FOUND HERE
SIDENOTE:
My TALENTED and very smart cousin-Ann Herd, 'sic'ed' a newspaper reporter on me!! It's another first!! My name in print? ack!! But I'll admitt that Mr De Groote was easy to talk to-he got me to do most of the talking. (a sure sign of a good reporter?) Im sure I didnt wax profound or sound nearly as composed as my cuz when Mr De Groote interviewed her, but I hope I was at least satisfactory. If your interested, you can check it out HERE.
IM OFF TO WOMENS CONFERENCE TOMORROW!!
I've been going to this blessed event for well over 15 years now. I don't believe I've missed a single once since I began attending. That says a few things about me and my life, doesn't it?!FIRST: I have a most amazing husband. He has been encouraging, and ultra supportive, for every single one of those years. Some years I have even felt "booted" out the door!! If I reflect back on what this means, I realize some significant sacrifices were made on his part-duh!
I left when our kids were babies!!
I left when the kids were toddlers!
I left when the kids were teenagers and a pain in the _ _ _!!!
I'm sure there had to be times when I left when they were sick.
I even admit to having left the day after Robby returned home from his mission. (priorities ya know) It was a little rough doing that, but well worth the guilt.
I left without putting casseroles in the freezer.
Builder Bob has been perceptive of the benefits of Women's Conference from the get-go. He likes where my head is when I return home. He see that I'm a better mother/wife/woman after I have spent these few days away.
Once again I happily and publicly declare that I have been very blessed by this wonderful man!!
SECOND:My cup easily runs dry! But...it also doesn't take a lot of extravagance to fill it right back up. This is the very best use of $40.00 there is!!! No way can anyone else in the world put together the caliber of people with the variety of subjects, as they do during this annual Women's Conference. My cup always overflows, every single year!! There is no other place on the planet where women can come and be sure to be spiritually nourished and uplifted.
THIRD: The company I keep. BF Judy and I have been attending together for all these years. Judy- from high school- is one of the main sources of joy I find at the conference. In these few days it has become tradition to meet and eat and knit and serve and laugh and greet together. We catch up and renew our friendship and we always make new friends as well.
The highlight each year is also to surround myself with as many lovely woman as I may and that are willing to 'camp-out' in the basement, drive the distance, eat the yummy food, decide on which classes to take, which lines to brave and endure the sometimes nasty spring like weather. I have been so blessed with a wide variety of friends who attend with us each year. Each one of them add so much to my life and what I learn. Its such a blessing to be a woman in the gospel!!!
FOURTH: This conference is a spiritual feast. I've already said this before, but the reasons are specific. The music is second to none. Music feeds my soul and I come away from BYU FULL!!
It cant be imagined, only experienced, the feeling of 22,ooo woman all united in purpose and design. All singing, and praying, and laughing and sharing same life experiences. We are NOT alone in this thing we call life. Come to the Marriott Center and see!!! Its contagious and addictive to be among so many women who are all trying to do and be the best they can be.
I'm RUNNING (speeding) north for my 'fix."
I'll let you know the best parts for me, when I return.
FOURTH DAY WITH LACHLAN
This was the day I enjoyed the dirt!
I guess dirt and boys go together, 'cause grandma and grandpa just smiled when they spied me down and dirty.
But first I needed to lend my expertise to Uncle Clark as he studied for an anatomy final.
Im sure I was a LOT of help.
Then grandma and I went out and cut some beautiful roses!
oy do they smell good and I could tell they make grandma happy.
Now for the fun stuff!!
Look at my piggies!!
Arent they wonderful!!??
Im all boy, thats for sure.
Food, glorious food!!
Give me cottage cheese and peas and carrots and fruit snacks, and I'll be a very happy guy.
If you must know-grandma really, really wants to catch a photo of me when I wake up from my naps. Waking up is so good to do. Im ready to play and I smile and babble and I gently wrap all the grown-ups right around my little bitty finger. And to make it even more convincing-I hug and love my lamby. That does it every time. I guess babies and stuffed animals are a good combination for grown-ups to behold. Boy am I good!
And please dont be mistaken, there was plenty of basketball today too!! Uncle Clark and Uncle Bri and Grandpa and Grandma and even Lucy all played ball with me today.
Chelsea's Birthday!!
Im in awe of her mothering skills.
I know I didn't come with such a natural ability to mother as she has.
She is so tender and kind and forgiving-
-with me and my shortcomings
-with Rob and his faults (WHAT??? Rob has faults???)
Your knock out smile is the envy of all that see it!!
Your 'craftiness' is a delight to behold and to be a recipient of.
You faith and patience is admirable.
What a blessing you are to the family!
We love you so very much!!
Happy Birthday dear Chelsea!!!
THIRD DAY WITH LACHLAN
Sunday bath-I really needed a spit shine.
Basketball is a grimy sport
Its been a really quiet day here today.
But...I did get out of one of my naps--he he he he
When grandpa wasn't looking, I attempted a reckless journey across the courtyard!
OUCH!!
I bet my bump is bigger than yours!!!
Goodnight one and all!! Tomorrow---BASKETBALL!!!
DAY TWO WITH LACHLAN
Since I don't have my dads lap to sit in,
Uncle Clarks' will suit me just fine.
I think he really like me!!
(and dont worry mom, grandma bathed me in sunscreen)
Every morning I search for toe jam.
Uncle Brian is intrigued by what I may find.
He approves of my good hygiene techniques!
Grandma loves books!
She likes to read to me!!
We could count the animals all day long!!!
Ah basketball!!
Uncle Bri and I can keep two balls going with great proficiency!
Im sure that if I keep work'in on my skills,the NBA will be knocking on my door before too long!!
Uncle Bri has full confidence in me!!
It was a grand day at the park!
We had fun visitors too.
Aunt Melanie, who will be leaving soon to serve a mission.
Aunt Julie and Olivia are really nice too.
Grandma and grandpa sure are keeping me busy.
It must be working to keep me distracted from thoughts of sandy beaches and blue seas.
DAY ONE WITH LACHLAN!!!
Mom and dad say good-bye to me. If I was a few years older and knew what I was missing, I'd have just cause to throw a real fit!! My parents are going to Hawaii without me!!!
At least I know I can count on grandpa taking me out to play basketball.
At least 10 times a day!!!!
I LOVE basketball!!!
And Uncle Clark is very generous with his morning Fruit Loops!!
Grandma and grandpa have taught him how to share.
Grandmas strawberries are to die for!! I've had them for breakfast, lunch and dinner today!!
Mom and dad say good-bye to me. If I was a few years older and knew what I was missing, I'd have just cause to throw a real fit!! My parents are going to Hawaii without me!!!
At least I know I can count on grandpa taking me out to play basketball.
At least 10 times a day!!!!
I LOVE basketball!!!
And Uncle Clark is very generous with his morning Fruit Loops!!
Grandma and grandpa have taught him how to share.
Grandmas strawberries are to die for!! I've had them for breakfast, lunch and dinner today!!YUM!!!!
Uncle Joe is great to snuggle with anytime!! He's a-ok with me-we share the same hip haircut!! I think Im going to do just fine at the grandparents.
I think they love me.
I've been pretty emphatic when I tell my kids that I NEVER want to return to my teenage years!! NEVER!! Other more well adjusted people may not have such adverse reactions to those adolescent years--but I certainly do!! I think the best words I could use to describe those tumultuous years would most definitely have to be: Conflict/conflicted.
Just how conflicted was I?? Let me try and draw you a picture.
On one hand you could have found me listening to Bread and James Taylor on my stereo. And then in the next moment, Pink Floyd or Led Zeplin would be spinning on my turn-table. One weekend I could be found standing in line for concert tickets for YES and a month later I could then be found enjoying John Denver at the Cow Palace in San Fransisco!
On Wednesday nights and some Sundays you might be able to catch me within the walls of an LDS church, but during the rest of the week you'd find me hanging our with the less than desirable crowds at the high school.
It was also during this same time that yet another battle was raging within me. It was not the typical struggles of teenage hood,that one expects. Like learning to deal with those pesky hormonal issues or how to carry out the healthy cutting of the ole apron strings. I was finding myself in a conflict of a spiritual nature. Instead of the oh so familiar rebellion against anything my folks wanted, (sorry mom and dad-so sorry) I was feeling an additional conflict in my heart and soul. A Light was attempting to cut through my dark cavernous soul. Was I going to stay firmly rooted in the discontent that I had been experiencing for years!! Or.. was I going to listen to the whisperings in my heart and get out of my comfort zone and do something VERY new!!?? Such as adding religion or MEANING to my life!!!!!! What was a shallow teenage girl to do?? Was I going to continue to cause as much pain and grief for my parents and continue clashing with them and the world?! Was I going to continue to risk my health and well being? Or... would I begin to embrace the obvious??
A life line had been thrown to me-by an obviously all caring, all knowing, all loving Father in Heaven. For months and even years I let that life line drift near by. I'd reach out on occasion and test its' security, its fastness to the Rock. But I'd then let go and try surviving on my own for a time. I found that every single time I tested that line it was always available for the taking and it was always firm, true, and secure. I guess I was an especially dense teenager. I wasnt necessarily looking for angels or even Divine manifestations. I believe I was simply searching for and developing some courage!! Its came ever so slowly, but with MUCH love and encouragement and a vast amount of patience, it did finally become obvious to even ?me that this life line was a FOR SURE THING!!!
You may be wondering who was at the other end of this life-line?
-beside a loving, generous God.
It was a great number of people and the omnipresent, omnipotent, Father in Heaven and a loving Savior. It was people like Bishop Leon Davies and 
Jeanne Bodily, President Hull, my mother and her prayers, plus Stake Leaders and Camp Directors. I can no longer remember ALL their names, but I would most assuredly attribute my finally 'latching' on to that 'lifeline' and not letting go, to the peers that willingly associated with me through all the trails and tests I put them through. I tested the validity of what they being professed as truth! I learned that these 'kids' and worthy adults, truly practiced what they preached!!! These friends were rocks and examples of our Saviors teaching throughout all that I dished out 
over my 2 years of "investigation." They loved me. They made sure I grabbed that line. They kept pointing the way out of conflict.
I'm going to try and attempt to name names--as a form of tribute to them. I shudder to think where I'd be without them in my life way back then. Bless you forever dear friends-for I will always call you that, even though I have fallen out of contact with almost all of you. (I think a Los Altos reunion should be organized!!)
Here it goes with the name dropping- Judy Taylor Cox, Kathy Young Kirkham, Craig Isrealsen (he baptized me) Matt Jamison, Jeff Brunken, Sherry Baugh ?, Linda Hill
Harlos, Brent and Bryce Bassett, Craig Hall, Janna Roberts ?, Patti Porter Evans, Steve Evans, Laren Isrealsen, Ann Burnham Herd (my cousin), and many more that time and loss of brain matter has erased from my head!
What an amazing group of young people it was that my loving Heavenly Father set me down among as we landed in California. There truly are no Coincidence's!!! My family and I were gently guided to find the truth and to abate the conflict and to have peace and joy fill the voids of teenage hood.
So to end as I began-on a musical note. Even now, at 40 something- I still enjoy several Led Zeplin tunes and many of the other Classic Rockers. James Taylor will always sooth my soul as well. But nothing, no nothing, sooths me
more than realizing the huge impact this group of friends played in my young life in days gone by!! I am no longer conflicted or have much conflict in my life. It is obvious that the Gospel of Jesus Christ eliminates a conflicted life.
I send my eternal gratitude out to the world for these great people- Bless them ALL!!!
Just how conflicted was I?? Let me try and draw you a picture.
On one hand you could have found me listening to Bread and James Taylor on my stereo. And then in the next moment, Pink Floyd or Led Zeplin would be spinning on my turn-table. One weekend I could be found standing in line for concert tickets for YES and a month later I could then be found enjoying John Denver at the Cow Palace in San Fransisco!
On Wednesday nights and some Sundays you might be able to catch me within the walls of an LDS church, but during the rest of the week you'd find me hanging our with the less than desirable crowds at the high school.
It was also during this same time that yet another battle was raging within me. It was not the typical struggles of teenage hood,that one expects. Like learning to deal with those pesky hormonal issues or how to carry out the healthy cutting of the ole apron strings. I was finding myself in a conflict of a spiritual nature. Instead of the oh so familiar rebellion against anything my folks wanted, (sorry mom and dad-so sorry) I was feeling an additional conflict in my heart and soul. A Light was attempting to cut through my dark cavernous soul. Was I going to stay firmly rooted in the discontent that I had been experiencing for years!! Or.. was I going to listen to the whisperings in my heart and get out of my comfort zone and do something VERY new!!?? Such as adding religion or MEANING to my life!!!!!! What was a shallow teenage girl to do?? Was I going to continue to cause as much pain and grief for my parents and continue clashing with them and the world?! Was I going to continue to risk my health and well being? Or... would I begin to embrace the obvious??
A life line had been thrown to me-by an obviously all caring, all knowing, all loving Father in Heaven. For months and even years I let that life line drift near by. I'd reach out on occasion and test its' security, its fastness to the Rock. But I'd then let go and try surviving on my own for a time. I found that every single time I tested that line it was always available for the taking and it was always firm, true, and secure. I guess I was an especially dense teenager. I wasnt necessarily looking for angels or even Divine manifestations. I believe I was simply searching for and developing some courage!! Its came ever so slowly, but with MUCH love and encouragement and a vast amount of patience, it did finally become obvious to even ?me that this life line was a FOR SURE THING!!!
You may be wondering who was at the other end of this life-line?
-beside a loving, generous God.
It was a great number of people and the omnipresent, omnipotent, Father in Heaven and a loving Savior. It was people like Bishop Leon Davies and 
Jeanne Bodily, President Hull, my mother and her prayers, plus Stake Leaders and Camp Directors. I can no longer remember ALL their names, but I would most assuredly attribute my finally 'latching' on to that 'lifeline' and not letting go, to the peers that willingly associated with me through all the trails and tests I put them through. I tested the validity of what they being professed as truth! I learned that these 'kids' and worthy adults, truly practiced what they preached!!! These friends were rocks and examples of our Saviors teaching throughout all that I dished out 
over my 2 years of "investigation." They loved me. They made sure I grabbed that line. They kept pointing the way out of conflict.I'm going to try and attempt to name names--as a form of tribute to them. I shudder to think where I'd be without them in my life way back then. Bless you forever dear friends-for I will always call you that, even though I have fallen out of contact with almost all of you. (I think a Los Altos reunion should be organized!!)
Here it goes with the name dropping- Judy Taylor Cox, Kathy Young Kirkham, Craig Isrealsen (he baptized me) Matt Jamison, Jeff Brunken, Sherry Baugh ?, Linda Hill
Harlos, Brent and Bryce Bassett, Craig Hall, Janna Roberts ?, Patti Porter Evans, Steve Evans, Laren Isrealsen, Ann Burnham Herd (my cousin), and many more that time and loss of brain matter has erased from my head!What an amazing group of young people it was that my loving Heavenly Father set me down among as we landed in California. There truly are no Coincidence's!!! My family and I were gently guided to find the truth and to abate the conflict and to have peace and joy fill the voids of teenage hood.
So to end as I began-on a musical note. Even now, at 40 something- I still enjoy several Led Zeplin tunes and many of the other Classic Rockers. James Taylor will always sooth my soul as well. But nothing, no nothing, sooths me
more than realizing the huge impact this group of friends played in my young life in days gone by!! I am no longer conflicted or have much conflict in my life. It is obvious that the Gospel of Jesus Christ eliminates a conflicted life.I send my eternal gratitude out to the world for these great people- Bless them ALL!!!
THIS WEEK:
I'm lov'in the SMELL of: purple sage in its splendor*Porkchops 'n Rice for sunday dinner*orange slices on a hike.
I'm lov'in the TASTE of: cold water while truck'in through the sand*avacados*crepes with strawberries and cream*ice cold Pepsi at noon.
I'm lov'in the SOUND of: my grandsons' babbling stories-oh the tales he can tell*American Idols' illustrious few* SILENT windchimes!!(who'd a thunk?)*my morning doves have returned to nest and coo.
I'm lov'in the FEEL of: a hug from a new friend*BuilderBob rubbing lotion into my feet-ah.
I'm lov'in the IDEA of: having my grandson for a LONG sleepover event*my folks swinging on their new porch swing*a pregnancy in the family!
I'm lov'in the SIGHT of: yellow flag iris in bloom and roses too*spank'in new bird nests in the backyard*Brians happy face as he races around a BMX track.
I'm lov'in the SMELL of: purple sage in its splendor*Porkchops 'n Rice for sunday dinner*orange slices on a hike.
I'm lov'in the TASTE of: cold water while truck'in through the sand*avacados*crepes with strawberries and cream*ice cold Pepsi at noon.
I'm lov'in the SOUND of: my grandsons' babbling stories-oh the tales he can tell*American Idols' illustrious few* SILENT windchimes!!(who'd a thunk?)*my morning doves have returned to nest and coo.
I'm lov'in the FEEL of: a hug from a new friend*BuilderBob rubbing lotion into my feet-ah.
I'm lov'in the IDEA of: having my grandson for a LONG sleepover event*my folks swinging on their new porch swing*a pregnancy in the family!
I'm lov'in the SIGHT of: yellow flag iris in bloom and roses too*spank'in new bird nests in the backyard*Brians happy face as he races around a BMX track.
I think Brian has found a new hobby!
We can now add something else to the list of things that he's good at.
He's a peacemaker.
He's great with his hands-he can repair anything.
He can draw,paint, create what he likes.
He's very athletic and coordinated-broken collar bones not withstanding.
He's a master of excuses as well.
He's a very hard worker and a willing helper-not a quitter!
Now he and his oldest brother are bonding over bike racing.
How great it that?!
Who'd a thunk that eating dust, crashing into berms and fellow bikers,
sweating beneath helmets and scraping shins, were all good and fun things to do?
Who'd a thunk that these things would lead to a banner day at the BMX bike park?
Go Bri Dog!!!
Go Rob!! (a guy who doesn't wish to grow up any time soon!)
We can now add something else to the list of things that he's good at.
He's a peacemaker.
He's great with his hands-he can repair anything.
He can draw,paint, create what he likes.
He's very athletic and coordinated-broken collar bones not withstanding.
He's a master of excuses as well.
He's a very hard worker and a willing helper-not a quitter!
Now he and his oldest brother are bonding over bike racing.
How great it that?!
Who'd a thunk that eating dust, crashing into berms and fellow bikers,
sweating beneath helmets and scraping shins, were all good and fun things to do?
Who'd a thunk that these things would lead to a banner day at the BMX bike park?
Go Bri Dog!!!
Go Rob!! (a guy who doesn't wish to grow up any time soon!)
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