One year Blogiversary!!

Today, it has been
one year
 since I started my blog.
I feel pretty good about it!
It isn’t the most famous, or the most impressive.
 It is however mine and I have enjoyed so much sharing the past year with anyone who stops by.
 One of my goals, was to do posts encouraging others to do their Family History. I did write “37” FHF posts, and if I didn’t inspire anyone that’s OK. I reminded myself, of the love I have for my ancestors and their legacy. They are amazing to me and I hope someday to meet them and to tell them how much I love them. Maybe, they will tell me, they think I’m amazing too?
I have also written very fond and wonderful memories of my life and family. I’m always happy to share my stories and the lessons and things that life has taught me, but it is also for my posterity. How will they know…unless I tell them.
So if by chance you’ve happened by, thanks!
 I hope to see you again and get to know you. I have gotten to know lots of amazing people, and am very grateful for all of you.
Happy Blogiversary to ME!!

My Baby is 16!!!

birthday was on the 19th.
We gave Emily a surprise party!!!
It turned out pretty great, and I think she was surprised.
We had fondue!
Cheese w/ ham, broccoli, cauliflour, carrots, pretzels, crackers, and –chocolate w/cinnamon bears (my personal fave), nilla wafers, pretzels, teddy grahams, marshmallows, bananas– also caramel w/ apple slices, pretzels, and all the stuff that was dipped in the chocolate. YUM, YUM!!!
what a darling smile for the camera!! Not!!!
(In case you were wondering, Emily is notorious for silly and crazy faces.)
Rachael forgot the “D” in birthday,
but did an awesome job decorating!
Then the kids watched “Zoolander”!
Emily calls her friend Linsey, her twin.
They were born on the same day,
April 19th, about 4 hours apart.
Linsey’s mom is one of my best friends, Lilli.
The girls have had their picture taken every year on their b-day,
since their b-day!!
Happy Birthday darling Emily!! I love you!!! oxox

My Elder!!

My son Alex
got his mission call
yesterday.
He is going to South Africa!!!
Amazing!!
Mission call opening party!!!
Hurry Alex, Hurry!!
Reading…….
There it is!! South Africa, WOW!
Mom can’t help but hug!
So proud!
Here it is!!
We are so please with our son and his decision to serve the Lord
for 2 years!
I love you, Alex!
You’ll be an awesome missionary!!

Sin City Suckers?

I went to Las Vegas last week for work,
and found something interesting to
bring back for my kids.
 When I saw these, I laughed!
Check out the name!
(I saw a few suckers there)
I had such a fun time.
Before last week, I had never actually been to Vegas. I’ve just driven through a few times. I don’t gamble, but the hotels and stores were amazing.

My Momma!

My Mom on her wedding day! Beautiful!

Today is my Mom‘s birthday. She has lived a long and amazing life. I asked my grandma once how my mom was as child, and she said she was always a sweet child. I believe that. She has always been a sweet momma. When I was a teenager I had the usual struggles, (I call the teen years, especially jr. high, the arm pit of life.) I remember my mom sitting at the foot of my bed, and listening to me. She would encourage and counsel me. She loved me as I struggled along. She has always been a good listener. Growing up, she was my always there for me. And, as I have become a grown momma myself, she continues to be a source of encouragement and love. I can always count on her to build me up and tell me what an good mom I am.
She is super creative and ambitious. She is a great example to me of getting a lot done. She volunteers in the community and teachs classes about doing your family history. She never stops learning and reading, then sharing it with others. While other people her age have slowed down, she hasn’t. If I live to be at least her age, I have 30 years to contribute to society. To find and complete all of my life missions. I have alot of things I’d still like to do, and she is great example of “doing”! I feel so blessed and thankful to have such a wonderful mother. She is the best mom for me.
Happy Birthday, Momma!!

Little Red Wagon

Like I’ve said before, when I was a little girl, I used to spend quite a bit of time by myself. It’s not a bad thing. Although at times in my youth I would get quite lonely. Every once in a while my mom would suggest that I go on a picnic. She would pack me a lunch and I would ride our little red wagon down to the bottom of the hill that our house was on.

I would sit in the wagon next to the little creek at the bottom of the hill and eat my lunch. I never felt alone then. I would sing and eat and watch the water trickling down the stream.  I would spend quite a bit of time there at the bottom of the hill. Noone ever came by, but it was almost as if the wagon became my friend. I would sit in the wagon in the sun until I got too hot, then I would move to the side of the creek in the shade. Every once in a while, a breeze would come by, adding to the experience. Finally, I would pull the wagon back up the hill to our home. It always felt so peaceful there in the little red wagon by the creek.  I remember another time using the wagon as a sort of wading pool, plugging up the holes that were there for drainage, filling it with water, and sitting in it on a hot summer day. Awww, refreshing!! I loved our little red wagon. It’s too bad I got too big.

5 Faves on the 5th

1- Four leaf clovers!
I found one once…I’ve been lucky ever since!!! 😉
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2-19 year olds!
What a fun guy!!
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3-Having a MOM!!
I’ve had a Mom for 48 years. I think I’ll keep her.
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4-Spring
A time of new beginnings!
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5-the color green
I love it!!!

Happy Birthday!!! My Flexy is 19!!!

Well his name isn’t really Flexy. He just asked me to call him that when he was about 5 years old. It has been 19 years today, since he was born. When I had Alex, and they handed him to me, they said, Here is your baby“. I was quite overwhelmed, because I had a 19 month old baby at home. The first thought I had was…”What was I thinking?” Well, I must have been thinking…”This will be fun!! Let’s have another baby!!” I remember going to the grocery store with Riley in the front of the cart (you know, where I probably shouldn’t have put him), Kelsey in the baby seat and Alex hanging off the front of me in an infant carrier. GOOD TIMES! I only left the house to go somewhere, if I could take my time. People would pass by and say, “You look like a busy, mom.” Honestly, it has been fun. Alex has been such a fun little boy, teenager and young man. He is getting ready to go on an LDS mission and is soooo excited. We’ll let you know where he gets his call when it comes!!
I love this darling boy!!!
Happy Birthday, Alex!!

Happy, Happy 100th POST!!! 100 WAYS TO CHOOSE JOY!!!

100 ways to choose JOY!
(in no particular order);)
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100-go for a walk
99-cuddle your sweetheart
98-jump on a trampoline
97-research your family tree
96-go for a drive
95-clean a closet
94-serve dinner at a shelter
93-play scrabble
92-cuddle a sleeping baby
91-watch “The Princess Bride”
90-read a good book
89-make a new friend
88-make treats for your neighbor
87-do some ironing
86-take a long hot shower
85-lay on the grass and watch the clouds
84-watch planes take off and land
83- give the dog a bath
82-call an old friend
81-look at your eyes in the mirror
80-go to a museum
79-let go of things you can’t
 do anything about
78-paint your nails
77-make play dough for the kids and play with them
76-sing a song at the top of your lungs
75-do the dishes by hand
74-finish a project
73-practice saying “I love you” to the mirror
72-take a nap
71-start a blog
70-clean out your purse
69-write a letter
68-count your blessings
67-read to a small child
66-braid someone’s hair
65-sit in a park and just watch
64-buy flowers for yourself
63-plan your dream house or your mansion in heaven
62-try cooking something new
61-go for a hike
60-kiss someone you love
59-forgive
58-go on a picnic
57-set some goals
56-write a special memory for your posterity
55-notice the little things
54-plant a tree
53-learn a language
52-sit in the sunshine
51-pray daily
50-have a song in your heart
49-visit a historical sight
48-one word: “chocolate”
47-visit a rest home
46-don’t JUDGE
45-give a massage
44-stand for right
43-believe in God
42-listen to beautiful music
41-play with someone’s hair
40-go for a run
39-balance your checkbook
38-dust your home
37-go to a farm when the baby animals are being born
36-read about great people
35-donate to a charity
33-drink clean water
32-use the toilet
31-“do unto others…”
30-share dinner with friends
29-shampoo, massage your scalp
28-clean up someone else’s mess, without anyone seeing you
27-take pictures
26-get a pedicure
25-“if you can’t say somethin’ nice,
don’t say nothin’ at all”
24-get things done (no moping)
23-have a candlelight dinner
22-start a rock collection
21-HUG
20-listen more
19-count the stars
18-watch ants
17-don’t compare your worst with someone else’s best
16-chew bubble gum and blow bubbles
15-be grateful
14-LOVE
13-feed the birds
12-create something from something else
11-SMILE
10-ride a horse
9-smell brownies
8-Listen to your heart
7-tend children for a tired momma
6-jump a rope
5-lotion your whole body
4-close your eyes and feel the breeze
3-take a class
2-fold laundry
1-Choose it! choose JOY!!!!
Thanks for reading and spending the last 100 posts with me!
 Love, Joy