You Will Be Missed

Last night our beloved prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley died. I am so sad, and feel like I've lost my Grandpa. I never met him in person, but I feel I know him, just the same. I am also so happy for him, and for his dear wife, Marjorie. How I love her too! They have both been incredible examples to me. I know that President Hinckley is a prophet. I know that he was Heavenly Father's spokesman on this earth, and I know the words he spoke were all true. I smile to think of his welcome into Heaven! What love that all have for him, too! I love him so much, and I know that he loves me too! I am so blessed that I could live in this time, to have the privelege of learning from him. We thank thee, O God, for a Prophet!!

Discovery

I went visiting teaching yesterday, and one of the sisters told me her brother is an artist. His name is Valoy Eaton http://www.valoyeaton.com/ I saw one of his paintings on her wall, and LOVED it, and I've been looking at his website. I wish I could buy a bunch of them to go all over my house! It's so much fun to discover a new artist! He lives in Mapleton, Utah, but used to live in Vernal, so a lot of his pictures are of that area.

Got My Hair Done

I couldn't wait until the next time I would see Felicia (my sister-in-law... not Felicia Graves) to get my hair highlighted, so I made an appointment and had it done today. She highlighted my hair then cut it a bit. When she washed it, she gave me a head massage, and boy did it feel good! I hate getting regular massages, but anyone can play with my hair and head... that I love!!!

I'm so EXCITED!!

I'm going to a Quilting Retreat in February at a lodge in Flaming Gorge with my good friend, Felicia Graves!!! I'm so excited! I've always wanted to go to a Quilting Retreat, and now I really get to go!

When I Have Lost My Temper

WHEN I HAVE LOST MY TEMPER

When I have lost my temper,

I have lost my reason, too.

I'm never proud of anything

Which angrily I do.

When I have talked in anger

And my cheeks are flaming red,

I have always uttered something

Which I wish I had not said.

In anger I have never

Done a kindly deed or wise,

But many things for which I felt

I should apologize.

In looking back across my life,

At all I've lost or made,

I can't recall a single time

When fury ever paid.

So I struggle to be patient,

For I've reached a wiser age;

I do not want to do a thing

Or speak a word in rage.

I have learned by sad experience

That when my temper flies,

I never do a worthy deed,

A decent deed or wise.



author unknown

Random Thoughts

I had to copy my good friend Kate's blog and do a Random Thoughts post, just for fun.

This is the first week I actually have a bunch of stuff on my calendar! The kids have scouts, and yw activities, we have a dinner appointment with the Hanchetts (the ones we met sledding), I have a hair appointment for highlights, I have 3 visiting teaching appointments, and I must get to the library to see if I can rent the other Emma with Gwyneth Paltrow so I can compare while it's still fresh in my mind.

I'm excited to go to Vegas for my birthday next week! Okay, so it's not for my birthday...but we do leave on my birthday! Brandon has to go to a Surfaces show, and I'm along for the ride.

I don't quite know how I feel about turning 33. It's not too old...but it's getting further from young. And speaking of young, how come I never get to look like I'm in my 20's? When I was in my 20's, everyone said I look like a teenager. Now people think I look my age. How in heckfire did that happen?

I feel kind of mean... Brandon has been painting his store, and keeps asking me to come help him, but I just can't. I'd rather clean 5000 toilets.

Why is it so hard for me to have my kids out of school for an extended period of time (such as this last 5 day break), and other moms can homeschool their kids? How do they manage having their kids underfoot 24/7? Why am I such a bad mom?

I found an Alison Krauss CD at the library that was made in 2004. How did I miss that Alison Krauss had a new album? I think I own every other album she has. I have no idea how this one slipped by me.

What is up with having zits when you are in your 30's? Why did I think I was so lucky to be zit-free as a teenager? This is horrible payback for that, and completely unfair.

Why do I have such a hard time getting links to work in my blog? What am I doing wrong? It always takes me a bunch of tries.

Memory

I decided to run home after walking my daughter to school today, just to see if my legs remembered what to do. (less than a mile...no big deal) They do! They remember! It's like I never stopped! Now, I know if I decided to run 6 miles today, it wouldn't happen, but it felt great just to run. I love the sound of my feet hitting the pavement (although there were a few slips and slides...I didn't fall, though!) I love the feel of my breath, steady and strong. I love the way my whole body warms up, and feels like a well-oiled machine. I could have done without the frozen snot, and the itchy fire my legs felt when I came in from the cold, but it was good. Yes, it was good!

Running Friends

I just discovered that my cousin is a runner too! This may not seem like that big of a deal, but when you deal constantly with people telling you how stupid it is to run, how they wouldn't run unless someone was chasing them with a knife, how horrible it is, and wondering why anyone in their right mind would run... it's nice to find someone who gets it! So, Lisa, thanks for letting me know I have one more runner on my side, someone who knows the thrill of putting on a pair of running shoes and letting your legs take you far away, and the power of knowing that you can accomplish something that makes you feel good... physically, spiritually, mentally, emotionally.

We Remembered the Camera!

On Aubrey's birthday, January 19th, we took a family drive to Flaming Gorge. This time we remembered the camera! We had a fun time hiking on a trail along the Green River, and enjoyed the "warm" 30 degree weather. We can't wait to go back again and explore more of this beautiful place! Brandon just looked at the river, and couldn't keep a grin off of his face. He can't wait to go fishing here with his pontoon again. He kept telling me how fantastic the fishing is here, and you could see it in his face. A little kid in a candy store...
We found this written on one of the rocks... ALS... Aubrey's initials. We teased her that she needed to marry a boy with the initials JPS. What a meaningful picture this would be then!
Tyler wanted to climb into every crevice and cave he saw! And he'd wait patiently until I took a picture of him.
It took Aubrey awhile to warm up. This was her "worst birthday ever" and she did not want her picture taken.
This was such a neat rock formation! We all stuck our hands through, and had a great time! Cooper loved it!

The kids loved these "ice-falls".
Some of the rocks looked just like bricks stacked up.
The dam... you have to see this to get a sense of it's hugeness. It's amazingly tall. I can't even imagine what would happen if it broke. I just hope it never does!

Aubrey finally started to pose and show me her cute smile. Happy Birthday, dear Aubrey!
Tyler wanted me to "make it look like he was really far up". So, I got down to the ground and angled the camera... oh wait! I wasn't supposed to tell you the secret! Let's try again... wow! Look how high Tyler climbed up!
Cutie Cooper next to another Cool Crevice.

This was my favorite scenery!
This is my special rock-sitting pose.

We saw so many elk and deer! I can't believe how many elk and deer we've seen since we moved here. They're beautiful.
Here's a goofy goodbye! Thanks for sharing our memories of our Flaming Gorge Trip with us!

Jane Austen's Emma

I just finished watching Emma (the A&E version, with Kate Beckinsale) with Aubrey. I love these Jane Austen stories (books and movies). It makes me sad when they are over, because I want to continue living in a time with beautiful dresses, breathtaking scenery, gorgeous hairdos, and sweet stories where everything turns out right in the end. Ah, if only my life were written by Jane Austen...

Thanks, Doug and Cassie!

Doug and Cassie had us for Christmas, and they gave us a Crate and Barrel gift certificate. I thought some of you might be interested in what we chose, so here it is! We got a set of 5 mixing bowls, that look so cute on my countertop, and an over-the-sink cutting board with a handy collapsible bowl. I am so excited to use them both! When they came, the yellow bowl was broken (that part is turned to the back), so I called Crate and Barrel, and they were so nice! I will have a replacement on Friday. :)

I'm Exhausted!

I just started my "new job" today. I clean new houses after all the construction is done, before the closing. It's 5 hours of hard work, but I get paid well, so I figured it was worth it. The hardest parts were the tubs... have you ever seen a tub in a house under construction? Holy cow. So, hopefully I did alright. I was wishing so bad that one of my friends or family was here to help me. I would have gladly split the money for some company! Maybe in time I'll find a cleaning partner who I want to spend that much time with. I don't know how many houses I will have to do... I'm thinking it will really vary. Maybe 3 a month? We'll have to see how it all goes. For right now, though, I'm completely and totally exhausted! I've been a little under the weather too, and I didn't take anything to eat or drink, so that didn't help.

I had someone tell me that it wouldn't let her comment on my blog, so I changed the settings... now anybody should be able to comment. We'll try that for awhile, and see if anything wacky happens. So, if you've wanted to comment, and haven't been able to in the past, go ahead! I want to hear from all of you! :)

Family Saturday

First of all, we're horrible parents. We never have any good pictures, because we're always forgetting to bring the camera with us. But, we did take our kids sledding yesterday, on what we found out later was called "Suicide Hill". We had a lot of fun, although the snow was quite hard, and there were a few bumps that don't feel too good on the bum.

We sledded for awhile, but we never went clear to the top of the hill. I did climb to the top, just to see what was on the other side, and the last part I had to use my hands and dig my toes in... that's how steep it was. When I was up there, and looked down, I thought, there's no way you could get me to slide down from there on a sled! (I came down on my snow pants... much slower!) After we had been there for awhile, a family (the Hanchett's-- Travis and Kim and kids) came over to sled on that same hill. They were a really nice family, and we exchanged phone numbers... hopefully we've made some friends! Anyway, when we're down at the bottom talking to them, we see Tyler go to the very tippy top, with a disc sled. I don't know whether to watch, or close my eyes! All the kids there were yelling, "Do it! Go!" Then Travis says that most kids that sled from the top wear helmets. I'm about ready to die... and he goes. Tyler bumps, flies, soars down that hill, staying on--I don't know how! Then when he crashes, he practically looks like he's doing cartwheels. He's insane! And do you want to know how much MORE insane he is? He did it again! I cannot believe we made it home from suicide hill without any broken bones. Travis said that they had a big group of about 18 people go on a huge tube down that hill once... a little ways down half of them fell off, and one broke an arm. Down a little ways more, the tube flipped over, and a leg got broken. Every year there are a few limbs broken on suicide hill. Tyler wants to go back next week. I'm thinking we might need to find a more tame hill.

Aubrey enjoyed laying in the snow, making snow angels, and Cooper liked the slow and easy ride, from near the bottom of the hill. Brandon and I went down a few times, but we're starting to wonder if we might be just a little too old for this business of throwing yourself down a hill on a piece of plastic. We really feel those bumps.

Later that day we went for a drive through Dinosaur National Monument. It was beautiful, and we especially enjoyed Split Mountain. And again, we forgot the camera. The picture at the top is Split Mountain--I did find a picture on the web. It didn't look like that, of course... a bit more snow! We saw so many deer, and a bunny rabbit too. It was a fun day all around.

Happenings At VMS...by Aubrey

During the 1 1/2 months I've been going to VMS, already 2 weird, unlikely things have happened...
1. My second week of school: Semi hits power pole... Falls on MY TRAILER... how weird is that? We could have been electricuted or something
2. Today, you would never guess this... A bomb threat for the Junior High, our school only 20ft. away. A Lockdown (when the students have to be locked in the buildings), Not being able to leave. More info: The bomb threat said it would go off @ 2:45, after the students left... How dumb is that to make US stay when we could go home? I know it's because they want us to be safe but come on!

So who knew that in our little un-eventful town, we could have bomb threats, power poles falling!

P.S. this school is bad luck i tell ya... they told me that last year, there was mercury spills in the school, water pipes breaking, fires starting, will anyone let me live with them so I don't have to be here? :)

Okay, FINE! I'll play...

I think I've been tagged a few times, so I decided that it would never end until I played. ;) So, thanks to Leslie Sorensen at (http://all-the-pretty-horses.blogspot.com/) I have to sit here and think up stuff, instead of doing housework.

The rules of the game: • Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog. • Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog, as we all want to know them. • Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs. • Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Gosh, only 7? I think I'm much weirder than that...

#1 Pardon the above picture, but that is weird fact #1 about me. My tongue is super long. I can also wiggle my eyes. It scares my dad.

#2 I'm somewhat obsessed with old things. Old houses, antiques, old books, old stories, old husbands.

#3 When I get nauseated, I sneeze. My doctor said that is weird.

#4 I played in a band with Don, who played in a band with Shelley, who played in a band with a lady who wrote some of Garth Brooks' songs and plays in his band. I am famous. I'm practically on Garth Brooks' speed dial. I've also played onstage with Colin Raye, Kurt Bestor, and Solas. I've spent time in the "green room" with these ever so famous people. I'm practically on their speed dial too.

#5 I like to smell things, especially books. I love how books smell... new books, old books, magazines. I have been caught sniffing a book many a time.

#6 I like to run. Especially when I go 6+ miles. I don't necessarily think this is weird, but other people seem to think it's psycho.

#7 I rode in a VW bus across the country with a guy with dreads, a big dog, and my roommate and her brother. It was an experience.

I'm tagging:

Melissa http://landmwiser.blogspot.com/

Hannah http://oylerfamily.blogspot.com/

Tanner http://www.tanleismith.blogspot.com/

Dallas http://dontberudeatme.blogspot.com/

Felicia H. http://allstong.blogspot.com/

Kenneth http://kthowell.blogspot.com/

Erin http://woodysroundup-erin.blogspot.com/

Life Lessons

I've hesitated to post about this before now, because it's hard to know what could cause pain to someone you love who is going through one of the worst things anyone could go through. I feel like the time is right, now, so Leslie I hope this is okay.

The Things I've Learned From Leslie
don't take even one day for granted
show how much you love him
family is most important
cherish every moment
look for the good in everything... even dirty socks
keep going
grief takes time
look outside yourself
love
patience
grace
beauty
eternity
faith

and I know I'll keep learning, because Leslie, you are teaching us all. Thank you for sharing your grief with us, so that we can support you, and so that we can learn from your wisdom. Love you.

Need Advice

I'm hungry. Is it okay to eat at 11:45 p.m., or should I just go to bed? I hate it when Brandon is out of town! ;)

How Cold is Too Cold?

So, if it's below 0* F, is it too cold to run? That's my excuse, anyway. If the roads are covered in snow and ice, is it too unsafe to run? That's my other excuse. They sound like good excuses, but I'm wondering if I should just toughen up and run. I miss it.

If I Wasn't There...

If ever you needed me, and I wasn't there, I am sorry. If ever you were lonely, and I didn't know it, I'm sorry. If ever you had a bad day, and needed someone to cheer you, and I only thought of myself, I'm sorry.

To Cassie: thanks for being there today. Thanks for calling back at the exact moment I needed you, and thanks for talking to me about all the stuff I needed to talk about, and for listening to me cry and making me laugh. Love you!

The Lawsons Do Dallas

I've already recommended my friend, Amy's blog to some of you, but I thought it was worth another mention, because today's post was hilarious! Amy is seriously funny. Go check this one out:

http://granolasdodallas.blogspot.com/2008/01/vote-for-dogs.html

I Love Him

A little over 13 years ago, I met this guy. It didn't take me long to love him, but it has taken 13 years to love him like I love him now. I love him more than I ever thought possible back when I was a grown-up woman of 19 years. We've been through a lot of stuff, and I can honestly say that I have never been disappointed. Yes, I've been mad at him plenty of times, but he's always proven that he is the kind of man I am proud to be married to for eternity. I really do take him for granted way too often, and I am trying to be better at appreciating him. He's really an amazing person.

He works harder than anyone I know, and puts his heart into his work. He's a man who enjoys chopping wood, and will actually be smiling when he's done. He never complains while working, even when it's tough. I complain that my arms are jello after shoveling snow for half hour, when he shovels home and work day in and day out.

I gave him a guitar for Christmas a few years ago, since he's been wanting one forever. I really thought he'd learn a little bit, then let it sit. (I know, not very nice of me to think.) He practices more than I practice my violin, by far. He's taught himself every chord, and finds new music to learn often. He's even written a couple of songs. I love to listen to him sing, and found out exactly how much one time when I was listening to John Denver while running. Now, don't get me wrong, because I love John Denver, but one of his less familiar songs came on. I was trying to figure out what was wrong with the song, because it just didn't sound right. It didn't have the right pauses, and the right feeling, and the right sweetness. Then I realized that Brandon's version was the one in my head, and John's version just didn't feel the same.

He doesn't believe me when I say it, but he really is incredibly handsome. Sometimes he looks at me with those blue eyes in a way that melts my heart. I still can't get enough of his kisses. I love it when we're sitting on the bench in church, usually with a kid between us, and we look at each other, and he'll smile, and his eyes twinkle... and I just know he loves me too.

I could go on... and on, but I need to do my part to be a good wife and get our house cleaned up and dinner planned. I'm just hoping that somehow I can make up for my shortcomings as a wife, and be what he deserves.

Love you, Brandon.

Savor the Moments

My kids are growing up so fast, that I can hardly keep up. I started running... hoping that I would be able to run fast enough to catch them, and make them slow down a little bit. I try telling them to grow up... hoping that they will be their typical selves and do the opposite of what I tell them to. I sometimes hold my older two on my lap, hoping to capture that sweet cuddly feeling, but their heads are taller than mine. It doesn't work very well. They're growing in spite of my efforts. Their feet are getting bigger than mine, and they will soon be taller. I hold my little nieces and nephews hands and mourn the loss of my own kids' baby hands. Now my kids are full of sass and independence. I love them this way, too, but I'm thinking I should get a little more time with them before they don't need me so much anymore. Since I know the next 12 years will fly by faster than these first 12 have, I'll treasure the times Aubrey asks my opinion on something, the times Tyler holds my hand, and I'll treasure carrying a sleeping Cooper to the bathroom before I go to bed at night. Before I know it, even these will be a thing of the past, along with those dimpled baby hands.