I'm Alive

Yes, I am a live, I just have had a hard time trying to decide what is worthy of writing about.....I need to get back in the 'this is a kind of a journal' frame of mind....anyway today while reading some of my favorite blogs I decided that the time has come to begin again... at least write something.

I think I have been in a life is changing depression. Not a deep depression but a mini one where in I can act and am not debilitated, but I am merely existing, I am just floating along getting by. Today I decided that I have been living in my books. Thinking on this I know I have read at least 3 books a week since the first of they year, yeah that is a lot of time and a lot of books....and by doing so I have been ignoring life around me, getting lost in others lives. I have time traveled back to the 9th century, gone to many a ball in the Regency era, traveled extensively around the world and through time, lived in the country and city, solved murders, kidnappings and other crazy crimes. I have learned a little about shoe making, movie making and fashion.....  I could go on but It is time to emerge from my self inflicted library and enjoy my life a little more.

This week will be better and I will enjoy my life a little more. Maybe it all has to do with the winter freeze we experienced this winter and the quick thaw that is happening....I must be thawing as well.

MCC

A Rocket ship for Ryan

Captain Awesome or Ry guy, or Rhino, now he is three, is rocket crazy!  He is all about rockets and going to the moon and space.  For Christmas that is all he wanted was a bigger rocket.  He got a rocket or two for the big Holiday and when we asked if it was a big rocket he just looked at us and said no it's a medium rocket.   So for his birthday I thought will get him a rocket maybe something like a playhouse of tent.  I had seen a few rocket ship tents on line from very pricey children's store.  When I say pricey I mean pricey. They were not only expensive but unfortunately out of stock. Other play houses were out of the question. After looking at the only tent that I could actually purchase I thought I can make that for probably 1/3 of the cost.....and I did for about 1/2 the cost and lots of time and grandma love. It was worth it in the end since he loves it so much.

Happy 2013

What a way to start my New Year....in tears after talking with the happiest sounding kid I know. Elder Hayden is off to Utica today after a brief stop in Detroit, and a short flight to Syracuse. He called us from Detroit since he knew we wouldn't be as excited about a 5:00am phone call...smart kid.
He sounded so happy and I am so excited for him, but my mothers heart is missing him so much after hearing his voice. I couldn't want more for him which is a consulation of sorts of not having him around.
When we asked him what he was looking forward to most he said sharing the gospel with those who don't know how awesome it is....and not just with fake investigators.
He will be a great missionary, because he is a great guy and gives his best to what ever he is involved in.
Mondays email won't come soon enough.

Happy New Years Eve

Now for my 2013....what to do?

MCC

Christmas 2012

Why do they call the day after Christmas Boxing Day? Because you wake up feeling like you've been punched in the face.

Christmas Eve Breakfast

Christmas Day

It was a long Fun Day!

MCC

Happy Christmas

BTW we forgot to add walked the freedom trail...walked and walked yes, we walked, kind of like pioneer children.

Thanks to Rachel Cole this picture finally was taken, on a cold storm pending Sunday night...to make us feel more model like, you will notice the wind was blowing.........
MCC

What Matters

I had a great lesson and reminder about priorities and what matters most today. Last night after an awesome FHE we were making our weekly plans to go to the Temple.  We all committed but then  I began to have doubts that I could make it....there were a few unresolved scheduling problems with the movie theater and I wasn't feeling the greatest. So of course the thoughts kept running through my brain, just don't go to the temple. In my prayers I turned it over to Father in Heaven and said "I need your help to feel better and with the theater so I can go to the temple in the morning."  Fast forward to 7:00am, I felt only fair, the scheduling problems still existed but I could nothing about them until 9 or even 10 o'clock. I prayed again and said I am going to the temple help me feel better and re-solve the movies when I get home.
On the way to the temple I told Nelson and Hayden what had happened and we just laughed at Satan's attempts to thwart the plan.  While waiting in the chapel at the temple with our regular Tuesday morning group of blue haired widows and balding widowers I was suddenly excited to see how the day was going to turn out. While waiting we were approached by the officiator and asked how the three of us were related? I told him that these were two of my sons, he then asked us if one of the boys and myself could be the witness couple?...a little unusual, but okay. Hayden and I were the witness couple in our temple session today.....what a rare and special experience for both of us. I knew that this was Heavenly Fathers way of reminding me to take the time to take care of what matters most. It made my morning.
When we arrived home  after the temple I felt great, and the theater scheduling problems still existed, but I knew that it didn't matter, that all would work out because I made the right choice this morning.  Just FYI -the scheduling problems were resolved around 11:30 a whole hour after we arrived home. Were they resolved the way I thought they should have been resolved on Monday; No, but they were resolved quickly and all is well. I am sure that business will be fine this week and not as slow as it usually is the week before Christmas, all because we took the time with things that matter and because of Heavenly Fathers help with everything.

MCC

AHHH....it's almost time!

 Soon -to-be Elder Hayden Call

The count down to leave is almost over...yikes! We have 9 days and he is out of here. I am a bit weepy when I think on it all. I am also very excited for him. But I have done it before and survived.

I keep reminding Hayden that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger and if missions were that bad there would be a lot more dead missionaries. Besides if Jordan and Nelson can do it, it should be a breeze Hayden.

I think Hayden is our most prepared missionary, but he is also our most dependent child.....come on he is the baby of course he is dependent.

There is a lot, but not, left to do before he leaves....a lot for me to do to have peace of mind and for the greet after our Sunday meeting. But not a lot because the list has all but 3 things crossed off.

Oh the fun!

MCC

Decorating.....

Decorating for Christmas is a love hate affair.....I love it for the most part, but I have so much stuff that it drags on, and on and on......
I began early since Hayden wanted to enjoy our Christmas decor for longer than a week.  So I began the week before Thanksgiving getting the tree up, living room almost done and the garlands hung. It looks good and for most people that would be it, decorations up, but I am not most people. I have closets full of Christmas stuff. So now that Thanksgiving is over I have been trying to finish and by finish I mean put up the bulk of it....not as fun at 8:30 pm as it was at 10:00 am....my back is sore, my feet hurt and my head keeps telling me to get rid of stuff and simplify....and I would simplify but I love it all and will buy more when it strikes my fancy.
My challenge now is a tall manageable ladder, I need one.....and knowing that on December 9th my house will fill full of people for Hayden's mission farewell, yikes, where to put them amid my stuff.
I know where there is a will there is a way, so off to find my will.......

Bonus--- a schlump of Call's on Thanksgiving at The Grand America

(look at all the rolls on the front row...yikes)

MCC

Baking and Remembering

6 lbs of butter, 1/2 gallon of cream, 3 lbs of cream cheese, sugar, flour, pumpkin, nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, apples, berries and peaches.....let the baking begin,
Love the taste of the holidays, not the calories however. Unfortunately you can't bake just taste of things, you have to create a whole whatever be; it a pie, cake or dozen cookies.
Getting out my favorite holidays goody recipes for our pie party makes me very nostalgic remembering who used to make what and when I remember eating it and who I was with.

subway art from eighteen 25

Time to bake.....3 pumpkin pies, mixed berry pie, peach pie, chocolate pie, apple pie, bread pudding, pumpkin tiramisu, gooey butter cake and Meg has a new idea for this year a gingerbread pancake trifle..... I would love to make more but my waistline can't handle it and time doesn't permit, to may other things need doing.

MCC

Halloween 2012

Halloween has come and is gone, but Halloween marks the beginning of the holiday season....Halloween to the Super Bowl.....license to eat poorly, party at the drop of a hat, stay up late, etc......

Here are a few images of 'Calloween' 2012

 

MCC