Twinnies Halloween

Sage and Raina (or is it Raina and Sage?) dressed up as Dorothy.

Keira Is a Cute Little Duckling for Halloween

I think Keira is wondering why they are all dressed up as animals.

Zombies at Halloween

I recognize Tanner as the Chef and Sarah with the turquoise, white, and rose striped apron.  And I think I see some of Matt Shields  family.  Very scary for Halloween.

Marjorie Visits

Marjorie drove down from Washington to visit her Mom and son in Corning and had come up here Saturday afternoon. She is looking good and full of energy. She eats only food that is good for her and walks a lot!!! Little Bear is looking good, too. We served her some of our favorite chicken enchiladas, parmesan chicken, and homemake ice cream. She enjoyed visiting with everyone at Clear Creek Branch. We miss her here.

Michael Likes the Ice Cream

Michael says we have the best Neapolitan ice cream he has ever had.  Actually we have separate tubs of Vanilla, Rocky Road and Strawberry.

When we were at Costco I bought some cream and half and half because it was so cheap compared to what we pay here and then made the ice creams.  Remembering what Vida taught me about dairy products when you are congested I have not been eating much except to taste but...they are really good.  The Rocky Road has toasted almonds.  With all fresh ingredients and no other fillers, home made ice cream is the way to go and it is so fast with the Cuisinart.  I did not realize ice cream is mostly sugar and cream plus flavors.

Wyoming Cousins

Cheri and Jeff Johnson with son Tanner.  Cheri is the daughter of my brother Dick and his wife Mary.  Jeff is Cheri's  husband and Tanner just left for a mission to Brazil.  My brother Dick married Mary while I was still in high school and they lived next door to our family.  I soon went to college and then off to California so have not gotten very well acquainted with Cheri's family.

Cheri and Jeff have seven children: Ashley 28 married to Brion with three children Madison 6, Kohl 2 1/2 and Jordyn 4 months; Derek 27 married to  Michelle with Kylee Jo 3 1/2; Andrew married to Megan;  Spencer 21 (just returned from Brazil); Tanner 19 (just left for Brazil); Andrea 17 and Jenna 11.

Kylee Jo, Madison, and Kohl

Ashley and Jordyn

Doctor Visit

Tuesday I visited my new doctor again and he took some wax out of my ears and refilled my flunisolide so I can stop the decongestant pills.  The flunisolide works much  better. The decongestant was working  for my head and nose except that it all ended up in my throat, not good.  Still feeling pretty lousy.

He doesn't want to see me again until March to see if the Mega Red pills which he is has me taking are working for my cholesterol.  He recommended them because I said I could not afford Lipitor anymore since my insurance won't pay for it.  I had told my sister about them a few months ago and since she works at Costco she has been taking three a day as prescribed.   Carole said for the first time her cholesterol was lower!!  Yea!

This is not very interesting to write about but if it is in here I will remember it, otherwise I may forget to call and make an appointment in March--such as the way my mind works these days.

Two More Projects Completed

Knitting is something you can do while sitting on the couch--I enjoy watching British miniseries.  What do they do so well, that we do not do here in America??  They are classier, I think, and more interesting.

Living a Life of Abundance

Today I watched the documentary "Faith and Miracles" and was so inspired in Chante Wouden, I looked her up on the internet and found her interview on "Why I Believe".  The film tells about her being a two time cancer survivor but that is not all.  Although a leg amputation was needed, she was blessed that she would dance again and miraculously a bone surgeon experimented and saved her leg, though it was shorter than the other.  Later her leg was stretched and when it didn't stretch long enough, the other leg was shortened.  Yet she learned to run, swim, and play soccer and dance and her legs were not the same length until she was out of high school.  Though she was diagnosed with cancer at 3  and spent so much time in the hospital and had multiple surgeries she still became a talented piano player, was in student government, got her college degree and works in filmmaking.

Then at 26 when she thought it was all behind her she was diagnosed with an enlarged heart and damaged liver (from all the chemo).  This became the most painful of her life trials. The amazing thing is how abundantly she lives her life, never doubting on anything she wants to do.  And she testifies how every day we all have that choice to live a life of abundance or lack.  She continues to strive for her goals and live her dreams and share her testimony of belief in Jesus Christ and how the atonement succors her in her life.  She is currently working on her Masters degree as well as working.

She credits her Mom with being the positive influence in her life, never doubting, and her Dad being the steady strength and her whole family being a positive support in all her trials. 

She is an inspiration to everyone in the way she lives her life of joy and happiness.

Someone made the statement that she is the only survivor so far of this type of cancer.

Chanté Wouden: Faith and Miracles

Directed by Manju Varghese, this 30 minute documentary shares the beautiful story of Chante Wouden a two-time cancer survivor.  

Ewing Surcoma, is a Rare type of bone cancer, which mainly affects male teenagers. This bone cancer is rarely found in females especially under the age of 10. In the 1980’s the treatment for Ewing Surcoma was unknown and specialists were working hard to develop a cure. A brave number of men and women who had the disease volunteered to be part of the experiment in hopes to save themselves and help others in the future.

Adults who Struggle with cancer find it to be not only a physical fight but also an emotional and spiritual one as well. Now imagine only being three years old and trying to make sense of the disease. Chante Wouden the second oldest of a family of six shares her experiences with being diagnosed with this particular bone cancer and the experimental treatments that were being developed for the rare disease. When you see Chante with her 5’1 frame and 109 pounds you would not suspect the incredible challenges she has faced. But, Chante has not only faced them she has walked away from the battles stronger and she has lived to tell her tale.

Project #2 and #3

Completed another quilt.  I had this denim type material I was going to make into a caftan for myself.  Never did.  So I made a couple of flannel backed tie quilts.  I gave one away, not sure who has it and this one will go in the closet for when needed.

Also in trying to use all the yarn I have around here I knitted a hat today.  So two more projects out of the way.  Good for you, Janet.

I feel very sorry for some critter who burrows under the ground.  I have these cracked surfaces in trails all over my yard.  I am sure they are cracked becausee the dirt is so hard here, he probably can't go very deep.  What a way  to live, I'm so glad I can be in the sunshine.  It has been beautiful, but very cold at night.

Yesterday Mitch was up with a girl friend and started a fire which burned till after I went to bed.  It was 82 degrees in here and still 75 this morning, long after the fire had gone out.  I hope we have enough wood for winter.  On Sunday Greg Todd told me to holler if I needed some more.   It is so nice they provide all the widows with all the wood they want.  Nice service!

Happy Anniversary

I just realized tomorrow is our wedding anniversary.  I found something I had written in my journal a few years before Richard passed away.  It was a time of tremendous financial stress as Richard was trying to save some of his clients in a heavy foreclosure climate.  I had written, the negative:

"Foreclosures have been taking so much of Richard's time and he works for nothing.  This is why we had such problems in the early eighties.  We had to borrow on the house and live on what I could bring in and I was just learning the business.  We all tell him he should charge like a lawyer but he has such a hard time doing that.  He feels he has to orchestrate the whole transaction and it could  never happen positively for his clients, if he didn't. 

I can understand where Richard is coming from but he has so many bases to cover and works so hard and doesn't get paid for it--it is the strangest life, no one could believe it.  I feel sorry for him one minute and am so angry at what it does to us the next that it is very confusing.  All our financial problems have arisen from the financial problems of someone else that he has had to unwind."

And then I had written the positive:

"Richard and I are really enjoying our morning at the Temple on Wednesdays.  It is so amazing to me that in the midst of all this chaos we can pick up and take a morning out of life each week and yet it is the glue that keeps it all together, I believe.

 I would never have believed that I would actually love spending so much time at the Temple.  It is the sisterhood that I have missed these last 14 year as I have worked instead of being in the auxiliaries.  There is such a peace, that I have so been praying for, and it stays with me for longer and longer each week.  There is so much love within those walls and the Temple work has become so much more meaningful.  It is the only time in the week I can really put the world and all our problems aside and focus on others. 

When Brother Jones called us, he said he did not know where the call came from--interesting--but without that call right now, I really don't know how Richard and I would have kept going through these last couple of months, honestly.  I love walking through the gardens each Wednesday, too.  I have learned alot just watching what the gardeners do in the early morning and wish I could do the same to my garden.  The grounds really are spectacular."

The 80s and 90s were such a very stressful time for Richard and I, culminating in his death.  I am glad we had some good times as well.  Some of the stressful times are so similar to what I am going through now, only I am alone.  I had written the same things then as I do now in my journal.  That is not good, I should have learned...

Happy Anniversary, Richard, I hope you are enjoying your missionary work up there.  I am sure it is much more enjoyable than what is happening down here though Elder Nelson tells us it is an exciting time to be alive, I need to get with that point of view and enjoy...

Bummer Week

All week I have been congested and tired--it is from allergies this time of year.  I am out of my allergy meds.  Besides that I have been having gluten attacks all week so staying close to home.   I found some good things to read and finished organizing my office but other than that I have been down, way down. 

Although my sister sent me a very nice surprise, which lifted my spirits yesterday.

Lucky me, though, in cleaning out my office I found an Allergy Self-Care Kit from Kaiser  Permanente.  It must be several years old but after reading it I took one of the decongestants and voila!!!  it works.  My head feels so much better.  Oh, oh, I just read you should not take it if you are taking high  blood pressure medicine, wonder what will happen.  It is Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride.  I better look it up and see what can happen--oh, oh, looks like I will have a problem sleeping also and here it is 10:39 PM.

Guess I will get some reading done tonight.

Pseudoephedrine acts on alpha-adrenergic receptors in the mucosa of the respiratory tract, producing vasoconstriction. The medication shrinks swollen nasal mucous membranes; reduces tissue hyperemia, edema, and nasal congestion; and increases nasal airway patency. Also, drainage of sinus secretions may be increased and obstructed eustachian ostia may be opened.

Wow, just what I need--I also found out the common names this is sold under are Triaminic, Diamtapp and Sudafed.  Good ole Sudafed, that is the allergy medicine my pediatrician liked for the children.   Looks like I may have a good next week, there are 12 days of pills left, enough to get me through October!  Yea!

Isn't it wonderful to have instant knowledge at our fingertips.  I wonder what happened to all the manufacturers of encyclopedias and medical books?

Best Ice Cream

Yesterday morning I woke up about 4 am thinking of that bad pumpkin ice cream I made.  I tasted it one more time and then threw it all out.  While I had the freezer open I saw I had two pounds of frozen strawberries--a ha, enough strawberries to make our 'Best Ice Cream' recipe from the sixties.  I also had two bananas left, perfect.  But alas I had no oranges or lemons...

Still I decided to make it with five tangerines instead of three oranges and two lemons.  It is delicious!  The nice thing about the Cuisenart Ice Cream maker is you can have ice cream in 25 minutes as long as you have the ingredients and you keep the 'insert' in the freezer (which I do).

So much for Pumpkin Ice Cream--the Best Ice Cream never lets us down.

Recipe: 1 quart of half and half, one pint of heavy whipping cream, 3 cups of sugar (yes, it is a lot and probably could be lessened--this recipe is from the sixties) 16 oz of frozen strawberries, thawed and mashed, two bananas mashed, juice of three oranges and two lemons (or five tangerines).  Whip creams, juices and sugar together and blend in mashed strawberries and bananas and put in your ice cream maker for over two quarts of delicious ice cream.

Baby Boy Afghan

Project 1 completed. I had crocheted this blue afghan and then had two girl great grandbabies so had never finished the edge. I finished the edge the other night so when a little boy great grandbaby comes along, he will have a new afghan.

Change for Winter

Mike helped me move the bookcases under the window so the geraniums have a chance of survival when the winter snows come. At least they will have lots of light.  I have never tried to save them through the winter.

 It also made a more cozy corner for Bandido since he has been banned from the bedrooms. He has his own little 'apartment' with food and bed all in one place.

Big Disappointment!!

Today I tried to make Pumpkin Ice Cream because I love the Pumpkin Shakes at Jack in the Box. 

But..it was tasteless!!!  So disappointing but I doubt I will try another recipe--I will just have a Shake once a year and let it go at that...

I finished sorting my sewing, quilting, writing, crocheting, and other things and I have over 16 projects lined up for this winter so no time to be bored!  They were wanting some volunteers in the Club to learn how to play bridge because they need more people,  but ugh, I will stick with my projects,  thank you,  bridge really sounds boring to me.  To each his own...

Mike tried to teach me how to play one of his games tonight, too, but as I say 'to each his own'.  Then we played 'You Don't Know Jack' and Mike beat me about 27,000 plus to 3,500 and I was winning on every question until the last one!!!!  He is fast and he is smart,  nobody can win against him.

The leaves are yellow, red and falling and it is an Indian Summer here, very lovely.

Happy Endings Only!

I am still looking ahead in books I read to make sure it has a happy ending...if not, I do not want to read it!  Honest...

Then there is the other problem.  I have been reading a five series romance about a very lovable rock and roll musician.  I am into the middle of book 4 so it seems logical I should finish.  And yet...

Even though, yes, there will be a happy ending, there are too many situations to be envious of...because I don't now or ever will have some of the fantastic moments as the characters in this book have.  I mean like becoming a famous rock star and having millions of dollars or even though you are an ordinary house wife, you can play the violin beautifully and sing like an angel, or being beautiful, musical, and a great homemaker all rolled into one plus having a good looking rock star madly in love with you and he  being a super nice guy and fantastic father, spiritual giant and rich and, and, and...

Too many things to be envious of, I don't know if that is such good reading either.  Decisions, decisions...finish the series or quit before I get even more depressed????

Sorting It Out!

In the English and Irish author books I read often the phrase of "sorting it out" when situations needed to be thought about and decisions made.

Today I was literally sorting it out.  First, when I woke this morning, I was "out of sorts".  The earache that was troubling me last night and in the middle of the night was still there and all I wanted to do was bury my head in my flannel sheets under the comforter and have the pain go away.  I finally got up and took some meds and went back to bed, hoping it would feel better when I woke again.

I never did make it to church, every time I woke it was later and later and I was not feeling much better.  About noon I decided I was not going to make it to church and the cookies I had made for the  lunch after church were not going to get there.  Sorry, but that is just the way it was.

I finally sat down at my desk about noon and decided to starting sorting out my sewing area.  Strange how sorting out my things always calms me down and makes me feel better.  I think that taking control over something in your life and organizing it for the better just makes your whole life seem better.  Not exactly sure why, guess it makes you feel like you are accomplishing some kind of decision making anyway.

I remember well when I was staying after school sorting out my big desk the first year I taught kindergarten.  The janitor came in and saw I was menticulously sorting the paper clips and other things that were in a clutter at the bottom of the drawer.  He said, "Janet, your time is much more valuable that that.  Just dump it out and start over."  And today as I was sorting out threads and sewing equipment and projects, the thought came to me and I realized actually my time isn't worth anything right now so I can take all the time I need to sort.  I just need to decide which things should just be dumped and which should be kept and used.

For instance, I have a cross stitch advent calendar that I must have started over 40 years ago and never finished.  What I have done is very good work.  I doubt I could ever finish it as good... and there is a lot more to do.  And what about my Seven Dwarf House?  And my two quilts, and my dresses, and my do overs, and my mending, and my crocheting, and my knitting?  Should I use my time to finish them?  Would anyone care?  Would anyone know if I just dumped them?  Does it matter?  I have dumped a lot--the cross stitch bedspread I started in the sixties, patterns and material, so much and still I have so many other projects still unfinished and the decisions go on and on---there is so much to sort out.

Oh, well,  "I'll think about it tomorrow!" (as Scarlett said...)

To Exercise and Great Coaches

In cleaning out my desk today I found a card called "Find Your Perfect Size" for shopping at Chicos.  I thought it was interesting that the three categories they used of  Bust, Waist, and Hips were all matched in different sizes for me.  So should I buy something to match the Bust size?  the Waist size? or the Hip size?  As I thought about it, it was easy.  Bust size for a blouse.  Waist size for a non-elastic waist skirt and hip size for pants.  Luckily, I am not shopping for anything right now so it is not a problem.  But it is interesting how our bodies change. 

When I was in high school, we had read that the perfect size was a bust and hips that were 10 inches larger than the waist size.  Fortunately or unfortunately my waist size was 12 to 13 inches smaller than my bust and hips thus the waist band of a skirt was always too large.  Mostly we wore sweaters over our skirts so this was not too much of a problem.

But the question intrigues me.  What was I doing then that created a tiny waist and what am I doing now that creates a large waist?  Not too hard to guess.  We walked everywhere and exercised a lot.  Now I, well you know--just the opposite...

My sister called last night and asked if I remembered Rex Welton--he had just died at 96.  Of course, I remembered him.  He was our gym teacher when I was in junior high and he was the one who started us on the push ups and sit ups and all that exercise we felt we needed to do.  He was loved by all the students and evidently was a great coach and teacher wherever he was.  Here's to the great mentors and teachers of the world, they are the real molders of society.

To Be or Not To Be--Happy

You can never get enough of what you don't need to make you happy!
                                                       Eric Hoffer


If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.  If you want to be happy, practice compassion.
                                                       H.H. The Dalai Lama


That man is richest whose pleasures are cheapest.
                                                     Henry David Thoreau

Positive Quotes on Loneliness

When you close your doors, and make darkness within, remember never to say that you are alone, for you are not alone; nay, God is within, and your genius is within. And what need have they of light to see what you are doing?         

  Epictetus (55 AD - 135 AD), Discourses

They are never alone that are accompanied with noble thoughts.        

 Sir Philip Sidney (1554 - 1586)

The worst loneliness is not to be comfortable with yourself.

                       Mark Twain (1835 - 1910)

“In solitude, where we are least alone. ” 

― George Gordon Byron

“It's only natural to feel lonely after the enjoyable moments pass. But as you experience new joys those feelings of sorrow will start to fade.” 

― Mizu Sahara

The Gathering of the House of Israel

From the time the Gospel of Jesus Christ was restored to the earth and the Gathering of Israel began it took 117 years to go from six members of the Church in 1830 to one million members when I was a freshman in high school in 1947.

By the time I had my third child (the year President Kennedy was assassinated, 1963) we had gone to two million. 

By 1971 when I started working in the Stake Primary in San Diego we were up to three million--just eight years for that next million.  Presently there are about one million more members added every three years until now we have over 14 million members the world over.  So that is in 48 years we went from two million to 14 million!

When I was in high school and felt like a very small minority I would never have dreamed such a prospect could happen even though it had been prophesied from Old Testament times.

Today there are 15 Missionary Training Centers in the world and over 52,483 missionaries.  There were a little over 17,000 missionaries when I was in high school.  There are 166 Temples, 134 in operation, 13 under construction and 18 announced to be built.  There are 28,660 congregations around the world.  

L. Whitney Clayton in General Conference last Sunday  said this: " These prophecies that:

• the kingdom of God like a stone cut out of a mountain would fill the earth;
• the name of Joseph Smith would be known throughout the world; and
• the Church would fill the Americas and fill the world

might have seemed laughable 170 years ago.  The little band of believers, eking out a living on the American frontier and moving to escape persecution didn't look like the foundation of a faith that would cross international borders and penetrate hearts everywhere.

But that is just what has happened.  Let me give an example.

On Christmas Day 1925 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Elder Melvin J. Ballard dedicated the entire continent of South America for the preaching of the gospel.  By August 1926 a handful of converts had been baptized.  They were the first members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints baptized in all of South America.  That was 85 years ago, within the life span of many who are listening to conference today.

There are 23 stakes of Zion in Buenos Aires today, with dozens of stakes and ten of thousands of Church members in cities and towns across Argentina.  Now there are well over 600 stakes and several million Church members throughout South America.  While we watch, the kingdom of  God is filling the continent, and the name of Joseph Smith is being published by us and by his detractors in countries he may never even have heard of during his lifetime.

These prophecies about filling the world and being known world over: Preposterous? Perhaps. Unlikely? Undoubtedly. Impossible? Emphatically no, it is happening before our eyes...

The work of the Lord is indeed great and marvelous, but it moves forward essentially unnoticed by many of mankind's political, cultural, and academic leaders.  It progresses one heart and one family at a time, silently and unobtrusively, its sacred message blessing people everywhere...I stand in awe as this work moves forward miraculously, marvelously, and irresistibly." 

As Russell M. Nelson also expressed: "This is the time of the promised gathering of Israel.  And we get to participate!  Isn't that exciting?"

I think so!

Blogging is Important!

Today I was looking in my blog and blog printed books for the conversion story of my Lake Almanor friend Marjorie I thought I had written about.  I found it but not the "rest of the story" I received later from Richard's cousin who had been instrumental in Marjorie's conversion  Somehow I never went back and included that portion in the story so the memory is lost forever unless I can find the email or letter, etc. that had that extra detail in it.

While I was browsing I came upon some experiences I had written about that made me laugh out loud and some that made me shed a tear of happiness and I thought this is wonderful to have these memories brought back at an instant's touch. 

After Richard died I had an interview with Linda's Bishop.  I had gone to live with her while I decided where to go and what to do and he had invited me in to talk and share some spiritual comfort.  As he was a very intuitive, caring, spiritual man it was a good interview for me and he suggested I keep a journal of my feelings at this time.  I have tried to do that since John was born but I put more effort into it after talking to him.  And then when Maria showed me how to blog in 2005 it opened up a whole new way of preserving memories and pictures all together with minimal effort.  I am so glad I do it.  Everyone should make the effort to preserve those thoughts, feelings, and experiences because you think you will remember but you won't, believe me you won't.

Unfortunately so often when I would write in my journal previous to my blogging it would be when I was feeling gloomy or upset about something and that was my way of comforting myself and working through my feelings.  I often neglected to write the everyday happy things that brought so much joy into my life.  After Richard died I thought I had better go back and erase some of those gloomy thoughts--but now I just wish I had written more of the joyful moments!!!!   Those early writings I wrote when John was a baby and this was a new experience in our life are some of my better journaling.  I should have kept it up but it is so hard when you are a very busy Mom.  Still I should have found the time.

Of course, now, my children will have a challenge deciding what to do with all my blogging, memory and photo books when I die.  But actually for me the therapy is in the doing and when I reread them as I did today, it reminds me of the profound blessings and happiness I have had in my life.

Del Parson-Portraits of Love

BYU has a television program called 'Inspiring Lives' and they really are.  For lunch today I watched 'Del Parson-Portraits of Love'.  It truly is an inspiring life.  He had  some very sad and challenging occasions in his life and he made choices of what direction he would go.  Out of his testimony has come these remarkable paintings of Christ and other subjects.

Great watching.

Happy Birthday, Mom

It is a snowy day today in Lake Almanor and it is about 75 years since this picture was taken of my Mom with me standing close.  She would have been 110 today. We were standing in front of one of the two houses we lived in on the south side of Glendive, Montana.  I remember being very shy. The depression was still on and I was the baby in a family of five.  It didn't snow a lot of snow in Glendive like it does here but winter was long and it was very cold, much colder than it is here in northern California.  I do remember the sun shining in the winter though.

I remember sitting by one of the floor registers a lot as I played with my chalk board so I could be close to the warmth.  My first set of paper dolls was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.  I would have been a little older than I was here.  I have only happy thoughts of my mom all the days of my life.  She never yelled or spanked and she smiled a lot.  I had a very happy childhood because of loving parents and fun brothers and sisters.

One thing I remember well from living on the south side is the root beer Mom would make in a large kettle and then put in bottles. I also loved the bread Mom would make and put butter and jam on for us. And the milk that was delivered in the winter would often have the lid pushed up by the frozen cream.  It was so good.  I had a big Tommy Cat that I loved or I least I treated him like he was mine, I was sure he belonged to all of us.

We moved from the south side just after my first grade.  It was a great time to move because we had a marvelous sledding hill right out the front door of our new home and I was old enough to learn to sled.  Happy Days. 

First Day of Snow

So much for snow down to 6000 ft.  We had it early this morning and all the geraniums are bowed down in submission--don't know if I can save them through the winter or not.

Old Slides..

So I found some old slides of the 60's, 70's and early 80's.  Fun to Reminisce.

Boys Day at the Zoo

How about those pants?

Happy Jimmy!

Tired? Bored? or What?  Like the boots, Richard.

How about that long hair on John and John?

Fun Times

Richard shows Jimmy how it is done...

Girls want to hug them too...

Love those gold miners...

Richard loved to take the children on trips...

Hmmm...

Wonder what book they are looking at...

At the Airport

Saying Goodbye to Gary at the Airport

Look at that Hair!

John Loved to Tease Jimmy

Jimmy didn't seem to mind it.

John and Jimmy Go To the Zoo



This buggy was Baby Jimmy's second bed -- I loved it. 

Linda and Maria Go to BYU Hawaii

 

Maria in Hawaii

John and Jimmy Play Badminton

Family Reunion in Utah