Happy Birthday Dad!

I looked at the date a few minutes ago...today is August 6...My dad would have been 77 years old today. Unfortunately, he had severe high blood pressure from a young age...had a very severe stroke when he was 37 and died of kidney disease when he was 45. It was the beginning of my senior year in high school. Back then, there was no counseling...He died on Sunday, I was at school on Monday...nothing said. Looking back on his life, I remember a man who would call if I was home from school sick just to see how I was. He was a dedicated man...He joined the Mormon church when he was 42, and did all he could to serve...He was a dedicated home teacher and worried about the families in his care, even as he lay in a hospital bed. He was such a creative man. I remember he made a nativity scene out of felt and styrofoam...looked amazing, not junky. He made cuff links out of marbles that he boiled and then put in cold water to crack them. He built what I thought was a shed for his lawnmower, but turned out to be the best playhouse a girl could have. He made me a dollhouse with an elevator in it, and Grape Nuts cereal for roofing material. He loved to eat those candied orange slices and Three Musketeer candy bars. He was always at my band and chorus concerts and my softball games. He drove me to church on Wednesday nights. He took me out to breakfast and sometimes a late snack at Hobo Joe's Restaurant...I just loved that chocolate cake and hot cocoa for breakfast (no question why I have always had a weight problem!) and those wonderful slim jim sandwiches with ham and tomato and warm melted cheese dripping all over. He always wanted to have family prayer in the morning and would stand in the hallway and say it as I did my hair and others slept. He made sure my bike was working well to ride to school. He made me appreciate - later in life, mind you - the value of christmas lights that you didn't have to test each and every one before you put it on the tree. He truly spoiled us in the Christmas department...was very integral in all the decorating of the tree, hanging the lights, etc. He did his best with his physical limitations, and, with a supportive wife making sure he "did" what he couldn't, made all of our live so good and wonderful. He was honest. He was a good dresser. He even picked out the most wonderful china pattern...now I know my mom is terribly surprised at that one...I always hated it as a kid, but now I think it is the most beautiful (in fact, Danyel asked me the other day what one thing I would want of my moms...and it would have to be those dishes! Don't faint, Mom!!) He made his few years on this earth as a dad the best he could, and raised three kids who turned out pretty darned good!

31 Days of Praying For Our Husbands-Day 18

Today we are praying for this. Dee has never been too focused on material things, or having them, simply because it is the newest and best, or because someone else has one. Like me, though, he would rather use his money to purchase something he can hold in his hand, rather than something that ends up down the drain! He loves to use his resources to get stuff...always looking to get a knife sharpener for Allison, a feather boa for Grace, marbles for Adam, cast iron for Mike (sorry Allison), teacups for Danyel, photo stuff for Doran, movies for Kayty, car stuff for Nate, (Ethan and Cameo haven't expressed any "look for" items yet...maybe Allison has shared the fact that she has a closed loaded with cast iron...and they are afraid!) Stuff is not bad, unless it takes the place of things we need, of people and their concerns. Priorities...pray for proper priorities!

Writer's Workshop

What's ailing you? Diagnose yourself with a syndrome.
Here I am, Dr. Gingerbread, diagnosing my current ailment. I have “petpeeve-osis”, and my family is currently doing all in their power to add to the inflammation that my condition is. I need very little to maintain my contentment. I love to walk in my front door, look to my left, and see my living room – it is a dream come true and it is clean. When I see that first, I feel my world is in some kind of order. Then, as I continue on (just one or two steps more) and see my island counter in my kitchen. There is the snag. There is the trouble. There, it seems to be the challenge for all to put, to place, to spill, to pile, to store all that is their’s: all that has another place – in THEIR room. I find keys, college books, business cards, shards of paper with “important” phone numbers, empty cereal containers, can openers, pens, markers, food spills. It just never ends. I have expressed my desires. Now, I do expect that they can use this island. Go ahead, leave your purse there while you get a drink. Go ahead and make your peanut butter and honey sandwich right where it is convenient. But, gosh darn it, put the stuff away. Put your knife in the sink and WASH it. Wipe up your milk spills. Put the container either in the correct can if it is empty, or in our nice and large and well labeled pantry if it is used!
I did have my way, last week. I washed the granite countertop on my island. I further cleaned it with alcohol. I then grabbed the bottle of “Sealer’s Choice” and applied a liberal coating of sealer. I waited until it dried, buffed it again, and then placed a sign on the counter that said “Keep all items off. Just sealed.” I had to remind a few times, but it, basically remained clean. My “petpeeve-osis” was at peace. I had a wonderful 18 hours or so. Now, the next morning, I found it piled high…oh, the pain…the pain!

31 Days of Praying For Our Husbands-Day 17

Here is the duty for the day, though I don't know about the term "manliness".

31 Days of Praying For Our Husbands-Day 16

This was an interesting one, as so many have been. I am so thankful that hubby chooses wholesome activities and hobbies to be involved in. He loves to hunt, to fish, to rebuild his project vehicle, to photograph, to create in stone and in cement, to play music via the stereo, and so many more things that he can do. Our home, and garage, and shed, etc. are full of hobbies and loves. The thing is, he is very, very good at keeping all in balance, and that is the challenge here today. Most of the women I know, and their hubbies, all choose good activities and hobbies, and, so far, keep them all in their proper perspective, not letting one rule anyone's life. That is the way to be!

31 Days of Praying for Our Husbands Days 12, 13. 14. 15

As you can see, the competition to get NEAR the computer is very fierce, with a 23 yr. old job hunting, a 16 yr. old on the week before school starting, and sweet Danyel with no internet access, so I get a few minutes at night before Dee need to go to bed and now...a few minutes while the muffins bake and I try to find that darned cookie recipe that had chocolate, white chunks, and whole wheat flour in it! (One recipe I forgot to print!) I am also in a pretty foul mood...no explanation, but I need to pray, because I really don't feel like praying, and that is surely the time you need to. Here are the assignments...now, if too extreme, as I find some to be, make up your own!
day 12 I was uncomfortable with this one, so I just prayed that he has a good Engineer breakfast! And he did.
day 13
day 14
day 15

Happy First Day of School, Nathan!

Changed my blog background. Dad gave Nate a priesthood blessing. His backpack is packed and ready. Tomorrow...the first day of his Junior Year of High School. Varsity Football player: starter on both the offense and defense. National Honor Society. He wants to be in Stugo...don't know if he will be elected. Speech team wants him...but he doesn't feel he is as good as the others, so we shall see. All in all, he likes his school, his friends...met or exceeded all the AIMS tests on the first try, so that is behind him. Here's to having another great year at North Pointe, Nathan. Go Falcons!

P.S. Mom was mad that Nate didn't wear a new shirt for the first day of school...this one is two or three years old. I got mad, which made him mad. So, happy happy picture. It got better on the ride to school and he was relatively happy - for a kid starting school on the 3rd of August!