My joy...

I love my grandsons and I love being around them. So imagine how happy I was when Mark and Tiff asked me to watch the boys while they went on a cruise. The week was wonderful, busy but wonderful! Cash, Colby, Grey, and Grahm are polite, helpful, and well behaved. We cooked together, played together, and laughed a lot. They did their jobs, Grey even gave Grizzly a bath. We made it to school on time and to other activities. My favorite day was being with them at church. I treasure the time I'm with them. They are my joy.

Colby and I made this yummy taco ring. I love cooking with him.

After his bath, Grizzly went in his kennel where the warm sun was shining on him.

Grizz and the neighbor dog Boone having a play date! 

We had a fun party for Cash on his 13th birthday! 

We love him so much. 

Mark and Tiff left a shuffle board game for Cash.

We had a lot of shuffleboard tournaments.

You blow out a candle in the card I gave Cash and it sang, 'You're a teenager now, you're a teenager now." Cash got a kick out of it!

Grahm's Store, open for business!

Grahm was a little sad and didn't want to go to Primary. Their cute neighbor Hadley said, "Do you want to sit by me Bear?" I moved a chair by Hadley and just like that everything was better, and Grahm was happy.

A member of their ward served a mission in Africa. He shared some experiences he had there. He showed Colby how they shake hands in Africa.

And just like that Mark and Tiff were safely home and passing out souvenirs!

Best week ever! 

Birthday date with a TEENager...

I can't believe it's been thirteen years since I first held Cash in my arms for the first time. I had that extraordinary feeling that my life would never be the same. Cash is a wonderful young man. He's respectful, smart, helpful, handsome, and a true gentleman. He always opens the door for me and asks me if he can help with dinner or with cleaning up. He is fun and it's a joy to spend time with him. He was and is a dream come true! How we love him, our first.

Thirteen of my favorite pictures of Cash!

Cash wanted a suit to wear to church. We enjoyed shopping together and found the perfect birthday suit! He looks so handsome. We also had a delicious dinner at Olive Garden. We went back to the house to watched a show and do some homework. Cash even slept over, what a fun date!

Love you Cash! 

Food Bank...

So, I spoke to people getting food at a food bank and here are some things I learned from those in need:
1. Everyone donates Kraft Mac and Cheese in the box. They can rarely use it because it needs milk and butter which is hard to get from regular food banks.
2. Boxed milk is a treasure, as kids need it for cereal which they also get a lot of.
3. Everyone donates pasta sauce and spaghetti noodles.
4. They cannot eat all the awesome canned veggies and soup unless you put a can opener in too or buy pop tops.
5. Oil is a luxury but needed for Rice a-Roni which they also get a lot of.
6. Spices or salt and pepper would be a real Christmas gift.
7. Tea bags and coffee make them feel like you care.
8. Sugar and flour are treats.
9. They fawn over fresh produce donated by farmers and grocery stores.
10. Seeds are cool in Spring and Summer because growing can be easy for some.
11. They rarely get fresh meat.
12. Tuna and crackers make a good lunch.
13. Hamburger Helper goes nowhere without ground beef.
14. They get lots of peanut butter and jelly but usually not sandwich bread.
15. Butter or margarine is nice too.
16. Eggs are a real commodity.
17. Cake mix and frosting makes it possible to make a child’s birthday cake.
18. Dishwashing detergent is very expensive and is always appreciated.
19. Feminine hygiene products are a luxury and women will cry over that.
20. Everyone loves Stove Top Stuffing.
In all the years I have donated food at the Holidays, I bought what I thought they wanted, but have never asked. I am glad I did. If you are helping a Family this Christmas, maybe this can help you tailor it more. It does for me!

Take care of sacred things, look to God and live...

Sunrise on my way to work... "Dawning of the day"

My testimony today is of the angels and ministers of grace who will always defend us if, as the prophet Alma commanded us, we “take care of … sacred things,” we “look to God and live.” (Alma 37:47) More prayer and humility, more faith and forgiveness, more repentance and revelation and reinforcement from heaven—these are where we seek remedy and deliverance for “feverish and delirious humanity” (The Character of Jesus, p. 17).

Angels and ministers of grace to defend us? They are all about us, and their holy sovereign, the Father of us all, is divinely anxious to bless us this very moment. Mercy is his mission, and love is his only labor. John Donne said once: “We ask our daily bread, and God never says, ‘You should have come yesterday.’ … [No, he says,] ‘Today if you will hear [my] voice, today I will hear yours.’ … If thou hast been benighted till now, wintered and frozen, clouded and eclipsed, damp and benumbed, smothered and stupefied till now, God yet comes to thee, not as in the dawning of the day, … but as the sun at [full] noon, to banish all shadows” (Collected Sermons).

“Look to God and Live” | Jeffrey R. Holland
general conference | October 1993

"And now, my son, see that ye take care of these sacred things, yea, see that ye book to God and live. Go unto this people and declare the word, and be sober. My son, farewell." ~ Alma 37:47

The Love Boat...

Several months ago Element gave a few employees an all inclusive cruise. I could not have been happier that Mark and Tiffani could have a much needed vacation!

I love my grandsons and I love being with them so imagine how happy I was when they asked me and Nana to watch Cash, Colby, Grey, Grahm, and Grizzly!

Mark and Tiffani had wonderful time together. There were no travel problems and even though the cruise was rerouted due to a hurricane, they also did not have any weather related worries. I was grateful for that! 

What a gorgeous couple, no wonder we have such beautiful grandsons! Love you so much Mark and Tiff.

"He believes in me"

Grahm was holding a fly and I was so thankful Grandpa was recording this sweet exchange. 

Grandpa asked, "What did you catch?"

Grahm: "A fly."

Grandpa: "What do you think about him?"

Grahm: "Um, I like him and he believes in me. He just got on me because he knows I won't hurt him. 

Grandpa: "Have you given him a name yet?"

Grahm: "His name is Wings. He just knows I won't hurt him and I like him."

Balloon...

Grahm likes to make water balloons and blow up balloons with Grandpa. He put this pink balloon at the desk the other day and said, "You can keep this and think about me when you see it." I looked at the balloon everyday until all the air went out of it. Every time I saw the balloon I did think of Grahm and smiled. I love him.

ThrowBack Thursday ~ When you are helping you're happy...

Colby, my helper!