Fairy Tales Do Come True!

 Who is your favorite Fairy Tale Princess? 

 This pretty lady wins hands down for me.

Last night Craig took me to see Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella at the Redlands Bowl.

Cinderella was beautiful.  Her voice was lovely. Her dresses were scrumptious.  The Prince wasn't too Charming but I used my imagination.  But, BEST of all was her carriage!

Here are the lyrics to their romantic love song.

Prince: Ten minutes ago,
I saw you I looked up when you came through the door my head started reeling
you gave me the feeling the room had no ceiling or floor.
Ten minutes ago, I met you, and we murmured our how do you dos
I wanted to ring out the bells and fling out my arms and sing out the news.
I have found her, she's an angel, with the dust of the stars in her eyes.
We are dancing, we are flying, and she's taking me back to the skies!
In the arms of my love, I'm flying, over mountain and meadow and glen.
And I like it so well that for all I can tell I may never come down again.
I may never come down to earth again.

Cinderella: Ten minutes ago, I saw you.
You looked up when I came through the door.
My head started reeling you gave me the feeling the room had no ceiling or floor.
Ten minutes ago I met you and we murmered our how do you dos.
I wanted to ring out the bells and fling out my arms and to sing out the news.

Prince: I have found her.
Cinderella: I have found him, he's the light of the stars in my eyes.
Prince: We are dancing
Cinderella: We are flying
Prince: And she's taking me back to the skies
Cinderella: In the arms of my love, I'm flying over mountain and meadow and glen.
Prince: And I like it so well that for all I can tell I may never come down again.
Both: I may never come down to earth again.

Isn't that romantic?  Best of all they aren't fairytale feelings.  They describe how I feel about my Prince and he IS Charming!

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"The commitment of Church leaders to relieve human suffering was as certain as it was irrevocable. President Grant wanted "a system that would...reach out and take care of the people no matter what the cost."  He said he would even go so far as to "close the seminaries, shut down missionary work for a period of time, or even close the temples, but they would not let the people go hungry.

 I was at President Gordon B. Hinckley's side in Managua, Nicaragua, when he spoke to 1,300 members of the Church who had survived a devastating hurricane that claimed more than 11,000 lives. "As long as the Church has resources," he said to them, "we will not let you go hungry or without clothing or without shelter.  We shall do all that we can to assist in the way that the Lord has designated that it should be done."
Bishop H. David Burton, “The Sanctifying Work of Welfare”, April 2011

When he first spoke these words a thrill went through me.  Their truth filled me.  This is the great Church I belong to.  This is the Great God I know. This is who I am to Be.
In the July Stake Council I was asked to read these words.  The line I underlined above brought tears to my voice.  I am thankful to belong to a Church that has storehouses filled with supplies to help those in need.

It is clear that caring for our fellowman is the highest priority to God.  It needs to be mine as well.
Many times I have heard people say they will protect their food storage from others or give the ‘old wheat’ to their neighbors.  We are being taught otherwise.  Shouldn't we be willing to be as the widow who gave her last morsel of food to the prophet Elijah rather than feed her son and herself?  She and her son became the recipient of miracles.  To choose oneself over others is to deny God the opportunity to bless you-preventing Miracles. 

The Music Video of my Mind

Happy 4th of July!

Our house is proudly waving the flag.  When Craig raised the colors yesterday little tears moistened my eyes.  But, that was just one of many times yesterday that I felt emotional.  As we sang 'America the Beautiful' as the opening song in Sacrament meeting images of patriotic places we have visited and movies I have seen formed a music video in my mind. It happened as we sang later, 'The Star Spangled Banner', and then again as I visited another ward and 'The Battle Hymn of the Republic'.
Here is a clip from my mind's music video

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,

The Liberty Bell,

Constitution Hall

Gettysburg

The Lincoln Memorial

The National Mall

The Restoring Honor Rally 

Arlington Cemetery

 Boston, Massachusetts

The war scene from the movie "Friendly Persuasion"

The movie "Gettysburg"

and heroes:

George Washington

Benjamin Franklin

Thomas Jefferson

and other images flashed through my mind:

I am grateful for the great men and women God raised up to form this "the greatest nation on God's green earth."  (Michael Medved)


May Images of the FLAG+Singing Patriotic Hymns+ Patriotic Ponderings=
Happy 4th of July to you too!

Joy

"Joy is the feeling of grinning inside" Melba Congrove
If that is true...then what is Grinning Inside and OUT?
Rejoicing.
What makes me Grin on the Inside and Out?  
FAMILY
Recently our children and grandchildren gathered to celebrate the baptism of Italia. She looked beautiful and felt excited for her special day.

It was a week of fun and games with our family.  Rebecca and Ben were our host. All the children slept in the cleaned out garage which not only contained beds for them but a TV and fan.  Between swimming in their pool and playing in the garage we hardly saw the children.  Watching them enjoy each other was a great joy.  Craig and I are grateful that our family would make such tremendous efforts to come together.  Shannon drove with her 2 boys. Joel and Lori made the very long trek all in one day. Jeff and Kelli flew over.   Ben took off work!  Rebecca was a gracious hostess as we swooped down upon their home.
Here are the faces of our grandchildren.  They squeeze my heart!

 Steele age 14

Slater age 11

Carter age 11

 Micah and Corbin age 6

Cooper age 4

Makayla and Italia age 8

 

Ledger age 1

Ledger's birthday was celebrated while we were there.  He loved opening presents and eating a chocolate cupcake.  This little guy is very easy going and adorable.  

FRIENDS
Jan and I are so grateful to have our dear friends, John and Lura, home recuperating from their terrible accident (This isn't the greatest photo...sorry, Lura.  What kind of blogger am I?)

 


JESUS CHRIST

He is the reason we can Rejoice.

It is because of Jesus Christ. Only because of Him.  Through Him there is Hope, Joy, Kindness, Forgiveness, and Love.  Because of Him we have commandments which when obeyed cause Peace, Happiness and Confidence.  Because of Him a way is provided to Return to the presence of Heavenly Father. Because of Him we can Love and Be Loved. 

It's Great to be a Grandma

It is great to be a Grandma. 
TODAY:  I called my sister who said with excitement in her voice, "Guess who is here!"  Of course, the answer is: Grandchildren!!!!!!!!!
TODAY: 5 year old Micah called on the phone, from Utah, "Hi. Grandma, I want to invite you to my Kindergarten graduation."  Of COURSE!  I will zoom Thither and Yon for you my darling.  But, can I really?  I want to!!!!!!!!! UTAH!!!!!!!!!
TODAY: Shannon is asking if we can babysit the weekend of their anniversary!!!!!!!!YES!!! I will.  Oh, dear can I?  Well, I hope so.
TODAY: Rebecca needs help planning Italia's baptism.  "Could you come earlier than you are planning to help me get organized?"  YES!!!!!!! Oh.  Wait.  Can I?
TODAY:  I will take a NAP.
Meanwhile let me introduce you to my adorable Grandson, Cooper, aka Indiana Jones.  He is 4.  Don't mess with him.

April in Utah

Another Catch Up post for me.  Seems I am always behind on my posts.  Since I am probably the one who enjoys my blog the most...why apologize?  I am perfectly happy to read my 'old stories'.

The first weekend of April Craig and I drove to Utah.  Sunday we were at Joel's house watching General Conference with his family.

Craig and Micah played Conference Bingo

 Makayla and I made paper flower streamers for her bedroom

 Jeff joined us for the day

We celebrated Joel's birthday.  We all benefited from the delicious meals Lori made him for breakfast and dinner.  His birthday cake was bread pudding made with homemade bread.  Yumm.

Driving through Brigham on our way to visit Craig's Mother

 We spotted a temple in construction

 Sweet Mom.  Even though a fair amount of her memory has been erased by a stroke ( she thinks she is 105 years old) she still has her pleasant ways.

On the way to the zoo one day we drove right past Kelli's work!  So, we stopped to surprise her.

This was the ONE beautiful non rainy day of our trip. Weren't we fortunate?

 Micah dares to drink water

 Makayla and I spent a long time looking at the butterfly exhibit.  They are gorgeous.  Heavenly Father had fun creating these beauties.  There were red, white and blue ones.  Every color combination imaginable.  This one was neon.

Grandpa took the kids to the dollar store.

If you are a princess looking for a dress for the ball you would shop at Bliss.  This store sent Makayla and I into dithers. 

 We made Snow cones from SNOW!

It feels sad to pack up the house Craig's Mom has lived in for 60 years.  We spent much of our time during this trip deciding what to do with her belongings.  Some of them came home with us.  Craig is a super duper packer. 

 On the way to and from Utah we stayed with Sherrie and Reg in their 'mansion'. They hate to have it called that but a fact is a fact.  It was wonderful to see them and Jim and Nancy.  We ate together, caught up on all our families, talked about the pitiful state of our government, ate together, and laughed.  It was ...did I say we ate together?...such fun.
  We have been friends with Reg and Sherrie for 30 years! 

I wish I had a photo of Nancy.  When we were together I couldn't find my camera!!!