No Posts...What's up?

I've been too busy living life! I keep thinking I'll get a minute to catch up. For now, I'll just say All is GREAT in my world.

One-Two Cha Cha Cha

I have no doubt that my wonderful son-in-law, Brian loves me. I borrowed him from Julie as my partner for a dance workshop at BYU. Foxtrot and Cha-Cha and plenty of chuckles...! Brian is the best!

What happened to January and February...

LIFE IS WHAT HAPPENED!!! A whole lot of laundry, fixing meals, working and some sleeping. And mixed in with that was wonderful family time when Tyler came home from his mission, seeing Jennifer and her two CUTE children and the blessing of Miles. I loved celebrating Valentine's Day (the whole MONTH of February), especially when Valentines appeared in MY mailbox.

Things I've learned: HGTV can be addicting. Being the grandparent to Millie, KRONK, Howie and Gwen isn't always fun. You can teach an old dog new tricks but that's about it and what good are tricks?!! AND just when I think I'm getting a handle on mid-life crisis...well...!

And finally the other thing I've learned is that there is so much to do in life sometimes blogging isn't very high on the list.

I LOVE CHRISTMAS CARDS

My fridge is currently plastered with wonderful photo Christmas cards. I LOVE Christmas cards. I love the anticipation of going to the mailbox hoping and being so excited. The current record is SIX in one day. The electronic cards are fun too. I just love being connected with so many great people during this wonderful time of year.

In & Out Burger Comes to Orem, UT

Yes,Utah County has experienced much happiness this week. Millie anxiously waited in line. She ordered a "meat pattie/no salt"! As she - not so daintily - snarfed her burger, the California girl in her was very happy.

She did have to put on her sweater and wrap in a blanket in order to go for the drive to get her burger though.

First IKEA - now In & Out - we're really moving up in the world!

Happy Halloween

I was able to attend the Second Grade Halloween program for Joseph, a handsome you man that is the son of a dear friend. It has been a long time since I have attended a school program. Sitting there, laughing at cute knock-knock jokes brought me a lot of joy. I'm so blessed with such great friends with such cute kids.

I hope Michelle doesn't mind that I've posted this cute picture. Mahlia is adorable, Joseph was a "warlock" in his school program, and cute Jackson. I love this family!

Laurel turned 24 today...

But by this picture ya gotta wonder???

There is no Sneezing in Heaven...

Yes, I've just decided. Those that know me well, know that I am allergic to the world right now. Fall...itchie, watery eyes, drippy nose and wheezing as the lawns are mowed each Saturday morning.

Heaven will only be heaven so long as there are no allergies.

Elephants

My family all knows that I have a thing for elephants. It started when I was quite young. We took many trips to Como Park Zoo. I have in my possession a little white stone elephant my father bought for me as a young girl. I remember one especially fun trip to St. Louis, MO where we visited the zoo. I have visited zoos and elephants wherever we have traveled. Even Brian has given me an elephant that sits on my bed. So today when I was reading about the baby elephant at Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City, a part of me got excited. I'm pretty sure I'm driving to Hogle Zoo this weekend to see Christie's baby girl. One of my favorite scenes from Dumbo:

3:00 AM is Never a Good Time to be Awake at my Age...

Okay, Millie is up for adoption! Seriously, barking at NOTHING! I'm convinced that if someone really was trying to get into the house...we wouldn't be able to find her. I am SO NOT HAPPY with her right now. I have so much to do on Saturday and my beauty sleep isn't happening right now. I'm in trouble...well, or maybe those that live with me. I do not do well without sleep.

Fort Bridger Rendezvous

Millie and I had a little road trip today. We drove to Fort Bridger, Wyoming. Labor Day Weekend is the Fort Bridger Rendezvous. It only took a couple of hours to get there. Millie wasn't very excited about the trip today. It was more of a "seriously, are we there yet?" moment for her.

















Fortunately, we found my BYU co-worker, Rick, and were able to enjoy the Fort, Traders and do a whole lot of people watching. It really was very interesting and I found the items the Traders were selling of good quality and quite interesting. They were all very friendly and fun to visit with. Millie, as always had many admirers. Well, there were a few "look at the ears on that one" comments, but Millie handled it in her Diva way...totally ignoring them. She didn't bark or act up, but was mostly overwhelmed, I think by all the people and animals. She really wasn't too sure about the horses and preferred to be carried rather than walk with her leash.

All-in-all it was a fun little day trip...good for my soul. The drive was beautiful. Storms were moving through on my way home and there were some pretty dramatic views. I decided though that Wyoming should be nicknamed the "windmill" state.

Baby List...

I LOVE BABIES. I love hearing when someone is expecting. I love my little baby list. It is right by my phone at work. It reminds me to think of these special women in my life and send little prayers heavenward as they get closer to their "due date". The wonderful thing about working at BYU is that there is always someone to add to my baby list. I feel so blessed to have so many students that pass through our division working through school. I must admit it is hard when they leave and think they can get on with their lives after graduation. I miss them - it is truly selfish, I know. But through snail mail, email, blogging and facebook, I've been able to keep in touch. It is wonderful to watch little families grow! I'm even blessed to have some of these special little families allow me to be "grandma or auntie Cindy" - that is the BEST part. So thanks to all of you for your love and friendship. Thanks to those of you that let me share in your lives. I love my baby list!

Memory Lane

I had a little 'bout of infections this past week or so. It was somewhat frustrating - no it was real frustrating but I decided the best thing would be to go with the flow and try to relax. So, I sorted through stuff some more. Many things were finally tossed, but treasures of letters from my parents were reread. One thing that has become clear to me was that as I read letters from my father when he was closer to my present age...that little message about the seasons of our lives is so true. So this week, even though my father passed away in March, I felt him close, felt his love and felt him a part of the process of being reminded to be gentle with myself. I am so human and though my spirit wants to soar and do things in a far better way. I fall short. I am a spirit having a human experience. Sometimes things in this life "suck" a bit, but the good can still out weigh the bad. And when I have a moment when I feel overwhelmed, I am so very grateful for heavenly and earthly angels that I feel close by to help me take courage, count my blessings and move onward. I find when i don't feel well, it is far easier for me to fall into a "pity party". This week I realized that we all have those moments and what a blessing it is to have people in our lives to help us "fill our cup" again - do whatever it takes to replenish our souls. I'm grateful for doctor's offices that really will "work you in" and antibiotics that, though they cause havoc with our bodies, they really do kill the bad stuff. I'm grateful for a son that can give priesthood blessings and that feeling of waking up in the morning and realizing that nothing hurts. Ah, blessed health!

And contrary to the rumors Vanessa is trying to circulate, I have not been abducted by aliens and had infections injected into my body. It just seemed that way for a while!

SHE DID IT!!! Way to go Vanessa...

Friday, August 14, 2009 was a wonderful day. We attended Vanessa's Convocation for receiving her Master's. I'm so happy for her and her accomplishment of reaching this goal in her life.

Well, Julie has new friends at her work. She has been fussing about the names, however, apparently none of the suggestions she solicited from us were good options. We shall leave the naming to her. Meanwhile we're all shaking our heads in wonderment. I mean seriously - FROGS???

Ah, Harry Potter...

Those that know me well know I LOVE movies. Julie and I have this little joke thing going on. Yes, last night was our "anniversary date". Brian, Julie and I went to Harry Potter - IMAX. I might be addicted now. Oh, movies are great!

Just when I think my heart is going to explode with love for my kids, I think of them and realize it has expanded again. I feel SO blessed to call these wonderful people my children.

Minding my own business and the law...I thought.

So, I took a few days off work - just to chill, relax do whatever. One of the things I had decided was to attend the Family History Conference at BYU. So I'm headed over to Provo taking the back way because I hate the freeway these days. Pretty soon I see a highway patrol car behind me. No worries, I'm going the speed limit. As I turn on to the frontage road his lights go on. I pull over, while I grab my license, car registration etc. So, he's asking me these weird questions, where am I headed, where do I work, do I always take the back roads rather than the freeway? Finally, the reason I'm pulled over---did I know I had a brake light out? He takes my license and goes back to his car. I'm sitting there and happen to glance into my review mirror. Another highway patrol has pulled up. So I've got two cars with their lights going while they are sitting in the car talking and laughing. I'm thinking it's a bit much. So lessoned learned - when you see a car pulled over with a bunch of highway patrol cars lined up. It isn't a drug bust or something. It could be a little middle-aged lady with a burned out brake light just trying to get to the family history conference. So much for a "restful" drive to work early on a Tuesday morning. PS The bulb has probably just come loose from all the "bumps" due to road construction. I hate road construction. And brake lights.

Technology is not agreeing with me these days...

It is not good for me to discover at 3:00 in the afternoon the day before a Pioneer Day weekend that the migration of my information to a new email account didn't include my contacts.

I've worked at BYU for nineteen years. All my little addresses have followed me through my jobs. All my group lists that go out to various committees and groups. To have my little CSR Tech's calmly say: "oh, sorry, yeah - they're probably gone" did not sit well with me. I called the main number and found out that really the old account wasn't totally gone and they COULD just activate it for a bit and transfer the information over. BOY, am I glad I didn't take the little techie's word for it. Within a half hour I was breathing normally again happily looking all all my Outlook Email Contacts.

All was good in my world again. Technology - worst enemy/best friend. It is a total love/hate relationship!

It is a good thing that it IS a long weekend. I need to get away from work.

162 Days Until Christmas

Time doesn't just "fly" by it is worse than that. I find myself shaking my head and wondering why it seems so fast. I feel like a scene from the old TV show "Bewitched" when she would make herself move really fast to get things done. Well, it feels like I'm moving really fast, but I don't think I'm getting things done.

Perhaps that's why sometimes I just go for a drive. Provo Canyon on my lunch hour. Pull in a parking lot and just sit and listen...to the river, the birds and eventually feel like I'm back in touch with me again.

Heavenly Father is wise to counsel us to "BE STILL".

The Storage Room

Boxes yellowed with age. No - they are not boxes from great great grandparents. They are from when I was a student at BYU and first married. THAT was a few years ago!

I've cursed myself lately for keeping too many things. This morning when I opened a box, I knew I was going to really walk down memory lane. 1974-1975 - my freshman year at BYU. Letters from my father. Having lost him earlier this year it didn't take long for tears to come as I read. My mind was thrown back to sitting on my bed in Wells Hall. I was just as eager to read the letters this morning as I remembered first getting them. And of course, his closing to his letters, "God Bless" always present.

Oh, I know I can certainly do better about throwing things away. But this morning, I'm very grateful that I've shuffled that box from place to place for the last thirty-five years.