Halloween Couples Party

We went to a fun Halloween Party at the home of Makinzee and Mike, aka robber and thief!!!! 

Wonder Woman and Caption Justice Super Hero!!! Boy did they look wonderful

Matt and I came to the costume party as something everyone could figure out opposed to last year when it was a little unknown!

Ryan and Emily!!!  Ryan was hilarious and you could barely understand a word he said.

Clairesse and Brandon. Clairesse was all ready for the prom, but then they got in a hit and run accident on the way!!!

Jen and Jake. Jake was Steve Tyler and Jen was one of his groupies.

Julianna and Taylor, both as pirates

The back of the uniform. Thankfully, Matt didn't tell everyone what he believe I had done.

Kevin and Camille.  Her mom  made their costumes. I couldn't look at Kevin without laughing.  They went away with the prize for the best costumes!

Kevin and Camille's shoes.  I LOVE them.

Ali and Drew.  Drew was Bob Ross, look him up on youtube if you don't know who he is.  And Ali, his seventies wife.  Ali as always looks so cute!

Drew demonstrating how to paint a picture, Bob Ross style, a beautiful tree.

Some of the yummy refreshments!!!  Thanks Ann for the pictures, you are a much better photographer then I.

Chad and Ann,  Jack Sparrow and his pirate wife.   I have  never seen so many men with make up on.  Thanks for a wonderful party Mike and Makinzee!

October 19th, the day I outlived my mom

 October 19, 2011,  was the day I lived as long as my mom did when she died. It doesn't seem right or fair that I get to outlive my mom.  My mom was such an amazing person to me and to others that I felt guilty to be able to enjoy morality longer than she.  Being the same age as  my mom was when she died really made her death feel more real.  She was really young, because I certainly feel young and I don't feel like it is time for me to die.  It  must have been so hard to say good bye to her children, her husband, her friends and the life she so enjoyed!

 She also had such a young family at the time of her death.  She was so needed.  So. needed. Her youngest child was only 6 and she still had four children at home and one on a mission.  I feel so needed in my family and yet three of my four children are all adults now. I can't even imagine what it must feel like to have left an even younger family. I can't even imagine not being able to see  my children grow and become a grandma.

So as today happened I was standing in the kitchen working on food for  my family when something I was doing reminded me of my mom.  That's how it always begins, the moment where something in this life triggers something from long ago reminding me of my mom.  A memory ignites and floods my  mind.  Every time, it carries my breath away.  Every time.  I have to force myself to look away and swallow the sorrow.  Today was  no exception.

But today I have decided to be good and focus on the gifts my mom gave me instead of her absence.  I decided to go to temple square and serve with the youth of our ward planting the beautiful gardens there.  And while I worked with the teenagers, at least from my viewpoint, I can see that she is just like those teenagers.  She is serving.  Just not where I can see her.  And because she's there, it makes it the place I long to be.  The place where I will offer my everything to get to.  And that is very, very Good.  I hope you can see the good you have been given too.  Savor it this day!!!! 

Zion's National Park, October 19th through 22nd

For UEA weekend we drove to Zion's National Park.  Spencer had to work so he stayed home,  Colton had to work so he stayed in Orem, and of course Coby is in Jordan so he didn't come. If you can believe it our family had never been to Zion's before. I have seen plenty of pictures so I thought it felt like I had been there, but I realized the pictures didn't truly show how beautiful it was!

We went on around 7 hikes. Most of the hikes we did on Friday.  The hikes are absolutely fun and the scenery is beautiful!!

A picture of all of us together.  We took pictures of a couple and then they took one of all of us.  Here was are on a hike to the Narrows.

We ended our hike before the narrows as we didn't have the proper equipment for it.

Here we are at the place where it never stops raining. It is amazing how green and lush everything is there.

And it isn't a vacation if we don't take a picture of a few cars that Matt loves.  What was really funny is we ran into friends of our there, who were also their for UEA weekends.  Fun, FUN!!!!!!!  We also went to a few fun restaurants  that were ma and pa type, boy did they have yummy food.  We stopped and said hi to Colton on our way to Zion's but he was working when we passed Orem on our way back!!!  Heavenly Father has truly created a beautiful world for us to live in!!!  I am so grateful for my many blessings!!!!

Thriller!!!!!!

My friend Camille has done a thriller together for several years now. It was so much fun!!!  First we had dinner at her home and our husbands were invited.  Then we headed to the U of U campus at Kingsbury Hall to see the show.  Ann drove all of us in her suburban!!!! Thanks Camille for hosting this, I LOVED it!

The appetizers I brought.

Ann enjoying Camille's creation.

Clairesse and Brandon in the far back and Mike and Makinzee in the front.

Ann and Chad in front and Matt and I in the back.

Camille and Kevin the the far back,  Rachel and Kevin on the right and Camille's friend and hubby on the left.

All of us after the show,  from left to right, Makinzee, Clairesse, Camille, Rachel, Ann and me and her other two friends.

Kara got her braces off!!!

On October 18th bright and early Kara got her braces off.  She was my only child who only had to wear them for a year and a half.  She looks beautiful!!!!  Now, no more braces after 4 children who were all in braces.  If ever they need them again; it is on their dime!!!

Girls Retreat

Ann was telling me that she thought it would be so fun to have a girl's retreat.  So we decided to put the plan into motion.  I am so glad we did because it was so much fun.   We went to Park City and Camille got the best price on a condo for us.  We started by eating at Ruth's Diner in Emigration Canyon.  It is so yummy and we spent a few hours visiting around breakfast.  +

From Left to right, Jen, Ann, Camille, Rachel, Me and Makinzee.  Kami is taking the picture!

After arriving at our condo, which we all loved, we decided to hit the outlets for a few hours.  It was so much fun, many of the ladies rarely get to shop with out their children so some really wanted to shop until they drop! Some of us went back to the condos after a few hours and then we met back up to go to dinner.   Rachel had done a search for dinner that was on the historic main street.  We all were excited to go and Kami drove us all up there.  We sat down to the restaurant that we had picked and we realized that the food was a lot more than it had seemed when we looked at the menu online.  But  Rachel saved us by very graciously explaining that will wouldn't be staying.  Boy does she have skill.  Then we walked some more until we found a restaurant called, Bandit's Grill.  It was super yummy!!! 

Camille and I.  Can you believe that she was 8 months pregnant in this picture?

Some of us making funny faces.  Ann was taking the picture.  Thank you to my friends for letting me  use some of your pictures.  You are all amazing, talented, friends!!!!

Aunt Jan and Uncle Bob's visit from California, October 9th to 15th

 Aunt Jan and Uncle Bob came to visit for a week!!!! I love my Aunt Jan so much and Uncle Bob is pretty cool too.  Jan, is my mom's sister and only sibling. Whenever I get around  my aunt it amazes me how  much she reminds me of my mom.  She has been such a sweetheart to my siblings and I especially after my mom died.  She has made an effort to come for all of our important events.  She came to each of our weddings, many college graduations to name a few. 

While she was here we went to see my two  nephews Cougar and Brighton play soccer.  My brother, Matthew, also happens to be the coach.  Watching Cougar and Brighton play is quite a hoot. 

Cougar while taking a break during the game.  He is four and my brother Mark's little boy.

Brighton right after the game.  He is also four and is my brother Matthew's son.

Here is a picture of my Uncle Bob and Aunt Jan.  While they were visiting we did a lot of fun things.  One thing we ALWAYS do when she visits is to go to Quilted Bear.  My aunt can make amazing crafts and she and my cousin Jana use to have a boutique where they made amazing things. I have always wanted to be able to decorate like both of them.   While she was here we also went to Taipan, Jordan Landing, Hobby Lobby, Rod works, out to eat at Zupas, the bear, yogurt shop etc.  We also went to get pizza and we also did a lot of visiting. 

Here is a picture of my Aunt holding her grandson Dylan.   One funny thing is that my aunt had a great grandchild in August of 2010 and then her grandson was born a couple of weeks after!!!!! 

I use to have it all together....

I used to have it together. Well, what I mean, is  I used to have the time to get it together. Really.  But as I get older each day becomes  a precious commodity. I seem to find fragments of it here and there, but nothing sustainable. Most often I feel like I'm grabbing the loose ends and gathering it all up at the last possible moment. Can you relate?

Time has been slowly draining away for the past couple of years. But now it feels like a downpour. It really doesn't make sense to me because I thought that after my children left the home that I would have oodles of extra time.  Well, I have learned that just isn't so.

I remember my life when my oldest barely fit into his first pair of shoes. I had time then. Loads of it. Time enough to play ball with him.  I felt like time was going so slow.  Now he lives in the Middle East and I would love to be able to play ball with him. Now my youngest is growing up so fast and I am running just to keep up with her. Somewhere between the then and now, time melted away.

Do you ever get a brain cramp just from looking at your calendar? Can I possibly be the only one? Surely not. Surely I'm not the only one who wants to grab her family and fold them into the stillness of time. To shut out the crazy and soak in the calm. Surely that is you too.

So, what's to be done now? I wish I knew. Life is still life. Schedules must be kept and oh how I wish I could form a good carpool or two so I didn't feel like I was driving Kara all over the valley.  Homework still arrives daily and dinner must be fed. There is no getting around it all. Maybe that's my problem. I'm trying to weave around life. I'm spending all my energy chasing every corner and task, but never really catching up.

I believe the answer lies in the stillness. The one that rests in between the driving, the cooking, the errands and the list making. It resides there, just waiting to be found. What if we spend our energy finding those spots? What if we look for the quiet admist the noise? I'm guessing we just might find time again. At least a cherished portion of it.

I think I'll stop trying to get it together. Reality is, as soon as I do, it will all untangle again. Don't you agree? So, I think I'll try standing still for awhile. Not long, but long enough. Surely if I'm quiet and turn my eyes away from the calendar, I'll find time waiting. Mine for the taking.

Let's all be still. Then we can find time together...

Super Service Saturday, October 8th

This year our ward decided to do many projects for Super Saturday... but this year instead of them being for us they were for others. It was so awesome to come together as a R.S. and make things for those that needed a cheer.   Above are sisters  that are writing Christmas cards for Military men and women who are in the Bethesda Military Hospital in Maryland.  This is one of the activities I did and I felt such gratitude for those who serve our country.

On this table we were making Muslim dolls for Primary Children's Hospital.  The dolls we gave are given to the children when they have surgery.  The staff there marks the spot they are having surgery so that the doll can have surgery with them.

There were tables set up all over and every one was busy working and visiting with each other.

I cut out a lot of patterns for the dolls dress.  Luckily, everyone was on a sewing machine which was really good for the children getting the doll.

Some of our young women came and helped.  The "Jingle Cubes" were made for Inner City Refugee families.  They were so cute. Kami was teaching this part.

Everyone brought plastic grocery bags.  The grocery sacks are cut into strip that is super long.  The strips are sent to Africa with the Director of Women's Initiative for Reach for Children.  This organization is a non-governmental group that helps women in Africa.   After the bags are all cut up the women their are taught how to crochet the bags in which they then sell for money.   I think it is so neat that others have found a way for these women to help themselves. ... After our time was up.. many women took hundreds of bags home to cut up and finish.. so they can be ready for Africa in a few months.
It takes 50 plastic grocery sacks to make one crotchet bag.  Cutting up the bags took a lot of time so many of the ladies took bags home so they could make even more.

At another stations we made Reusable Sanitary Pads were made from small pieces of flannel for many women in Africa and India.

I had never thought about how some women would need reusable sanitary pads.  This just really made me think how blessed we are to never have to use this.   Each women gets one and they feel so blessed that they have this because before this many women were using "mud packs" or "grass" and maybe a rag if they were lucky.  Many of the girls had to quit school or jobs once there started menstruating.

Patty Liston who is the Executive Director for Grow.Learn.Give., an organization that teaches hygiene and maturation to children ages 5-18. She told us how happy these women from Africa and India were to receive this one simple cloth.

We are so blessed to never have to worry about this problem.

Tying quilts for to give to others in  need.

These are what the plastic bags make when they are all crocheted.  I think they are really cute!

These ladies are  making beaded bracelets for the still born babies at hospitals in the area.

At one table they were making stillborn blankets to wrap up the little babies in.

Above I am making Christmas cards for those I described above.  We had a yummy lunch of soup, salad and dessert and I think we all went home very grateful for our many blessings we enjoy.   Thanks again Ann for the pictures; you are awesome!