC........I WAS ALWAYS SO PROUD OF YOU AND ALL THE MANY TALENTS YOU HAD......HOW KIND AND GOOD YOU WERE TO "EVERYONE"......EVEN THE PEOPLE I DIDN'T LIKE?  I AM SO GLAD MY THREE GIRLS HAD SUCH WONDERFUL GRANDPARENTS ON MY SIDE AND THE EXAMPLES YOU SET FOR YOUR CHILDREN.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRAYDEN......

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRAYDEN....22.....YOU PICKED A VERY SPECIAL DAY TO BE BORN.......ON YOUR GREAT-GRANDMOTHER YEOMANS BIRTHDAY.  SHE WOULD BE 105 TODAY.  WHEN I THINK OF YOU I ALWAYS THINK OF YOUR TRAVELS AND THE LONG TALKS WE HAD LAST YEAR ABOUT YOUR GOALS IN LIFE......NOW YOU ARE ENGAGED AND BEING MARRIED IN A MONTH......SO GROWN UP.  KNOW YOUR GRAM IS ALWAYS HERE FOR YOU AND LOVES YOU TONS.

ANNIE 22.....

       HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANDREA RACHELLE.......22!  WHERE DID THAT SASSY LITTLE  CHEERLEADER GO?........SEEMS YESTERDAY WE WERE SHOPPING FOR PROM DRESSES, SHOES, JEWLERY ETC.......AND NOW YOUR ALL GROWN UP AND GOING TO BE A MAMA.   I AM SO EXCITED FOR YOU........I WISH I COULD SEE YOU MORE BUT I WILL GO ON LOVING YOU JUST THE SAME AND BE EXCITED TO MAKE BABY QUILTS FOR YOU.

WONDER WOMAN........

DON'T KNOW WHERE LAST WEEK WENT.......OTHER THAN COFFEE AT PATTY'S MONDAY......CHORES TUESDAY.....JAY AND LISA PUT SOME SHELVES TOGETHER FOR ME FOR THE LAUNDRY ROOM WEDNESDAY, PAM CAME BY FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS THURSDAY AND THEN I HAD TO GET KEN OFF FRIDAY.......MAYBE IT IS JUST BECAUSE EVERYTHING TAKES LONGER NOW DAYS.  STILL HAVING 90 DEGREE WEATHER AND ALL THE FLOWERS AND VEGGIES ARE GROWING LIKE CRAZY.  I HAVE STARTED MY CHRISTMAS SHOPPING AND MADE MY LIST WITH  A PLAN FOR EVERYONE......SEEMS ALL THE STORES ARE READY FOR CHRISTMAS.....TERRIBLE!

THE BIG MOVIE OUT IS "WONDER WOMAN".......I HAVEN'T SEEN IT BUT SOMETIMES I THINK I COULD FIT INTO A WONDER WOMAN MOLD.......

I WONDER WHERE I LEFT MY KEYS.........I WONDER WHERE I PUT MY PURSE.......I WONDER WHERE I SPENT MY MONEY.......I DO , DO A LOT OF WONDERING........ BUT LET ME CHECK MY "GIVEASHITOMETER".......NOPE....NOTHING!

SINGLE......

A GREAT WEEKEND.......SLEPT TILL ALMOST NOON.  SHOWERED, AND DID A COUPLE OF CHORES......A LITTLE TV ,  SOME PHONE CALLS, WATERED THE PLANTS AND BED TIME LOOMS.   AM I HAPPY.....YES......BUT IT IS A CHOICE I HAD TO MAKE......SINGLE TAKES GETTING USE TO.

WHEN YOU ARE ALONE YOU GET BOTH SIDES OF THE BED.......YOU CAN STAY UP AS LATE AS YOU WANT AND SLEEP AS LATE AS YOU WANT.....NO GUILT!

WHEN YOU ARE ALONE YOU CAN EAT A BOWL OF CEREAL FOR DINNER, A HARD BOILED EGG, A SACK OF POTATO CHIPS OR A PIECE OF TOAST.

NO ARGUMENTS ABOUT THE THERMOSTAT BEING TOO HIGH OR TO LOW OR THE LIGHTS LEFT ON.

NO TRYING TO UNDERSTAND DETENTE......THE SUPERBOWL AND HIS FATHER OR SISTER?  OR TELLING ME MY CLOTHES MAKE ME LOOK CHUNKY!

NO ONE TELLING YOU NOT TO BUY IT UNLESS YOU NEED IT......HELLO....WHO NEEDS 50 PAIRS OF SHOES......LIFE IS ABOUT WANTING.....NOT NEEDING.

I AM GLAD I WAS MARRIED FOR 30 YEARS AND HAVE 3 BEAUTIFUL GIRLS THANKS TO MY EX........BUT SINGLE IS OK TOO.

GOOD THOUGHT.......

I FOUND A POEM THAT TAKES ANY GUILT YOU HAVE ABOUT DUSTING OR FOR ME ANY OTHER HOUSE HOLD CHORE.......AWAY;

DUST IF YOU MUST

DUST IF YOU MUST,  BUT WOULDN'T IT BE BETTER......TO PAINT A PICTURE OR WRITE A LETTER,

BAKE A CAKE OR PLANT A SEED.......PONDER THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WANT AND NEED.

DUST IF YOU MUST, BUT THERE,S NOT MUCH TIME WITH RIVERS TO SWIM AND MOUNTAIN S TO CLIMB.......

MUSIC TO HEAR, BOOKS TO READ......FRIENDS TO CHERISH AND LIFE TO LEAD.

DUST IF YOU MUST, BUT THE WORLD IS OUT THERE, WITH SUN IN YOUR EYES, AND WIND IN YOUR HAIR.

A FLUTTERING OF SNOW, A SHOWER OF RAIN.......THIS DAY WILL NOT COME AROUND AGAIN.

SO DUST IF YOU MUST, BUT BEAR IN MIND......OLD AGE WILL COME AND IT.S NOT KIND.....

AND WHEN YOU GO.....AND GO YOU MUST......YOU YOURSELF WILL MAKE MORE DUST!

Each week as I dust I never thought much about whose dust it was that was laying around????  I will from now on.

Been a busy day with Ken this weekend.....I made the mistake of asking him what he wanted to do today........First we hit Savors......a thrift store....BUT today was 50% off EVERYTHING....i had a ball.  Then off to Pam's to water  her pots and feed the gold fish in the pond.....lunch time was a stop at Kentucky Fried Chicken,.......... then we had to go to Mr Macs to have him measured for pants for Brayden's wedding and THEN off to Walmart to pick up a few things......tonight I'm not moving too fast!  Think I got my 500 steps in today.........

SENSE OF HUMOR.....

        Well,, ......Some days are just better than others!  Yesterday I bought a set of shelves for the laundry room.....square box with several shelves......well, i even called in my neighbor and she couldn't help me figure out how to put the stupid thing together.......THIS IS WHERE A SENSE OF HUMOR COMES IN HANDY......Finally lined up a friend's daughter who is really good at everything and will pay her to bail me out......I can't count the things I have assembled in my life time.......but finally found my challenge.
    I guess the real secret is letting disappointments make you more determined, not less?????
Seeing setbacks not as stop signs but as downtime to reflect and redirect......YES I READ THE INSTRUCTIONS......SEVERAL TIMES.  Understanding that every challenge is just a chapter in our lives helps  us move on......and I will get the darn thing put together eventually......BUT RIGHT NOW WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER.

MY GRAND-CHILDREN........

HERE ARE THREE OF MY NINE GRANDCHILDREN.......THEY WERE MY FIRST......THE FUN OF BABY SITTING.....SEWING FLUFFY DRESSES......DANCE PROGRAMS AND SWIM MEETS LAUNCHED ME INTO GRANDMA-HOOD.  TIFF IS 35....NICCI 32.....AND WILL 26.

MY  CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN ARE THE REASON THAT I  SMILE.......THAT I LAUGH....THAT I CRY. .....THEY ARE MY HAPPY PLACE.......MY FRUSTRATION.....THEY ARE WHAT MAKES MY HEART BEAT AND SOMETIMES BREAK.......MY FAMILY IS MY EVERYTHING.........

MY CUTE NEIGHBOR GAVE ME A RECIPE FOR CARROT SOUP TODAY.......COME ON.......IT HAS TAKEN ME 85 YEARS TO MASTER THE TASTE OF PEA SOUP.....I AM NOT EVEN GOING THERE WITH CARROT OR SQUASH......AM I MISSING OUT????

BOUGHT A NEW THING TODAY.......THAT KEN AND I HAVE TO PUT TOGETHER THIS WEEKEND?????  I HOPE.   I NEED MORE STORAGE.....WHO DOESN'T?  I LOVE FUN PROJECTS......BUT THEY SEEM TO GET HARDER.......GOES IN THE HALL BY THE PANTRY AND WASHER AND DRYER......WISH ME LUCK!!!

TODAYS NEWS........

I LIKE THIS!!!!!!

THINKING ABOUT DUSTING TOMORROW.......OR NOT!

KEN IS HERE FOR THE WEEKEND WHICH MEANS VACUUM AND DUST AND CLEAN THE BATHROOMS......BUT WE HAVE TO GO TO MR MACS AND HAVE KEN MEASURED FOR PANTS FOR THE UP-COMING WEDDING.....PAM WANTS US TO WATER HER PLANTS AND FEED THE FISH IN THE POND........AND SATURDAY IS MY SLEEPING IN DAY....... ......SO DUSTING ......MAYBE NOT!  THE POEM IS JUST COMMON SENSE.

ALL THE NEWS IS THE ECLIPSE TO NIGHT IN IDAHO......MANY YEARS AGO I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE  ON A CRUISE IN KOTO KINA BULA AND WE SAW AN ECLIPSE........EVERYONE GOT ON DECK AND THEY HANDED OUT DARK GLASSES FOR US TO WATCH IT.......YOU STAND THERE AND IT IS KINDA ERIE.....AS THE LIGHT STARTS FADING AND SOON YOU ARE STANDING IN DARKNESS FOR A BIT OF TIME!  NOW WE ARE HAVING ONE SO CLOSE TO HOME........I FEEL VERY LUCKY TO HAVE WITNESS THIS PHENOMENON......

STILL HAVING 100 DEGREE WEATHER......AND AUGUST IS ZIPPING BY.

YES I HAVE STARTED MY CHRISTMAS SHOPPING???????

FACING THE FACTS.........

I DON'T CLEAN MY MIRRORS FOR THAT REASON..........

THERE IS SO MUCH IN LIFE........ESPECIALLY MINE AT 85.......THAT I WILL NEVER DO!!!!

BUT TODAY.......I JUMPED RIGHT IN AND DID SOMETHING THAT I HAVE NEVER DONE BEFORE BECAUSE IT WAS SOMETHING ON MY "BUCKET LIST" THAT HAD TO BE HANDLED..........AND WHO KNOWS WHEN MY DAYS WILL RUN OUT?

I GOT A PEDICURE....YEP,  I FINALLY DID IT AND MY PRETTY PINK TOE NAILS LOOK GREAT!!

I WAS OUT AT WALMART AND SAW A SIGN THAT SAID PEDICURES $19.99.....I WANDERED  A BIG GETTING UP MY NERVE......AND FINALLY PLUNGED RIGHT IN.........THE OLD MAN NEXT TO ME.......I DIDN'T KNOW MEN WENT IN TO HAVE THEIR TOE NAILS CUT......BUT THEY WERE GIVING HIM THE WORKS......HOT RAGS, SMELLY LOTION, BLACK ROCKS, AND SOME HOT WAXIE STUFF.   I JUST WANTED MY TOE NAILS CLIPPED AND PAINTED AND GET OUT OF THERE......SHE DID DO A FEW OTHER THINGS........AND YOU KNOW.....I WILL PROBABLY GO BACK.  MY SISTER, AND DAUGHTERS HAVE ALL TRIED TO GET ME TO GO FOR A PEDICURE.......BUT I ALWAYS FELT WHO WANTED TO TOUCH MY SMELLY FEET?

BUT........

I WILL NEVER WRITE DANTE'S INFERNO......OR PAINT A PICASSO......OR TRANSPLANT A  KIDNEY OR BUILD AN EMPIRE, NOT WILL I EVER RUN ISRAEL OR HARVARD OR APPEAR ON THE COVER OF TIME MAGAZINE........STAR ON BROADWAY......OR RESOLVE THE MIDEAST CRISIS.........BUT THAT IS OK......TODAY I AM JUST HAPPY WITH MY PRETTY PINK TOE NAILS.......WONDER IF I NEED A NEW PAIR OF SANLELS TO SHOW THEM OFF??????