Lessons Learned the Hard Way

In no particular order, these are the latest life lessons that have come my way:

Be really, really careful when you are using your brand new Cutco knives.

I will spare you the gory details, but at least I can say I still have all my digits.





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The blue screen of death really is a blue screen of death

The lesson I learned: if my computer shuts itself down do not turn it back on at all. No matter what. I probably should have already known this. I was in the middle of something I thought too important to delay, so restarted it several times. And then again the next day. And the next. Keven did too, at least once or twice. Which is why we were able to recover only a portion of our files :(

What was lost: biggest ouch - several journals and personal history stories, and a number of years of talks and presentations;  the only concise record of my passwords and account information; recipes, really yummy ones that I couldn't wait to try but can't remember the sources; several in-the-works projects: Grins & Giggles editions for each year of grandparenting and a special Christmas card booklet; Seminary files for a year of Old Testament lessons, activities, etc.; outlines for family history projects that I was just waiting for time to get completed. I remember something new almost daily.

Upside -a pretty snazzy new computer with Windows7
Downside - the pretty snazzy new computer is not compatible with my printers
Upside - I now will work with an external drive, automatically saving everything on a regular basis. Duh.


Carpe Diem

Walter and Stumpy

Appreciate those who are around you while they are around you. The loss of our rather ordinary cat, Walter, reminded me of this. After he was gone I realized that he was really quite a remarkable cat who was very lucky to live as long as he did. He was a feral kitten destined for the pound when Sonja rescued him. When he was 6 months old he disappeared. For 2 weeks. Sonja had lost hope when he showed up - battered and broken and chewed up. The vet's determination was that he had been hit by a car, which broke a hind leg and caused other damage. And then he was probably chewed up by a tom cat because one ear was half-bitten off. Part of his tail was gone. He was a sorry sight for quite a while, and never the cute, playful kitten he had been but a rather schizophrenic feline. Nevertheless, he was loved and a part of the family for almost 12 years, and after he was gone I realized I really could have spent more time scratching his neck and ears and giving him more attention.

Upside - I've been kinder to Chia...
Downside - Stumpy is still missing him (so am I)


Sleep may be highly overrated, but at some point one must give it up and get some.  Sacrifice doesn't always bring the blessings of heaven (reference President Uchtdorf's second "Forget-me-Not"). I think I am getting a little bit better at figuring out what will be most meaningful in preparing my Seminary lessons (translation: let the Spirit speak to me), but I am still staying up too late reading one more talk, one more scripture passage, trying to make something better, attempting to create a more dazzling visual aid or handout, or making a special treat - all in the hopes that these extraordinary young people (who, by the way, are getting up at dark-thirty every school morning after they've spent the afternoon/evening/night/wee hours involved in sports activities, Mutual, music lessons, service projects, homework, chores, jobs, tending siblings,  chauffeuring siblings, more homework, reading scriptures and working on scripture mastery. Oh, and maybe hanging out with friends and stuff like that) will find it worth their while to come to Seminary, and that they will feel uplifted and fortified for all that the world will throw at them that day.

Don't run on a bum knee. Walking is OK. Riding a bike is OK. Swimming is also OK. Running is not OK. Time is the great healer.....Patience is a virtue.....All good things come to those who wait....I keep telling myself.

Forget-Me-Not's

 

I loved being able to attend the annual General Relief Society broadcast tonight. I loved that I was surrounded by so many beautiful, talented, kind, happy, positive, radiant women - and that so many of them I call my dear friends. And my role models.

I love that our stake has a long tradition of having a simple but beautifully presented meal to share together, and that we are served by our Stake Presidency and the high councilmen, with many an Aaronic priesthood holder helping as well. Priesthood Power!

I loved the music. And seeing the Conference Center filled to capacity with more beautiful, talented, kind, happy, positive, radiant women. Probably some of my friends were in that group too. And definately some role models.

I loved the messages that were given:
     Sister Beck's profound insights about discipleship, reminding us that our efforts as visiting teachers are extensions of our discipleship and should resemble the Savior's. She motivated me to seek to take the higher path and to truly care about the spiritual and temporal welfare of the sisters I visit.
     Sister Allred touched my heart as she taught us about charity and ministering to those around us. She is an angel of a woman; I came to see this first hand when she was in El Paso for a special Relief Society conference earlier in the year.
     I appreciated Sister Thompson's words about keeping covenants. This past week in Seminary we have talked extensively about the Abrahamic Covenant, and the promise of eternal families. As she referred to what our families will find as they go through our things after we are gone, she asked, "Will they find evidence that we have kept our covenants?" jarring me. I hope my children and my grandchildren and my great-grandchildren never, ever have reason to question my love for my Father in Heaven and my Savior, nor my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I hope that by the way I live my life they will always know that I am trying to honor the covenants I have made and be worthy of the blessings of an eternal family. And that my greatest desire is that there will be no empty seats there.
     President Uchtdorf always delights me. I loved his message. And now I love forget-me-nots even more than ever! I will commit to memory the 5 things he asked us to never forget because I feel they will have a significant impact if I sincerely try to incorporate them into how I live my life.

What a blessing to know that I am a daughter of God, that He loves me, and that His plan is one that blesses and protects all who choose to follow Him.

     Oh, and I can hardly wait for General Conference in a week!

View From A Hammock

The following picures were taken as I relaxed in a hammock whilst cuddling with grandbabies and grandchildren on a perfect Sunday afternoon in Layton. Not a pang of guilt did I experience as others took care of setting tables, preparing a waffle feast, and entertaining any child who wasn't in the hammock with me.

Above me blue skies and a leafy tree

Our family has enjoyed many a good time around this old oak table

  

Lovely, cuddly little Jill

My home is always where my family is, and it's especially nice when the Wasatch mountains are a part of the picture

Brad making sure the momentum continues

Kelly ready to dig in

Ahhh, still cuddling with me!

Curtis joins in the fun

Tanja the temptress

I finally made myself move, lured by the irresistable waffles, but I was hungry enough not to mind too much

More pictures from the day:

Aubree and Kris making friends

Kyle swinging a racket

Jake

  

Elena ~ all smiles

Kris chillin' out

Kris chillin' out with Jill

Rachele and Curtis

Cousins Sunny & Derek traveled many miles to be with us, along with their cute boys Hyrum and Noah

 El Paso friend Kelli joined us - so good to see her again!

Noah

I don't need a hammock to cuddle with Jill

Kris coaches the team

Jake, Mitchell and Curtis

Mitchell & Elena

Thank you, Keven and Brei for your culinary efforts!

Thank you, Tanja & Brad, for hosting our break-the-fast waffle feast!

The sheer loveliness of this September sabbath day lingers on in my memory ~ a perfect day with family following the oh-so-special baptismal day of Mitchell

 (more to come on that special event!)

Summer Ketchup

After more than a month of draught - arriving soon!

Surprise, Surprise, Surprise!

After Kris and I spent a week in Cleveland with Ayrel, Ben and Avery we headed to Salt Lake City for a short weekend visit to be a part of Jill's blessing. More to come on that. Flying standby was a breeze, we literally walked off of our plane to Atlanta and right onto the one to Cleveland. The same as we headed to SLC. 
Then came our trip home, which was. not. a. breeze. Keven joined us for the fun, Soren donated valuable experience and time helping us chart our course, and we eventually decided to head to Las Vegas in the hopes of catching flights through Phoenix or Albuquerque to arrive home. Didn't work that way, and we ended up in lovely downtown Burbank shuttling to Los Angelas and then flying home the next morning. Non-revving is an adventure!

A few hours later I spoke to Ayrel and learned that they had beat us home. In fact, had we made it to Albuquerque we may likely have been on the same flight, and that's when we would have learned they were coming to El Paso for a friend's wedding!

Grandpa Jensen holds Avery for the first time

Little Avery received clearance from the doctors to make the trip. She had to wear a Holter pack the first 24 hours she was here, but that was the only stipulation.

I think the grandparents are doing an admiral job of sharing thus far!

Not-So Guilty Little Pleasures



$5 bouquet and the roses smell heavenly ~ Shoes too cute to leave behind





Starting a new book just for fun - I love the PW blog, so am certain I'll love the book

And look how beautiful the book itself is when you take off the dust jacket!



Pecan Coconut cookies - I ate at least two....or three....maybe four.
They are really good.

Family Talent Show

Not to brag or anything, but I do have a very talented family. While our children were growing up we would always have a Talent Spotlight for Family Home Evening where one child could share a special talent or host a talent event. We had everything: "Star Wars" being pounded out on the piano, "Chubby Cheeks" contests, dance performances on our outdoor "stage", pogo stick challenges, drum solos (where Barbi dolls were used as drum sticks, much to some younger sisters' consternation), spoon hanging contests, and the list goes on. This past week I have been reminded of the many varied talents of my progeny.

Kyle is a Sword Swallower!
Although not by choice. We can almost laugh about it now, but when he ran around a corner and into the blade of this:

being wielded by his unsuspecting cousin, he ended up in the emergency room for the night.

Scary, but all ended well.

Hurrah for a brave little boy and his amazing parents. Hurrah for priesthood blessings.  Hurrah for talented medical personnel who took such good care of him through the night.

"I'll make sure he's comfortable, Dr. Morris."

"His CT scan looks fine. We won't have to do any surgery and he won't even need stitches!"

"Nurse Doris, why don't you take a break. I'll watch over the little guy."

He was able to walk to church with us the next day!

Elena, Jake, Curtis, Kyle, Mitchell and Aubree

 

 

Mitchell dazzles with his amazing leaping abilities!

Elena wows us with her unique sense of high fashion!

In a blur, Curtis can eat a whole plate of French fries and macaroni & cheese without his hands!



 Tanja can still take on her dad in a game of HORSE (but I think she lost this round)!

And it appears that ALL of my grandchildren (newborns excepted) have a talent for throwing big rocks into water with every intent of soaking their grandmother! Soren gets credit for being their coach.

 
 
I have absolutely no doubt that if these 3 had been around they would have joined in with equal enthusiasm and accuracy.