Happy Birthday to Lisa and Me too!!!

I met Lisa when we were freshmen at BYU.  We spent lots of fun times together that year and were able to begin a friendship and sisterhood that has continued to this day.  Lisa and I attended a few concerts together that year, some religious devotionals and firesides, skied, laughed, talked and tried to get a tan laying on the roof of May Hall along with Linde and maybe a few other friends.  We have spent all the years since then building upon the friendship we began as college friends.

Lisa is physically beautiful; and when we would walk anywhere together guys would crank their heads so far around you'd think they were owls, just to take a longer look at her.  Infact, just the other day when we were walking on the indoor track at the high school, a young man turned around and ran backwards just so he could have a good look at Lisa!  (hee, hee)   I appreciate her beauty and quickly learned that her personality is even more beautiful and bright than her beautiful face.  Lisa was always fun to be with in college and I have found that to be true every single moment I get to spend with her.  I always come away from time spent with Lisa feeling better about myself and happier for having spent time with her.

Since we moved to Utah, Lisa and I, have been able to spend more time with each other.  We only live about 20 minutes apart and it's been so wonderful having more time to share moments of our lives together.  Lisa is the kind of friend that simply makes life better for me.  When Lisa was called and informed that I'd be taken to Timpanogas Regional Medical Center by ambulance because of complications with my pregnancy; she showed up.  She was there and even though I do not remember seeing her, the last thing I heard before everything went black for me, was Lisa whispering in my ear to let me know she was there.  I've heard her and Eric speak of that moment in time and how thankful I am that Lisa was there for Eric at a scarey time.

Last year when I had to have hernia surgery, she would come in the mornings and take care of Neal.  It was so much fun to hear her cooing to him and giving him a bath and I could rest knowing that she was playing with him and taking such good care of him.  I have admired Lisa's love for children the entire time I have known her and now she get's to begin showering that love on grandchildren, yes, Lisa is going to be a grandma!!!  She is so EXCITED!  I am excited for her and for her family.  She will be a fantastic grandma.

Lisa has done several things for me over the years I've known her, and there is no way I could put down on paper what all of that has meant to me, but I count her as one of my greatest blessings and am thankful to be one of her friends. 

Lisa was born on February 28th and I was born the day after, the 29th in 1964.  She was born in Wyoming and I was born in Nevada.  Is is possible that we may have  known each other in the Spirit World that we lived in before coming here to Earth??...it will be fun to find out someday.  All I know is that I am so thankful and it brings me so much happiness to know that we will go on building our friendship eternally.  To have a friend that I can call sister is so precious and the best kind of gift.

I love you Lisa Dew.  Happy Birthday to YOU!!!!  (and me too!!) 

Crafts and me....

I am not a crafty person, I have a really hard time using a glue gun, cutting straight, following directions etc.,

etc.

But, I saw a few things and so I decided to try my hand at it to keep my hand from grabbing food and depositing it in my mouth.  This is what I did this week...

A ladybug barret for Camilla

A ladybug ring for Camilla

Then this is what I worked on today...I burned my finger tips and I cursed in my mind and I was really ready to throw it away..but I finished it.  It's made with an old formula can!  I found the directions on a website, so it's not my original idea at all..I'll have to see how I feel tomorrow to see if I want to make anymore..I have a lot of formula cans that I saved just incase I might want to do something with them.

You don't have to tell me how well I did, but please don't tell my fragile ego how easy these are or how horribly I messed up the ribbon that I glued on TWICE.  Oh and also...I AM FEELING VERY TENSE NOW!!!
Gotta go..time to pick up children.  Oh and by the way...Neal was not happy at all that I spent time crafting...he's is darn tired of taking care of himself....LOL!!!

Really GOOD Chocolate chip/Craisin cookies

Chocolate Chunk and Craisin Cookies
Prep: 15 min Bake 9 to 10 min (electric range) time may vary with gas oven.

1 ½ sticks butter softened
½ cup firmly packed brown sugar
½ cup granulated sugar
1 tsp. raspberry extract
2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
¼ salt
1 large egg
1 cup craisins
¾ bag nestle chunks

Preheat oven to 350 F. Mix flour, baking soda and salt until well blended, set aside.Beat butter and sugars in large bowl with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Do not over beat. Add egg and extract and beat until well blended. Gradually add flour mixture, beating until well blended after each addition. Stir in chocolate chunks andcraisins until well mixed through batter. With clean hands drop dough about the size of a heaping tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake 9 to 10 minutes or untillightly browned. Bake in center of oven. I usually check cookies at 8 minutes. Cool two minutes, transfer to wire racks. Yields almost 4 dozen cookies.Gooey Butter Cookies1 stick of butter

I thought I'd share this recipe with you, I received it from a friend I made as a young girl living on Mt. Charleston.  Back then she was known as Kim Chaliha; now she's Kim Fisher and she's a gorgeous woman who is a fitness trainer in Phoenix.  I couldn't find raspberry extract here in Payson, so I used raspberry syrup, a little more than 1 tsp. and I added about 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract.  I also used chocolate chips, I didn't have chocolate chunks.  I'll be on the look out for raspberry extract.  BTW, a HIT with my kids and their friends after school today!

I want to write a Valentines memory.  I looked and looked back through my journals for some good Valentine stories from the past when I was single.  There was the story of the guy who gave me flowers, candy and stuffed animals in my office..but I didn't write much about it; I guess because I just wasn't that in to the guy.   However, I went to look for a story that surely would include Eric in 1994...the year we got married.  However, I laughed as I read about Valentines Day of that year.  I actually wrote about preparing for a box dinner that our ward was having; girls made the dinners and guys picked them and joined them.  For whatever reason, which I don't understand at the moment, my friend Val and I went to dinner before this event.  I wrote that I was there; things were fun.  I also wrote that I received a Valentines Card from Michael Nelson. Some of you reading this may not realize that Michael Nelson is now my brother in law..Yes, Wanda's husband!!!  I thought he was a pretty great guy and at the time I had some interest as single ladies are allowed to have, and I was pleased and it made my day.  Well, it wasn't long after that, that it became apparent that Michael and Wanda were very interested in each other and soon to be engaged!!! 

I have TWO very amazingly wonderful brother in laws!!!  I had friendships with them both before they began dating my sisters.  Chad's birthday was yesterday...HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHAD!!!  I'm so thankful that my sisters have such great husbands!  So, that brings me to another kind of love...family love....extended family love.  I'm so grateful for my extended family..parents, siblings and their spouses and most of all MY NIECES AND NEPHEWS!!!!   HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIRANDA..my beautiful niece!!!  

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY TO MY EXTENDED FAMILY!!!!!  I LOVE YOU ALL!!! Make these cookies for each other...they are REALLLLLLYYYY GOOOOD!  I've only had one!!! ;O) I promise..

Happy Valentines Day!

The Valentine Box

Camilla worked diligently to create a special Valentine's box.

This box will collect all of the valentine cards handed out by her classmates tomorrow.

She was a bit concerned that she might have the BIGGEST box.

However, I told her that it needed to be that big to properly display her artwork!

She's very excited for tomorrow's party and the cards and treats.

These are the cards she will be depositing in her friend's Valentine boxes.  Camilla said "I know the boys will not like the fairy cards, but they will like the suckers".

Oh to be back in 2nd grade making a Valentine box or card holder and knowing that it will be filled with cards expressing sweet nothings and treats!!!  And having the ability to deposit cards in everyone's box without someone wondering if it "means something". 

I remember loving Valentine's Day in elementary school.  Not liking it so much in Jr. High, when it became a bit awkward.  Feeling left out most of the time in High School with Valograms and Flowers...every now and then a sweet girl friend would send me a carnation or something.  Then always having my hopes up in College that some certain someone would perhaps think of me on that day with a card, or flowers, or candy and not experiencing those dreams coming true.  One Valentines day I received an office filled with cards, candy, flowers, stuffed animals etc., etc...a real dream come true for a girl like me...but NOT FROM THE ONE I WANTED IT FROM!!  LOL. 

Luckly Eric came along and restored my love of Valentines Day!

Well, enough of that..back to the Valentine Box.  Wouldn't it be nice if we all had a Valentine Box outside our front doors and they'd get filled up with cards and expressions of love and caring.  But I guess that those kinds of boxes are better left for 2nd graders and in classrooms where the teacher makes sure everyone is remembered.

I hope all those who read this post feel loved and remembered and hopefully not just on Valentines Day, but every day.  And even if you don't have a Valentine Box this year...hear's a special Valentine for you from ME!

Just for fun!

Make a Smilebox slideshow I've been playing around with Smilebox today...enjoy. There are two videos and 3 photos...so click next a few times.

Neal Turns TWO!

On Friday, February 5th, Neal turned two years old.

 

He played with balloons, and his new chunky tonka cars/trucks.  He had a GOOD birthday and was lots of  fun to watch.  He runs all around and for the most part really enjoys life, until all of a sudden, something does not go his way...then it's a scowl and a scream!  Yeps, Neal is TWO YEARS OLD!!!

Dawn

Since this is February, the month of LOVE and the month we celebrate Neal's 2nd birthday.  I thought I might share some "love stories", do a bit of reminiscing and remembering the blessings that "LOVE" has brought in to my life and the lives of my family.

Friendship love is sometimes indescribable.  What do I look for in a friend?  Well, most of the time I don't really think about it.  The people in my life that I would call my friends have been put there by some unseen gravitational pull....a FEELING!

One Sunday after moving here to Payson, I can remember having that "FEELING" to sit by a beautiful woman, who radiated a spirit of pure kindness and humility.  So I asked her if I could sit by her.  I had seen her, watched her with her family, but had not yet had the chance to really meet her.  That is my first recollection of Dawn.  Little did I know that, Dawn, would become someone that would make a tremendous difference in my life.  There are many things I could write about Dawn, but today I'm going to write about an experience that took place two years ago today.

I was pregnant with Neal.  Very sick, high blood pressure and Neal was not doing very well.  I really had no idea just how serious my condition was and wouldn't until a day later.  On February 4th ,2008, I got up, went to the doctor for a check up and was hoping that the medication I was taking had helped lower my blood pressure and that perhaps I would not have to be on bedrest any longer.  That was my hope.  I'm sure that Dawn was taking care of Camilla..unless she was at kindergarten.  I was told that my blood pressure was too high and things were taking a turn for the worse.  I was also told by my doctor that he was going to transfer me to a doctor in Payson.  My heart started pounding harder than usual and I felt fear.  He then said, "I believe they will put you in the hospital and I think you need to be closer to home for that."  I was seeing a doctor in Provo which is about 20 minutes from home.  So I complied and went to those doctors, who confirmed what my doctor had said and they told me they wanted me admitted in to the hospital right away.  I thought I heard them say for 24 hour observation. 

My friend, Dawn, took care of my children for me so I could go home and lay down and prepare for Eric to take me to the hospital.  Eric took me that evening and stayed with me until it was time to go home and help my parents, who came to help with Spencer and Camilla.  When he left I began to feel very uncomfortable.  I tried writing in my journal, reading, praying and soon I started feeling pain.  Pain in the upper right hand side of my abdomen..which was right under my chest at that point and pain in my head and back.  I told the nurse and she tried to help me as much as she could.  I HATE being in the hospital, but I was trying really hard not to think about the WHITE walls and the chlostrophobic feeling that was choking me. 

I don't know what time it was, but it must have been evening, time for little ones to be put to bed and in walked, Dawn.  I just remember that I felt a calm feeling sweep over my body when she walked in the door, smiled at me and began asking how I was.  I could tell she was very concerned, worried and I knew her well enough that I knew she wanted to do whatever she could to make me feel better.  That's just who she is. 

We talked for awhile and I don't remember what we said, I do remember laughing a bit.  Then as I told her about feeling so much pain in my shoulders and head; she began to massage my shoulders and head.  She told me that I probably was experiencing a build up of gas and it wasn't releasing.  I had no idea that could possibly be what I was dealing with.  As time went on I felt some comfort and she continued to rub my shoulders and head.  I think the nurse gave me something to help with the gas as well.  Finally I told her that I was feeling enough relief that she could stop. 

I'm not sure if Dawn stayed much longer than that, or what happened next.  I do know that I was able to sleep. 

There are MANY things I could share about Dawn's ability to just "BE THERE" when I need her and I know there are many things that she did for my family when I could not be there for them.  I appreciate her more than I know how to express in words.

But in this one act of kindness and "LOVE" I knew that Dawn was there to serve me in a way that Jesus Christ himself would have if he were in that room with me.  The Savior washed his apostles feet because he truly loved them.  My friend, Dawn, helped me know that night of suffering, that not only did she love me, but that Jesus loved me too and was not going to leave me alone.  That is who Dawn is to me, the very reminder that I need that I am not alone.  

And that is the one love story I hope everyone gets to experience in their lives, to know they are NOT ALONE and that Jesus sends friends to us to help us through life.

I LOVE YOU DAWN!!!!

Spencer plays B-ball

Spencer has a basketball standard outside in the street, right in front of our home.  He loves to shoot baskets when the weather permits.  He wrote a paper about wanting to be a pro-basketball player.  So when the city posted that Basketball season would begin and that it was $35 to play.  I asked him if he wanted to play on a team.  He said, "YES".  So each Tuesday he practices with his team and each Saturday, beginning in January (But I didn't write about it because I was talking about ME) he has been playing Basketball with his team.  The Kings.  The Kings have won two games and lost two games so far.  He has four more Saturday's to play.  Spencer is not an aggressive player, he's not an aggressive person, but he enjoys playing and he is having a good experience learning to play on a team.  He wants to try out for 9th grade basketball next year and I am encouraging him to do so.  Eric is along for the ride as much as possible, we just informed him on Saturday that you can not make 10 points when you make a basket.  So Spencer is enjoying this sport and I'm thankful he has a great coach, who is great with all the kids on the team. 

GO SPENCER!

GO KINGS!

RA RA REE!!!

Spencer is #15

Final score was 52 to 30...KINGS WERE THE BIG WINNERS!

First haircut!

Neal is almost 2 and he received his first haircut a little over a week ago.  Here are a few shots, sorry, I'm not the best at taking pictures these days!

He was so good!

His first outing after the curls were cut off...his brother's basketball game!