Its Beginning to Look Alot Like Christmas!

We really should have been getting ready for bed-but who can do that when it's been snowing for the last 2 hours down here in Utah's Dixie? How often does that happen? haha

One of my callings is to write an article for the Relief Society newsletter each month on food storage. Not really a big deal considering I've spent a large amount of time over the past 21 years of marriage making sure we had sufficient for our needs, and how to use what we have.

That said, I also like to share books. The downside to sharing books is that I never seem to remember who I loaned a particular book to when I need it. Seriously, I go blank when I am racking my brain for who I loaned it to. Well, I think I have loaned one of my most valuable books out; need it now and have no idea in the world who may have it!

I've put together a binder for emergency preparedness that has a variety of information that I thought would be useful and could really help me now with the article I have to write tomorrow. It even has my food storage inventory list in it and IT IS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND!!

So in all kindness, I'm asking- Have you seen it? Could I have loaned it out to you? Do I have any books of yours that I've forgotten to return? Would you tell me if I do?

Thank you. There is love.

Family Home Evening...At our house!

Family Home Evening is something we try to do in our family each Monday night. Monday Night Football gets paused, phone calls go unanswered and we shut out the world for the night. Just the 4 of us.

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It is like a visit to the zoo.

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We gather around and the family room turns into the monkey house. Kids with more wiggles than they can control are all over the place! Sitting upside-down on the couch, jumping up with each answer to a question-complete with arm reaching to the sky and sould effects like "ooohh, ooohh, I know it!"

Tonight went like this:

For our activity, we made cookies. While the cookies were in the oven we ran upstairs to do a quick speed clean up of the play room before the timer went off. More toys were played with than put away.

Next, we gathered in the family room (see monkey house above) for the lesson given by Honey. We talked about prayer. It was a good lesson and reminded us that praying is a great way to show Heavenly Father our gratitude for all we have been given.

Then we were magically transported to the bear den at the zoo. Our cubs were all over the place again, only more like all-star wrestling than anything else. The funny part was whenever we asked them a question to see if they were listening, they got it right!

Tonight, we wrapped it up with a song: "Called to Serve". It was just like we were in a parade on the 24th of July!

I didn't have any cookies tonight, instead I ate the kids. I love their bellies and chewing on their cheeks is the best treat ever!

We aren't the most reverent, but hopefully when they get older they'll look back on our Family Home Evenings with fond memories and a little smile on their faces.

Each week, Honey and I just look at each other and say "Well, at least we tried."

Musical Fireside
with
Michael McLean

When: Sunday October 26th, 2008 7:30 p.m. Where: ST. George Tabernacle

Who: Free Admission Open to the Public

Help Celebrate National Adoption Month!
From God’s Arms, to My Arms, to Yours

For More Information Please Contact
LDS Family Services at 673-6446

I've seen him do this presentation/concert before and it is really touching! Just what this crazy world needs!

Ever have that feelling...

I know I'm not the most consistent at posting. I don't actually have the most consistent life.

If I were to describe myself today, it would be that rushing rabbit from Alice in Wonderland! Remember the phrase "I'm late, I'm late, I'm late. For a very important date. No time to say hello, goodbye; I'm late, I'm late, I'm late!" No, he's not who I'd like to identify with on purpose, but he's what I've got today. It seems like somedays we go from one thing to another, never quite completing what we set out to do! I'm not overwhelmed, just filled up to the top. It is a good thing, just some things take a back seat to others that scream louder.

What do you feel like today?

You've gotta admit, he is a cute little guy...

Roll Call

I love to read your blogs. Love it! There are people who I have never met, who feel like my close friends through their blogs. Sometimes, I have to remind myself that I don't really know these people, and they certainly don't know me!

And then there's me. How often do I post? Not enough, that's for sure! It's not that our life is boring, actually, it is the total oposite! We have a lot going on! I think of posts each day, and never get to them during the day. Each night in bed I think, "maybe I can post tomorrow". How's that for procrastination?!

Sometime I'll post about our summer, the funny things that happened, the happy and the sad.

In the meantime, thanks for the love!

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PS-will you do me a favor? My ego needs a bit of a boost. I feel like this is just a personal blog that nobody else reads. Please make a comment so I can feel the love. Thanks! xoxoxo

Kids say the darndest things!

Bro, while at a mexican restraunt:

"Hey, I really like tacos. When you're finished, just look down, and then you can have taco salad too!"

So Much to Blog About...So Little Time!

Wow, what a whirlwind of a week!

It has been really fun/busy and now we're just trying to get back to some kind of normal. That may take a while...

At the first of the week, we were surprised by our former neighbors who had deserted us, oops, I mean moved to California. Girt was especially excited to see Mo! We didn't realize how much she missed her this summer. Here are the girls watching Spiderwick Chronicles for FHE.

They were so into it!

Then we had some clients come by who were looking for a house; not usually a big deal. (We're always happy to have clients!) Except, this time the sweet man looked just like my late grandpa Webb! I just wanted to hug him! Seeing him made me feel like a little girl again and it brought back wonderful memories with my grandpa. My grandpa always went out of his way to make me feel special and he would even put sugar in my milk and let me drink it out of a trophy cup! Everyone should have a grandpa like that!

This man was so kind to let me take a photo of him and was really a good sport.

Wow, the resemblence is amazing!

Our next visitor was a former missionary companion of Honey from Vegas. This Elder has been so great to keep in touch with us through the years. (all 21 of them!) He was a great missionary and they accomplished great things while serving together. It is always fun to see him and the kids really like him because he helps them with ipod downloads and lets them play on his mac! He was here Thursday through Sunday.

Then the sad day came on Friday when our special friend Rachel, who had been staying with us since January, left to move to Hawaii. She is an amazing young woman who can do really hard things! We are honored to know her and wish her the best on her new adventure! There were tears...

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Next was a fun surprise from our olderthandirtfriends from Bountiful! We moved to Seattle with them 19 years ago. We basically had nothing, so a small u-haul truck fit everything owned by both families. We always had such a great time with them during our poor/college days. We didn't need to spend much on movies or other entertainment when they were around because we just laughed all the time! (notice, I didn't say giggle...) (inside joke;-) Now they have 3 great kids and have finally made it down to God's country for a visit. We hope they will come by more often!

Thanks everyone for a great week! It was so fun to see you all and I hope there will be a much shorter time before the next visit!

John 14:27

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

This is what my family has lived by this past week. I thought that when my father passed away, that we would be basket cases. Not true. The Comforter has been with us and we have had peace and hope. What a wonderful experience this has become, to not be devistated, but to have a warm, calm and loving feeling this whole week. Our hearts can be so tender, so it is good to know that we are in good hands and not being taken advantage of. This helps in the choices we are making and the worry of Mom being alone.

Thank you everyone who has expressed your sympathy and included us in your thoughts. This is what it is all about.

There is love.

Ronald I. Jones

St. George, UT - Ronald I. Jones passed away surrounded by his loved ones on July 22, 2008 in St. George Utah at the age of 71. He was born July 3, 1937 in Cedar City Utah to James Chester and Nola Isom Jones. He married his sweetheart, Connie Nelson on April 25, 1963 in the Los Angeles Temple. Small in stature, Mighty in Spirit, Ron showed amazing courage throughout his life as he faced many challenges and always overcame. Blessed with a happy attitude and grateful heart, he inspired many people throughout his life. His family will always remember his example of faith and courage in every situation. Growing up in St. George and surrounding area, he made many close friendships in his childhood that have continued through today. He created lasting impressions on those he worked with at the Las Vegas Review Journal and The Daily Spectrum. After retiring from the advertising field, he chose to spend his time selling cars; his first love. In his spare time he cultivated his talent of creating detailed woodwork that many friends and family members have appreciated. He was a creative thinker, inventing ingenious ways to fill a need and always made anyone around him feel special. He is survived by his eternal sweetheart: Connie, brother: DeVon (Venita) Jones; Washington, sister: Jeanenne (Walter) Cox; St. George, children: Tammy (Clay) Brinkerhoff; Washington, Mark Jones; St. George, Kim (Dave) Guymon; California, JoLynn (Zachary) Fraser; New York and 9 grandchildren that brought sunshine to his soul. The family expresses heartfelt appreciation to the extensive team of medical professionals who lovingly cared for our husband and father. Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 26th at 11:00 a.m. at the Morningside Stake Center located at 900 South River Rd. Visitations will be held one hour prior to funeral at Morningside Stake Center and Friday, July 25th from 6-8 p.m. at Metcalf Mortuary 288 West St. George Blvd. Interment will be in the St. George City Cemetery.

The Awkwardness of Childhood

Oh, to NOT be 51/2 again!

Girt has had some crazy things going on lately. The first- teeth falling out left and right. She just never knows when one will have the need to move on. Since loosing teeth has become so unpredictable, she has started swallowing them when they fall out. This is so sad, and awkward to explain to the Tooth Fairy in a note slipped under her pillow. She seems to be pretty understanding though, and still leaves a couple bucks in the place of the sorry note. She definitely has a more spacious smile!

The second crazy thing happening to her is the urge to cut her own hair!

She has developed a dislike for the feeling of hair on her face. The beginning of June she had bangs below her chin and a really cute A-line hairstyle. Three weeks ago she cut her bangs off in a moment of weakness. With the cutest look on her face, she told me that she didn't like them in her eyes. Then she cut her bangs another 1/2" last night, saying she can't stand the way they feel on her face. (She got them pretty even, too!) She has promised never to do it again, but that promise was too hard to keep. What to do...

Looking for fun!

We're just sittin' around wondering,

Oh, What Do You Do In The Summer Time?

We're looking for some fun ideas for the summer. Show me what you've got!

Party On!

I just love parties, so yesterday we had a birthday party for someone very special to our family, even though she couldn't be there to eat the cake too. It was fun and if you ever want someone to have a party for you, I'll do it, even if you can't be here either!

The Budding Artist

Here is Girt's first art show.

This piece was created using found objects to give the kitchen just the right amount of color. Yup, our house has become a museum to display our children's art. (I'm trying to convince Honey that's what it is, not just a clutter catcher.)

I Looked Out The Window and What Did I See?

This is the ornamental pear tree in the front yard. Spring is here people!

Snow Day

Snow is unusual on this usually sunny hillside in usually warm Southern Utah.

So, when it does snow,

You've gotta take advantage of it!

As this week unfolds, I've noticed a definite trend. As people discuss the passing of our dear Prophet, President Gordon B. Hinkly, they do so in an unusual way.

There have been a number of interviews with random people on the street, friends as well as dignitaries in The Church and outside The Church. The common thread is this: they express sadness followed by happiness for him. Never before have I seen so many people discuss the passing of a person of high rank in this manner. "Yes it is sad, but I can only imagine his relief, his joy to be free of that aged body and the reunion he is having on the other side with his sweet wife.", etc. The whole situation seems less final somehow. Sure I've been teary, but happy for him. So many others seem to feel the same.

President Hinkley has been a supreme example and mentor to so many. His life has been long and full of service; thus gratifying not only to him, but those whom he has served. So many have been touched by his candor, and, yet fun manor. He was completely relatable. He was a son, brother, husband, father, friend and leader. His influence has been felt not only at home, but around the world. His was definitely a life well lived.

It is comforting to hear people talk of his passing like he just went to visit somewhere else. Simple. Nice.