yes and no's of my birthday...

yes and no's of my birthday...

yes...I know today is the 25th...and no...I know it's not my birthday today...but it was on Sunday and this is my 21st blog so that should have some significance should it not??? - maybe I will make this my last post this month and increase the significance...OK...I heard that BIG whoop of joy...

yes...I am obsessed with symbolism - whether it be scriptoral or coincidental...and no...I am not ashamed (refer to previous blog on "pride goeth...") that there are those who feel obligated to make me feel special on the anniversary of my birthday...after all...what is 'family' all about???

yes...I spend too much time philosophizing - about life in general & the meaning of life more specifically...and no...I don't want to stop because that is what validates my opinions and more importantly, reminds me to be open-minded to other's opinions...and isn't learning & sharing what life is all about???

yes...I am almost finished with this silly post...and no...it won't be the last time I indulge myself because isn't that what 'journals' are all about???

Pride goeth...

OK...this is a learning endeavor...not necessarily about pride itself, but what that particular phrase is trying to teach us...

"Pride goeth before destruction..."

(Proverbs 16:18)

...what the heck does that mean??

Lately, I have seen different TV shows that address the subject of 'hoarding' and the affects it has on the participant's lives..I'm ashamed to admit that I quite enjoy these shows....I think they intrigue me for a couple of reasons. Maybe one of them is...."there, but for the grace of God, go I..."...another may be a personal ongoing endeavor to completely eliminate clutter & chaos from my life...or maybe it satisfies some inner need in me to 'fix' things - even though I'm not the one doing the 'fixing'...

I am a firm believer of "...what is going on around you, reflects what is going on inside you..."
...maybe I feel so chaotic inside that I am desperately trying to control my environment to compensate...

I sometimes wonder why those affected with this trial have to expose themselves so completely to the world or if they just think they can't get the help they need without having to do so...or are they simply being exploited so that others may profit from their misfortunes...?

Am I being prideful in trying intensely not to be one of these people?...do I find some sense of satisfaction thinking that at least I haven't reached that point of 'destruction'?

To compare is to be prideful...so here is yet another demon I've yet to conquer......sigh.....

...like auntie like Liddy...

...like auntie like Liddy...

...Isn't this the cutest little 'flapper' you ever saw??? Auntie Dayla is showing Lydia some "roarin' 20's" dance moves...

the golfcart...

OK...so when Hub came home with this 'great idea' of a golfcart, I said, ".....(many other things)....and you don't even play golf..."

...but once in a while the man continues to amaze me with some pretty fore-sightful (...is that a word?) and down-right logical notions! We have had more fun and rip-roarin' times on that silly thing and added some memories to boot...

When the kids were younger, they referred to it as 'grandpa's go-cart'...we had some fun times driving down the back lane behind the 'north 40' in the Lexington house to see all the animals...

...it served as a 'practice car' for Angie's driving experience...

...we all piled in/on to go for a drive up the 'mountain'...

...off we go...

...OK Angie...you weren't the only one that had to get off and push...

1 comments:

Life is all about change...

“True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior. The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior

will improve behavior.”

– Boyd K. Packer

( Conference Report Ensign, Nov. 1986)

This is one of my favorite all-time quotes...I have read it,

pondered it, and quoted it...

I hope that I am trying to live it...

Recently, Hub & I have discussed the possibility that our life is not everything that we want it to be...we are recognizing the fact that maybe somewhere through the years, we have become somewhat complacent in our relationship(s) and need to consider the principles of sacrifice, obedience, and consecration

more in our everyday lives.

Reveling in our comfort zones has been a luxury that we no longer want to entertain because it stagnates growth...while we can & should be accepting of our station in life, we should also be continuously trying to do our best in whatever we do. If we don't like our circumstances, we can work to change them....but our circumstances does not make us who we are.

This is not to say that we cannot enjoy life...quite the opposite...another favorite quote:

"...in all of living, have much of fun & laughter.

Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured."

- Gordon B. Hinckley

Suffice it to say that we should be "accountable for our choices, compassionate in our actions,

and charitable in our hearts..."

....and I am not going to think this deep for a very long time...or at least until tomorrow...

now back to my Sudoku...

a cabin in the woods...

a cabin in the woods...

The "cabin" came into our lives in October 2005...

...after many hours of driving in the pines & climbing mountains, looking for the 'perfect spot' to build we decided that an available lot did not exist...at least not for the price we wanted to pay....thus our quest for an existing cabin that we were dreaming about began...

When we first laid eyes on this place we were not duly impressed....however...upon closer examination we discovered some enticing features that we have really grown to appreciate:... it is located in a secluded area on the edge of the little town of Strawberry with lots of hiking & exploring possibilities...it has a big gathering area & kitchen in the main house and a small building that we put our 'toys' for storage & playing...it has 3 bathrooms and laundry facilities...it has 3 bedrooms & a garage that we plan to turn into 2 more bedrooms...it has a fireplace with a beautiful stone hearth...

and last but not least, it has a deck with a beautiful view of the trees and mountains...

...we also discovered that the backyard had an area big enough to play badmitton....

...had perfect trees to build a (potential) treehouse in...

...enough 'critters' running around to find...like Ethan's lizard...

...and a steep enough slope to go sledding in the snow...

...even for Kevin & Dora...

We are grateful to have found this 'home away from home' and feel it is a blessing where we are making lots of good memories...

"Heaven is a little closer in a cabin in the woods..."

Get with the system!

We have a series of systems around our house that the mom keeps insisting on incorporating in our everyday lives.....she must think that they work for everyone just because they work for her...

For example: when you take off an item of clothing....either hang it up or put it in the hamper...it will take more effort later to pick it up off the floor plus it gives more room to walk (assuming, of course, that you are not walking on your clothes on the floor...)

Example #2: when you have finished using a dish, utensil, and/or frying pan - just put them in the dishwasher...you don't even have to rinse them first - please don't leave them on the counter(s), in the bathroom or hidden under a pile of clothes in your bedroom....(these places are reserved for everything but the kitchen sink...hee)

These are two systems that work (in theory at least) and would make the mom a much happier person...and as we all know: "If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy..."

OK...now here is the real truth....

....the Lord has set up a series of 'systems' (commandments) that works for everyone... if we will incorporate them in our everyday lives, we will come to find that His is the ultimate 'system'...

I suppose humility is necessary for all of us fellow 'system designers' to recognize that while we can use our personal 'systems' to better organize our temporal lives, we need to listen to the spirit and follow that guidance to keep us spiritually focused.

So...now that I've finally determined what I need to do....I'd better 'get with the system'....

"Refining" is better...

Not that there is anything wrong with the words "tweak" and "edit" but don't you agree that "refine" gives a much better connotation to our spiritual and eternal development....? After all, should we not be constantly striving to perfect ourselves by walking through the 'refiner's fire'?

In any event, I think I am now more aware of what motivates me to self-evaluate...to change...and ultimately grow into a more faithful and charitable disciple of Christ. I don't know if I'm any closer to being that kind of person God wants me to be, but at least I know that I want to be that kind of person, too. I no longer feel so compelled to 'be right' but to try to 'do right' instead.

Of course, that brings up another dilemma...always knowing the right thing to do...aw...the ironies of life...

...forever (gently) tweaking...

OK...I looked up 'tweak' and it means 'to pinch, pluck or twist sharply'...not what I thought...I need a word that means 'to adjust, change or perfect gently'....is there a word for that??...is that editing?? I don't know...I'm not a journalist. Well maybe I'm becoming one since this is my journal...who woulda thunk?

So...I discovered something about me as I become more and more addicted to blogging: posting, editing, viewing, publishing, customizing, more editing, and on and on - you know - tweaking....I am a continual 'tweaker'...I probably already knew that but didn't realize how much a part of my lifestyle it actually is...

I suppose when it comes to character, 'tweaking' is a good thing so I am not totally without redemption...so like everything else in life: find the balance...

Oh, great... (gently tweaked)....

now I'm a 'juggling tweaker'...!!

Love those vacations!

Love those vacations!

    Family vacations are some of my most cherished memories...   ...from picking a location...making all the arrangements & reservations...packing feverishly after doing laundry all day...to piling into the mini-van with siblings jostling over who gets which seat while all the time complaining about who's touching whom...yes, the moment we've all been waiting for...

So....why do we look forward to these family vacations???

...because when all is said and done,

(thanks to those vacation photos...)

...we remember moments that made us laugh...

...made us gasp in awe of nature's beauty...

...made us scream with fright & delight on a theme park ride...

...made us sing with Les Mis CDs at the top of our lungs in the van,

and...made us cry with disappointment when it was finally over for another year...

...because when all the kids are grown and gone we want to be able to say there were good times along with the bad, but we will try to remember more of the good times...

Here are just a few special moments that we remember over the years:

...going to "Wicked" at the Pantages in LA

2009 - Knottsberry Farm:

...oooh...slexy ladies...

"...what sup, Rusty...?"

Todd taking a shot...

2008 - birthdays...watching 'Nemo' - Disney on Ice...

1992 - Yellowstone Park - love that sulphur smell

1998 - Jurassic Park ride @ Universal Studios

1999 - Kevin & Dayla on jet ski in San Diego

2000 - Worlds of Fun - rollercoaster park in Missouri

2001 - Epcot Center - in the land of Italy2001 - riding the gator @ Gatorland, Florida

2004 - remember that 'quaint' little hotel in Flagstaff ??

(...we stayed in it on our way to here...)

2005 - on a cruise to Cozumel with Bob & Peggy Wooden

Easter Pageant

The Easter Season brings back a memory from the 2007 Easter Pageant 3 years ago...

Angie, Dave and I were participants which was an awesome spiritual experience that changed my perspective on the life of Christ, his atonement for us and his example on how we should live our own lives.

Dave was a 'Jesuit Priest in the Temple' and Angie and I were women 'followers of Christ'... The experience was short but intense: a total of 4 weeks with either rehearsals or performances every day except Sunday and Monday...

One of the sweetest memories was that of witnessing some of the miracles that Jesus performed to the people he taught and loved...it felt as if we were right there when it actually happened.

The only downside is that each year now as I watch the pageant I wish I had taken the time and effort to get involved...

...maybe again someday...

...learning from Christ...

...Priests in the Temple...

...Roman soldiers...yes, that's Deus Lutui
(pro football player for the Arizona Cardinals...)

...angels in waiting...

...more Priests...the costumes were awesome!

...some Wolford followers of Jesus...

...unforgettable experience!

"You can't be all things to all people..."

...not yet anyway...
You probably can't even be all things to even just one person...strike a blow to my ego...

Perhaps this has something to do with setting personal boundaries or even more important - "simplifying: to eliminate the unnecessary

so that the necessary can speak..."

Maybe if I would just understand my own limitations, I could go about doing that which the Lord wants me to do:

have charity and serve others....

...it can't get more simple than that, can it?

"Charity is believing the best in others..."
- Marvin J. Ashton

...puppies...goats...and treehouses...

...puppies...goats...and treehouses...

Even Uncle Rusty likes the goats...

Aaron and Jessy came through Mesa (with Wesley and Emma) on their way to Rocky Point so we decided to show them how Arizonans live on a farm...(Kevin and DaNelle's farm that is...)

Luckily, Maggie, their poodle, had given birth to 5 puppies the day before...(sired by Jasper, Rusty's shitzu)....DaNelle has a pretty good business, breeding and selling these puppies...

Is this what is known as a dogpile?

...chasing goats...

...catching goats...
...and riding goats...is all great fun...
Ethan on the rope-bridge...

What a cool treehouse!

Emma loved the treehouse...

...so did her dad!!!

Farewell old friend....

Farewell old friend....

Sunday afternoon I walked out on the patio to find Angie cradling our dog, Ginger's head in her lap with tears streaming down her face and gently stroking her back...I knew that our old friend & companion had passed away as she had been slowing way down and not eating very well for about a week.

Mike & Elaine gave Ginger to us as a 8-week old puppy almost 14 years ago...we figure that makes her about 95 yrs old in dog years. She was a mix of german short-hair and springer spaniel.

We have good memories of throwing balls and having her jump several feet into the air to catch them and helping the mom feel safe when the dad was out of town for work or scout outings....the dad enjoyed the 'daily visit' and loved the fact that she would always come running to greet him (and jump on him) every time he opened the back door...(he would sometimes make that visit even before he checked to see if the mom was home...)

We have not so good, never-the-less endearing, memories of digging holes all over the yard, chewing up dripper lines, newly planted apple trees, and anything else that was left outside...(including the dad's book on "How to Train your Dog"....) She would endlessly try to 'escape' whenever one of the back gates would open which she did up until a week before she died...

...the mom affectionately called her 'the dumb dog' but at the end of the day, she was a pretty good old dog...
Ginger, we will miss you and remember....
...All Dogs go to Heaven...hope to see you there...

Kevin & DaNelle agreed to allow us to bury Ginger in the NE back forty on their 'farm'...thanks to them we feel her resting place is with friends...

Ethan says goodby...

...Lydia is a good helper...

...so long, old friend...

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I love the Stradlings!

I love the Stradlings!

    Our beautiful daughter-in-law, Becky is the daughter of Virginia & Melvin Stradling. Since we met the Stradlings as Todd & Becky were planning their marriage in November 2001, we have grown to love & admire them more and more each time we come in contact with them. It is easy to see why Becky (aptly named: Rebecca Delight) is such a sweet & delightful addition to our family.

Recently our good friend & mother, Virginia, passed away after an 8-month battle with lung cancer. Throughout her illness, the Stradling family demonstrated the same faith and gratitude for all their blessings as they have always done in their lives. Even at her funeral, Melvin & all their children were expressing gratitude to everyone else for any little thoughtfulness or service that might have been rendered to them.

Often times through the years, we would meet some mutual acquaintance who shared our same opinion of what wonderful friend and examples the Stradlings were to them. They have served faithfully in many leadership callings with Virginia serving as Relief Society President at least 3 times and wife & supporter to Melvin as he served as Bishop.

We will miss the personal contact of Virginia and hope to live our lives in a way that will enable us to resume our relationship with her & her family when we are reunited on the other side of the veil.

Becky with her Dad & Mom at her reception Nov. 2001.

2009-10...the year of the houses...

2009-10...the year of the houses...

Angie made the big move (5 mi) with mom & dad

from Gilbert to Mesa...

Rusty bought Kevin & DaNelle's house

on Hopi in Mesa...

Dayla bought (just closed today) a cute little house

in Provo, Utah...

Kevin & DaNelle bought a home (more like a farm)

on Mesquite in Gilbert...

Todd & Becky still in Queencreek thinking about it...

closer to us we hope...

Update: bought a home on Dolphin in Mesa...yea!!!

Mom & Dad jumped on the bandwagon and bought another house on Monte in Mesa...

hey...shouldn't you sell before you buy...???

This is a pic of the newly-painted house on Monte in Mesa & front courtyard in progress...

Well...Dave & I opted to downsize to a much smaller yard and aslightly smaller home this year...we decided that we wanted to spend more time doing 'funner' things than pulling weeds and mowing the lawn every weekend.

Living closer to lots & lots of stores and restaurants has it's advantages but Grandpa Dave just doesn't see it that way...except, of course, Home Depot. Even that is quickly losing it's charm since there seems to be never-ending 'projects' that GramScilla finds behind every corner...

So...thus far we haven't found the 'funner' things to do but I'm sure there is a light at the end of a very long tunnel. We still have a (smaller) pool...another project...and an extra bed or two so we would love to have any guests stay over-night once in a while. Of course, the 'WiseCuts' machine is still alive & kickin' (hee) so bring your quotes and sayings when you come...
For those of you who saw the original...here are a few updates:

the entry...

Let Heaven & Nature Sing...

GramScilla's Kitchen...kids spoiled while you wait...

Gather...Laugh...Enjoy

stone fireplace...

...a fun wall...

Rain, rain, and more rain...

I never thought I would reach the point where I wanted it to stop raining...at least not in Arizona!
Our yard is covered with a fine layer of green moss and not where there is grass planted or where our garden is supposed to be...
I guess I really don't want it to stop raining...I just want the mud to go away...

...cats & dogs.....living together...

Remember that phrase from the movie "Ghostbusters"?


I just had to show this pic...if they can overcome their natural instincts why is it so hard to for us to overcome the 'natural man' in us...???