Spontaneous and tearful Mini Thoughts this 6th of May

Let me tell you about this day....  I can't even post a picture because too many eyes are swollen from tears.  How amazingly proud I am of my kids.  I see their lives taken over by challenges and they stand up after being smacked down and start moving again.  What the heck are you kids made of anyway?  You're freaking amazing!  Today - we send one of our own away again - leaving a trail of tears and worry and anxiety and quietness.  Today I call upon Zoey - to never leave her side, to bark loud, and snuggle with her close and watch over her every single second.  I would also like you to learn how to speed dial my number.  But tomorrow, little girl, as you stand up from this smack down day - you'll stand tall, and so will he, and your tummy will poke out and wiggle and there is a time ahead for great joy and laughter and moments of absolute peace.  As you look around - SEE US - SEE US BEING THERE you two and a half people we love and a puppy.  Because we have some life to live and NO ONE will stop us ok?  Alright now - put those snot rags away now and sleep - because you KNOW those hiccups are coming about 3 am.... Much love to you as miles separate you - but never come between you.

Thought for the day:

 

Bob loves you

Spontaneous Mini Thought for Sunday May Cinco

OK... folks... let's talk about this obsession I have.  The weather.  I'm not really into weather men or women because they drive my NUTS - mostly because they always stand in the way of the 7 day forecast and I can't see if it's a sun or a lightening bolt.  I know I'm obsessed because today on my Mission I told my fave homeless friend to "wear his slicker 'cus it's going to downpour this week!'  He answered,  "Um Sister Hillary, I don't even own a coat, let alone a slicker"  So I gave him my umbrella from my car.  (der der der)  When the kids were little they use to jump on the trampoline during the rain storms.. and yes I won mother of the year when it was actually a lightening storm.  Eh... they lived.  I love my sunny days - but please bring me on a lightening storm.  Preferably when the kids are all safe and sound in their homes and my husband is there for me to bury my fingernails into his arm.  I love the smell of rain right before it hits the area.... ya - you know that smell... pre-wet dirt and grass.  I use to watch the thunderclouds roll into Cache Valley and listen to the echo's of the thunder on the mountains.  I love waking up to the rain on the windows, and seeing the worms crawl out onto the sidewalk as easy prey for the birds.  The water would run down the gutters and the kids in the neighborhood would run out and play in them during the summer storms.  Now and then a stray paper boat would float by.  I just think that God really had fun creating lightening.  By the way... forecast calls for lightening storms for the next 3 days.  Oh heaven...

 

Thought for the day:

My mom use to tell me lightening was

the devil throwing apples in the cellar...

shocking..

(stupid devil)

(Please pass the salsa)  

Spontaneous Weekend Update a bit bigger than mini thoughts May 3/4

Here are the list of words that I have in my brain from the past 48 hours.  Mendon, Mom, yard, Ryan, work, mountains, family, friends, no mice, 2 new houses, Pine trees, shaving, manicotti, sheets, towels, the color blue, forget me nots, lavender, lemonade, frustration, aching, lonely, tears, work, apple trees, apple blossoms, Jake, May Queens, roses, May Poles, small towns, stop signs, Subway, loyalty, son, Willard Bugs, apple wood in the fire pit, long worthwhile talks with my 6'2' baby, popcorn popping, tears again, quiet, green grass, no sleep, Eric, love, brothers, sister in law xox, Missionaries, Sister Bowen, broken backs, laughter, gratitude, prayers, blessings, pine cones, memories, moments of clarity, nieces, nephew, pictures, cellars, hot chocolate, spring, lost, restless, fearful, and blessed.  It was a busy weekend.  It's a longer week ahead. Some days I just don't feel like it all will ever make sense.  And then it does.
 

Thought for the weekend:

 

Mom:  See, I don't have that disease that

I can't remember what it's called.

Dementia... is not only hard to spell,

but to remember,

I think....



Spontaneous Mini Thought - Day 2

Seriously Folks.... it was a 3 am wake up call today for work.

I am amazed that I can sleep standing up at times.

But when I get to work, there is a collection of

other people there - same tired look, same discouraged

feelings of suicide.... ok - well - sort of... we're tired people.

But what I love about those people - is that we are

somewhat make believe family members.

We know about each others lives, struggles, joys,

and shortage of sleep.

They mean so much to me.

They encourage me, and laugh at my jokes,

they share their thoughts and kindness with me.

If I have to totally loathe.... LOATHE... my job...

at least I work with the BEST people around.

And I appreciate them.

They make a difference to me...

and so do you.

Thought for the day:

"So how long do you think it's actually

been in the fridge here at work?

Really?

Let's still eat it."

 

Smile, Say Hello, Pay attention,

Listen - everyday



Spontaneous Mini Thoughts - Day 1

It's tragic.  It's the "I'm hooked on stupid TV shows" season of life.... DWTS Monday Tuesday, Idol/Voice Wednesday Thursday, exhausted by Friday.  Then I don't watch TV again until SYTYCD... I need a DVR.  Why I'm obsessed I don't know because I really don't have time to watch them with my Mission and work and life in general (wait.... as in General Hospital?) - but if I time dinner right at that time - and then of course the dishes afterwards.... just sayin.  I'm now stuck on critiquing almost everything about everyone.  My favorites are the Toll Free number people that call and annoy the sock off of you - I have fun with them.  "I don't think that was your best performance - I mean you meant well but you just didn't sell it like I think America would like you to!"  Usually the line is silent afterwards.  I find that they don't call me back.  TV bad habits are easily broken though.... Until Bachelorette comes on.  I'm hopeless.  My mini thought for the day:  Can you please adjust the antenna while you're up?

Thirty

So... it's been 30 years ago today, that we hitched up.  It's a quiet morning at our house.  We decided to take a few days off and do a few things around town.  This image of us was included in our wedding announcement, is fun to see actually - some things are missing from us today.  Obviously a little less hair for Del and oh lookie - an extra chin less on me.  Little did this couple know that they would have 4 amazing kids, 4 amazing in law children, and 3.5 grand kids 30 years later.  We've lived in 2.25 different places... our original home in West Jordan, and an apartment while building our home where we live now.  Del finished off his Masters Degree and started traveling internationally for his company.  I've been able to travel with him for a few of those times.  We've gone through 4 family cars and well - several versions of cars and trucks for Del, his always included some form of rocket attached to it.  We've had fun with boats, and snowmobiles and Harley's and bicycles. We've planted trees, and gardens, and memories.  We've made wonderful friends that have helped us through and have influenced our lives.  We lost Del's dad several years ago but are still  blessed to have 3 remaining parents here on earth.  Our brothers and sisters in our families have been a solid part of our world, giving their time and love to our family.  Our children have given us the greatest joy and been the greatest blessings to us.  Nothing on earth has compared to the experiences of love we've had because of them.  Our grandchildren remind us of the years and years of 4 kids within 5 years of each other and those years and years of noisy church benches when Del was in the Bishopric.  We've survived band concerts, dance recitals, and soccer games.  We've rejoiced in High School and College Graduations.  There have been hard times.  Times when the towel was just too easy to throw in -  but here we are.  Older and wiser.  I can't help but think that these two had no clue what they were in for.  But never the less, here we are.  It rained the day of our wedding.  Del picked me up at my one bedroom apartment in his '65 Vette... booyah.  Del's family arrived the night before - we didn't know if they would come because Del had joined the church and they weren't too happy about that.  It meant that they waited outside as we were married in the SLC Temple.  I borrowed a dress from my sister in law... Del wore a white tux with tails.  We were very scared - but happy.  We had a few pictures taken, had a little lunch with our family, and our neighbors had a little open house for us that night in their home.  Very very small event.  Two days later we had to be back at work.   We spent our honeymoon at Snowbird - it was beautiful.  My parents have been married for over 60 years, I think it's worth a try to get there.  I believe we've made the very best of these past 30 years.  We've raised our children the best we could, we've seen a bit of the world and found that the most beautiful places are right here at home.  We've served the Lord and given him our sons for Missionaries, and now we are serving our Mission just passing our 2 year mark.  We've served in our ward in many callings, we've served our community, we've helped our neighbors and friends.  There have been quiet days - when we've not found the way to each others hearts, tough days of doubt and hurt and pain.  But here we are still.  Today we'll just spend some time in old places that we love, enjoy a few hours of laughing, having some good things to eat, and just time talking about the past and the future of our lives.  In all of this we have found some kind of love that just sticks around and keeps us glued together.  Gotta go... my groom awaits.  Happy 30th Anniversary Gomer... let's buy another boat.


I am patheticzzzz

Up at 4 AM for Work on General Conference Sunday Results Show

 

Oh lookie there's a woman prayinzzzzzzzzzz

Oh Jeffrey Hollanzzzzz

and the choirzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

and Oakzzzzz

 

wow that was the shortest meeting ever...

 

Can't wait to download it

or hashtag it

or read it

bazinga