Thankful for miles...

Just a quick thankful note

before I move forward into this day....

I'm thankful that as of this moment my mom

lives at least 150 miles away

or I would kill her.  I love her.... 

just can't get through to her.

Horrible Horrible Horrible disease called

'old age' it killing her - and me.

 Please remember that the contract

for me being hit by a fast moving semi

at the age of 65 (or sooner if needed)

is under my mattress.....  (loff you mom)

Keeping track of my Veterans

Mike said my picture I posted on Facebook was depressing.... sorry.  Just wanted to capture somethin' sweet.  He likes this one though - so I'll honor him today with using something he likes... this picture and my daughter.  Missin' him something awful - praying for him EVERYDAY.  Can there be any greater sacrifice??  There had to exist a great bond between these two before any of this could happen.  It's even stronger now.  Oh the stories they'll tell their ginger babied Tommy Hawkers.  Mike we miss your massive presence in our lives.  You represent the good that comes from service, the bravery needed for what you do, and the tender sweetness that captivates my daughter's heart.  Now if you'll just give me a few days to locate the exact picture I wanted to use... you, Halloween, nothing but a red (way to small) plastic Speedo..... and I believe it was really really cold that night.  Today I'm grateful for my (and each of your) Veterans.  To Mike - and his sweet wife, and his family who also honors Brayton today -  you are full of awesomeness.  Thank you....   (and thanks to my Uncle Jay and My DAD!!)  Cheer yours on today, they deserve it in every way.

 
PS.... Yesterday - I was not thankful for anything.... in case you were keeping track.  (:  Ok - I guess I was thankful that I found my Jack Skeleton gloves in the pocket of my winter coat, and a miniature Heath candy bar from last Halloween.... there - I'm grateful.

In a Walnut Shell....

Si - there is a toca-bell here.

Just as suuppper dooooper excited as I can get... Just as I thought we might get him home alive - he's transferred to Nogales!    I am GOING to find something to be grateful for.... let me see... um..... ok - how about this:

"I am grateful that because 20 people were killed in the streets of this bustling border town last week, there is an enforced curfew..."

Oh... let's hope it's 4:00 PM.....for at least the next 38 days.

I believe that I am VERY guilty of over-praying somethings.... like:  "Heavenly Father - please give my children challenges to build their trust, character, and gun toting skills, so that when danger comes instead of staring it straight in the eyes.... they run like heck to the closest 7-11"  I did hear that they leave the tall blond ones alone there.... it's the 4'11" Spanish companion he'll have to keep close under his wing.  He e-mailed me indicating that 'all valuables have been mailed home....'  He does get a 4 wheel drive truck though.... side armor incorporated.  Well, he'll come home a beautiful chocolate man that's for sure! (:  I am grateful for the power to call down angels to protect my children, my in-law children, and my ever so freaking cute grandchildren.  (Please note all exits.... locate YOUR 7-11 today)  (Yes Ashley, you may point your two fingers toward the exits... thank you)   (like um... this is NOTHING right Mike?  (gotta love my daughter's soldier))

PS - Thank you Ryan M for reminding me that - these places are the sweetest ever - and that you only had a gun held to your head twice while serving. 

BTW - Nogales - in Spanish comes from the word walnut.... and if you know my family - we'll have a blast with that one... (Mandy - did that crack you up?)

Work it girl.....

So today - Monday - I wanted SO MUCH to be grateful for something - I'M REALLY TRYING HARD today  - should be easy but not in my can o nast world.  I was grateful for yesterday - does that count?  I was grateful that the wind didn't blow my golden leaves off no matter how hard it tried!   So today - Monday - work day, just like that last 6 days so nothing out of the ordinary - except I work with an interesting person and 'it' was on a rampage today.  Hurting 'itself' along the way with 'it's ' comments.  You might think that I should say hurting me - but I feel that when ever someone goes on a rant, they only hurt themselves.  I'm pretty thick skinned, from past scaring to the heart, so I decided to kindly stand there and take it.  (My multiple took over and protected the rest of us inside from the rant).  When 'it' was finished I said - well, I guess I should work on that.  No angered response, no finger pointing, no revenge.  I was already damaged goods when I arrived so it didn't matter really what was presented to me today at 3:45 am.....  I decided to rather focus on a quote that is quickly becoming part of my morning mantra (learning a new one each day)... it's by Elder F Enzio Busche - where among about 15 different things I focused on this one:  "Never judge anyone, if you accept this you will be free.  In the case of your own children or subordinates, where you have the opportunity or responsibility to judge, help them to become their own judge."  So even though I wanted to say - have a great day you freaking wench of a person.... I didn't, and I actually didn't even think of it.  I rejoiced in the concept that mean people will have whatever they say to someone else, will have it come back to them 10 fold one day.  (thus, The Color Purple) I'm just sayin.  Today I'm grateful that I am judged by a far greater judge, one more worthy to judge, and who judges me out of love, so that I can return back to him someday.  (oh - and I'm grateful for snow... and hot chocolate)

The making of the Man Cave....

Made the Missionaries room into a Man Room now.  I didn't think that he would want to come home to soccor balls or pheasants or like - boy stuff - just Man stuff.  Since he's served in 3 different states - I made sure that each was represented by their own flag.  I took out all of his clothes that have been waiting 2 years - and washed them - he's not the kind of Missionary that is coming home and can't fit into anything - except perhaps we might have to add a few inches to the bottom of his Levi's.... I found all of the MknZe stuff - I was going to call Jon and have him make me a fire just for fun.  But it is a part of history for the Man child, so it's carefully tucked away in the shed, under the weed whacker, where the oil drips - oooops!  I found his testimony in his scriptures - he'd written it in his Senior Year it looks like - I wish he knew how much he has exceeded any of his goals.  Oh and just for fun.... right next to his light switch in Black Sharpie Pen... I've listed potential phone numbers from mothers that would like their daughter's numbers listed there.... I might have room for a few more.  Making the Man Cave, until he leaves for BYU, it's a good thing.  Today I'm grateful for blue things, that almost 21 years ago - the doctor who told me for months that it was a girl, choked on his words when God sent me what I had prayed for.

'It's a bunddttt cake"

So you know on those tear off calendars where you have the cutzie little thought and the date - and then you rip it off and the next day is there.  When you get to Saturday and Sunday - it's a combined page...?  I'm combining my gratitude page - to read Thurs/Fri...

Yesterday on the Thurs part of  Thurs/Fri - Mandy and I kept each other company in the car during her lunch hour, laughing and talking over a 5 buck pizza and left over root beer from the Halloween festivities.  Sweet wigglin' belly was there also, he likes his Grandma.  It's fun talking to that Mandy Girl... I remember having that much energy and excitement about life.

Yesterday, in the afternoon part of Thurs/Fri I received a package from my cute daughter in law Bethany with some GRANDBABY pictures.... dang - all of you just eat your hearts out - I win.   Ashley was on a business trip to their friendly state and she made sure that Andy said, "I love you Nanna!" a couple of times on the phone to me - he says that like a pro.  Made my day.

Last night, in the latter part of Thurs/Fri, my cute neighbor Joni brought me a bundt cake from 'Nothing Bundt Cakes.  I was trying to make her day - but she turned it around and made my day - Thankful for cute skinny running amazing friends... and her spirit, and her friendship, and her time spent on little old me yesterday.

Today - on the Friday part of Thurs/Fri I hit a wall.  Not with the car or the bike or heaven forbid the Harley... just emotionally.  So I'm just pluggin' my gratitude for the power of prayer.  I feel SO bad that he has to listen to me go on and on and on and on.... and then on again.  But he knew this day was coming and he was ready for me to come on bended knee.  Did he answer all of my questions?  No - but that's the beauty of it - I put it out there to him with all the faith I have in him... and then I wait, and trust,  and work towards my goals, and realize that all around me he in answering my pleas in his own way and time.  I wonder what kind of Bundt cake he would like me to send to him?  Something heavenly for sure.  Today - I'm grateful for Thur/Fri and that hopefully I'll see a better Sat/Sun. 

3 is not a bad number - in our fam it's the funniest one

Now you might think that I am forgetting that I have 4 kids, not 3.  But today I'm sharing a special day with my 3rd child, The Mandy.  Now if there was a way to download the messages on my phone left there by Mandy - you would (and Elaine I'll steal this famous line from you my friend....) have coffee comin' outta yer nose laughing.  Most of them are so hysterical that I play them over and over - I've saved them from clear back in 2008.... seriously - my phone messages are always full because I save the messages from my kids.  Elder Hillary's is on there from the day before he left - a message to me - to play any day any time.  Mandy's are always in some foreign voice... or opera singing lady, or "WHY DO YOU HATE ME" voice.... indescribable... but on the hardest days... I play every single one of them.  Ashley left me her Morphine call after her root canal, and Matt's is when he was doing donuts in the BYU parking lot after the first snowfall.... no doubt - probably right in front of a cop.  I love messages from Andy - coached by his mom and dad - messages to Nanna... could there be anything sweeter?  Today I called the 3rd child and used my SkELeTonZ voice and reminded her that because of  circumstances....we were the only Hillarys in the State of Utah right now - WHAT'S WITH THAT?  So tomorrow - we are meeting up for some serious picnicking in the car during her lunch time..We know how to have a good time eh?  Well, I thought it was a good idea until I noticed that the 3rd child had swallowed a watermelon .... What the heck... Looks like a 20 week old spawn growing inside my beautiful #3.... The day you call me to tell me you've had this baby boy... make sure you leave a message - so I can play it over and over again.  XOXOXO

 I'm grateful today that the #3 child is having the #3 grandchild,
and for the 3 messages it took

for her to sing me happy birthday last year
because she 'wasn't done singing it yet'.