Harbinger of Spring

How do I know spring is in the air?

A couple of ways:

When there is light on the horizon at the end of my morning walk

and

when these Cadbury eggs appear in the store

Just puts a little lilt in my step, I tell ya

Clever Valentines

Tune in to this one

This was one of the handmade valentines I got from a kiddo at school

At first I couldn't figure out why there was string taped to the Reeses

Hm-m-m, a printed play list on the little box

Ah....so that makes the Reeses the ear buds

Ah so!

Now I get it

Just plain Cute

Another clever hand made valentine

From a mom a school

Double decorative paper wrapped "envelope" (a flattened tube, actually)

Handmade folded flower and tag

Pull on the tied ribbon

which is threaded through a cut

on front and back

Presto

The ribbon is a sling

that pulls out the candy bar

I wanted to show this fun idea to my girls

so the most amazing part is that I haven't eaten the candy bar yet

Wanna guess how many days I can delay scarfing down the sweet?

Art and Cereal

Breakfast time with art basket as center piece

The Smullin kids and I spent some weekend time together

Their Dad and Mom were gone for an anniversary trip

Part of the time at my house

They went with me to Zumba

Part of the time at their house

I was impressed that they jumped in and got their Saturday chores done in a hurry

They are quite grown up

Jobs done?

OK

Then let's have some cookies

This is called

Do not take a 15 year old's picture

before she puts on her make up

I will always think my grandkids are beautiful....with or without fixin' up!

Two Sweethearts on Valentine Evening

This picture is out of order

The dining room was dark

When my flash lit it up

Here is where I'd find the boy!

Eventually, he ate up the leftover dinner his sister left on the table

Some Valentine's Evening

visit time with two sweet kiddos

Snuggled in her jammies

she was happy and content all evening

I just love that profile

Lookin'serious

yes you are!

He is seriously

waiting for me to turn my attention away from him. . . . .

Then off like a race car

he runs into the darkened dining room

I catch him with my flash

Hey, climberoo boy . . .

I found you!

Dinner for the Matriarch

 Grandma's caretaker is on vacation

Again, we are taking turns taking dinner in for Grandma Ison

She only eats a little . . . .

half a bowl of stew and one fourth a slice of toast tonight

Thanks again you all

for helping her out

She so loves the visits

When I showed her the picture taken, above

we discovered that it showed her and Grandpa together

We liked that

"Why'd he have to go and leave me!"

she declared with a wistful chuckle



Tonight she kept studying the picture of

Tiffany and Darrin's family

I think she said "amazing" thirteen times

as she contemplated this wonderful "new" family

I told her the names over and over again as she asked questions

She had one thing securely in mind

Several times she said

"He's getting ready to go on a mission"

pointing to Scott, with obvious pleasure

You have a fan club, Elder Tanner!

When I arrived at her home

I found she had navigated down all the stairs

She was in one of the downstairs bedrooms

puttering through stacks of organized stuff

"It's been such a long time since I've been down here I didn't remember what was here"
She peeked into each room

adding a little comment

 before I could talk her into going back up the stairs for some dinner

I stayed right behind her

as she pulled herself up one step at at time

I kind of held my breath . . .I didn't know whether to be scared or amazed!

My Brain: The Process

I've spent a couple of months preparing for an evening Relief Society presentation

The theme . . . . . .

Emotional Resiliance: What Are My Choices?

On my way to the delight of teaching, I got to work with one of my weaknesses

My multi-variant brain . . .

zip                      

 zap

                    with

sparkly                  

pings

of                 

                                         rich

ideas

. . . .

flickers of stories

                                                                      experiences

                             concepts

                                           hard earned lessons

                                                    scriptures

                                                                                                  quotes

       clearing questions

lots of pieces

Once the theme was set in my mind

it seemed related ideas

                   popped

                                          up

                                                    in

             so

                  many

                                                                                         different

vistas  . . . .

                                                 thoughts

                        magazines

                                                                                                                               newspapers

                                   scripture

                                            articles

                                                                                          conversations

prayers

                         songs

                                                                                                                                                talks

                                           phone calls

                                                                                           fresh experiences

the note pile grew thick

I LOVE the topic . . . . .but the organizing process . . . . . .not so much

The

wrestle

to

sort

and

nudge

my

many

thoughts

into

a

linear

outline . . . . . . an excruciating process for me

Something I've learned:

My very beautiful brain that serves me so well as a counselor and listening friend

taking in clues .  . .sorting .  .sensing . . . noticing . . . reflecting

well . . . . .

it cries out in pain when required to do some linear tasks

Arg . . . .Don't give up, LD!

You know the scripture  . . . . weakness + humilty = strength

Then

finally

all is lassoed

into

an outline

Ah..... that feels good

Presenting was fun

A fine learning evening with wonderful women

And an invitation to present to another group is on the calendar

Have you ever noticed

that one of your gifts can also contain

the soft  underbelly of one of your weaknesses?

Fond farewell. . . .Bag it!

I get attached to the most interesting physical objects

Like this bag

I love the grandkid pics (though out of date) and the sentiment:

I'm a Grandma

Life is Sweet

Candice and Dean gave the bag to me years ago

and I have loved it

It has a lot of miles on it

It's been my companion to and from work for more than half a decade

It has carried a tonnage of books, files, lunches

and my constant companion

the big-little black book.....my school calendar

Look at those adorable kiddos

Kyrick was just a baby

And now he's in kindergarten!

Time to retire the sentimental red bag

Sigh

Bring on the spring flowers

and new adventures

What items do you get sentimental about?