Childhood Memory

Recently, I came across this photo of my two brothers and me from around 1964

It represents a favorite childhood memory.

Brent in the front, Mark in the middle, and me in the back

I am guessing that in this photo, we were close to these ages:

Mark-18 months, Brent 2 1/2-3 , and I was around 4 1/2

We livd next to a lot where horse trailers were sold.

We lived on State Street in American Fork, Utah. Our house was on the east side of the road, across the street from my Aunt Marilyn's house. Today, a Mc Donald's sits on the location of Aunt Marilyn's former home and a KFC sits where my house used to be.
Today, State Street is a very busy congested main highway as opposed to the early 1960's when we walked across the street to visit our cousins. The road was a highway but not with the heavy traffic it sees today.
Our grandma Hoglund lived within walking distance at 44 South, 600 East, where there are now homes and condos.
My dad was working 3 jobs and going to BYU to complete his MBA at this time. My mom would load the 3 of us up in the wagon and take us for long walks. I remember going to visit my Grandma and Grandpa Hoglund, as well as Aunt Marilyn and my cousins, her children. We would also stop and visit with other people along the way. My mom would sing songs and we would join in.. She lined the bottom of the wagon with a towel for us to sit on so we would be more comfortable as we took our walks.
Most of the walks I remember were in the evening, but I am sure we went out at other times during the day as this was most likely the only method of transportation for us on some days. We had one car and I am sure my dad needed that car most days, although I do remember times that we would drop him off at work so my mom could use the car on grocery shopping day.

Photos speak so many words and provide a step back in time that nothing else can.
This photo always creates heightened gratitude for my parents and their sacrifices for our family.
At the time, this may have seemed like an ordinary day, doing an ordinary activity but this is a priceless memory.

Take those photos...even when your family complains, especially when your family complains!

Raspberries Anyone?

Last week, I had the blessing of taking care of 3 of my grandchildren.

This little guy melts my heart at every turn.

After raising 5 children and being a raspberry lover myself,

I had never seen someone put raspberries on their fingers.

(This was always reserved for the olives at Thanksgiving dinner)

His love for raspberries is clear.

Paris In The Spring

 We are home from a dream.
Two and a half days in Paris!
We went with the expectation of seeing two main things: The new Paris LDS Temple and the Eiffel Tower.
We decided that anything else we got to see or do was a bonus.
We had a major bonus!
Our first day, we saw the Paris LDS Temple then walked to Versailles (already a bonus) It was as magnificent as imagined. After Versailles, we went to the Eiffel Tower. From that point on, everything else we saw or did was a bonus.
We became familiar with the train system and off we went to all points Paris.
We also bought a "hop-on-hop-off" tour the city bus pass like we did in Munich. This was time and money well spent.
These photos are from our first day, which was a half day as we gave ourselves the luxury of a jet  lagged nap which proved to be exactly what we needed before we hit the ground running for the next 2 full days.
My hashtag for this trip is #parislikeabosswithmrhoss
Loved this trip, albeit short and can't wait to return and experience The Louvre to Megan and have Katherine help us speak French.

The Paris LDS Temple

It has been noted in the press releases and photos that there is no Angel Moroni on top of the temple.

With the reason given that it does not fit well with the design and aesthetic of the area.

After spending time in Paris, I totally agree this was the correct choice.

There is a beautiful garden in the back with a white marble statue of Christ.

 It was difficult to photograph this Temple. The photos in the press releases are much better than any I could take. It is gorgeous inside and out. The stained glass is breathtaking.

Versailles is within walking distance of the Paris LDS Temple

Well worth the walk and such a contrast in feelings from one building to another.

 We are not  from the selfie generation but we tried many selfies this trip. We do have a selfie stick and have set a goal to learn how to use it before the next trip. Even that sentence makes me sound so old!

More photos later. This is just a start. We packed a lot in to 2.5 days, only because we wanted to and not because we felt like we had to.

Happy Birthday to Des

Today is "All About Des Day" as he is celebrating his 6th Birthday!

He is a fun Kindergartener with a zest for knowledge and learning.

He reads amazingly well and uses BIG words in context.

He loves music, art, and funny jokes.

He is a deep, out-of-the-box thinker.

I love being Des' grandma!

Doctrine of The Family

In addition to my weekly Sunday School posts, I have decided to post thoughts and quotes from weekly lessons, presentations, talks, and personal study. It is an effective way to reinforce each message.

I was going through my Church bag and found this quote I used in a RS Lesson a few months ago.
It is from Sister Julie B Beck:

"This generation will be called upon to defend the doctrine of the family as never before. 

If they don't know the doctrine, the can't defend it."

Sister Beck gave a powerful message
, "Teaching The Doctrine of The Family"
to the Seminary and Institute Teachers in August 2009.

The past 2 years at BYU Women's Conference, this talk was referred to and quoted over and over. It is powerful.

Coming Up For Air

March 29...
My cousin, Karen, reminded me is the last date I posted on this blog...
Well...I am back...sort of...
Being Out of Town coupled with NO COMPUTER is the explanation for my absence from the Blogosphere. Today, I have my computer back just long enough for Megan to complete her Science Fair Project (ugh!) and her Egyptian Museum Project (Ugh...3rd Grade Projects!) Then...my computer goes back to the hospital..it is very sick, yet in the forward stages of recovery.
Before my computer goes back to re-hab and I go out of town AGAIN...I hope to work in some, not all, of these subjects:

• My trip to Utah with Katherine
• Attending the General Young Women Broadcast with Katherine
• My MOM's Birthday
• April Fools Day....I am quite proud of the joke I pulled off!
• SNOW in Utah and The BEACH in Florida..all in one week.
• Completing The Book of Mormon by Easter (one more week)
• Photos, Photos, Photos...
• My Favorite Cookies from The Lion House and The Nauvoo Cafe
• Andrew and The Utah JAZZ
• My Uncle Bill, My Aunt Mary, My Uncle Lawrence
• I like being different...
• The Condo I want to purchase in Utah.
• The Books I am reading and writing....
• The art I want from James Christensen
• A BIG Decision I am trying to make....or not.
• And yet...More Photos, Photos, Photos....

Wow...the list is so long....everything just piles up without a place to "dump" it. THIS IS KNOW FOR SURE....If the only complaint I have in life is being without a computer...life is good! Make that...LIFE IS EXCELLENT...MOST EXCELLENT!

Spring Break was wonderful here! How could it not be...we LIVE in Spring Break! I am off to download photos from the past TWO WEEKS....You were warned!

An Ordinary Miracle

Space Shuttle Launch....Sunday March 15

This photo was taken from the balcony in the back of my house about 30 seconds after Lift-Off.

I live 2 1/2 Hours south of Cape Canaveral and the view is spectacular.

As soon as the flame cleared the trees, we had a perfect view of the flame headed into space.

For some, the launch of Space Shuttles, Rockets, Satellites, etc. may seem to be an ordinary occurrence, even something to be taken for granted. For me...every launch is nothing short of a miracle.

I can remember the days when everyone in town stopped, even schools were dismissed when the Apollo Rockets and first Space Shuttles were launched. EVERYONE stopped to watch, EVERY Television Show was interrupted so that live coverage of Lift-Off and Landings could be viewed. Now...it is difficult to find much TV Coverage as the Shuttle engines are firing up on the Launch Pad. Many of the Shuttle Launches don't make the headlines on the evening news or front pages of Newspapers. The safe landings are rarely covered...

This always gets me thinking...

What OTHER ordinary miracles do I, and others, take for granted? Whom and What is around me every day that I have just come to accept as a fact of life?

I remember the day The Space Shuttle Challenger blew up. January 26, 1986. It was one of the coldest days in Florida. The sky was perfectly blue, not one cloud. I was busy with a project...sewing a maternity dress....Andrew was on the way. In the background, I had the TV on, not paying much attention to the pre-Shuttle Launch commentating. However, at the one minute countdown, I stopped what I was doing and gathered Curt and Jeffrey to the TV to watch the Launch. Thirty seconds after the launch, we knew to go outside in our front yard and look NORTH to see the Shuttle flame and smoke trail.

That day, we saw the Challenger blow up on the TV Screen and ran outside to see the smoke trails and fire in the sky first hand.

All day, because the sky was so clear and still, those smoke streams stayed in place. Those streams of smoke set against the perfectly clear blue sky served as a reminder and a wake up call to me....

Sometimes people don't come and go as planned. Many times, seemingly every day occurances are brought about by a series of miracles I may never be aware of. At times I fail to see the miracles in the routines of every day life.

Life is short....

What and Whom am I taking for granted. What miracles am I oblivious to?

Have I settled in to such a level of comfort and expectation that I don't stop to THANK and MARVEL at the amazing life around me.

Today, I say...life is good...oh so good. I am surrounded by incredible people and I love being alive at this time in history. I even love living in Florida (which I could not always say)

The Lord is in charge and I acknowledge his hand in my life at every turn, life is FULL of ordinary miracles. I am alive because of ordinary miracles.

Ordinary Miracles...That is an oxymoron.

There is nothing Ordinary about a Miracle.

One Week Challenge

Young Women Object Lesson...
At the end of our lesson on Showing Love and Support for Our Families (Lesson #10 in YW Manual 1),
I gave each of the Young Women a Bracelet, similar to this, only the beads are much smaller. I got a pack of bracelets at WM for $5. I asked each girl to place the Bracelet on her right wrist and gave the following challenge:

For One Week:
Speak uplifting, kind, positive words to everyone you come in contact with. For one week, refrain from speaking ill of anyone at anytime. If, for some reason you slip up, switch the bracelet to the left wrist and start over, and if you mess up again. switch the bracelet, etc.
I challenged the girls to keep the bracelet on one wrist all week. Of course, I am doing the challenge along with them and will check up with them mid-week. (I had to switch my bracelet last night when I was ranting about the FCAT testing....see below)
This challenge is based on one of my now very favorite quotes I shared a few days ago.

"Be one who nurtures and builds.

Be one who has an understanding and a forgiving heart,

who looks for the best in people.

Leave people better than you found them."

~Elder Marvin J Ashton~

We spent the majority of the lesson time yesterday discussing the counsel in this quote and how it applies to being a family member as well as the way it could change the world. I had already spent a few days practicing Leaving people better than I found them, so I was able to share some of my experiences with the girls about having the most positive experience with a WM Cashier ever, just because I was conscious of leaving the person better than I found them. (If you know me well, you are surprised about the positive WM experience)

One of my favorite places to practice lifting and building others is in the McDonalds Drive-thru..of course they are all shocked when I am understanding and pleasant....and of course....I have many, many friends at different McD's stores all over the area as a result of my attitude.

I plan on using this quote and giving out bracelets on the first day of Girls Camp with each of the girls from my Ward.

Could you do this for one week?

I thought it would be easy....

Try it and let me know...

Do you LOVE this quote by Elder Ashton?

Almost Like High School

Tonight...

For a fleeting moment, I thought I was in High School all over.

At 5:00 this evening, I received a phone call asking if I was attending the Birthday Party being held for a dear friend.

Yes, I reply, as I am standing in the store learning how to use my new cell phone (that should have been a clue that I was far far away from my High School Days...cell phones were not part of my High School days)

Yes, I am planning to attend.

By the way, you are my first call on my new phone, I say to the caller.

Oh, so you are going to the party, she answers, Great, can I get a ride?

Yes, I say.

Can you give a ride to Suzy (not her real name), also?

Sure, I say.

Great.....We have a DESIGNATED DRIVER, my friend exclaims.

Just Like That....

Just Like High School....I am the Designated Driver.

Hooray for our non-drinking Mormon friend.

By 6pm, I was making the pick up stops all over town.

By 1am, I was making the drop off stops all over town.

And at the end of the evening, me being the only person with clear reasoning skills, I was thankful to be the Designated Driver, not just because my friends would be safe in my car, but because I was completely reminded of how grateful I am to not be a drinker of not even one little drop.

The reminder I did not like was that my body has not seen the energy or fitness level of High School for many years.

After delivering everyone safely to their doors, I returned home... grateful to live NOW... and happy that I will never have to go through my own High School years again.One time was enough. I will take the body and wisdom I have now.

Take A Good Look

At The GREEN Tile Around The Pool...
It is GONE, which was NOT part of the project, UNTIL, it just FELL off like an avalanche. Apparently all the thin-set was worn away and when the work started on the grout in ONE area, ALL areas just started to pull away, crack, and FALL. It was an accident waiting to happen and I am glad we found out at this stage of the project.
So....Bye-Bye to the Green Tile (I am keeping the Lion Water Spouts-only because the Gator ones look cheesey-thank goodness!) And Hello to a whole new look. I am weighing the options today, and there are so many. Of course, the original GREEN tile is discontinued, which is fine. All recommendations are to use most anything except for GREEN, which I am leaning toward. I am choosing a color scheme and pattern that compliments to look of our new exterior paint colors (the last summer project)

Meanwhile, I have finally convinced the children that the empty pool is NOT a Skateboard, Scooter,or Ripstick Park AND they CANNOT charge admission to "Play" here. Ever the enterprising young ladies, those daughters of MINE!

Happy Weekend!

It is above 50 Degrees Here!

While We Were Sleeping

Our Pool Was Draining
(On Purpose)
One of many 2009 Household Tasks is to have our pool resurfaced. Here we are in January ready to check one huge task off before the month ends!

This morning....

Yesterday afternoon when the draining was becoming a reality, katherine was pretending to be the little "Dutch Boy" by holding her finger on a small leak in the draining tube.
The more water gone...the harder it was for little girls to stay away. Keep in mind...we are experiencing the coldest days of the year...record low temperatures and they did not mind at all. Note Mr. Riley up on the deck...he wont get in the pool WITH or WITHOUT water...NO WAY.

The water usually covers the white area and the first 2 Rows of Tile...It is going down and the girls think this is the best!

Megan had to run out in her PJ's to "check" on the Draining Progress...it was so darn cold outside, yet that did not stop her from hoping down onto one of the benches that is usually underwater.

It goes without saying, however, this is my blog, so I will say (write) it...Stay tuned for UPDATES and the exciting COMPLETED PROJECT!

I missed the celebration for by 1,000th post (this is my 1,021st post) Maybe I will have to host a Pool Resurfacing Celebration Giveaway. Mmmmmm...OR, my blog turns 2 this month...the possibilities are whirring around in my head.

Happy Weekend!

Stay Warm wherever you are!

Our Cold Snap is coming to an end, or so the weather reports inform us.

Up and Down The Turnpike and a Laugh From The Past

Yesterday...
Ron had a speaking assignment in Ft Pierce, one hour north of us. He asked me to speak on the program with him, so off we went early yesterday morning. I was reminded that the last time I spoke with him in Ft Pierce, I was pregnant with our second son, Jeffrey (25 years ago this month). We just had Curt. Now look at us...
I was also reminded of one of my finer (funny) Public Speaking moments that happened in Ft Pierce several years ago while I was The Stake Young Women President. Read on...
While serving as The Stake Young Women President, I committed to each Young Woman in our Stake that when they received their Young Women Recognition Medallion, I would be present. Our Stake is spread all over geographically and it take 1 1/2 hours to get to some areas of the Stake from any given spot, however, I did not mind driving this distance for these important occasions.
One Wednesday evening, I was to be in Ft Pierce by 7pm to participate in the Young Women Recognition Night. I was on the program as the main speaker, so being on time was important.
I prepared an early dinner for my family, hurriedly dressed, and headed up the Turnpike to Ft Pierce.
The evening was lovely, I gave my presentation, and, when all was done, headed home.
When I was preparing for bed time, I looked in the mirror to wash my face. At that moment, I realized how in a hurry I had been to get out the door and be on time.
I only had make up on ONE EYE. Of course, I am the only one who noticed, but it was embarrassing to me.
To this day, I ALWAYS put my eyeliner on BOTH eyes, then eyeshadow on BOTH eyes before using mascara on either eye. And, of course, I think of that Ft Peirce experience many many times when applying eye make up.