WHERE IS LILY?????

THIS IS MY BEAUTIFUL THIRD GRAND-DAUGHTER.....ANNIE MOO........

SHE GOT MARRIED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND TODAY WAS THE DAY I WAS TO GET MY SECOND......GREAT-GRANDCHILD?????.... BUT SO FAR.....NO BABY! I GUESS BABIES COME WHEN THEY ARE READY........MAYBE TOMORROW!.....OR NOT!

UP TO MY ARM-PITS IN HOUSE CLEANING AND GETTING READY FOR BRIDGE HERE ON WEDNESDAY.....I AM NOT REALLY THAT CRAZY ABOUT BRIDGE.......BUT.....BUT LOVE THE PEOPLE  I HAVE BEEN PLAYING WITH FOR 50 YEARS.....AND DO HAVE TO TAKE MY TURN.....YOU KNOW CLEAN THE FISH BOWL, CLIP THE DOG, WASH THE BATHROOM RUGS AND ALL THOSE NEAT THINGS YOU HAVE BEEN GOING TO DO 

SINCE CHRISTMAS....ALMOST!

WHAT A NEIGHBORHOOD??????SUZANNE.....ON MY LEFT JUST CALLED TO SAY HONH ON THE RIGHT LEFT SOME PILLS FOR ME FOR HER TO GIVE ME AND SHE PUT THEM IN MY FLOWER POT AND CALLED TO SAY SHE WOULD SHOW ME WHERE?????SO SHE STANDS ON  HER FRONT PORCH AND TELLS ME WHERE SHE PUT THEM........THE HILLS ONE NEIGHBOR OVER WANTED ME TO GO TO........3 TACOS FOR A DOLLAR TOMORROW WITH THEM.......I CAN'T........ I HAVE TO GET READY FOR BRIDGE AND THEY AND I HAVE BEEN INVITED UP TO THE TAYLORS NEW HOUSE FOR DINNER......THEY SOLD SUZANNE THEIR HOUSE AS THEY WERE YOUNG AND DID NOT LIKE THE HOA!

I KNOW NONE OF THIS MAKES SENSE TO TO ANYONE.......HARDLY ME......BUT MY LIFE GOES ON!!!!!!

GETTING OLD....ER.....

WHAT I HATE MOST IS.......PEOPLE WHO REPEAT THEMSELVES????

I JUST READ BACK OVER MY BLOGS......AND SEE I SAID MOST THE SAME THINGS TWICE.....THAT IS BECAUSE I DON'T WRITE EVERY DAY AND FORGET WHAT I SAID IN THE LAST BLOG.......OH WELL......I DON'T THINK ANYONE BUT MY SISTER READS MY BLOGS AND SHE KNOWS I AM OLD AND SENILE......AND NO ONE ELSE HAS TO WORRY.....MAYBE A FEW YEARS DOWN THE LINE WHEN SOME OF THE GREAT-GRANDKIDS READ THIS THEY WILL THINK......"YEP, SHE WAS LOSING IT?"

SOMEDAY........

I DON'T KNOW WHERE I AM IN PEOPLE'S THOUGHTS OR PRAYERS......I CAN ONLY HOPE .......SOME OUT THERE CONSIDER ME A FRIEND , A LOVED ONE, OR EVEN A MOTHER AND SISTER.....WORTH SAYING A LITTLE PRAYER OR HAVING  A HAPPY MEMORY OF........NOW AND THEN!

YESTERDAY PATTY A NEIGHBOR FROM MY OTHER LIFE CAME BY FOR COFFEE AND JUST AS SHE WAS WALKING OUT THE DOOR.....MY OLD NEIGHBORS FROM NEXT DOOR WHEN I MOVED IN HERE 3 YEARS AGO CAME BY TO INVITE ME TO THEIR PLACE FOR DINNER ON TUESDAY.....KIM AND KELLY WERE YOUNGER AND DID NOT LIKE HOA'S.......WITH KIDS AND DOGS IT ISN'T THE BEST PLACE TO GROW OLD!!!!

THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT REALLY COUNT IN MY LIFE NOW DAYS......THE CHRISTENSON'S STAYED ALL NIGHT THURSDAY AND LEFT FOR HAWAII FRIDAY FOR A WEEK......ALEX CAME WITH THEM AND WE HAD A NICE BIRTHDAY DINNER WITH DARREN'S DAD BUD.......THESE ARE THE IMPORTANT THINGS IN MY LIFE.  KEN WAS OFF TO A MOVIE WITH HIS OTHER GRAM TODAY AND I WENT SHOPPING??? CHURCH TOMORROW AND ANOTHER FEW DAYS TILL FEBRUARY!!!!......OH YES......I HAVE TO HAVE BRIDGE WEDNESDAY.......SUCH A CHORE ANY MORE!!!!!

I JUST HAVE TO........

I JUST HAVE TO KEEP TURNING THE PAGES......I HAVE WANTED TO CLOSE THE BOOK TWICE ON HEART BREAKING THINGS IN MY LIFE........BUT THANK GOODNESS I TURNED THE PAGE AND WAS ABLE TO START A NEW CHAPTER IN MY LIFE THAT HAS BEEN SO REWARDING!!!!!!  THE FIRST TIME I ENDED UP TRAVELING AROUND THE WORLD.....YEA......THE SECOND TIME.....I RELIED ON FRIENDS AND THE FAMILY THAT STILL LOVES ME AND I  FOUND SO MANY BLESSINGS ALONG THE WAY.....LIKE GOD! I HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED IF PLAN A FAILS........THE ALPHABET STILL HAS 25 MORE LETTERS.........SO MOVING ON TO THE NEXT CHAPTER......

I HAVE ALWAYS SAID I WOULD NEVER BE A SLAVE TO MY "BIRTH CERTIFICATE"....I AM SOON TURNING 86......BUT IN  MY MIND I STILL HAVE A LONG ROAD TO TRAVEL......AND THE REST OF MY LIFE CAN STILL BE THE BEST OF MY LIFE?.

A BRAND NEW YEAR.......

TODAY I FEEL LIKE THIS  CHICKEN LOOKS......BUT WHY?????MY CHRISTENSON FAMILY STAYED ALL NIGHT WITH ME BEFORE TAKING OFF FOR HAWAII THIS MORNING.....INCLUDING ALEX WHO HAD TO DRIVE THEM TO THE AIRPORT......THEN TAKE A LOAD OF FURNITURE BACK TO VERNAL AND TAKING CARE OF THE BUSINESS ALL WEEK WHILE MOM AND DAD ARE GONE......I WILL HAVE KEN AGAIN THIS WEEKEND!!!!  TOMORROW HE IS OFF TO A MOVIE WITH THE OTHER GRANDMA.......BECAUSE HE SHOULD!!!!!!  DARREN TOOK US TO A FUN RESTRAUANT FOR DINNER AND WE CELEBRATED HIS FATHER'S BIRTHDAY LAST NIGHT....I LOVE BUD AND ENJOY GOING OUT WITH HIM.....THE CHRISTENSONS STAYED ALL NIGHT WITH ME AND LEFT FOR HAWAII AT 11:00 THIS MORNING.....TO KONA!  FOR A WEEK!

IT IS COLD......I STAYED HOME TODAY........PATTY CAME FOR COFFEE AND OUR WEEKLY THERAPY SESSION......AS SHE WAS LEAVING THE TAYLORS WHO USE TO LIVE NEXT DOOR CAME BY AND INVITED ME TO DINNER AT THEIR HOUSE NEXT TUESDAY.......I WAS SO EXCITED.....WILL GO WITH THE HILLS....OTHER NEIGHBORS......WHO ARE ALSO INVITED.......THE TAYLORS A YOUNGER COUPLE DID NOT LIKE THE HOH STUFF........ME NEITHER!!!!!.

I HAVE DECIDED I CAN USE EACH DAY AS I WILL......AND WANT THEM ALL TO COUNT IN MY LIFE.....BECAUSE THIS DAY IS GONE FOREVER LEAVING IN IT'S PLACE WHAT I TRADED IT FOR......IT BETTER BE WORTH IT!

MAKES SOME PEOPLE HAPPY......

                                                                              I LOVE WEEKENDS.......I CAN SLEEP TILL 8:00 ON SATURDAY......BUT NOW OUR CHURCH HOUR HAS CHANGED TO 9:00.....GHRONNN!.....SO UP EARLY IN THE MORNING BECAUSE KEN IS HERE THIS WEEK END.....AND OFF TO SACRAMENT FOR AN HOUR....HOME BY TEN FOR A LONG SNOWY DAY!!!!!
WOKE UP TO ABOUT 10 INCHES OF SNOW THIS MORNING AND IT HAS SNOWED ON AND OFF ALL DAY.....MY DARLING NEIGHBOR DID HALF MY DRIVEWAY.....BUT KEN''S TRUCK BLOCKED THE SIDEWALK......SO KEN  HAD TO DO IT  AND CLEANED OFF HIS TRUCK!!!  I HOPE ALL THOSE WHO DID THE "SNOW DANCE" THIS WEEKEND ARE HAPPY??????
               I DID SNEAK IN A 2 HOUR NAP AND STARTED CLEANING OUT MY CLOSET!!!!! "HELP!"......I HAVE SO MUCH I DON'T NEED.....NOW......BUT WHO KNOWS......I MIGHT NEED LATER?  I THINK I MIGHT HAVE A LITTLE "HOARDER".....IN ME?.......IT WILL TAKE ME ALL WEEK TO GET THROUGH THE MESS.......SHER SAID IT WAS SNOWING IN VERNAL AND I AM SURE PAM AND ROB ARE HAVING FUN WITH THEIR SNOWMOBILES IN ISLAND PARK AND THE WINTER FESTIVAL GOING ON THIS WEEK END......
          MY SILLY DOG JUST LOVES THE SNOW.....IN AND OUT.....IN AND OUT......SHE RUNS OUT AND EATS A FEW BITES OF SNOW AND ROLLS IN IT......AND THEN WANTS IN......AND IN 10 MINUTES.......SHE DOES IT AGAIN......OLD AGE?????.......SHE IS 15 GOING ON 16.........?

THE TIME COMES.......

AT 85.......YOU HAVE PRETTY WELL LOCKED IN THOSE PEOPLE WHO LIKE YOU AND THOSE WHO DON'T.......AND IT IS UP TO YOU TO DECIDE WHETHER TO FEEL BAD OR GLAD ABOUT IT!  I HAVE ALWAYS TRIED TO BE SOMEONE EVERYONE LIKED AND WHEN DARREN'S DAD TOLD ME NOT LONG AGO....."BETTY, EVERYBODY LIKES YOU".......THAT WAS SUCH A GREAT COMPLIMENT!..THIS BEGAN WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL AND IS SOMETHING I HAVE TRIED TO ALWAYS DO OR BE........

IF I COULD TELL MY KIDS......OR FRIENDS......ONE THING........ IT IS: "THE GREATEST GIFT YOU CAN GIVE SOMEONE IS YOUR TIME......BECAUSE YOU ARE GIVING A PORTION OF YOUR LIFE THAT YOU WILL NEVER GET BACK?"

I KNOW LIFE IS 10% WHAT HAPPENS TO ME......AND 90% OF HOW I REACT TO IT!  I AM WORKING HARD ON MOVING FORWARD POSITIVELY......

NEAT FAMILY......

          I LOVE THIS PICTURE........
MY THIRD LITTLE SISTER WITH HER THREE SONS AND ONE DAUGHTER.......SHE TOOK THEM ON A CRUISE TO CELEBRATE HER 75TH BIRTHDAY......MIKE, KEVIN, DUKANE AND KRISTY........I HAVE ADOPTED MIKE AS  THE SON I NEVER HAD AND WE HAVE SHARED SO MANY FUN TIMES AND MEMORIES........I ONLY REMEMBER THAT I WANTED TO FLUSH KEVIN DOWN THE TOILET WHEN HE WAS LITTLE......HE WAS SUCH A BUSY LITTLE BOY.......I NEVER GOT TO KNOW DUKANE MUCH......BUT AM SO PROUD OF ALL THE THINGS HE HAS DONE.....AND STILL DOES.  HE IS ...HIS OWN PERSON.....AND WE SHOULD ALL BE.....THAT CUTE KRISTI IS A "POLICEMAN".....OR WOMAN.......ANYWAY SHE IS REAL IMPORTANT  IN THE LAW AREA?????  WE HAD FUN THE MONTH I TENDED HER MOM WITH THE FOOT OPERATION AND HER NEAT HUSBAND WHO SHARED HIS CAVA CAVA WITH ME ONE NIGHT......FAMILY......SO THANKFUL FOR THEIR LOVE AND SUPPORT.......OH YES...... SHE GOT THIS NEAT QUILT FROM OUR FRIEND LINDA BECAUSE SHE TURNED.75......HEY LINDA.....I TURNED 85 AND I DIDN'T GET A QUILT!!!!!

AHHH WINTER......

WELL, I GUESS YOU CAN ONLY HAVE GOOD LUCK SO LONG????.....MINE HAS RUN OUT AND I KEPT HOPING WE WOULD JUST FORGET WINTER THIS YEAR.......BUT THEY KEEP FOR CASTING IT IS UPON US!!!! THIS MORNING WHEN KEN WENT TO WORK IT WAS 52 DEGREES AND I GUESS IT WAS 63 SOMEWHERE IN THE DAY......BUT TONIGHT IT IS RAIN TURNING TO SNOW .......AND LOTS OF IT!  UGH.......I WILL GRIT MY TEETH AND ACCEPT.....AFTER ALL I LIVE IN UTAH!

PATTY CAME BY FOR COFFEE THIS MORNING AND THIS AFTER NOON KEN AND I HIT WALMART......TO STOCK UP ON MOVIES FOR THE WEEKEND AS HE IS NOT GOING HOME THIS WEEKEND......I LOVE HAVING HIM HERE.....BUT WHAT DO I COOK?

I DECIDED TO TRY COOKING WITH WINE......BUT AFTER THREE GLASSES I FORGOT WHY I WAS IN THE KITCHEN......GRILL CHEESE ANYONE?

START EACH DAY......

A LONG TIME AGO I SAW AND MEMORIZED A LITTLE THOUGHT THAT HAS STUCK WITH ME OVER THE YEARS......AS I GROW OLDER AND VALUE EVERY NEW DAY GOD GIVES ME........I HAVE DECIDED TO START EACH DAY WITH THIS THOUGHT......

"TODAY IS THE BEGINNING OF A NEW DAY.....

GOD HAS GIVEN ME THIS DAY TO DO AS A WILL......

I CAN WASTE IT....OR USE IT WELL......BUT

WHAT I DO WITH THIS DAY.....IS IMPORTANT......BECAUSE I AM EXCHANGING A DAY OF MY LIFE FOR IT.

TOMORROW......THIS DAY WILL BE GONE FOREVER.......

LEAVING IN IT'S PLACE WHAT I TRADED IT FOR.........

I WANT IT TO BE A WIN.....NOT A LOSS.....

A SUCCESS.....NOT A FAILURE......

GOOD NOT BAD......

IN ORDER THAT I WILL NEVER REGRET THE PRICE I PAID FOR THIS DAY!"

WE WERE HAPPY TO GET THE NEWS TODAY THAT RUSSEL NELSON IS THE NEW PROPHET OF THE MORMON CHURCH.  HE GAVE UP A BRILLIANT CAREER AS A "HEART SURGEON" TO WORK FOR GOD.  HE HAS 9 DAUGHTERS!!!!

THINK YOUNG........

SO TRUE......IN OUR MINDS WE ARE STILL YOUNG AND CAPABLE OF ALL THE THING WE HAVE BEEN DOING MOST OUR LIVES......LIFTING, BENDING STAYING UP LATE, SHOPPING ALL DAY ETC.  I THINK YOUNG......BUT MY POOR BODY SAYS....."I DON'T THINK SO?"......DOES THAT MAKE ME A DELUSIONAL OLD FART?......I GUESS SO!

KEN BACK AFTER A WEEK VACATION......SO NOW TO GET BACK INTO OUR OLD ROUTINE.......WHICH WE ARE BOTH COMFORTABLE WITH.  HAD THE FLU THE PAST FEW DAYS......AND STILL DRAGGING.....TALKED TO TWO NEIGHBORS GOING THRU THE SAME THING..... OUR TEMPERATURE WAS 52 DEGREES TODAY.....WE HAVE HAD NO WINTER SO FAR THIS YEAR.

TOMORROW I AM OFF TO BRIDGE AT THE TOWN CLUB......THAT MEANS DRIVE DOWN TO SOUTH TEMPLE.....WHICH IS NOT MY FAVORITE THING TO DO....BUT WE SKIPPED THE HOLIDAYS SO WILL BE NICE TO CATCH UP ON ALL THE LATEST NEWS.

PAM SAID ANN PETERSON/TEMPEST JUST GOT ENGAGED OVER THE HOLIDAYS.....THAT MAKES US ALL SO HAPPY.......STEVE HAS BEEN DEAD A LONG TIME AND SHE HAS RAISED THREE GREAT GIRLS, MARRIED WITH KIDS,.......

I SO NEED TO CLEAN OUT MY CLOSET AND DRAWERS.....CAN'T TOMORROW......MAYBE NEXT WEEK.....OR NOT?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LES......

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LESLIE RUTH YEOMANS/RAMSEY.......

I WAS 11 YEARS OLD WHEN LESLIE WAS BORN.......UP THE STREET IN GRANDMA GOFF'S HOUSE......ALL FOUR OF US GIRLS WERE BORN THERE.......AND I WAS JUST THE RIGHT AGE  TO DO LOTS OF BABY SITTING.  MOTHER CAME HOME......BUT 75 YEARS AGO WHEN A WOMAN HAD A BABY SHE STAYED IN BED 10 DAYS AFTER-WARDS.....BOY HAVE THINGS CHANGED IN 75 YEARS!

LESLIE TOOK HER FOUR KIDS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANT OTHERS......PLUS A FEW NIECES AND FRIENDS.......ON A CRUISE AND HERE SHE IS CELEBRATING ONE NIGHT.  I REALLY MISSED OUR PHONE CALLS WHILE SHE WAS GONE THAT WEEK.

DO IT NOW!!!!!....

I HAVE SEVERAL VERY GOOD FRIENDS.......THAT DO NOT BELIEVE IN GOD.  THEY TAKE THEIR LAST BREATH.....HEAD FOR THE CREMATORIUM AND THE ASHES GET PUT UP ON THE SHELF IN THE FRONT CLOSET.......I DON'T THINK SO!\

WITH GOD IN OUR WORLD YOU ARE NOT AN ACCIDENT.....YOU ARE A GIFT TO THE WORLD.....A DIVINE WORK OF ART, SIGNED BY GOD.

WHAT MAKES US SPECIAL IS NOT ONLY OUR BODY BUT THE SIGNATURE OF GOD IN OUR LIVES.

WE ARE HIS WORK OF ART, WE ARE CREATED IN HIS IMAGE TO DO GOOD DEEDS. WE ARE SIGNIFICANT NOT BECAUSE OF WHAT WE DO BUT BECAUSE OF WHO WE ARE. 

GOD IS THE BEGINNING AND THE END IN MY LIFE.  CHOOSE YOUR PATHS IN LIFE CAREFULLY.

MY CHURCH......

YESTERDAY WAS A BRIGHT SUNNY DAY......53 DEGREES......AND THE 12TH OF JANUARY.......BUT OUR HEARTS WERE SAD AS THEY BURIED THE PROPHET  0F OUR CHURCH.....PRESIDENT MONSON.

HE HAD BEEN A FAVORITE AND DONE SO MUCH CHANGING THE AGE KIDS LEFT FOR MISSIONS AND BUILDING TEMPLES.  WHO WILL BE THE NEXT PROPHET OF THE CHURCH WILL BE DECIDED SOON.......I WOULD LOVE TO SEE ELDER UCHTDORF, BUT RUSSEL NELSON WILL PROBABLY BE MOVED UP......MANY YEARS AGO WHEN HE WAS JUST A HEART SURGEON......RUSSELL NELSON OPERATED ON MY BROTHER-IN-LAW PHIL NORTON.......THINGS CHANGE OVER THE YEARS.

YEA.......PANNIERS BROUGHT THEIR BIG LADDER AND PUT NEW BULBS IN THE LIGHT OVER THE STAIRS....."LET THERE BE LIGHT".....IT WILL MAKE KEN HAPPY.

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.....

I HAVE A SIGN ON MY WALL IN THE DEN THAT SAYS.....".THE IMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE .....ARE NOT THINGS"......AND IT IS CIRCLED BY PICTURES OF MY 9 GRANDKIDS.......THEY ARE NOT THINGS!  THEY ARE THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE ME WHO I AM........I TRIED TO MAKE THEIR PARENTS THE PEOPLE THEY ARE....SO THEY COULD MAKE THEM....THE PEOPLE THEY ARE.....AND MY GRANDKIDS ARE ALL TURNING INTO GREAT PEOPLE.  I HAVE SO MANY FUN MEMORIES OF BABY-SITTING, TRIPS AND VACATIONS AND HOLIDAYS WITH THESE WONDERFUL PEOPLE.....IT HAS BEEN A TRADE-OFF OF A "MOTHER AND FATHER"....RELATIONSHIP.....BUT HAS WORKED.

SO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.......BETTY

GO FOR A WALK.......

EAT YOUR FAVORITE FOOD......

GET A HAIR CUT?

CRY IF YOU NEED TO.....READ A SAD BOOK.....

TAKE A VACATION AND HAVE A DRINK!

DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO......TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.....BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY ....YOU ARE ALL YOU'VE GOT!!!!

SOMETHING MISSING.......

EVER HAVE ONE OF THOSE DAYS?

SEEMS I HAVE MORE AND MORE THESE COLD SHORT DAYS......

I HAVE A LIST A MILE LONG OF TO-DO'S......BUT DON'T SEEM TO BE CROSSING MUCH OFF EACH DAY.   

IT IS ALMOST 50 DEGREES TODAY......AND THE MIDDLE OF JANUARY.   MAYBE WE ARE GOING TO SKIP WINTER THIS YEAR!!!  I TRY AND GET OUT AND SHOP A LITTLE, BUT ALL THE STORES ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF CLEANING OUT WINTER AND XMAS AND VALENTINES AND EASTER BUNNIES ARE POPPING UP EVERY WHERE,,,,,,,AND I AM NOT QUITE READY FOR THAT.

THE CHRISTENSON'S ARE IN COLORADO THIS WEEKEND.....AND MY BRAYDEN AND LIBBY ARE HEADING FOR TEXAS FOR A NEW JOB.......SO FAR AWAY.  LIFE  IS JUST  ONE ADJUSTMENT AFTER  THE OTHER......GUESS IT KEEPS US MOVING ON.

LIFE IS ALWAYS NOW!!!!!

HOW LONG DO YOU HAVE TO LIVE TO REALIZE........"LIFE IS ALWAYS NOW"?

I OFTEN REFER TO MY "OTHER LIFE"......WHICH WAS WHEN I WAS MARRIED TO DON FOR 30 YEARS........MARRIED AND SINGLE ARE JUST WORDS TO HELP YOU NAVIGATE EACH DAY.......I AM SINGLE......HAVE BEEN FOR ALMOST 32 YEARS......AND I LIKE IT!  I LIKE BEING ME......MAKING MY ONE DECISIONS.....FEELING MY OWN FEELINGS......DOING WHAT I  NEED TO DO.....WHEN I WANT TO DO IT.....WITH WHO I WANT TO DO IT WITH......MY FOLKS NEVER DIVORCED AND I AM SO HAPPY BECAUSE A DIVORCE IS HARD ON THE CHILDREN....WHOSE SIDE SHALL WE TAKE.....NO BODY'S......EVERY PANCAKE HAS TWO SIDES .......DON AND I WERE BOTH INDIVIDUALS WITH DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES........WE DIDN'T BELONG TOGETHER.....BUT WAS HIS OTHER CHOICE ANY BETTER?   ONLY HE COULD ANSWER THAT.....AND WHAT WE HAVE SEEN..........WELL?

SO AS I GET UP EVERY MORNING.......I WONDER......WHAT WILL MY LIFE BE TODAY GOD?  I LOVE WAKING UP EACH  MORNING....I REALLY DO.....GOD IS GIVING ME ANOTHER CHANCE TO SAY.....THANK YOU"......I HAVE SO MUCH TO LIVE FOR IN 2018.......NEW GREAT-GRANDBABIES......WEDDINGS......AND HELPING KEN FINISH HIS TWO YEAR MISSION.......WHY AM I BUYING ALL THIS CHRISTMAS STUFF THAT IS 75% OFF AND STORING IT TILL NEXT CHRISTMAS? .....I AM PLANNING ON ANOTHER CHRISTMAS GOD!!!!!

CLUTTER......

HOW CAN YOU THROW OUT SOMETHING THAT YOU LOVE.?  NO, IT MIGHT NOT FIT OR STILL BE IN STYLE......BUT IT WAS FUN AND YOU LOVED IT??????  AND MAYBE SOMEDAY.......IN ANOTHER LIFE......YOU MIGHT USE IT?  THAT SHOULDN'T COUNT WITH SOCKS AND UNDERWEAR.......BUT FOR SOME REASON IT DOES!

I HAVE GOT TO.....GOT TO......CLEAN MY CLOSET AND DRAWERS......OR MOVE OUT!

PAM JUST DID HER'S AND IT LOOKS SO NICE......I BOUGHT SOME PASTIC BOXES TO ENCOURAGE ME....BUT SO FAR I JUST KEEP THINKING ABOUT HOW BAD PEOPLE WHO HOARD ARE......AND I AM ONE OF THEM,,,,,,IF I WOULD HAVE SAID "YES" TO KORINA I COULD BE SAILING ALONG MEXICO WITH MY FUN RAMSEY FAMILY.....BUT HERE I AM ENJOYING THE RAIN......NO SNOW THANK YOU.   KEN IS GONE FOR A WEEK SO IT IS CEREAL OR SOUP EVERY MEAL.......WELL ANYWAY CLEANING WOULD NOT BE ON MY MIND......

MAYBE TOMORROW??????.....OR NOT!

I HURT....

REALLY AT ALMOST 86......YOU REALIZE THIS IS ALL YOU REALLY HAVE LEFT IN LIFE!!!!!!!   THESE I WILL HAVE ALWAYS.

MY FOOT IS KILLING ME......I HAVE BEEN TO TWO PODIATRISTS AND NO HELP......SO MY DOCTOR SENT ME TO A SHOE MAN?????   SKIP PUT SOME NEW FOOT LIFTS OR SOLES IN MY SHOES TODAY.....($60.00)...... AND SAID IT WILL TAKE TIME FOR MY CO- LAPSED SUBTARAR TO HEAL......WHAT EVER??????  I SURELY HOPE IT DOES IT SOON......SO SORE....AND MOVING LIKE AN OLD LADY!!!!!

PATTY CALLED AND I DROPPED BY FOR COFFEE......SO MANY THINGS ON MY TO-DO LIST AND I AM JUST COASTING ALONG THINKING ABOUT THEM.....I WANT TO TILE MY BACK SPLASH IN THE KITCHEN AND I WANT TO WALL PAPER ONE WALL OF MY HALF-BATHROOM.  I NEED TO GET IN TOUCH WITH MY HELP-FAIRY.......HELP!!!!!

MY DARLING SHERRIE JUST CALLED......CHECKING IN....THANK YOLU, THANK YOU.....YOU WILL NEVER KNOW WHAT  YOUR CALLS MEAN TO ME!

WABI-SABI

I JUST NEED A HAPPY THOUGHT TODAY.........THIS TO ME IS HAPPY!

RAINED MOST OF THE DAY....BUT WITH MY WABI-SABI TRAINING....WHERE YOU FIND SOMETHING EVERY DAY GOOD, BEAUTIFUL, HAPPY ETC.......I GO FOR IT....... SO IT RAINED ALL DAY.......AT LEAST YOU DON'T HAVE TO SHOVEL RAIN......IT IS JANUARY 9 AND WE SHOULD BE KNEE DEEP IN SNOW........NOPE.....NOT THIS WEEK!  THEY ARE GETTING OUR SNOW BACK EAST?

PAM AND I WENT TO LUNCH AND SHOPPING YESTERDAY....ROB OFF HUNTING GEESE IN WYO AND KEN WENT HOME TO VERNAL FOR A WEEK AND A LITTLE TRIP...HE HAS BEEN SICK ALL WEEK WITH COUGH AND STUFFED UP.......SOOOO I AM EATING CEREAL AND ROMAN NOODLES THIS WEEK!!.......AND SLEEPING IN TILL 8:00 EACH DAY.

ONE WAY TICKET......

WELL......IT DOESN'T HURT TO WISH......I HAD BALI IN MIND!.....BUT CHRISTMAS HAS COME AND GONE SO I GUESS I WILL HAVE TO TRY AGAIN NEXT YEAR.......MY SISTER'S WHOLE FAMILY ARE SAILING ALONG SOMEWHERE AROUND MEXICO TODAY......AND I HAD A CHANCE TO BE WITH THEM......BUT HAVE BEEN THERE SO MANY  TIMES .......I WANT TO SEE NEW STUFF!!!!  IT IS HERE 75 BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION AND I AM HAPPY FOR ALL OF THEM..........

IT HAS BEEN A LONG WEEKEND FOR KEN AND I......HE IS COUGHING HIS HEAD OFF AND I AM TRYING NOT TO GET IT.......WE HAVEN'T LEFT THE HOUSE SAT OR SUNDAY.  HE WILL WORK A COUPLE OF DAYS AND THEN GO HOME FOR A DENTIST APPOINTMENT AND OFF TO COLO FOR A PROMISED TRIP FOR FINISHING THE "BRAIN CHANGE" CLASS.......I HAVE TO GET HIM WELL.  I HAVE FELT DRAGGY......BUT DON'T THINK I WILL GET IT......IT'S JUST MY FOOT THAT IS GIVING ME PROBLEMS.

MULTI-TASKING

MY NEW YEARS RESOLUTION.........GREAT ADVICE!

I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD CONSIDER MYSELF A MULTI-TASKER......BUT I CAN TURN ON THE ROBOT AND CLEAN THE FLOORS......TURN ON THE WASH MACHINE AND DO THE LAUNDRY.....AND TURN ON THE DISH WASHER AND DO THE DISHES.......AND......AND.....PHONE MY KIDS ALL AT THE SAME TIME...WOW!!!

I WONDER WHAT MY MOM AND GRANDMA THINK WHEN THEY LOOK DOWN AND SEE WHAT IS GOING ON?   WOULD I BE CONSIDERED LAZY IN THEIR EYES.....AS HARD AS THEY WORKED AT DOING THOSE EVERY DAY CHORES......BACK THEN?

I DO FEEL VERY BLESSED AND COUNT MY BLESSINGS EVERY DAY.......

KEN SICK SO HAVE NOT LEFT THE HOUSE ALL WEEKEND.....GOT TO GET HIM OVER THAT COUGH!

I WISH.......

   YES, WE GOT IT.....KEN CAME HOME NEW YEARS EVE WITH THE FLU AND HAS COUGHED HIS HEAD OFF ALL WEEK.......MISSED TWO DAYS OF WORK AND WE ARE WORKING ON IT THIS WEEKEND......I AM QUISLING EMERGEN-C AND HOPING I DON'T GET IT......THEY DON'T DO FLU SHOTS IN THEIR FAMILY.....A MISTAKE.....BUT NOT IN CHARGE.....

FINALLY GETTING A LITTLE  RAIN AND SNOW TODAY;......BEEN A VERY DRY DEC AND JAN SO FAR.......NEIGHBOR HAS THE STOMACH FLU AND THE OTHER NEIGHBOR A BACK CANCER......BUT I HAVE A COLLAPSED SUBTARAR!!!!!WHATEVER THAT IS????

MINE SOUNDS WAY MORE IMPORTANT!!!!!  SOMETHING IN MY FOOT HAS DROPPED.....AND IT HURTS....

JUST THINK I COULD BE IN LA AND EMBARKING ON A CRUISE TO MEXICO WITH LESLIE AND RELATIVES....BUT I JUST DIDN'T HAVE IT IN ME ANYMORE......BEEN THERE....DONE THAT IN NEW YORK A FEW YEARS BACK.   I WISH I COULD HELP HER CELEBRATE 75......BUT I WILL IN SPIRIT!!!!   I COULD HAVE ROOMED WITH KINA.  I WILL MISS HER THIS WEEK BUT GLAD SHE FELT SHE COULD TAKE ALL THE KIDS  ON A CRUISE.......AND I WILL MISS HER THIS WEEK......  I TOOK MY THREE DAUGHTERS WHEN I WAS 75....GLAD YOUR ONLY 75 ONCE!.......THANK GOODNESS   WE LEFT FROM NEW ORLEANS ON MARTIGRAW AND SHERRIE MADE OUR RESERVATIONS FOR WHEN WE CAME HOME......NOT LEAVING.....FINALLY ON MAIN STREET WE GOT A ROOM FOR $401.00 DOLLARS THAT NIGHT.......THE REST OF THE WEEK DIDN'T GO MUCH BETTER........FAMILIES????  THAT WAS 10 YEARS AGO FOR ME.....AND MOVING ON!.....ISN'T IT GREAT YOU CAN FORGET AND FORGIVE?

TURNING THE CORNER???

       I AM SMILING AS I LOOK FORWARD TO 2018 BEING ANOTHER GREAT YEAR IN MY LIFE.......
      AT OUR ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY.......THE COOKS CAME.....AND SEEM TO ENJOY.......  IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I HAD A PICTURE OF SHER AND KAR SIDE BY SIDE......HOPEFULLY KARRIE IS TURNING THE CORNER ON HER FEELINGS FOR OUR FAMILY?? AND THERE WILL BE MORE CUTE PICTURES OF THEM ENJOYING EACH OTHER.....THIS IS ALSO ALEX AND HIS NEW GIRL FRIEND ASHLYN ......
       2018......WITH MUCH TO LOOK FORWARD TO.   A NEW LITTLE GREAT-GRANDDAUGHTER IN THREE WEEKS.......I AM STILL ON BOARD FOR EIGHT MORE MONTHS AS KENNEDY'S (MISSION COMPANION....HAHA)......YOU KNOW.....GO TO CHURCH AGAIN, PAY YOUR TYTHING AND READ SCRIPTURES EVERY MORNING!.....WE JUST FINISHED THE BOOK OF MORMON IN THE LAST 16 MONTHS..
WILL AND LIZ HAVE SET OCT 12 FOR A WEDDING......AND I AM BETTING ALEX AND ASHLYN AREN'T FAR BEHIND......OR BEFORE......WITH 9 GRANDKIDS......YOU GET LOTS OF SURPRISES HANDED TO YOU.......AND I LOVE THEM ALL SO MUCH.
        I AM VERY BLESSED AND I DO NOT TAKE ONE THING FOR GRANITE......AND GIVE MY WONDERFUL PARENTS MUCH CREDIT FOR THE THINGS THEY TAUGHT ME AND THE EXAMPLES THEY GAVE ME TO LIVE BY........THAT HAVE HELPED ME THROUGH MY 85 YEARS.

HAPPY NEW YEAR......2018!

AS 2017 SLIDES AWAY AND A NEW YEAR IS UPON US.......WE ALL PROMISE TO DO BETTER.......MAKE RESOLUTIONS WE WILL NOT KEEP AND GET BACK INTO OUR OLD RUTS.........BUT WE CAN NEVER FORGET......."MAKE A CHOICE....AND GET THE CONSEQUENCES"......SO CTR....CHOOSE THE RIGHT.

I DID STAY UP UNTIL 10:00 AND WATCHED THE BALL DROP IN NEW YORK......SHIRLEY AND I WENT TO SEE "COCO" AND HAD AN EARLY DINNER AT THE RED LOBSTER.....AND THIS NEW YEARS DAY?????MY NEW ROBOT "MERTLE".....IS VACUMING, THE WASHER IS DOING THE LAUNDRY AND I AM "BLOGGING!"...... MY WAY OF STARTING OFF THE NEW YEAR.........