The diagnosis is in... and it's not good.

Strange but true - I now and then actually think things through.

Mr. Hillary and I rode our Harley's up to Snowbird last night.

This morning we rode to Lehi on our Bicycles.

This is my train of thought..... 

ROAD BIKES

TOTALLY Structured....

Constantly gripping the handlebars

Helmets

Water bottles

Sissy Cloth gloves with pads

Padded butt pants (oh so sexy)

I-Pod on shuffle

Nod your head to other bikers

Average 15-20 MPH - depends on the heat

25-30 Miles in record time - depends on the Tylenol

No gas required - unless you had beans the night before

Clipped in so that if you fall, you get road rash
Pimping just the right Biking store on your Jersey

Bugs land on you - and then sting you

Get constantly dodged at by idiot drivers

Burning massive amounts of calories

Shot blocks and power bars - Power aids

Enjoy passing anyone with a U of U Jersey.

(I love that last one)

HARLEY'S

(this is actually my bike)

(Can you hear Free Bird in the back of your mind?) Going 75 MPH down the road, no helmet, leather gear from head to toe, dodging at cyclists, I-Pod on Stained, Stopping for a cold drink anywhere you want, or pulling out a cold drink from your ice filled side bags, if you fall - you just die (none of this moaning around on the road), 180 miles on a sweet padded seat not built into your pants, no shaving required, looking around at the scenery, dawning a pair of wings on your Harley Shirt, getting gas at the local taco stand or.... stopping for sliders at the Timp Harley shop, taking your hands off your beach bars to give a another Harley rider the 'Peace Down, Happy Trails' sign, sticking your nose up at donor bikers (bullet bikes - and yes Matt I still love you), after dark - turning on the headlights for more fun, swallowing the bugs faster, getting your picture taken at the stop lights - because Mr. Hillary's bike is like a rock star, not burning even one calorie and not feeling bad about it at all, and passing U of U jerseys... (how did that get in there?)

Diagnosis:  I'm Bi-Polar

Yo numba 5....

TODAY - IS NUMBER 5

for Matt and Bethany!!!

(No not kids - but someday!)

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!

I LOVE THESE TWO!

Bethany and Matt have been together since the beginning of time - we loved life even more when Matt fell in love with her.  I mean she was practically a Hillary before she was actually one!

1.  Loved Matt

2.  Loved Disneyland

3.  Loved Music

4.  Way cool parents (ok hers are better than his)

 ... and I'll just skip down a few....

60.  Knew there would be a motorcycle one day...

61.  Was accepting of our poor table manners.

62.  Realized that one day she might have a little ditto of Matt.

63.  Understood that she would have to have at least

one more to make up for the ditto....

and the list goes on.

When I fall in love with my in law children - there is no longer a fine line between their families and ours.  We all become just one.  The Stimpson Family knew that Matt was marrying up - and yet they still allowed him in.  (JK Mae - we love you too)  There is a quality of love between them that they promised to have for each other 5 years ago when they were married in the Jordan River Temple.  The sweetness between them, has only grown.  There is a great respect between the two of them.  It's obvious that we can all learn from them, and their love for life is contageous.  They are Masters Graduates... they both have sweet sauce jobs (a great blessing these days).  They are active in their church, and in their neighborhood.  They have built a beautiful home and have filled it with 2 beautiful beautiful babies.  I think that everyday I learn more about how to be better by just knowing them.  When that first born son is born - you worry about someone stealing his heart away, but I never ever had to worry about that.  I'm fortunate to be the co-owner of  the name Mrs. Hillary with Bethany.  Congratulations you love birds - smooch and smooch and smooch.

I love you both almost as much as I love Pirates of the Caribbean,

or Splash Mountain, or the Haunted Mansion, or ..... those

really good corn dogs at the little trolley by the market place

on Main Street Disneyland... 

RRRRRRRRRRRRR is for Rah!! (I think)

Or 'really?'

or RIGHT ON!

Oh Happy Day

For your Anniversary,

I've prayed that the Utes...

run out onto the field tonight....

and they're dressed in blue.

Go Independent Cougs...

Yo Numba 3

So three years ago today these two tied the knot.

I know, I'm kind of biased but - what a beautiful couple!!

(I know right?)

I loved the fact that Mandy fell head over heels over Ryan.

She could not stop smiling.

(Even though she said - Mom and Dad if I even start

thinking about getting married before I'm 23 you stop me....)

I also loved the fact that Ryan was kind of

taken by surprise - as falling in love, getting married and

going to school at the same time so shortly

after returning from his mission

was not actually on his agenda - but it was

on the Lord's agenda.  (Can't fight true love eh?)

When you get to have a new person join your family, it's

always interesting how they take to you - Ryan observed

our family... for a long time - I think he was in shock.

For we are a strange and marvelous bunch.

I'm not sure how he felt the first time he was going to

leave our house and everyone hugged him goodbye.

I love that he is a good human, a kind man and and has a

sweet heart.  He is a good husband to Mandy and will be

a wonderful father too.  Mandy has adored Ryan, honored him,

made sure he ate food, supported his fun church callings,

worried when he went running for miles and miles and miles

in a snowstorm....

and has fallen in love with is family also.

(Don't we all love Randy and Ruth!)

Currently they are starting a new adventure called BYU Law School,

and

Parenthood...

Both of which will demand all they can give -

and they are both 100% ready for the challenge.

I am sort of worried about the genetic make up

of my new grandchild due on March 17th...

Never the less...

I love these two - they have taught me great

lessons of sacrifice, true love, service,

and laughter, and random car repair challenges.

On the other hand - Even though I'm pretty sure Ryan

is still in shock over our family, tonight he was

the first to give his old mom in law a hug.

Thanks Ryan!.

Much love, Congratulations, and Happy Baby

to

The Merriman Family.

(Lucky Us We Have You!)

xoxoxo

Can I have your Order Please?

Well - Missionary Man has had a wonderful week. They had a Zone Conference (oh excuse me - you must say it Zooooooooooonnne Conference) in Tucson and he was able to see Elder Edmund and Elder Cortez - which could make anyone's day better.  Amazing companions.  Elder Christofferson, from the Quorum of the 12, was the visiting General Authority and he came with some heaven sent leadership big shots.  Elder H will never wash that handshaking hand again I'm afraid.  His new companion is Elder Kestas from Chile' - there's not much - wait - NO English spoken here folks.  I hear great things already about this new companion - and he loves US (not Hostess but U.S) Twinkies.... and Ding Dongs - wow -won't have to make any more of those annoying cookies eh?  I see great things coming their way...  Elder H is now District Leader, and has been given an area over all of the Sister Missionaries..... and they're all cute!  They call him the Relief Society President - and he just laughs.  He said he felt like he was home again.... although he says that everywhere he is.  He's just heard that a sweet sister (Elizabeth) he baptized will be going through the temple - and she  1. Might be able to go to the Gila Valley Temple if 2) President Walker allows Elder Hillary to go!!!  (The beautiful fruits of sweet missionary work)

I love my son.  I love being the mother of a Missionary.  I miss him with all my heart.  In less than 128 days I'm going to get my hug.  There is no manual on how to let your son go for 2 years.  There is hope and faith, and knowledge that a better man returns. In a mom's point of view - he left a better man.  Just when I thought he was going to be spiritually wierd (you know - like you were Matt - HA!  JK) (no really - you were weird)  I get a letter saying.... "Mom check out where I got to have lunch while I was at Zone Conference - it's on my debit card"  Pull up his account on line...and smiled (A very big give me a chocolate shake with that smile).  I love my son.  (lucky mom - I have amazing kids, with amazing hearts)  Can I take your Order?

 (FYI - there is a God and he loves my son)

On your mission - you don't ask for

ANIMAL STYLE

you ask for 

I HAVEN'T HAD ONE OF THESE FOR

ALMOST TWO YEARS SO MAKE MINE

MISSIONARY STYLE!

..... and I'll take some fries on the side.

(Serve Strong Elder Hillary)

Your Family Loves You

(hope you had a breath mint...)

Columbus was right....

The world is not flat....

"That was a TOP NIGHT"

Saltines anyone? Please pass them to Mandy...

Ok folks.......

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE WONDERFUL DAYS

When you get a text from your little girl

Mandy and her sweet husband Ryan

that reads:

we are having a

healthy baby

AND

you just sit back and say....

OH NO!

It might be a Ryan...

or it might be a Mandy...

and it kind of scares me.

BUT BRINGS ME GREAT JOY!

Congratulations

Merriman Family!

(Let's hope it has a great mix

of both families...)

(ok - maybe we should hope that

it has more of the Merriman

side to have some sort of 

chance in life....) 

JOY!

Arrives On St. Patty's Day

2011

(probably carrying a saxophone in one hand,

track shoes in the other,
wearing a BYU Onesie,

and it will burp really really loud

like it's mom.)

Mike and Ashley - you are next - and don't think you're off

the hook - because your kid will be exactly like this one...

Only he'll be packing guns, knives and

motorcycle keys....

Oh Happy Day
Oh Blessed Babies....

Ya... I wear my shirt like that all the time...

Today I miss my beautiful Emma.

I want to look into those blue eyes and

tell you the stories of our lives.

I want you to know of my love for you,

and that I am your grandma, by choice,

because I know I knew you in heaven.

I said, "I want that one Heavenly Father"

and he said - oh but she is a special one...

and I said, "I already know that".

Today I miss my handsome Andy.

When I talked to him early this morning he

asked me if he could have some juice.

(I'm 3 states away) I said, "I'll be right

there to make some for you!"  Then he

waved goodbye to the phone to me.

I want to read you the, "There's a monster at

the end of this book" book - and use all of my

voices.  Then I would use my Cookie Monster Voice

and we would make cookies.  We would never bake

them though - because we would just eat the cookie dough.

I miss you today because we dress the same.

I always wear my shirt like this... it's a strange

genetic disorder we have.  When I think of

you being the first Grandchild - I want YOU to

tell me the stories of who else is up there waiting

to come to earth.  I want to know about Ashley

and Mike's kids, Mandy and Ryan's kids, and

actually - all about Ryan's cute wife here on earth and

their kids waiting in heaven.  I know you know!

We always said that Uncle Ryan H came last to

the earth because he was the one that said - I'll wait,

just don't forget I'm here!  I believe that heaven

wept when you came... because no one can make

the sound of a garbage truck like you can.

I love my grandkids,

those here,

and those to come.

Oh Happy Day...