Category Archives: My Life Stories!

She is Witty, Funny, and I Love Her!

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My sweet mother in law passed away.

I will miss her.

She has been a part of my life for 32+ years. She has blessed our family with her love, and her service. We have had so many fun times together as a family. Her skills at board and card games is amazing. Once she got the word “fandango” in Scrabble! Who does that? She is so funny and always had a cute story to share every time we saw her. She is an awesome cook. Thankfully my darlin knew I’d never be as good as her, so his expectations were low. I think he got his moms abilities to cook too. Lucky for me!  She is a good lady, and wonderful mom. She is a sweet grandmother to our kids, and grandkids.

She has a love of The Gospel of Jesus Christ, and served as a missionary several times. Her love of God was evident by the way she lived.

I’m sure she has reunited with her sweetheart Pearce, who passed away 3 years ago. What a reunion that must have been.

I am so grateful for her.

I will miss her, but when I do, I will think of all of the wonderful memories I have of her life. What a sweet lady!

The Love is So Powerful, It Hurts!

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I love being a grandma! It is such a blessing in my life.

Our sweet oldest granddaughter will be 10 this summer! I don’t know how this happened. She is a treasure, and I love every moment I get with her!

I can’t believe it!

Then there are these super cute grandson’s!

Cars, skateboards, and time playing in the yard is always fun to watch with this one!

And this little guy, reminds me of a tater bug! He is such a sweet baby full of smiles and hugs! What fun I have with these two boys!And don’t forget our precious new granddaughter! She smiles with her eyes, and responds so cute when we talk to her. She is basically perfect!

Thank heaven’s for technology. I get to see them all everyday.

I love them all so much!

When  I look at them, the love in my heart almost wants to bust out of my chest! I actually hurts, a little. How can this be?

Grandbabies are such a gift! They are straight from heaven. I know now, what I didn’t know before I became a grandma that the best is yet to come. Father in Heaven loves us so much he gave us the opportunity to become parents, saving the best for last, becoming grandparents!

Change: Out With the Old, In With the New!

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Sometimes change is a good thing!

First the old: It all started 30 or so years ago my hubby became a locksmith. It was a choice he might not have made, except his dad decided to learn how to do it too. He was a locksmith full time for at least a year. It was a big investment financially in the beginning. There were tools, machines, keys, etc. to buy to get started. Then we realized it was not the job for us. Many things about the job made it a hard job, on call on holidays, no insurance, on and on. Even though my darlin kept the tools and machines for all these years, he didn’t do it as his job. He had moved on to better opportunities, and at this time has a great job with many benefits.

Now for the new: Like I said this locksmith job was many years ago, and we have had the tools and machines for all this time. They were taking up room in our tiny garage, and it wasn’t leaving enough room for the car. I said, “Why don’t you put all these things from locksmithing in the trunk of you car, and then when you are driving around town you can stop at a locksmithing business here in town and see if they want to buy these things?” He agreed and put them in his trunk. About six months later, he came home from running errands and said, “Guess what? I sold my locksmithing stuff.” Yay!!!

I wondered what he would do with the money.

He had such a great idea. He decided to buy a tennis racket stringer. The best part about that, is that he loves tennis!!! He is good at tennis, and plays at least once a week with friends. He had spend time and money on the locksmithing stuff so it was hard for him to part with them, but it ended up being a really great thing!

I’m so glad! 

Doors! and St. Patrick!

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I love to look at doors! The things shared on doors are always interesting and fun. The door above in my parents door. Of course it’s March, and I think we all become a little Irish in March. It’s just a fun holiday. 

A holiday celebrating, St Patrick who was kidnapped from his home in Britain, taken to Ireland, and held captive for years. He later escaped and returned home to his family. He became a priest and returned to Ireland. He is celebrated as the one who brought Christianity to Ireland. I love the idea that he was able to forgive the people who kidnapped him, and bring religion to them. Teaching us all that forgiveness is necessary to move forward and bless others. 

So, back to my parents home, and door. My mom loves to share cute and fun decorations on her door. I couldn’t resist taking a picture today when I went to visit them. I love this Celtic Cross and Irish Prayer.

“My God give you…

For every storm, a rainbow,

For every tear, a smile,

For every care, a promise,

And a blessing in each trial. 

For every problem life sends,

A faithful friend to share,

For every sigh, a sweet song,

And an answer to every prayer.

I hope we all enjoy the little lessons in history, and to celebrate them when the holiday comes!!! Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Ten Things Tuesday!

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In case this is your first visit to ourjoyfulnest, I need to tell you that we moved almost 2 years ago. Our old home was over 3000 square feet and our new (old, built in 1906) home is 1500 total square feet. This has been a good and needed challenge for us to fit in this cute little home.  So we came up with “Ten Things Tuesday!”

First it is the cutest little home we’ve ever been blessed to lived in.

When we first moved, we divided all the furniture and things with our kids. We brought to our new (old) home way too much in the beginning. It worked out though, because we needed to go through the things and decide what we really needed or wanted.

This process has taken time.

We’re about there, as far as fitting in our home goes, but you know how things come in on a constant basis? We’re bringing home new purchases, or celebrating Christmas or whatever. It starts to get thick around here with things.

So the way we alleviate the problem of getting too much stuff is a weekly purge. We call it “Ten Things Tuesday.” We have a spot located near the back door that we collect the things that need to be donated. If we are consistently donating items to the DI (Deseret Industries) then the likelihood of having too many things that fill up the house goes down.

We donate “Ten Things” every “Tuesday!”

It is a great way to stay on top of the clutter and mess that builds up in our lives.

The Winter Solstice!

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Years ago, I taught a sweet and clever young boy in Primary.

He is the son to one of my friends, and I knew/know him very well.

It was about this time of year that I was teaching them and asked the children, “Who can tell me what we celebrate this time of year?”

They looked like they were thinking. It can’t be too hard, it’s just a week or two before Christmas which is like almost all children’s favorite time of year.

I waited, and waited.

Then Parker raised his hand, and said, “Well, you could celebrate the Winter Solstice!“

Wow! That was a surprise!

“I guess you could,” I said. I couldn’t believe such a little guy could have even heard of the Winter Solstice. I told him I was actually talking about Christmas, and all the kids got big smiles on their faces, and we continued to talk about Christmas.

I went home from church and did an internet search of the Winter Solstice. It was very interesting. It is a pagan holiday, so I didn’t really want focus too much on that, but I found out that it is the shortest day of the year. After the Winter Solstice the days will get longer, and eventually the days will be brighter, as we leave winter behind.

I thought of the symbolism that we could think of, if we chose to. I like to think of our Savior as a light. He is the light of the world. At this particular time in the history of our world many are very far away from the Son. There is so much darkness. It makes me sad. But, I choose to focus on the fact that this darkness cannot last. It will get brighter. The Son will be close and will bless our lives with light, someday He will bless our lives with light forever. I consider the Winter Solstice a day to remember the Son, and how His light blesses us and how much I want it in my life.

So every year since that day in primary, I call Parker to wish him a Happy Winter Solstice.

We had Parker’s family over for dinner last week to celebrate the Winter Solstice, and talk about light, and how important it is to us. Parker knows he said that comment about the Winter Solstice, only because I remind him. He doesn’t remember saying it. Cute.

I am grateful that my little friend Parker, who is now 14 years old, blessed me years ago with a new way of thinking about the cold, dark and short winter days.

Hang in there! The light is coming! The days are getting longer!

My Mama’s Hands!

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Today is my birthday!

I don’t really need to talk about me today.

It’s just another year, and I’m getting old. 

What I want to do is talk about this amazing woman that I met 55 years ago!

She is my Mama!  

I love her so much. Her life has always been something to admire. She is a wonderful person, and has blessed my life everyday. 

These are my mama’s hands. Imagine the work they have done, the meals they have prepared, the bandaging of ouches, the writing of talks and lessons, the holding, the all around blessing of others that they have done for 84+ years!

I love her hands!!! I love all of her!!! 

Thank you Mama, for bringing me into this world. Thank you for loving this accident prone-barefoot little girl, for trips to the hospital for stitches, for putting up with me telling on “mean” brothers, and sharing a hug to make it all better. Thank you for hours of listening at the foot of my bed, while I work through the current challenge in my life.

You are my hero! You have blessed so many, but today I’m especially grateful that you have blessed me! 

I love you Mama!

Brothers: He Would be 60 Years Old Today!

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I have five wonderful brothers. Three older brothers, and two younger brothers. I love them so much!

Something changed 13 years ago in our family, with one of my five wonderful brothers.

My oldest brother Brian passed away.

He was 46. It was such a shock, so unexpected. Some of the members of my family were hiking a beautiful canyon not far from home, when he fell on the trail. He was gone. We had many tender mercies during the next week. He is buried where my parents will be buried. He was a good man with challenges like the rest of us. 

Today he would have been 60 years old! 

What would things be like if he was still here? I wonder. I believe he is happy and doing good where he is now. I am thankful for his life! I miss him. 

I thought about his life today, and what it meant to me to know him, love him, and to know that I will see him again.

We had a family party tonight. We looked through his childhood scrapbook made by our mama. He lived a good, productive life. He is the father of three kids. The Grandpa to 6 grandkids, 5 he has never met.

The most important thing to me when I think about losing him so young is knowing that our Savior makes up for all sadness, all sin, all mistakes. He makes my brother’s life, and all of our lives, more meaningful than it would be without Him.

I’m so grateful for families! I’m so grateful for brothers!

Happy Birthday Brian!

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Miracles!

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I can only speak for myself, but sometimes miracles are both happy and traumatic. Both fill us with incredible gratitude.

Like the time my brother received a liver transplant, or the time we had a car crash and no one was injured. Then there was the time I really needed a job and got one. I am so grateful for these miracles.

Our family was blessed with an amazing miracle recently. This miracle cannot be denied. God was very much aware of the situation and blessed our family.

This is a picture of my parents taking a stroll in Slovenia.

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They are the rock of our family.

The most loving, supportive, and noble souls I have ever known. 

My youngest brother and his wife blessed the parents with a wonderful trip. They do it every year. It is a trip most treasured by our parents. They traveled to many locations in Europe, starting and ending in Slovenia. My brother served his LDS mission there. On the day the were scheduled to return home, my mom had a fall. She fell down a flight of stairs…24 stairs! Let me just say she is 84 years old. She is a very healthy 84 year old, but everyone knows that a fall by someone who is older in years is usually not a good thing, and sometimes it is tragic. 

This was so scary for my dad. He heard her call to him and saw her falling. They have been married for 61 years and are very attached to each other. 

Now for the miracle! 

My amazing, wonderful, favorite mom in the whole world, escaped that fall with no broken bones, no major injuries, just lots and lots of bruising. They took her to the hospital and had her checked out, and she was released to come home. Ice packs, Ibuprofen, and TLC from my brother, and then she was home. 

When I saw her I cried and cried. It was traumatizing just thinking about my 84 year old mama falling down the stairs. I still have to say that quick so I don’t think about it too much. But, she is safe. She is healthy. She is alive, and not invalid. 

I’ve always felt like my parents were blessed with so many good years, because they are still so involved in blessing others. They both still volunteer at the local Family Search Library, helping others, and actively doing their own genealogy, and my dad spends every Friday afternoon reading, telling jokes, and stories to the “old folks” at the convalescent center. Many of which are younger than him. He has done this for 20+ years.

I am so grateful for a loving Father in Heaven who blesses His children. I am so grateful that my blessed Mama is still here to hug and kiss and tell her how much she means to me. Thank God for Miracles!

My First Memory! (I think)

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I was born the 4th child in our family, after 3 older brothers. I think all of us were born in about 5 years. My mom was very overwhelmed to say the least. She was a wonderful mom to us.

We lived in a cute little house my dad helped to build. I loved that house.

The first memory I have is standing and twirling in a circle in the kitchen of that house. Spinning, and spinning, until I was dizzy. Then I would fall to the floor and just lay there watching the ceiling spin in circles. Then I would get up and do it again.

I think I was about 3 years old.

I watched Emily spin our grandson around on my office chair. The look on his face must have been something like the look on my face all those years ago. The look of pure enjoyment and playfulness.

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Natasha having fun twirling!!!

What a fun memory!