Graduation

This may be long, but worth the time spent to read it.
Last night I attended graduation for our local High School. You might be surprised to know that it was an absolutly wonderful evening. Wonderful tributes were given to two teachers who are retiring. One of the students speaking quoted from a speech given at the first graduation in 1909. This was the 100th graduating class. Hearing the history of our High School was really interesting. Research had been done, and one descendant of that first graduating class was found. He was in attendance along with his wife and childre, and a few grandchildren. As it turned out, this man had never graduated from High School. He was among the thousands of young men in the early 40's who left school to join the service. His choice had been the Navy. So, last night he was awarded an Honorary Diploma. 83 years old, and you would think he had been handed a million dollars. It was a wonderful occasion. And I think it was made more appropriate by the 2 young men graduating wearing Full Dress Blues of the Marine Corps. Do we really appriciate the sacrifice of those who have (and do) serve our country. Where would this world be without them. As I watched last night I was filled with gratitude. I also watched the brother of one of those two new Marines. The brothers had enlisted together and both were in Full Dress Uniform. We have watched both of these young men grow up. The older brother spent alot of time in our home when he was in our Joy School group. I have watched him go from pre school, through grade school, middle school and on to high school. During the latter he sported dredlocks most of the time. He made his own way. And last night, he stood there to honor his brother. I was moved. A new group of young men and young women are begining on a new part of their lives. I only hope they remember the qoute given last night. I believe it was Mother Theresa that said "This life is not a time to find yourself, this life is a time to make yourself." I hope I got those words right, because life truely is what you make it.

Doctors

I am so grateful for Doctors. No, we do not have strep, yes we do have pink eye. and pretty good colds with swollen tonsils. None of them fun. We had a pretty rough day with all three girls sick, It is a miracle that I survived and am here to tell about it! Oh the joys of children, or in this case grandchildren!

Late again.

Oh, I am so bad at this. But as the year comes to an end, I recognize so many miracles. Number one is the miracle of family. What would I do without them. Our children and grandchildren are my joy and my strength. As we add new members to our family, that joy only increases. This week I was able to visit the burial places of my parents and 3 brothers. I am so grateful for the knowledge that we can be together again, that is a miracle! I was also able to visit several living relatives and enjoy their association. There is a reason that we came to earth in family units!
Technology has been, and is such a miracle. I can not even describe my gratitude for the internet and the communication it allows. Every family who has had a serviceman deployed overseas knows what a blessing this is. And then there is the miracle of the IPOD shuffle. I received one for Christmas, (thanks Bekka and Michael!) and was able to download General Conference on that tiny little device. All the way across the desert to California I was able to listen to Conference and the songs from the Childrens Song book. It was glorious! I cherish friends that support and encourage us daily. I could go on and on. Even though I don't post them every day, I do have miracles daily in my life. And as a new year begins, I know there will be more and more yet to come.

4 AM!!!

Who would think that being up at 4 AM would constitute a miracle? Certianly not me. I am not a morning person, especially a 4 o'clock in the morning person, but I have been awake for 2 hours now, unable to sleep, so why not blog???
I did survive working every day last week, and now on to a less exhausting schedule. Forrest survived the 1st school play of the year-thank goodness. Now on to # two in three weeks. Just a note for those of you who were involved with Les Mis how ever many years ago that was-he is thinking of a re-do in the spring. We should have a reunion- but I told him he will not be able to top that performance. You guys were awesome!
It amazes me how time has moved on. This early morning I am feeling a bit overwhelmed with the changes in my life, and very sentimental. All of my children have been married (at one point or another), which makes me certifiably old. We should be empty nesters, but gratefully are not. In fact, our house is fuller (or should that be more full?) now than when we were raising our children. Sometimes I feel that we are busting at the seams! But how wonderful it is to have so many people to keep me going daily. I think that our Bishop is becoming concerned about the number of people here, tonight he dropped off a Turkey at our house! He said they ended up with an extra one, and interrupted me when I tried to protest. In all honesty, I was grateful. Not so much for the turkey, but for the show of support for us. That means more than any bird could ever mean. I haven't had a chance to tell Forrest about it yet-Gout here he comes! :)
I seem really wordy this morning. Maybe 4AM is a good time for me. I keep having random thoughts-like have you ever contemplated a light house? (NOw where did that come from)../ A light house has two purposes. It sends light out over the ocean to keep ships from crashing into the shore, but it is also there as a beacon to those who are lost. Like our Heavenly Fathers love for us. He sends out warnings, but He also has a beacon to help us when we are lost. How grateful I am for those beacons as I see how they have guided those I love. I think I am on the verge of becoming phylisophical (do you really expect me to spell that right at this time of the morning?????) so on that note, Good night all, and I hope you have a wonderful day.

Another Day

Another week is at the end. TGIF. If I survive through tomorrow, it will be a miracle. This morning I told Forrest that I know why I don't work full time. Two days in a row of 9:30-6:30, with two more looming on the horizon, I am ready for a rest! But life will go on. My hat is off to Mom's who work all day, then come home and take care of family! cudoos to you!

Oh my

On Friday Forrest lost something that is not his and is very important. So being the good supportive wife that I am :), I went through the house searching everywhere he had been the evening before. I remembered him sitting on the couch, so of course the couch had to be searched. I stuck my hand down the back as far as I could and pulled out little treasures belonging to the girls, but not the item in question. So of course, the couch had to be up ended and the bottom pulled off to see if it had fallen all the way down. Of course it had not, but what I did find is what I want to write about today.
I found many things that had been collecting there for years. The green bead lizard key chain that Gina lost years ago. Toys that had just disappeared. Pictures of our children when they were younger. And of course the various unmentionable food items that you do not want to know about.
As I was pulling these items out, several thoughts occured to me. How grateful I am that through all these years we have had enough food to feed our family that the scraps dropped down the couch were not missed. Pictures tell stories of happiness in our home (at least some of the time.) The toys told of children playing, and laughter.
Our home has never been perfect, but it has seen much joy, and for that I am grateful.
Thanks couch for reminding me of times past.

Technology

How did we ever survive before E-Mail? Tonight I sat down, turned on my computer, logged into my E-mail, and there waiting for me was a letter from my cousin in Austrailia. What a miracle it is that we can write a letter, push a button, and within minutes it will be anywhere in the world that we send it. As time goes on, I realize how important family is. And I have lost touch with so many of them. I am so grateful for technology that helps me to keep in touch.