My Glad Game

Anybody a fan of Polyanna? I always have been. She had a game called the glad game, no matter how hard something was or difficult, one could always find something to be glad about. I guess over the years I've developed my own "glad game." When I was much younger I found myself being unhappy and discontent about "things." After going to visit family members in their beautiful homes I would come back to my home and be very unhappy. Their homes "matched," their furniture "matched," their decor "matched". I would look around my home and imagine how I could make my home "match." It would always end the same way - I wasn't in a position to afford to make my home "match." My basement remained unfinished and would for many years, my furniture did not match - and still does not for the most part. I made myself miserable. One day as I was wallowing in my woes, I came to the realization that I could spend my entire life being miserable for what I did not have and what I could not do. Did I really want to do that? Would I wake up one day resenting those people that I loved the most because I did not have or could not do the things they did? I took stock of what I had. I had a husband who loved me dearly, he worked hard and was very good at his job. I was a stay at home mom who was blessed to "be there" for my seven children. My home was comfortable and provided for what we really needed. I had food on the table and my children did not go hungry. Most importantly I had my membership in the church and the gospel of Jesus Christ. How could I pine for "things" I did not have. And so came about my glad game - if I could not have something or if I could not do something - I certainly could be glad for those who did. It was an amazing turning point in my life. Oddly enough, the glad game has brought me immeasurable joy. I would never have believed that being glad for the accomplishments, the activities, the possessions of others could make me so happy and so content. I have been eternally grateful for the day that I made the conscious decision to be "glad" for others.

Run Away!

So, we ran away for just a day and look who we found who wanted to play!

Two men and a baby!

Bentley and "her" baby go walking with Grandma.

Grandma is in 7th Heaven

Grandpa love his BIG boy!

Grandma always has to count the toes....

Precious!

Bauer - just too cute!

Father's

Max, my dad, as I remember him.

A few weeks ago I attended the funeral of my dad's best friend. They attended school together, went to war at the same time, married roommates and remained best friends throughout the rest of their lives. The funderal was like a tribute to my father as well, for his named was mentioned over and over. Carl's son reflected on what he had learned from his father. It started me thinking. What did I learn from my father? I had never seriously thought about this question prior to Carl's funeral. Carl lived to be 82, my father however only lived to 54. Perhaps this is why I never contemplated that I learned many things from my father. At the "mature" age of 24 when my father passed away (24 yes; mature no) I did not really appreciate the amazing person that made up Max.

My dad and his sweetheart!

So 30 years late, Dad, here is my tribute to you!

1. I learned you owe it to yourself to demand excellence of yourself in whatever you do. My dad excelled in everything he did. He never accepted a job or assignment without doing it "the best."

2. I learned you can boldly champion a cause in a quiet, invisible way. My father championed many people in our community who had physical and mental disabilities by making the way possible for them to get employment at the Tooele Army Depot. Very few people knew he did this and he never spoke about it.



3. I learned to love sports. My dad was a talented athlete. He played basketball and football, he wrestled, was a fish in the water, he golfed, he ran track and field. In a somewhat "man's" world I was fortunate enough to learn to love (and understand. . .a very important piece of the puzzle) sports of all kinds.

High School Basketball ( Gotta love those trunks!)

A handsome young soldier


4. I learned about friendship. My dad had friends of all walks of life. I grew up in a time when being "politically correct " was not even a term let alone something practiced. My father was a friend to people of many races and cultures. He defended those friendships and those friends regardless of their backgrounds. He was a true friend who was loyal to his friends to the end of his days. He was never too busy to help a friend.

5. I learned that to become educated is your duty. My father in some quiet way which to this day I can not put a finger on, instilled in all his children the importance of getting their education. My father earned his Bachelor's Degree from the U of U. I still remember my dad driving to Provo in the evenings after work to attend classes to earn his Master's Degree. I always knew that I needed to do well in school and to graduate from college. To his credit, all of his children graduated from college.

6. I learned that it is good to be "passionate" about something. My dad was passionate about the positive influence that sports can have on young people. He worked endless hours in building the successful Western Boys Baseball Assoication.

If you have not taken time to reflect upon what you have learned from your father, take a moment and do so. If you are lucky enough to still have your father around, tell him how much
you appreciate what he has taught you.

Why Do YOU Do The Things You DO?

So, have you ever thought, WHY you do the things you do? I make quilts! I make wedding quilts, I make baby quilts, I make birthday quilts. Why? I suppose I could answer like Tevia from Fiddler on the Roof - "I don't know, its tradiation!" And that is probably the basis for why I quilt. My mother, Anna quilted. She made a quilt for each of her children when they got married and made quilts for each of her grandchildren when they were born. I' m sure that had she been alive, she would have made a quilt for each of her grandchildren when they married. Her mother, Eva, my grandmother quilted, she made a quilt for each of her children,
and quilted a quilt for the first child of each of her grandchildren. And her mother quilted, and her mother quilted. So when my first child got married, life was somewhat hectic and I actually thought twice about making a quilt. Well, maybe I only thought once about it. Somewhere deep inside I could hear the little voice saying, "Are you going to abandon "TRADITION!" I could not. I actually enjoy creating quilts. It is a wonderful creative outlet and hand quilting them is just satisfying to me. So below are a couple of my latest quilting escapades.

This is the center portion of Bauer's quilt, the happy octupus!.

This is going to be Jeremy and Carly's quilt. I have 7 blocks finished, only 13 more to go! This has been great fun watching it come together. Cansas and Lindsey helped me pick out some of the materials. (A downside of hometown shopping, not a great deal of material variety is availble here.)


This is Jesse Bauer's quilt - it was so much fun. It always amazes me how they turn out. I picture things in my brain, but I never picture them quite like the turn out.

Why else do I do this? Because I love the people I make them for - probably a much better reason than "tradition!"

He's Still Got It!!!

Today, May 16, 2008 was the 22nd Annual ARL Triathlon! Of those twenty-two, Mark has been in charge of 21 races! Of the 21 races he has participated in 10 races including today! 6 of the races he participated as an individual and 4 on teams. He decided 2 days ago that he was going to participate this year. So the race begins at the beautiful Blanding Swimming Pool. It was a balmy 80 degree water today.

The race begins with deep contemplation focusing on the strategy for the race.

The gun signals the start of the race and it's into the water!

The swimming portion of the race consists of 4 laps of the pool.

I said, "Smile for the grand kids!"

Ever hear of a farmer tan?

It off on the bike - a grueling 5 miles - I'm sure its all up hill!

Rounding the corner of the middle school heading up Blue Mtn Road - only 4 more miles to go.

Crossing the finish line after a 2 mile run!

My Hero!

This was the funnest Triathlon I remember. I enjoyed watching Mark compete. And so as it says in the title - He's Still Got It!

Why I Love Mother's Day

There are "7" great reasons I LOVE being a MOM - let me enumerate on them.

1. Jonathan - Steady, unshakable with a firey spirit beneath his cool exterior, looks out for his mom.

2. Jason - Independent, self-reliant, innovative, master of the spreadsheet, still will call his mom and say, "Mom, I have a question."

3. Jesse - The softest heart in the biggest frame! Shares his joys and woes with his mom! He's a great dad!

4. Jeanine - A wonderful mother. A huge giving caring heart. Fun loving. Keeps in touch with her mother. A talented teacher.

5. Jackie - Focused. Is not afraid to have her own opinion. Open minded. Goofy. Stylish. Still needs her mom here and there.

6. Jeremy - Dedicated, obedient. Understanding. Compassionate. Gives his mom a hug good night most every night!

7. Jordan - Calm, unaffected. A friend to many. Patient. Enduring. His "Hey, mom" always makes me smile.

"Spring is sprung - the grass is riz - I wonder where the flowers iz!"

I don't remember a spring going by when I was a little girl without hearing my mom say this little poem. Spring keeps trying to "sprung" in Blanding but somehow it can't get the great winter we had out of its system. It may look warm, but somehow it isn't. Here are some "cool" pictures of "spring trying to srpung" in my backyard!