Move 2 kids out....move one in...

mountain biking and peaches....

&

what do mountain biking and peaches have in common?
nothing.....except that peaches and the mountainous scenery are beautiful!

i went with some friends up american fork canyon and rode the most beautiful trail this morning...
it's always nice to get out of the city and get away from the hustle and bustle of it all....
did i mention that it was beautiful.......because, it was!

i came home and finished bottling peaches......14 quarts total....
i had the urge to "bottle" some, which i haven't done in a couple of years....
peaches are beautiful when they are bottled at home....
there is nothing like it.....
did i mention that they are beautiful when bottled at home....because they are!

what do peaches and mountain biking have in common?
nothing........just the beauty of it all!

climb one mountain at a time...

i was reading the paper on saturday and ran across a great article that i thought i would share....
it is called: climb one mountain at a time
"caroline coaxed her brother, william, to walk with her more than 1,000miles to the salt lake valley. she did this by urging him to walk with her one more day instead of all at once....one valley, one river, one mountain at a time.
life often confronts us with journeys that seem long, and obstacles that appear to be overwhelming. it can be discouraging to look down the road at the enormity of the task before us and to consider all that needs to be done. we need to remember that we rarely accomplish any great thing all at once. rather, we do it just as caroline and william did.
one hill, one river, one mountain at a time." by joseph walker, deseret news 7/23/11

i loved this article and how it teaches me to take life and the tasks in life one step or one mountain at a time. just thought i would share.... ;0)

a letter to my children.....

this was a letter written in the deseret news that i want to share with my children and their friends...

to my children,

with your focus on education, i often find myself thinking about how much the world has changed since i was in your shoes. the world is now a much "smaller" place - people of all cultures can communicate and travel with ease. you face great challenges today-just as i did, just as my parents before me. these words of advice might be helpful:

*recognize that the only limits you face are those you set for yourself.
*be the BEST that you can be.
*recognize the YOU are responsible for your successes and failures.
*strive for excellence-not perfection.
*see the glass as half-full, rather than seeing it as half-empty.
*focus on positives, rather than on negatives.
*look to praise, rather than to criticize.
*look for ways to succeed, rather than excuses to fail.
*commit yourself to constant improvement.
*understand how important education is to success.
*school is the key. technology rules. you need better skills to succeed.
*learn what is being taught, but most importantly, learn "how" to learn.
*develop other information sources to verify, or challenge, what you are being taught.
*"history" is routinely twisted or rewritten to support a particular point of view. get other ideas.
*treat teachers, administrators and fellow students as you would like to be treated.
*be the first to say "hello."
*develop your mind in school, but also develop other skills and interests, including music, art and physical fitness. this is where teamwork develops its roots.
*be a well-rounded person.
*resist taking "easy" classes.
*dig into math, the sciences and computers. these form the technical foundation for future success.
*study language.
*speak and write english correctly.
*appreciate other cultures by learning another language.
*be honest in your approach to learning.
*resist the temptation to cheat - you only hurt yourself.
*develop a keen interest in the outside world.
*pay attention to the "news." the "real" world can be very different from the student world you live in today.
*avoid the temptations of alcohol, smoking, drugs, gangs and irresponsible personal behavior.
*understand the steps you take today have lifelong implications.
*choose your friends wisely.
*do what you can to make a teacher's job easier, not harder. teaching is one of the most important, most difficult and most underpaid professions in the world.
*participate - but don't be a pain!
*be a friend to all. extend a hand of friendship to all other students, regardless of race, creed or color.
*make a special effort to be a friend to those less fortunate than you.
*as you mature and face new challenges, don't hesitate to discuss with me what is on your mind. you might learn from the mistakes of others.
*recognize how LUCKY you are to live and be educated in this great country. people from around the world are dying every day trying to get INTO this country - not out.
*don't forget to have fun!!
*school can be a great time in your life.
*experience it.
*live it.
*enjoy it.

many of these suggestions will be useful throughout your life - learn them well. i wish you the greatest success in your efforts and hope you find school both rewarding and enjoyable.

love,
mom

(written by jeff thredgold - i changed it to use as if from me.)

mom, do you want to play catch?

i was sitting upstairs typing on the computer when i hear addison say.....
mom? what ya doing?
me.....typing on the computer....
add.....are you going to be very long?
me.....why?
add.....do you want to play catch with me?

well.....i haven't had that question asked me by addison for about 10 years!
i was about to turn him down, when i thought......"i am not asked to do this every day, i had better take advantage of it"
it was like he was 8 years old all over again....
we played catch for about 30 minutes and he was like a little boy again.....

obviously, i couldn't turn his request down....
oh, such fond memories brought to life once again....just 10 years later!
love ya, bud!

things observed....

things i have observed since mark has been made bishop:

addison commented on how he could feel a different spirit in our home already.
ashley was feeling the spirit before mark got put in, but wasn't sure what it related to until we told her he was going to be bishop.
my love for mark (mind you, i have always loved him) grew 10 times stronger.
i am amazed by watching mark, it's like you can see a spirit walking with him at all times.
i watched mark give marty ellswood a blessing at the hospital and it was as if christ was standing next to him while he gave her that blessing.
i have watched love fill his heart for the members of the ward.
members of the ward have been very supportive and sweet to mark and our family.
i had several people come up to me the day he was set apart (people that i was a bit shocked to hear from) express to me how pleased they were that mark was bishop.
mark conducted at the temple for our ward temple night and bore a sweet testimony.
mark conducted his first funeral for marty ellswood and gave a strong message of how we should "be happy and find joy."
i feel like i am falling behind sometimes with the spiritual stuff and i can't keep up with mark.
i don't always feel like i am quite up to snuff in the spiritual category.
i am trying to change a few things in myself in order to be in sync with mark.
it has been a joy these last 3 weeks watching the mantel of the bishop take hold and settle in on mark....i am learning a lot about the spirit, god, christ, my testimony, mark and myself.

story of a bishop, continued...

we were in shock and sworn to secrecy....for 2 whole weeks!
we couldn't even tell the kids until the day before.
when we did, addison accused us of lying, which we did.
he understood why, though.

the morning that mark was to be sustained and set apart (may 1, 2011), we were both so nervous.
i was pacing the house and mark was just sitting in the recliner in our room....all nervous.

fast forward to sacrament meeting......

what an incredibly spiritual meeting.
the testimonies of the out-going bishopric were very touching.
mark got up to share his feelings and testimony and i wasn't sure if he was going to be able to say anything because he was so caught up with emotion.
humbly, he bore his testimony about the truthfulness of the gospel and trusting in revelation.

the stake president got up and explained the process of calling a new bishop and read part of the letter that the first presidency sent to him.
he also said that if you question how one is called, then know by this letter that he is truly called of god.

i was amazed that the first presidency prays about the new bishops and gives then gives their approval if it is right.

when mark was given the mantel of being bishop, you could feel the spirit surround him.
what an incredible feeling!

the story of a bishop...

once upon a time, there was a stake president named steven miles.
he saw one of his friends/stake member, named jill, at the gym.
he called her over to talk, which mind you, he usually just says "hi" and the usual "how are you".
he asked about mark and his job situation and how stable it was.
he asked about the kids and how they were doing in school, etc.
he asked about jill (me) and how things were going, etc.
i thought it was strange that he was asking me all these things, and for a second i thought he was going to as me to speak in stake conference....whew, thank goodness he didn't.
i walked away thinking that that conversation was nice but kind of strange.....strange because he made a point to call me over to talk and then ask all those questions.

fast forward a couple of weeks....
mark is swamped at work, and trying to get everything done so he can go out of town on business for 5 days.
a phone call comes from the stake executive secretary, drew weaver.
"i am trying to get a hold of mark, but can't. can you have him call me?", he says.
mark gave him a call back and found out the stake president wanted to talk to mark.
hmmm....that is strange. mark is very happpy being the young men's president. what does he want to talk to him about?
drew weaver call mark back on saturday, april 16th, and schedules an appointment for mark with the stake president.
ok, maybe he just wants to talk to him about young men's.

later.....
mark comes down and says, "the stake president wants to meet with both of us on sunday, april 17th, and we can't tell anyone we are meeting with him."
mark ran an errand and i was left there to cry.....i knew that instant why the stake president wanted to see us.
mark was going to be called as the bishop of our ward.

fast forward to sunday in sacrament meeting....
i kept looking around at everyone, trying to find someone that would be a great bishop for our ward.
no such luck. don't ge me wrong....there are lots of great men that could be bishop, but it i knew it was going to be mark.
sure enough.....the stake president and his counselors called us back to his office.
i think we were both pretty nervous.
mark was called to be the bishop of the granite view ward.

they will put mark in on the 1st of may, 2011.

to be continued......

Trust in agency....

i have had a great lesson in trusting personal agency....
it's such a small thing, but i really struggled with it....
add wanted to go to st. george with some friends....boys and girls....
i didn't think it was a good idea....it didn't look right....
i figured out that it wasn't add i didn't trust...
it was the situation, because it was out of my control....
after all, he is 18 and going to college in 4 months.....ugh
i did ask mark for a blessing, which i am grateful that i did....
i am also grateful that he is worthy to give a blessing any time i need one....
it is amazing to me that i am blessed with the things i needed at that time and that heavenly father communicates through mark......
i felt a lot better, but it was still lurking in the back of my mind....until.....
the night before addison left.....i got a strong thought from heavenly father saying......
"you have got to trust in his agency.....this is how i feel when i send all of you down to earth.....i have to trust in your agency, too"....
ok, ok.....i finally was open to the spirit to teach me what i needed to learn from this small problem of mine.....i get it now......
i am always amazed at how long it takes me to learn things, but i am grateful for the teaching of the spirit, the patience of heavenly father, priesthood blessings, and knowing that the gospel is true.

open mouth....insert foot!

have you ever had one of those days where you say something kind of rude, but you didn't mean it that way.......
i am on a roll lately....
i guess i just need to keep my mouth shut....
some things just come out of my mouth before i have thought them through....
then, oops!....they didn't sound the same outloud as they did in my head......ugh!
it happened to me twice this week....
i really should work on that weakness.....
instead of "open mouth, insert foot".....
it will be "open mouth, spit out kindness"....;0)
here's to a new day...

addison really is a senior....

on tuesday night, it was "senior night" at addison's basketball game....
up until this time, i hadn't really thought about addison graduating....
but, we are now to that point where realization is setting in....
parents escort the senior to center court....
moms get flowers and dads beam with pride....
play the game.....hope to win.....yes, we did win!
team has their moment in the locker room....still no tears....
until.....addison walks out of the locker room....
i start to cry....then addison....then mark....then ashley.....
we are babies....
i am so proud of addison and all that he has accomplished in basketball over the years....
he has shown leadership, hard work, skill, being a great friend, playing with honor and integrity....
addison has had many life experiences and they have shaped him into a wonderful young man....
thanks, addison, for all the wonderful years of basketball, fun, family togetherness, cheering, and learning!
now we head on to new adventures.....brace yourself!

there really are miracles....

miracles, i believe, mostly come in small packages...
here are some examples....
ashley and i were supposed to go to california and some nasty snow storms were coming through utah...
it was supposed to snow through thursday night, when we were supposed to leave....
i was a little nervous that the roads would be snowy and icey.....
but our prayers were answered and the roads were clear the whole way....

last weekend, ashley and i drove to california....
i was a little worried because driving long distances is not my strong suit....
as i was driving, i got all teary-eyed and told ashley that i felt that god was protecting us and helping me stay awake to drive all these hours....
granted, i had ashley to spell me when i needed it, but i couldn't believe how alert and awake i was for that long of driving....

from the time that kelsy jordan got her mission call, i felt impressed to offer to go through the temple with her....
her mom was able to go too, but wanted me to be her escort....
what a beautiful temple and beautiful experience....
the san diego temple is breath taking, both inside and out....

kelsy gave a great talk....
it was short and sweet and to the point...
i was able to see the beautiful spirit and testimony that kelsy possess....
i was grateful to see that side of her...

the drive home was done in one long day.....
but, we made great time.....10.5 hours includes stops....
ok, so maybe we booked it home....
but, god protected us again and helped us both be alert and awake when we needed to be...

these may seem trivial, but to me they are small miracles and i know that god had a hand in helping us be the recipients of these small miracles....
for that, i am grateful!

"trust in the formula"

"A few years ago, the father of one of my friends was taking an engineering exam. He plugged variables into the formula, worked the equation, and obtained his answer. The answer, though, wasn't a whole number (like the problems the teacher had been working as examples during the previous week in class). The student changed his answer to a more satisfying whole number. When he received his exam back, he learned that he had missed the problem. The fraction that he had first calculated was indeed correct. Next to the problem, his teacher had written: "Trust in the formula."

The Lord has given us a formula, or pattern, that when followed will bring us success in life. Too often, though, we do not "trust the formula" and try to cut corners or do things our way.

One of the best things we can do is to understand that by following the Lord's way will bring the greatest happiness and success.

As the Lord stated in D&C 52:14: "And again, I will give unto you a pattern in all things, that ye may not be deceived.""

I really liked this story and article, so I thought I would share it with all of you....

May we all learn to "Trust in the Formula"......

let there be love.....

to celebrate valentine's day, i......

*went to swimming class.....
*went grocery shopping to make a meat and potatoes dinner for the guys in our home....
*baked some peanut butter cookies and put a reese's peanut butter cup in it.....yum!
*read ashley's funny blog.....guess she is dreaming of receiving flowers for valentine's...haha....
*working on making a great dinner.....
*celebrating 23 years with my sweetheart, mark.....
*going to have family night......
*what better way to know that you are loved than to learn about the love that jesus has for each of us....

happy valentine's day!

listening works.....

i set a goal this year to listen to the spirit more....
and not just listen, but to act when prompted....
sometimes i feel like i don't listen very well...

i am grateful for the tender spirit that has helped me listen and act lately....
i am not trying to brag when mentioning these things....
just that i can learn from them when i write them down....

it was a sweet experience when kelsy jordan opened her mission call at our home....
i was touched by her wanting to do it here and touched by the spirit that came with her call...
but, later, was prompted to call her in california about being her escort through the temple because she didn't have anyone to go with her....
it was probably more tender for me than for kelsy, but i am grateful for the prompt to call and for her to accept the offer......

yesterday, i was prompted to call my nephew, matt walter......
i didn't get to it until today, though....
i wasn't sure why i needed to call him and i am still not sure.....
but, i think he just needed someone different to talk to about his decision to break up with his girlfriend for good...
it was a sweet conversation and i don't know that i really helped him, but wanted him to know that we love and support him in whatever he does....
when i got off the phone, i just started to cry.....cuz i'm a baby like that....;0)
but, more importantly, i knew that it was the right thing to do to call him......

i am grateful for my heavenly father and for his tender loving care....
i know he needs me to listen and act, so that i may be an instrument in his hands....
i am grateful that he knows me and wants to help me with my goals.....
i recognize his hands in my life.....

i love my family very much....
they all are an inspiration to me!

have a happy day!

happy birthday, mark!
you're that great age of 45....welcome to the club!
i love you and i am grateful for you!

thank you material designers!

so last week, i attempted to make a "self-binding" blanket....
supposedly it is the easiest blanket to make...
it is the easiest blanket to make....i've made lots!
well, one mistake led to another and i now have a blanket that i will save for my future granddaughter.....:0)

off to the store i go again....
different store, because i pretty much know the workers in hobby lobby fabric dept. by name....(that's embarrassing)....
the other store has lots more choices on my favorite fabric....."minky"
oh, so cute....oh so soft!
minky fabric is one of those fabrics that make you melt into it because it's so soft!
when you do the "self-binding" blanket right, it turns out darling!
yeah!!!! i did it right!!!! darling!!!!!

i love all the different patterns that are put into fabrics.....
i may be weird, but i love to go peruse the fabric store just to see all the cute fabrics....
good thing i can't always think of something to make with it or we would be broke...living on the street with all the cute fabric!

happy sewing!

where's barbara?

text conversation with my daughter on wednesday, jan. 5th:

(mind you, she is almost 21 yrs. old. ;0))

ash: hey, i left barbara (her stuffed manatee) and my new measuring tape at home. Could you bring them friday (to add's game) please?

me: (later that night) i can't find barabara....

ash: weird. maybe i did bring her here (to school). who won the game?

me: lone peak of course. they are good.

ash: shoot.

me: let me go look again........wait for about 5 minutes......

me: you won't believe where i found her....under dad's pillow. looks like he likes her, too. =0) looks a little slobbery, too.

ash: oh my gosh. i laughed so hard. please ask him why he has her. hahaha

me: after the florida trip he has a new appreciation for manatees.

ash: hahahaha...how did she get there though?

me: maybe dad was sleep walking....i don't know

ash: oh my gosh. that seriously cracks me up. maybe he was trying to hide it because he thinks i'm too old. haha

me: no...maybe he just missed sleeping with a stuffed animal.

me, mark, and addison.......lots of laughter because she really is believing all of this!

next day.......

me: did you want me to wash babara before i bring her to you?

ash: you can wash stuffed animals!!? yes please. she's so gross. like five years of drool.

me: and several nights of dad's drool.....gross!

ash: hahaha...that still cracks me up.

me: hahahaha....me too!

same day.........(to her dad)

ash: so i hear you stole babara and have been sleeping with her.....haha

that night (thursday)..............

i wasn't going to tell ash for a couple of days to see if she posted something on her blog.....but i had to tell her......i couldn't tell if she knew we were joking or not......

call.......

me: so, i wondered if you knew we were joking about barbara

ash: moooommmmm! i totally believed you! i am glad i didn't tell my friends.....i am so embarrassed.....i am blushing 10 shades of red right now!!

me: (laughing a lot!!!) i can't believe that you believed me! i wanted to wait to tell you to see if you would blog about it.

ash: i was going to blog about it, but i didn't want the whole world to know that i sleep with a stuffed animal.

me: (still laughing) well, april fools! we couldn't wait until april to play a joke on you because you handed us a perfect opportunity to play one now. we love you!

ash: thanks a lot mom! i am still blushing!

oh my! i haven't laughed that much in a long time! i just can't believe she fell for it!

april fools in january!

love ya, ash!

happy new year!

as they say....out with the old, in with the new :0)
i'm not sure that i accomplished all that i set out to do last year, but it was a good year!

ok...so i accomplished 50% of the 2010 goals....
1 - finished my quilt for my bed....it is beautiful
2 - volunteered....i do the fun bus (i take bus load of kids to football/basketball games) at jordan high and was pta pres. (glad i'm done with that!)
3 - came to know Christ.....i participated in the most amazing class and we read and discussed jesus the christ book. i truly feel that i have grown personally and came to know christ so much more.
4 - trained for a century ride....did the "little red riding hood" ride of 80 miles....love that ride....it is held up in logan, ut and is a great ride with wonderful scenery, great ride support, and fun friends to do it with. wasn't able to do a triathlon, but am going to try again.
5 - organize my home....i made a great effort in doing this. i organized and put together a filing system that i found online. it has worked out great and i can now file things and then find them again when/if needed.



so here are my new goals......2011
1 - learn to listen and act on promptings from the spirit
2 - read the book of mormon and lesson scriptures, too
3 - train for/participate in a sporting event or two (tri/century ride/run)
4 - learn spanish (continued from last year)
5 - read/study the conference talks
6 - finish personal progress
7 - learn to be happy in the place i'm at in life
8 - save money to go on a humanitarian adventure
9 - go to the temple at least 2x a month
10 - memorize the living christ
11 - work on picture books monthly

here we go....here's to a new year and a better me!