bluebonnets!

i found a field of bluebonnets and made plans to take pics- although the sun and wind weren't friendly, i thought that a few turned out great!

tay and em have theirs in the sidebar slideshows.

happenstance

***The following exchanges below are included to explain my picture***

Dear Bro. Truman M***,

I thought you might like a copy of these photos- i know our family will treasure them!

It was a day to remember, being at Carthage once again. Years ago my grandparents were assigned as missionaries to Carthage, and served faithfully and with all their hearts because they love our Savior and they love Brother Joseph.

Having my son with me this time made this occasion even more tender to our family. And then your group walked up and asked to join in.

My father, Ron T***, loves church history. He'll read a book on Joseph over anything but the scriptures. Last year we even read 'Rough Stone Rolling'. But you should know that my dad knew you from across the courtyard because he is such a fan of your work on the Prophet Joseph. You can't imagine the treat it is for him to share that he had the pleasure of meeting you and spending time at Carthage with you and your friends.

Speaking of your friends, you travel with some mighty fine men, don't you?!? how fun it was to get to know them a bit! (and for dad to meet up with Les again)

It was a blessing to our family to hear your thoughts and testimonies- and i wanted to express gratitude for sharing and being so affable with us.

Please forward these photos, if you will, to Bro. G*** and Bro. M***.

Warmest Regards,

Rhonda B***

**********

Dear Rhonda:

A delight to hear from you. And the brethren will cherish the photos. We had no camera along. In two hours we leave for the holy land. We are making a series of DVD's on the life of the Savior.

We are grateful for your encouraging words, your dedicated spirit, and the high privilege of being with you on sacred ground.

Blessings, TGM

*****When we met these men it was a wonderful surprise to our day. Bro Bob G*** happened to mention that his new business partner, Steve Y***, was supposed to have been traveling with the group- but stayed home to attend to his wife's broken wrist.

i snapped my fingers and showed my genuine dismay for the missed opportunity. :(

Bob then asked if i was a fan... to which i replied, with my ever enthusiastic "since high school!"

He then told me he'd get me an autographed football or photo from Steve. He took every contact info i could think of- lol

and then weeks passed by...

the above emails took place when i sent Bro. TGM a copy of the pics we took at Carthage of our group.

and then yesterday- i came home to a package from the Forever Young Foundation. Inside was the above football.

i was alone. Happy Dance!!!! Happy Dance!!!! who do i call????

so i called mom and dad and they made me promise to post this.

oh- inside the box a card was included:

"Ms. B***,

On behalf of Bob G** and Truman M***, we would like to give you this autographed Steve Y*** Football.

Best Wishes,

Stephanie (who is his event person for the foundation)

She included her card with her cell number hand written upon it.

so today... happy dance!!!! :)

Happy Happy 8th Birthday Kimmy!!!

you are such a beautiful, sweet girl and we're so excited that you are getting baptized!
we love you!

Paul and Dana C** are thrilled to announce
the birth of their new baby boy:
Daniel West C**
Born April 10th, 2008
Weight 7 lbs. 8 oz. 19 1/2 inches


Daniel decided to make his appearance five weeks early, yes just two days after we returned from Utah for Aubrey's wedding. He is obviously a very thoughtful boy, because he patiently waited until after all of the festivities were over to make his appearance. Dana has returned home after an easy delivery. She is thrilled not to be pregnant. Daniel is still in the NICU at *** hospital. He is doing very well. As most of you know, he has Down Syndrome, and a heart problem as well. One of the concerns with the heart problem was his ability to get enough oxygen. They have a monitor on him specifically for measuring his oxygen saturation. He is consistently at the place he needs to be for that, so seems to be managing that very well. He is also regulating his own temperature pretty consistently, another great blessing. In order for us to bring him home, he needs to be eating on his own. This one is not going quite so well. He is a very sleepy boy, and just not that interested in food. Also, the first essential skills: Suck, swallow, breathe, are not very coordinated at this point. But we all try every day.
We would appreciate your prayers for Daniel to be able to eat and come home to us soon, we are eager to have him home.
It is heavenly to hold this sweet baby. We are so grateful to have him.

Love,
Dana and Paul

BIG Pancakes

while mom and dad were visiting i made the following breakfast: BIG Pancakes served with your choice of cut up strawberries, powdered sugar, butter and real maple syrup. fresh, cut up bananas or peaches or ANY fruit (or combo of) is delish. :)

they are always a hit with my crew- but mom and dad loved them too and asked that i post this recipe here on my blog...

so, y'all... here it goes:

1 cup flour
2 eggs
1/2 c milk
1/2 c water
1/4 tsp salt
2 TBSP melted butter

this mixture doesn't make alot- so sometimes i double (for my crew) or triple it (as when mom and dad were here). if there are leftovers they reheat in the microwave nicely for up to 2 or 3 days.

mix thoroughly.

my stove heats up by numbers- i heat mine on a '7'. that's just above a medium heat.

• find a BIG frying pan, spray w/pam
• spread a layer of mixture over entire pan surface
• be ready to flip when you see the top drying out
• warm up the other side and SERVE!

my personal fave is- i butter it up and then roll it up- this pancake is like a crepe- then top it with a little (i skip the real maple and use 'light') syrup, sprinkle a little powdered sugar and then top lots of strawberries then add a little banana. it's just yummy. so yummy, in fact, that em makes hers just like mine now.

how's that for a happy sunday post?

i'm here!!!

if you give a girl a minute or two...she'll be sure to write!

right now- i'm all obsessed with how i just cut down two spider sacs that looked to spring open a combined total of 8ooo spiderlings.

this was a youtube moment, missed.

i couldn't reach over the bushes to the sacs that the garden spider placed just outside my bedroom window- so, i grabbed a chair, shoved it in, and found that i could barely reach my scissors to cut the little atttachment that held the sacks for all these months.

but much to my terror- mother spider had also surrounded the egg sac with lots of barely visible web- almost pillow like.

as my scissors cut through that webbing, each egg sac jumped around as if it were alive- and i swear i was about to lose my nerve with each cut.

making matters worse, the bag i brought with me to capture the egg sac was of flimsy walmart variety. there was no way this was going to be a cut and drop procedure!

imagine me cutting, screaming and jumping... over and over.

this is where youtube would have loved me!

anyway- this is my welcome to blogspot post. and now i can't wait to catch up with you all!

utah summer 2006

andy thought emily needed to know what appropriate hand holding was... emily was appropriately horrified~
Andy, Candice, Mandy, and Emily formed one of our family groups at the park.
There is something i really enjoy- i look at the expressions in each of the following photos and know that these people love me- just look at their faces (well, Mandy is thinking about it- with an expression that reminds me of Ron, i might add...) . I love you too!!!

This is the final group- Dad, Mom, Braden, and Taylor.

my group: Kirk (Dani's husband- she was home being sick, baby #4, and missed out), Ally, Kimmy, and Rissa.

i could not get enough of the trails that followed the river up sundance canyon.

here in texas our river beds are dry- and because of my thoughts regarding this river that is so full of life and the barren one i walk by daily (pun intended???) i wrote this:

Oh River

Oh river that ran in beauty
Your days gave joy!
Working, forging- laughing
Years flowing in meaning
(you were full)

Oh river that ran in faith
Forgotten, empty, cracked
Are you lost now?
Is what you feel…despair?
Do you dream in your loneness
(or are dreams gone too)

Oh river that ran in innocence
I weep for you!
For the days that flee
And the forsaken-
Life that turned away
(i know my tears do not fill you)

Update:
Em read through this poem and said "It's only personification! No metaphors, no similes! What are you really writing about?"
ummm....