Too Much!

That can sum up life for most of us I'm afraid. Perhaps it is also the curse of modern day life. There is just too much. We watch too much TV, eat too much junk food, stress ourselves too much, stay up much too late, sleep too much, sit too much, gossip too much, waste too much time, work too much, play too much, own too many clothes, have too much debt, . . . .and the beat goes on. My goal is to figure out how to take the "too much" out of my life. If you know the secrets of balanced living, share the wealth!

Life in the empty nest - plus one!

The Empty Nest is NOT empty anymore!

March 9th our last missionary came home!

Even in the pictures there is a glow! Missionaries have that glow.
Don't ever lose it!


This was the quickest off the plane, get the luggage and on our way we've every had.

The newly returned missionary gets to hold the newest nephew in the family!

They both are georgous!!!!

Now what? Who knows? The best is yet to come!!

Hudson - Oh Baby!

He's cute, adorable, beautiful 7 lbs 3 oz and 18 1/2 inches of absolute wonderfulness! Do I sound like a proud grandma? I AM! He arrived on March 2 at 5:51 p.m. He also has a bit of jaundice!

Hudson Cole is his name. His dad and mom think he is mighty special! So do I!

"Promtings"

Today our lesson for RS was Elder Boyd K. Packer's talk from Oct. Conference, 'Prayer and Promptings' He is such an inspiring individual. He has such a gentle, plain way of providing us the gospel teachings. He has always been assigned the "sensitive" subjects to preach on and I have always been amazed at what a wonderful job he does. Our teacher asked us to think about our most recent prayer that was answered or our most recent prompting. Wow - so here is mine. After a very, long, long day yesterday I was exhausted. I didn't necessarily get up as early as I could or should have this morning as my poor body is just worn out right now. Dad was going to a ward conference and I was running a bit late. I grabbed my shoes from my bedroom and the prompting came to me, "Ere you left your room this morning - did you think to pray?" I was running late, but thought again and knelt down and said my prayers. As I sat in RS opening the hymn book for the opening hymn; "Ere You Left Your Room," I smiled. I so hate to sing that song and feel guilty that I had not said my morning prayers. Grateful for the sweet, gentle, prompting to take the time even when I am running late, to say my prayers.

"It's nice to have a friend waiting.. . . "

Clara Olsen:

"You mean, you want to be buried with me? . . . well, I suppose it could be arranged."

Gertrude:

Well, I've always trusted old!" people, but I didn't trust you when you were 40 Clara

Last week was EOTS (Edge of the Seaters Theater Company) Valentines dinner theater. We really wanted it to be nice this year. Great food, good solid plays etc. We decided that doing 2 1 act plays may be easier to pull off than a full length play. In some ways that was true, in others it was NOT. Lynette and I did one of the plays, "Save Me a Place at Forest Lawn" it is the story of two octogenarians, best friends for over 40 years who while at lunch discuss life, the unknown fears of death, heaven and hell, and their personal relationship. Well, it was fun, nerve wracking and challenging. Yes, it was easier to pull off a 2 man one act, but the fear involved of only 2 of you being on stage and everyone knows whose line it is next was a intense for me. I was Clara Olsen, bossy, determined, always right (of course), know it all to Lynette's Gertrude, shy reserved, unassuming, yet the true example of loving and forgiving. At the end of the play, Gertrude asks Clara for a favor, "Take me with you Clara," "Where?" "To your mausoleum." "Well, it hasn't been built yet." "I know, let's make the plans together, let's arrange it all. It would make me so happy to know that when it's time, there will be room for me, that you'll be waiting." Clara is somewhat taken back, sums up the situation and the debt she owes her lifelong friend and decides there is no reason the two can't be buried together in her mausoleum. The last line of the play comes from Gertrude who has asked Clara to wait at the table for her while she goes to the bathroom prior to leaving. Clara assures her she will wait. "Oh, Clara, its so nice to know you have a friend, waiting." And it is! We had fun, learned some lessons of life, did a good performance, had wonderful meals and I'm glad I made the time.

Welcome To My World

So is my house - - - -



S0 is my world - - -

S0 is my life!!!

You Say It's Your Birthday!

Most of your are probably too young to remember this song. It was a Beatles song which says; "You say it's your birthday. It's my birthday too--yeah. (Interestingly enough, I share this birthday a fellow employee, a girl I grew up with, whose name happened to be Debra as well - now that doesn't happen every day - and Oprah - albeit - I'm about 2 1/2 hours older than she is!) They say it's your birthday. We're gonna have a good time. (I have had a very good time today!) I'm glad it's your birthday. Happy birthday to you. Yes we're going to a party party. (No, I don't think we're going to party, party, party - but work on the house!) Yes we're going to a party party. Yes we're going to a party party. I would like you to dance--Birthday. Take a cha-cha-cha-chance-Birthday. (I did something better than dance for my birthday - I did something nice for someone else) I would like you to dance--Birthday Dance. You say it's your birthday. Well it's my birthday too--yeah. You say it's your birthday. We're gonna have a good time. I'm glad it's your birthday. Happy birthday to you! (It has been a good time, a good day, a good life and if its your birthday too - well - Happy birthday to you!)