"Twas The Night Before Jesus Came"

Every Thursday Rudy and I work in the Boise Temple. Last week, the Thursday before Christmas, Sister Floto gave a talk during our prayer meeting and she read this poem. I asked if she had made copies for us and she said no, but she would make them and put them in the shift coordinator's office. Well I forgot to pick one up on my way out so I got a copy of it today. It would have been great to post this on 'The Night Before Christmas', but I think it is appropriate any day of the year. I hope you enjoy it too and think about its message and how it applies to each of us. Love you!!!

'Twas the night before Jesus came and all thru the house

Not a creature was praying, not one in the house

Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care

In hopes that Jesus would not come there.

The children were dressing to crawl into bed,

Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.

And Mom in her rocker with baby on her lap

Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.

When out of the east there arose such a clatter,

I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash!

When what to my wondering eyes should appear

But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here

With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray

I knew in a moment this must be "The Day".

The light of His face made me cover my head

It was Jesus! returning just like He had said.

And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth,

I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.

In the Book of Life which He held in His hand.

Was written the name of every saved man.

He spoke not a word as He searched for my name,

When He said "It's not here" my head hung in shame.

The people whose names had been written with love

He gathered to take to His Father above.

With those who were ready He rose without a sound,

While the rest were left standing around.

I fell to my knees, but it was too late,

I had waited too long and thus sealed my fate.

I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight,

Oh, if only I had been ready tonight.

In the words of this poem the meaning is clear,

The coming of Jesus is drawing near.

There's only one life and when comes the last call,

We'll find that the Bible was true after all!

Author

Bethany Farms

(Revelation 19:11-16)

Finding the Blessings

Sunday's Sacrament meeting we had a guest speaker, Brother Daniel Hennis. He said he lives just south of the Garden of Eden in the corner of Missouri. As he took his place at the podium he presented the Bishop with his "certificate" to prove his worthiness to address the congregation as stated in the Doctrine and Covenants. His wife is living here in our ward with their daughter-in-law while their son is away having joined the military helping with the children. She has been here several months now and actually was able to get a job and serves in the Primary as the chorister. She is delightful and I have often wished I could get to know her better. Thoughts of her came often when I was helping Leslie while Eddy was away at Air Borne School. I was only going to be there five weeks. My sacrifice was so small compared to hers. Anyway, back to her husband's talk.

He too seemed delightful and it seems his talk is worth remembering as well. He spoke of the small branch he lives in. That if 100% attendance occurred only 3 or 4 rows of our chapel would be filled. Their stake takes in portions of 4 states. They are few in number but strong in spirit. Brother Hennis said that his talk had cost him $800. Strange comment, right? He then proceeded to explain what he meant. They are not blessed with abundance. They live in a small travel trailer. They were in need of a better car and he went to a junk yard and purchased a vehicle he thought he would be able to fix up with just a little effort. However when he got into it he found the engine and the transmission were both damaged and would cost a lot of money to repair. He called his sweet wife to tell her the problem and her counsel to him was to go into his bedroom, get on his knees and give thanks. He said "for what?" She said to him, "find one thing that you can be thankful for and continue praying until you can express only gratitude for your many blessings. He agreed to do it and soon found that he could not stop expressing thanks to his Heavenly Father for his many blessings. Soon after that he discovered the parts he needed for the car would come from far away places for much less than what he had anticipated.

The lesson is always the same. It is easy to give thanks when things are going well. Our challenge is to remember to give thanks when things are challenging. Brother Hennis reminded us to occasionally give prayers of gratitude, asking for nothing, just give thanks to our Heavenly Father for ALL that He has given us.

Definitely words to live by! This is another testament that Heavenly Father knows who we are, where we are and what we need, whether it is a dress for a wedding or parts for a car.

Faith and fear cannot exist at the same time. Peace and anger cannot exist at the same time. Choose to live in faith and peace "At All Times and In All Things and In All Places" that we may overcome is my prayer and my constant goal.

Thankful for Safe Passage

It is early Tuesday and I just heard a radio report that made me very sad and very grateful. The reporter said that there were two fatalities this weekend of people traveling home from Idaho through Oregon. In one car a man on his way home to Portland died from his injuries while four others in the same car survived their injuries. Another man died when his car slid off the ice and rolled several times. I am so very sad for all the family and friends of these to men!

This tragic event makes me realize even more the great blessing it was to have three of my children travel back to their homes safely this past holiday weekend. We had a wonderful visit and that memory will live on unclouded by troubles during the return trip home. Other than the fresh reminder of just how far away we live from each other.

I love having them here with us! Thank you, thank you, thank you for making the journey East! I know that their safe passage was an answer to the prayers offered in their behalf!!!

Garlands

Christmas garlands became a tradition in my home when my children were young. At the age of two or so my nephew had bitten a glass ornament from off their Christmas tree and a piece of glass caught in his throat which had to be removed by the doctor. Well that scared me so I took all of my breakable ornaments off the tree. Then one year while living in Snohomish I found some beautiful pine cone laden garlands in Costco that I could put up in my window and hang the breakable ornaments once again. Nowadays with the downsizing of my Christmas tree I have put my favorite and special handmade ornaments on the garlands. The red glittered strawberries were a gift from my mother when we lived in Marysville, the strawberry capital of Washington. The spindle was made by my Dad. The painted wooden tree is from a paint by number set I did when Catherine was little. My friend, Heather, would make an ornament each year for me. Mr & Mrs Santa Pig are from her, of course. The rope of wooden beads came from an after Christmas sale at The Bon. Megan made the origami star and the blue rocking horse is part of the paint by number set I mentioned earlier.

I love how each ornament brings with it special memories. They bring fond memories of friends and family, special times and places. The ornaments may seem ordinary or even plain to the casual observer. However, to the one who holds those memories dear they are more than beautiful and their value is far greater than the material it is made with for they were each made and or given with love. And each year they are enjoyed increases their value and their treasured memories.

When I moved here there were more windows, doorways, and thresholds which of course necessitated the addition of more garlands. Each new garland has a theme of its own.

So much fun!

Prepare for Christmas

Coming home on Wednesday the 10th, after being away from home for 5 weeks helping family, my first thought was to just relax for a bit, however, I had a strong feeling that I should get my Christmas decorations up before I started anything else. I had no idea why but it seemed like a good idea to be prepared and then be able to relax. So we started decorating Friday morning. Then that evening I received a call from my oldest son that he needed help with tending his 3 year old son, Mason, and could I take care of him for 2-3 weeks. So we made arrangements to meet in the middle of the long road trip between our homes on Monday. Withe the decorations up we were able to spend our time playing with Mason and he really enjoyed the pretty lights too. Was I ever grateful for "the feeling" to get the decorations up.

Isn't it wonderful that Holy Ghost would help me to make our preparations for Christmas earlier than usual this year. It is our tradition to put them up for Thanksgiving each year but never this early. I am so grateful for that prompting and have enjoyed the beauty of the Christmas lights every night since then.

Live in Thanksgiving Daily

Think for a moment, if you will, of someone you know who is truly happy. We've all met those who seem to radiate happiness. They seem to smile more than others; they laugh more than others -- just being around them makes us happier as well.

Now think of someone you know who isn't happy at all. Perhaps they seem 10 years older than they are, drained of energy -- perhaps they are angry or bitter or depressed.

What is the difference between them? What are the characteristics that differentiate the happy from the miserable? Is there something that unhappy people can do to be happier? I believe there is.

Let me tell you a story to illustrate this observation.

A long time ago in a faraway village lived a man who everyone did their very best to avoid. He was the type of person who believed that there was only one competent person in the world, and that one person was himself. Consequently, he was never satisfied with anything. His shoes never fit right. His shirt never felt comfortable. When his food wasn't too cold, it was too salty, and when it wasn't too hot, it was too bland. If a field wasn't sowed by himself, it was not sowed well. If he didn't close the door, the door was not closed properly. In short, he made a career of frowning, lecturing, criticizing, and mumbling about the incompetencies of every other person in the rest of the world.

Unfortunately, the man was married, which made matters all the worse. No matter what his wife did, in his eyes it was wrong. No matter what the unfortunate woman cooked, sewed, or cleaned -- or even when she milked the cow -- it was never satisfactory, and he let her know it. She tried very hard to be a good wife, but it seemed the harder she tried, the less she pleased him. Finally, one evening she could take no more. "I'll tell you what we'll do," she told him. "Tomorrow I will do your chores and you will do mine." "But you can't do my chores," the man replied. "You don't know the first thing about sowing, hoeing, and irrigating." But the woman was adamant. And on top of that, she was filled with a righteous anger that frankly astonished and frightened the man to the point where he didn't dare disagree.

So the next morning the wife went off to the fields and the man began the domestic chores. After thinking about it, he had actually convinced himself he was looking forward to it. Once and for all, he would demonstrate to his wife how things should be done. Unfortunately, not everything went according to plan. In fact, nearly everything the man touched turned into disaster. He spilled the milk, let the pig get into the house, lost the cow, burned the dinner, and ultimately set the house on fire, narrowly escaping with his own life. When his wife returned, she discovered her husband sitting on a pile of ashes, smoke still rising from his clothes. But the woman wasn't the type to rub things in. She helped him up, wiped the soot from his beard, fixed him a little something to eat, and then prepared a bed of straw for them to sleep on. From that day forward, the man never complained about anyone or anything else for as long as he lived.

What do you suppose this story teaches us?

For one thing, it teaches that those who complain make their own and others' lives miserable. The story also teaches humility. It reminds us that "pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall" (Prov. 16:18). It teaches us not to judge others until we walk in their shoes for a while.

In addition, the story illustrates a quality that the Roman orator Cicero claimed was "not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others" (Marcus Tullius Cicero, Pro Plancio, 54 b.c.). It is a quality I have found in every happy person I know. It is a quality that instantly makes a person more likable and more at peace. Where there is an abundance of this virtue, there is happiness. Where there is an absence of this virtue, there is often sadness, resentment, and futility.

The virtue I am speaking of is gratitude.

In our story, it was the absence of gratitude that made the man miserable. His inability to appreciate others caused him to be critical of their efforts. Not only did he not empathize with them, he could not allow himself to acknowledge their contributions.

The disasters that confronted him surely made him humble, but, more particularly, they made him appreciate and be grateful for his wife. Gratitude is a mark of a noble soul and a refined character. We like to be around those who are grateful. They tend to brighten all around them. They make others feel better about themselves. They tend to be more humble, more joyful, more likable.

You might be surprised to know that gratitude is a commandment of the Father. "Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things" (D&C 59:7), the Lord has commanded in these latter days. Even further, He has admonished that "in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments" (D&C 59:21).

In the Book of Mormon we learn that we should "live in thanksgiving daily" (Alma 34:38). Isn't that a wonderful thought to live in thanksgiving daily? Can you imagine how your life would improve if you lived in thanksgiving daily? Can you imagine how your life would improve if others did the same? Do you think the world would be a happier place? less stressful? less angry? more spiritual?

President Joseph F. Smith proclaimed: "The grateful man sees so much in the world to be thankful for, and with him the good outweighs the evil. Love overpowers jealousy, and light drives darkness out of his life. Pride destroys our gratitude and sets up selfishness in its place. How much happier we are in the presence of a grateful and loving soul, and how careful we should be to cultivate, through the medium of a prayerful life, a thankful attitude toward God and man!" (Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed. [1939], 263).

Earlier I asked you to think of someone you knew who was truly happy. Think of the person again, if you will, and grade on this principle: Does he or she live in thanksgiving daily? Now think of someone you know who is unhappy or resentful. Does this person live in thanksgiving daily? It is difficult to even imagine a resentful person who is grateful or a grateful person who is resentful. President Gordon B. Hinckley has said: "Absence of gratitude is the mark of the narrow, uneducated mind. It bespeaks a lack of knowledge and the ignorance of self-sufficiency. It expresses itself in ugly egotism and frequently in wanton mischief... "Where there is appreciation, there is courtesy, there is concern for the rights and property of others. Without it there is arrogance and evil" (in Conference Report, Oct. 1964, 117).

By Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Ensign, Sep. 2001, 6

I thought this was such a good article I just had to post it for all to read. I miss Elder Wirthlin!!!

Thankful for family!

Isn't it wonderful to be a member of a family? I am so grateful for my family; my parents, my sisters, my children, with all their many gifts and talents! It is so wonderful that some talents we can share and some we just admire and enjoy as an observer. Thank you for all of your many gifts and talents that you have shared with me!!! I have learned so much from each of you!!!

The Best of Times

I found this quote in a Mary Engelbreit book "Believe, Christmas Treasury" and it spoke to me. I hope it speaks to you as well.

"I sometimes think we expect too much of Christmas Day. We try to crowd into it the long arrears of kindliness and humanity of the whole year. As for me, I like to take my Chrismas a little at a time, all through the year. And thus I drift along into the holidays -- let them overtake me unexpectedly -- waking up some fine morning and suddenly saying to myslf: 'Why, this is Christmas Day!'" By David Grayson

Christmas IS the best of times! There is such a special spirit upon the earth at Christmas time. I read somewhere that the Christmas season is celebrated in the spirit world along with us in the physical world. Maybe that is why there is such a different feeling at Christmas. I wish that we could enjoy that special spirit as a world all year long!

It has become a tradition in my house to decorate for Christmas before Thanksgiving so Emily can enjoy the decorations when she and Jared come to our house for Thanksgiving. And then Rudy and I can enjoy the specialness of the holidays longer as we enjoy looking at the lights and all the pretty ornaments each night. This year was no exception. I came home from helping Ed and Leslie in Georgia for 5 weeks and had a very strong impression that I should get my decorating before I start something else. I didn't realize that something else would be another grandchild. This time at my house! I have had Jamie's son, Mason, since Monday. It truly is the best of times!!! To spend so much time with my dear little ones!!! And Benjamin will be here for Thanksgiving! That will be all of them!!! What a lucky Granny I am!!!

Dust If You Must

Dust if you must, but wouldn't it be better
To paint a picture, write a letter,
Bake a cake, or plant a seed,
Ponder the difference between want and need.

Dust if you must, but there is not much time
With rivers to swim and mountains to climb
Music to hear and books to read,
Friends to cherish and life to lead.

Dust if you must, but the world's out there
The sun in your eyes, the wind in your hair,
A flutter of snow, a shower of rain,
This day will not come round again.

Dust if you must, but bear in mind,
Old age will come and it's not kind.
And when you go, as go you must
You, yourself, will make more dust!

One more "find" while cleaning out my old desk and yes there was dust on it!!!

The Champion

"The average runner sprints until the breath in her is gone.
But the chapion has the iron will that makes her carry on.

For rest the average runner begs when limp her muscles grow.
But the champion runs on leader legs, her spirit makes them go.

The average girl's complacent when she has done her best to score.
But the champion does her best, and then does a little more."

Another find while cleaning out my old desk. So I guess today I was a champion because I decided to take a walk. Not my usual walk around the block either. I decided to walk to the post office in town and then around the end of the park and back across the railroad crossing then back home again. As my legs (mostly my right knee) tired I pulled from within and finished strong. I thought that it was going to be a longer walk when I started out but when I figured out the mileage it was only 2.5 miles which is the same as my walk around the block. It was nice to see something different and to feel like I was really doing something different!

Strength Grows Out of Struggle

Found this while cleaning out my old desk:

Struggle is a clever device through which nature compells mankind to develop, expand and progress. It can either be an ordeal or a great experience depending on one's attitude toward it. Success is impossible without it. Meet struggle and master it and you shall have the strength and wisdom sufficient for all your needs.

Struggle toughens the human spirit. Most people go through life following the path of least resistance. Without the strength of character that grows out of struggle, we would be tempted to go through life with little purpose or plan. Struggle forces us to move when we would otherwise stand still and it leads us eventually to the full realization that success comes only through struggle.

Nothing worth while in life is ever achieved without a struggle. If it were easy everyone would do it. Life is a struggle, and the reward goes to those who meet the difficulty face to face, overcome it and move on to the next challenge.

My old boss used to work me most nights and sometimes holidays, at the end of some weeks he almost would apologize for having me work such long hours but he would add "you've been a big help to me, but a bigger help to yourself though the experience you've gained."

By running to embrace struggle, rather than trying to avoid it, you to can use it to help you learn, grow and succeed.

Powerful words don't you think? I have spent time on both sides of struggle and find these words to be true. When you empower yourself to meet the challenge head-on you can and will achieve great things. My sister Caren once told me that when I am "up" I accomplish amazing things! I guess another way to state this is: You are either reaching or receding but never just standing still. Embrace your challenges, spend as little time as possible avoiding them for they are yours to conquer. If not today then they will come around again until you seize the opportunity and overcome the challenges of life.

The Importance of Friends

"Life is sweet just because of the friends we have made and the things which in common we share. We want to live on, not just for ourselves, but because of the people who care. It's giving and doing for somebody else on that all life's splendor depends. And the joy of this world when you've summed it all up, is found in the making of friends." Edgar A. Guest

What a wonderful quote! I found it in an old letter I received from a friend while Catherine was on her mission. She said, and I agree, that sometimes reading it helps her feel happier because it puts things in perspective.

It has been said of me that I have never met a stranger. Sometimes I feel as if I meet people that I already knew and since life is eternal, having lived before this earth life and will live on after this earth life, friends and knowledge are all that we bring with us and take back with us. I am so grateful for my dear friends.

Family members are friends that we hold even dearer and closer to us.

I am truly blessed with a wonderful family of friends!!!

Grandchildren are the best!

So the best things in life are grandchildren! It is really true!!! Your children bring you joy and then they give you grandchildren!

Emily and Jared brought grandchild #8 and #9 to us this year. No, they did not have twins. But they opened their home to a foreign exchange student, Olga, from Spain last summer. Olga and I bonded immediately when she went quilting with me last summer at Aunt Caren's quilting group in North Bend, Washington. Willing to accept a challenge, Olga decided that she wanted to make a quilt too. Aunt Caren came to her aid with some left over quilt blocks that she wasn't going to use and Olga began putting her first quilt together. Her perfectionism showed as she chose color placement first and then began sewing the blocks together. Finding just the right fabric for the borders was a fun trip to the fabric store and again her eye for design and color was apparent. It was a fun time but then Granny had to leave and she was on her own. She soon finished the top and brought it with her to Idaho this spring where Granny quilted it for her on "Millie" the long arm quilting machine and put the binding on it for her too. Soon it was a real quilt to wrap herself in.

So much fun! I am so very proud of Olga for learing something new. For not being afraid of a new project! And for finishing it so she can take home with her a beautiful quilt with lots of memories and lots of love in every stitch.

So Olga became our grandchild #8 as Emily and Jared began to learn what parenting is all about. Usually you have a baby before you have a teenager but not this time. She will have to return home to Spain soon but she will always be a part of our family!!! It is with deep graditude that I thank her family for sending her to us and allowing us to bring her into our family forever! She has been a constant source of joy for me and I will miss having her near so very much!!!

Then on May 29th grandchild #9 was brought into this world as Emily gave birth to Benjamin Michael Lutz. At 10 pounds 2 ounces and 22 inches long there is no denying that he is one of ours. What a big boy!

It was a mad dash to drive from Idaho to Washington hoping that I would be there before he was born. Jared says I made it in record time! I arrived on Friday and he arrived on Saturday. Such a deal! I am so very happy for Emily and Jared. They patiently waited for such a long time for him to come to their family. And now he is here and such a sweet thing too! Isn't it interesting the blessings that came from giving so much as Young Woman's President in her ward and then opening their home to a foreign exchange student to finally being blessed with their own son. Sacrifices are often the door that opens many blessings in life.

What a HAPPY GRANNY!!!

Our Deepest Fear

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that

we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our Light, not our Darkness,

that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant,

gorgeous, talented, fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the World.

There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that

other people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God

that is within us.

It is not just in some of us, it is in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously

give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear,

our presence automatically liberates others.

Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love

This quote was given to me by a dear friend and I feel it is worth pondering over and consider where you find yourself. Do you live in fear? Do you shrink in order to not make others feel small? I know that I have done that many times and it is never a good place to spend our precious time here on earth. The words to a hymm come to mind, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in heaven." Each of us have been given many gifts and talents to use and develop while here on this earth. Eventually we will all have to give an accounting of them and how we have used and developed them. The parable of the talents comes to mind, doesn't it? Being faithful and true to who you are and being the best you can be is always the best plan.

Sometimes we loose balance in life and spend too much time in one area such as always giving service and not knowing how to receive it. It is said that "it is better to give than to receive" and there is some truth to that. Being kind, generous, charitable are all important Christ-like qualities we need to develop. But, if we never learn to receive service from others then we are out of balance. And, if we don't learn to receive service from those that we can repay during this life either directly or indirectly then how are we ever going to be able to receive the fullness of the Atonement of Jesus Christ which we can never pay back?

Finding balance in all aspects of life is my goal. Making sure that I have my "oxygen mask" on first, being the best "me" that I can be and then finding ways to serve others and help them be the best they can be that we may all return to our Heavenly Father.

We all have fears ocassionally, but realizing that "there is nothing to fear but fear itself" is so empowering. Liberate yourself from fears with faith and see what comes of it! You CAN do anything you put your mind to!

Cookies for a Tea Party

Tomorrow evening is the Beehive Class Tea Party and I told my visiting teaching partner that I would make cookies for birthday gifts for two of the women we visit teach who are having a birthday this month. We are going out tonight at 6:00. So I decided to try two new recipes that I saw recently on a website.

The first one is Delicious Cake Bites by Kathy Oaks. You start by baking any flavor cake and bake as directed on the box. She likes devil's food or German chocolate. While it bakes in a 9x13 pan you make a cream cheese icing. You can use purchased cream cheese frosting if you want and if you are doing German chocolate cake then use purchased German chocolate icing in place of the cream cheese frosting.
When the cake comes out of the oven you dump it into a large mixing bowl along with the cream cheese icing. Mix that all together for a gooey mixture. Which you must let cool completely. Since I was in a hurry I covered it with a lid and placed it in the freezer for a couple of hours, while I made the other cookies.

This is the cream cheese icing, 1/4 cup softened butter, 6 ounces cream cheese, 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla and enough milk to make a good frosting to which I added red food color in error. I was thinking of the other batch of cookies which is supposed to be pink. Whoops!

Here is the cake and icing fudgey mess. Hers was a bit wetter than mine. I think my icing was thicker than hers. Oh well! After it cools take about a tablespoon of the cake mixture and roll it into a ball. Place the cake balls into a freezer bag on a cookie sheet and then place them in the freezer again. You can freeze them for a long time but once you have dipped them in chocolate you will need to eat them. Is that a problem for anyone?? (Other than me, I am on a diet.)

On to the Italian Wedding Cookies I got from someones blog, not sure which one. The dough is simple 1 cup butter, 2 cups flour and 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream mixture rolled to 1/8" thickness and cut with a small cookie cutter. Press the cookie cutouts in a bowl of sugar to coat both sides of the cookie and place on a cookie sheet. Pierce the cookies with a fork three times across and then bake for 7 minutes at 375 degrees.

The cake bites are beginning to look delicious, don't you think? You use dipping chocolate to dip each cake bite which works best when the chocolate is still warm and runny. Using a fork to pull them out of the chocolate knock as much chocolate off them as possible and then slide them onto wax paper or parchment or foil. What ever you have on hand.

These are for the birthday girls. Such pretty dishes too!

All wrapped up and ready to go!

While the Italian Wedding Cookies cool completely make a butter icing of 1/2 cup soft butter, 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla and food coloring of your choice. Mix with an electric mixer until well combined and fluffy. Spread icing between 2 cookies to make little sandwiches.

So pretty, don't you agree?

Delicious Cake Bites all dished up for the tea party! They look so pretty! And, I have had three people taste them for me and I am told they ARE DELICIOUS!!!

I didn't even lick my fingers. I was so tempted!

Tomorrow morning is my sewing group at Vickie's and guess what I am taking with me to share? Yup, yup, pretty cookies!!!

Walking the dog

It is amazing how much easier it is for us to take a walk now that we have Buddy to walk with.

Thursday we walked around the block and stopped in at Karl's to introduce him to Buddy. Then, Friday, we walked up and over the hill to Vickie's house in the back of Sutter's Mill subdivision. And then today we walked down our street to Linnie's house to visit her. She called her son, Jamie, to come meet the new dog. He and his wife and their 1 1/2 year old boxer, Leroy, came to meet Buddy. Leroy got a bit agressive to start with but Jamie settled him down right away. They did the "hi, how are you" in dog language and soon they were friends. Jamie gave them several dog biscuits for each they had to "sit". It was fun. Jamie and his wife loved Buddy and said they would have taken him home with them if they had found him too. He is such a sweet dog!

So now we are walking everyday and that is good for all of us!

Did Someone Say Tea Party?

Every girl loves a tea party, right? (Even an impromptu party on the floor when I was moving to California.)Where my love of tea parties comes from I am not sure. But my girls and I would have tea parties when they were little. Hence, Emily's lesson that she was more important to me than the broken tea cup. After moving here to the island far from my grand babies my desire to have tea parties arose and I turned to the neighbor's little girls.

It was six or seven years ago now since I started having tea parties here and some of those little girls are now in Young Women's but still want to have tea parties. I love it! My goal was to teach their mothers the importance of spending that special time with their daughters. Some of the mothers took the idea and went with it and soon were inviting me to their tea parties. So for my contribution to the party I would read a story to the children. Such fun!

Now comes the reward again. Kelsey, who is now 12, has only come to a couple of my tea parties in the very beginning when she was little. But now she is in Young Women's and told her Beehive leader about my tea set and having tea parties and could they have a tea party??? Sister Baker called me and asked if I would host a party or lend my tea set and of course I said that I would host. The date is set for next Wednesday evening. They will meet at the church for their opening exercises and then come to my house for their personal progress interviews and a tea party. All I have to prepare is the table and some herb tea. Sister Baker will bring the rest of little sandwiches and cookies. Sounds like fun!!! And perhaps the tea party tradition will continue with another group of girls!!!

Train Tracks?

The first words out of Blake's mouth, when he comes to visit Granny and Papa's, is "train tracks?"

Then we go get the box and usually it is Papa who sets it up and hours of fun begin. Oh my, the tears that fall when it is time to put it all away!

The wooden train set was given to Jeffrey last November by family friends, but his parents said that they didn't have room for it in their car so Granny asked to take it home to be enjoyed by those who come to visit. And Jeffrey did come to visit last week and he wanted to know where his train set was. He knew! So out came the box and Jeffrey is old enough to set the tracks up himself. What fun! Then cousins, Blake and Jillian came over to play and they had the very best of fun playing together with what is now "Papa's train set".

Words To Live By

Love:
Say it!
Mean it!
Show it!

Testimony:
Bear it!
Mean it!
Live it!

Someone take my temperature, please!

Okay, so maybe I am sick or maybe I have simply had a change of heart, but something is definetly different.

Last night was my Block of the Month quilting class at Nancy's Quilts and there was this dog in her front yard. When I got out of the car he came over to me to say hello. But as it was raining and he was wet and I needed to get my sewing machine and go inside I didn't take the time to talk to him. Come to find out he had showed up at her place a couple of days ago and she was not sure who he belonged to. She lives in the country and animals are abandoned all the time along her road. Poor dog, cold and wet, looking for someone to talk to. A friend had given her some cat food to feed him but she said that she could not have a dog there and would be looking for his owner.

Wouldn't you know I had forgotten my glasses and couldn't see well enough to cut and sew my new quilt block so I called my dear husband, Rudy, and asked him to bring me a pair. (You know I have a dozen pairs of reading glasses. One for each room and spot I might need them. But none in my purse. Go figure!) So when Rudy arrived I went outside to get my glasses and up came the dog again. This time both Rudy and I talked with him and petted him. When he looked in my eyes something changed inside of me. A heart string was pulled. But it was still raining and I had a quilt block to get done so Rudy left and I went back inside. I told Nancy that if she couldn't find the owner to call me.

Two hours later the block is done, it is time to go home, the dog is still in her front yard and she says that she would put him in the garage but.... Now I realize that he is sleeping outside in the freezing cold weather. Oh, my heart! But still what is a girl to do? Once home again I talked to Rudy about the dog and told him that I thought we should go get him. And discussed all the reasons why we shouldn't. But the feeling would not leave me alone. So at 10 o'clock at night we threw an old quilt in the back of Rudy's car and went on our search and rescue mission. There he was, curled up in a ball on the front lawn. He jumped up to greet us. We invited him into the back seat of the car. He jumped right in and quickly layed down happy and content. Realizing that we don't have any food for him we made a quick stop at Paul's (at 10:30 pm) for a bag of dog food and a box of biscuits.

So now we have possession of a dog, where will he sleep? In the garage? That was our first thought. But no, it was in our bedroom at the foot of the bed on the old quilt. There he slept happy as can be all night. He is very well mannered and loves loves loves to be petted!

So someone take my temperature, please! I must be sick or I have had a major change of heart! Perhaps it is because he looks just like LaWanna's dog, Buddy, and the fact that she had to have him put down last week. We were supposed to take care of Buddy starting last night while she goes to Hawaii for a week. Being Buddy's "other mother" I was so sad to not have him to care for. Now we have a Buddy of our own. (Or at least until someone claims him and oh I hope they don't!) The picture on top is Buddy from last June and the other picture is Buddy Jr.

And yes, I am very happy! My heart is singing!