Friday, May 29, 2009

"MICHEAL"


Yes...it is spelled correctly, anyway that is how the grocery store spelled it's name "eal" not "ael". What did I know?? I was only 21 years old!

There was once a mother who was blessed with a beautiful baby boy. Boys are not usually called beautiful but she thought her son was. He had a crop of soft brown hair and skin that looked bronzed and kissed by the sun at birth.
As she cradled her infant son in her arms and as she rocked him and sang to him she wondered, what he will be when he grows up? She couldn’t imagine anything other than her baby boy. He was so small and he depended so much on her. She only knew then, that what ever it was that he chooses, he would be great at it. Her son always had a healthy appetite. The young mother thought she would never be able to satisfy it. If anyone was unsure of any food it became a common to say “give it to Mikie, he will eat anything”! As her son became a toddler the mother looked at him and thought again, what will he be? Maybe a mountain climber, that is what he is very good at right know! There wasn’t a table, chair or counter that the toddler couldn’t climb with little effort.
The toddler became an adolescent and the mother, indeed had her hands full. What will he be? Creeping, crawling insects always found a home in his pockets. Dead snakes and other inanimate objects such as a pocket full or rocks would find space in his bedroom, on window ceils and dresser tops. He had a pet rabbit, a pet turkey and a ferret.
The young mother would smile at the trenches he would dig to drive his trucks into and play soldier in. Holes dug with a shovel, hammer, rake, garden hoe or stick would appear in their back yard as ponds filled with muddy water where frogs, fish and lizards would find a new home. She thought of how smart her child was; he had a collection of plastic dinosaurs and they would come alive in his imagination, he knew each one by name.
Her son with much enthusiasm would hold the mothers face in his little hands and tell her wonderful stories of adventures he and his make believe friend “Tootsie Morrow” would do together. The boy was untouched by scary movies and thrived on the unknown because he would bring everything to life. He loved the outdoors and was never afraid to climb into the highest of trees and not require more than a kiss to fix a scraped knee or chin. The child grew and the mother no longer wondered what her son would become, just as long as he gets through school and keeps a level head on his shoulders, she thought. A few more years went by and the son was now a senior in high school, just about ready to graduate. The mother began to wonder . . . so she asked, “Son, what do you want to be?” She thought about the times he has said, “oh a cowboy, a fireman, a policeman, a truck driver, I want to be a pilot and fly those fast jets!” A lot of very good careers popped into the mothers head and she quickly rattled off all the great things SHE thought her son should become. All of a sudden the mother realized that this no longer was the small child she had cradled in HER arms and rocked and sang to! Before her stood a young man with lots of courage, a level head on his shoulders and great wisdom in his heart. He pulled his mother into HIS strong arms, rocked her and cradled her. Her silent Rock of Gibraltar, her strength when she needed a little extra, her joy at the man he had become no longer depended on her! She no longer wondered. She knew without any doubt that whatever he would choose to be; he indeed would be great at it.

A great SON, wonderful HUSBAND, loving FATHER.


What more could a mother ask for?

Micheal, thank you for choosing me as your mother. I have been blessed a hundred times over because of you. Dad and I are so proud of the man and father you have become. HAPPY 36th BIRTHDAY. We can’t wait to hear the details of your adventure today and your tandem jump! We hope it was all you imagined and more! OH THE STORIES that will come from this one! We love you……Mom and Dad.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

MONDAY THOUGHT ON WEDNESDAY....FRIENDSHIPS




Friendship is one of the many blessings God has given each one of us. I am so grateful for the lasting friendships that have grown with me through the years. As women, we know that true friendship is a sacred commodity. This is a relationship that is to be cherished for a lifetime. I have experienced friendships that have come and gone because of misunderstandings, differences in lifestyles, spiritual or personal growth. For whatever reasons, they have left a permanent mark on my heart of what true friendship really is.

I believe that God has given me lasting friendships of various cultures and backgrounds and I honestly say this with great humbleness.

Be you - love you! Accept your shortcomings, mistakes; accept that some people won't like you and some you don't need to be connected to anyway. For me, a quality relationship whether it is personal or professional is one based on character, excellence, and standards I set for my own life. Not perfection, but one of value that adds to my own and does not take away from who I really am.

There Is Joy In Being Your Own Best Friend. A true friend is someone who accepts you as you are, feels those fears and anxieties with you, and sees your limitations. A true friend will celebrate you, cry with you, and reason with you for your own good. I can truly say that I have a small, yet valuable set of friendships who have helped me to be the best I can be. However, I am learning to be my own best friend too, even at the age that I am! Many times I feel like I'm not where I need to be. I think of all the chapters in my life that I have already written good or bad and then I have to smile. I always find pure joy in laughing at my quirkiness, the silly things I say and do and believe me there have been many crazy times! When you become comfortable with yourself, you'll realize you don't need a crowd to feel good. This is truely a "best friend" I will never be without. Goofy and all!

Now go and share yourself with others and begin to be a best friend to them as you are to yourself! For what it is worth you are your own best friend to begin with.

ps-thanks to all my "new" blogger friends...and your comments, they always bring a smile to my face!

Friday, May 22, 2009

LEAST WE NOT FORGET

“…gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with choicest flowers of springtime….let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us as sacred charges upon the Nation’s gratitude, -- the soldier’s and sailor’s widow and orphan.”

–General John Logan, General Order No. 11, 5 may 1868


Traditional observance of Memorial day has diminished over the years. Many Americans nowadays have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day. At many cemeteries, the graves of the fallen are increasingly ignored, neglected. Most people no longer remember the proper flag etiquette for the day. While there are towns and cities that still hold Memorial Day parades, many have not held a parade in decades.
Some people think the day is for honoring any and all dead, and not just those fallen in service to our country Logan, General Order No. 11, 5 May 1868
The Moment of Remembrance is a step in the right direction to returning the meaning back to the day. What is needed is a full return to the original day of observance. Set aside one day out of the year for the nation to get together to remember, reflect and honor those who have given their all in service to their country.


*by visiting cemeteries and placing flags or flowers on the graves of our fallen heroes.
*by visiting memorials.
*by flying the U.S. Flag at half-staff until noon.
*by flying the 'POW/MIA Flag' as well (Section 1082 of the 1998 Defense Authorization Act).
*by participating in a "National Moment of Remembrance": at 3 p.m. to pause and think upon the true meaning of the day, and for Taps to be played.
*by renewing a pledge to aid the widows, widowers, and orphans of our fallen dead, and to aid the disabled veterans.


The "Memorial" in Memorial Day has been ignored by too many of us who are beneficiaries of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. Often we do not observe the day as it should be, a day where we actively remember our ancestors, our family members, our loved ones, our neighbors, and our friends who have given the ultimate sacrifice: (pictures courtesy of my camera Dec. 08 Washington DC) LEAST WE NOT FORGET.....have a safe weekend my friends.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

We Can NEVER Have Enough of IT

Please click on each photo to read the inscriptions





Tuesday, May 19, 2009

MONDAY THOUGHTS on tuesday!

At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person.
 Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.
Albert Schwietzer

Yesterday I got into work at noon so I didn't have a lot of time to ponder or even look at my blog or visit anyone elses for that matter. I spent the weekend up North with my son and his family. A 4 hour drive each way. I decided to spend Sunday night and get up early, skip a few hours of work and drove in Monday early and got to work at noon. It actually was a wonderful drive early in the morning. I snapped a few pictures on my cell phone because I had "exhausted" the battery on my camera over the weekend taking pics of the grandkids! lol A few blogger friends have asked to post pics of beautiful Utah. I have to tell you....Utah is so diverse.
You can drive for 30 minutes and your surroundings will change completely. From desert to rolling hillsides of sand dunes to mountains of pine trees and into hundreds of acres of farm land. I was totally into the drive yesterday morning! I have taken this drive many many many times before but the early morning drive was quiet and very peaceful. Here are a few pics, from inside the drivers seat! >
OOPS! had a little heavy foot on the pedal! My car drives so smoothly....I just didn't notice! I did slow down after I took this pic!

I take the "back" way home. Less traffic...for 2 hours it is a 2 lane highway that goes on forever it seems and the scenery is very different than the Interstate drive.




After 2 hours of what the pictures seem boreing, (it actually was very beautiful and peaceful) I entered the real drive....be on your toes drive...watch out for cars and not deer drive....

The drive through the mountains is always breathtaking...and the air smells soooo good!

and then after 4 hours I had arrived at my final destination. HOME. I will post pics at a later date of the beautiful red cliffs of this beautiful area and town.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

TOO BIG!


Just a little snippet of our youngest...Koltyn just turned a year last Saturday May 9th. He is such a doll. His daddy just loves this boy to pieces. Just getting to the point where he is thinking about walking, but gets around faster on all fours. Just wanted to share some cuteness today! Babies are absolutely the best aren't they! Koltyn wasn't feeling all that well on his special day at the park. Teething and all. But of course Papa couldn't let the day go by without letting Koltyn smear his little hands into the frosting and all over his mouth and face. For some reason my short clip of Koltyn taking his first few steps will not download. Only us Grandmothers and mothers like watching these anyway....(sigh) lol. Gotta love it!

Monday, May 11, 2009

MONDAY THOUGHTS

Mother's. It is a very much talked about subject. I wrote a poem 4 years ago for my children. It was celebrating my motherhood and I thought I would add it today just to say thanks once again to my children, who have given me the priviledge of being their mother. I feel blessed as a mother that they choose me.


“When I became a Mother”

When I became a mother, I had no idea what it would be like;
I prayed for knowledge and guidance in hopes I would do everything right.

I knew that from the beginning when I held my first born in my arms,
that God blessed me with an angel to nurture and protect from harm.


I may not have been perfect in all the years that were to follow and not once or twice but three times I was blessed beyond my wildest dreams and humbled to becoming by simple means “A Mother”.

My first, a delicate baby girl, with sky blue eyes and golden curls, a child who could always get her way with a hug and a kiss and no tears cry, the apple of her daddy’s eyes, a toddler who could do no wrong, according to grandparents of course, who in her adolescent years was like a free spirit! Who grew into a beauty, both inside and out, I watched her grow to let her go and become a mother twice, I had no doubt that all I was blessed with in a mother’s way would come full circle like the beginning of a new day.

My second another dream come true, my baby boy so sweet was he, I told him stories upon my knee, with which he listened too so carefully,
his arms he planted around my neck with hugs and kisses and comfort he would always be my silent rock of Gibraltar. And as the years flew by he grew into so special a young man, with love in his heart and a book in his hand he went off into a distant land to share his light with all he knew,
how proud I was to tell anyone who would listen that he was my son,
what more could a mother ask for.


My third and my last born came into my world, to challenge me and remind me that each day I look upon him, how blessed I really am, to be a simple mother in God’s glorious plan. His will and determination in his quest to conquer life, has taught me as a mother to cherish every day with him because each lesson learned was hard to earn but the rewards are here to stay.

No, nothing can take away the joy of being the mom of my girl and two boys! There is nothing I could ask for in and of this world that is more satisfying and rewarding than being who I am, no blessing greater no gift worth more than the title of “Mother”.

The memories my children give to me grow as the years go by, the older I get the bigger the sigh. How blessed I am to have them and know that they will always be a part of me, eternally. LH May 05

NOT LAST OR LEAST I want to acknowledge my beautiful "other daughters"


Camille,(Mikes wife) who is so beautiful inside and out. Who has faced challenges of her own and has blessed me with 3 adorable grandchildren! Camille you are such a joy to have around and you always make me smile. You always have kind words to speak of everyone and I feel so blessed to have you in my life!


Tera,
(Brad's wife) I can see how much you have grown into your motherhood. How you love your little boys and it makes me happy to know you are a part of this crazy family! How blessed I feel to have you share yourself with me.

As I mentioned earlier, we did eat our tasty Rainbow Trout. Bob once again did an awesome job preparing it for our little dinner. And of course, just the two of us had MORE than we could eat....I just don't know how to cook for 2 anymore. I always make meals as if all the kids were around to eat them with us.....(wishful thinking).




We enjoyed yummy scones with butter and honey, some (leftover) potatoe salad, watermelon, more food than we really needed. We topped the evening off with a great bicycle ride through the neighborhood, about 4 miles. Burn baby burn! and caught up on some recorded tv programs. All in all . . . a quiet "Mothers Day".

Friday, May 8, 2009

Dimise in the Desert!


I live in the desert. I love the heat. I use to live in the Nothern part of Utah where we claim to have the "greatest snow on earth", because we had the winter Olympics here and it says so on our license plates....

So unlike the plates here in Southern Utah...



When God was planning the different pieces of his puzzel and created all the glorious parts of it here on the planet he made the most incredible galleries of hills and sand and red cliffs your eyes will ever feast upon. It is real. It is just like a post card here, and I have taken lots of pictures that look like post cards.


Moving to the desert was a HUGE decision. I love the beautiful mountains of Salt Lake City and the Wasatch Front.


I am sure that where ever you are living there is God's beauty all around you.

I cannot look out my back window of my home and see this....as my daughter can in North Carolina.



But I can go 5 minutes from my home and look upon a beautiful quaint town in the most southern part of Utah. St. George.


So you are probably wondering what does this have to do with my title today?

Unfortunately the desert proves to be.....a little hot at times. Today it proved to be 85 degrees at 3:00 pm. Tomorrow in the 90's. ummm it will feel so good to sit next to the pool and dip into a bath of cool water tomorrow!

But...for some creatures....it proved to be even too much for them. The poor critters got cooked on the top of my swimming pool when it was covered and couldn't find there way up the slope. They are now "crispy critters" totally petrified! Bob found them yesterday. They met there unfortunate dimise not in the beautiful sands or under a rock, it was met where we invaded their home. (sigh)
Lying on Bob's Petro glyph

Critter in hand, baby frog...

belly up!


de⋅mise
[di-mahyz] noun, verb, -mised, -mis⋅ing.
–noun 1. Death or decease. 2. termination of existence or operation

My grandsons are going to LOVE these and will have to take them to school for 'show and tell'!