When we take God seriously and
totally accept His influence in
our lives, we have nothing to fear.
From: Yearning for the Living God
by: F. Enzio Busche

Why is it that its always my kid thats the goof-ball!!??

Alice laughed, "There's no use trying," she said,
"one cant believe in impossible things."
"I dare say you havent had as much practice,"
said the Queen. "When I was your age, I did
it for half an hour a day. And why sometimes
I believed as many as 6 impossible things before breakfast."
from: Through the Looking Glass
by: Lewis Carroll

I have the cutest, most outrageously lovely batch of nieces and nephews that anyone could wish for, and brother and sister in laws as well!!!
And we had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday together!!


In n Out was the hot spot for the late evening snack...as if we didnt feed them enough!!

the Hot tub was visited too.

THe Ute fans had the family room, and the BYU fans had the basement with the big screen. Not sure who orchestrated this division...or did it happen naturally?

Some of us sat in a movie line waiting for a viewing of THE BLIND SIDE...well worth the wait. Though waiting was no trouble at all, with the good company and all.

The turkey bowl on a neighbors lawn was a blast. The old men were very respectable out there with the young wippersnappers!! And nary an injury...not really. We wont mention all the torn shirts that fell prey to the enthusiasm of the moment.





it was also somebody's 60th, yes i said 60TH!! wedding anniversary too!! We LOVE you!!

3 turkeys, 40 lbs of potatoes-mashed good, yams with marshmallows; stuffing or dressing if your from the south, some of which had that delicious secret ingredient- clams!!! (thanks again dad!); green beans and corn, Costco rolls, pretty jello salad to feed an army; gravy and pies, pies, and more pies!! Nobody suffered from hunger.



basketball was the biggest hit of the night. or...could it be the 'playing' of jingle bells via screeching balloons....????? or maybe...it was the bean bag toss or pinning the feather on the turkey butt!!!???


animals were stuffed and a quilt tied for humanitarian purposes, and missionaries were told of our thoughts and feelings for them on pretty paper that will be mailed to precious spots around the globe.

a mission call was opened in front of us all....another Elder is headed to Chile!!!

a bunch of amo was left out in the desert for those that did target shooting.

we gathered coral dust between a LOT of toes as we hiked to Fern Gully in Snow Canyon State park. There were a LOT of good sports along for the experience. (can i just say how fun it was to share 'my desert' with my loved ones.)







we loved sharing our house, our chocolate chip cookies, pomegranates, and pastasicos with all that came by!!

But WAIT somehow...everyone left out with picking up a leaf rake and making a pile of our plentiful, bounteous leaves!! maybe we should get everyone back here and try again. ... remember many hands make light work ya know.....

I pray that Sharon and Cathy and Pam and mom feel that all their HARD work organizing such a reunion was well worth the effort!!! We sure think it was a grande time for all!!! And for those that werent able to attend....boy oh boy did we miss you!!! But now we have an excuse to do it all again!!!
And remember those outrageously darling nieces I was talking about earlier....
This if for them!!!
Go Club Jacob!!!

SUNDAY MUSINGS

Study therefore to wean your heart
from the love of visible things,
and to attend rather to things
invisible. For the man who in-
dulges his sensual nature. sullies
his conscience and loses the grace of God.
from: Of the Imitation of Christ
by: Thomas A Kempis

I wrote myself a letter last year.
It was a letter reminding me what a downer I was for Christmas in 2008.
My letter was an attempt to have me behave differently this year.
Im glad I wrote it!!

I have learned that today is the beginning of Advent.
Im going to do something about it this year.
Advent is about lighting candles each Sabbath day until Christmas Day or Christmas Eve.
Its about remembering our Savior and His life, His mission, His purpose.
My Advent candle wreath will be simple.
I believe most Christian faiths practice this tradition with more symbolism than I will. There is supposed to be a pink candle representing joy and purple candles representing repentance and a larger white candle in the center representing Jesus Christ.
Tonight we will light the first candle.
(The Candle of Prophecy/Hope)
The first candle is sometimes called this because it symbolizes the promises the prophets delivered as messages from God; promises that foretold Christ’s birth. Others consider the candle to be a symbol of the hope we have in Christ and so it is called the Hope candle.

Next Sunday-
It the candle of the Way

The third candle is-
(The Candle of Joy)
This candle indicates that the only lasting Joy to be found in life on earth is through Christ. All other joy is fleeting and does not last.

The Fourth Candle (The Candle of Peace)
This lighting should reminds that Jesus comes to bring Peace to both the world and to people's hearts. Without Christ there is no peace in this world.

The fifth and final candle-
(The Christ Candle or Christmas Candle)
Represents Christ himself who is born to save people from their sins. It is a celebration of the fulfillment of prophecy as represented in Christ’s birth and hope in the final fulfillment when Christ comes again and Christians join him.

Im grateful to learn these things. It helps me to focus on things of importance.
Keeping Christ in Christmas. Thats for me!!

I know that its old news for most of the world...but tonight was the night I got to enjoy the magic of this movie!! It WILL be the feel-good movie of the year!!! No doubt about it!!!
One of my favorite parts....and there were many....the real life photos at the end, as the credits roll!! Real life people making real life better!!! Making the world a better place to live.
Rush out to see this one...
Battle the crowds...
its worth it!!!!

Drum Roll Please!!!!

Can you tell by the cheesy grin what has happened here!!!??
Yep, thats right, The Call Has Arrived!!!
This young man has felt this call to serve from the moment he could put two words together. Some guys just come that way from heaven.
I have sent out 4 of my own, with one last 'victim' to go, into the 'mission field' and none of them was more anxious, more prepared, and more nervous than Justus!!
Justus is a remarkable young man. Its been such a joy to have him in our home. I think we have toughened him up a bit, which will help him to serve better with the realities in working with other young men who will serve along side him. We've been good for each other!!! Its been a good symbiotic relationship.
I wonder how he'll find Chile!!
Nobody will be arriving in with more enthusiasm or desire to serve in the best way he knows how!! Its gunna be fun to watch!!! He'll be heading south in March!!
CONGRATULATIONS JUSTUS!!

My Parents Were Awesome!!!

"I think it's impossible to really
understand somebody, what they want,
what they believe, and not love
them the way they love themselves."
from: Enders Game
by: Orson Scott Card

I just discovered the coolest new blog!!!
If you arent already enjoying Awkward Family Photos you must try it!!
And then- add this new one to your 'hit list' as well.
Its another site that is bound to make you smile, reminisce, become nostalgic, and wonder where YOUR groovy striped bell bottoms are hidden, and what became of all your hair!!??????

By the way...the above awesome parents....
they would me MINE!!

Click HERE for the fun!!!

This is ME today!!!

POSITIVE THINKING IDEAS

Smile - Wherever and whenever you can. The one thing in life that we should be infinitely generous in is in giving out our smiles. In addition to putting yourself in a positive state, you will also positively affect the people around you as well.

Read positive, motivational books or quotes - This is a fast and convenient way to put yourself in a positive state of mind.

Call a friend - Give an old friend a call and make it a point to talk only about positive things.

Get out of your usual environment - Go to the park or anywhere that is nice and peaceful. By being in a new or not frequently visited environment, you will not be affected by any negative association that you may have with a certain place, i.e. your office.

Work on your goal setting or review the goals that you have set.

Listen to uplifting and positive music - Well selected classical music or movie soundtracks will usually do the trick.

Read motivational and positive stories - For example, books like Chicken Soup For The Soul. Or just do a search on the internet for motivational stories.

Exercise - working out can encourage a positive state of mind. It helps to release stress and puts you in a heightened state of awareness which induces positive thinking.

Creative expression - creative expression through activities such as writing/journaling, drawing, painting, playing musical instruments, dancing, photography and others can encourage positive thinking. Take up lessons or regularly set aside some time for these activities.

Sing and dance along to your favorite song.


source

Thanksgiving Thought

It is literally true, as the thankless say, that they have nothing to be thankful for. He who sits by the fire, thankless for the fire, is just as if he had no fire. Nothing is possessed save in appreciation, of which thankfulness is the indispensable ingredient. But a thankful heart hath a continual feast.
~W.J. Cameron

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!

Hope of Thanksgiving by ~gadgetgirl16 on deviantART

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Happy Thanksgiving To YOU!!!

Children are a burden to a mother, but not
the way a heavy box is to a mule. Our
children weigh hard on my heart and thinking
about them growing up honest and healthy, or
just living to grow up at all, makes a load in my
chest that is bigger than the safe at the bank,
and more valuable to me than all the gold inside it.
from: These Is My Words
by: Nancy E Turner

taken in 2004

As I take these tired, obsolete pictures from off my walls, and replace them with newer, more up-to-date photos, I pause, to wonder, as all seasoned, venerable folks seem to do, at how FAST the time flies!!!



What a blessing this boy is in our lives!!
Its hard to picture our 'baby' with an Elders' badge on his white shirt in a few short months!!
How splendid the time has been!!!


What a blessing ALL of our children are to us!!
And what a marvelous gladness it is to have added to our clutch, beautiful daughter-in-laws!!
And dont even let me attempt to describe what kind of bliss THESE bring!!!




I am beyond describing it!!!
God is good!!!

Photos by:
Chelsea Stephenson
Jeff Mahoney
Brian Lawson

SUNDAY MUSINGS

I find that it isn't safe to discuss religion
with the Semples. Their god (whom they have
inherited intact from their remote Puritan
ancestors) is a narrow, irrational, unjust,
mean, revengeful, bigoted person. Thank
heaven I dont inherit any god from anybody!
I am free to make mine up as I wish him.
He's kind and sympathetic and imaginative
and forgiving and understanding- and he has
a sense of humor.
from: Daddy-Long-Legs
by: Jean Webster

There is always that scene in a movie, when a desperate soul kneels, or prostrates himself or herself on the floor, or stands in front of a 'glassy eyed' artists' rendition of Jesus, and pleads for blessings, mercy, help or forgiveness or all of the above.
I find it interesting that we Mormons dont do this. At least I dont think 'we' do? We also dont have crosses on our churches or crucifixes in our churches or hanging from delicate chains around our necks. It has always been explained to me that this is because we prefer to remember the Living Christ, the resurrected Christ- who lived for us, as the perfect example. I say Amen to this!!!
But I'd like to go back to the pictures of Christ. Compare this-






















and this-
























Is this a cultural thing?? Or is it personal preference? Do the Catholics and the Protestants have their own bookstores, like we have ours?
I went to our local L.D.S. bookstore the other day and there on the shelf I found this gem of a picture.
And can I just say...







A PICTURE DOES TELL A THOUSAND WORDS!!!

You probably cant imagine how much joy this picture brings me...but then again, maybe you can, 'cause I'd wager it makes you feel pretty darn good too!! Unless of course you have icewater running through your veins.
I have put this picture on the top (dusty) shelf in our bedroom, right next to my bed. (I'd like it to be closer, but cant figure out how to make this so.)
And to take this musing to the next level, I'll confess to something more...praying on my knees doesnt come easily to me. But praying all day long does. I pray when Im hiking, when Im grocery shopping, when my kids call to check in on me, when Im in my cozy basement doing laundry in a machine instead of on a rock in a cold muddy stream, when I rummage through all the over- the- counter meds that I have to choose from when somebody doesnt feel well and when I find what I want in my bounteous refrigerator!! I do have a grateful heart, and I KNOW where my blessing flow from!!!
So....
With this inspirational picture by my bed-somehow I find it more compelling to drop to my knees, or...if not that, at least to sit on the side of my bed and look at this picture and say a prayer.
(Will lightening strike me for admitting this??!!! Probably not!!)
I dont think I've ever really been an 'orthodox' Mormon, and the older I get, I may be finding myself a tad more rebellious than ever. Remember, Im a California, hippy freak at heart.)
But please know of my SURETY of the divinity of our Older Brother who loves me and loves you and who is my Savior and yours.
Yes, I do know this.

And may God bless David Bowman for painting this picture. And for letting it sell cheap enough that I could afford it for my home.
You can go HERE to read more about what I believe about the life and mission of Jesus Christ.

Bliss In The Coral Dust!!

Already bloodshot and itching from fine
clouds of red dust that hung over the
entire train day after day, the travelers'
eyes blurred in the dazzling glare of
color. All were prompted to hesitate
and admire the stamina of one green
juniper. It flourished in a rocky
crevice with nary a teaspoon of sand
or soil in sight.
from: Jumping Off Places
by: Laura Stratton Friel

There is no better way to spend a Friday in Nov, than hiking in Zion National Park. And to make it all the better, try hiking a trail that is brand new, and undiscovered by two of us, and guided by an expert!! It just doesnt get better than that!!! I cant tell you how many times I thought about my loved ones that I wished were with us to share the experience!! We saw things that MANY visitors of the Park dont ever see!! And we didnt see a soul...the whole day. It was quiet beyond imagination, sunny enough to be completely pleasant, and long enough to burn some serious calories!! What happens every time I visit the Park???...it ends too soon, and I wish I didnt have to leave!!!
Still missing from my Zion experience...CONDORS!!
But it'll happen, someday!!!
You'll hear about it when it does!!
To be sure.

Facts of Life:

1. At least 5 people in this world love you so much that they’d die for you.
2. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.
3. Every night, someone thinks about you before they go to sleep.
4. You mean the world to someone.
5. Someone that you don’t even know exists; likes you.
6. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone even if they don’t like you.

The most valuable thoughts which I
entertain are anything but what I
thought. Nature abhors a vacuum,
and if I can only walk with
sufficient carelessness I am sure
to be filled.
Thoreau

(look at me!! im rock'in AND I've used youtube!!!) What a day!!!

(can you see the whale!!?)