Today I went to a funeral for a dear sweet man that lives in my ward. There is something about a funeral that makes me reflective and serious (yes, I understand that this is normal). I tend to do a lot of soul searching after such an event and tend to make new goals and decisions after a funeral.
Here is my goal then, I vow to tell the people that I love just that, that I love them, while they are still around to hear me say it and I am still around to say it. It is all good and well to pay tribute to the deceased and expound upon their many virtues, but wouldn't it be better for those recipients to hear these words from our own mouths with their mortal ears.
Yes, that is the plan and I will start this very day. Wish me luck
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
CELEBRATE!
What in the world is going on here, every time I turn around another one of my darling grandchildren has another birthday. My darling little Tae just celebrated her 9th birthday!
Now don't get me wrong, I am all for parties and celebrating, I just don't want them to grow up so darn fast. I hate to pull rank, but I may just have to put my foot down here. Celebrating is fine, getting older is not!
Tae had a Flip-Flop party (in my day they were called thongs) and her gorgeous and very talented mom made her the most adorable flip-flop cake I have ever seen.
At the party her guests decorated Flip-Flops that they took home with them, played many a fun game, including 'how many candies are in this jar'. At that point they ate the above pictured adorable cake with of course a respectable amount of ice cream, opened gifts and went home.
Working hard on their Flip-Flops
Showing off their handy work.
I have added pictures for your viewing pleasure. Oh and...HAPPY BIRTHDAY TAE!!!!!
Now don't get me wrong, I am all for parties and celebrating, I just don't want them to grow up so darn fast. I hate to pull rank, but I may just have to put my foot down here. Celebrating is fine, getting older is not!
Tae had a Flip-Flop party (in my day they were called thongs) and her gorgeous and very talented mom made her the most adorable flip-flop cake I have ever seen.
At the party her guests decorated Flip-Flops that they took home with them, played many a fun game, including 'how many candies are in this jar'. At that point they ate the above pictured adorable cake with of course a respectable amount of ice cream, opened gifts and went home.
Working hard on their Flip-Flops
Showing off their handy work.I have added pictures for your viewing pleasure. Oh and...HAPPY BIRTHDAY TAE!!!!!
Journal Entry
I live in a beautiful place. The mountains surround me in their protective embrace, the blue of the lake water is visible from my porch. There are trees and green and flowers that encompass my life. My life is good, so very, very good. But for every lovely and celestial thing that abounds, there are also shadows and corners that light never seems to penetrate. Some of my family relationships are caught in those deep recesses of lightlessness.
I have a brother, only one mind you, younger then me, and he and I have never really had more then a casual relationship. He is married, with children, living not more then 7 miles from where I am typing, and we see each other only rarely. He is a good man, and I am a good person, and yet we have never met on common ground to share those things that we share due to the blood that runs through both of our veins. It makes me stop sometimes and think, what would my life be like if he were a more prevalent part of it, what would his be like. He called me on my birthday, to wish me a Happy Birthday and I was shocked and very pleasantly surprised. It not only brought a sting of tears to my eyes but a feeling of wonder that he thinks of me at important moments in my life.
I also have a sister, a dear, talented sister. She lives many miles from me and has had her share of difficulties, challenges and sadness in her life. We have recently had a gulf develop between us, a gulf of anger and miscommunication and selfishness. It appears to be taking on a life of its own and making it so difficult to bridge the growing darkening abyss that separates us. I am challenged by my 'Natural Man' and my need for my version of justice, but as with my brother she too shares the blood of our fathers that courses through our veins. We are not only siblings, we are tied together for the eternities, and I am so grateful for that. I long for the resolution and contentment and the light that comes with forgiveness and forgiving. We need to disolve the idea of 'sides' and become one together.
My job is to resolve my own issues and love without guile. I am thankful for the strength that comes not from within myself but from a Saviour that suffered all that I feel and did it willingly. He made it possible for there to be a 'second chance' to do things right. I am so eternally grateful and indebted for his sacrifice. And oh so grateful for another day to make amends, fix something broken, learn to appreciate, feel love and light.
I have a brother, only one mind you, younger then me, and he and I have never really had more then a casual relationship. He is married, with children, living not more then 7 miles from where I am typing, and we see each other only rarely. He is a good man, and I am a good person, and yet we have never met on common ground to share those things that we share due to the blood that runs through both of our veins. It makes me stop sometimes and think, what would my life be like if he were a more prevalent part of it, what would his be like. He called me on my birthday, to wish me a Happy Birthday and I was shocked and very pleasantly surprised. It not only brought a sting of tears to my eyes but a feeling of wonder that he thinks of me at important moments in my life.
I also have a sister, a dear, talented sister. She lives many miles from me and has had her share of difficulties, challenges and sadness in her life. We have recently had a gulf develop between us, a gulf of anger and miscommunication and selfishness. It appears to be taking on a life of its own and making it so difficult to bridge the growing darkening abyss that separates us. I am challenged by my 'Natural Man' and my need for my version of justice, but as with my brother she too shares the blood of our fathers that courses through our veins. We are not only siblings, we are tied together for the eternities, and I am so grateful for that. I long for the resolution and contentment and the light that comes with forgiveness and forgiving. We need to disolve the idea of 'sides' and become one together.
My job is to resolve my own issues and love without guile. I am thankful for the strength that comes not from within myself but from a Saviour that suffered all that I feel and did it willingly. He made it possible for there to be a 'second chance' to do things right. I am so eternally grateful and indebted for his sacrifice. And oh so grateful for another day to make amends, fix something broken, learn to appreciate, feel love and light.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Powerful Woman...UNITE!
I know...I know I just posted but there is still more in me trying to get out...so....here is another set of Reunion pictures that I choose to call 'Girl Power'.
Sissy's hubby was late getting up to the cabin so Sis decided she and a couple of very capable woman would put up their tent!
And they DID!
YOU GO GIRLS!
Sissy's hubby was late getting up to the cabin so Sis decided she and a couple of very capable woman would put up their tent!
And they DID!
YOU GO GIRLS!
Baldwin Barn Burner
Well we finally had our families reunion lovingly called a Barn Burner. Chris was awesome with the planning, the games, the flags, there was something for everyone and there were times when all you had to do was sit on the swing and hang out. The cabin was a true blessing and fabuloso, Joe and Missy were wonderful to make the arrangements for us.
There is nothing like family, even with all of our warts we are who we have for eternity so if we can't get along with everyone here, it will be a very long miserable time in our futures. So we figure that we had better practice getting along, learning to love and appreciate differences and basically gaining a greater understanding of the importance of families. What a wonderful time we had and to those that didn't join us...YOU were missed and you really missed out.
At the end of it all we had a healthy competition for 'Helga' the trophy that is loved, and dare I say, coveted by all who gaze upon her. Jon and Dave Wadley's team won the privilege of keeping 'Helga' over the past two years and the Wad Squad pulled it off again. It was a great time, all of it, from gma and gpa who talked all night long to the duct taped spoon heads, we just laughed and enjoyed it all. Thanks to you all for helping and contributing in anyway, even if it was just showing up, you all made it wonderful.
There is nothing like family, even with all of our warts we are who we have for eternity so if we can't get along with everyone here, it will be a very long miserable time in our futures. So we figure that we had better practice getting along, learning to love and appreciate differences and basically gaining a greater understanding of the importance of families. What a wonderful time we had and to those that didn't join us...YOU were missed and you really missed out.
At the end of it all we had a healthy competition for 'Helga' the trophy that is loved, and dare I say, coveted by all who gaze upon her. Jon and Dave Wadley's team won the privilege of keeping 'Helga' over the past two years and the Wad Squad pulled it off again. It was a great time, all of it, from gma and gpa who talked all night long to the duct taped spoon heads, we just laughed and enjoyed it all. Thanks to you all for helping and contributing in anyway, even if it was just showing up, you all made it wonderful.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)