hallelujah

while i was blog stalking i found this link on my friend charmain's post. it made me smile and wish i had been there. here is to enjoying the season and remembering to offer up a few hallelujahs ourselves!

thanksgiving evening

thanksgiving evening and yes many were gathered together, pouring through the paper on the living room floor. grownups were scouring the advertisements of retailers such as home depot, office max, best buy, target and walmart in high demand. the children were most interested in toys r us, walmart, and kmart. ash would call out, "if anyone sees ......, let me know". lyndie would follow with "oh, i need one of these!". nate and jor were talking "shelves" at lowes and i was looking hard for a good buy on a micro sd card. (ended up buying online for the cheapest price - saving me many cold hours of waiting in the early morn.) timo, sophie, and parker were excited about the toy ads and anna and little libby who really didn't care particularly about the ads caught the fever anyway and requested to look at some of the paper as well. abi, who just turned 1, would on the other hand quietly sneak into the room, look around to see if anyone was watching and then bend down, grab a piece of paper and run out of the room. tickled pink that the adults would all cry out "abi, no...i need that ad!" as she ran faster away from our grasps. parker was looking at one particular ad and jumping up from the floor, pointed a toy out to me and emphatically said, "i do not want this!"


whoa buddy, thank goodness! "ok" i said. "i won't buy that for you." he nodded his head, content that he would not receive this creature, at least not from me.

from the family room music could be heard as johnny pretended to be cori and play and sing the songs she would have played if not for her poor stitched up finger. (she cut it half way through the nail early tuesday am...like 2 am, as she was trimming the ends of the roses she received at the end of her incredible concert with the utah voices choir. but that's another post!) gram was singing along. pie after pie was being consumed by all others. we had 10 pies in all, which cori expertly made even with a very sore stitched up finger. and although it was a relatively small gathering for us, since we missed out of state and far away family coming in, it was a good night. there was laughter. there was music. there was harmony and much to be grateful for.

(and don't worry parker, i will remember not to buy you that "thing".)

introducing

landon christopher mullen

dang cute guy!

welcome to the family little one. it is an "interesting" clan you have joined...at least on your dad's side but we promise to love you and show you a good time.

landon was born nov 16 and gave his mom quite a hard time. the amazing jenna gave it her all and we hope she recovers soon.

can't wait to hold him in december!!!!!
oh yeah and we are excited to see his parents too. :)

ps. i think his marmee likes him.

are night owls wise

gram and i were on our daily drive, it was late in the afternoon and the news was playing on the radio. i must admit i was kind of in that driving mode trance, mind wandering etc when a news story caught my attention. "night owls vs morning people - who's smarter?". turns out studies show that night owls tend to have higher IQ's than early birds. (just google it)

needless to say i felt rather vindicated after years of scoffs and scorns and even, "gasp" those raised eyebrows when a new acquaintance learned of my normal bedtime (usually around 3am). it should be noted however that not all early birds treat us night owls with the same disdain. you see my neighbors have appreciated the hansen and connors households because we act as a type of neighborhood watch during the dark hours.

so i was driving along, feeling pretty good about myself and the family genes, until the announcer went on to say that on the downside, people who stay up late, although they have a higher IQ's, tend to be more emotionally unstable and are more likely to have problems with addictions and eating disorders. hmmm...yup...that fits. i'm addicted to spending late hours on the computer and well it's obvious my eating habits are not the best. oh well - guess you can't have it all!

on the way home from picking up parker from mrs. t’s preschool

me: oh look parker. there is a picture of wild animals on the back of that car.

parks: where, i can’t see. (he is sitting in the back seat strapped in and cannot see over the front seat)

me: oh i’m sorry bud. you can’t see it from back there. well it had giraffes and lions and monkeys and an elephant.

parks: oh, like zuri. (the baby elephant born last year at hoggle zoo)

me: yup. like zuri. but bigger!

parks: oh. like a grown up zuri.

me: yes

parks: when zuri grows up she , … pause … is zuri a she?

me: yes.

parks: oh. when zuri grows up she will be a mom, just like you.

me: (smiling) yes, she probably will be parksie, but, … i’m not a mom.

parks: ( hesitant and thoughtful) well, …………… long pause ……… you have gram!

me: yes parker i do.

and i have all of you kids too. i’m a grand aunt … just like one of those grand elephants.

parks: yeah!

(i guess as long as you take care of someone, you are a mom! thanks parker. i love you!)

The summer of 2010

It has been a long hard summer and as I thought about this blog entry I was focusing on much of what happened and it wasn’t all good. It has been a tough one for me, some of my family members and dear neighbors. But I get depressed focusing on that stuff so instead I will seek the good things and remember them.

Number one on my list is – I didn’t die when I fell off the ladder! That’s a good thing right? Right!

AM came to visit for 10 days or so to help out and then just came again last week to bring Joseph to school. This time she brought “Mike” with her! Sue calls me everyday! John and Brooklyn came to help make apricot jam and we canned cherries as well. Cori makes delicious dinners constantly. Ali is marrying a good guy and is happy. Sherry danced across the floor the other night. Sarah and Dave moved into a beautiful house. Ada Lillian joined the family making George and Cyndy grandparents again!!!! Stella gave us kisses. Jordon graduated. Lauren started Law School. Ian was baptized. Buddy came to visit and needs to come again and bring his parents. Our peach tree was so full of peaches a large branch broke off. (Next year I hope to “thin” a little better) Parker’s arm is ok now that the cast is off and Ruby doesn’t cry and shake her head “no” every time she sees me. . Kate came to visit and also got a new job! The guest rooms usually stay full. Sundays are delightful and busy. Gram is well.

Wow this list could go on and on and it is only things that happened this summer. I am very lucky and blessed.

more words of wisdom

do not eat a half of a large watermelon after 8pm!

however, since the watermelon is considered both a fruit and vegetable, do you think i can count it as eating my 5 servings of fruit and veggies?

.... and did you know that in 1893 the us supreme court ruled that the tomato, although botanically considered a fruit, was to be considered a vegetable!

... and our government also considers the watermelon as a vegetable. and that it has a legal impact on taxes that foreign importers pay to the united states.
it all goes back to 1887 and a tomato.

in 1887, u.s. tarriff laws taxed imported vegetables and not fruit. we imported a lot of tomatoes back then and the dispute over the tomato (fruit or vegetable) went all the way to the united states supreme court in 1893. the us supreme court decided that for tax purposes the tomato is a vegetable because of how it is used.

since tomatoes are used at dinner and not dessert, they would be a vegetable. (nix v. hedden). (although i believe sophie and joseph would beg to differ because they love the red round things for dessert and dinner). according to botanists cucumbers, pumpkins, and squash are all fruits too but the usda calls them vegetables anyway.

i know...i know...way too much information. but i find it curious the government's choose of words. they just pick what meaning that want regardless of the actually meaning.

i.e. it was a "police action" not a war in korea. operation iraqi freedom and afghanistan's operation enduring freedom are not wars either... they are military operations! and the oil pouring out into the gulf is simply a "spill" because it is pouring out of a container. i dunno but it seems to me it is much more than a spill!

oh well...this blog entry is getting way to deep for me. guess i'll go eat the other half of my veggie/fruit watermelon and go to the bathroom!

cold hands ...

i am greeted each morning as i walk into gram's room with a cheery "oh hi. are you here to get me up?" i smile and say "yup. do you need to go potty?". (thank goodness we still have little kids around and can use that as our excuse for using kid words). "yes i do. you better hurry". i then pull the covers down and gently, usually, wrap her somewhat useless legs in my arms and swing them to the side of the bed. she then grabs a hold of my elbow and lifts herself into a sitting position. this morning as we performed our daily routine, gram let out a very loud "ouch". "what's wrong? are you ok?" i quickly said, fearing i had hurt her. "your hands are cold!" she said with eyes wide and her mouth puckered in a small circle. "i'm sorry. here i'll try to warm them. i then proceeded to rub them together and blow some hot air onto them. i even ran hot water over them, then went to lift her up into her chair. "ooo...you're cold." "i'm sorry", i said again. "i tried to warm them." "well" she said with a smile, "you didn't do a very good job. but thanks for helping me. now get me warm!"

i remember gram telling us that her hands were, and in fact still are, often very cold. she would tell us that when we were babies we would cringe when she changed our diapers because her hands felt like ice against our skin. i suppose it is just one of the many things my sisters, brothers and i have inherited from our mother - cold hands, drippy noses, many clearing throats, etc. oh well as the old english proverb says "cold hands, warm heart".

post script - why is it that the rest of me is burning hot but my hands are still ice cold. could it be - - - hormones!!!!

colors

nighttime summer storm

harvest

icing on christmas eve

blossoms in spring

life is good but ...

in regards to comment #4 of my last blog entry - nope!

just so you know -

if you go to bed at 2, wake up at 4, eat powdered sugar donuts at 5 . . . you will end up tired and with a tummy ache at 9!

thinking ahead

been thinking about my funeral lately. not in a morbid or doomsday sense. nor am i having any premonitions. just thinking. and that thinking leads to problems. i'm not one for sermons at funerals. i know they are nice and have their place and well...are to give comfort and most times do, yaddah yaddah, i just don't want one at my funeral. i want music. lots and lots of music and maybe a few poems. that creates a bit of a problem, how do i decide which music.

i want "goin home" written by william fisher based on dvorak's new world symphony 9. (i've already made arrangements with carolyn stevens to play, along with her sister and brother on the violins. if they can't do it maybe we can arrange for andre rieu.)

zach george promised to play his pipes, but he'll have to do that from the other side. i'm sure i'll hear it and the rest of you will just have to listen really hard, but i'm sure they will be playing.

i want cori to sing - lots of her songs and i can't narrow them down so it might be a long service. among them i think "sisters" would be nice. maybe "out of the blue", "auld lang syne" "memoria". ( david must add his voice too and even if it is in july i hope you won't mind singing "joseph and mary".) and of course, what has become her own "give me jesus" is a must have. (the boys will need to join her on that one.)

i need john to sing and play - "danny boy", "amazing grace", "i'll fly away", "ol' 55", "i shall be released", etc. etc. etc. . (harmonies by jenny and emmy please)

george will do a nice job on "weary hobo". if he and cindy could also work up a duet guitar and flute number, that would be lovely. and because ann marie wants "the garden" well ... i do too! and because cori wants "homeward bound", so do i!

i of course need the nieces and nephews (there is no distinction if you are an "in-law" all are required to participate) to sing and play. no one is allowed to say "no" or "i can't" (this means you annie and bryan). there are many songs to choose from. maybe they could even work up an arrangement of "be still my soul" and "how great thou art". kate - pie jesu, please! and who wouldn't want to hear the grandkids sing "in the highways", "when he comes again" or even "grand old flag"!

wouldn't it be nice if sue and sherry would dance! sue could use joseph as partner for a nice waltz or swing and i can just picture sherry doing a beautiful "aloha 'oe".

cinny will just have to think of something if she doesn't want to sing. maybe she can be in charge of the potted flowers.

i think mom would be willing to recite a few favorite poems. anyone she would choose would be just fine. and don't you think a nice "god be with you" would be a good ending.

now in order to get this all in we will probably need at least a three day wake. so when i die, come on over. i'll be laid out on the dining room table and if i begin to "stink" too much just put me in the ground and keep on playing and listening.


post script: i'm sure i will have many "oh yeah, i want that too" moments so i reserve the right to add to the above. there will also be a need for lots of food. am - you are in charge. and i haven't listed everyone by name. this is not because you are not all expected to take part, you are! named or unnamed. all must participate and i give everyone permission to add whatever talent they want. given that - michael bring your drums and steve - practice up on "happy birthday"!

true confessions

so . . . how bad is it to end up going shoe shopping on "no shoes day"? i found two pair that i really loved. does it count if i didn't buy them?

shoes

it seems like everybody wants their own day to promote their own cause. today is another one of those days - and it's a day i can support. april 8 - a day without shoes. the organization hopes to bring awareness to the plight of so many people who do not have shoes and suffer because of it. cori once wrote a children's pioneer day primary song about shoes. in it she talks about a young girl hearing her father praying for their souls and knowing that it means much more than just the need or want for souls on shoes.

myself, well i have a love, hate relationship with shoes. i love them and the way they look. i like hiking boots and fashion boots, pointed toe heels and flat ballet slippers. i like flip flops and sandals and clogs. i have many shoes. however my feet hate shoes. they feel tight and claustrophobic in them. my toes and heels like being free - heck socks even bother me! but because i go barefoot so often, my feet are dry and dirty and have deep cracks in them that bleed and hurt. my toes are ugly and bent the wrong way from stubbing them so often while they are left unprotected by shoes. yet no matter how much my feet don't like being confined they really don't like walking on the hot sticky asphalt or across prickly dried earth and weeds. nor do they appreciate going out in the cold, ice and snow without something on. so - i shove them into one of the many pair of shoes or sandals that i adore the looks of and am grateful for them.

with this in mind i have determined i will go barefoot as much as possible in honor of the day. but since it is still quite cold outside and because i must go to the store and they will not allow me to come in barefoot i will still wear some of my most comfy shoes and be very grateful i have them. i shall also take a bag of shoes to the di and donate them. hopefully they will go to good use.

relatives

when i was young my family moved from the safety of living among extended family in idaho to the green lush hills of pennsylvania. while it was beautiful and wonderful to set out on this new adventure and we met new friends who became very close to us - there were no cousins, aunts and uncles nearby nor sisters or brother for my mom to see on a daily basis. as an immediate family unit it was good for us because we became closer. we had to rely on each other to be friend as well as sibling. but each summer i looked forward to the time we would load up the station wagon and head west. i could hardly wait to get to idaho, even though the trip along the way was a cherished adventure unto itself. at the end of the road were the open arms of my sister sherry, who stayed behind to attend college, as well as loving aunts and uncles and lots and lots of cousins. cori describes these adventures best and our journeys are immortalized in her song pontiac rocket. (here's a link to her blog.)

as a young girl one of my favorite spots to stay was in ucon, idaho. this was home to the miskin's. aunt becky, uncle richard, deann, gail, jane, mary lou, michelle, mark, david, gina, ruby, phoebe, etc., and to that our clan and well, there was a houseful. When i grew up i dreamed of being just like aunt becky and welcome, with open arms, anyone who would come to visit. several years ago, auntie becky found a book and gave it to us. the "relatives came", (written by cynthia ryland and illustrated by stephen gammell) pretty much describes our family.

early this morning as i sat in the quiet of my family room, i could hear the sleeping sounds of many people. it was a glorious sound. this past weekend both connors and our house were full with family and friends. we planned on 40 some for Easter dinner, and that did not include everyone who should have been here. sunday was noisy and chaotic and absolutely wonderful. how lucky i am to have loved ones come and gather. my dream has come true. thank you!

because i don't want to be on the bottom of haley's list anymore ...

i've been told that since i have neglected to blog that i am now on the bottom of the list of bloggers. hmmm better fix that. maybe it's because i have just been so enthralled in reading cori's lent blog (if you haven't been visiting you really should. what an amazing writer.) anyway.... i have been enthralled in reading her blog and so well fed in the world of blogging that i just didn't have anything to blog about. but since it is april 1st i no longer wanted to fool around with my blog...so here i am.

and speaking of being well fed. last night around midnight i was walking through the kitchen and swore i smelled brownies cooking. "ummm" i said a loud, "brownies, can you smell them? i need some brownies!". unfortunately there were no brownies cooking. a few hours later i came back into the kitchen area and could swear i smelled brownies cooking. "ummmm. i smell brownies. can anybody else smell them?". alas, there were no brownies and no one else smelled them cooking either. my sister did offer to make me some however, but since it was now going on 2 am i bravely said, "no. but thank you anyway. i don't need brownies." when i came back downstairs this morning, about 5:30, (i knew the time because linda, my next door neighbor and friend was just leaving to play her morning tennis game- i think she's nuts, but love her anyway)., what do you think i thought i smelled.... yup ... brownies. but, alas, once again, no brownies on the counter awaiting me like a present left from santa or the easter bunny. i even started imagining brownies in the shape of easter bunnies and easter eggs, like sugar cookies, only brownies with lots of crispy edges.

it was just after 8 am, i was resigned to no brownies and was sitting on the couch checking emails. the house was quiet and suddenly a very loud beeping alarm interrupted my thoughts. oh no....the smoke alarms must need new batteries and they are going off. dang, i thought, they are going to wake everybody up. (i have a household of company) the beeping stopped before i could narrow down which alarm needed my attention. i stood in the middle of the house and waited for the next blast. it came but this time the beeping came from the kitchen. i went in and checked the microwave. nope that wasn't it. then i walked by the ovens. they were warm to the touch, as if something had been baking. hmmmmm. let's see. oh yeah, i had turned the ovens on earlier last night and baked some egg rolls for dinner. darnit. i forgot to turn the oven off. it was on all night. i had been smelling the warm oven and was just imagining that it was baking brownies for me. apparently when i leave my ovens on all night they will sound an alarm and then finally, after about 12 hours, turn themselves off. 10-12 hours of an oven on at 450. now that's how to save energy! oh well. at least i had sweet dreams!

miss clavel first exclaimed "something is not right!"

research shows that those people who are sleep deprived are "just not right"!

in addition we are less motivated to exercise, have lower metabolism and bad eating habits. hmm. the report i just listened to said, "someone who is sleep deprived, just needs to make more time to sleep. they need to go to bed and have no distractions and sleep." it didn't mention how you are suppose to turn off your brain, or make the sore joints and aches go away or if you do fall asleep how the heck are you suppose to stay asleep. obviously the reporter has no trouble sleeping.

and...i always knew i was "just not right", i didn't need a study to remind me!

one that desires to excel should endeavor in those things that are in themselves most excellent . . . epictetus

she was born with a spirit that would seek excellence. if the ability to complete a task well did not come naturally to her, she worked hard and studied, observed and learned and soon succeeded in performing the mission as if it were second nature. whether it be gliding down the snowy mountain slopes in excellent form, mastering the art of watercolor, chalk or oil, graduating with a double major, completing medical school and today successfully completing her residency program, it has all been done with solid faith and determination.

the journey has not been easy. there have been major trials and defeats, but there have been glory days as well and like the true olympian that she is, she has obtained her "gold". Margaret Thatcher once said, "look at the day when you are supremely satisfied at the end. it's not a day when you lounge around doing nothing. it's when you've had everything to do, and you've done it."

she did it! all the while with the faith that "for with God, all things are possible." congratulations dr. sarah connors petersen.

and because "no bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings." (william blake), kudos to Dave Petersen, Timo, Anna, Cori and David!

we are so proud of you all!

long awaited pictures

i finally got around to downloading pictures from last thanksgiving! the family room was turned into dining room for 40. (actually 39, 1 was a wee babe)










we took pictures of the gang that was here and really missed those who were not!














the pies which were as delicious as they look are one of the reasons that those of us over 50 look the way we do!








the last pic is the one of the gang entire - at least those who were here. minus bryan and stacy who walked in just as we finished taking pictures.

be careful

seems like some whom i love and hold dear are having a few struggles lately. it could be the time of year. it could be the time of life. patty griffin's song "be careful" puts into lyric and music more beautifully than i can how i wish everyone would treat those tender souls i love. take a listen. we should all take heed of the consequences of careless behavior around others.

yuck

i had a bad dream within a bad dream! and i still can't shake it. that's just not fair!

moon, moon, great big silver moon ....

2010's biggest and brightest moon kept me awake last night. it was, beautiful and it was, bright, especially reflecting off of the snow. it was great for a night hike, maybe to delicate arch or something. or say a drive to california because it is easier to spot the deer on the road. it would have been a good night for camping if it hadn't been so cold. but it was not a good night for sleeping. i don't really understand why i can take an afternoon nap, rare but wonderful, when the sun is in full brightness, but the full moon at night keeps me up and i want to just turn the light out.

just a random thought.

in the bleak mid winter

poets, publicists, and psychiatrists all have their candidates for the bleakest time of the year. According to one equation devised by dr. cliff amall, a british researcher from cardiff university, jan 18 is 2010's most depressing day!* with that in mind here is what i shall do about it -

1. be glad it is already 11:30 and the day is nearly half over!
2. go take a shower, maybe even brush my hair and then finish cleaning up the kitchen. ( i do feel better when i am clean and my kitchen is clean too!)
3. plan what wonderful treat i shall have to eat as i watch "24" tonight. (loving the new dvr!)
4. go shopping at kohl's and use my 30% off coupon!
5. take my mother for a ride. gram can lift one's spirit in a heart beat!
6. download music from my favorite singer/song writer ** to my new phone!
7. and speaking of new phones, i do believe it is my favorite new gadget i have had for sometime! 8. send a few much needed return email messages and set up appts for work. work is always good for brightening the day!

goodness - already i feel my mood lifting! i might even be inspired to continue writing in my gratitude journal again!


* http://health.msn.com/health-topics/depression/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100252589&gt1=31009

** http://www.coriconnors.com/

bad words

this cold, stale weather makes ones bones hurt. yesterday, as i was "loading" gram into the car she let out an exasperated "oh hell". i laughed, told her i was sorry she hurt and said an "oh hell" myself. gram paused for a moment. i looked up from having been bent over lifting her legs into the car and saw a very concerned look on her face. she then said, "i don't like it when you say things like that. you shouldn't talk that way! it doesn't sound like you!"

i kissed her forehead, told her i was sorry and i would try very hard not to use that kind of language again. she smiled, nodded her head and said "good".

i love gram!