Poem for a Friend

Blessed Day

There's a warm breeze blowing by,

And there's sunshine in the sky.

There is laughter in the wind.

There are angels that are friends.

Flowers' scent is in the breeze.

There are blossoms on the trees.

There is water flowing by.

Fluffy clouds are in the sky.

Happy days are still ahead.

Joyful paths where we'll be led.

Peace to find and love to feel.

Heaven's love is very real.

Hold your head up and be glad.

There are good times with the bad.

Light will chase the dark away

And leave, for you, a blessed day.

Poem by Sherie

Written for Shellie

Love and Sunshine

Valentines Day was full of good things and good people at our house.  Derek left me a note that I love, and he had already given me flowers and boots!  The kids loved their books and Trisa liked her phone call and the card that got to her late.  Derek got a magazine, a note, and a song I wrote and performed for him and the family.  Maybe I'll share that on another occasion.

Flowers that were delivered with the words "It's okay if they die".
(or something similar).  I have a new Rosey though the other one hopefully survived the winter.



I have been writing a little more lately, and so here is a poem I wrote a few minutes ago.  Enjoy!

Standing in the Sun

How do I find some joy today?

How can I see morning lights first ray,

When it seems that the clouds are thick and deep?

Where is the peace I seek?

Where can I find a hope that's deep?

How when I feel so very weak?

Where do I go when the path's unclear?

How do I conquer fear?

I reach through the darkness to the light.

I step out boldly into the night.

I hold my head up in spite of pain.

And I find sunshine in the rain.

I see in my mind my Savior's face.

I feel in my heart His loving grace.

I reach out my hands to His wounded ones.

And then I am standing in the sun.

Jake and the Birthday Pheasant

Jake's birthday was on Sunday, but he had a party on Friday with three cousins (Mitch, Ethan, and Travis) and his good friend Brennan.  We went to Krispy Kreme and had doughnuts, and then came home where they played games and then ate pizza and then played some more.  Jake had a great time.

Dan gave Jake a folded and stapled piece of paper that is "cool" because it twirls when you drop it from up high.

Brennan gave Jake a cool Lego truck.

Mitchell and Ethan gave Jake a cool Lego truck of a different color,
 and some delicious treats that are probably already gone.

Travis gave Jake some Pokemon cards which got opened immediately.
One of the trucks has been assembled too.

On Sunday, we decided to wait until after church to have Jake open his presents.  Thankfully a pheasant showed up in the yard to make the morning fun.  Jake saw it first and ran and got his camera while I ran and got the other kids.  The pheasant walked around for a while (in the back yard) and then jumped up on the trampoline.  When Connor and I were running out the front door early for church we stopped to admire the pheasant foot prints that were all over in the fresh snow.  I ran and got my camera because the footprints were perfect arrows, but unfortunately the pictures were missing when I went to find them today and the footprints have long since been rained and snowed away.

Jake got an angry bird shirt which I think Dan likes better than he does.

This is a "Pokedex" which would be a nightmare for me to read.
Jake loves it.  He got another book too -- it was of the story variety and
was one he had requested.

This is the "in honor of Jake movie" RIO.  We'll watch it tonight in the continued birthday celebrations.

This is Jake's rip stick. 
We figured it would be a good gift for Jake since he has incredible balance.
  Kayli and Connor were jealous.
Maybe that will make Jake enjoy it more?

At snack time (3 p.m.) it was time to have birthday dessert.  Jake wanted brownies and ice cream and so we all had that except Dan who had "Dan safe chocolate cookies" and sorbet (known as "Dan ice cream" at our house).

Since Jake is our blond Italian son, we had lasagna for his birthday dinner.  Jake's birthday ended with a late night snack.  It's apparently easier to sleep with a late night snack!

Happy birthday to my ten year old, and still super, Jake!

Uncle Leon

Leon and other spooky family members at the annual Halloween party.
This is the best picture of Leon I could find on my computer.
Sorry Leon.  It doesn't show your incredible height.

Leon joined the family when I was feeling, and looking, a bit large.  He married Derek's sister Megan four days before Connor was born.  I accidentally offended him once by thinking that he was the same height as Derek.  Leon is taller.  I used to think he was shy too, but apparently that isn't true either.  After all of these years I am still not a Leon expert, but I have learned a few things about him.

He likes sports a lot and he is good at sharing that love, and his skills, with his children and with other children too.  In the city leagues he has coached every sport his children have played (soccer, baseball, and basketball).  He has done particularly well at sharing the love of sports with his son Isaac, who is a sports enthusiast.  Leon and Isaac love to watch BYU play -- if they win.  Otherwise they both might be sent into fits of depressed grumpiness for a while.

Leon loves playing in water.  His family (the one he grew up in) has gone to Lake Powell every year for I don't know how long and they continue to go every year.  He and Megan worked out a way that Leon can teach his kids how to swim at a local hotel's pool.  Megan has said that Leon is a very hands-on Dad.  He loves his kids and takes time to play with them and teach them.

I asked my kids what they know about Uncle Leon and they said "He loves sports", and "He's a fun uncle".  I didn't exactly get specifics in how he is fun -- but he must be because they said so.  Yesterday I had his son Mitch in the car and all of the boys were in the car playing the game where you find the alphabet, in order, on the signs and license plates that you see.  Mitch informed us that his Dad had been playing that game since he was a boy and and that he was really good at it.  He demonstrated how fast his Dad could find the alphabet.  It was pretty fast!

You know Leon is a good guy because his wife loves to talk to him and because he is a scout master who is willing to go off on winter camping trips volunarily -- on his birthday.

I hope he has a less scout-oriented celebration planned for his birthday too.  Happy Birthday Leon!

Correction

Apparently it is the black ants that are the more tasty ants.  My bad.  Still, this is a "fact" that I hope I'll never have to test for myself!

A Few Good Men: Starting with Uncle Jeff

Jeff is my sister Jenny's husband.  He was born the same year I was (on Feb. 7), but I didn't meet him until after I'd heard several fun dating stories from Jenny.  Jeff is an energetic, fun uncle for my children.  At family reunions, even though he has on occasion been obviously tired, he has found the energy to go out and play with the kids.  I don't know what they do because, when I'm obviously tired, I almost always opt for going to bed.  Whatever is done, you can count on Jeff doing it with infectious enthusiasm.

Jeff likes learning about things and explaining how "totally rad" they are to anyone who is interested.  Only he would know that the red ants taste better than the black ones -- ewww!  He's always been a climber and enjoys it as a hobby.  I think he uses his safety gear most of the time, but I know there were times in his past when he wasn't so careful.  Luckily he seems to have the skills of an agile monkey.

Jeff works with computers.  He's a programmer and he mostly is able to work from home.  He's taken to doing yoga with Jenny and, from yoga, climbing, and yard work, they both have lots of muscles.  Jenny and Jeff have five children.  They work hard to teach their children what is right, and they lead by example.  Jenny and Jeff are both thoughtful people who like to help others.

One of my favorite things about Jeff is the opportunity I've had on many occasions to hear him pray.  He has the gift of gratitude.  He is very thankful for everything he has, and when he prays it feels like a bit of heaven has entered the room.  I really don't know how else to describe it.

The world would truly be a wonderful place if all of the men were like the ones that I have been blessed to know.  I am thankful for Uncle Jeff.
Happy Belated Birthday Jeff!

p.s. Just kidding Jeff, but there is a spider on your shoulder!

Inspired by a Friend

My friend, on her blog, reported a tender mercy yesterday.  I was very thankful for the tender mercy that she shared, and for the fact that it felt good for me to hear of a blessing someone else received.  So, since I have been struggling with knowing what to write lately, I thought I would share some things that I have been thankful for in the last couple of weeks.  These have been busy weeks.  I've been tired, and have often felt overwhelmed, but there are always more things to be thankful for than not and here are some of mine.

1.  The Christian radio station.  When the music channels let me down, hearing discussions on listening to the promptings of the Spirit, and other good topics, were helpful to me during my drives around.
2.  My African, Latin dance video.  I wouldn't really want anyone to watch me do it, but it is surprisingly fun.  It's a lot easier to get myself to exercise when it feels like play.
3.  The dentist for helping take care of my kids' teeth.
4.  The temple.  I love to be there.
5.  My Family.  They are good people who try hard to do what is right.  They like to help other people, and they like to help each other -- including me.
6.  The fireplace.  We sit by it often and I am thankful every morning that Connor turned the fire on so that it is warm for me.  (It's a gas fireplace)
7.  Good neighbors who come and help if we need them.  Derek needed some extra muscles and the neighbor came right over to help.
8.  Primary Children.  They make me smile.
9.  My bed.  It's warm comfortable.
10.  My toothbrush.  I am totally looking forward to using it right now!

I am, of course, thankful for all of you!

Red. The Color of .......

The Kitchen!  This color is called Red Bomb, but they could have named it Red Raspberry Sherbet and been more accurate.

Kayli decorated with our rather slim supply of decorations.

The kitchen stools got a redo too.  The last paint job didn't last very well.

Here they are again.  I don't love them, but I don't hate them either.

I wanted to bake a treat today.  I was thinking yummy muffins or bread (pumpkin or banana).  Dan was thinking sugar cookies.  I made him a snowman which he decorated.  He managed to eat most of it.

Jake's snowman wasn't done before he got home.  He decorated a cookie with lots of sprinkles and red hots.
He ate it all gone.

Derek and Kayli wanted to paint the kitchen wall red.  We all voted.  "Red Bomb" was the popular choice.  Derek had to work on Monday when the rest of us got to stay home.  Kayli and I decided to surprise Derek by painting while he was at work.  He left a little late and I went to the paint store in a snow storm that was kind of blizzardlike.  We had to put three coats on the wall to cover it properly!  Before the last coat we went to the grocery store.  Derek was getting home just as Kayli and I were pushing the stove back in.  We both popped up and looked guilty.  We had been hoping to have it painted and decorated before he arrived.  Ah well.  He liked it anyhow.

I also managed to finish two of the stools that day and two coats on the red legged ones.  I finally finished the last two today.  I wasn't really looking foward to painting again.  So, Monday was a productive day and nice Kayli spent her vacation working hard to surprise her Dad and help her Mom.

Picture This....

Picture us enjoying having three of our nieces and one nephew over to play.

Picture Kayli and Tia hogging baby Tessa so I had a hard time getting a turn.  But, I did get a turn.

Picture Connor at the car show with this huge grin the whole time.  Derek kept telling him to stop petting the cars.
His favorite is still the Corvette ZR1

Picture a ridiculously expensive party truck with a way to watch television and cook.

Derek admiring his favorite Audi -- the R8

I took this picture in honor of Tia who loves Jeeps.  This was the coolest looking one.

This is me by a Ferrari, but I liked the black Ferrari Spider the best -- it was just in a worse picture taking location.

This is a Mini Coupe which was my favorite car that didn't cost as much as a house.

 Connor on our way out.

Picture me in boots!  It only took about three years to finally pick some.  I took my friend Shellie to help.  They are comfortable!  I'm going to have Kayli teach me the boot scootin boogie.  (Picture by Dan)

In your mind you can also picture Kayli dancing on Parent Night at the high school for the dance classes.  This is where she performed the boot scootin boogie, among other things.

You can also picture how grumpy we were when Derek had to work half a day on Saturday and one night until 8:30. 

And, for date night, we went to Kayli's school's basketball game and you can picture cousin Jimmy (the coach) being grumpy when we lost by a lot.  We enjoyed visiting with people we know, but Heidi (Jimmy's wife) said we didn't work as good luck charms so we aren't required to come to every game.

Generally, you can picture us being quite busy, but it's obviously we aren't always busy with work and we still have good friends and family who help us through the rough spots.

Frog Powers?

Here's the note that Derek left the family this morning.

Happy Tuesday Everyone!

May the sun be bright, your breakfast delicious, and your friends nice.

May you all be bitten on the hand by a radioactive frog, so you can have awesome frog powers!

Love, Dad

Plans for a Radioactive Christmas

Dan informed me last night at bed time that Santa is going to bring him a radioactive spider for Christmas next year.  He said he will have the spider bite his hand and then he will go to sleep.  He can't wait to wake up and find out what powers he has.  He spends quite a bit of time imagining how shocked people will be at the webs he manages to make out of nothing.  They will think "No Fair!" because his powers will be so awesome.

I can't help but wonder if at the end of the year he will ask every "Santa" he sees to bring him a radioactive spider, and what their reaction will be.  For now I just smile and tell him, "That would be awesome!"

2012, Beginning With a BANG!

Okay, so there was no literal BANG -- except the fireworks at 10:30ish on New Years Eve that we could hear outside.  New Years Day began fairly early since church now starts at 9:00 a.m.  I was up at 7 to get ready.

This is what I was wearing when I got up.  Can anyone name that book / movie?

I went to church early with Connor.  He needed to set up chairs and I needed to decide how to make a puppet theater out of music stands.  I made it to the chapel just in time to take my seat on the stand with the rest of the family.  Within a few minutes Dan was speaking, and then Jake was thinking about how much he didn't want to speak, and so we skipped to Connor, and then Kayli (who both did fabulous) and then to me.  Then we all sang a hymn, thankfully the rest of the congregation was singing too.  Then Derek spoke.

After people kindly came and told us how great we did, we headed to the primary room where Derek and Connor helped me do a puppet show.  The Princess was practicing choosing the right.  She did great except when Oscar the Grouch was making fun of Burt.  Oscar said that Burt had a pointy head, and a unibrow, and I can't remember what else.  Princess may have pointed out that Oscar had a unibrow too.

After the puppet shows I was fairly exhausted and, after lunch I fell asleep.  I probably would have slept until dinner had Dan not come to tell me he thought it was almost time for dinner.  I believed him until I looked at the clock.  Then we had snack.  Still, I had a pretty good nap.  The rest of our new years BANG! was provided by a good family dinner at the Homestead (which is Derek's parent's house) in honor of Auntie Megan's birthday.  Good food, and good company.

I followed up that day with a whole day wearing pajamas.  I was an "Obstinate, headstrong girl!" all day and only worked in the morning taking down decorations and trying out my new mop.  Thankfully Tia didn't follow through with her threat to burn the Christmas tree so we can use it again right before the next new year which will be here BANG! before you know it.

Summing up 2011

I really have been so busy during the last couple of months of 2011 that I have not felt like writing, so you have missed out on some of the activities of the month.  Here are some pictures to finish off this year before I begin with the fun of writing about a new year.

The big blue feather was made by Dan.  He was really proud.  There were many things we were thankful for.  Derek does unique ones like "Gravity", mine usually include the phone and friends but also included counselors who help me with Primary (the children's organization in our congregation).  This has accounted for some of the busyness of the past couple of months.  Family members take up lots of feathers and so do our favorite things -- like books.

Pick up stix cake?  This is what happens when I need one toothpick to undo a goof.

The cake survived its rough start.

This is the first of three Santas that Dan visited with.  He asked for a remote control truck every time -- only I think the size he asked for kept increasing.  He kept skipping the line and so he was always first or second to see Santa.  He said the Santa at school was not real.  He was wearing a costume which was obvious because his shoes were not real boots.  He saw one here at a family party, and another at the ward party.

This is what happens when you are almost 16 but the only way to get a puncha puncha is to sit on Santas lap.  Tia sat there too but I wasn't there with the camera.



Here's the annual pajama picture.  I have a Pride and Prejudice quote shirt.  There are a lot of Psych shirts, Dan has Batman pajama pants, and Jake has Sonic pajama pants.

Just in case this picture is better.  I think Tia's eyes are open in this one.

Ahhhh!  We were all glad Trisa could be here for Christmas Eve and Christmas.

Uncle Russell and Aunt Erin came and admired everyone's goods on Christmas morning.  It is tradition and we would have missed them if they hadn't come!

Sam loved Big Bird until he noticed the camera.

Connor wins the annual race up the stairs!

Anika and Isabelle with Uncle Derek.

This is Dan -- exhausted after singing "Never Say Never" with Tia and Justin Bieber.

We had a happy Thanksgiving -- two really since we had Thanksgiving early with my family.  We have all been remarkably healthy considering all of the illness we know of around us.  We got great Christmas gifts that are continually being enjoyed.  We have wonderful friends who are supportive of us and we have family around who are fun to be with and who are always very good to us.  All in all, it has been a very good year with much to be thankful for.