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Dear Rick................

If I had a star for every time you made me smile,
I would be holding the night sky in my hand.

Age, walks, Jiffy Lube, Thrift stores

Today Rick came out of the bathroom and said, "I am beginning to look my age." Maybe he was wanting a little sympathy....but all I could think of to say was..."You're barking up the wrong gray tree buddy, it's about bloody time." He chuckled his wonderful chuckle and hugs me. I love that guy. His age becomes him doesn't it? He's age-ing nicely.
Yesterday afternoon, we had all in place and the house 'tidied-up' for the bishopric party. The sun was shining in the window, that clear clean crisp winter sun and Rick said, "Let's go for a walk." We have a little route we always go...including touching our foot on a certain manhole...as we go...but we decided to live the wild and crazy life and just wander. Well....well....well, we got to wandering and talking and wandering and talking..I guess we had a lot to talk about and pretty soon we thought, oh, my,  we better head back home. About 3 blocks from home - like a ton of bricks - we were so tired. We wondered if we would have to call 911 to come and get us and drive us home. The lesson, don't wander into unfamiliar paths....stay close enough to home, you can always get back, even if you are pooped out.
Changing oil has been a progression  or sorts at our house. Rick always changes our oil. Then one day, I declared I was no longer canning green beans. I have to say, a break though moment in my life. I can can beans, I know how, I have the equipment, I know how to grow beans, and when and if I need to - I will. But at this season in my life, I am living the life of absolute luxury and I. don't. can. my. own. beans. I know you are thinking and so what does that have to do with changing the oil...well, nothing and everything - actually. Because given permission to live the lazy - indulgent life ...and WalMart coming to town I convinced Rick to let WalMart change the oil...for the $3.00 difference. He relented one time and we have not looked back...tttthhhhheeeennnnn, one day one of the kids mentioned they don't go to WalMart for oil changes they go to Jiffy Lube. I don't know if it was Carson or Sam....Sam had a very bad experience at Wally land. So last week...hold your horses and bolt the barn door Billy, we were in town at 5:00 p.m. (that, my friends, is truly UNUSUAL!) and I said, the car needs an oil change at about the same time as we came upon the Jiffy Lube on Old McDonald and Sprague. No one inside. We made the left hand turn and in we went...it was 5:44. NOW THIS IS THE AMAZING PART...get ready to whoop...what? We drove out at 5:55. That's right folks...11 minutes....for $5.00 more than Wally. I was in s-h-o-c-k. I am sure I spend at  least $5.00 at Wallyland during the two hours I wait for the oil to be changed. We are living the life of luxury and I have to say....it feels pretty darn good. Whoo-Who
There is a new trift store in my neighborhood. I am afraid you didn't hear me...there is a new wonderful, hugely stocked, cheap, pretty nicely arranged, doesn't smell too too too bad thrift store in our neighborhood. Oh...I am thrilled like others are when a new Target or IKEA moves into town. Last week Rick and I went, upon entrance, we went our seperate ways, Rick to shoes, men's clothing and toolage, me to housewares, books. Pretty soon, Rick found me and asked me to come paw through sport coats with him. There were a lot.  What can I say? - We hit the double jackpot. The lighting isn't the best in the new store, it never is, is it? But we found a nice herringbone and navy blazer for him. I couldn't really read the label on the navy blue one - but it felt right (interpetation here : rich, well tailored, quality, 3 button syle).
The price for each $3.99. So for $8.00 we came home and thought, what the heck we will see them in the light with his trousers and decide. Wwwweeeeeelllllll. The navy blue is a Kenneth Cole...and fits him perfectly. We are pretty excited. The herringbone looks pretty snazzy, too. And yes, he wears his tie at half-mast about 50/50. This was the after church picture and half-mast for that is 100%...he claims is stops the blood going to his brain and makes him too stupid if he has it up 100% of the time.

Oh, I love a good thrift store...see my new Clark shoes - yip - you guessed it... $4.99.

Can we be snowbound.....please?

A great snowfall last night, and no wind blowing. For those Idaho folks this is what it looks like when snow comes down instead of horizontal...
This morning Rick and I sat eating our yummy steel cut oatlmeal, with the gas fireplace going, listening to Roger Whittaker sing to us, looking out the window at this picture postcard scene. Life just doesn't get better than this. I love you Ranger Rick!
I remember being snowbound on the North side. Of course, Dad ALWAYS had to try and see if he could 'get out'. Plus the worry of getting the milk man IN. Lots of snow clothes on, cold wind blowing, runny noses, tractors - with the front scraper going, sometimes riding in the manure spreader pulled by the tractor as it was the only way to navigate the huge HUGE snowdrifts, as I think about it - riding in a 'sunshine' spreader sounds kind of gross now, but it wasn't.
I guess the 'sunshine' was mostly frozen. Don't really remember anything but the great adventure it seemed to be,  gloves and hats, bedding down cows with more straw, Mom sewing, kids doing projects, helping with chores, eating yummy food magically prepared by Mom. Being safe and sound with the people that mattered most in my life. The perfect excuse for a change of routine. I remember one time Mom let us stay in our pajamas and eat breakfast...so lazy...but then nobody was coming by and so we could be lazy all the way thru breakfast.
Well, we have no drifts and no worry about getting the milk man in...don't even have one animal to tend.

Not really really snowbound. I asked Rick if we were snowbound and he said, "Only if you want to be."

I kind wanna. It that okay? Just me and Rick and Roger - safe and sound. Reading our scriptures, doing a stitchey, remembering home - family - my Dad, eating homemade soup, going out to shovel the driveway and sweep off the deck, kisses with cold noses.

Enjoying the picture postcard scenes outside.

Burrrrrrr

Outside my window at work today. I should be home with a blankie and cup of cocoa, don't ya' think?

What I did the week after Christmas

Actually, the weeks and probably the months after Christmas. In case ya' didn't know we are kind of pack-rats. Being a pack-rat isn't all bad, in fact, it comes in right handy sometimes. BUT when one is a pack-rat and said rat is expecting lots of company for a long period of time, rat in desperation decides to try and hide obvious pack-rat-age from incoming guests  and so rat(s) hastily try to stuff 50 pounds of accumulated rat collection into every one pound small hole and crevice to make house appear spacious and accommodating. Weeeellllll, when company leaves and rats want to play  - mess with and otherwise find all said packed away stuff it creates quite a search and rescue effort....that continues over days, weeks, months. I think the problem stems for the quick manner in which the stuffing  occurred and so was not always logical stuffed.
Now can anyone tell me where the stitchy project I was working on is...or the calendar for my Sunday School class or that bag of stuff we bought at Rings and Things was put? I am also missing the stitchey pictures I had on my back entry wall, has anyone seen those? Surely they are somewhere. I guess this year will be like a little treasure hunt as I discover missing things all year long.
There are some bonus parts to the company frenzy because today I unearthed the nice gift I received from Bev...I love those candles/lanterns Bevie. Thank you very  much...and Mom gave me a nice hand mixer wand thing. I actually found it and took it out of the box today. I feel just like Emeril. I know I will use it - I have seen you use yours.  Kind of like a belated Christmas around here today!
Oh my.
At least I am not planning on moving. I'll still be looking for something and Rick will say, "I know where it is on Long Road."
We moved here in 2002.
Times like this I remember Sam's remark, "You never see a hearse with a carry-all on top."
That is probably a good thing.

Grandkids at Christmas

The title is kind of a warning...I am going on and on about our grands. I've been thinking about this since we' ve had them all around for a couple weeks. When Amy and family packed up to leave....
I was swallowing a big lump in my throat the entire time. BUT, I have to say, because our kids are married to amazing spouses and raising just truly incredible children it was okay. I know that these littles are being nutured and in their home and that Mom and Dad are there for them. Somehow they have each figured out and made a plan for true happiness and success. I am so grateful they know and LIVE "The Proclamation to the World on Families". We had no idea how incredible these kids AND THE IN-LAWS even were and are. I don't remember thinking...I wonder if Mark will be a good Dad. I was so consumed with I hope he will be okay for Amy I couldn't see beyond that  - same with Jess and Jill. Little did we even really know how important it would be that they be good righteous parents. The Lord surely has blessed us, each and every one. Now for a few pictures of truly incredible kids...being raised - nutured - loved by truly incredible parents.
Camryn and Baby Sarah, you know Camryn is going to have a baby sister come to her home this very year...Yippee.

Brooke and Sarah look so much alike..."matchies".

The BOYS...we didn't even plan for them to look so cute together, aren't they
handsome?

Ariel let the little princesses dress her up in princess clothes. So precious and cute-a-rama!

Sam made Spencie and Owie tool boxes.

The PINK girls...we didn't even plan the pink part. Sam said when they do laundry they have whites, darks, and pink.

Our own Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus (Sarah) she started to fuss and Mary picked her up and hugged her...we all had a tear in our eye. This little Mary knew all about picking up that baby
and holding her. So tender.

A couple shepherds, one with a lamb and one with a Tonka truck.
A choir of angels..

This little angel was cutting teeth and just couldn't do the halo thing...

A couple back stage photos...

Grandpa has a headache...

Merry Christmas to all -
Gotta love this guy...
I sure do!