NEW YEAR'S EVE

God bless all of you...our family and friends. Hope your year of 2009 was a peaceful one for you. Tomorrow brings not only a new day, but a new year...a new beginning. Have you decided what you are going to "aim" for? My blog entry on procrastination was more of a letter for me. My cousin's wife Paule shared with me her success of being organized, on time and definitely not a procrastinator. Here are a few of her thoughts"

"I pay my bills the day they come in. I address my Christmas cards in September.
I buy my Christmas decorations and cards the day after Christmas for the following
year while they are on sale. I Christmas shop all year at any and all sales I can find."

I dearly admire Paule. She is something else. Always on the ball.

We can all learn from one another. What have you learned from a family member or friend that you have taken upon yourself and made life less stressful, fun and that you don't have to label yourself as a PROCRASTINATOR????

More January 1, 2010...the new beginning.

Mimi's Thought for the Day: Tomorrow never comes....be smart, do it today.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Just had to say Merry Christmas to all our friends. I hope you have had a wonderful day with celebrating the season of love and giving and sharing.

Our family celebrated on Christmas Eve and it was fantastic. What a joy to hear laughter and see shining faces and huge smiles. We have a great time together.

Brent and Carolyn flew home to Moses Lake and Mark brought his sweet and beautiful friend Jeanette. She just fits right into our family. Seems like we have known her forever. What a doll!

Ned and I gave our traditional presentation of gifts, but this year we honored each adult individually. Everyone had to guess who I was describing. Such as: "This person loves to make fudge when they are not dropping turkeys." Immediately everyone guessed Bruce. Cute story behind his "turkey dropping". We then gave to every family a large bag of chocolate chips from Costco and some miniature marshmallows and a big spoon to stir it all. Another "honoring" was: "This person loves our flag" and before I could get any more out...like the words Thousand Island dressing and caffeine free Coke...they guessed our son in law Don who is in Afghanistan. Every family got a small flag, bottle of Thousand Island and a liter of caffeine free diet Coke. So went the evening for each of our children and their spouses. For the grandchildren, I did them all together with the words, "This person used to come over every Friday and have lunch at my house. The lunch was macaroni and cheese and tuna sandwiches cut into fourths". All hands of our grandchildren went up. They remember those traditional Fridays and so do I!!!!

We played many group games and we were laughing so hard that I don't think there was a dry eye in the room. Much fun. Choice memories for our future.

A gift that I received from all of my children was a calendar with each page showing lots of family pictures on it....but that is not the only thing...on the calendar pages was marked birthdays and anniversaries...AND...every Sunday was marked with my children's names and that meant that for that entire week that son or daughter of ours, along with their wife or husband and their children would do something to help Ned and I out...whatever our needs were OR they would have us over for dinner one of the days of "their" week. I cried. What a beautiful precious gift. I have to thank my beautiful daughter in law Tina for making this gift....she knows the computer well and does such an outstanding job.

At this moment I have a turkey in the oven and so we will have turkey dinner for our daughter Julie and her children (they always have us over every Christmas) and our son Brad who is visiting with us a few days.

Things are good....good day...good times ....good friends....good to celebrate the man and His exemplar life. I love our Savior with all my heart and soul.

Mimi's Thought for the Day: If you are hurting right at this moment, find something to replace that hurt for a time with what you do have. Think of having a warm bed, a roof over your head, one pair of shoes to wear, water in your faucet, crackers in your cupboard. Now put a smile on your face. The majority of the people of this world do not have any of the things you do. Next picture our Savior Jesus Christ sitting beside you, holding you tightly, and telling you to lean on Him...to cast your burdens His way. He loves you and so do I!!!!

MOTORMOUTH IS AT IT AGAIN!

I know I talk too much...evident by my long postings. Soon as I get pictures up...you will see less words. (I hope!!!) lol

Mimi's Thought for the Day: The most beautiful thing in the world is a tongue. The ugliest thing in the world is a tongue. I hope my "motormouth" tongue is never an ugly tongue. Guard your words as a representation of who you are.

ARE YOU READY? GET ON YOUR MARK.........

Procrastinators abound. Every morning when I get up, I see one looking at me in the mirror. Do you know one or more in your life?

Ask yourself the following questions:
1. Do I have my gift shopping done?
2. Do I have the presents wrapped?
3. Have I done my Christmas cards?
4. Is my Christmas tree up?
5. Have I mailed the Christmas cards?
6. Have I bought the food for Christmas dinner?
7. Do I have the house "company ready"?
8. Have I mailed the packages that go out of town?

If you answered no to most or all of the above questions, then CONGRATULATIONS!!!! You qualify to become a member of my organization called "The Worthy Procrastinators". A wonderful group of women. Notice I said WOMEN. I have yet seen or heard of a man qualified to be a member. Never heard of a man doing all the shopping, wrapping, decorating, doing Christmas cards, buying food and doing all the baking and cooking, getting the house ready for guests. They are stress free and enjoying the season of giving and sharing. Who has more grey in their hair? Who has more wrinkles? Who has tears?

Have you ever been in a store on Christmas Eve? You will find many procrastinators walking around with a panic look on their faces. Shelves are empty, no choices to be had, long lines, you can see and hear the impatience of some people. Oh what we do to ourselves.

I remember well the time I found out I was a procrastinator and that was when I was about 14 or 15 years old. I lived in Medford, Oregon and on Christmas Eve I headed to Mann's Department store to buy my mother a gift. The store closed at 6:00. I was so panicky. I looked at blouses, sweaters, skirts...my amount of money was minimal. I looked at slips...full slips and half slips. I went back to the pajamas, slippers. Then I heard it, "the store will be closing in five minutes." I felt so alone. I had to get my mother something. I grabbed a half slip, ran to the checkout stand and paid for the item, left the store wondering if it was "enough" of a gift that my mother would be happy. I then started to doubt my choice, but it was too late.

Half slips don't make a very big package, but I folded it neatly, wrapped it in pretty Christmas paper, used special ribbon and then a tag that said, "To Mom. Love, Dee"....Dee being my nickname. On Christmas day my mother opened her gift. She smiled, she oohed and touched it to her cheek feeling the softness of the slip. You would have thought I have given her an expensive gift. I was so relieved. I was happy that she was happy.
I put myself through so much stress though. Did it help me in my future? No! In high school I was in charge of getting the live band for the upcoming Junior/Senior prom. I waited too long and we had to get the same band we had the year before. Again I procrastinated.
What else do we put off "doing" in our lives? How about family history? Oh, I will do it when I have more time. How about food storage? I don't think we will ever need it. How about homework? Aha, you children feel the stress of that one. How about service to others, getting a better education, going on a diet....I could go on and on. Some of us have a nature to put off and we are going to be the ones "caught" time and time again.
Come join my club. I have had lots of members come and go...they finally get the message and go back into the world determined to do better in all walks of life...religion, family, work, education, health and yes get do their Christmas shopping throughout the year instead of the last week of Christmas or even the day before.
This is suppose to be a season of joy, of love and not a season of stress and tears. I would love to disband my procrastinators club.

Mimi's Thought for the Day: You have heard the saying that goes something like this: " Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today." It reminds me of my kitchen. I love to get up to a clean kitchen and not a sink full or counter full of dinner dishes and pan. Often when I am tired or don't feel good I hear the words in my head: "Don't leave today's work for tomorrow". My husband will often say, "The maid will get them in the morning." Guess who the maid is? When I arise in the morning I do not want to walk out, see yesterdays work sitting there...that is procrastination. Teach your children or yourself the value of doing today and not putting off until tomorrow. You will be so proud that you strengthened yourself with resolve to do it now and not put it off.
Mimi's Happy Thought: A very Merry Christmas and a wonderful 2010 to all my family and friends. God bless you today and always and hold you close to Him.

MY "LITTLE BOYS"

I am one of the most blessed grandmothers on the face of the earth. What incredible grandchildren I have. I may be bias...but I say "not"....they are the most beautiful children...physically and spiritually. They love life and they love me. They are the ones who remind me that heaven is close by; that God loves me and gave me these joyous grandchildren; that when the storms gather in my life, these children brings me the rainbows and sunshine that brightens me.

I love them all. Words cannot describe what is in my heart. I thank my children for bringing these grandchildren into my life. I am always overwhelmed by their choice spirits. First grandchild was Brent who is married to Carolyn Jackson, going to BYU Provo and was the first boy born into our family. After that came eleven girls. Brent was my little man. I also felt bad that he did not have any boy cousins to play with, but he was happy to be the center of attention with all the men in the family and he got to go with the men on the tractors, combines and such. After the eleven girls, came six boys in a row and these six comprise my "little boys".

They are Joshua 13, Matthew 12, Landon 11, Derek 11, Ryan 9 and Kyle 9. Just putting down their names brings tears to my eyes and a swelling of love in my heart. They all love sports and yesterday that was very much evident. I have not been able to go to any of their basketball games because of some health issues, but I finally made it to Ryan and Kyle's games. Next week will be the other's games and I hope to attend. These little men....a couple of them already taller than I....treat me like a queen.

Today I will focus on the littlest of the "little boys"...I would like to tell you about the youngest two..Kyle and Ryan.

I like everything about them. Example: both are exceptional students in school, but also glowing reports of their maturity and behavior at school is outstanding. On a personal level I like what gentlemen they are. They open doors for me; say thank you, please; I love their giggles, their innocence, their hugs, their compliments. They want to help me up and down steps, carry my purse, just anything to make my life easier.

I wish you could see their sweet smiles that just light up my heart. No description can do it justice. I could go on and on. I never have to discipline them. They are models of greatness already. I have often said that everyone needs to have a Ryan or a Kyle in their family because of the purity of their souls and the light of Christ that is always on their faces.

What did I do to deserve such angels in my life? Thank you Father for these precious, wonderful, caring grandsons.

Mimi's Thought for the Day: God's proof of His love for us is that he has entrusted us with His wonderful children to love and teach while they are here upon the earth. Our proof of our love for God is to show in action, word and deed to do everything we can to help them walk uprightly and to be able to return to their Father in Heaven. We who are parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, teachers, friends, neighbors, etc....we all are responsible for His "little" ones.

WHAT A JOY!!

I hope your Thanksgiving day was filled with not only a delicious meal, but that you were surrounded by family and friends. Everything went perfect at our home except for the matriarch of the family. I had to lay down. I sort of missed out on all the fun but I could hear it and as I laid there on my bed I heard the "belly laughing" of the men, the children outdoors playing in the dark and having the time of their lives. I could hear the women and children laughing so hard that I think one or two fell off of their chairs as they were playing games around the different tables. We had 31 people show up and still had room for more. All of my children were home and that was the first Thanksgiving in many years that we had that experience. All of the grandchildren were there with the exception of Brent and his wife Carolyn back at BYU in Provo and Brent's sister Heather who was in North Carolina visiting friends.
We all talked about what we were thankful for and the first one to speak was 11 year old Landon. He said he was thankful for his family. None of us could repeat what he said so we had to come up with something different, even though that was on the mind of all of us. We had our daughter Julie say she was thankful for freedom and that her husband was home from Afghanistan; another said they were thankful for the Gospel and another said for Jesus Christ. It was good to hear the deep feelings of everyone. We are a thankful family...we have been given much...bounteous blessings. Of course we have had pains and hurts like everyone else, but we are a family who bounces back, supports and loves one another...that is what I am most thankful for...my family...just like Landon said.

Mimi's Thought For the Day: We all at times desire some material item...could be fancy ipod, camera, tv, car, house, etc. We work hard and spend extra time in trying to have the latest and the best. Can we take those items with us when we leave our earthly life? I suggest that you spend your time on the greatest treasure you will ever have....time with your family. They will not remember the Christmas gifts, birthday gifts, etc., but they will remember the fishing trips, the picnics, the hikes, building a tree house, raking leaves, building snowmen, playing games, sitting at the table as a family for dinner and being together at church. Let's build on something we can "take with us" and in turn we will leave behind precious memories for our loved ones.

THANKFUL HEART

Here it is the day before Thanksgiving and all I can think of is a tragedy that happened back in the 70's. When I think of pumpkin pies I always think of that day..the day a young boy was killed near our home. He and his cousin had taken a motorcycle and were trying to bury it in a mountain of sand. They were digging a tunnel when the sand collapsed. The younger boy was able to get out. He could not get the motorcycle started and so he ran from one home to another in our rural area, but finding no one at the closer homes...even then they were far apart. By the time he reached our place it had to be 45 minutes to an hour after the accident. I dropped my pie making and sought out Ned's dad who lived next door and two of my older sons Bruce about 12 and Craig 10. We got in our station wagon and drove to the county owned sand "mountain" where I dropped off my family so they could start digging. I wasn't thinking that the mountain could collapse on them too. I then left in the car and went to the Verlyn Cole home and burst into their house. We called emergency and I went and parked at the corner to show the emergency vehicles where the out of the way place this sand mountain was, while the Coles went to the site to help. By the time I arrived it was dark, but crowded with people. Mrs. Cole came up to me and put her arm around me and said, "it's too late...he is dead". I broke apart then. All I could say was that I should have been there..Ned's dad did not know CPR, but I later learned that the boy died within minutes as sand was in his nose and down his mouth. It is really hard to shake an experience like that and not let it consume my thanksgiving time.

I am so very thankful for the myriad of blessings that people have today so that we can communicate in so many ways. Cell phones for one. That boy probably would have had a cell phone on him and he could have called for help immediately. I could have called also instead of running all over trying to find neighbor help. I could have reached Ned for his help too.

I am grateful for the help of family in good times and in bad. We have learned to pull together and to give support in all things.

I am grateful for the time we do stop to thank God for our blessings that He has giving us...our families, our friends, our community, our homes, the Gospel and His Son.

On Thanksgiving Day we gather our loved ones together and we all praise God with something we are thankful for. I already know that all of us are grateful to be an earthly family and pray that we will have the opportunity to be an eternal one.

I want to say how thankful I am for you...my loved ones, my friends who are reading this. May your day be full of fun, smiles, laughter and enjoyment. We don't need turkey and all the fixings to have a good time...we just need hugs and show love and have lots of belly laughs.

Pumpkin pie was my mom's favorite....that is what I should think of and let the past be.

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS MY TWO FRONT TEETH

Recently I have been singing the song, "All I Want For Christmas is My Two Front Teeth".

Would you believe that on Nov 16th ...that I got an early Christmas present. Okay, I paid for it by myself. No Santa Claus, elf, fairy or hubby chimed in with any of the "dollars" but I still call it a present...a present to me from me! I have been having my teeth whitened just a little. In doing so my two front teeth stayed the same color. Why? If you read my blog post about "Patricia" you will learn what I did to those two front teeth as a teenager. In the 1970's the local dentist Dr. Schaffer fixed them by putting a material on them that lasted over 30 years. Now that I have had my teeth bleached I had to get the two front teeth redone to match all my other teeth. It is called a "domino effect". Isn't that the way it goes...turns out to be more of an expense that is for sure. But now they match my bleached teeth. Has anyone noticed the change in me? No!!! That's okay...don't mind a bit. I notice and that is to whom I did it for ......ME!!! I have not done something for me in many, many years and I decided it was time. So now I have my two front teeth...polished, gleaming and WHITE!! Wonder what I want to buy myself next? Hmmmm......stay tuned!

MIMI'S THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: I went visiting teaching recently and I gave each one we visited a banana. I showed them the scars, bruising, dents, etc., on the outside peeling. The inside was pure, white, and beautiful. I used this teaching prop to demonstrate how we can judge others by their appearance and we shun them and thus do not get to see the real person inside...the heart of the person and how good, beautiful and wonderful that child of God is. God does not judge us by appearance and we should not do so either. He knows the "inside" of us. God loves us all...ALL!!! Get to know the "inside" of a person....never judge them by their "scars", their "bruises", their "dents". You will be missing out on some of God's choicest treasures....His beloved children.

FUN! FUN! FUN!

Who was it that said "fun was something only children had"? Hmmm, I must still be a child then. True I can no longer run, get on a grass hill and roll down, play baseball, tennis or even walk very well. But instead of dwelling of what I cannot do, I think of what I can do. I can still tease, joke, plan parties, go to grandchildren's sports activities, piano or dance recitals, birthday parties, family get togethers, etc. Do I have fun? That is a very thought provoking question. Yes I have fun. Do I get tired? Yes I get tired. Why do I call all of this fun if I get tired, my body hurts and I can only get free from the pain in my recliner or my bed? Why? Because my family is my world. They make me laugh. They make me cry....but those tears are tears of joy and feeling so proud of them. My family is my sunrise and my sunset. I may be a spectator now, but it is a glowing, smiling, laughing, albeit in pain, spectator.
Yesterday was the first time I had been to church in months. It was a good day to go as my heart was filled with seeing our chapel filled with God's little angels. It was our Primary Children's Sacrament Program which was entitled My Eternal Family. It was a meeting full of a permanent smile on my face along with tears and pride. I saw my young grandsons Derek, Landon and Kyle all sing together in a trio. I am sure Ryan would have been with them but he was in Japan with his family. I only found out later that Kyle and the boys from his class were to sing it, but for one reason or another...some absent, some scared, etc., Kyle was the only one, so his brother Landon and his cousin Derek who are in their last year of Primary, volunteered to sing with Kyle. It was beautiful. Was that fun? Yes, the kind of fun that makes your heart hold tight to that picture in your mind that you never want to forget. Oh how I wish I would have had a video camera or a digital camera. I saw how the older children consistently helped the little children with their parts, or made sure that they were standing in the front as they were the tiny ones. Talking with daughter in law Mindi (who is our ward's Primary President), she said the children were not asked to do that...it just came naturally for them. Just hard to explain it all so you would have a feeling of what I felt. I guess the best description I could give was seeing a bit of heaven right here on earth. A petite 8 year old girl stood and played her violin accompaning all the children as they sang about families. She played beautifully...she must have weighed all of 65 lbs. Beautiful little angel. Did she make life "fun" for everyone. Indeed. Some of the ways the children presented their parts was so cute, enduring and at times comical...you could easily hear laughter from the congregation or look around and see big smiles on their faces.
We all came away from Sacrament meeting a little.....no...greatly inspired and spiritually fed by the choice young souls that touched our lives.
Last night was a combined birthday party....just family...for Marquel and Heidi who are cousins born 18 days apart. Did we have fun? A different kind of fun than was had at the Primary children's program. The birthday celebration was full of giggles, great laughter (our family loves to laugh) and a time to show love for one another. It is such a joy to see my grandchildren show love for one another. They are not only cousins but best friends. I love seeing the friendship my daughter and daughter in laws have with one another and the closeness that the men have with one another. We take time to give hugs, say 'I love you' and do so often, help one another through the "thick and thin" of life. We aren't noble. We aren't great. We aren't perfect. But we do love, care for, pray for, lean to, encourage and try to help one another all we can. We have fun together. I have fun being a mother, mother in law, grandmother and matriarch to these wonderful children of God that I call my family.
Yes I wish I could get out there and play sports with them, go sledding, ice-skating, whatever they would like, but I know that there is a time and a season for everything and my season has changed and I must now be the spectator...the audience...the cheerleader for my eternal family.

Mimi's Thought for the Day: Are you having "fun" in your life? Has your life become a routine of get up, shower, clean house, go to school, go to work, come home, fix dinner, do dishes, go to bed. Well join about 6 billion of us on the face of the earth that has a similar routine. The "fun" will come with what you put into or take out of your routine. Some suggestions: set the timer and challenge yourself to get the bathrooms (or other rooms) clean before timer goes off; try new recipes; make a new friend; do something nice every day for someone else; leave a love note in your husband's drawer or your child's lunchbox; when grocery shopping find opportunities to smile, pick up fallen merchandise, let someone else go ahead of you in line; send a card to someone you love or know and brighten their day......I think you get the idea. Have "fun" creating "fun" in your life. Whatever you do...just be sure to belly laugh each day....feels sooooooo good.

TELL ME WHAT YOU DO TO HAVE "FUN" !

PICTURES COMING....I HOPE

Just wanted to let you know that hopefully I will be putting pictures on my blog very soon. Daughter in law Tina knows how....yippee...it will be more interesting to you I am sure, just because a picture is worth a thousand words and then maybe old motormouth here won't be "talking" so much. lol

PATRICIA.......

Isn't that just the most beautiful name. When I think of her a flood of memories come back. There is a mixture of laughter, giggles and tears.
Pat and I are first cousins...we were like sisters...and in fact, we were. Neither of us had a sister and so we became each other's sister. She had a brother named Frank who was two years older than us. There was nothing I would not do to please him. I can remember ironing his pants and getting the crease down the front and the back just right. Frank was tall, very blond, blue-eyed and had the most charming smile. Pat and Frank were very blessed with being very beautiful and handsome.
Pat and I are different physically. Pat's parents were fair in color, but my mother...the sister of Pat's mom...had darker features...dark hair, dark eyes and a little darker of skin. Pat was much like my mother except Pat has hazel eyes. Now I inherited Pat's mom's coloring...fair, blue-eyed and even my face is shaped like hers. We always claimed that our mother's switched babies. She and I are the same age only separated by six weeks. I am older, but not wiser.
Because of family circumstances I went to live with her family for my 8th and 9th grades of school. The best years of my young life. I had love, good meals, security and happy that I got to live with my favorite cousin.
Fun times. There was a rocking chair on the front porch. Pat and I sat in there together and would eat lemons and sunflower seeds and watch the traffic go by on Jackson Street in our home town of Medford. How we loved those treats, but little did we know that we were eating the enamel off our two front teeth.
Every Saturday was our responsibility to clean the whole house. We put all the "jobs" on separate pieces of paper, folded them up and put them in a bowl from which we would draw our "jobs" for the day. Every night we had to do the dishes...no dishwashers in those days except human ones. I would wash one night, she would dry. The next night we switched. Sometimes in the process of doing the dishes, one of us would have to go to the bathroom and that meant, at times, that we both would go into this large bathroom and keep one another company. One on the throne and the other on the laundry hamper...using it as a chair. We were always talking. Then back together into the kitchen continuing on with our chores and talking. The chrome was polished on the stove and refrigerator each night, the kitchen swept..all immaculate. These were just great years.
Pat and I slept together in a double bed. That bed had to be made every morning before school. One time we were running late...school was two blocks away. During our classes we were requested to come to the office where they was a message for us to get home immediately and make our bed. The school excused us and we ran home..made our bed and returned to finish our class. Needless to say we never left home without the room looking it's best.
At the dinner table my aunt fixed very nice meals..Pat and I always set the table. The family sat down together, talked and sometimes I would play a game with Pat. When she would take a bite of potatoes, I took a bite. When she wiped her mouth with the napkin, I wiped mine. When she took a drink of her water, I took a drink of mine. I would do this until she noticed and then we both would burst into laughter. You were never allowed to leave the table after you finished eating until you said, "May I please be excused?" Permission was always granted.
Pat and I loved to go to bed with Velveeta cheese sandwiches with lots of lettuce on them. We would put our sandwich on a small plate, cut it in half and proceed to the bedroom. This was all done after the nightly bath...no shower.., hair put in curlers or bobby pin curls for the next day and pajamas on. We would grab some of our romance magazines, get into bed with our legs pulled up, open the magazine and proceed to eat, read and relax. One time, after following this procedure, I started to take a second bite of my sandwich when I noticed something extra in it. Oh ugh.....there laid a slug. We had washed the lettuce but apparently not too carefully. Neither one of us could eat after that...so lights were put out and once in a while you could hear a groan or two. To this day, Pat and I inspect every leaf of lettuce we intend to use...front, back , sideways!!!!!!
I could go on and on about this wonderful "sister" of mine. We have not seen each other for years. She sends me pictures once in awhile of her. She is so beautiful with her darker skin, her gorgeous smile. She looks in her 30's, not 70. I want her to remember me the way I used to look...fair, blue-eyed, no fat and always smiling. Those were the days. I love her with all my heart and soul. She is one of the best things that ever happened to me. I thank God for her. My Pat. My Patty-cake. My Patricia.

Mimi's Thought for the Day: Send someone in your past a card, a letter. Tell them how they touched your life. I promise you that by doing this....you will touch theirs.

FAMILY HISTORY

Just recently three of my grandchildren...Maren, Makenna and Joshua.... went to the Temple to do baptismal work for members of our family. There were four joys experienced that day because of the unselfishness of these grandchildren who had already put in a full day of school, left right after school, made the trip to Tri-Cities, did the baptisms and confirmations and then on to their homes. Their comments to me where it was really great to be able to do family names. I knew which child was going to do what name and therefore I wrote them a personal letter and told as much as I knew about the person they were going to enter the water of baptism for. They told me that the person was more real to them and it made them feel closer to them.
I have been told that those having temple work done for them are required to be in the temple that day to witness every step of temple work: their baptism, confirmation, initiatory, priesthood confirmation, endowment, sealings. Only makes sense doesn't it. I have no doubt that our ancestors were there.

So the four "joys" I speak of are:

1. Did I ever dream that when I entered the water of baptism that one day my own grandchildren would be doing the same for themselves as well as members of the family? No, I did not. I was 15 years old and a convert and I had no idea what my decision was going to bring about...but now I see the fruits and joys of those decisions.

2. The joys that my grandchildren experienced in the temple and the anticipation of the work they were going to do for that deceased ancestor and how it would make them feel.

3. The joy that the ancestors witnessed that evening as they saw their own descendants enter into the font to perform that sacred ordinance in their behalf and then have the Priesthood of God confirm and give them the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

4. Last, but not least, the joy of our Heavenly Father as He saw these precious children of His enter the baptismal font in the Holy Temple and began the work for some of His other precious children.

What a marvelous feeling it is to be able to be of service in this most vital step of progression. I am very grateful that we have a temple so close by. We are blessed.

DEANNA, DO YOU KNOW WHAT?

As a very young child I remember my mother asking me the question "Deanna, do you know what?" I would answer in my little girl voice "What?". She then would say, "You talk too much."
Well friends I do and this blog has been my friend, sounding board, etc. But I have noticed that my posts are too long so I will try to make them shorter and not "talk too much."
Have a beautiful day in the rain...love it. God bless all of you in need of comfort, healing, peace and love.

Mimi's Thought for the Day: A woman speaks twice as many words each day as a man. One of our gifts is the gift of gab. With that thought, we just need to be sure that our words are lovely, soothing and without the bite of gossip and pain to others. A tongue can be the loveliest thing in the world or it can be the ugliest. Have you checked your tongue lately?

I LOVE FALL TIME: COLORS, FRESH AIR, RAIN

I love rain. It is raining today in Moses Lake...love it...but my men cannot harvest corn today so they are bummed out about that, but I am looking at rain as a gift to us to help cleanse our air, settle the dust and give a much needed "drink" to our trees and shrubs and Fall flowers. Of course when our hay has been cut and it is drying and then it rains on it, I only see $$$$ signs that tell me we lost money because the hay got rained on.
I came from Medford, Oregon...near the Oregon-California border on Interstate 5. An absolutely beautiful town with old oak trees that "umbrella" many of the streets...like a canopy.
I have walked those streets many times and enjoyed the crunch of the leaves on the sidewalks and often would find myself kicking as I would walk so I could see the colorful leaves fly up from the sidewalk. These leaves were huge...some the size of dinner plates.
Autumn is my favorite time of the year, not only because of it's beauty but because it brings back the memories of my hometown. Cherished memories of life there with grandparents, mother, brother, aunts and uncles and wonderful cousins and of course dear friends.
Medford is where I found my life...my religious life. I found the church, was baptized at 15 and know that this became a decision that was to go beyond myself. Little did I know that I was paving a way of life for future generations...children, grandchildren and on and on. One day I will tell the story of the church in Medford...tiny little congregation to the present, which includes the Medford Temple.
Back to autumn time....I love the peaceful sound when rain falls. My husband dislikes having a bedroom window open, but if I could I would have it WIDE open so I could hear the sound of rain. I just knew that when I got married that one day I would have a house with a tin roof so I could hear the rain falling. What does it do for me? Sweet peace. Relaxed. Comfort. Calmness. Oh...forgot to tell you that I did not get my tin roof, but I can still dream about one.
I love to walk in the rain. My walking days have ended due to some physical problems, but the desire is still there. Sometimes I have even gone out and just let the rain "cleanse" me as baptism cleansed my soul.
I know some people "hate" the rain...but this person loves it and appreciates it. When I was very young I made up a poem about the rain. I cannot remember it except for the first few lines:
A little girl at the age of eleven
Watched the rain fall from heaven.
Mother was sleeping,
Brother was weeping.
That's it...no memory of the rest of it. My brother really was not crying, but I remember having to say that so I would have a word to rhyme with "sleeping."
Fall time is a time of beauty and is a time that the earth is getting ready to go to sleep so it can produce again in the spring and summer. We are so blessed to have the four seasons here in Moses Lake. I would not want to live where I could not experience the beautiful colors of autumn, the white snow of winter...which reminds me of a blanket for the earth; the peeking tips of green leaves to signal the flowers of spring and lastly, the summer which gives us our food, warm sun.....life in the earth is back and then it begins it's cycle all over again. God is good to us....He gave us a wonderful place to live.

What is your favorite time of year?

Mimi's Thought for the Day: God our Father, gave us the seasons of life for our good. Each season has it's purpose. One is for producing, one is for resting, one is for sleeping and one is for awakening. Have you noticed that this is "life"? You are awake..you are here on earth.You are in the springtime of your life. Then you are producing...you are serving and giving...the summer of your life..full of energy. You will reach the season of your life, call autumn/fall where you will go a little slower, see how mature you have become both physically and spiritually, yet marvel at this "season" as you reflect on what has been and what is to come. Then comes the time for your "sleeping"...the rest. But that is not the end!!!! The "season" of a new beginning will begin with no pain, no sorrow, no trials...only the good things of His creations all wrapped up into one package that is called life eternal.

JUDY'S HOME

Judy Wallace, a former resident of Moses Lake for several years, is home early from rehabilitation hospital. Her progress is coming along very quickly. She still has to have therapy...3 sessions a week with each session taking 3 hours. Her speech is clear but slow and tired sounding. She can feel her right hand but it is weak. She feels very fortunate to have survived this stroke and wanted me to tell all of you that she is very grateful for all the prayers.
Judy is the daughter of Darrell and Bea Johnson (both deceased) and the sister of Nancy Prentice, wife of Neil. I thank you too for your prayers...I know it was the reason she was able to come home two weeks or more ahead of schedule.

Mimi's Thought For The Day: Look at the miracle of your hands. They hold, touch, fix, love, soothe, create, clean, write, type, tickle, hug, serve, feel, anoint, drive, play, comfort, etc. We are indeed blessed to have hands to express who we are. Take good care of them and may your hands be an instrument for God.

I LOVE BEING SURPRISED...sometimes!

I love being surprised.....especially when my house is in order, I am dressed and my makeup and hair are perfect. But that does not happen when you want it to. Seems like I am always "caught" ....but that is another story.
Recently my twin granddaughters Amber and Ashley came from Utah to surprise their parents and brother and sister and of course the rest of us. I loved seeing them again and the surprise of them coming. Their family was very surprised also. That was fun for the girls. They are attending college in Utah and loving it. It has been fun to watch Amber and Ashley grow up. Everyone thought they were like two little monkeys as 2 years old. They had no fear and showed it as they would climb on top of the dining room table or the counter tops and try to get into cupboards or they would jump from bed to bed or off of a high spot.
This agility of theirs proved to be a blessing as they became very proficient in dance, basketball, softball and other endeavors. They have been "fun" since the day they were born. They are so beautiful! They have great personalities. They are just wonderful to be around.
Ashley and Amber have as their middle names, the middle names of their maternal and paternal grandmothers. I feel honored. I have enjoyed these girls and love how they have such an enthusiasm for life. They are good girls who walk the walk of Christ and who are tender-hearted, compassionate and love to give of their special spirit to others. They are both excellent students who strive to do their best and be their best.
I enjoyed having them surprise me a few days ago...even if I was in my robe, hair messy, housework undone....I got to sit and just enjoy looking and talking with them. The hair, clothes and house can always be done later. They were the priority that morning.
Now if someone outside of the family should come as a surprise, I would probably faint!!!! Or run!!!!!!! Or not answer the door!!!!! So sometimes I don't like being surprised by unexpected guests...but only sometimes.

Mimi's Thought For The Day: If Christ came knocking at your door, would you let Him in? Would you be prepared/unprepared for His coming?

UPDATE ON JUDY

For those who knew Judy Wallace you will be pleased to know that she is doing fantastic. She even called me today. She is no longer slurring her words but does still talk very slowly. Her stroke happened on Tuesday Evening and thus she went to the hospital. Her blood pressure had skyrocketed to around 220 over 100 plus. Very scary.

Her right side of her body has feeling but is very weak. She cannot use her right arm or hand but has feeling in it. Her right leg is weak also but she is able to put weight on it with being held up on each side and she walks by taking baby steps.

She is in a rehabilitation hospital in Prove and has therapy four hours a day. She will be there 2=3 weeks, then she will go home and have therapy three times a week. They were planning to move to Florida the end of October but that has been put on hold of course.

She is most grateful for the prayers in her behalf. She is scared, yet knows she is going to be fine again. Keep praying please...even if you don't know her. Thanks so much.

Mimi's Thought For The Day: When I was younger I would often hear "What goes around, comes around." I knew that if I was kind then people would be kind to me. If I was a selfish person, then others would act the same. We do influence people with the way we treat them. So in your "goings around"...work, school, church, play, shopping, driving, etc., give your best and it will come back to you. That also means no hateful, angry thoughts as those thoughts turn into bad choices and a gossipy tongue. In the long run you hurt yourself more and you will end up with no friends...why? No one wants to be friends with someone who has nothing nice to say about anyone...it might be you next time. So remember "What goes around, comes around."

JUDY NEEDS YOUR PRAYERS

Just a few minutes ago my phone rang. It was Nancy Prentice, the sister of Judy Wallace. Nancy moved a year or so ago to Jerome, Idaho and Judy moved to Alpine, Utah. I have kept in touch with both of them.

Nancy's phone call was one that does not bring happy news...Judy had a stroke. My good friend Judy who lived in our cottage for over four years....who is a joy to know and be with. Only time will tell the outcome of this as it effected her entire right side. She was put immediately into therapy and her husband believes that in a few weeks they will still be able to make their move to Florida.

Judy has been taking care of her grandson Cobie for several years. She has brought this little man into her life and given him a decent home with lots of love. When she took him in he did not know how to read nor had he been to school very much. But now he is like a sponge and absorbs all the knowledge and learning he can and he loves it. She is so good to him and for him.

I pray that she can pull threw this, especially for Cobie, but also for her many friends who love her and admire her. Her sister Nancy and her are very close and this is hard on Nancy too. I ask you to pray for both of these women.

I feel strongly that Judy is going to come through this with flying colors, but prayers need to be sent to heaven.

Thank you for joining with me and petitioning our Father for a perfect healing for a most wonderful daughter of His.

Mimi's Thought For The Day: Learn from yesterday how to make today even better. Reach out your hand and your heart in thought and deed. (Deanna)

FUN GETTER OLDER...FUN FOR WHOM?

Mercy, mercy, where did I leave my eyeglasses? Oh there they are on top of my head.

Who put the potato peelings in the Velveeta cheese box? I would never do such a thing! (I think I better check the garbage for the cheese.)

Something is squeaking in this house...we must have a mouse. No dear, it is your knees.

What did I have for breakfast today? Hmmm, can't remember. Oh, I forgot to eat!!

Where are my teefers? Ah....I was testing the tooth fairy and I left my false teeth under my pillow.

Let's go on a date tonight dear. Where would you like to go? Oh me too...sounds lovely...we will put our two recliners together and watch one another sleep.

Honey, lets you and I go out in the corn field and kiss behind the ears. Hee Hee

Just a little bit of humor on a day that I am really feeling my age. They say these are the Golden Years. Ha..."golden" for whom. Well I would say the doctor, the lawyer and the funeral home.

Bye all...enjoy your youth. Your day is coming!!!!!!

Hugs, Deanna (Mimi)

Mimi's Thought For The Day: Keep laughing --it will take years off of you...best face lift available...... and the best medicine around.

MAREN...AN ANGEL IN DISGUISE

We celebrated Maren's birthday Sunday even though her birthday was a while back. She turned 16 so her parents gave her a "Sweet Sixteen" family birthday party. They even had all of the Hirz clan there for a fantastic dinner. The atmosphere was great too. Lots of laughter and fun.

I wish all of you knew Maren like I do or at least I thought I did. We had to write down the answers to several questions and of course I thought I would do very well. Hmmm, I was in for a surprise. One of the questions was, "what is the lowest grade Maren has ever received?" I put down a "B". I knew she was a good student. Well her lowest grade ever was an "A-". I gulped. She is a sophomore this year and is pulling straight A's again.

Maren is a remarkable young woman. She is the kind of girl that everyone would love to have for a daughter; every young woman would like to have her for a best friend; every teacher would like to have her in their class and I, her grandmother, am indeed blessed as I have this angel for not only my granddaughter but for a friend, helper, teacher, comic and she puts me at ease with her natural goodness.

I love Maren because she stands for all that is good in a daughter of God. She does not compromise her standards. I love her for her genuine caring about others, especially about her parents, sisters and me. Feels so good to know you are loved...she does that for me. If I need help with carrying in my car full of groceries...she will drop everything and help me. If I need my floors mopped, vacuumed, etc., she will do it and more without hesitation. She refuses any money for doing it.

There is something special about Maren that gives me the nice kind of "goosebumps." When she was a very little baby laying in her little carrier she talked to me. No joke. She must have been about 6 weeks old...I wish I could remember her age, but she was tiny. Her eyes locked right on mine and she said as plain as day, "Hi". My son-in-law sitting next to me said, "I heard it..I'm a witness." About two weeks to a month later, again she locked her eyes on me. These eyes had the look of intelligence but were not a baby's eyes. She said, "Bye." She never spoke again until it was time to start talking. This is an incredible experience that I will never forget. I believe that the "veil" had not been drawn and Maren's spirit was speaking to me. I am glad I had witnesses as I am sure no one would have believed me. Yes, there is something unique about this choice daughter of our Heavenly Father. It is a joy to sit back and watch her grow and mature and be a positive influence on her friends and cousins and all of us.

I love Maren because she is good. She is good at anything she puts her hand to. Her mother never has to tell her to clean, cook, etc. Maren just gets in and takes care of things that she sees needs to be done. She is good at being kind. She is good about showing love to all. We need more Maren's in this world. Believe me...it would be a perfect world.

I love you Maren....you are my angel...you bless me in so many ways. You make my heart swell, my smile larger, my eyes glowing....you bring out the best in me. Hugs.

Mimi's Thought For The Day: Tell me who you walk with and I will tell you who you are.
author: Old Spanish saying

GRANDCHILDREN

This morning I woke up early and came into my computer room. My thoughts immediately were that of the "little" ( lol....some of them are taller than I) people in my life. I am no different than any other grandmother who thinks their grandchildren are the best in the world. Except one thing....I KNOW my grandchildren are the best.

I am going to list just a few of the things that they do that bring warm fuzzie feelings into my heart:

1. They love me and show it.
2. They are excited to see me even though we see each other several times a week.
3. They are happy children and are loved deeply by their parents.
4. They have good manners and always say thank you, please. Why they even ask if they can have a drink of water!
5. They rub my feet with lotion and put me in "heaven".
6. They want to help me around the house...dusting, vacuuming, pulling weeds, etc.
7. They want to help me up or down the stairs or ask if there is anything they can get me.
8. They are most appreciative of anything.
9. They laugh a lot and I love to hear their giggling.
10. They all are excellent students and excel in their work.
11. They love Jesus Christ and the Gospel.
12. They are not only handsome/beautiful on the outside but they have hearts and minds that give them that beauty of spirit.
13. They make me look good...they bring out the best in me. They are my strength, my joy, and my life.

I have given you just a "baker's dozen" of reasons I love my grandchildren. I could give hundreds of more reasons. Suffice it to say that this grandmother...Mimi to them...is so grateful to God for blessing me with treasures of gold...for their worth is great.

Thank you Brent and Carolyn, Heather, Hilary, Cherise, Chayla, Maren, Marquel, Megan, Matthew, Ryan, Ashley, Amber, Heidi, Derek, Makenna, Joshua, Landon and Kyle....thank you for all you have done to make my life fulfilled...I am the happiest when I feel your sweet arms around me....I am complete.

Mimi's Thought for the Day: What you give to others will be given back a hundred times more...grandchildren are the proof of that. In other words...you reap what you sow....
Take time to love, to give, to share and to be.....it will come back to you.

BEAUTIFUL WORDS OF LOVE

I want to share with you some words of a poem that I have loved since I was a teenager. The poem is a sonnet written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning called How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count The Ways.

Here is the first line:

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

Have you ever taken the time to think about love...the love for your spouse, mother, father, etc.? We so often can find fault with one another and we dwell on that.

Try thinking about why you love that person....don't dwell on the negative but only the positive. Example: I love him or her because they make me laugh. I love him or her because they love animals like I do. You can go on and on. You will be surprised about your "list" of counting the ways you love them.

The next line goes:

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach.......

Oh how I love this line and feel the intensity of the pure love. It runs deep, solid, pure and majestically. In reading those words your own soul feels the strength, the swelling of your heart and the power.

Does your love for others match those words? A pure, beautiful love means you are putting that person or persons ahead of yourself. You make sure they know you care about them and so you are giving of yourself to them and their needs. You are there with praise, comfort, sharing, giving without expecting anything in return.

Another line:

I love thee with the breath, smiles, tears, of all my life!

That is what it is all about...we go through so much together with our husbands, wives, parents, siblings, etc. We have shared with them the good and the difficult times of our lives. Too many of us are throwing our relationships aside when something goes wrong. Many marriages break up, children leave home as they think their parents are 'mean'.or old-fashioned...etc.

I could not feel the love a parent had for a child until I became a parent myself. It is a love that is indescribable. It is a love that Elizabeth Barrett Browning speaks of in her sonnet...I love thee freely...I love thee purely. When I tell my children that I love them unconditionally they see and feel that love...a free and pure love. Most parents do have that for their children. Why don't we have that for our husband or wife or for others. I have heard tongues wag and find fault with others. How sad.

After Elizabeth spoke of loving with the breath, smiles, tears of all my life.....she then said.....

And, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death.

How beautiful. Isn't that what we all want....to be together one day in our heavenly home where pure love is. Where there is no bickering, fault-finding, anger, malice, hatred, etc., but only a better love.

Why can't we show now that we love them better? Is it because of the world we live in? Is it because of our selfishness?

Also this line of Elizabeth's showed me that she too believed that love continues, relationships continue after we die. Her words have influenced me for so long. No my love has not been perfect...I let life get in the way many times and when I have done that I have not only hurt others but myself as well.

My challenge is to look at each person and love them as Jesus Christ would. To count their wonderful positive ways, to lift them, to love them with the depth, breadth and height that my soul can reach.

It will feel so good.

Mimi's Thought For The Day: You lift me and I'll lift thee and we'll both ascend together.
(author unknown) Put him/her first. Lift by praising, touching, loving. Hopefully they will do the same for you so you can ascend in your relationships and in your future.

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHY?

Here it is after 3:00 in the morning. Lots on my mind as I think about the "moments" that are happening daily around here. When bad news hits your heart, how do you react? Sick to your stomach, a jab in the heart, tears, feel crushed? When good news comes your way, how do you react? Joy, tears, laughter, smiles. It certainly is much easier to experience with the latter...we feel so grateful for the good times. But in every life there are cloudy skies that can come once in a while or for some, every day.

Why do we have to be hurt, get hurt or hear hurtful things? Why does life have to be so tough at times and with our family it seems constant.

I have heard the phrases, "Oh God is just testing you" or "He wants to see what you are made of".

Well my belief is that God is not testing me...he lets things happen. He could stop it if He wanted to, but where would I learn? I also believe that God knows me better than I know myself and I need to find out what I am made of. He already knows me. I need to know me.

Sure it is not fun to go through life traveling over many bumpy roads while you see your neighbors and friends just going smoothly along........or are they? Have they learned to lift their heads high and look up to God? Have their learned to bow their heads and get on their calloused knees and praise Him for the good, the bad and the ugly we go through at times? I have many friends who are just this way. They never blame God. They never turn from Him. They just keep on keeping on.

I know we have a Father in Heaven who loves us. He will always be with us especially through our darkest times. It is hard to see your children and grandchildren go over the bumpy road, but there is a promise that one day all will be smooth and well and no more jabs of the heart or knots in the stomach and tears of sorrow and burdens on the back that we carry.

I think of an electrical storm where the lightning and thunder are all around...it can be very frightening. Suddenly you hear nothing. It is quiet, peaceful and calm. Life is like that. Trials come and they go. Some with just a few bolts of lightning and other times it is violently producing the terrifying light and noise of its power. A person wonders how they are going to get through it. Then comes that sweet quietness, that feeling that all will be well. Just trust God and believe in His power.

I have much to learn in this life and my schooling is about over according to my age. I just hope and pray that I can weather any stormy clouds that come my way and that the rainbows will give me a promise of a better tomorrow.

Mimi's Thought for the Day: Look up! He sees you, knows you and wants to hold you. Look down! Get on your knees, then lower your head . He is listening. Let go....let God!

Home Sweet Home

Are these thoughts and feelings expressed by you:

Pray that all arrive HOME safely.
It is time for them to be HOME
Family HOME Evening
I just want to go HOME
I can hardly wait to get back HOME
Sure hope my mom is HOME
Bless our HOME

I could go on and on with this beautiful word of HOME. What comes into your heart as you say this word? I get warm fuzzy feelings. I get weepy, happy, excited, peaceful, etc. So many feelings.

My son Brad and I have been trying to determine the colors of paint for our HOME. What an ordeal that is. No I don't want the common beige/tan color that I see all over Moses Lake. Do I think my house cares? Of course it does. It is a living thing. You can hear laughter, talking, all kinds of noises coming from our HOME. It wants to look as happy on the outside as it is in the inside.

My HOME has an empty nest but every day there is some member of that nest or their own nests who walk through the doors with a "Hi Mom or Hi Mimi" , just like the days of yesterday. This HOME is full of memories. What do I feel when I think of HOME. I first feel safe. I feel love swelling in my heart. I feel peace and contentment. I have tried to make it a place where my family knows they are welcome any time. I want them to feel what I feel. Of course we have had some hard times, but it is the HOME that has brought us back and kept us strong and committed. Our HOME is a reflection of us. The HOME is more than wood, glass, materials. It is a place of our refuge. It is a holy place. It is where we prepared our children for life...the good and the bad...and is our little bit of heaven on earth.

My son Mark was recently released from the hospital....his flu turned into pneumonia. In talking with him briefly he said that he was going to get to go HOME. I said, "It would have been nice if the doctors would have kept you another day." He replied, "I just want to go HOME. I want to be in my own bed, be around my own things." I knew what he was saying...his place of peace, rest and comfort was where he wants to be. I am sure his "HOME" will be smiling when he arrives there.

HOME...our comfort zone, our place where we can take shelter from the world, a place we can be when the storms of life toss us to and fro. A place of refuge, beauty, love.

Oh yes, when you see our newly painted home, I think you will be able to see it looks like a "HAPPY FACE"....it will be reflecting the lives of those who dwell or visit there. Right now I am content, but one day I will want to go HOME...to the HOME I first knew...the HOME where my Father in Heaven, my dear loving brother and Savior Jesus Christ and also all those in my family who came and left before I did. I will be like Mark and others who say, "I can hardly wait to get HOME".
____________________
MIMI'S Thought for the Day: Let your HOME, inside and out, be a reflection of those that dwell there. Make it a place of beauty, peace and joy. Make it smile.

Deanna/Mimi

WHAT KIND OF FRIEND AM I?

My mind can be a million miles "away" and all of a sudden a key word pops into my head. It did it twice on Wednesday. First word was in the afternoon and it was "Eagle Scout". I immediately got excited and was wondering how my grandson Josh is doing on his merit badges. The other grandsons are not old enough to participate in this endeavor. Of course I had to call and find out..so great to know he is making it a part of his life.
In the evening another word came into my mind and that word was "Friends". I only could close my eyes and put my head back in a resting position and then a smile filled my face.
Friends. Dear sweet wonderful friends. They are the wind beneath my wings...that is for sure. I love it when I get a surprise visit, phone call, card or an email out of the blue from these fantastic friends. They bring love, send love, speak love and all of a sudden I feel very loved. The stress is lifted, the dark skies are replaced by sunshine, the head lifts a little higher and a frowning face is now a smiling one. I am so thankful they took time out of their lives to lift me, inspire me and showered me with praises.
But now I am thinking....what kind of friend am I? Do I take the time to send a "thinking of you" card or get well soon card, etc. Do I take the time to call them on the phone and just say "hi"? Do I go and see them? Friendship is like marriage. To bond, grow and sustain it has to be fed by both parties.
I have one friend who always surprises me with coming unannounced. I love it. It isn't planned on her part. She just lives close to the spirit and when she feels the prompting to stop and see how I am doing, she is right on. We hug. We talk. We giggle. I am alive again. I have two other friends who send me beautiful greeting cards with words of love and wisdom.
Today I am going to start being a better friend. I have been so wrapped up in my health problems that I have just put aside the needs of my friends.
YOU may be one of those I call or send off a card to. Listen for the phone and watch your mailbox....I am full of love for my friends and they are going to know it.

Mimi's Thought for the Day: Scatter sunshine today from your house to the houses where your friends or neighbors live. The light will be so bright that it will lift the darkness that dwells in some of the hearts. Even you will be lifted. Listen to the Holy Spirit and you will know who and where and when you are needed. Have fun.

Mimi (Deanna)

MARK DESERVES THE BEST

Just from the title of my subject you can tell that I think my son Mark is a fantastic son. Every mother should be blessed with a son like him. He was always happy as a child, very obedient and just never caused any problems. He was the clown of our family with his "wa-sues" that he gave out to his brothers and sister any chance he got. Mark had a special spirit about him that made him the delight of the family....he was our family clown.
Then "life" came along and he has had some very hard knocks along the way. I know what he has been through and anyone else would have folded under the stress and the strain of big changes in his life...but he weathered those challenges and is making the best of the days ahead.
He has his two precious daughters living with him, plus his long time companion...his black lab named "Bo". He loves where he lives....a very beautiful home, a great job, his daughters and his son who lives in Utah with his wife.
I wish more of you could have known Mark when he lived here. He was the life of a party, the person who could make you laugh until your stomach hurt. A fantastic athelete from grade school through high school.
I have to tell you that he has always treated me with the highest respect and is very affection and not embarrassed or ashamed to give his dad and I hugs or tell us how he loves us. He has always been kind and upbeat about life. As I said, "life" came hard and fast and was very cruel to him. Hurtful people turned his life upside down, but he has come through it. Hopefully those that were so selfish and cruel will one day realize that their actions caused great anguish and sorrow to him, his children and parents and siblings and his friends.
When Mark was born I knew immediately that there was something very special about him. I told him about that feeling when he was about 16 or 17 years old. I just knew that a child such as he was would be an instrument in God's hands. He is the most compassionate person. He has a tough job in his career but he is still able to find some humor and turn ugly moments into funny ones. I have to say that I never had a more obedient child than he. So precious and good from day one....I know that Satan has tried to destroy him because he is so good...but Mark is a fighter and has won one round after another.
Why do I write about Mark today? Because this is his day...his birthday. I remember his birth as if it were yesterday. How very, very blessed I am to have had the honor of raising one of Heavenly Father's choice sons.
I called Mark today to wish him a happy birthday and I was greeted by the voice of a very sick man. Good old flu...he has been ill for four days. These are one of the times that I wish I could be there to give comfort, care and love. But I know that God will watch over him. I am praying that God will also send an angel of a woman one day so Mark can have an eternal companion to share life with...someone who will be good to him and recognize his beautiful qualities. Someone who will be true to him, share life, values, temple worship, laughter and all the things that make a sweetheart of a marriage.
Happy Birthday to a great guy with a wonderful future coming his way. Thank you God for giving me the opportunity to raise him and to recognize that I have raised a son who was already a choice child of God. He taught me much. I am humbled.

Mimi's Thought for the Day: "Laugh when you can, apologize when you should, let go of what you can't change, kiss slowly, play hard, forgive quickly, take chances, give everything, have no regrets. Life's too short to be anything but happy." ....Author Unknown

MY FRIEND KATHLEEN

I received an unwanted phone call around noon today. A sweetheart of a friend left this earth to go home. Right now I am numb, hurting and shocked. I want to try to capture the essence of Kathy...which I already know is going to be impossible.
We first got acquainted by me being assigned as her visiting teacher along with another wonderful woman, my companion, Grace.
We loved going to Kathleen/Kathy. Her home was new...she had moved here from Utah I believe to be near her two sons and their wives. Her home was absolutely immaculate. It always was. Wish I could say the same thing about mine. Good ole farm dirt.
How she loved life...especially her family and the church. Her sons were so good to her and saw to her needs day and night. They were always there for her. She had numerous hobbies and did them all so well. Excellence was a quality of hers.
I loved her laugh. I loved her sense of humor and last but not least I loved how she talked about the gospel and her Savior Jesus Christ.
She had been ill...some type of surgery that later caused her an internal infection. She went back into surgery after a couple of months of trying to get over the infection. Her second surgery was about 8-9 days ago and they had her in ICU. I did not go and see her because of some heart tests that made me mildly radioactive and I did not want to cause any problems for her.
I will miss this most pleasant beautiful daughter of God. My visiting teaching just won't be the same without her. I am most happy for her but there is a big void left in my life and the lives of her children and grandchildren. I have been honored to associate with such an angel.

Mimi's Thought for the Day--Cherish each moment and person from sunrise to sunset. Give out plenty of hugs and praises and smiles and laughter. Tomorrow is another day.

I Hope My Son Craig Never Finds Out

I have aged quite a bit today. I discovered that I am not the mother I used to be. Besides the physical difference from my early "mothering" days, I have found that my brain cells are dying quickly and that the signs are rapidly closing in that I am headed for the time when I forget WHO I AM!!!!!
I better explain. In the month of September we have many family birthdays. I know when they all are and I am always prepared with a gift and a personal rendition of "Happy Birthday" to them over the telephone.
Today is the first family member to start things off. Cherise, a granddaughter, turned 21 years old today. I thought of her all day long. I know that my only son-in-law has a birthday on Monday the 7th, my daughter-in-law Mindi has one on the 9th, my son Mark has one on the 14th, grandson Derek on the 15th, granddaughter Maren on the 26th. Hmmmm, seems like I have forgotten someone. Who could it be.
Craig!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My 3rd child and 3rd son!!!!!!! How could a mother do this. No gift for him and his birthday is tomorrow (Sunday). What am I going to do. It is night...I have a migraine. I cannot go out. Oh precious Ned comes to the rescue. He is going to a wedding reception and he will stop by good old Wal-Mart and get Craig a new sports chair for all the ball games he will be attending. Ned found him a big man's chair that holds anyone up to 300 lbs. Now Craig is tall but he doesn't need to worry about the weight thing like his mother does. So now he can reside in comfort at the football games of his only son Derek and bring his chair to our family outings.
I felt terrible when I realized that I was remembering the birthdays of everyone else but had forgot about the one having a birthday tomorrow. When he was born he was born on Labor Day! You would think that Labor Day being said over and over again would ring a bell, but my bells in the belfry are cracked!!!!!!!!
Yes, I am laughing and I hope you are too. Isn't it fun being human? Love it.

Mimi's Thought For The Day: Each day find something lovely, something sweet and above all something funny. A sense of humor gets you through the thick and thin of life.

Ask God for a hug today. He will gladly give you one. Slow down, sit quietly so you can feel it.

The Circle of Life Goes On and On and On..........

September 1, 2009

Tomorrow is the first day of school. There is excitement in the air for both children and parents, but there is also a bit of sadness. There are moms who are sending off their firstborn and know they are opening a new door of life. Those mothers will go through some very big, emotional adjustments and so will the child who has only known his or her mother as the one who taught, who loved, who cared. Yes, the child is anxious, excited, curious but there are a zillion butterflies having a field day in that child's tummy. I will never forget having those feelings myself...the day the butterflies come out and dwell in your tummy...the day called the first day of school. The next day....no sweat. Piece of cake. But for mom she will take a little longer to adjust. There will be tears, a big void and yet at the same time she feels that all her hard work is coming to fruition seeing her child enter a new world. May our children and our grandchildren be watched over by their Father in Heaven as they venture out to explore books, figures, friends, games, rules, etc. Before we know it we will blink our eyes and those children will be sending off their own children with a heavy heart and tears glistening in their eyes. The circle of life goes on and on and on........

GOD IS GOOD

This is a new experience for me and I relish the idea of it. Later will come pictures when I learn how but for now it is just me expressing my Mimi Moments.



As I sit here in my computer room I am looking upon the desk and see a beautiful picture of our Columbia River Temple. It speaks volumes of where I have been and where I want to go. I see peace, no stress and the mind is clear and all that matters is just BEING.



Being the best in thought, word, deed and showing my Father in Heaven that I am trying so hard to return to Him...even though my life has been one of many storms and pain. I was thinking today of choices I had made that caused me pain and grief. Suddenly I thought of our Savior Jesus Christ and how my choices has caused Him more pain. I stopped and prayed and thanked God for His precious Son and told Him how sorry I was that I had added to His Son's pain and anguish. Just speaking those words "I am so very sorry" brought me a wave of peace and contentment.



I cherish my blessings. I take many of them for granted. I am most thankful for Jesus Christ and His ways...His example. I try to walk His walk and talk His talk...but many times I fail but I have noticed that He is always there to walk beside me if I but let Him. He is my friend. He is my brother. He is my Savior. I am me because of Him.



Even as a little girl He became MINE. Or I should say I became HIS. Then "life" happens and Satan says, "Oh no...you are mine". I found out that I am the master of my fate and I make the decision as to whom is the master of my soul.



I choose Him...my Redeemer, my King, my God.



I promise my next posting will be funny and light. Just thought of this...I am not going to wait until the next time but going to share this funny moment with you now.



This morning Ned was in the kitchen at the bar. I walked to the kitchen sink to get a glass of water. I looked out the window that faces west and saw 4 cats walking in a line, one after the other. I said to Ned "There are four cats now!" And calmly he reponded with "clear and warm." Out of my mouth came "Huh?" He again spoke but this time said, "they said it is going to be clear and warm." I then said, "Ned, what do you think I said?" He said, " what is the forecast now." I rolled on the floor (wish I could) with laughter. I asked Ned when he was going to start wearing his hearing aids...poor hearing caused from years of being in loud, noise farm equipment. His response was his typical smile that says NEVER! We both had a good laugh. It was a fun way to start our day.



MIMI'S THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: As moisture cream softens the hands, so will God's words
soften your heart. Rub in well. (Deanna Hirz)

Have a beautiful evening wherever you may lay your head. God is good and He is there.