My thoughtful and wonderful Thanksgiving post right before the painful and slightly horrid post about Black Friday.

I know you've seen this before - but I can't get enough of it.  Abraham Lincoln said:  "I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me.  They have clung to me all my life".  So it is with my mother.  Some days - my children have really hard days. Each of my children that read this will interpret it different - for we all have our moments of toughness.  Today - I needed to give advise and I struggled to find the right words.  I do remember saying a bit louder than the rest of the conversation that I have great faith in my children and I know that God watches over them and knows their needs.  I reminded this child that it's really all about God's plan for us - and our patience in waiting to see what that is.  Being prepared for God's will is not a problem I've seen in any of my children, ever.  I see them doing good things and living the way that they have been taught to live.  They contribute and love and laugh and endure.  Some days just suck more than others.  When I have those awful days - I call my mom.  She lets me pour my heart out and she listens (that's kind of a funny concept because she can't hear and she can't remember) to me.  Her answer to me is never failing - "I believe in you".  It's always the only answer I really need to hear.  Today - I hope my children know I love them - today I prayed hard for them, and that I believe in them.  I hope they feel those prayers and that they will follow them also.  I told the Big Guy that I was so grateful for them, for their spouses, and my grandchildren and grandpuppy.  I told him I was grateful for my husband Gomer.  He's always fixing something for someone with the most expensive part he can find - but it lasts.  (:  Today - I found a paper my mother gave me - she had cut it out with her pinking scissors - you know the zigzagged kind.  She had pasted it onto a paper with leaves on it.  She had sent this to me many years ago.  Today - was a bit dark for me inside but after praying I went into the kitchen and I noticed I had just randomly put this poem on my Thanksgiving Board - not thinking much of it - until now - when I realize it was not to be noticed until today.  So for Thanksgiving this year I wanted to give it to my children - with love, from my mom and I to them.  I will write it fast because I can feel the blood starting to boil about Black Friday and I need to suppress it with warm fuzzies instead of nuclear bomb threats. 

 

Day to Give Thanks

 

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.

If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something,

for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.

During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations,

because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge,

because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.

They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tired and weary,

because it means you've made a difference.

It's easy to be thankful for the good things.

A life of rich fulfillment comes to those

who are also thankful for the setbacks.

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.

Find a way to be thankful for your troubles

and they can become your richest blessings.

 

 

No matter where we all are this Thanksgiving - remember

WE ARE FAMILY and I BELIEVE IN YOU

and for that - I am richly blessed beyond words.

Love Bob Hillary, and Swirley Bowen

I'll take a slice of that....

I live next door to an amazing family - actually I'm surrounded by wonderful families on my entire street.  My newest neighbors are a Dad and his 4 children.  His wife - a dear sweet friend of mine, passed away just over a year or so.  These children are so beautiful - they have brought life back to our street.  There are 3 boys and one girl.  Recently, this little girl posted a note on the light post between our houses.  I thought it was one of those "need a job" or "babysitting" or the "I'm selling" postings.  But to my surprise as I looked closer realized how beautiful this child really is, and how tender her heart is.  Here is what it said:

what would you have taken?

I chose to take UNDERSTANDING... I taped it to the inside of my front door so I could see it everyday.  'Beauty' interesting enough - was the last strip left.  I watched as people walking by stopped and read the note and smiled from ear to ear.  I though how wonderful this was - how innocent - and how powerful.  Grown people even took a strip, and they tucked it in their pockets and you could just see the affects of this little act of kindness.  I know that her mother is looking down on her from heaven and she's smiling.  It's exactly what she did when she was a little girl.  In my calling I have so many people 'needing' someone to do things for them instead of reaching out and accepting new challenges on their own - and believing in themselves.  I think I might put one of these up outside our Bishop's office...

 

Thanksgiving, is such a reflective time of the year for me.  I don't take one day and make it my thankful day... Each morning is the dawn of a new opportunity to be grateful.  Sometimes it's the tiniest thing, the next day it's something enormous - but everyday it's something.

Take what you need... pass on the rest to others...let me know how it goes.... 



YEAH! It's US!

Searching through my camera tonight - so things are out of order - does that really matter?  NOT!  Because this picture came up and it made me smile instantly.  WE are SISTAS in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints - AND we are FAMILY in this crazy world we live in!  AREN'T these daughters (ok one is my daughter in law but you know the rules - if you marry one of my handsome sons you become my beloved daughter also - right Bethany? right Katie?)  We were able to get tickets to the Women's Conference and get primo amazing seats!!!  I also didn't kill anyone on the way there!  Along with enjoying the night - Mandy decided to see what was in Ashleys purse - always an adventure.  The lady behind us and over about 5 people tapped Mandy on the shoulder and told her to be quiet.... we all almost died - because first of all - she wasn't being noisy at all!  Next, because the people behind us were TOTALLY noisy and talking. Last but not least - the lady almost DIED when Ashley stood up - all 6'4" including heels, and turned around (not sure if she had the gun in tow).  We all sat there in shock - and then..... we..... started... to laugh.....  I just love these girls - I am so fortunate to have Ashley, Mandy, Katie and (in spirit) Bethany - they make my life worth it - and remind me of myself many years ago.  I am proud of them - and know that the world is a better place because they are in it.  Please.... make as much noise as you want in life - I've got your back... or I'll be running away as fast as I can... we'll decide.  xoxoxo

Post Traumatic Halloween

Yep - it sucked this bad.

oh well...

....it was gone by 8pm

bring on the next holiday



Thriller Night

  Sweet score on seeing 'Thriller' last night - holy cow it was amazing.  Kingsbury Hall, Dayna Marshall, Steppenwolves Slappin' about, and Chainsaw man.... all left me speechless - well the girls wish it would have - I screamed through most of the show.  (Thanks Mike and Ashley and Beep!)

 I love Halloween.  I love the dressing up and the pumpkins and the colors of the season....  I love the candy.  I've dressed up in several outstanding frightening things of the night over the years.  Once I dressed up and work and the boss had to ask who I was.  I love the lit pumpkins - yes the carved ones, that you put away each year and never have to carve again.  I always have pumpkins from Mendon on my porch.  They bring a bit of my childhood home with me.  I love that dang miniature candy bag... I'm  pretty sure I can tank down a bag on my own.  But to me - the songs my mother taught me will forever be sung during my Halloween Days.  Back before they would let you sing the songs of Satan at Primary..... we would sing all of our favorites:  There's no such thing as a witch.... Halloween..... This is Hallowe-e-e-n!  All the kids in my town knew these songs because my mom taught them.  Now that my mom is in her 80's there are certain things that she'll never remember again.  But those songs - oh those songs come through loud and clear. I love that my kids still make this holiday fun... this is amazing beyond words.... and made me smile from ear to ear.  Made my heart sing...Halloween songs!

Not dressing up this year, kinda skipping out on Trick or Treaters, pumpkin lights are plugged in, and the candy bag.... well I haven't even purchased them yet.  But come on over and I promise I scare you to death with a song... or my singing... or both.  Happy Halloween to my kids, and my grand kids.... make some wonderful memories.   Sing a few too....

Where is Legally Blonde? I OBJECT! I think....

 

Watching the debate... sort of.  I believe that we need to observe the event.  I love watching the contrast between President Obama and Governor Romney.  I hear a lot of talk - I would love to just see the action behind the talk.  I love that the Founding Fathers knew that it would get tougher as the world progressed.  I wonder if back then - they cut each other off in disrespect - I hate that part of these debates.  I also tried to push the 'dislike' button on Facebook when the loose tongues take over there and good friends who usually fight over the U of U and BYU football teams - turn their claws on each other over political issues.  I get a kick out of the 'trigger words' and believe that somewhere there needs to be a drinking game (of course McDonalds Coke or Diet Coke only) when you hear the words 'trickle down' or 'play by the rules', or 'regulations'.... of course on a Bingo card - there wouldn't be a political FREE  spot in the middle... it would have to be on the far left side or the far right side.  I love the freedom of speech concept - how lucky we are to have that honor.  To blog about silly thoughts, moments in time that have changed us, serious topics, and sad things.  How wonderful it is to have differences.  How lucky we are to be able to vote - to cast that freedom also.  I don't know how many of these grandeur promises will come to actually being 'the way it is' if 'one or the other' is voted in.... but I get a kick out of having my one grain of sand on the beach vote... whether it matters or not - I love having it.  I mostly just wanted to say - that I put my "I VOTE FOR SPOCK" sign up in my front lawn.  I think he'll win.  If not - I kinda hope that SOMEONE comes along and beams up President Obama and takes him back to the mother ship.... (oh did I say that outloud?)  It's only Logical....

 

Gomer and Bob..

It's been a traveling week for my hubbie Gomer.  Traveling weeks are tough on both of us.  I am by far the biggest scaredy cat on the face of the earth.  While he travels with security -  I have all of the knives I own stacked next to the dresser by my bed.  I have no idea how I would kill someone with all of those bread knives.  He gets to eat at wonderful places (just part of the perks) and chocolate is sometimes involved.  I found something that resembled a frozen dinner, and some Halloween candy from last year.  He gets to stay in super sweet places and have someone leave clean towels every day for him.  I relished in the sound of that washing machine spin cycle.  He gets to have conversations with people that were selected to stand in the 'give them more brains than normal' line in heaven.  I tried to follow the conversation between the two macaws at our home, and even worse... I had to listen to Joe Biden.   So I decided the day he left that I would enjoy this pity party for the entire week.  I rebelled a bit, left my cereal bowl out on the counter... all day mind you.  I didn't put the lid on the toothpaste for 3 days.  I left the radio on X96 for the birds so that they were freaking out to rock music all day.  To top it off, I sang any song I wanted really really loud in the shower... (well ok - that was because I didn't want to hear the breaking and entering of the Psycho man...) I started 15 projects, all of which are still sitting here on the kitchen counter... and my Halloween decorations are half way up.  Good times.  It was nice to pick him up at the airport.  I love it when jet lag makes him a total Zombie, and he's totally slap happy funny (something to get on video one day).  I really love it when I say "I had no idea your plane came in early" even though I may have fallen asleep in the park and wait.... I love that he listens to me talk and talk and talk his ear off because I was so lonely.  It's weird when Gomer travels, well - actually it's almost as weird as when he's home.  We're just weird that way.   I was super excited for the gift he brought home for me - the cold from the man sitting next to him on the plane that was hacking up cats and dogs.  Love ya Gomer...  what's that you say?  Did I have popcorn for dinner one night?  .... maybe...