This 'N That

Today I got bit by the geneaology bug and what I thought would only take a few minutes ended up taking hours! I wanted to just check on a few names for our upcoming temple trip and one thing led to another and another and a phone call to Nicholas and an entirely different line and, finally, hours later, I decided that I had a headache and needed a break. Meanwhile, Tonya called and said she had updated her blog with pictures that I have been waiting to see. It does look beautiful down there and certainly nicer weather than we have had. I did not get the video she sent though because my Outlook Express would not let it through. Oh well, at least I saw the pictures on the blog. Needless to say, I have been on this computer most of the afternoon. It is no wonder that I have a headache, since I am not a computer person! I am going to finish up and get ready for bed since I have to start seminary again tomorrow. I really enjoyed that extra sleep last week. Funny, there was a time in my life that 7am was early, and now it is sleeping in! Life just keeps going on...

The Best Things in LIfe

Today I received a phone call at work from Terra. She told me that as soon as I got home I was to get my mail and then call her. I expected some surprise wedding invitation. I looked at my mail and then called her to tell her that I did not get anything exciting. I must not have been invited to the unexpected wedding! She asked if I had received my Church magazines and I replied that I had. As soon as she told me to open my Friend, I knew what to expect! On one of our last Sundays as a Westlake Ward Primary, we had out picture taken. I made copies and frames and gave one to all the kids and teachers. I decided to send one to the Friend magazine for fun. I knew that it could take up to a year to get in because they had told me that it might. However, after the year passed, I gave up hope. The interesting thing is that just this weekend, I was gathering some Friend magazines together for my grandchildren for Church. I had noticed that the ones they had were really worn out. As I looked at the magazines that I had gathered, I thought about the picture that I had sent in. I was so disappointed that it was never published in the magazine. I had so wanted to surprise all those special children. And then, today, I got suprised myself! One of the best things about the surprise was the way Terra found out about it. She was talking on the phone to one of her friends from the old Westlake Ward when her friend's children came screaming into their mother. She had no idea what they were so excited about until they showed her the picture. Now that is exactly what I wanted to have happen. It was well worth the wait! I am so happy that our little picture finally made the magazine. Small blessings are the best things in life.

2 for the Price of One

I really do not like it when Easter falls on the same week as St. Patrick's Day. Usually, 2 for the price of one is a good thing, but 2 Holidays within one week is too much! In honor of our Irish heritage we have always had a big Irish dinner and have always put up decorations. It is fun and all of my children have continued the tradition, so they must have enjoyed it too. However, this year I had to hurry and take down all the green and put up the Easter things as soon as dinner was over. I felt like I was rushing the day. When I went shopping for the Irish meal, I also had to do the Easter meal and I forgot things for both meals. I wasn't thinking straight because I had to plan for 2 big deal meals. Oh well, it doesn't happen often, so grin and bear it, and ENJOY!

Life Repeats Itself Over and Over Again

Everyone who has had children leave home know what it feels like that first day they leave home. For me, tears always flowed. When Terra first left, I couldn't stand to even walk by her room. But, as time goes on, you go on with life and it doesn't hurt quite so much. Then just when you get accustomed to them being gone, they come back and you have to start the cycle all over again. For the past 5 years or so, we have had little ones in our home. Some days I wanted to pull my hair out, but other days I just loved it. Lately, when I have come home from work, Austin would run to the door to open it for me and greet me. I loved it! However, today when I came home, the house was empty and forlorn. I was hit with the reality that they were gone. I went downstairs to get some food to make supper and I saw some of the little toys they left behind and before I knew it, the tears were flowing once again. I came upastairs and decided to take advantage of the quiet and do my Seminary lesson. However, my eyes were so blurry, I couldn't even see to read. I can barely see now to type! I knew that their stay here was not for long, and I am very happy for them, but I wish they were down the street so I could go help them move and see them. It didn't work out that way, so now I have to get accustomed to them being gone, again. Today, I will go and visit my other grandchildren for a while and be happy they are still close as I know before long, they will be gone, too. Then I will have to go through the cycle all over again. Well, Alex just came home and he makes enough commotion to fill some of the void, at least. I will have to tell him to be home when I get home from work, so he can greet me at the door! Life does go on and repeats itself, over and over again!

Sledding Fun

When I was growing up in the mountains of Western Pa., I spent many winter days sledding with my sister and cousins. I loved it and would stay out until my feet were so cold that when I came in my Mom would make me put them in a basin of hot water while I sipped on hot cocoa. Well, today, with the help of my grandchildren, I relived some of those exciting days. I went sledding with them! Since I was a novelty, and I have never gone with them before, they all wanted to go down the hill with me. It was great at the time and I had a teriific experience. However, after a few hours of being home, my muscles are beginning to ache and I think I am going to pay for the excitement of the day. Oh well, no pain, no gain! And today, I gained a great memory. Last winter, I took some of my children and their children back to the hills I use to sled down. I described them in such a manner that they were all expecting something fabulous. We all got dressed in our winter duds and trooped to the town of Cramer to do some serious sledding. Somehow through the years, the hills downsized, and everyone was greatly disappointed. We decided to give it a go anyway, but there just wasn't enough snow to go anywhere! Needless to say, our sledding adventure that day was a bust! But today's sledding adventure was a great success. We even made a little snowman by the park sign to welcome all the other outdoor enthusiasts. I am expecting Terra to put some of the pictures on her blog, so be sure to check it out!

Nima's Horrible Terrible Week and Fun Friday

This was a horrible terrible week. It started off with the aches on Sunday and continued to roll along with the headache that would not go away. Insomnia made it's debut on Sunday night and continued on throughout the week making friends with the headache. I was swamped at work with all kinds of new problems which, of course, required too much concentration. It rained and snowed and was dreary. I even found myself driving down the road at 2:30 in the morning on my way to seminary instead of the usual 5:30 am time. Oh yes, I really did do that. It is a long story related to my insomnia, but I had to turn around and come back home when I realized that both the car clock and my watch could not be wrong! By the time Friday came, I was ready for a nice celebration until I realized that this week I had to work on Saturday too! I had promised Austin that I would come home early on Friday and play with him. However, my work load did not co-operate and by the time I finally got home, he was napping. So, I decided to fulfill a long overdue promise to the Reed girls to watch a movie with them. I went to their house and spent the next couple hours watching a very enjoyable mermaid movie with my grandaughters while snuggling baby Jacob. It was great. I had to leave before 8:00 though because that is when the Seminary Zombie takes over my body. However, when I got home, Ausitn was awake and waiting for me to play with him. So, I spent the rest of my evening, putting puzzles together and ending with eating ice cream and watching the tail end of Chicken Little. Mason's idea of playing with puzzles consists of taking them apart, so he had to be removed from the action. However, he warmed my heart by grinning wildly when I entered the room and reaching for me and following me around. Now what could be better than that evening? The one thing that could have made it better was spending a little time with Weston playing trucks and trains. For that fun, I had to rely on my memory of our weekend in January together. What a Fun Friday. Being a nima/grandma makes getting tired, sore, and almost old actually fun!

Predicting the Weather is Painful

Last Saturday, my body started aching all over. By Sunday morning, it was painful to even move and my misery was compounded by the headache that would not go away. I did not know if I was getting the flu or if the weather was changing, but either way I was miserable so I opted to stay at home under my covers where the pain was at least bearable. The next morning, I felt much better and then, the rain started. And it rained and rained and rained until we all nearly floated away. The rain was topped off, like icing on a cake, with the snow. At least my body aches were gone, but the headache continued! It hurt so bad that I could not think straight. And that is why I totally forgot about Martin's tiger balm cure passed on to him by Susan. They both swear by it. Now where was that Martin when I needed him. Probably off having great college fun! How rude!