October 28, 2008

Athena, Remington, Trekker & I met Farrah & Matt in Layton at Chucky Cheese for pizza and games. The food wasn't so good, however, the grandsons as entertainment was wonderful!!!

Shoot 'em Matt

I only had a 20 minute nap, but I'm hanging in there

What a cutie, is this enough to melt your heart?

Hang on he drives like grandma Janet

My spaceship has landed!!!

Look what Matt won!!!

Mama & Remington

Mathew's snow (10/2008)

Doesn't he look just like his mommy!!!


(FYI---I just have to be honest so my children don't have me arrested for plagiarism, I don't really know how to take my photo's from my digital camera or even from my phone camera, I have to cut and paste from Farrah and Athena's blogs, or what they have sent me via email, or even what Anthony and Katie have downloaded on my computer. So thanks kids, some day mommy will learn how to upload, download, or whatever load from her camera, that is when she finally unpacks her charger for her digital camera)

Thoughts from the Widow's Lott--Is it Rude to Feed Leftovers to the Neighbor’s Teens?

Many questions have puzzled me since I became a widow. Now that I am sleeping alone, do I buy a twin bed or do I still purchase a king or queen? If I still purchase a queen or king bed, do I sleep on each side of the bed before I wash the sheets, or just wash them as b.w.--before widowhood? (Update: I did buy a queen sized bed and if you sleep on it sideways you do not end up with a dilema!)

After raising three children and a husband on one income I am very self conscious about pinching pennies. So, when I had half a pizza left and could not stand another piece for another meal, I offered the leftovers to the neighbor’s kids. I did not even think about the size of pizza when I ordered it a week ago, after all, the large combo is the best deal. However, now I have learned that if you have to throw away, give away, hide, or decorate the other half before you can use it, it is not such a good deal. (Update: Even the neighbor's teens get tired of your leftovers, however, you can freeze the pizza for later!)

The phone is another situation for the recently widowed that can cause confusion and indecisiveness. If you don’t get up and answer it, grown children and neighbors will worry. If you do answer the obnoxious rings then you’ll inevitably have to speak to someone. On the other hand, if the call is for your husband, how do you politely tell the caller:

• he’s no longer here, if it’s a salesperson
  
• mail that check made out to him anyway
  
• no, he’ll not be needing life insurance unless they can back date the policy
  
• yes his new address is the city cemetery
  

And face it, you are a widow and regardless of reason, you don’t always have to answer the phone; no one else is around to pick it up so why should you? (Update: That includes the front door. You don't always have to answer when the doorbell rings, however if you don't answer it make sure it is locked, some of your friends don't care if your not dressed and will walk in anyway! It is easy to forgive the friends bearing lasagna who just barge in!)

Thoughts from the Widow’s Lott--I Cannot Find the Joy in Cooking for One

A corndog and boxed scalloped potatoes with a side of ketchup are all that I can call my cuisine, not only for this evening, but rather for every evening. Sure, the colors and textures change, but quick and easy remain the common spice. At one season in my life, I baked bread and cookies. From scratch I made chicken noodle soup with dumplings. I also dipped chocolates, bottled fruit, preserved home grown vegetables, and perfected an array of sweetbreads, cookies, candies, and deserts.
I loved everything about the kitchen and cooking. One fallacy my mind baked up was that a delicious smelling home was a loving home. My mind quickly changed when toddlers and children were screaming, fighting, and even the smells from the kitchen could not convey a feeling of love.

As the days of my life passed and I moved into a less demanding season, my sweet tooth for easy to bake cookies and candies changed, to a medium-rare steak, fresh shrimp, cheese-cake, and atmosphere. I began to delight in the service of another human being rather than to try and wrestle a dish rag and handy mini vac to clean up after the meal. I relished being waited on rather than being the waiter. I enjoyed the various cuisines available to the paying customer.

After numerous potato salads, creative casseroles, amazing Jell-o salads, and menu planning that would confuse a professional chef; I am now carelessly eating processed and frozen foods. Micro-waving is now my preferred method of cooking and eating out of the original container is my norm. In fact, I learned if you eat out of the original container with a plastic fork clean up is as easy as the closest garbage can.

I find grocery shopping for myself confusing. My first shopping trip, as a widow, was an academic intangible enigma. It was puzzling, because I realized I did not know what I wanted to eat. I did not know how to think in small proportions rather than the most meal for a buck. I aimlessly wandered up and down the aisles. Confusion and hesitation at every usual stop along the well traveled super market route. I stood in front of the green olives. Did I even like green olives, or was it just a habit to keep them on hand for the love of my life?

As I stood in front of the array of brightly boxed cereals, I realized the last time I bought cereal for me I was more interested in the toy inside the box.

I finally left the store with a couple of food items, cleaning products and a confused mind.

'Never be afraid of trying something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark…professionals built the Titanic.'"

God's will

Wednesday I went to the temple with a friend and her daughter. The officiator was an older gentleman who could barely walk. He was stiff, had very crooked fingers, and looked uncomfortable. As I watched him I recalled attending a session where an older woman completed an endowment session lyng on her back on a gurney.

This little woman looked quite frail and needed assistance throughout the whole session. She laid at the front of the room and I recall promising myself to always remember her as an example of faithful temple attendance. I am certain no one expected her to attend the temple, and in fact it was probably more difficult than my mind could even imagine.

As I contemplated how our physical bodies wear out from use and time, my mind traveled to my friend whose husband was, at that very moment, lying in a hospital bed on a ventilator. He's not really that old however, his body is worn and damaged. Next I thought of Joe and how healthy his body was but, he did not have the opportunity to "wear it out."

Once again I was reminded it is all in God's way, will and time. Not even the wearing out or the lack of wear and tear on our physical bodies determines how long we will live. It is all up to our Heavenly Father. Our diseased, broken, or worn bodies cannot even determine our demise, it is only in the will of the Father.

Please keep the Clarke family in your prayers.

Nieman Family (4/2007)

Katie & Anthony (10/2007)

Smith family, Matthew, Farrah, & Bradden (4/2007)

Bradden & Anthony (10/2008)

Have you Ever...

Gone on a blind date? no
Skipped School? of course, and even more recently church
Fallen going up the stairs? uhm yes, and off of the stationary bike!
Been to Mexico? No
Stolen a traffic sign? I was an accessory to the illegal crime, but I learned, if your gonna steal, don't steal a blinking one!
Broken a bone? arm, thumb, and piggies
Been Lost? the more accurate question would be, when haven't I been lost.
Swam in the ocean? yes
Played cops and robbers? Not too long ago
Have you ever met a famous person? President Monson in the Provo, Utah temple
Recently colored with crayons? yes
Cried yourself to sleep? nightly
Sang Karaoke? Only after everyone leaves and the mic is still plugged in the Wii
Paid for something only using coins? Many times
Done something you told yourself you wouldn’t? yes
Laughed until a beverage came out of your nose? yes it's easy with girlfriends
Caught a snowflake on your tongue? nope, I blink and then can't see to catch one
Seen a polar bear? at the zoo
Danced in the rain? yep, made me need to pee.

I tag everyone who reads this post, to answer these questions and to post them to their blog