This is a confession.
I am NOT babysitting more.
I am home BUT there hasn't been a moment to sit and quietly reflect on the wonderful time I had taking care of those darling two boys. I JUMPED back into a Busy Life.
Sunday I taught Relief Society and was set apart to a new calling--Stake Relief Society President!
Monday Craig and I cleaned house and the yard, went to see Star Trek and dinner
Tuesday I taught my last Scripture class (being released from this) then came home to have my first Presidency meeting. Around 6:30 pm I laid on the bed to read a little and fell asleep with glasses and slippers on. Craig tucked me into bed and I slept until 3:30 am when I got up to get ready for the Temple on Wednesday. Rebecca's family of 6 came from Arizona later in the day for a vacation!
So, my house is full of darlings and we are off to Knott's Berry Farm today, the beach tomorrow, a birthday party Saturday and then...well, let's just say I may not be able to write again till next week.
When I get a snatch of time I do love to take a moment and read your blogs. And of course, your comments on mine.
Love to all!

I am babysitting Corbin and Cooper, Shannon's 2 sons while she and Derek are in Spain for 12 days.
Sweet boys.
Active Boys!
Fun Grandma.
Tired Grandma!

I know a name
A beautiful name
Dearer than any other
Listen, I'll whisper the name to you
It is the name of Mother

These are the words to a Primary song that I sang as a little girl.
I thought the words were written for my Momma.


No little girl could have loved her mother more than I did.
No woman could love her mother more than I do.
When she enters a room it lights up.
When she speaks her voice sounds like an angel (Craig says so).
She cherishes all that is good and right.
She loves with her entire soul each member of her family.
She is a devoted and adoring wife.
She is EVERYTHING virtuous, lovely and of good report.

I am going to church with her for Mother's Day.

PRESENTING A

VERY SPECIAL AWARD

TO A LADY
WHO MADE MY DAY

This award goes to Sheryl Holmes.
Over and over this dear woman blesses my life.
Would you like to know how?

• It is in the cute voice she uses when she offers a cheery hello when we meet.

• The way she delights in the most important 'things' of life.

• The night after Craig was released as Stake President her family gave us a Heart Attack---they had made paper hearts with loving sayings and stuck them into our yard. It made Craig cry.

• One night I was exhausted and working long hard hours on Proposition 8 when she came to the door with important data for the campaign. I said, " I wish I could invite you in and offer you some warm homemade cookies but I've been working ALL DAY on Prop 8!" We laughed. A couple of hours later she came to the door with a plate of warm chocolate chip cookies.

• Yesterday, beautiful flowers were on my doorstep.

If you would like to get to know one of God's Angels visit her

May Day was lovely.
I sent e-cards to my sisters and
delivered these little bouquets to neighbors.
While making the deliveries one neighbor caught me. We had a fun little conversation.
Making the deliveries made my heart smile.

THEN
Someone left these on my doorstep THANK YOU whoever you are...!
My neighbor, Linda, brought us fresh veggies from her organic garden to thank me
And Craig bought me a rose tree!

We as Women of Influence need to assure that opportunities for traditions such as this one don't die away with time. Let's stand up for a Resurgence of May Day Celebrations!

These are Wonderful Memories for my heart. Thank you

Happy May Day!

My Mother has memories of May Day traditions. Do you?
I have heard Mom and her mom tell of leaving flowers on the doorstep of neighbors and friends as a surprise.
I always have wanted those memories.
Today I will make some.
Why not join me.
Let me know if you do.

Have you noticed how many nice people there are in the world?
In essentially a 24 hour period of time:

• Our neighbor found a lost puppy, several people joined in to find the delighted owner.
  

• Craig and I bought a huge assembled composter at Costco. Several people asked us what it was as we wheeled it to our car. One man spent about 15 minutes helping us get it into our car a lady offered to put it in her SUV and take it home for us!
  

• Someone from church knocked on Joel's door and gave them a very generous gift.

No matter what you hear on the news America is Full of Good people.

The truth be told....I was only on vacation for a 5 days but it has been much longer than that since I have posted. Life is busy in wonderful ways. Sitting at a computer isn't always top of my list. Thank you to all who have complained about my tardiness in returning to the BLOG WORLD. Thank you for missing me!
Since I wrote last:
Easter came and went--including Craig and I speaking in Sacrament Mtg. and here are

Some things I want to remember:
Easter Sunday- Craig and I spoke in Sacrament Mtg. Later Shannon and her darlin's came over for dinner and an egg hunt. ( This photo was the week before when we had 4 darlin's for a hunt)


Going to Phoenix to be with Rebecca and her family- We celebrated Ben's birthday,

Slater and Carter's basketball game which was coached by Ben and Steele! It is thrilling to see darling grandsons dribble the ball down the court with confidence. They are certainly following the family tradition!

Also, Carter and Italia sang in their school's Spring Concert!

Driving To sacrament meeting in Phoenix with Carter (8) and Italia (5) in the backseat. Realizing a great moment to testify I told the children that Sunday is my favorite day. I love to go to church. Carter confessed that he doesn't like going to church that much. I asked if he had ever noticed that he feels happier after he has attended church. His reply was, "Yah, I know I'll catch on someday."

Waking up in the morning to the bedroom door opening and 3 little voices saying, "Grandma, we know you are awake!" How do you know, I ask? "Because you are an early riser!" and then, "Grandma will you make me a shake, I am hungry" Here is Italia in Shake Heaven...Chocolate, Vanilla and Strawberry!

While in Az. I attended Lauren's Open House! What great timing for an Arizona trip.

Babysitting Binky Lovin' Cooper. He was in binky heaven when he discovered the 2 I had in a cupboard. Together with the one he brought with him that made for one in the mouth and one in each hand. Being the nice guy that he is he shared with the dinosaur!


Jury Duty--I was Proud to be an American and to belong to a religion that loves America and considers it a Promised Land. During my service I heard 2 potential jurors use their religion as the reason they could not serve. It made me heartsick. If the world was full of people who believed as they do where would our law system be?

The Third Annual Sisters Weekend was at my home. Suzanne, Cindy and Suzi all evacuated to my house. We talked and talked and laughed and laughed. We ate a bit and laughed some more. It was healing and enthralling. How could I have been blessed with such fun, wise, generous, loving sisters who all live nearby? They are among my favorite blessings.

This is a smathering of what I have been doing lately. Love to you all.

is on vacation!

Saturday

The Saturday following Christ's death has to be the loneliest, saddest day ever.



For His mother-He was GONE!
To His friends-He was GONE.
To His followers-He was GONE!
For all those that still hoped to find Him so that He could teach or heal a loved one-He was Gone!

Good Friday

This day is torture to the heart to consider. After the long night in Gethsemane, the arrest on false charges and the mock trials where liars bore conflicting testimonies against the Savior He was beaten, spit upon and treated in the most brutal fashion. I can't bare to imagine the details of nailing Him to a cross. Let's skip this part. It hurts to much.

If I had been His friend I would have been there; hovering around the cross crying and praying that He would just come down!
Along with hoping my presence would somehow give comfort I would also want to see the miracle that He surely would perform.

Had the prayer I surely would have offered been granted God's entire Plan would have been ruined! This one thought often causes me to say in my prayers, as did Jesus, 'Thy will be done."

Thursday

Thursday. One of the most important days in the history of the world. Jesus meets with the Twelve in the upper room for the Last Supper.

He washes the feet of His friends and offers them the Sacrament for the first time. Surely this was a spiritual feast for all in attendance except one-Judas. Although he is a friend to Jesus and the Twelve Judas chooses to betray the Savior. He has heard the sermons, seen the miracles, felt the power and known the love of Jesus. How could he leave this holy meeting and perform the evil task?

The words of How Firm a Foundation ring in my heart
"The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose
I will not, I cannot, desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no never, I'll never, no never,
I'll never, no never, no never forsake."

May we Never go AWOL.

This same night Jesus enters the Garden of Gethsemane to suffer for the sins of His creations. There "He descended below all things" (D&C 88:6).

"There is no human condition-be it suffering, incapacity, inadequacy, mental deficiency, or sin-which He cannot comprehend or for which His love will not reach out to the individual." (Ezra Taft Benson)

How can I ever Thank Him?

There is only silence concerning the last Wednesday of the Savior's life.

No one knows what took place. I have pondered this many times. What would he have done? My guess is He prepared Himself for the upcoming hours when He would be the Sacrificial Lamb of the Passover. What type of preparation would it take?
As He oft went to the mount to pray I believe He did this day as well.
I also like to imagine that He went to visit His mother.


Perhaps He had other family members that needed to spend time with Him.

I think He would have wanted to laugh, touch and offer His love to them all.

The Last Tuesday of Jesus' Life

The Last Tuesday of Jesus' life
His authority was questioned...imagine that!
The Pharisees asked Him which of all the commandments was the greatest.
His reply, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."


So it is well for us to ponder these 2 questions this day. It is hopefully not my last Tuesday. I hope to have many more in which I can strive to keep these 2 great commandments.
How will I do today

The Last Monday of the Savior's life He cleansed the temple.

The temple was not Holy. It was being defiled.
He knew the blessings that were being denied.

I am so grateful that there is a holy temple near me where
I am able to worship and serve in full confidence that the ordinances
and covenants made there are in keeping with His holy will.
The spirit whispers to me each week as I drive into the temple parking lot that it is a holy place.


I often sing,
"I love to see the temple.
I am going there today.
To feel the Holy Spirit.
To listen and to pray."

Happy Easter Week