Nice thought for the week!

I saw this on a friends blog and thought it was good so I thought that I would steal it and then share it. With all that has been happening in my life lately I think this is great advice.  I'm going to take it and start today with living each day to the fullest.  I hope you all do too! 

Have a great week my friends!

"Life is short. Forgive quickly. Kiss slowly. Love truly. Laugh uncontrollably. Never regret anything 

that made you smile."

A prayer for Beautiful Women everywhere!

Now I lay me down to sleep I pray the Lord
My shape to keep.
Please no wrinkles, Please no bags
And please lift my butt before it sags.

Please no age spots, please no gray
And as for my belly, please take it away.

Please keep me healthy
Please keep me young,
And thank you Dear Lord
For all that you've done.

Five tips for a woman....

1. It is important that a man helps you around the house
and has a job.

2. It is important that a man makes you laugh.

3. It is important to find a man you can count on! and doesn't
lie to you.

4. It is important that a man loves you and spoils you.

5. It is important that these four men don't know each other.

Have a great week all of you beautiful women out there!

Life has been too stressful lately -It's time for a laugh!!

Of all the things I've lost~I miss my mind the most!

You can't stay young forever. But you can be immature for the rest of your life!

I would be unstoppable, if I could just get started!

My sweetheart is doing OK - but he gave me a SCARE!

So this weekend was quite a scary one. My husband Joe and I went down to Utah for a BYU football game. We were looking forward to having a fun weekend. But those plans changed rather quickly. Friday night Joe got really sick and in the middle of the night I had to call an ambulance to come to the hotel and take him to the hospital. I thought he was either having a stroke or a bad reaction to some new medicine he had recently started taking because of a recent diagnosis of Ulcerative Colitis. (Three weeks ago he had to go to the hospital to have 6 blood transfusions because he was bleeding internally.)

Anyway. . .for a little over 12 hours he was really out of it and I wasn't sure if I would ever be able to talk to him again and tell him that I love him. It was a very scary time and so emotionally taxing for me. But after a beautiful blessing given to him by our son Scott and after a lot of tests, they ruled out a stroke, brain tumor and anything else serious like that. We aren't really sure what happened but they think that it may have been a combination of his body being in a weakened condition due to the colitis, being under alot of stress because of other things going on in our family recently, along with the new medication he was taking. He is on some new medications and he is doing better. And I am so grateful that he is still here with me.

This was a real wake up call and one that has made our whole family really reevaluate our priorities in lives. We are now treasuring every minute that we spend with each other. We never know what tomorrow holds for us and so we need to make sure that we let those that we love know how we feel - and do it today - don't wait! I love this little poem that expresses what I am feeling right now:

If I Knew

Hold your loved ones close today,

Whisper in their ear;

Tell them that you love them

And you'll always hold them dear.

For tomorrow is promised to no one, 

Young and old alike;

And today may be your last chance 

To hold your loved ones tight.

Our family has never had too many bad things happen to us. (Knock on wood!)  But this summer has been quite stressful for us.  I know that we can grow through our trials but I'm thinking that I have grown enough for awhile. haha!  I am feeling quite overwhelmed from all of this.  It is amazing how stress really affects your whole body.  I am totally exhausted- physically, mentally, and emotionally.  So. . . for a little while, Joe and I are going to take a break from anything extra that adds stress to our lives, take some needed R and R, and just enjoy being together. 

And now when you finish reading this drop what you are doing and RUN to tell your loved ones how much they mean to you - and make sure that there is alot of hugging going on. :)

An Amazing and Historic Day in America

What an amazing day in the history of, not only our country, but in the history of women as well. This is a phenomenal woman who John McCain has picked for his running mate, Governor Sarah Palin from Alaska. If you don't know much about her - do a google search. Listen to her V.P candidate acceptance speech, I am sure it will be on youtube and probably on John McCain's website. This choice is not only historic but it is brilliant on the part of John McCain. And it is my believe that the Lord has had a hand in bringing this wonderful, unknown, but strong women into the forefront of our countries politics. She is exactly what our country needs. This is going to kick this race and election into high gear and up to another level. I look forward to the next 67 days until Nov 4.

Please, get involved. Don't vote on election day without researching the candidates first. Be informed. Make a responsible choice. Our country and our children's future depends on us electing the right people for president and vice president. I think that the McCain/Palin ticket is the answer to our nations problems. They are the answer to "Reform - Prosperity - Peace." The race is on!!

Move your boogie body

If you are looking for a good exercise video -

here it is.

I saw this on one of my friends websites and thought it was hilarious. What is even more funny is the fact that I actually exercised to something similar to this back in the day. Oh the memories! The 80's. . . the good ole days!

What was I thinking . . . what were they thinking???

So sit back, relax and ENJOY!!

Well I don't know about you but

HOTDOG - I think I'm going to get my "Boogie Body" moving after watching this.

A new face at American Idol?

Just when you thought it couldn't get any better they throw a new twist into the show. When the new season of American Idol begins in January there is going to be a new addition to the show. And she is NOT a contestant.  To find out more check it out HERE

Now What?

Wasn't the closing ceremonies awesome? I loved it all. But I am so sad that the Olympics is over.  Now what am I going to do with my time?  I guess I'll just get back to watching "America's Got Talent", "Jay Leno" and just look forward to the new season of "Ellen".   Oh. . . I guess I could clean my house!

WHAT HAPPENED??

I couldn't believe that the USA men's relay team dropped the baton but then when the women did it too I seriously was so surprised. Can you imagine how disappointed they were? I know I sure was.

August 11, 2008 - A Sad Day in Our Family

Just thought I'd let you all know that Scott and Amy lost their sweet little baby boy. He was born 4 months premature this morning. Everything was going fine but on sat afternoon all of a sudden Amy doubled over having major contractions. They rushed her to the hospital and by the time they got the contractions stopped she was already dialated to 4. One third of the amniotic sac had dropped down into the vagina and then eventually the cervix closed over it. They had specialists look at her and they just said that trying to push everything back up in was just too risky for Amy. They said that there wasn't anything else they could do. So they took her off of the medication that stops contractions and she eventually went into labor. Anyway. . . he was born at 1:30 this morning and he was 10 inches long, 10 oz and he was perfectly formed. He passed away a short time before he was actually born. They spent many hours just holding him and taking pictures. Mindy and Amy's mom were there with them the whole time. I was on the phone with them most of the night.

Anyway, they are doing ok, but it is a hard thing to deal with. You can imagine the grief that they feel. But I am so grateful that we have the gospel to give us strength and the knowledge that we can all see this baby again and that they will be able to raise him some day. They named him Joseph Scott (after his daddy who is Scott Joseph).

So I am finally a grandma. This wasn't quite how I planned on welcoming in my first grandchild but he is my first little sweetheart and I love him so much. They sent me a couple of pictures and I just think he is the most beautiful little thing I've seen. I just wish I could've been there to hold him.

Please remember them in your prayers to help give them the strength, understanding and comfort they will need in the upcoming days.

I love you Scott, Amy and little Joseph Scott!

Travel update

The past few weeks have been crazy busy for me. In a nutshell this is what I've been doing. . .

1) -I drove 3200 miles, through 5 states, in 2 1/2 weeks.

2) -Visited with over 100 relatives and friends.

3) -Went Boogie Boarding at Newport Beach in California.




4) -Shopped and shopped until I dropped (or at least ran out of money)

5) -Went to Sea World - Shamu Rocks!!



6) -Spent alot of time laying by the pool soaking up the wonderful CaLiFoRnIa rays!

7) -Gained 10 lbs from eating at so many Yummy restaurants! And it was worth every bite-World Gym here I come!

8) -Was in an EarthQuake!!!

9) -Went to a faMily reuNion.


I have had so much fun, but glad to be home, I'm exhausted, I need a nap!!!

5.8 Earthquake

I am visiting my son in California and we just experienced an earthquake here in Orange County. The epicenter was about 30 miles from Scott and Amy Joys condo. The house was really shaking. Kinda scary! But we are all OK, phones seem to be jammed right now as the whole world is calling to see if everyone is OK. If you have tried to call and couldn't get though we are OK. 5.8 is scary but not enough to bring down buildings. They have been told here that they are due for a big one and usually big ones start with ones about this size so it was a bit scary.

I was outside doing something and so I didn't experience the shaking as much as Amy Joy did in the house and Scott did in his office. Life here seems to be back to normal but the national news is still making quite a big deal about it. We are waiting to see if we feel any after shocks, hopefully we wont. I'm leaving to head for home tomorrow so this is quite an exciting way to finish my vacation.

California is calling . . .

Well I'm getting ready to head out on another trip. This time Rhiana and I are driving to Arizona to spend a weekend with my family. I will get to see my dad (who just turned 94 yrs old) and my brothers and their families. I am really looking forward to seeing all of them.

Then we are heading to sunny California to see Scott and Amy Joy. This is my first visit to their home since they got married. (Sorry I don't have a pic with Amy Joy in it in front of their house)

I can't wait to see them and spend time with them. I am really excited to be with Scott on his birthday too, first time in almost 10 yrs.

We are also looking forward to spending alot of time on the beach and soaking in the California sun!

I can't wait to eat a turkey burger at TK Burgers

and also shrimp tacos at Wahoo's to just name a few of the fun things I have planned.

Dont worry - I'm sure I'll be posting pictures along the way so keep checking back.

Hope you are all enjoying your summer!

Yummy!

Easy Chicken Parmesan

1 jar (14 oz.) spaghetti sauce (about 1-1/2 cups)
1-1/2 cups KRAFT Finely Shredded Italian* Five Cheese Blend, divided
1/3 cup Italian seasoned dry bread crumbs
6-8 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1-1/2 lb.)
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine, melted
6 cups hot cooked spaghetti

PREHEAT oven to 375°F.

Pour spaghetti sauce into 13x9-inch baking dish; set aside.

MIX 1/2 cup of the cheese and the bread crumbs in separate shallow dish. Dip chicken in butter, then in cheese mixture, turning to evenly coat both sides. Place over spaghetti sauce in baking dish.

BAKE 30 min. or until chicken is cooked through; sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese. Bake an additional 5 min. or until cheese is melted. Serve over spaghetti.

We're having a BABY!!!!

Well not exactly. I'm not having a baby. But Scott and Amy Joy are!! Now I know what you are thinking. "Didn't they just get married?" The answer is "yes." I think the term for this is "Honeymoon baby!" And also "Yes they were on birth control." But obviously it didn't work!!! They had planned to wait for a couple of years. But the Lord had different plans for them and I guess this baby had waited long enough and wasn't going to wait any longer. So he/she will enter our family around Dec 29, 2008. Scott and Amy Joy are so excited and we are all so excited for them.

They have had 3 ultrasounds already.

So I would like to introduce you to my little grandson/granddaughter. These are his/her first pictures.

3 Weeks


6 Weeks


9 Weeks ~ I can't believe how much he/she changed in just a few weeks. From 6 weeks to 9 weeks the baby went from 10mm to 25mm and is actually starting to take form. See the head, arms and legs. Isn't it so cool!

Hopefully the next ultrasound will let us all know if it is a girl or boy. I'm thinking it looks like a little boy. What do you think?