Good Chats

 These pictures have nothing to do with good chats.  They are more about a good grandbaby playing outside with his good Mom.  I just love him so much! (And his parents too)/

This afternoon I got to drive Kayli and Me to my parent's house.  During our ride we had good conversations and also listened to some good conversations on a podcast.  Then we got here and had a very nice evening having good conversations with my parents.  

We covered things from setting boundaries, to reframing the unpleasant and untrue stories we tell, or have told, ourselves, to the signs of the second coming of Jesus Christ.  We talked about our dog friends chasing cats (and deer and cars and turkeys).  We talked about recent tragedies and the favorite, or least favorite places we have lived.

I love having a good chat, and am feeling blessed to have had several good chats in one day!

Also, it's awesome that the quilt on the guest bed was used by my Grandma C. from Kentucky.  It is beautiful!

Sitting With My Feet Up

 Sitting with my feet up is what I really wanted to do today; maybe accidentally fall asleep in front of a mind numbing show, or doze off while reading.  Naturally, this was not that kind of day.  It was a fine day.  I was just tired.  I drove around a lot today taking Dan to seminary and back, driving to a friend's house and back, making a Walmart trip and a trip back home, and taking Jake to buy a car.  What a day!

Jake is a hard worker.  We are proud of him.

Thankfully, this was a day when my daughter-in-law's Mom and her Mom's friend decided to bring us dinner.  How nice!  I probably would have settled for cereal again because it's really easy!  Instead we got lasagna and salad, both of which were really delicious!  

Somewhere in this day I also managed to finish Jake's puzzle that I got him the Christmas before the one that just happened.  It was NOT what I would call a fun puzzle and so nobody wanted to help, including Jake.  He did help a little though.  It was a Star Wars puzzle of Boba Fett and the colors just didn't vary quite enough.  It was a new puzzle that ended up having 3 repeat pieces and one missing edge piece.  Weird.  

I had a picture that showed all three extra pieces but it had more glare.
I took this one in the dark so there is only one glare!  :-)

What Sparks Joy For You?

I  finished "Spark Joy" by Marie Kondo last night.  I bought it a few years ago; maybe after reading her book "The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up".  It turns out that I love tidying up!  For me it is fun.  I never did read "Spark Joy" until now.  I just glanced at it now and then and somehow thought it was just going to be instructions on how to fold clothes properly, or how to organize your clothes to spark joy.   I am glad I finally read it.  She told some of her story and I really found the book interesting.  Today I quite enjoyed walking around and pointing out to myself the different things around that spark joy for me.

There were two things outside of the windows today that sparked joy.  One was a black helicopter flying low in the canyon by our windows.  When it got out of sight I ran to a different window and saw it hovering across the canyon as a herd of deer ran across the hill.  That was pretty cool!

Not the helicopter I saw.  We had a blue sky today.
Photo by Creative Illustrations on Unsplash

Later I was doing the budget (which wasn't sparking any joy really) when I heard turkey noises.  I turned and saw one lone turkey out back, but then I looked to the side and saw 30 or 40 marching their way through the snow and up the hill.  It also turned out that the one turkey had a few buddies and they scratched away under the bird feeder finding the seeds the birds threw out with their picky beaks.  After they were done eating this smaller group of turkeys followed the other group up the hill.

These may be some of the same turkeys.  Just from earlier this year.

I also heard a bird yelling.  I figured it had to be my bluebird friend who comes to our bird feeder sometimes and yells to let his friend bluebird know to come.  At least that's what I am guessing though maybe she's just letting the little birds know they have to stay away while she eats.

Not the same birds but they are at least similar.
I need to work on my bird identification skills!
Photo by Liz Guertin on Unsplash

It turns out that there really are a lot of things that spark joy if you look for them!

Words Worth Overhearing

Today was my shift working in the office of the temple.  As I worked I overheard the ladies who were recording in the back talking about another lady who had gone home a while before.  It went something like this:

      "Do you know Karen?"

      "Yes."

      "Isn't she the sweetest?  Every time I come in she gets up and           greets me so enthusiastically that I think I must have done               something really great!"

      "She is very thoughtful and cares about everyone."

I really enjoyed hearing a conversation that was all about the good qualities someone has.  When we speak like that there is no worry that anyone will overhear and be hurt or offended.  It made me want to always have conversations that are worth overhearing! 

A Fun Surprise

Today when Dan's friend got to visit.

Last year Dan had a rough time in high school.  He hadn't been in regular school for a year and a half and had gotten a bit behind with online school.  He had some friends at the beginning of the year that didn't end up being so grand and the whole year was turning into a disappointment.  He wasn't feeling very smart and he was lonely.  And then one day, while he was sitting in the hall eating lunch by himself again, J. stopped and asked him if he would like to join her group.  It turned out to be a very good group and J. a very good friend.  He was invited to activities in the summer and he goes to see them before seminary in the morning.

Today we finally got to meet J. and her Dad (since she came here and he didn't know who we were).  When the knock came at the door I went over to meet her and found that I knew her Dad!  J.'s aunts and uncles and grandparents had been in our ward for years.  I taught one aunt as a young woman at church.  Another aunt is friends with my daughter Tia.  One of her uncles is good friends with my son Connor. I sang in the ward choir with another uncle, and her Dad's twin brother used to be our home teacher!  Her Grandma and one Uncle were here just a couple of weeks before Christmas.

Dan never knew J.'s last name and she never knew his and so it was a surprise; a good one.  I was very thankful to get a chance to tell her Dad how thankful I have been for J..  She came along when she was needed and made a huge difference.  Everyone needs a friend and I am thankful that Dan found a good one. 

A Word For The New Year

I like to pick a word every year that represents something I want to work on.   This past year was "hospitality".  I read a few books on it that I really enjoyed!  I still have a few to finish, but it's okay to still read them:-).  I generally try to work on one word, and then keep working on all the past things as much as possible.  The plan is to learn something I can keep using, or create habits that I can keep up with.

When I pick words, I have learned that it has to be something that I want to work on or not much will happen except guilt for not doing anything.  I also allow myself to pick a new word any time in the year if the one I chose isn't working like I hoped, but usually when I hit upon the word I want to work on, I feel joy, and peace, and excitement for the learning and practicing ahead of me!

This year, after reading a book my sister Tina gave me called "The Power of Fun", it struck me that I want to play more.  I can't choose fun, because the thought makes me panic.  What if I don't have fun when I play?  What if I forgot how?  On the other hand, I can play more, and try to give myself more chances to have fun, to laugh, and smile, and connect with people I love.  So this year my word is "Play".  

Today I played a game with Kayli and Jake that Kayli got for Christmas.  I do think it was fun.  The game is called "The Worst-case Scenario" and it was funny.  We have to put worst-case scenarios in order according to what we think is bad and awful, etc.  We also take turns guessing what others picked.  The scenarios were really pretty ridiculous.  I doubt I'll have the opportunity to be shot out of a cannon, or paddle a canoe through a river of crocodiles, or have to spend the night in a port-a-potty at a construction site any time soon!

We saw goats at the Christensen reunion too.

I do have fun sometimes!  This past year both reunions provided good fun.  I felt like I was in college again at the Christensen reunion while I played volleyball and ran in the grass barefoot playing kick ball!

Brian is awesome.
He was a great
Elvis!

  At the Fuller reunion the combination of lots of wonderful family with my brother being Elvis and singing made for a rollicking good time for me!

Whether you choose a word, a list of goals, or nothing at all, I hope you have a year of joy.

The Last Day of 2022

 

Photo by Roven Images on Unsplash

Here are some things I enjoyed on the last day of 2022:  

• Sitting by Derek reading Marie Kondo's Spark Joy
• Sitting by the fire reading aloud some of the things from Spark Joy that I knew would make Derek laugh.
• Reorganizing my office
• Watching the turkey's come and go.
• Picking up groceries with Kayli in the rain (we were dry in the van)
• Getting stuck in the snow on the way home with the groceries (again)
• Having Jake come to the rescue (again)
• Looking out the windows as the big flakes of snow fell.
• Watching a Movie with Derek and Jake and Dan.
• Eating Nachos
• Working on a puzzle while the basketball Cougs won.
• Talking to Derek
• Seeing Brigham and Tia on the phone
• Texting Trisa

The God of Many Chances

I liked this picture.  Children can learn to love God and His word too!
Photo by Samantha Sophia on Unsplash

This year as we have studied the Old Testament, we have seen how God can use very flawed people to do His work.  We have seen Him allowing people to make their mistakes, and then repent, and then make their mistakes, and repent ....etc. etc. 

Today as I was reading from 3 Nephi in the Book of Mormon I was struck again by how many chances we are given to repent.  Even if we fall away into pride and wickedness over and over again, God is willing to take us back if we will just turn to Him, repent, and follow Him to the very best of our ability.  He is a God of hope.  No matter how far down we think we have fallen, He is there waiting to lift us up and forgive us.  He is our Savior and Redeemer and He did hard things to save us.  He really wants us to receive that gift!  I am thankful that He finds me worth saving and that He loves it when I choose to be close to Him.  

...how oft will I gather you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if ye will repent and return unto me with full purpose of heart. (3 Nephi 10:6)

 

Rest

 "Rest and be thankful."  William Wordsworth

Today I have not felt well at all and have spent most of the day in bed.  This seemed like an appropriate quote.  Sometimes we just need to rest and be thankful!

Photo by Gino Castillo on Unsplash
Our weather was snowy today and it was beautiful outside the windows!

Once Upon a Time

I couldn't find any pictures of Shannon, but on the right here is
her son Quinn who was Connor's friend!

I was a young mother who had just moved into a "new" house.  I had two little children and a good  husband who went to work Monday through Friday from 8ish until 5:30.  It was while I lived there that I met my friend Shannon.  What a blessing she has been!  We had so much fun!  We spent a lot of time on the phone, at each others houses, and off on adventures.  Us on adventures was a bit chaotic, but it was oh so much better than staying home all of the time!

Fast forward several years and Derek and I and our kids moved and I no longer could hop Shannon's fence to go and see her.  Still, I must have gone there enough that I sometimes found myself automatically pulling into her driveway instead of driving to Walmart, or Smith's or wherever I was supposed to go.

Fast forward more and we try to keep in touch but are busy with our families and so it is less frequent.  I no longer get to talk to her on the phone so much that my little kids say "Hi Shannon" when they use their pretend phones.  Then it is her turn to move - even farther away!  And then mine to move again!  Our families have mostly grown up.  She has quite a few more grandkids than I and is ever in demand because she is about the kindest person anywhere.

I still consider her one of my very best friends.  It is her that I called when Tia went into labor and I felt panicked because, having never actually had labor myself, I didn't know how afraid to be.  I needed her to talk me out of my panic, and she was very helpful.  She has been more like a sister than just a friend and people who knew us back when our kids are young are never surprised to find out that we are still friends.

Today is her birthday.  We will get around to going out to celebrate sometime.  Hopefully soon.  I am still extremely grateful to have Shannon as my friend.  I do not think my life would have looked nearly as good without her!  On a sad but funny note, I could not find one picture of her in my photos.  I would probably have to search old, old photo albums and then there still wouldn't be many.  I guess we are too busy visiting to ever snap any photos!  Maybe next time I see her I'll make that a priority!

Happy birthday to my friend.  I love her!

Friends

Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash

A friend was having a hard day since she couldn't make it to see her new grandbaby born.  She came back to work in the temple when she knew she couldn't go. If she had gone home she would have just cried all day and she knew she would feel better at the temple.  She would have friends who love her and who would make her smile and laugh, and she knew that is what she needed.  

I think when hard things happen we could all use good friends who will  love us, understand our situation, and help us to smile and laugh - or at least help us to feel less alone.  It was fun to watch the nice ladies in the office take time to talk to her.  One even had her daughter drive over a heart shaped rock she had found to give her.  My friend who was having a hard day left happier than when she came in.

I have friends like that who are good at listening, caring, loving, and making me smile and I am thankful!

Words Of Life or Death. Which Do You Speak?

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

 Words of Life:

   Empower

    Encourage

    Affirm

    Give Hope

    Are Confident

    Are full of hope for the future

Words of Death:

   Destroy

    Cause people to lose heart

    Tear Down

    Cause despair

    Are Powerless

    Replay the pain of the past.

Let us speak Life to ourselves and others!

This is from Live On Purpose by Sadie Robertson Huff page 183

I tend to speak a little too much "death" to myself!  The words of Life are the words that Jesus would speak to us.  He is "the way, and the truth, and the life."(John 14:6)  His words give us power to overcome, power to build up, power to have hope, and power to do what He would have us do.  I really am going to work on speaking only the words of Life to myself and others!

The Best Part of Christmas

 

I took zero pictures this
Christmas!
This one is of Brigham
taken by Tia

The part of this Christmas Day that I enjoyed the most was my two girls who still weren't feeling well somehow managing to find things to laugh about anyway.  They are so much fun!  I suspect that is one of my nephew Bryce's favorite things about coming here.  My girls can be pretty entertaining when they are together.  I suppose the whole family can be entertaining when we are together.

We also watched old recordings from our really old video camera.  It was funny to hear us all say awww so  many times as we watched a very little Jake walk, or a little Dan being a little disappointed when he didn't get any presents for Jake's birthday.  He had some good smiles and "moves"!

I enjoyed singing with a women's group and with the ward choir today too.  Singing on Christmas in praise of our Savior is one of my favorite things, even if church starts at 8:30 a.m. and I have practice before 8!

Another great part of Christmas was talking to Derek's Mom and mine, and talking to Tia and Brigham and Mike on video chat this evening.  They have stayed away due to sickness at our house, but eventually they will come and open their presents!

I hope you all have favorite things to remember as you reflect on your Christmas day!