Duck... Duck... Goose

Fred and the kids took Jeff and Emma to see Dark Night last Saturday.  That left Lainey and I to our own devices.  We had one Dora video and a cat to keep us busy for 3 hours.  It was super hot, but we decided to venture outside for a few minutes.  We walked across the street to the duck POND.  (Imagine a 2 year old saying duck in a normal voice and then yelling pond every time we discussed our adventure.)

It was excruciatingly hot!  Aunt Donna carried her around the entire pond.  We were sweating like crazy.

However, the heat didn't keep us from having fun!

We stopped here to feed the ducks.  She used all her bread in one spot.  I forgot all my old 'duck feeding' tricks.  I used to hide bread from Jonathan, so we wouldn't use it all up at one place.

There were so many ducks!  They were everywhere.  I took about three or four pictures just to get them all.  I have never seen so many in our little pond.

We were hot, but had so much fun!  Who needs Batman to have a good time?

Flashback Friday: Gracie's Trip To The Lake

Gracie

September 2006

Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas

Our Sweet Gracie will be 15 years old on August 25th.  She is showing her age and we all constantly watch her with wonder and worry.  I get calls at work from the kids who panic when they think she is spending too much time outside (or whatever the worry of the day is).  Her back legs don't work like they used to, but she still tries to run.  It causes a Bambi like effect.  She has accidents in the house... lots of them.  She follows me around. Everywhere. I can't move without her next to me. And, she stares out into space a lot.  Despite the bad, I think she is in remarkably good shape for a 15 year old.  Fred thinks we are nearing the time that we need to make big decisions.  I don't think we are at that point.  Gracie is due for her annual senior wellness exam, so we will go next week to see our veterinarian.  I am confident that he is going to tell me that my Gracie is happy, healthy and geriatric. 

Lainey's My Name...

And chocolate cupcakes are my game!

Oh my! My cupcake is all gone.  That's okay.  I found some chocolate over here on my arm.



Remembering Our Pioneers

This is the time of year when we take time to remember our pioneers.  Those men, women and children who gave up so much to head west to Utah.

"I will never get over being thankful to them; I hope you never get over being thankful to them. I hope that we will always remember them...Let us read again and again, and read to our children or our children's children the account of those who suffered so much." -Gordon B. Hinckley, Jan 31, 1999 Church News, Page 5

We do not have pioneer ancestors, but we are so thankful for the persistence and faithful trek west.  I cannot imagine what they must have endured.   Their testimonies must have been so great for them to have kept going not given up.  They are a wonderful example to me and I am thankful to have the opportunity to learn about them and teach my children about them.

Flashback Friday: Creating Her Own Style

January 2011

Oh The Gall

Thursday (July 5), Fred (who has two speeds: go,go,go and nappy, nappy) wasn't feeling well.  After a trip to our local PrimaCare, he still wasn't feeling well and we didn't really have a satisfactory diagnosis.  We only knew that we should go to the emergency room if he got worse.  Fred assured me that he wasn't feeling worse, but I had that feeling that we should go anyway.  So, Saturday morning, we headed out for what we thought would be a quick trip to the ER for some quick relief.

They quickly decided that he needed an ultrasound, so that he could look at his gallbladder.  Not sure why PrimaCare hadn't thought of this.   It wasn't long before they came back to let us know that the surgeon on call had been notified that Fred's gallbladder needed to be removed.  He was admitted to the hospital and away we went.  On one hand, it seemed like it all happened so fast.  But, then on the other, it seemed like each step took forever.

We were told that Fred had probably been in pain for years and just chalked it up to something he ate or maybe he thought he pulled a muscle.  He went in on Saturday (July 7) and was released around 6:45 p.m. on Monday (July 9).  I won't bore you with the story that kept him there so long.

The good news is that he is on the mend.  He stayed home all last week and went back to work today.  He is tired, but made it the entire day.

 Fred and I were supposed to give talks at church on that Sunday. Fred had the 'gall' to weasel out of his talk! I still had to give mine! I have to say that was super stressful to give a talk while your husband is in the hospital.  When it was over, I was relieved and glad that I gave it, though. My talk is over, but Fred will have to give one in the next couple of weeks.  Hmmm... we'll see if he comes up with some other crazy illness!

We are so thankful to those wonderful people that offered help and who sent their prayers and well wishes.  We are so very blessed.

Lighthouse of the Lord

There is no fog so dense, no night so dark, no mariner so lost, no gale so strong as to render useless the lighthouse of the Lord.  It beckons through the storms of life.  It seems to call to you and me: "This way to safety, this way to home."

-Thomas S. Monson