All day Wednesday was so busy. Lots of things to do. By choice. Amidst all the busy-ness, a constant in the back of my mind that easily brings tears, is the memory of my children when they were all home at the same time. I've said, many times...if I could have one moment back with my family, it would be when all 5 children lived at home. That period of time is brief, yet it seems endless in the moment, and can never be repeated or ever recreated. It's a time of preciousness no matter the happenings while all were there.
Today I thought of Saturday morning cartoons and them eating cold cereal, with each snuggled up in a blanket in the living room....warm fires and reading books out loud.
We had a couch that we'd driven into Anchorage to purchase. We ended up with a huge couch called a "conversation pit". I was wanting to buy separate sections to create such a "U" shaped area but they had one already for sale. It had 4 corner square sections and 3 to fill in or was it 5? They were really large sections and the fabric was soft like a stuffed animal, comfy and wore like iron. It never wore out and it sure got a workover!!
One day my boys dissected the sectional and tipped them on their sides and put blankets over the top and created a maze fort. They had so much fun doing that. They did that more than once!
I miss my children being young but I love my children being older.
This year I'm so thankful for my life experience, my family, The Gospel, being an American, my friends, the bounties of my life. I am sooooooo......blessed.
I am also thankful for each of you!!!! I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day.
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Tuesday thanks!
My entire Tuesday was wonderful!
~A solo trip to the Temple...more on that later.
~Seeing a sister we VT...stopped by her house. didn't see her at the Temple.
~Had an interesting Stake RS Presidency meeting and enjoyed being with the sisters I work with.
~Attended my home ward activity night and just had a wonderful time. Plus got to hold Emma's sweet new baby Melanie! All sorts of things. just as Emma described on her today I'm thankful for "delicious desserts", Great stories of Christmas and keeping Christ in Christmas and then demo's on divinity, micro-wave fudge, hot Chocolate or hot vanilla drink mixes and easy to decorate cupcakes. Tasting and recipes and specialness of Spirit abounded.
~~~Before I'd gone to my Stake Meeting our son Greg, from KS, called. I always enjoy talking with him and felt bad to scoot and not visit very long.
That set me off to missing my children and their families and I was so nostalgic. I was reduced to tears when I read what my daughter wrote for the world at large to see!....
I miss my family. My crazy brothers, my adorable mom and dad, the memories of crisp cold Thanksgivings in Alaska, making snow tunnels, spinning brodies on Beluga Lake, a warm fireplace, Moms special way of putting love and comfort in food, Dads strange oyster loaf that no one liked but always took an obligatory spoonful, the laughter, the games, the teasing. Each family member is so priceless. It was such a short window that we were able to share together before we spread all over the USA. Today I'm thankful for memories of the past, when our family of 7 shared the same roof. Happy Thanksgiving, count your blessings xoxox
~A solo trip to the Temple...more on that later.
~Seeing a sister we VT...stopped by her house. didn't see her at the Temple.
~Had an interesting Stake RS Presidency meeting and enjoyed being with the sisters I work with.
~Attended my home ward activity night and just had a wonderful time. Plus got to hold Emma's sweet new baby Melanie! All sorts of things. just as Emma described on her today I'm thankful for "delicious desserts", Great stories of Christmas and keeping Christ in Christmas and then demo's on divinity, micro-wave fudge, hot Chocolate or hot vanilla drink mixes and easy to decorate cupcakes. Tasting and recipes and specialness of Spirit abounded.
~~~Before I'd gone to my Stake Meeting our son Greg, from KS, called. I always enjoy talking with him and felt bad to scoot and not visit very long.
That set me off to missing my children and their families and I was so nostalgic. I was reduced to tears when I read what my daughter wrote for the world at large to see!....
I miss my family. My crazy brothers, my adorable mom and dad, the memories of crisp cold Thanksgivings in Alaska, making snow tunnels, spinning brodies on Beluga Lake, a warm fireplace, Moms special way of putting love and comfort in food, Dads strange oyster loaf that no one liked but always took an obligatory spoonful, the laughter, the games, the teasing. Each family member is so priceless. It was such a short window that we were able to share together before we spread all over the USA. Today I'm thankful for memories of the past, when our family of 7 shared the same roof. Happy Thanksgiving, count your blessings xoxox
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
The Ultimate
I have no idea who took this simply gorgeous picture but I love it!!! I'm headed to Columbia River Temple today and looking forward to it. My thankfulness, my gratitude is overflowing, and I just really want to go there and express my appreciation for all the Gospel brings into my life. I have a lot of thanks to give this Thanksgiving.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Symbolism- Over the Sink!
We survived the hanging of the chandelier!! Love is still abloom. Marriage intact. painted the ceiling, washed the old wallpaper that we both love, put space back together and it looked the same except for the new light.
We both agree we want some type of curtain for window. We differ on what should be there...He-something that hangs down and closes/practical-utilitarian. Me- a topper of some sort/decorative-dust catcher. I have the fabric and think I will also have seat covers covered on two old chairs. I love the chairs. I have several and use two in the dining area. These chairs are from the dining room of a Red Lion in Boise. From years ago. My sister, the bargain mistress of all time, obtained lots of them for $25 each. She was thrilled when she later saw them in a magazine for $270.
Our table is from my girlhood and has drop leaves. We can turn it lengthwise, lengthen it with leaves and put 10-12 people in that small space.
I'm not sure when I'll do that sewing but definitely soon as we want it done before Christmas. We/I move at a snails pace. Creative ideas run rampant in my mind like ideas racing in a hamster cage but resultant actions are as slow as pouring cold molasses.
So here we are in an old manufactured home, that we actually love, it's small, one level, enough space for two, owned by us and not the bank or anyone else, so shouldn't it have the amenity of a Chandelier? Everything in the room is old and mismatched but it makes us feel cozy
and safe and good. I mean who hangs a paint by number picture in a room
with a chandelier? I do.
The chandelier did create a bit of a fuss amongst the two of us as the he/she designer genes did not align with the planets and storm clouds loomed. After it sat in a box for a couple of years, out of sight in the garage, the subject was broached. The truism of...if Mama ain't happy then etc. etc....won out. He was a champ and put it together, grumbling along the way in a sweet tone. muttering, mumbling about women/females....can't understand them....perfectly good lamp...not going to be enough light...not right size...hanging it to low... and that sort of testosterone self chat.
After all elements of verbal clash were removed?....he really liked it, thought it should be bigger, and admitted it put out more light. I think, purely from a female persuasion on my part, he took a real liking to it when I told him....This can be our reminder of going to the Temple. A bit of a Celestial light in our home.
Both of us like that idea. It's a nice feeling. Actually a very special feeling.
This chandelier really made me think of you. All of you women, that are sometimes overwhelmed, exhausted, feel life is never ending, stressful and loud. You lovelies with hormones raging, emotions roller-coasting, filled at times with self-doubts and frustration. Plugging along and dealing with adversity. Tears. And then more tears. I thought of you and I thought...if I had the power I'd buy each of them a chandelier and I'd hang it right over their kitchen sink!!
This would help to keep your perspective of living in the world but not of the world. This would help you to remember what life is all about and keep that Temple perspective ever in your mind. When the going gets rough you could look upward to that chandelier, and regain life's purpose and be reminded of covenants and your goal to return to our Father in Heaven. I'd buy a light that you love, just right for that spot. Right for you. Even if you rented, I'd buy you one and you could haul it to the next place.
That is how strong I feel about my own chandelier and I want one for you! (bear in mind-- I'm co-dependent and want to take care of you!!! but I'm not sick-o or psycho. just sincere in wanting this for you!)
Well, me getting each of you a symbolic small chandelier for above your kitchen sink is in the category of pigs flying and the reality of Santa but were it possible I would!
We both agree we want some type of curtain for window. We differ on what should be there...He-something that hangs down and closes/practical-utilitarian. Me- a topper of some sort/decorative-dust catcher. I have the fabric and think I will also have seat covers covered on two old chairs. I love the chairs. I have several and use two in the dining area. These chairs are from the dining room of a Red Lion in Boise. From years ago. My sister, the bargain mistress of all time, obtained lots of them for $25 each. She was thrilled when she later saw them in a magazine for $270.
Our table is from my girlhood and has drop leaves. We can turn it lengthwise, lengthen it with leaves and put 10-12 people in that small space.
I'm not sure when I'll do that sewing but definitely soon as we want it done before Christmas. We/I move at a snails pace. Creative ideas run rampant in my mind like ideas racing in a hamster cage but resultant actions are as slow as pouring cold molasses.
 |
| Old light fixture |
 |
| My hero that indulges my whiny whims! |
 |
| New light fixture- full out bling! |
 |
| Dining space pretty much back together. |
 | |
| Fabric that I've had so long I'll have to check for dry rot! |
 | |
| Cane back chair I want to cover seat on. Note my Mother's paint by number picture! |
The chandelier did create a bit of a fuss amongst the two of us as the he/she designer genes did not align with the planets and storm clouds loomed. After it sat in a box for a couple of years, out of sight in the garage, the subject was broached. The truism of...if Mama ain't happy then etc. etc....won out. He was a champ and put it together, grumbling along the way in a sweet tone. muttering, mumbling about women/females....can't understand them....perfectly good lamp...not going to be enough light...not right size...hanging it to low... and that sort of testosterone self chat.
After all elements of verbal clash were removed?....he really liked it, thought it should be bigger, and admitted it put out more light. I think, purely from a female persuasion on my part, he took a real liking to it when I told him....This can be our reminder of going to the Temple. A bit of a Celestial light in our home.
Both of us like that idea. It's a nice feeling. Actually a very special feeling.
This chandelier really made me think of you. All of you women, that are sometimes overwhelmed, exhausted, feel life is never ending, stressful and loud. You lovelies with hormones raging, emotions roller-coasting, filled at times with self-doubts and frustration. Plugging along and dealing with adversity. Tears. And then more tears. I thought of you and I thought...if I had the power I'd buy each of them a chandelier and I'd hang it right over their kitchen sink!!
This would help to keep your perspective of living in the world but not of the world. This would help you to remember what life is all about and keep that Temple perspective ever in your mind. When the going gets rough you could look upward to that chandelier, and regain life's purpose and be reminded of covenants and your goal to return to our Father in Heaven. I'd buy a light that you love, just right for that spot. Right for you. Even if you rented, I'd buy you one and you could haul it to the next place.
That is how strong I feel about my own chandelier and I want one for you! (bear in mind-- I'm co-dependent and want to take care of you!!! but I'm not sick-o or psycho. just sincere in wanting this for you!)
Well, me getting each of you a symbolic small chandelier for above your kitchen sink is in the category of pigs flying and the reality of Santa but were it possible I would!
Friday, November 16, 2012
The Gavel
My sister says that after 40 it's just patch patch patch! I agree! So getting a once over at the Dr.'s office and she'd been held over in surgery and was running late. Like an hour late! I sat there and listened/watched as people chatted/texted etc. on their modern devices.
It reminded me of my experience on a jury trial not to long ago. There were 20 of us in a holding pen room for quite awhile. 19 had cell phones on vibrate and the room was abuzz. It wasn't a large room so the sound seemed really magnified.
I was shocked to be selected as the 6th juror as they took absolutely no interest in me. The case was about a woman seeking payback for someone rear-ending her. The Plaintiff was in a construction zone, cars behind her, started to move ahead, thought she saw a truck going to pass in front of her, hit her brakes, Defendant's car bumped her back bumper.
Plaintiff had her 10 year old son with her, her back was injured, she was in constant pain. The Plaintiff was suing for damages including the fact that her 10 year old son, who was in the car with her, was destined to be an international soccer star & make millions- because he told her he wanted to do that feat. He needed to be recompensed for the loss of his dream. She also was wanting $$ because her life as she knew it would never be the same. She could no longer Zumba although her chiropractor had cleared her to attend the class she was now living in fear and couldn't do it. She couldn't garden like she had before. She was just starting to do housework. She couldn't volunteer at her Church. I forget the 5th "loss" but it was similar.
Our panel of 6 had to decide the dollar amount that she and her son would get from the Defendant.
The trial was held in Grandview.
The people on the jury were such nice people. 4 men and 2 women.
It was so interesting to me and I was thinking of scriptures and of Elder Packer's powerful talk on Justice and Mercy. Someone said that we had to be fair in our judgement. I thought about the scripture on righteous judgement. I thought about we were not in the place of dispensing mercy. We did not have that power.
We chose a wonderful foreman, he polled all of us, and we all were pretty much on the same page. We looked at all the evidence and Dr. charts etc. It was so interesting. We took each item with request and measured it against the evidence. We had it down to the penny on what we felt was fair.
On the part of her feeling her life would never be the same with the Zumba class out etc. The other female on our panel was a mother of two young children....her reason for desiring to give her no $ in that category was she felt- it would be a loss if she could never hold her son or play with him or go to his soccer games etc. Anyhow we all agreed the 5 things that she mentioned over and over were of no consequence and we all felt zero $ except for one man.
He shared that when he goes to a restaurant he always tips. Always. If the service is good he is generous. If the service is bad he leaves a quarter! He said that way there is no doubt that he overlooked a tip. It lets them know that they did not do their job. He wanted to pay some small fee like $1!! He felt both attorneys needed a little ruler slap on the hand as they should not have asked for any money for such silly things much less 1000's.
We ended up giving her $100 for each of her 5 losses. total $500.
I don't remember all the categories and what we ended up with exactly for total settlement but it was fair. Each Attorney was surprised and none of us cared to talk with them afterwards and explain our logic but we worked on it for a couple of hours. In our hearts we felt we'd been fair.
Yes. I can talk about it all I want. the judge said so.
Speaking of the judge. This was news to me. Washington has a law -after both lawyers are finished with their examination, of each witness, then the jurors can ask questions of the witness!!! (the attorneys can't ask anymore questions) Amazing! so new that the Judge would forget to ask us if we have any questions. We would remind him by raising our hands before the witness left the stand.
Any juror can write out any questions/questions, the bailiff picks them up, takes to judge, both attorney's approach the bench, Judge decided what can be asked. Attorney's have no power to decide. they may not want one but only the judge decides. The judge reminds the witness they are under oath, ask the question/questions and they answer.
I went into detective mode and noticed that the lady had on heels. not high ones but heels. nothing orthopedic looking. Hmmmm.
Her best friend had testified that she knew she was hurting because she would ask her for medicine.
aha! people with severe back pain have their own medicine.
I asked the Plaintiff how long she could sit without pain and she answered....30 minutes. We'd been sitting for 2 days and she'd never moved or asked to stand up or anything! Gong!
I also asked her what kind of Rx for the pain she takes and she responded...Tylenol.
It was really exciting because when a juror asks a witness a question, they are under oath on the stand and it counts as evidence! This give the jurors a chance to ask things that you might get back in the room for deliberations and wonder about something but because it wasn't said on the witness stand you can't guess about it. Even if it seems obvious.
Isn't that an interesting twist? Did you know that bit of trivia...jurors asking witness questions? Now you do!
The Gospel perspective just enters into every phase of my life. Even Jury Duty.
It reminded me of my experience on a jury trial not to long ago. There were 20 of us in a holding pen room for quite awhile. 19 had cell phones on vibrate and the room was abuzz. It wasn't a large room so the sound seemed really magnified.
I was shocked to be selected as the 6th juror as they took absolutely no interest in me. The case was about a woman seeking payback for someone rear-ending her. The Plaintiff was in a construction zone, cars behind her, started to move ahead, thought she saw a truck going to pass in front of her, hit her brakes, Defendant's car bumped her back bumper.
Plaintiff had her 10 year old son with her, her back was injured, she was in constant pain. The Plaintiff was suing for damages including the fact that her 10 year old son, who was in the car with her, was destined to be an international soccer star & make millions- because he told her he wanted to do that feat. He needed to be recompensed for the loss of his dream. She also was wanting $$ because her life as she knew it would never be the same. She could no longer Zumba although her chiropractor had cleared her to attend the class she was now living in fear and couldn't do it. She couldn't garden like she had before. She was just starting to do housework. She couldn't volunteer at her Church. I forget the 5th "loss" but it was similar.
Our panel of 6 had to decide the dollar amount that she and her son would get from the Defendant.
The trial was held in Grandview.
The people on the jury were such nice people. 4 men and 2 women.
It was so interesting to me and I was thinking of scriptures and of Elder Packer's powerful talk on Justice and Mercy. Someone said that we had to be fair in our judgement. I thought about the scripture on righteous judgement. I thought about we were not in the place of dispensing mercy. We did not have that power.
We chose a wonderful foreman, he polled all of us, and we all were pretty much on the same page. We looked at all the evidence and Dr. charts etc. It was so interesting. We took each item with request and measured it against the evidence. We had it down to the penny on what we felt was fair.
On the part of her feeling her life would never be the same with the Zumba class out etc. The other female on our panel was a mother of two young children....her reason for desiring to give her no $ in that category was she felt- it would be a loss if she could never hold her son or play with him or go to his soccer games etc. Anyhow we all agreed the 5 things that she mentioned over and over were of no consequence and we all felt zero $ except for one man.
He shared that when he goes to a restaurant he always tips. Always. If the service is good he is generous. If the service is bad he leaves a quarter! He said that way there is no doubt that he overlooked a tip. It lets them know that they did not do their job. He wanted to pay some small fee like $1!! He felt both attorneys needed a little ruler slap on the hand as they should not have asked for any money for such silly things much less 1000's.
We ended up giving her $100 for each of her 5 losses. total $500.
I don't remember all the categories and what we ended up with exactly for total settlement but it was fair. Each Attorney was surprised and none of us cared to talk with them afterwards and explain our logic but we worked on it for a couple of hours. In our hearts we felt we'd been fair.
Yes. I can talk about it all I want. the judge said so.
Speaking of the judge. This was news to me. Washington has a law -after both lawyers are finished with their examination, of each witness, then the jurors can ask questions of the witness!!! (the attorneys can't ask anymore questions) Amazing! so new that the Judge would forget to ask us if we have any questions. We would remind him by raising our hands before the witness left the stand.
Any juror can write out any questions/questions, the bailiff picks them up, takes to judge, both attorney's approach the bench, Judge decided what can be asked. Attorney's have no power to decide. they may not want one but only the judge decides. The judge reminds the witness they are under oath, ask the question/questions and they answer.
I went into detective mode and noticed that the lady had on heels. not high ones but heels. nothing orthopedic looking. Hmmmm.
Her best friend had testified that she knew she was hurting because she would ask her for medicine.
aha! people with severe back pain have their own medicine.
I asked the Plaintiff how long she could sit without pain and she answered....30 minutes. We'd been sitting for 2 days and she'd never moved or asked to stand up or anything! Gong!
I also asked her what kind of Rx for the pain she takes and she responded...Tylenol.
It was really exciting because when a juror asks a witness a question, they are under oath on the stand and it counts as evidence! This give the jurors a chance to ask things that you might get back in the room for deliberations and wonder about something but because it wasn't said on the witness stand you can't guess about it. Even if it seems obvious.
Isn't that an interesting twist? Did you know that bit of trivia...jurors asking witness questions? Now you do!
The Gospel perspective just enters into every phase of my life. Even Jury Duty.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
My Life
The Oral Surgeon's beautiful new building, is gorgeous, inside and out. I'm there because I'm such a coward that I have to be knocked out to have a tooth extracted! And even at that I fret, way back in the recesses of my aging, grey matter....What if they think I'm under and actually I'm not and I can feel and hear all the racket going on and horror of horrors (shudder) feel it!!!??? ...what if I feel blood in my mouth or (gag!) taste it!? AND I can't tell them??!!
I did feel rather modern that I filled out all 6 pages online and they were ready for my signature when I got there. That was easy peasy. Then the office worker read a lot of other papers to me and I signed boldly, declaring that I understood ....my jaw might be broken, a piece of white mesh will be placed up near my sinus so stuff doesn't fall in the hole, my mouth will be expanded and the sides may crack and lots of other things and always the fine print disclaimer about the remote possibility/never happened etc. etc. of death.
All the details about Rx, make sure you have soft foods on hand/don't swish/don't use a straw/don't eat popcorn. Someone would seriously eat popcorn?
Then the billing/insurance young woman came in. It was a grand reunion as she was from the Branch when we were up there! She outlined the costs for slumber mode tooth yanks and I was actually very happy. I thought it would be a lot more!
While I'd been waiting to go back for my consult, I enjoyed watching HGTV and it was a show on most expensive bedrooms. One room had a bank of closet doors, floor to ceiling/wall to wall, covered in crocodile hide- $100,000! Bedside candle holders, several, strategically placed- $1000 each. The chandelier, smothered in Sikorsky crystals was another $100,000. Large, no huge wall mirror, well, it seemed to be that and then a click of the button and it was a gigantic TV. $35,000! Total of the one bedroom?....$700,000!!!
It reminded me of the time I was waiting for my car repair to be finished, a fellow was dreaming of this one BMW. He just kept walking around it in the showroom. Then opening doors and looking and sitting in it and repeating the scenario. He finally came and sat down. I said...if you buy it you will be parking it way out in the parking lot so it doesn't get scratched. He said...if you are concerned about that, then you can't afford to buy it to begin with. I agreed!
Life is about perspective isn't it? At least a lot of it is. I have a friend that once said....Money is all relative. A dollar to me might be a dime to you. Wait! she said it the other way...a dime to me might be a dollar to you. There is some way she said it that impressed me.
I guess I'm thinking about money and the pending de-tusk appointment plus thinking of that bedroom price because we too are hanging a chandelier, minuscule compared to that $100,000 one. Purchased so long ago that I'm not sure where it's from. Probably a Home Depot bargain and I just love this sparkling little jewel. Well, I will love it when it's done. I'll take a picture!
It's in the dining room. Actually it's not a separate room. It will be in the dining space when it's finished. real soon!
These Interior Design projects put a great strain on our marriage!!
I did feel rather modern that I filled out all 6 pages online and they were ready for my signature when I got there. That was easy peasy. Then the office worker read a lot of other papers to me and I signed boldly, declaring that I understood ....my jaw might be broken, a piece of white mesh will be placed up near my sinus so stuff doesn't fall in the hole, my mouth will be expanded and the sides may crack and lots of other things and always the fine print disclaimer about the remote possibility/never happened etc. etc. of death.
All the details about Rx, make sure you have soft foods on hand/don't swish/don't use a straw/don't eat popcorn. Someone would seriously eat popcorn?
Then the billing/insurance young woman came in. It was a grand reunion as she was from the Branch when we were up there! She outlined the costs for slumber mode tooth yanks and I was actually very happy. I thought it would be a lot more!
While I'd been waiting to go back for my consult, I enjoyed watching HGTV and it was a show on most expensive bedrooms. One room had a bank of closet doors, floor to ceiling/wall to wall, covered in crocodile hide- $100,000! Bedside candle holders, several, strategically placed- $1000 each. The chandelier, smothered in Sikorsky crystals was another $100,000. Large, no huge wall mirror, well, it seemed to be that and then a click of the button and it was a gigantic TV. $35,000! Total of the one bedroom?....$700,000!!!
It reminded me of the time I was waiting for my car repair to be finished, a fellow was dreaming of this one BMW. He just kept walking around it in the showroom. Then opening doors and looking and sitting in it and repeating the scenario. He finally came and sat down. I said...if you buy it you will be parking it way out in the parking lot so it doesn't get scratched. He said...if you are concerned about that, then you can't afford to buy it to begin with. I agreed!
Life is about perspective isn't it? At least a lot of it is. I have a friend that once said....Money is all relative. A dollar to me might be a dime to you. Wait! she said it the other way...a dime to me might be a dollar to you. There is some way she said it that impressed me.
I guess I'm thinking about money and the pending de-tusk appointment plus thinking of that bedroom price because we too are hanging a chandelier, minuscule compared to that $100,000 one. Purchased so long ago that I'm not sure where it's from. Probably a Home Depot bargain and I just love this sparkling little jewel. Well, I will love it when it's done. I'll take a picture!
It's in the dining room. Actually it's not a separate room. It will be in the dining space when it's finished. real soon!
These Interior Design projects put a great strain on our marriage!!
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Life's Silhouettes
I just love this! This says it all! It starts with two people in love, going through life together, separated for a time through death and then back together for eternity! Sigh. Thank heaven for the Gospel that gives us the hope, the promise of relationships being forever, and love that grows. I just wanted to share this with you. Life is beautiful. It's not? Then create beauty for/in your life.
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