December!

I love everything about Christmas....Family, lights, thinking of others while hunting for the perfect gift for them. Making cookies and other treats.

    But most of all, I love the story of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. When I was pregnant for the first time, it made me think of how Mary would have felt knowing she was the mother of the Savior of the world. She knew how special her child would be. 

    As I held my first baby, a son, I felt a great emotion come over me. What an amazing thought...What would it have been like to have been the mother of Christ? Very humbling moment for me.

Merry Christmas to all of you...my family and friends!

Fall....November...Happy Family Holidays!



This time of year is special. It holds happy memories of days past and the excitement of the future happy times with the family.
     There is nothing better than the family getting together. My husband and sons gathered in the family room watching TV...movies or football.  Grand children running about. The girls and I in the kitchen working together to create our favorite Thanksgiving dishes. 
    I have it down to a science now...what time to start each dish, when to put the turkey in, when to cook the yams and the extra stuffing. The jellow dishes and more! Of course, the hot rolls come out last.
    The day before, we make pies! Everyone gets their favorite pie made...plus four pumpkins pies. One year I made 17 pies! We had company come...its tradition!
      Hope you have a very happy Thanksgiving with your family and friends this year. I am so grateful for my family and those that have shared Thanksgiving with us in the past.

October!...Fall is here!

It has definitely cooled off here in Idaho. My trees are turning from the summery, deep greens, to yellow and orange. My Ash tree is completely yellow today. Gorgeous! I got out my fall decorations and spread them through out my house today! 
     I don't know what it is, but each year when fall appears, it is a huge uplift for me! I love the break of summer, but I am always ready for change when the first leaves begin to turn into beautiful Fall! I love the deep oranges and reds of this time of year!
    

It has been an exciting time for our family this month. My son, Daniel, has returned home from serving his mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He spent his time in Mississippi, Louisiana, and a piece of Texas. He found many wonderful people to teach and share with them the love our Heavenly Father has for them. He taught about the atoning sacrifice the Savior made for all of us. His most touching stories were about finding those who had not ever learned that there was a loving Father in heaven that knew them and loved them, individually.
     I am so grateful that I was born into a home that taught me of the wonderful love that my Heavenly Father and elder brother, Jesus Christ, has for me. I hope you know that you are loved. That a loving father wants you to know of him and his plan for us to return to him. If you don't...contact me...I would love to speak with you about this wonderful feeling I have in my heart knowing that God loves me...personally.
      God wants us to return to him. I imagine it will be similar to this loving and emotional homecoming for my son. We missed him so much. We worried about him,  and prayed for him as he spent his time in a new "land", sharing the love of the Savior with all he came in contact with. When I return home, I know I will be greeted by loved ones waiting in heaven. I will also be able to see my Heavenly Father and my brother, Jesus Christ, because of the sacrifice he made for me here on this earth. Their arms will be thrown wide, and I will be embraced and welcomed home!

 

September....

     Fresh peaches...Fresh pears....Mmmmm!!

I love this time of year. Harvest time is amazing to me! I love all the produce from my own garden and all the freshness to eating well. I can during this time of year also. Canning is work, but so rewarding! I also enjoy sharing our bounty with our good friends. Such a great feeling!
    And now....the next best part..it means Fall is creeping in around us. Leaves are changing, the garden is at the end of its producing. Its a wonderful time of year!!

August.... Summer coming to an end.
    School time!

As a child, I loved school..usually. I loved the learning part...and the reading! Loved to go to the library. I was a strange child..I was challenged by the idea of getting a good grade. It wasn't a competition with the other kids for me...it was me doing my personal best. As a Junior in high school a school friend ran up and stuck her finger in my face and said. "Finally! I have passed you up on the school ranking?'  "On the what?" I asked. I had no idea that we were ranked! I found out that day I had been #3 in my class of 130 kids....of course, obviously, I was bumped to #4 that day. But it was all good! I was doing my personal best. I didn't care what rank I was!! I didn't care what grades the other kids had. I wanted to see my own A's.

Now, its about everyone passing or failing. "Don't upset the child by letting them know if they are actually doing well or not! Let all the kids feel like they are achieving!" I'm sorry, but I do not believe in that concept. Each child should be encouraged to do their best! They don't need an 'out' on trying their hardest to achieve to the best of their own ability! Teach the Children. Let them see their hard work is paying off. And encourage the others to strive harder. Face it. There are some who don't try hard...on the flip side there are the kids who need extra help. SO help them!
     We give teachers the most important job out there...to teach our Children, but yet they are some of the lowest paid jobs. I guess, that sorts out the ones who really want to teach from the ones just doing it for the money!!
   I come from a long line of school teachers. People who care about the education of the  your kids in their classrooms. They have been great examples of hard work and dedication. They have all been successful in their jobs and I salute all the teachers, principals and superintendents in my family!

Happy Summer Time!

June and July means...Lake time!!


I love summer time! It is when I relax a little. The schedule is more flexible for me. I bring out my sewing projects I have put off. I do a little deep cleaning and rearranging in the house. I head to the lake with my family. We do a little gardening ....and it is just a great time to be alive!
    What are your summer plans? Do you go on extensive vacations? Do you plan mini stay-cations? I hope you plan something fun!
    This month brings Father's Day and family birthdays. Don't forget to show your appreciation for your fathers and husbands. Plan ahead!

    I hope you have a successful summer and find time to enjoy life a little differently! Do something you have been wanting to do....just DO IT!
                    











Happy Summer! Happy 4th of July!!


Check out my other pages...My books, My quilting/sewing projects. My Author's Corner will be introducing a new author to check out. Happy reading!

May....

Spring flowers...Rain...and Green everything!! And best of all...

                Mother's Day is in May.

I have a wonderful mother. She taught me everything I know...she was a patient, kind, gentle mother. She was talented in so many things...Music, sewing, gardening and canning. She loves flowers! All that I love are things that she loves. 
     She also loves our Savior. She has a testimony of God and Christ. All of her choices were based on her love of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 
     She has been the greatest example to me of pure love towards others. She never turned aside anyone in need. She was always volunteering for all kinds of moments of service. 
    I love you, Mama.

April is here! 

Spring is a wonderful time. New growth...flowers blooming. I love the Daffodils and the Tulips! The apricot trees are popping out their blooms, soon other trees will blossom out also.

I love the signs of green popping up every where. I LOVE SPRING! 

Enjoy the newness...embrace the sweet new beginning the spring represents. Refocus your goals. Start new ones if you need to.  Open your arms wide to the sun and be glad to be alive!

March...2018

This has been a strange season of weather. Not one bit of snow all winter and today we have snow, horrible winds, and below freezing temperatures.
   Normally, thinking of St. Patrick's Day, I think of Spring!...Tulips, daffodils, beginning of Spring school sports and Spring cleaning!
    Right now, I am ready to curl up with a good book, a warm quilt, and a cup of hot chocolate!

      Here's hoping for spring to come soon!

February is a month of birthdays...and Valentine's Day, of course!

Some people have expressed to me that they hate Valentine's Day. Their reasons? "No one ever sends me flowers or treats. I hate that day!" "Valentine's Day isn't fun when my spouse never does anything nice for me!" "Valentine's Day is for boyfriends and girlfriends. Who cares about Valentine's Day?!"
    Yes, it is traditionally known for the day to celebrate with your sweetheart or to be swept off your feet by your true love. Well, I project that it can have a different meaning...its a day of Love! But not just romantic love. Its a day to express your love and appreciation for all the people in your life!
    Valentine's is like Christmas for me...its not about what you GET....its about what you GIVE! So, think of the ways you can make the day better for the people you love in your life...and who knows? Maybe that will come back to you some day, but don't do it for what you can get out of it. Do it for what YOU get out of it, as in the happy feeling from making someone else smile and feel loved on Valentine's Day.

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

New book released...

check out my Author fiction page above.
   
 "A Soldier's New Year." Romantic Endings Book 2

2018...This is an amazing year coming!

I never could imagine, back in 1975 as a ten year old, living in the year 2018.
Isn't life wonderful? I love January...I love the new beginning that a new year brings.
I know I say the same thing every January, but it never gets old! The chance to start again. To set new goals. It is a time of renewal. I welcome the opportunity to find new learning moments and personal growth activities.
    Enjoy this great time to live. See the possibilities and embrace each moment 
to begin again! Have a great year!
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Enjoy a moment of reflection with this colorful journal. "Finding Joy in Your Day!" is a journal designed to spend 30 days finding the good  and searching for moments of gratitude in each day. Record your thoughts and count your blessings. It is also a great book to record your new goals for the new year. (Beautiful colored pictures inside) 

"Finding Joy in Your Day!" (click and follow link to Amazon to order!)