THANK YOU GOD FOR ONE MORE BIRTHDAY....

Yep......on  this 82nd birthday I want everyone to know I am still "Sassy, Classy, and still Kickin' Assy!"........I'm loving life, healthy, happy and have a heart full of gratitude for my many blessings.  I have a wonderful family and enjoying life though my 9 grandchildren.  Today, one is in Mexico.....one of my favorite places in the world......muy bueno......and one in India ......which wasn't my favorite place, but very interesting.  I am spending the day with the Cooks.....off for a hike, a movie and dinner. The Panniers in St. George and the Christensons in Lake Powell. I have heard from many friends and family who really care, no such thing as too many friends.

Yesterday was a great day also.....Coffee and lunch with two really good friends and old neighbors.....Patty Beltz and Ruth Anthony birthdayed me.  Then last night a fun movie with the Cooks and a wonderful dinner.  I feel really spoiled.

                     "There seems to be more reasons to be happy everyday.  Jackpots, windfalls and lucky breaks are wonderful----but I don't need them to be happy!  Every day brings new reasons to give thanks, more blessings to count, and joys.  Big or small, they're always there, waiting to be noticed.....Waiting for me!"  I do hope to have a few more birthdays but that is God's will.....not mine.

THOUGHT I HAD MISSED IT????

 

I thought I had made it through the  year without getting sick, but this morning woke up unable to breath....bad sinus cold has hit me.......All my family have had various degrees of colds and even strep throat, bad coughs, and sinus......but I guess I spoke to soon.  I found this little receipt that looks like it might work.......something my grandmother would recommend too.  In Richie's letter to the family this week he confessed he had come down with a cold.....his first since he had been on his mission in Mexico......One of the members recommended honey and lime juice and he said he really thought it helped......so will get right on this.  Got to clean house today for the luncheon on Thursday.  Maybe even a little nap.  A bright spot in my morning was reading the blogs of my granddaughter's group who just went to India for a couple of weeks to work with the Children in Hibji.........They are all in cultural shock and in awe of the poverty and yet complete happiness and contentment of the people there.   I say and have said many times.......there is no education for a child like travel.  I can hardly wait to see Annie's comments when it is her turn to write us all.

THE LIFE OF A HOOKER???

Well .......she made it to India......a blog sent by the leader shows the happy group having dinner at McDonald's......where else?  They are off to two weeks on an adventure of their young lives helping the children in a tiny village in the interior of India. Be safe and have fun you YMADers.....(Youth Make a Difference).

I just found out I am a HOOKER???? A friend told me that people who like to crochet are called Hookers in the crocheting circle....are Knitters called Needles?   I had no clue of the label and have enjoyed crocheting and knitting for many years......and hope to continue a few more years.........label or not!

Birthday time brings so many old friends back into your circle.  Nadine Lyngle called from St George to say Happy Birthday.....her birthday is May 1st.   Cleon Majors just called and we arranged our annual "Bagels and Coffee" at Ricks Bagels...... her birthday was the 12th........ These are real friends who don't care if you are getting older.

CHAPTER #35....around the world

LIECHTENSTEIN......A tiny doubly landlocked Alpine country in central Europe......It is bordered by Switzerland to West and South and by Austria to the East and North.  It is just over 62 square miles.  It is ruled by a Prince and  you could easily run into him in the grocery store.   This patch of Alpine meadows, craggy peaks, and vineyards finds itself wedged between Austria and Switzerland.  What it lacks in size, Liechtenstein makes up for with a mighty landscape that swoops up from the marshy  green banks of the Rhine into the cloud-kissed Alps.   This little country grants us a glimpse into Europe's oldest traditions.......like Lenten bonfires and autumn's Wimmlete......wine time.  We did spend a few hours hear but I would love to go back someday and spend some time.

COULDN'T GET ANY BETTER......

Grandmas like weekends like this......Pictures all over Facebook of her grandchildren having fun and looking great.   The biggest happening was.......the birthday of  my twins on this day...... The handsome guy in tux  is Brayden Christenson with the cute Gabby in yellow at the prom party.....this is his senior year and last prom.....Prom day started off early with his father taking this couple and Brayden's good friend and his date on an airplane ride....wow! Then it was a day of 4-wheeling with the group......ending in dinner at Brayden's house and then off to the dance.   Oh to be young again .......AND.....his little brother Kennedy with his date looking very dabber was in on all the fun and partying......Kennedy is a Sophomore so has more dances ahead for him.

Then my second granddaughter Nicci from Minnesota and her husband Bill were in town for the weekend......Her parents having an Open House for their new home.....so big evening with them and siblings Tiffany and William.  She is so full of it and makes anything a party.  My newly returned Missionary Alex, drove in from Vernal to spend the night with me, go to the Open House and on up to Centerville today for a mission companions Home Coming......So fun to be part of all their lives and witnessing their growing up. I am truly blessed!!

WHERE DID 46 YEARS GO???

  Yes, I remember what I was doing 46 years ago today......I was having twins and what a delight and world of excitement that day was......Sherrie came first at 3lbs 13 oz and nine minutes later Karrie at 4 lbs and 5 oz......such tiny beautiful and perfect babies they were even though they were a month early.....So many fun years and wonderful memories this mother has of the past 46 years. They have added six wonderful grandchildren to my family, plus two nice son-in-laws and my blessings go on.....and on.....and on. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHER-BEAR AND KAR-BEAR!!!!

WHAT'S YOUR PQ?

As Doctor Phil say; "Every pancake has two sides.".........I love this thought on what Erasers can be used for.  If you just try and erase your mistakes and never correct them and try again.....are you learning anything?  Raise your PQ to live longer.......feel happier......and be more successful!  What is PQ?  PQ is short for " positive intelligence quotient,"...... it is a measure of how many upbeat, positive thoughts you have compared to self-doubting ones.  Psychologists say higher PQ scores area linked with greater success and are even shown to help you live 10 years longer!  In fact, "research shows your PQ is the single greatest predictor of how happy you are and how much of your potential you reach."

An important way to do this is to nix negative thoughts is to turn off your  'survival brain'----the part wired for worry and turn on your 'sage brain'----the set of calmer wiser thoughts.  Simply make it a point to focus on one sense----sight, sound touch, hearing or smell for 10 seconds a few times a day. Taste your food, smell the flowers, listen to the birds.......Focusing on your senses is proven to create pathways in your brain that slash stress and strengthen your immune system.  You will feel happier when you explore your world.....exploration boosts your joy and is proven to rev positive intelligence.....How?.....It gives your brain the novelty it craves and literally keeps you young by producing new neural pathways!

That is why I am who I am......I don't want my kids and people saying...."She is such a nice little old lady".....I want

 them to say "Oh Crap, what is she up to now?????"

Scottie was back to the hospital and has a miserable virus......I was going to tend him for a while today, but Karrie is afraid I will catch it......so just hanging out.   Another beautiful Spring day.