My life seems to be measured by weeks these days…a list of what happens from Sunday to Sunday.  Sometimes I like to think that I get a lot done and I have tangible proof.  Scott and Tom have been gone at Cherry Valley Scout camp for the past seven days and I have tried in the past to get something major accomplished, like cleaning the carpets or organizing my workroom, something that they could walk in and say, "Wow! You got a lot done while we were gone!"  Not this time.  I didn't even get totally rested up or play a lot.  But I won't say that the time was wasted, at least not all of it.  It was definitely both a "Mary" and a "Martha" week. Sunday was busy getting the boys off to camp.  We were supposed to have our Super Saturday (day of crafts) TODAY, so I was also trying to gather the samples and get sign-up sheets ready.  After a not so enthusiastic reception, we ended up postponing it.  The projects, IMO were good, but it's summer and you never know when vacations will get in the way and we have had a lot of new babies in the ward.  It's okay…we will do it later!  Today was kind of a "Martha" day.  Monday was busy getting some layouts done for Pinecone…or maybe I should say scanning

So…it was a day late in March.  The family had all gathered for a nephew's wedding at the San Diego Temple.  We were waiting for the stream of weddings to make room for our bride and groom to come out.  There was sunshine, as we so frequently have in March in beautiful San Diego, so we were standing in the shade.  Three brothers…Scott, Mark and Terry…were there together, when with my observant eye, I noticed how similar their hands looked…surprise, surprise!  It dawned on me that here were three brothers, all with physically active, outdoor kind of jobs that had weathered, calloused hands.  There was no question but what these men used their hands in their daily labor…no softness there, no manicured nails.  If you were just to observe their hands you could assume that they were perhaps farmers, ranchers, ditch-diggers or mechanics.  These were definitely manly hands.  But even that doesn't tell the whole story.  These are wonderful, kind men…fathers, husbands, brothers and sons, tender-hearted and with a gentle touch.  They do honorable work and it is that work that makes them rough.  There are more brothers, all with wonderful hands that look amazingly similar, but a less familiar eye might not be able to tell these three hands apart. It was just a little over a year ago that Scott almost lost not only his hand, but his arm, maybe even his life…all

I almost go through withdrawals when ever I am away from my workspace for very long.  I know that sometimes my abilities are best put to other endeavors and uses, like with invitations, cards, personal visits and such.  But there are times when having the freedom to be unrestricted to the day's goal is also nice.  School is out…for the summer, of course.  The boys are both working, albeit different times, so I have some sort of occasional quiet, but nothing that I can count on.  Gone are the girl's weekends, when all the "boys" would be gone, off on Scouting adventures and camp-outs.  Having a job eliminates that.  Thank goodness they can fend for themselves, but I still seem to be required for some basic household order, as much of it as I can demand.  I know that someday I will be a mere afterthought, with a once in a while triggered reminder to "check in on old mom" to see how she's doing.  But for now, at least for some of my children, I'm a necessary figure at their house.  It's all good. So with me, one thought always leads to another, and another, and another…right before I am distracted by yet another shiny, random thought.  My Mom and daughter, Christie, came down from Utah to join in the festivities of this past weekend.  There was graduation and an Eagle Court

On one of our recent trips to Disneyland, a couple of times ago, Megan found a memo pad that looked like the old tickets that you used to get on the individual rides…I can't decide which I like better since the  passes have gotten so expensive.  I remember when you could get in at a minimal charge and not go on the rides if you didn't want to.  But for now, an annual pass is still the way for me to go…for now!  Anyway, I thought it would be a perfect embellishment for a layout about myself, which I don't do very often. I have really enjoyed going to Disneyland over the years - as a child, as a teenager, on my honeymoon, with my children and I look forward to someday going with my grandchildren…when I get some! I remember being absolutely shocked, but excited the first time I didn't need a stroller at Disneyland.  No having to park it, find it when you got off the ride and hoping that no one stole it while you were gone.  (That happened once at Sea World.)  Things change.  Before long, the kids won't even need me to drive them there!  The kids are funny.  They keep offering to get a wheelchair and push me around Disneyland…someday I might take them up on it!  After all the years I pushed them around, I think it only fair…except

My youngest, Tom, is turning 16 today.  He's not quite ready to get the driver's license because he hasn't been driving for 6 months quite yet – that's somewhere in August, I think.  But this is yet another milestone for me, as well as Tom…he can officially date, not necessarily paired off, but double and group dates!  The big question is: when will the first date be?  Am I ready for my 6'3" "baby" to enter this social step?  Sure.  I certainly don't want to rush or pressure him, but it will be another new adventure.  Just in case you don't remember him…  At Pioneer Day, Hegessy Ward.  With his brother, Michael… At La Jolla Shores…  Playing with blocks at Grandma Naylor's. Tom really knows how to party! It helps having older sisters:)  He has always loved watermelon!   What is it about boys and camo? …even when they get BIG! Tom is a Scout, through and through! He became famous on a book cover…all by just blowing a bubble!  From that to this! With a little help from big brother Jake!  He still loves La Jolla Shores… Megan thinks this one resembles a "big foot" at the beach! Watch Tom grow! Here's a few more – a little of this and that! Well, I guess that will have to do for now.  So girls…he's available!  Who could resist a handsome young man that dances with his Grandma?  Happy

Photos are one of those things that help to keep memories alive.  Looking at a photo from your past, either recent or distant, can somehow transport you back to a moment in time.  I remember these two boys, so many years ago.  They used to be small.  Now, they not only got older but they tower over their mom!  I miss the little guys, but at the same time, I love my big boys!  I can't have it both ways, so these pictures are a quick visit to the past. We don't get frequent visits from Nancy and the family, but I sure love it when we do!  I remember that day well.  Nancy, sitting on the couch, pulling in Kaleigh a little closer for the shot.  The boys were off playing, probably a computer or Xbox game, but the girls always sit and visit.   The waters of the Pacific Ocean are a little chilly in May in La Jolla.  But when you used to live in wonderful San Diego, but have moved to Nampa, Idaho, and come to visit in May, you just can't miss the opportunity to go the familiarity of the sand and surf at your old hang-out.  The kids would run out into the water and play for a while, then they would need to come back to shore and bundle up in towels to get warm.  I don't know the exact date, but

Yesterday was a really nice day.  I slept in and actually stayed in bed late because our ward council meetings were canceled that – that was nice.  I chatted with my Mom early so the day didn't get away from me before I got a chance to visit…that was nice.  I got breakfast in bed from Megan – I almost never get to do that, so that was nice.  We had three very nice talks about mothers and motherhood by two young dads (a baby for one and a toddler with another on the way for the other) and one young married guy, no kids.  They spoke with great enthusiasm  about their children, wives and mothers. Their heartfelt thoughts were sweet and welcome for any mom to hear.    Hans shared a poem that I thought was appropriate and his delivery was as fun, and thought provoking, as was the sentiment…his mother would be proud!  Very nice! The Lanyard – Billy Collins The other day I was ricocheting slowlyoff the blue walls of this room,moving as if underwater from typewriter to piano,from bookshelf to an envelope lying on the floor,when I found myself in the L section of the dictionarywhere my eyes fell upon the word lanyard. No cookie nibbled by a French novelistcould send one into the past more suddenly—a past where I sat at a workbench at a campby a deep

I had stumbled on this woman's blog some time ago, so when I found this new film, I thought I would share.  Thanks Amy, for getting it to me so quickly.  What an amazing family and what a wonderful testimony about the eternal perspective one can find in the face of trials and challenges.  I can learn a lot from this truly amazing, beautiful lady.  Enough said – just watch and listen!

 I got a haircut 2 days ago.  I told Kimberly to cut it so the gray showed…there's a lot of it, but it still tries to hide under the color on top.  I have never, ever colored my hair – my Mom told me, when I was a little girl, that women paid big bucks to try and get my color…strawberry blond or Titian, a color that the artist Titian frequently used in his paintings.  Strawberry blond doesn't sound quite accurate because my hair really isn't the color of strawberries.  Anyway, I am a good girl and have always listened to my Mom…besides, it's easier if I have someone to blame!  So Kimberly took a lot off – it's cute and I'm getting used to it being shorter:)  But you still can't see much of the gray.  I am getting old, but you can't tell much from my hair color unless you happen to catch a glimpse of the underside.  What I have realized is that my eyebrows have a disproportionate amount of white in them.  My eyes aren't as strong as they used to be, so I have moved up the "off the rack, reading glasses strengths" to a 200.  I have been having trouble to see my brows in order to pluck them.  Now I don't know if they'll come back in with color or without color to them.