Sunday, April 15, 2012

What's in YOUR name?

I listened to my mom call my name the other day - and I just kept thinking - WHY DID YOU GIVE ME SUCH A NAME?  The 'e' is actually pronounced in my name on the end - not something that the French - or actually the English understand.  I was named Nicole because of a friend of my parents in California when my dad was stationed there in the Marines.  The name stuck with them and they - gave it to me - their only daughter.  I have had to tell people my whole life that the e on the end is pronounced - and they still get it wrong!  Can't blame them!  THEN I went ahead and married a guy with the last name HILLARY - which REALLY confuses people...  but after reading the following information... I have to agree with a few things in it - so I ask you - what's in your name?  (notice it doesn't say 'freakisly strange and wierd' (lucky me)  Thanks Mom and Dad!  (June and Fred) (:

Nicole
There are 6 letters in your name.
Those 6 letters total to 31
There are 3 vowels and 3 consonants in your name.

What your first name means:

The people's victory
Your number is: 4
The characteristics of #4 are: A foundation, order, service, struggle against limits, steady growth.
The expression or destiny for #4:
Order, service, and management are the cornerstones of the number 4 Expression. Your destiny is to express wonderful organization skills with your ever practical, down-to-earth approach. You are the kind of person who is always willing to work those long, hard hours to push a project through to completion. A patience with detail allows you to become expert in fields such as building, engineering, and all forms of craftsmanship. Your abilities to write and teach may lean toward the more technical and detailed. In the arts, music will likely be your choice. Artistic talents may also appear in such fields as horiculture and floral arrangement, as well. Many skilled physicians and especially surgeons have the 4 Expression.
The positive attitudes of the 4 Expression yield responsibility; you are one who no doubt, fulfills obligations, and is highly systematic and orderly. You are serious and sincere, honest and faithful. It is your role to help and you are required to do a good job at everything you undertake.
If there is too much 4 energies present in your makeup, you may express some of the negative attitudes of the number 4. The obligations that you face may tend to create frustration and feelings of limitation or restriction. You may sometimes find yourself nursing negative attitudes in this regard and these can keep you in a rather low mood. Avoid becoming too rigid, stubborn, dogmatic, and fixed in your opinions. You may have a tendency to develop and hold very strong likes and dislikes, and some of these may border on the classification of prejudice. The negative side of 4 often produces dominant and bossy individuals who use disciplinarian to an excess. These tendencies must be avoided. Finally, like nearly all with 4 Expression, you must keep your eye on the big picture and not get overly wrapped up in detail and routine.
Your Soul Urge number is: 2
A Soul Urge number of 2 means:
With the Soul Urge number 2, your motivation is centered on friendships, partnerships, and companionship. You want to work with others as a part of a cooperative team. Leadership is not important to you, but making a contribution to the team effort is. You are willing to work hard to achieve a harmonious environment with sensitive, genial people.
In a positive sense, the 2 Soul Urge is sympathetic, extremely concerned and devoted. The nature tends to be very sensitive to others, always tactful and diplomatic. This element in your nature indicates that you are rather emotional. You are persuasive, but in a very quiet way, never forceful. You are the type that makes really close friendships because you are so affectionate and loving.
If this number is over-emphasized in your makeup, you may be over-sensitive, with a delicate ego that is too easily hurt. You may be timid or fearful, too easygoing for your own good.
Your Inner Dream number is: 11
An Inner Dream number of 11 means:
You dream of casting the light of illumination; of being the true idealist. You secretly believe there is more to life than we can know or prove, and you would like to be provider of the 'word' from on high.


Sunday, April 8, 2012

Easter Rodants

We were invaded by Easter Rodents this year.
Last year it was the Chick Peeps - and now these!
WE CANNOT WIN!
There are no pesticides to kill them.  We actually
ripped out the eyes of the Chick Peeps and put them
around the frame of the front door.... but these
are tough little pests.
They thought they were on Jeff Dunham's
show - Peep Bunnies... on a steeek.
They were posers in my trees....
.... AND tried to take over the mail system.
But when they started partying
and rebalrousing....
that's when I had to call in the
... dun dun dun....
final straw..
Tiller we meet again
Happy Easter


Thursday, April 5, 2012

Who? Huh? What?

Found this beautiful picture of Ashley with Grandma June.  My mom has so much love for her family, and it is always evident when she's around them.  It's been a tough week with mom, and her challenge to be still be mentally and physically all together.  I've hidden some funny post thoughts away for just today (but that means that they will show up very soon because life with Gma is outrageous)  because I need to write down a few difficult thoughts on aging parents.  I had a meltdown yesterday with my own mom.  She can't hear so you have to yell, and then she can't remember so you repeat the yell, and then you repeat it all in 5 minutes, and then you get frustrated and you just yell.  I have always tried to be kind to her - and to remember that I'm not very far off from where she is.  I'm looking for that book - you know - like the book you were suppose to get when you had children and you had no clue what you were doing?  Well, I need the book that helps you finish raising your parents when they are in their 80's and still work in the yard in the middle of the night, talk to imaginary friends, leave with people and not tell you where she's gone, lose their SS checks, again, and decide the Slim Fast is a great thing to have for dinner when you weigh 90 pounds.  I love my mom - and my heart aches to know what to do and how to help her.  I can't fix this - it's the plan of life - but I know so little about it all.  I have been sent an angel though - my Sister in Law Terri - she is the glue of the family and she is there in an instant for my mom when I can't be there.  She calms the crazies, finds mom when she's been missing for hours on end, makes sure she's at her appointments, and is mostly dressed before heading outside to get the newspaper.  I love this woman so much - she is a gift to all of us - and cannot be thanked enough.  I worry that the last thing I say to her - may be the last thing I get to say - so on my 4th phone call tonight to my mom - I told her how proud I was of her - I reminded her of how gracious of a woman she's been in her lifetime and how respected she still is.  I told her how much I loved her - and hoped to be a small portion of the woman she is.  She pretty much flew off the handle at me, and I, at that moment believed in Eternal Life - because I said - see you in the afterlife mom.... and clicked off the phone.  Whew - lost it pretty bad - but after listening to my Jesus tapes (S. Michael Wilcox) I am reminded that Heavenly Father will fill in the gaps where I lack.  So I called her back and apologized up and down the street to her - and she simply said - Oh there you are!  I've missed talking to you from clear last week.....    the after live.... I gotta get me some.  Love your parents - honor them.... make sure they have the right size depends, and that the last words you say to them are, "remember me - your daughter?"  Because tomorrow, she won't remember, and she'll get all excited again that she has one.
Love you Mom.... your only daughter.

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Lucky Day, Lucky Us....

When my children were little - I would always pray for their spouses that they would find in the world in their future.  It seemed odd to some people, but it was important to me to have them know that somewhere out there, some amazing parents were raising a wonderful child that they would want the very best for them when they grew up.  I wanted them to know that they needed to live up to what those parents would want for their child.  I prayed that they would be strong in the same beliefs, want to be educated, live right, serve others, and mostly be protected and watched over until my child could find them.  I posted a post a last week - quickly and without thinking, about a wonderful event in our family that had just happened.  I pulled that post - because it deserved so much more than I gave it.  I want to make it very clear that all my prayers have been answered in so many ways, and that my life is richer because of this event.  I never knew the name of this beautiful girl, growing up in California, excelling in school, developing so many talents, staying close to the church, setting an example for all around.  I never knew that she would come to BYU and live a stones throw from my son apartment, and catch his eye with her contagious smile. I had prayed that someone like her would come into my son's life and bring so much love and joy and beauty.  I never knew that a week ago, she would accept his proposal, as my handsome son knelt on one knee and ask her to marry him.  But I know that she was meant to be.  I know that she is part of the great plan Heavenly Father has for my son.  How grateful I am that she led her life, so that when the stars lined up - she was with my son.  How grateful I am that her parents took the time to teach her love, and kindness, integrity and tenderness.  As I have come to know her more, I see the great influence her parents have had on her - and I know that my son will contribute to their family in the same way Katie has already contributed to ours. I am looking forward to the blessings that will come to the Lowrey and Hillary families because of this two amazing people. How wonderful it is that she is accepting of our family - even though she's now had dinner with us all around the table, with our loudness, and craziness, and imperfections.  I want her to know that she is so very welcome to our family.  My girls are not easy to let anyone in - we're not sure how to tell Ryan - but the girls love her so much they will beat him to the ground if he every does anything wrong.  I have watched her with Ryan - and have seen her love for him.  I have seen my son's emotions on his sleeve as he spoke of how he would ask her to marry him, and how he hoped she would say yes, and the look in his eyes of his love for her.  One of my favorite things about her is that she has the funniest laugh - when I hear it - the world is just a better place.  Long ago - a little boy came into my life.  I prayed for his future wife.  She has arrived.  So to you Katie, I say welcome.  To your parents, I say thank you.  To my family, how lucky we are to be able to have our family grow, and to imagine the wonderful things that will come from this union.  Congratulations to my son Ryan, and to Katie - who found each other - and were reminded that perhaps you promised each other in heaven, to find each other on this earth, and you did.
August 10th 2012 - Oakland Temple


Wednesday, March 28, 2012

QUESTION: Did you hear the joke about the Peanut Butter?

Well - today I checked out my Facebook page and THERE was YET ANOTHER posting about this chick right here     http://www.bakingwithblondie.blogspot    It's been wonderful for me to watch my daughter Mandy start this website and actually work hard every week to make it amazing.  I've enjoyed seeing the pictures of the items she makes, and the stories of why it was important, and the extra things she decided to add to make it unique to her.  She's now been featured here http://sixsistersstuff.com  and today featured here  http://www.thischickcooks.net !!  Pretty exciting - if you like what you see there - make sure you like it - and share it - but most of all try it!!  For some reason I don't seem to see any of MY recipes there??  Hum.... so you don't like the Curry you say?  You know - there are children starving... in ... ok - on in my Mission area!!  (I know - just send it there right!)  So just in case you've wondered where she gets her talent from, it was NOT from me in any sense of the word.  That my kids survived my cooking is one of the miracles of the world.  Now - I love seeing my girls heading off into their cooking talents - and making sure they are eating healthy, and making it beautiful along the way.  Some days, Ashley will post something about some massively grilled salmon with exotic veggies cooked to a tee - and Mandy posts the recipes that make my mouth water - and I STILL wonder where they got it from.  One of my favorite things I own are recipes hand written from my Great Grandmas and Grand Mothers.  My next generation being my own mom has an entire drawer full of memories from her kitchen.  My daughter in law Bethany has a few tricks up her sleeve - she's my master bread maker... so now and then we gather things together and feast.  To illustrate my abilities - I now bring you my ultimate talent - and the reason my children have survived to the ripe age of the 'day they realized people don't eat like I cook'.   Proud of my cooks... excited that Mandy was featured... hope for many more fun surprised like that again.

The Ultimate PB & J
(yes.. that's frosting on top people)
(oh no.... not homemade silly, right out of the
purchase Betty Crocker tub...)
For many years the common housewife has slaved over the
Wonder Bread package and teared up over the variety of ways
to make their children the perfect sammie.
While most children demand that the crust be cut off
of the sammie, I always created at atmosphere of fear,
and death threats if they didn't just eat and hurry because
we were usually late for something.
School lunches can became ho-hum after a while,
so I'm here to give out just some simple secrets
that will make your kids appreciate your
efforts in bringing them the best nutritional
substitute available.... er something like that.
The Motivator
you decide which kid needs THIS scrumptious
delight in their paper sack at lunch

The Baconater...

mmmm... combine breakfast AND lunch
(mmmm Ashley)

and in case you need to send a special message
to your child at school with bullies....


Thus you see - why my daughter Mandy is featured,
and I'm looking for the following items to put on my sammie:


M & M's (left over from Trick or Treating of course), grapes,
Lego's, potato chips, parts of the napkin that get stuck in it
while making it, jelly beans, hidden veggies ie cucumbers...,
sprinkles of Curry Powder (:
honey that hasn't expired,
celery, celery with pimento cheese sauce,
Fruit Loops, (yet again probably expired)
leftover cookies (wait, there are never
left over cookies)  and, of course,
lots of love.  Cook on!


ANSWER:
not going to tell you,
you might spread it around....

Bwahaahhahahhahaha!

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

#3 has his FIRST BIRTHDAY

Well, you know - when your ONE you can have your cake
and eat it too... even with your foot on the table!
This little one - my 3rd grandchild, has his very first birthday today!
It's been a very busy year for him....
I was in a Missionary Meeting a year ago and my phone
was turned off - at the end of the meetings I turned it on and I had
17 messages and a picture of Mandy with an IV in her hand and
a "Get here NOW I'm having this baby" look on her face.
This little boy - has dreamy blue eyes, soft blond hair, and
the silliest smile ever known.  He is so full of love.  He trusts
his mom and dad - and he lights up when his grandparents come
to see him.  Right now he's way into pots and pans and spatulas.
Soon he'll be up and running and there will be no stopping him...
a possible BYU Cross Country dude?  Perhaps!
Each time I spend time with him, I feel like I'm holding a little
bit of heaven.  He has that shoulder grip with his hand that tells you
he's hanging on and I love that.  He's well traveled... here, there
and everywhere - but he's grounded by his loving parents that teach
him the sweetest things of life.  He's a mighty warrior already.
I'm sure looking forward to many play dates, some trips for
ice cream, and many more Walmart shopping sprees.  Until
then - know you are loved little one - know that you are
a valuable part of many lives.  You are going to rock this world.
Oh Happy Day!  Celebrate!!
(wait we already did on Saturday with your freaking
amazing party!)
It was delicious!



Monday, March 12, 2012

#2 has her SECOND BIRTHDAY!

Well Little Miss - it's your Birthday and you are 2!
That means for the past 2 years I've had this beautiful granddaughter
that lights up my world.  I guess this love originates from her
mom - because I love her mom so much - and this is
Mini Bethany all the way.  There is no softer hair,
no sweeter eyes, no brighter smiles, and
they all belong to this little one here.  She's given me
moments in time when I actually stop what I'm doing
and just sigh - because I know she's mine (ok and I share her
with the other Ama that loves her too).  There is a
tenderness in this one that I cannot describe.  She's
experienced amazing things, been many places, and
enjoyed being loved by a wonderful family.  How
grateful I am that my son has a little girl in his life,
they bring out the best in a parent.  I love that she knows
how to love, and she's careful with the hearts of those
that love her.  Her eyes twinkle when you see her and you
know that they reflect all the joy inside of her.  I love
that her parents are teaching her good things - about a
Heavenly Father that loves her, created her, and expects
many things from her.  I love that she has a big brother to
watch over her, and not kill her when they are rough
housing (; when they play.  I have a lot of plans for you
and I little one - I anticipate the day when I can be with
you more, and watch you in the events of your life.
I hope you know that you are so very very loved by me,
and that you have given me the sweetest memories
ever in the past 2 years.
Oh Happy Day - and many more to come!
Nana - loves you!!