HAPPY 74 JIM........

Happy Birthday Jimmy Dick.....you survived 74 years with four big sisters to boss you around.  I was 14 when you were born and you were 4 when I went away to college.....so I never really got to know my little brother.....It is so fun now that we are both single to have our nice long talks and get to enjoy you......you were born on your cousin Lucille's birthday and she is my age......and tomorrow is my 64th wedding anniversary.....Mom had your birthday party one day and my wedding the next.....As you said when you were a little boy....."My mom and Jesus can do anything!"  she had just made you a sling shot out of willows etc......and thatt was the truth.....MORTI

NOW WHAT.?..

lESLIE AND I........looking like we are ready for anything......but we are all dressed up for a baseball game to watch Braly......Hat...dark glasses....big drink.  I have no idea where I got this picture but it is kinda scarey......this is the way I look at us.....not how we look!

"Within us gleams the twinkle of starlight and he flicker of candlelight, the luster of gold and the shimmer of silver, the sparkle of diamonds and the glimmer of precious gems, the luminescence of moonbeams and the blaze of the sun...we are radiant".....all that under those hats!

NOTHING NEW.....

You have to do something....so you eat.....or sleep.  They are both doing something....BUT how can that go on day after day now for six weeks?  Everyone will need new sizes in their summer wardrobes.   It doesn't matter what day of the week it is anymore.....they are all the same.....well the weather changes a little .....But no church on Sunday or get up Monday morning and go to work....those things aren't happening.

I realize that pessimism isn't going to get me out of bed or make my coffee or do the laundry or pay the bills on time....and so in this very dark time in our country .....I must try and be optimistic ......doing this moment by moment can be a gift to myself,,,,,,This is feeding my spirit in the meantime and not poisoning the present with worry or despair or defeaist thinking.I will stay home and I will wear a mask and gloves if I go out,,,,,,and I must go out when the time is right,,,,and not worry constantly about gettting sick at my age......and just sitting home eating......

KEN'S CAR....

I love it!

Ken just bought him a razor....for two.   Hey Ken....Gram can hardly wait for you to take me for a ride...maybe this summer....It is definitly YOU!  You know how much Gram loves you and how proud I am of you and all the great things you have learned to do.....remember the sky is the limit and just keep going........Happy 22 years old......

WONDERFUL NEIGHBORS.....

This is Honh Shaefer who is on the other half of my house.....She is 42 and from Viet Namh......She loves to cook and feed the neighborhood....but as you can see she is eating a baby octopus.....one night when we went out to dinner.....she grew up eating them...BUT I think I will leave them to her.  She is such a sweet neighbor and keeps me in interesting different dishes and I know as long as I live next door to Honh and Mark.....I will never go hungry!  I am grandma Betty to her because of her little puppy "BEAU"....that I tend sometimes.....THANK YOU God for good neighbors.......

BAG THIS SHELTER IN PLACE STUFF.....

As you can see......I am really enjoying my 88th......All the neighbors dropped by for birthday cake....thanks to Gay......and 13 neighbors and church members wandered by to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY.......I love my neighbors that love you no matter how old you get!!!!  I am showing off the beautiful pj's that Sherrie gave me and one of the gifts was a roll of toilet paper and a bottle of hand sanitizer.....worth gobs.......Sunday a family day....LIFE IS GOOD AT 7891 Farm Wood Ln.

LIFE IN PAGE.....

Roommates and family enjoying the beautiful weather in Page Arizona......Love the pictures and glad they can help Darren and enjoy the weather down there,,,,,,

BEST PART OF BEING OLD.....

The best part of getting old is you get grandkids.....These three Christenson boys....Ken....Brayden and Alex are and have always been a big part of my life.....Last year at the cabin in Park City we enjoyed the fall leaves.  These boys always on hand to help fix...improve or repair for Gram and always lots of hugs.....I am such a lucky Gram.   Ken just turned 22 and wanted to spend his birthday with Gram.....so he and Sher came and stayed all night Monday night with me.....fun dinner from CHEESE CAKE FACTORY......and helped me put away my Easter stuff.....Siher colored my hair and did my toe nails.....these are the things that keep me happy and well and getting to a 88 birthtday!  I miss Libby and Brayden.....as they have spent most the month helping Darren in Page because no work here......but Brayden got a notice to get back to his job the first of May.

(I just have to include this.....Don called Sher last night and said..."get me out of here...they feed me a dryed up hamber etc"......today I guess Toni's son set up a food account at some place and they can order food in everyday....not sure where the hospital has them staying...she has to have a back operation first part of May).....what goes round....comes round!

BIRTHDAYS ARE GOOD.....

How lucky I am to be enjoying my....great-grandchildren.  Aaron made me this card for my birhday and a bead necklace....I so wanted to grab him and hug him.....but I guess no more hugs for awhile.  My other three great-grandchildren are not old enough to even realize they have a great-grandmother and to them I am just GIGI....Great-gram......Yes .....it was a fun day thanks to the neighbors and family.....I hope I am worth all the love and attention I got.....Maybe they were just surprised I've lived this long......

JUST A NUMBER.....

This is the only way to look at old age......or the number of years the world had to put up with us......these last two months has really taken a tole with many of us.....I have given up my pretty long nails and I am letting my hair go grey.....don't know when we can get back into the nail saloons and hair coloring favorite.....soooo why fight it?  Besides I think 88 is a good round number to be.

Spent the morning making masks for the relief society.......guess I am getting my service projects in for the month.....Am I getting close to being.....over the hill?????

PRE-BIRTHDAY PARTY......

I guess where there is a will.....there is a way.   I turn 88 tomorrow.....and we are in "shut down".....because of the viris.....for at least two more weeks.....no groups of people to gather....Well my darling neighbors figured it out to have a party for me......They decorated my front porch and then set up chairs six feet apart in the grass between my neighbor and I........I sat on the porch...... I think I counted 13 neighbors who ended up dropping by and eating cake.......beautiful red roses arrived from the Christensons...Pat Noall brought by food and The Hortons stopped by with a card and necklace Aaron made for me...he was excited to take the balloons home......So this is one of the strangest birthday partys I have ever had.....but one I will always remember.......favorite gift....a roll of toilet paper and a bottle of hand sanitizer!!...Bray called this morning and they will be gone another week.....maybe two.  Happy Almost Birthday to me.......

ANOTHER 24 HOURS SHOT......

Every day is the same.....so why clean.....organize......straighten up etc.....you are the only one in your house....no one to impress......So if I don't feel like it.....then I have my permission not to do it!  Had another 4.2 after shock this morning at eight....I was still in bed but awake and felt the bed shake....... I guess this will continue until the Biggie hits us!  Kids still in PAGE......but nothing going on here....so they might as well help Darren.

Still drama and fighting going on between the girls and TONY and Don.....they are both still in the hospital....to sick to go home but to stubborn to go to any place that can help them get better and take care of them.....Don has five broken ribs and sternam, brused lungs and possible internal bleedng...TONY has three broken ribs, a broken back and a broken neck.....how can she take care of him.....or him her.   It has the kids fighting and her son cannot be bothered with his sick mother......and for some reason Steve Peterson has entered the picture????  Boy am I glad he dumped me 34 years ago........Cold and rainy today and I am still house bound........

DAY 14TH OF LOCK DOWN.....

Is sprouts contagious? Will I be quarantined?  I expected Karrie to come order me some groceries...but my Richie showed up instead....I guess Karrie and the other two girls are trying to figure out what to do with their dad and Tony after they were in a car wreck......Tony ....as usual.....will not listen to the doctors or the kids and thinks she and Don will just go home and things will be back to normal.....with all their stairs and her broken back etc,,,,,they are worried about Don haveing internal bleeding and he is still in ICU......she won't consider a care home for her.....or Don ....so she can get well and tend him......and her son seems not to be concerned about her or any help....I am so sorry my girls have had to handle his last three episodes of driving and getting lost  and now this wreck......she let him drive home from Alpine and he was lost in Ogden canyon and ran off the road on a curve...her Lexus is totaled.....I guess I labeled her the Kmart Lady for nothing!

It was nice having my sweet Richie help me out.....I have missed him alot.  Really a cold day...but sun is shinning...Spring?

52 YEARS AGO TODAY.......

52 years ago today I added two more daughters to my family....TWINS.....sherrrie and karrie.  They were born a month early ......but after a week or so in incubators were strong and healty and fun babies......I have been honored to belong to the "Mothers of Twins Club"....where God picks the members.....and the love....fun....and experience of raising identical twins can only be explained by those who have had the experience.........such an honor.....and I thank God regularly......They each have given me three grandchildren whom I adore and I know how lucky I am.  Happy Birthday Sherrie and Karrie.....I don't even have the words to tell you what my life would have been without you.....and Pam needed some sisters.

HAPPPY EASTER.......

Well.....this is certainly a different Easter than I have ever had in my 88 years......Where you are quarantined and sit home alone on Easter.....My sweet Cook family came over with some dinner for me....included a chocolate bunny and a package of easter eggs......The dinner was great but just the fact the Cooks are coming around again after five years ......made this a special Easter for me.  As I sat down to eat my ham and funeral potatoes.....I felt guilty that my sweet neighbor was alone so called and told her I was bringing her a plate over.....she almost cried and said she was going to open a can of chili.......just sharing also made my day better......Talked to all three girls and Jim.....it is sunny but cold outside.....but the reason for Easter is always on our mind.....The RESURRECTION....HAPPY EASTER TO EVERYONE.

GOOD FRIDAY.....

This is GOOD FRIDAY.....which is being celebrated around the world as the day of the resurection....As a member of the LDS church we were all asked to fast and pray this morning that the viris will soon be gone......So many prayers god...I hope you heard them.

Suzanne and I walked up to get the mail and visited with all the neighors that were out.....then Pam came over for an hour and we wore our masks.....so nice to have some company.....

I talked to Les a minute and she had had about as an exciting day as I have.....So nice out but they tell us a storm is on its way for Easter......Got my income tax check today....that was good news but I can not get out of the house to spend it?????? So thankful to be well and safe today........

PLEASE GOD.....

My heart hurts for the sick and the famlies of the dead....around the world.  I know we have become a wicked and ungreatful world and perhaps deserve something like this to humble us and wake us up to all the blessings we had these past three and half years with Trump,,,,,,please let him continue to lead us four more years and in your own way.....soften the hearts of those who hate him and spend their time making our world a mess.......I ask this because I have faith what is happening is for a reason that only you know.  It does us good to go without toilet paper.....but not jobs.  It slows the young people down to hopefully realize how lucky they are and teach them not to be so selfish and demanding and do few things for themsleves.  I will gladly wear a mask and gloves and stay home if I can help out this cause......I understand we...... this wicked world....... needed a wakeup call.  Be with those working on a vacination......that it will happen soon.

WHO CARES.....

I am not really sure if it is morning still or afternoon....but who cares and what difference does it make.....I am still in my PJ.S and when it gets dark I will go back to bed.....so goes every day. In my house from now on the days of the  week are now called......This day.....That day......Other day....Someday....Yesterday....Today and Next day.   That should about cover a week more or less....they are all the same around here.....only Dr Phil doesn;t come on a couple of Those days?  Someday it will be Easter and then my 88th birthday...but then again it could be That day they are on.

I am having food delivered this afternoon and tomorrow is garbage day.....I have those written down.....It is warn and sunny today and all the trees in the condo unit are in bloom....I am bored but I am well and very thankful for that.   Tomorrow the world is to Fast and Pray that this coronoviris is healed soon and bless all the sick people to get well....and I pray my sweet family and friends will not get it.....and me.

MARILYN'S HOUSE...MY HOUSE.

This is a little story about Marilyn....but it could be Betty, Jane or Sue.....It was the middle of March that my life started to change...Two weeks of family and dogs before they buried Darren's dad...then an earth quake and then a lock down because of the coronus viris........to me it seems like forever........and they are saying it could be MAY Sometime before we are free to live again without fear......

Suzanne and I walked to the mail box today....it was in the 70s and beautiful.....then sat on my front porch in the sun an hour......and waved  at everyone that drove by.....Talked to Pam and Sherrie and Shirley.....so doing ok.  No nap today so expect to go to bed early...just had a tv dinner and bed sounds good.

This little blog is just to see how long it takes for someone to go crazy????  22 days till May 1st.

JUST ANOTHER DAY....

They say your home is your casle......so I imagine my home to look like this....Today is just another shitty day in Zion......get up....eat....phone Les.....eat.....nap....dr Phil.....eat etc.  BUT I was complaining to Sherrie that I hate not being independent and able to order my own food beings the kids are gone and I may house bound for months......before I know it she calls back and said I called Pam and Karrie you need help with your Ipad in ordering and Karrie volunteered to come right over and help me......So I got dressed and here they came.....but she didn;t have any luck.....but put in an order on her phone to pick up THURSDAY......something to look forward to.  She brough me a mask and her own can of spray to clean everything.....IT MADE MY DAY!...She is bringing me some Easter dinner....Love her so much.

WHAT NEXT....

I love this kind of picture....kinda leaves you in limbo....who...where.....what is going on? You can make up your own story.

Before the kids left for Page I tried to learn how to order my food on line....As usual i am a failure at the phone and I pad.....but the stores are all so busy with orders they would not even take an order last night.....Sweet Bray (risked his life)....and got me some milk and bananas.....I don't think I will starve before they come home.....but may get tired of toast and tv dinners. I learned how to make masks on face book so set there and have plenty of ....toilet paper!  Almost eight so guess I can get into my PJ;S.

DON'T FENCE ME IN........

Well....I feel like I've been fenced in......for the second month????   so this Monday the 6th of April.....I will try and record if I slowly lose my mind sitting here alone for two weeks???  Brayden and Libby took off for Page to work for Darren a week...two...three...who knows....and as no one can come visit me.....well I guess I better make friends with the kitchen appliances.....they don't argue or talk back.....one good thing.  I do have the TV .....phone.....Ipad....Suduko book....embroidery....and when all else fails I CAN go take a nap.......again.   I refuse to spend all this free time cleaning house when no one can come see it and I don't like cleaning and no one will know!  We older folks are to stay in for the next two weeks till they get this viris calmed down.....So Happy Easter and Happy Birthday Betty.

All I can say is ...."suck it up cupcake....you got it good".....

CORONAVIRIS......

Good ole Snoppy.....sounds good to me,

But then there is Faith,,,,,Faith doesn't always take you out of the problem, Faith takes you through the problem.

Faith doesn't always take away the pain, Faith gives you the ability to handle pain.

Fiath does't always take you out of the storm, Faith calms you in the midst of the storm.....

Make sure you test positive for Faith.  Keep safe distance from doubt and isolate unbelief.......So much change lately and so much to "PONDER"......?  I guess my roommates are going to Page for a week or two to work for Darren,,,,,a little money and something to do.....being alone....and shut in....doesn't sound fun to me.....but I guess this too will pass.....I figure if Noah's family were in lock down .....40 days and 40 nights......and God protected them....God will do the same for me....Just have Faith.

CONFERENCE WEEK END.......

Prophet Nelson and his couselers.....who just finished the 190th church conference......It was 200 years since Joseph Smith had his vision in the grove and the church was launched......Of course.....because of CVD19......it was all televised and we stayed home and tuned in,,,,,very different....All the music had been re-recorded but still so beautiful.  The story that got me was about three Amish families who joined the church and how they were shuned and abandoned in their community and how the children suffered rejection....but they held true to their new faith and still lived the Amish rules of the neighborhood.....It took about three years with the help of our church members schooling the children etc. to build back their businesses.

The prophet said to just have Faith and we are all to fast next Friday.....he ask the whole world to do it again.....next Sunday is Easter...President Trump said this could be our worst week.....so stay home and stay safe........

EASTER DRESSES FOR CHURCH....2020

Hmmmm.....I guess maybe the blue one is my favorite......Nice and comfy ....don't have to wear a bra or hose.....also could be used on a sick day to lounge in!  Now really....I wouldn't be caught dead in any of them,,,,,

I do remember as I was growing up.....Every Easter mother sewed my sister and I an Easter dress and off to church we went.  They always matched....which as I grew older started to rebel against looking like my little sister JO. Mom curled our hair on rags....she combed out into Shirley Temple ringlets and put a big bow on us......the fun of having girls!  I am not making this up.....you twisted the hair around a strand of rag and tied it in a knot.....yes, that was a long time ago......you know....."The OLDEN DAYS".  Ahhhh......memories.

UPS AND DOWNS......

The news is the same......only worse......every day.  More cases of Coronaviris .....many more people getting it and dieing.....all over the world.  Tomorrow is LDS Conference.  We are all so interested as to what the church has to say to us on how to get through the pandemic....Faith and Prayer will be on the list I am sure,

The kids are off to the cabin to meet Sher and Dar and celebrate some birthdays,,,,too much snow up there for me.....guess I will order groceries from Smith's today and drive down and pick them up.....my first.....but need to know how.....they keep me "house bound"...my tank of gas will last a couple months at this rate.  Yesterday the kids and I went on an outing....so nice to get out.  IN AND OUT BURGER for lunch...then drove up to Park City to pick up Brays tools in his locker. .....on way up a snow blizzard....could not believe it.....then sun shine up there....weather in Utah like that.  Too cold to sit on the porch yet....but always storms on Conference weekend. 

APRIL SPECIAL......

At last March has moved on.....and hopefully April will be better.....It is birthday month in my family!

Yes, my birthday is the 19th.....big 88 years.  Then I had twins who will be 52.....My brother will be 74 and my cousin 88 on the same day.   I have a grandson turning 22 and  Bray's wife Libby is the day before the twins......Oh yes.....64 years ago the 28th I got married.......

I was tempted to order this shirt for myself.....I don't think I am a QUEEN...but what is my opinion against 100 of others?????

With all this stay home stuff going on.....I guess it will be a pretty quiet birthday for all of us......but I am thanking God for another birthday.....will take all I can get.