The Green Green Grass of Home

Missy Mia love the green green grass of our house!

I really like the grass in our front yard. Dad supports it through the spraying and watering and cutting, of course. but now, there are bugs in it. Clumps of grass just pull right out. Little holes are turning into bit holes. Our neighbors to the south had big, big patches of dead grass in their front yard just a week or two ago. So, I inquired of them regarding the turn around. Bayer bud granules, $17 a bag at Lowes. I just couldn't spend that much on holes, or could I? After reading way too many labels I settled for a $12 bag, I think it is the same stuff, I hope it is the same stuff. Maybe I should just take it back and get the real stuff, after all, I do love the green green grass of home.

While at Lowes I (on Dad's credit card) purchased a motion sensor light fixture for the front porch. they only had one design. and it takes those silly candelabra types bulbs. Ugh, I do not want to be constantly purchasing and replacing the bulbs, but I do want the fixture and the added security it promises. Evidently the new energy saving bulbs do not work in these type fixtures. I think I will go to Home Depot tomorrow.

Speaking of which, Granny and I went to Home Depot yesterday. I purchased a concrete block, a heavier chain and combination lock to use on the front porch. I do not want to lose my other rocking chair or glider. So, they are now chained down! I forgot to look for the light. But I did look for the stuff I would need to make more tomato cages like the ones we have been using for 20 years now. I am tired of the little ones that fall over and in the end do not do the job they were purchased for. However, the only stuff I could find was $139 and 330 feet. Lowes had nothing really and neither did IFA. Now what? I do not know. But the tomato plants are growing and something does need to be done soon. I do love tomatoes! I can hardly wait!

Catch up time

I so enjoy reading all the family/friends blogs I can't imagine why I haven't written lately. Sorry, I . .won't even try to make an excuse.

Mothers Day was wonderful. The men and Sarah cooked a yummy lunch while the mothers all sat around talking. Dad washed dishes too. And there were plenty of them. It was just plain old enjoyable. Thanks guys!

The garden tilled-thanks to the Hansen family-got mostly planted-with the help of the Lees-the week before memorial day. That is the earliest the Nolan plot has ever been improved. It has even started to grow. Although, we couldn't grow more grass if that was all we planted.

We celebrated Ella's birthday on Saturday in Willow Park. She is a darling five year old. Memorial Day was great too. Lots of kids, card games, food, and movies makes for a fun. We also got to visit John's resting place. It is so assuring to share the spirit of one that means so much to us.

Other than Relief Society activities and the usual church related outings life has been rather peaceful. Well except for the untold number of trips to various doctors. Everything seems to be healing well just too slowly for my time table. I will have another MRI close to the end of the month. If the tumor has regrown . . .we may have to do radiation but what ever will be-will be, no need to worry about it now.

There I feel better, all caught up.
Sorry if I left something important out. My brain is still coming out of the "fog" caused by the surgery. But, it is getting better.

Life is good and there are an abundance of good things to look forward to.
We'll soon have another adorable grandchild and yet more pictures to post.

Just a quote

I found this the other day. I believe it was Joseph Fielding Smith.
"Without the wonderful work of the women I realize that the Church would have been a failure. The mother in the family far more than the father, is the one who instills in the hearts of the children, a testimony and a love for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our fathers and mothers came here in early days for the one and only thing---to serve the Lord, and labor for the salvation of humanity; and wherever you find a woman who is devoted to this work, almost without exception you will find that her children are devoted to it" (Gospel Standards, p. 150).

Recreational Repenting of Others

I just read a great article. I would recommend it for everyone! It is called Recreational Repenting of Others by Wally Goddard (http://www.drwally.org/moving-from-selfhood/recreational-repenting-of-others/) It has two specific applications in my life.

First, with my mother. I have excused my irritability by saying "I hope my children have more patience than I do." No, I need to do something about it! There is no better day than today to begin.

Second, in my Church calling. I have followed this approach in that I know I can change any situation by changing my behavior. I may not be able to make the situation perfect. But, I can make it a lot better.

This is the conclusion of the article ". . . can see his or her own irritation as an invitation to repent. Irritation is not so much about what my partner is doing wrong but how I am thinking wrong. I can repent. I can choose to see the good. I can see the differences as a blessing. I can allow my partner to be different from me. I can choose to learn from my partner and to feel blessed by my partner.

Fixing people is really God’s prerogative. Only as we become more godly should we presume to change another person. And here’s the great irony: As we become more godly, we enjoy people more and more just as they are."

You really need to read the article. Oops, I really needed to read the article. Perhaps there is something in it that could bless your life. I hope so.

Saturday Was

I finally got a picture for my blog---me and Ella--I think it is so cute!

Saturday actually started on Friday night with a sleepover with Ella. We slept in Dave's old room. She was a great sleeper and we didn't get up until 6:55. WAHOO!!!
Of course we had the traditional pancakes. She always wants pancakes at our house--she gets to help make them. I even let her crack the egg. We left some for Papa but they dissapeared before he got home from the Temple. Oh, well.

Granny picked up Mia and then us and we all went shopping. First to Michael's where I got Ella another wood parrot to paint (only a dollar, but the last one I bought her we ended up giving to a friend for his birthday). Then we went to Albertsons. Mia is at the fun stage to take shopping. She doesn't ask for anything but loves the attention. We got the usual groceries and some donuts for Lance to share with the guys helping them move. Yes, it was moving day again for Ella's family. This will make the fifth home she has had in less than five years.

We found her Dad at the new house just finishing the first trip. They were fortunate to have some helpers from Lance's employment and Scottie (brother-in-law) come and help. It was such a rainy day, awful for moving! But in the end it all got done.

After lunch Ella and Papa were off to the Movie, Earth. Mia and I got well deserved naps. And a little after three I dropped the girls off to their other Grandma's house and breathed a sigh of relief. I made it! I only yelled once--the stress got to me trying to get out the door to the store. Of course, with the help of Great Granny and Papa.

Nanny and Mia

All and all it was fine and fun. Mia is just the sweetest thing. She's a little shy but just a love. the rest of the day was uneventful. Except I did actually cook dinner. And worked on Ella's birthday party invitations.

And thus you have it, my Saturday before Sunday.

Another Sunday

Today was indeed another Sunday. I really wish we had more than one a week. How would it feel to be spiritually fed more than once a week? Not bad! But for now one will have to do.

A happy Granny picture

I made it to my early morning meetings (7:15), running off the newsletter, teaching Relief Society, then bearing my testimony just seem to take all I had. But it felt so good to be back into the swing of things. We did skip choir practice but we will get back to that as well.

I must add. Dad was the first person to stand and bear his testimony. I was shocked. He does it fairly rarely. But what's more he expressed his appreciation to our Heavenly Father for blessing me through the surgery . . . I don't know why I never thought of pat as actually praying that I would live and be made whole. this has been so costly and the expenses continue to rise. bot tmy CPAP and Oxygen machines went out. The CPAP needs to be replaced ($1900), the oxy machine will require $80 just to have the people in SLC look at it and tell us IF it is repairable. All this on top of the surgery. How blessed are we to have insurance?

I am truly glad to have survived the surgery. I pray I will continue to gain strength and the abilities I need to continue to enjoy this life-my family most of all- and make the most of the o
pportunities the Lord has given me to serve Him and the members of our ward. I have a grreat life, and I would not trade it for anything. With all of its trials and challenges--this life is a blessing beyond what I could ever have imagined. May we all have many Sundays and Saturdays and Mondays and . . . .and enjoy and appreciate them. They are gifts from God!

Our House

I heard this song again today. I really loved it years ago but haven't thought about it for a very long time. it made me cry. Tears of gratitude. Thanks Dad.

I know it's not the best picture, but I could find it and get it into this blog....
I still miss my rocking chair

Our House - Crosby Stills Nash and Young

I'll light the fire, while you place the flowers
In the vase that you bought today.
Staring at the fire for hours and hours,
While I listen to you play your love songs
All night long for me, only for me
Chorus:
Our house, is a very, very, very fine house.
With two cats in the yard,
Life used to be so hard,
Now every thing is easy 'cause of you.

Come to me now, and rest your head for just five minutes,
Everything is done.
Such a cozy room, the windows are illuminated
By the evening sunshine through them,
Fiery gems for you, only for you.

Chorus:
Our house, is a very, very, very fine house.
With two cats in the yard
Life used to be so hard,
Now every thing is easy 'cause of you.

I'll light the fire, while you place the flowers
In the vase that you bought today.