Halloween Costumes

Hi World, We are back. Our vacation was taken partly because we couldn't find our camera for a long time. Apparently, I put it up because the kids played dress up and took MANY pictures, and putting it in a perfect out of the way place, I couldn't find it for girls camp in October, which was a huge success, (best year yet) or for documenting our latest and greatest darling grandbaby girl, Katie Olivia. But, alas, I did find it for the Tour de Safford ride so here ya go = Mel and Kevin in their Halloween costumes before wearing them on their bikes for 66 miles. Aren't they cute? Then, I got to spend the day with my 8th grade best friend. When we met a couple of months back after not seeing each other for 37 years, it was a happy day, like Alma and the sons of Mosiah type meeting. So here we are dressed up as ourselves 37 years later.

Rearranged

Our loft got magically rearranged tonight and when I find the camera you'll all be able to see the most amazing transformation an eleven, ten, six and five year old can make very quietly in about 30 minutes. Seriously, they moved the heavy book cases together just like I had dreamed for months of doing but I was too wimpy to move and the bench is by the south wall so that little ones can no longer hang over the scary ledge of the loft to scare me to death, and the "classroom" has a complete new look, topped off with the lovely Christmas floral arrangement on top of the bookcase. I really love the whole lay out. My granddaughters are going to be interior designers for sure. They've already got a happy client!

We could use a little more

I don't get to see this too often and personally I think we could use a little more. Is there rain anywhere in the forcast?

Happy Birthday, I ate too much

Once again, it was Arlene's birthday and we went out to eat. I always eat too much when I go with Arlene. She has had quite a year, but got word for her birthday that her 6 month infection is gone. Hip (literally) Hip Hooray! We forgot to take the camera this year so here's a picture from her party two year's ago. She's smaller this year, and I'm bigger. What can I say? Happy Birthday, I ate too much!

made my day

"Gratsmylations!" Oakley exclaimed. Doesn't that just make your day? Here are just a few of the things that have made my day, lately. First of all, having a clean truck makes me happy and the Liahona girls had a camp fundraiser car wash. Parker was so happy to visit this weekend. I love that he treats me like a favorite. Isn't he big?
Liz picked fake glasses for her school accessory of choice. Can't wait to see her with them.
Then our stake did an amazing service project and the young women had the opportunity to go buy shoes for a school for homeless children. It was Marina's birthday and she was there selecting shoes for someone else. I came home and found that Kevin had snuck in my house and done the dishes. Now there's a way to get on my good side! Yesterday while Oakley was saying a blessing on the food, Reese folded his arms, so I praised him, then looked at Nate who gave the "I'm cute" look and immediately folded his arms for a second or two. Totally made my day. You'd think they were in their white shirts and ties, they were so reverent!



And then this morning, we had a Mary sighting. We hadn't seen her for a couple of months and I was worried that the summer had been too hot for her, but no, she's still eating the garden. Yay! My day has been made, yet again. Such simple joys. I think I need to start looking for and recording all the tender mercies and simple joys of my days. Little philosophizing moment: This life is a journey of happiness as we follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, not to happiness, but a path of happiness on the journey of life. Have a happy day!

Toilet Talk

This morning as I did the Monday toilet clean, I thought how great it would be to have a composting toilet. Mariann showed me these marvels on our trip recently. She has always seemed very organized and a super cleaner, and if this is her dream, it's mine too. The great thing is that when we walked into this bathroom, it smelled fresh, with no hint of compost or any other odor. Where do we go to get one of these? To me, this is right up there with the stainless steel kitchen, with power hose and drain in the middle. Now that's talking.

Jones Grandpa's visit

Mel recently returned from a fun visit with these guys. His intentions were to make sure Chris' motorcycle was in tiptop shape and then the two of them would ride off into the sunrise to a motorcycle rally and enjoy the heck out of a week. But circumstances allowed for a different useful use of time in building a deck and enjoying the whole fam. Not one picture was taken. I imagine they were having too much fun or didn't have the annoying picture taker around telling them to stand over there somewhere.

Courage

Recently Mariann and I attended the Benjamin Franklin Johnson family reunion of our 4th great grand father's descendants. I dared her to say "hi Cuz!" to everyone she met, but she didn't do it once. Our famous author cousins, Keri and Marcie, have written four volumes of historical fiction about this man's family and I found them very descriptive and interesting. But after Elaine found the rattlesnake story on page 113 of his own autobiography, I started reading My Life's Review with such an interest that I can't put it down.

One entry I found telling of his moral courage when arrested at age twenty in Missouri, basically for being a hated Mormon. He was kept outside in the snow for eight days without a coat, blanket or warmth, food was never offered to him, threats of death in the most inhumane ways given on a constant basis. He said that this was the most terrible ordeal he had ever passed through. But he had been taught to tell the truth and prayed that he could tell the truth without implicating anyone else. On interrogation the Justice realized that he couldn't proceed as he wished and jumped up in anger, declaring that he would have nothing more to do with the matter and to do whatever they pleased with Benjamin. They took him back to the guard and the common talk was that he was to be shot. Often they would said to him, "Now if you would only give names of some others and help to convict them you might go free."

Benjamin said that he asked himself, "Which would require the greatest bravery--to stand up like a man and be shot, or like a dog, live to be despised by all who loved me; to make my parents who now loved me ashamed to own me, and my brothers and darling sisters, to think how they would weep for my shame, also those who had died and begged me to be faithful--could I endure such a living death?" Every feeling within me responded, "No! I am too great a coward ever to meet those I love, who are good and pure, and feel myself a traitor." My whole soul gave the verdict that I would not save my life at such a price.

To me this is courage of high caliber. Blessed, honored pioneers!

Donald Elmo

Today is the anniversary of the birth of Donald Elmo 88 years ago. Happy Birthday to the man who taught me to fold fitted sheets. I loved this positive man who always referred to me as beautiful. I'm sure he's busy orchestrating some event. By the way, I need some help with my computer skills. Donald only taught me the importance of learning to type.

Goin' to Salt Lick

Beautiful as an Arizona Sunrise

About this time thirty-one years ago, I was frantically washing my elbow length hair. Why do I remember this? I was feeling contractions about two minutes apart, and even though the doctor had told me just the afternoon before not to expect my baby for about two weeks, this was the real deal. It was a Friday and Mel had a test at school that morning so he had been up late studying. He was in his pedo rotation. He usually rode his bike the thirteen miles to school, but was planning to car pool with Mark Peterson and Bob Critchfield that day. It was Mark's turn to drive. Mel called Mark to tell him he wouldn't be riding and to ask if Shelley could watch our other kids while we went to the hospital. It was a foggy morning, because we weren't in Arizona, and I remember how little our three looked getting out of the car and running with their blankets through the wet air into our friends house. At the hospital, the nurse checked me and her eyes grew wide as she ran for the doctor. He came in and literally caught our baby as she entered the world at 6:30 AM, not more than a very few minutes after our arrival at the hospital. It was the first time Mel was in the delivery room and it all made him a little light headed. But she was as beautiful as an Arizona sunrise, and had we been in Arizona, there may have been a beautiful sunrise, but we weren't. She was Sara. The doctor was surprised that she was more than four pounds, like he had predicted and that she came so soon. So, I was fine, she was fine, and Mel was fine, so he went to school and took his test and went on to the pedo clinic to finish out his day. Happy Beautiful Arizona Sunrise! Happy Birthday Sara!

What would we do without her?

She is amazing! She willingly shares her talents and abilities at the expense of her own time and sleep and continues to smile. Thank you sweet Sara!

The Gila Valley Temple is dedicated and beautiful

Philippians 4:7- And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Important Reminder

As I came home today after a sweet day with the little boys, being a little self absorbed with my list and realizing that a throw up smell was soaking my shirt, I received this reminder of what I really want to be like from one of my favorite ladies.
"I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with perfectly manicured fingernails.

I want to drive up in a stationwagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp.

I want to be there with grass stains on my shoes from mowing my neighbor's lawn.

I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbor's children.

I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden.

I want to be there with the children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder.

I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived." ~Marjorie Pay Hinckley

Now I realize that "no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom..." (3 Nephi 27:19) but I think this is a pretty humbling reminder from a beautifully nearly perfect lady. I think I'll just keep this shirt on a while longer.

Mocking is for the birds

Mr. Mockingbird lives here. He is very protective of his home and is a little like one of our children who had the rest of the family convinced that he owned half the house. This guy doesn't really care who makes the mortgage payments, because he OWNS the yard and dive bombs anyone who threatens his domain in the Spring. Well, happily, Spring must be done, because I didn't get dive bombed today when I went out into the back yard. You'd think you would need a large and spacious building to do your mocking. Apparently not. It gives me one reason to like Summer.

getting a sister

Happiest news of the week, the boys get another sister. Who looks the most excited?

Look Up!

Paria's beauty was not shown in my last post. Please enjoy the scenery that we continually marvelled over for three days as we passed through it. Sometimes because we were looking down, our breath was taken away as we looked up.








Isn't it stunningly beautiful? And for a better play by play account, please read Alyson's blog at nielson6forever.blogspot.com or just click on Nielson's on this blog. Seriously, you'll feel like you went with us. Maybe you are the one carrying the poo bag. Just look up!