The Hills are Alive

I have some favorite pictures that I have decided to share with you all. They are pictures that make me peaceful, and serene. I love pictures of green hills.

I also love pictures of children playing


Doesn't this picture just make you want to run with abandon up the grassy slope and let your hair blow back in the breeze?

It is so lovely to watch little people run and jump and laugh as though they have no cares in the world other then "what time do I get to eat" and "are there popsicles in the freezer". I don't know about you but I could watch them for hours and never grow weary.

It is amazing that some of our Father in Heavens greatest blessings are under 3 feet tall.

Come One, Come All

Now that I vented about the discourteous fans during Saturdays game, please let me tell you about my favorite part of the Football game weekend..and that is the Fireside that the team puts on every eve of the game they are playing. They even do them when it is an away game. I have come to have such a great appreciation and admiration for not only the players but a wonderful head coach and his wife.

The Firesides always consists of 2 players speaking, 2 musical numbers (1 is always the entire team singing Armies of Helaman, talk about goosebumps) and then we hear from Coach Mendenhall and his wife Holly. These firesides are inspiring and uplifting and like the coach says, the important things taking place don't happen on the field the next day, they happen the night before in venues across this country. Testimonies are born and strengthened, bonds are formed between the fan and team (I would no sooner scream rude things at them then I would at my own children) and we are edified. This is the purpose after all of a football team at a church school, to introduce our beliefs to the world and to be disciples of Christ.

If you ever have this team come to an area near you, please call the football office at BYU and ask where the Fireside will be taking place. Then gather up everyone that you love, even if they don't love football, and come for a spiritually uplifting evening. You will not be sorry!

Rise and Shout

Does that sound familiar? Well, if it does you are more then likely an alumni of BYU, or you have lived in the state of Utah. Well last night Mr Darcy and I attended the opening game of the Cougars in Lavell Edwards Stadium.
Well, the game and all of it's ups and downs is now history and we were all saddened by the outcome, however that is not what this post is about. I wanted to address something that causes me a great deal of confusion, that being, the sportmanship of the fans (and I use the word loosely).

There was a man sitting just behind me and over, that had the loudest most penetrating voice I have heard in a long time. His voice was not the problem however, it was what he was saying. He was being very rude, yelling comments that were totally unnecessary and completely unkind. Now he wasn't swearing or anything, but that didn't make what he was saying any more palatable. And he wasn't alone, there were several people sitting around me making the same snide comments about the players, referees and the coaching staff. I was embarrassed for them.

Here's what I don't get, do these fans think that the players were enjoying the game, believe me, no one felt worse then they (the players) were feeling, and yelling at them certainly wouldn't make them run harder or play better, and I didn't see any of the loud mouths offering to run down and take their places.

Is this what being a fan means, if so, you can have it.

But that is not to say that everyone was behaving this way. The majority of the 'fans' were being supportive and trying to encourage the players and not tear them down. Maybe I had better change my focus and cheer a little louder.

Say 'Cheese' please

I have an addiction, as Momza would call it, my 'go to thang'. It is taking pictures. I just love to....no make that, need to take pictures. I usually carry the camera every where I go.

As a matter of fact, my grandson Ky-Ky calls the camera, 'Cheese'. That tells me he has heard this phrase a few too many times.

Now that is not truly my problem, you see, the problem is, it takes me, oh,...about a thousand pictures before I get the shot just the way I want it (you know, not fuzzy or off center).

I want so badly to have the eye of a great photographer, but I don't..so I continue to shoot at anything that stands still, hoping against hope that I will capture the very essence and soul of my subject.

And then just when I am feeling dejected and downtrodden, I come up (quite accidentally) with a picture that makes me feel, oh, I don't know, swooney and I catch my breath and think, this is it, this is what I saw through the lens. And I am once again renewed and prepared for the next thousand pictures.

Filling your Buckets!

Tenalyn, Ems, Sister Deb, Mom (4 generations of bucket fillers)

Today I was browsing around the blogging world and I visited my darling niece Ten's site. She is the Young Women President in her ward in AZ and she did a wonderful activity with her Young Women, check it out here.

Anyway I decided I wanted to do a little twist on her idea and tell everyone I can today something about them that I appreciate and love.

I want to be able to fill others buckets as they have filled mine. I hope I can do it justice, I will report back tomorrow on how I did.

Beautiful

34 years ago today a miracle happened. It took a typical, beautiful September day and turned it into a day that changed forever my life. You see, 34 years ago I was reborn....I became a mother. Isn't it amazing that 2 births took place that day for me shortly after 6 AM. I feel that it was on this day that I found out what it means to love someone more then yourself. This day taught me the joy of sacrifice.

My darling Sissy was born to me and Mr Darcy and from the moment she entered the world, the world became a magical place for me. Everything became new to me, every sound she made, every yawn or stretch seemed like the most amazing thing I had ever seen. She has been a true JOY to me and it was on this day that I felt my Father in Heavens true love for me.

Happy Birthday my tiny little newborn daughter. You have been and continue to be a source of love and joy to your old parents. I do not know what we did to deserve having a delightful daughter like you but I am grateful every day of my life that you are mine. Who knew that I would give birth to my best Friend.
Love your very grateful
MOM
Sorry about the graininess of the photos, I took pictures of pictures

What a beauty you are! I love you so much my little baby girl! I can't wait to get home and love on you for a while, and kiss your very tiny sweet baby head. I can't wait for your baby smell to fill all my senses with it's very sweet intoxicating perfume. You are truly an angel baby sent to remind us how close heaven really is!

Oh Baby!

Wow! There is just nothing like having your very own offspring (in this case a son) have his very own offspring to make you feel like a brand new person. Maybe it is because new life that springs forth from your bloodline is allowing a little bit of you to live on and on and on. Anywho, that is how I am feeling today. My newest tiny newborn grandbaby is doing BETTER and BETTER and I am so happy and grateful for that.

It is an interesting thing to be part of, this idea of generation after generation continuing on in an unbroken string. I truly do think that I will live forever, which in effect part of me will. And as I contemplate the beautiful grandchildren I have been blessed with, it is truly the best part of me that will live on.

With each new little one, comes that opportunity to try harder, to love with no conditions, to see through innocent eyes. A fresh start is ours to be had. What an adventure life is, what a gift to be enjoyed.

Who says you can't turn back the clock. Each new addition to my family makes me feel younger and invigorated and very alive. And if my kids keep up the pace, who knows, I just may live forever!

May I please have your Attention

SHE IS HERE!!!!

Each time a baby is born, So is a Grandma

I am sitting here on the bed. For all intents and purposes I appear to be very calm and composed. But deep inside I am all a flutter and discombobulated. You see today I have the great privilege and thrill of becoming a grandma, again, for the ninth time. And you know what? it never stops giving me butterflies and giddiness with anticipation. In short I. CAN'T. WAIT.

I am out of town, which makes it worse, and my son, although dear as the day is long, has a rather warped sense of humor and loves to keep me on pins and needles.
With each new grandbaby I have a renewed sense that I am becoming a grandma for the very first time.

It is amazing to be part of each new miracle that is my grandchildren. I will keep you posted about the events of this amazing day. Pretty cool birthday huh, 09-09-09!

The Man of the Hour

My dearest Pa-pa had surgery last Thursday. He has had a VERY active life and he has done his share of damage to his knees. He used to be a runner until his body complained so loudly that he had to finally give in and resort to speed walking and hiking up mountains. He also used to play basketball with men 20 years his junior and my father is competitive (that is not a good thing in this particular situation). He would play with injuries and broken bones just to prove he could. Well, that kind of physical abuse will finally take it's toll and it did. He had to have a knee replacement. He put it off for about 2 years and finally gave in, he had to, his golf game was being jeapordized. I also told him that when we go to Disneyland this December, I would refuse to push him in a wheelchair (truth be told, he would refuse to be pushed in a wheelchair). So off he went last Thursday morning....

Now something you should know about my dad, He is an in charge kind of guy. He doesn't like being tied down or at the mercy of others (in other words he is not an ideal patient). Now that is not to say he was not kind and gracious with those that were helping him, he was, he just did things like, get in the shower without telling anyone, or insisting they continue to walk laps around the hallways when the therapist said he was done (the physical therapist won by the way).
He was a little bit loopy when they brought him out of the anesthesia and may I say I have never seen my dad like that. He kept asking the same things over and over again. He kept trying to get out of bed. Oh, he was a rascal, that one.

Right after surgery

a day after surgery

He came home from the hospital yesterday and he tried to get out without all the usual rigamarole that accompanies discharge. The doctor said he could go, so he was going. They had to chase him down the hallway to get him to stop long enough for them to give him pain prescriptions (as if he will take those) and last minute instructions. But now he is home and happy to be there. And we are happy to see him there. What a character!

There is BEAUTY all around

Fall is coming, and with it the promise of cool nights and warm days. I happily receive it's occasional rain showers and cooling winds as the heat of summer finds it's way further south with the birds.

I love the colors of the changing leaves. We traveled up the mountain on Saturday to spend the day with Mr Darcy's Aunt and Uncle at their cabin retreat. The leaves are taking on orange, red and yellow highlights as the cool night air magically makes them the color of a burning sunset.

As the day wore on into evening, I sat on the porch of the cabin watching the humming birds jockey for the best position at the feeder for their last sip of nectar before retiring for the evening. I used to think that my children could really get into a knock-down drag-out fight, until I watched these tiny little birds hovering and then striking with lightening speed, becoming a Kamakaze pilot not caring for their safety or anyone else's.

Once the sun dipped below the horizon, the temperature dropped and I gratefully accepted the handmade quilt my hostess offered me. As the sun finally melted away, the full and graceful moon took it's place giving an ethereal light to the trees and roadway, making everything look like a black and white photo.

How is it possible for such beauty to abound? The creators hand not only built this world for survival of the body but also for renewing ones soul. He knew that I personally have a very short attention span, so he gave me a change of seasons to keep me filled and wondering. This is just another testament of his love for me and I am so grateful.