LIFE

"Be where you are when you are there"........Dallin Oaks

LIFE.....Seize it and make it amazing....Have adventures......Find your voice.....Ask questions......Use your imagination.....Make a difference.....Surround yourself with good friends......Be kind and generous.....Discover your passion.......Make mistakes......Take chances.......Follow your Dreams.....Today is the day, don't let it pass you by.

               As I look back over this list of things Life should be......I can happily say I have been there done that with most the suggestions!  I have been terribly lucky.......Traveling has made possible so much of it, having a wonderful family and many good friends have added much........I have made mistakes, I have taken chance.....many.....and I have always followed my dreams......and today 82 years young and into the latter days of my life I do have the faith that everything will work out for the best.

           Tomorrow is bridge at my house so today has been busy making, desert, salad and the casserole and finishing cleaning the house.....yes it is a lot of work......but so rewarding!  I love my little bit of heaven that I have created here at 6298 Madrid.  My dog, my gold fish, my plants, my fountains, my four walls that keep me safe and warm.  I am so lucky and my gratitude journal is full.........I intend to make every day even better than the day before.   And I never forget to thank God each night!

Hakuna Matata....Don't Worry......

Hakuna Matata and Wabi Sabi are such good words.....know the meaning and say the words and you are in another place..........a good and positive place.

"Let the things you can't control, "GO".  Most things are only a part of your life because you keep thinking about them.  Positive things happen in your life when you emotionally distance yourself from the negative things.  So stop holding on to what hurts, and make room for what feels right.  Do not let what is out of your control interfere with all the things you can control........"

"Healing doesn't mean the damage never existed.  It means the damage no longer controls our lives."  

So happy our Annie got home safely from India last night......a million fun stories......but back to the real world isn't easy!  I got to keep Scottie last night......it isn't easy being the little brother sometimes.  Mike called, birthday dinner next Friday maybe and today Lucille is as old as I am!!!!!!!  Oh yes, and my baby brother is 68.....I think? 

KIRBY......TELLS IT HOW IT IS........

I have been a faithful reader of Robert Kirby's column for a long time......I relate to many of his views......He says that he has found in different meetings people come up and tell him......many things in the Mormon religion are perplexing to them.........he admits that some things that came to his mind, that were perplexing to others, were also to him......and me.  The list includes polygamy........is it written in the scriptures or just some presidents decision for more beds to sleep in legally???? The priesthood.......I am happy some men have been given certain powers, but I don't approve how they lord it over their wives and children as if they think they are God!....... I don't like how any church treats women as second class citizens, most churches do.  Racism......What made one president say blacks weren't  good enough for the Priesthood and another decide they were?????? A scripture some where? I consider Visions as dreams and think anyone can have a vision, you need to be worthy of God's time to have one.  Tithing, yes a very good idea, which is an ancient rule.  Gold Plates and that story.....well they produced something that is real.....where so many things the church does is .......the President (a man) , decides on something.......like Obama does with the Constitution!! Angels.......  Oh Yes, I have several loyal angles that have helped me through some hard times and still help me stay safe and well every day......welfare projects.......I commend who ever the man was that had this vision.....our Church has one of the best.  Home teaching......I don't feel the people who are assigned to do it enjoy it anymore than the people who they visit do.  Why not just be a good neighbor to everyone and check on them that way?  Certain clothing like garments.....is there a scripture about them or did Brigham Young just decide one day he needed a business for the many women to work in......I will never understand them. Missionary service.....I give those brave young men and women who give up two years of their young lives for others all my love and admiration......Baptism for the Dead?....One question.....If God is fair and just wouldn't he take care of these people when they die?  Gay marriages......if it means so much to these people.......why do we care what they do?  Temples,......there has always been temples and each religion use theirs as they see fit......why question the Mormons about theirs????  And testimony meetings really bother me...... Don't ever invite a person investigating the church to go on Fast Sunday.......promise it will scare them off for good........I feel how I believe and feel is between God and me and not spouted off  to many people to make me look good.  Thank goodness my kids understand ......poor grandma just doesn't get it.......Hope God does.

Cold rainy day.......Annie gets home from her trip to India with YMAD tonight.......yea!

MY FAVORITE VITAMIN......

I always say you can't have too many friends.......!  Why do I have such a variety of acquaintance who are all so different in character?  How can I get along with them all?  I do know that each one helps to bring out a "different" part of me.  With one I am polite.....With another, I joke.........There is one who likes to talk about serious matters.....another makes me laugh a lot......I also hear about problems and listen to their advice for me.

These folks are like jigsaw-puzzles, but when completed they form a treasure box----a complete picture.  They often understand me better than I understand myself and have no qualms about supporting me through good days and bad. 

Even Doctors are now advising that this is good for overall health.  One of my favorites......Doctor OZ .... calls these allies "VITAMIN F".....(for friends and family).....and counts them as essential to well-being.  Research also indicates that anyone in a strong social circle has less risk of depression and terminal strokes.  These so called Vitamin "F's" can make us look and feel 30 years younger than our real age.  So Thank You God for FRIENDS......

Today I am off to one of my favorite groups of friends......one of my bridge clubs.....girls I love, laugh with, cry with and have shared our lives with for many, many years.  A fun lunch, a few games of bridge and lots of catching up since last month's club.  Our 70's have dropped into the 50's......Spring get here! 

A BIT OF CULTURE.......

Today Pam and I took a trip to Provo, Utah to see this wonderful exhibit of Religious Pictures from the castles and churches in Europe at BYU.......we were smart and rented the earphones and narratives about each one......made it very real!  I say thank you to the people who allowed these gems to be removed from their homes and churches for us to share.  I have been lucky and enjoyed many trips to Europe and seen

Wmany churches with fabulous art......nice to have some so close to home!   Lunch at the Olive Garden and home to a storm coming into Salt Lake......

Do you know 50 years ago today....1964...... I was at the 'worlds Fair' in New York City....The first.  Enjoyed the fun and excitement of it all on our way to Europe.  Tasted a Belgium waffle for the first time!

Why do I BLOG every day?????  Well I have always been a 'Journaler'

......but with a blog I can add pictures so I am now a blogger.......My Blog is for passing the time when insomnia strikes and my brain is circling in on itself,  cannibalizing the trivialities of the day and exaggerating the ticking of the clock, reminding me that every minute spent awake is another minute closer to when I'll have to get up, though many of the great artists and sages were insomniacs and that's part of how they get so much done, so if I can't sleep I might as well write and channel my misery into something productive!

Every three months I have my monthly blogs printed into book form......so my journal....(blog) will always be around for my grandchildren and great-grandchildren....HA .....STILL WAITING!

Hurrah....for India

Oh yes,......this is my Annie getting mobbed by little ones in India......she has been gone 10 days and surprised us with a five minute call on Easter.  I have been following her and the YMAD GROUP  on the blog they enter everyday where the kids take turns writing home on how they are doing, what they are learning, what they are seeing and what they are experiencing......like I say, travel is the best education you can give a child.  They are there and are dealing with so many new and exciting things they never dreamed of!!!  In "Cookies"  first blog she informed the family she is not coming home??????"We are going to miss her">>>>>>I love this little girl and am enjoying her trip through the wonderful blogs I read every day as they teach the wonderful children in India.

Looking good! I especially like the uniforms all the girls wear to fit in and keep the girls modest........I am not sure about the hat though?

HAPPY EASTER.......

HALLELUJAH! HE IS RISEN........"For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."  John 3:16  You learn this story early in life and celebrate it every Easter.....adding in the Bunny and the Eggs.  Easter also seems the time of year to celebrate the beautiful flowers and flowering trees everywhere.....and some times warm weather and sometimes NOT......Today we lucked out it is so nice 72.  The Cooks took me to Little America for Brunch....so much food and so beautifully done and fun with everyone out in their new Easter clothes.  My Scottie looked darling in his light blue checked shirt, tan shorts and brown loafers.....with no socks.....the look I love on young boys.  He is taller than I am now and seems to be recovering well from his concussion of two weeks ago.  We miss Richie, way down in Mexico and Annie far away in India.......but in the middle of brunch her parents got a surprise 5 minute call from her....which made Karrie's day.  Took a fun ride while our meal settled and then home for a two hour nap.....perfect day.

Just got a call from Sherrie.....would I meet she and Kennedy  at the little airport, Darren was flying them in tonight from Vernal.  Her new little Audie convertible is in town being fixed.....Ken has a speech therapist appointment in the morning and tomorrow is his big 16th birthday......April is just full of celebrations in our family.  Yes this has truly been a great weekend .......the kind you never want to end!!!!!  And so many Happy birthday wishes on Face Book...Sister, kids, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews, friends of my girls and distant relatives......looking forward to my next one.